"First, you relied on your numerical advantage to bully me with many against one; second, you took advantage of your higher cultivation level, as a Soul Saint against me, a Soul King. Naturally, I'm not convinced!"
"..." Su Cheng was rendered speechless by these words.
After a moment, he finally spoke, "Let's not even mention that we didn't join forces to fight you simultaneously. Before that, it was you who launched a sneak attack and spoke disrespectfully. What do you have to say about that? Moreover, you also said earlier that when coming here, one should adapt to the local customs. Why is it that when we fight according to the rules, it's considered unfair?"
"Stop sophistry, that's just the fighting style of my Tang... Tang family."
"As expected of you." Su Cheng sighed, somewhat at a loss for words.
He then asked, "You already said I am a petty person. Since that's the case, why should I make a bet with you? Wouldn't it be simpler to just kill you here? Besides, what stakes do you have to offer?"
"..."
Seeing that Tang San didn't answer, Su Cheng's eyes twinkled as he glanced at Zhu Zhuqing beside him, a teasing smile appearing on his face.
He stretched out his hand, gesturing between himself and Zhu Zhuqing, and said casually, "Alright then, sincerely bow and apologize to me, and then call me 'father' and call her 'mother'. If you do that, I might spare your life."
"You! Cough—"
Before Zhu Zhuqing, who was blushing with embarrassment, could say anything, Tang San's eyes widened as he shouted angrily.
Agitated, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning somewhat ashen.
"Hurry up and decide, you don't have much time left," Su Cheng said with a light laugh.
"Just call him, not me," Zhu Zhuqing suddenly added.
However, it was unclear whether it was due to shyness or anger, her voice seemed to tremble slightly.
"You, you two—"
Tang San's eyes bulged, blood vessels bursting in them, and even faint traces of blood seeped from the corners of his eyes.
If Su Cheng's earlier words had only breached his mental defenses, Zhu Zhuqing's earnest tone at this moment was even more devastating.
"Su Cheng! A man can be killed but not humiliated, you can forget about it!"
"Very well, such spirit!" Su Cheng clapped his hands in praise. "So, it seems you are ready to face death?"
"Wait!"
Su Cheng paused, his voice turning cold, "If you want to surrender, do it quickly. I have other matters to attend to."
"Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique! I can use my Clear Sky Sect's Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique as a wager!" Tang San shouted, "As a member of the Spirit Hall, you should be aware of the value of my Haotian Sect's ultimate technique!"
"Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique? You are indeed filial." Su Cheng raised his eyebrows and sneered, "But unfortunately, I have my own self-created soul skills and don't care for that."
"..." Hearing this, Tang San's eyes showed a hint of despair, and he quickly began to think about what other chips he could offer.
As for calling out 'father' and 'mother' to be spared, he didn't believe it for a second.
Tang San was no fool. Such verbal concessions had no real value, and even if he humbled himself, the final decision would still be in the opponent's hands. It would only serve to make them feel more triumphant, accomplishing nothing.
Only an exchange of interests could buy him a chance at survival.
"However, although I'm not interested in the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, you do have something else that can be used as a wager," Su Cheng suddenly said.
Tang San's eyes lit up, waiting silently for his next words.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must have some special method to accelerate your soul power cultivation, right?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing, who had just calmed down a bit, was momentarily stunned.
She then scrutinized the heavily injured Tang San in front of her.
She could understand the implication of Su Cheng's words but hadn't expected that the other party also possessed such a cultivation method.
However, she was puzzled.
Honestly, she didn't believe Tang San could come up with such a method.
Even during his time at Shrek Academy, he always followed Yu Xiaogang's arrangements without any personal insight or initiative. How could someone like that have developed such a technique?
But Su Cheng's judgment should be accurate.
It seemed she had underestimated this guy. Where did he get such a cultivation method?
On the other hand, Tang San's eyes glowed red.
Damn it! How dare he covet my Tang Sect's secret technique!
This was his reverse scale, and anyone who dared to covet it was courting death!
But the current situation was against him, and compared to his life, other matters could be temporarily set aside.
Gritting his teeth, he prepared to get through this difficult situation first.
"You are correct, I do have a technique for cultivating soul power. Let's make a bet with it for our next fight!"
"No need to hurry." Su Cheng, with a faint smile, said, "I don't trust you. If you run away after leaving, where will I find you?"
"What do you want?!"
"Leave something as collateral. For example, the first half of your cultivation method."
He took out pen and paper from his Soul Guidance Device and threw them over, "Write the first half here. The rest will wait for later."
"…"
Tang San stared blankly at the pen and paper in front of him, his expression a bit dazed.
This wasn't what he had expected.
"Make it quick." Su Cheng said impatiently.
His aura fluctuated, silently pressuring Tang San.
Seeing this, Tang San hesitated for a moment before starting to write.
He gritted his teeth, thinking, "It's just half of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Even if he gets it, he can't get much out of it. It might even hinder his cultivation..."
"I have also studied self-created soul skills. Whether it's real or fake, I can tell at a glance, so don't think about cheating." Su Cheng said calmly, "But with your knowledge, you probably can't make significant changes in such a short time."
Before long, the paper was filled.
Su Cheng took the manuscript, glanced at it, and then looked back at Tang San, lightly patting his shoulder. "I look forward to our next fight."
Then he looked around and chuckled, "Be careful. In your current state, you might not even make it to our next encounter."
After saying this, he didn't linger any longer. Taking the first half of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, he left with Zhu Zhuqing.
As the two walked away, the sounds of intense fighting soon echoed from behind them...
"Why were you so intent on making him apologize?" On the way, Zhu Zhuqing, still thinking about the earlier scene, gave a strange look at the man beside her.
"Because I knew he wouldn't apologize," Su Cheng smiled. "This person's self-awareness is extremely strong, with a unique logic of his own. But for a cultivator, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. He is probably feeling proud of his resilience and integrity right now."
He raised the paper in his hand, "Luckily, it wasn't a loss. This thing will provide me with a lot of ideas."
Even half of the technique was enough for him.
Su Cheng never intended to learn Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill. It was just for reference.
Although this technique didn't fully align with the world's cultivation rules, it was still the result of many years of research by Tang San's former sect, Tang Sect. It had significant value.
Especially its study of meridians and the so-called 'internal strength,' both of which were very valuable for cross-referencing with his own theories.
He never planned to completely break Tang San's spine.
If it led to Tang San being unable to inherit the god position in the future, it would be a significant loss.
"Oh." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, lost in her thoughts.
Su Cheng turned his head and smiled, "What, do you really want to be Tang San's foster mother? If you want, why don't we have a child ourselves?"
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart," Zhu Zhuqing said coldly.
Then she glanced at him with suspicion, "You seem to care about that Tang San. Is it because of his father?"
In her view, given Su Cheng's personality, he wouldn't waste so many words on an irrelevant person.
Either he would kill them directly or not bother at all.
Unless there was another value to them, he wouldn't spend so much time.
In the past, she knew Su Cheng had plans for Tang San, but the goal was the hundred-thousand-year soul beast transformed Xiao Wu, not Tang San himself.
Why did the target seem to have changed now?
Su Cheng didn't hide it, nodding slightly, "Even if he improves, he won't be a significant threat, but he might play a crucial role in the future. He needs to be kept around."
"Aren't you afraid he might die there?" Zhu Zhuqing raised an eyebrow, "The City of Slaughter is full of desperate individuals, and he doesn't seem to be in good shape."
"If he dies, so be it," Su Cheng said indifferently. "If he really dies in that place, it only means he wasn't worth cultivating. Such a Tang San would be useless to me. He's the best choice for now, but he's not my only choice."
Before long, Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing walked hand-in-hand into the outer city.
Not far ahead, Bibi Dong, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, Yan, and the King of Slaughter were standing near the city gate, silently waiting.
Under the powerful aura of Bibi Dong and the King of Slaughter, the area was deserted, and the outer city streets were eerily quiet.
Su Cheng glanced at them, not letting go of Zhu Zhuqing's hand but walked over with her.
Meanwhile, he was trying to soothe her emotions, continuously transmitting diluted innate power.
At the same time, the five people in the distance noticed Su Cheng's return and the cold yet stunning figure in black beside him.
Except for the King of Slaughter, the other four's eyes fell on the hands tightly clasped together.
Bibi Dong's eyes instantly darkened.
Hu Liena swallowed silently, recalling the conversation she had with Qian Renxue before their departure.
Xie Yue's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, feeling that this trip was extremely thrilling.
Compared to the secrets of the Pope and Qian Renxue's future wrath, even the eerie, killing-filled environment of the City of Slaughter seemed less terrifying.
It was indeed the right choice to stay and face the trials; following them back might have been even more dangerous.
Even Yan, usually low-profile and simple-minded, noticed something amiss.
He blinked and quickly looked away.
---