Chapter 71

Chapter 71: I Am Willing to Sell Myself as a Slave

"This kid is really ruthless!"

Old Ghost Fei’s eyelids twitched. Regardless of what schemes Lu Fengming had or his centuries of nurturing kindness toward Yang Xuanzhan, Yang Xuanzhan did not even blink before shattering Lu Fengming into nothingness, truly ruthless and heartless.

The Dan Ding Sect Saint and the couple from the He Huan Sect both smiled inexplicably.

At last, this journey had removed the big trouble from their hearts.

As soon as Lu Fengming died, the Jade Sky Saint, thousands of miles away, sensed it. He let out a sorrowful cry. Two sword lights merged into one, and Fu Tianxing and his wife jointly attacked.

Bang!

Jade Sky Saint’s physical body was pierced through. His Purple Palace was slashed apart by the sword energies. A crack appeared on his primordial spirit.

Crack!

The sword lights churned, and the primordial spirit rapidly shattered.

Jade Sky Saint’s eyes gradually lost their luster. His life essence swiftly drained away.

Although he had become a saint for several thousand years, Fu Tianxing and his wife cooperated seamlessly and had received guidance from Gui Qinghe, improving their strength rapidly. Dealing with one Jade Sky Saint together fell easily within their power.

However, as they had only recently become saints and not grasped the profound mysteries of the saint level deeply, their battle with Jade Sky Saint also inflicted serious injuries on them.

"It’s over."

Fu Tianxing held his sword and gazed toward the Xuanfu Palace direction. There, the clouds were clear, the sky was blue, and the dust had settled.

"Jade Sky is a pitiable man."

Su Qing watched as Jade Sky Saint’s physical body gradually crumbled. His vast essence energy returned to heaven and earth. A trace of pity was in her eyes.

At that moment, Jade Sky Saint’s open eyes seemed to hold several strands of complex emotion.

If he had heeded Ye Xu’s advice and distanced himself from Xuanfu Palace, he would not have faced today’s deadly calamity.

But regret came too late.

After a few breaths of time, Jade Sky Saint turned to ashes and vanished.

Fu Tianxing and his wife returned to Xuanfu Palace.

"You two Daoist friends, having just entered the saint realm, could jointly kill Wan Xiaolou. Impressive, impressive." Old Ghost Fei stared at them, cupped his hands, and congratulated them.

"No matter how formidable we are, we cannot match Myriad Phenomena Senior Brother." Fu Tianxing said with a laugh.

All others deeply agreed.

Myriad Phenomena Saint had nearly single-handedly severely injured Lu Fengming and turned the tide. Who could have imagined that Myriad Phenomena Saint, at the late stage of the saint realm, possessed such skill?

"Lu Fengming was too old. He had lost the drive to advance, his vital energy and blood had declined, so he could hardly exhibit his peak combat strength." Myriad Phenomena Saint explained.

Actually, there was another critical reason: he had mastered the unified divine ability of reincarnation.

As for Lu Fengming’s unified divine ability, since he had not swallowed Yang Xuanzhan, it had a major flaw and could not unleash its due power at all.

This was Lu Fengming’s fatal weakness.

It could be said that he succeeded because of the Nine Revolutions Nirvana Sutra and failed because of the Nine Revolutions Nirvana Sutra.

"Thank you, seniors, for helping this junior eliminate the fiend." Yang Xuanzhan bowed respectfully, deeply grateful.

"Thank you, esteemed seniors."

The surviving Heavenly Gods and God Kings of Xuanfu Palace had no choice but to kneel.

Many people were still kept in the dark; in their minds, with the deaths of Gu Lingxiao and the Jade Sky Saint, Xuanfu Palace would fall to the bottom rank in the Southern Wilderness, never regaining its former glory.

"This isn’t just helping you; it’s helping ourselves," Old Ghost Fei said lightly.

"Yang Xuanzhan, Lu Fengming has been eliminated; I have fulfilled my promise," Ye Hongchen said with a light laugh, and as Lu Fengming died, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

After that, she was no longer bound by the Heavenly Dao vow.

"Hold on."

A middle-aged man from the He Huan Sect suddenly spoke up, "Lu Fengming is dead, the Jade Sky Saint has perished, so Xuanfu Palace’s territory surely needs to be redistributed."

"I agree," the Dan Ding Sect Saint said, "In this battle, Senior Brother Alchemical Saint has perished, so my Dan Ding Sect must receive adequate compensation."

"Agreed."

Demon Sage Fire Phoenix nodded.

The fall of Alchemical Saint was a major blow to Dan Ding Sect, so demanding compensation was reasonable.

Yang Xuanzhan’s face turned dark.

Do they want to carve up Xuanfu Palace?

"Ye Hongchen, this violates our previous alliance," Yang Xuanzhan looked straight at Ye Hongchen, seeking an explanation.

"Hmph!"

The middle-aged man flicked his sleeve, "All the saints of Xuanfu Palace are dead; you’re just a lowly semi-saint, a stray dog with no right to make noise here!"

With a loud crash!

Yang Xuanzhan was knocked to the ground, crushed like a mountain, unable to rise.

"You remnants of Xuanfu Palace deserve extermination, to prevent bringing calamity to the world," the Dan Ding Sect Saint unleashed killing intent, as a red gleam swept through the remaining Heavenly Gods and God Kings of Xuanfu Palace.

Seven divine realm experts turned to ashes in an instant.

He stared at Yang Xuanzhan, killing intent fully revealed.

Yang Xuanzhan was overwhelmed with fear and furious anger.

They were a pack of insatiably greedy people.

The Myriad Phenomena Saint frowned slightly.

"Daoist friend, hold on."

"Myriad Phenomena Senior Brother, what is your take?" the Dan Ding Sect Saint withdrew his killing intent, asking respectfully.

"Yang Xuanzhan and Hongchen have a pact; Hongchen pledged to protect him for five hundred years. Though Lu Fengming is gone and the Heavenly Dao vow has been lifted,"

The Myriad Phenomena Saint said quietly, "Still, they did make that bargain long ago."

"Senior Brother, are you advising me to spare him?" the Dan Ding Sect Saint knitted his eyebrows tightly.

"Senior Brother, I fear that is not wise."

The middle-aged man from the He Huan Sect said, "Yang Xuanzhan is immensely talented; if not held back by Lu Fengming, he probably would have become a saint at Mount Taicang that time."

"Letting him leave would be no different than returning a tiger to the mountains."

"I actually have a compromise."

Fu Tianxing spoke up. "One that both allows the Red Dust Demon Sect to keep its promise, and lets respected colleagues achieve your wish to utterly annihilate the Xuanfu Palace."

Everyone looked at Fu Tianxing.

Yang Xuanzhan seethed with bitter resentment. He, the exalted Palace Master of Xuanfu Palace, was being treated like a mere bargaining chip!

"Give him half a day," Fu Tianxing said. "After half a day, dear friends, then pursue and kill him. Should he escape this calamity, it would prove his fate is not yet sealed. Should he fail to escape… then blame cannot fall upon us."

The Dan Ding Sect Saint, the Two Saints of the He Huan Sect, and the Demon Sage Fire Phoenix exchanged glances. After a single breath, they all nodded in unison. "Agreed to your method."

"I have no objections," the Myriad Phenomena Saint stated lightly.

Ye Hongchen looked at Yang Xuanzhan, her eyes filled with pity. "Yang Xuanzhan, this is the final shelter my Red Dust Demon Sect can offer you. Flee quickly. The farther, the better."

As her words fell, the restraints binding Yang Xuanzhan dissolved.

Whoosh!

Without uttering a word, Yang Xuanzhan transformed into a streak of crimson light, vanishing deep into the void.

"Not a slow escape," Demon Sage Fire Phoenix giggled. She traced her index finger through the air, conjuring a mirror-like circle.

Within the mirror, Yang Xuanzhan traveled like the wind, leaping frenetically through the void, constantly changing direction.

He seemed utterly unaware that his whereabouts were completely laid bare before the Saints.

"This bronze array disk," the Dan Ding Sect Saint said, "though cracked, remains a Saint King-level divine weapon. My Dan Ding Sect suffered the greatest loss. This item shall go to me."

"This sacred artifact…"

"Xuanfu Palace’s treasure vault…"

The various Saints began distributing the spoils of victory.

Eight thousand miles beyond Xuanfu Palace.

Yang Xuanzhan fled with frantic desperation, his magical power depleting at a terrifying rate.

"Where can I go?"

Yang Xuanzhan racked his brains, wrestling with this single question.

He was a mere hair’s breadth away from the Saint level. He understood all too well the power of a Saint.

With his own speed, even half a day wouldn’t be enough for him to escape the vastness of the Southern Wilderness.

As long as he remained within the Southern Wilderness, he could never slip from the palm of the Saints’ hands.

Turning the problem over and over in his mind, only one place promised the possibility of survival.

The Heaven’s Secret Pavilion!

His decision made, Yang Xuanzhan raced straight towards the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"He’s going to the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

Yang Xuanzhan’s path was mirrored in the ethereal mirror. Seeing him enter Linglong City, strange expressions flickered across the faces of the watchers.

The profound abilities of the one residing within the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion were something they understood all too clearly.

If Yang Xuanzhan could secure his protection, the situation would become extremely problematic.

"The half-day grace period has passed. Time to reel in the catch," Demon Sage Fire Phoenix announced coldly.

Fu Tianxing remained silent. In truth, there was still the duration of one cup of tea left before the full half-day elapsed.

Clearly, they had discerned Yang Xuanzhan’s intention and feared any sudden complications.

The assembly of Saints moved towards Linglong City.

…

Outside the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Yang Xuanzhan was nearly drained of all his magical power. With a thud, he knelt at the entrance, his voice hoarse and strained. "Esteemed Senior! This junior wishes to make a transaction with you!"

The voice of Ye Xu drifted out.

"Come inside and speak."

Yang Xuanzhan shook his head. "Unless the Senior agrees, this junior entering would be pointless."

Ye Xu replied with detached calm. "Then speak."

"This junior is willing to sell himself into servitude. All I seek from the Senior is sanctuary… that I may survive!"