Volume 1 Volume 6 Chapter 108

Volume 6 Chapter 108: Fate and Choice (End)

In a person’s life, when feeling lost and searching, finding a path and an exit is not the real problem. The true challenge is that there are paths and exits before you, and not just one, but you don’t know how to choose.

Choice, a simple two-word phrase, covers everything in life from eating or sleeping to living or dying, encompassing the entire lives of all people in the world.

At this moment, Xu Qingfan faced the most severe and cruel choice of his life.

Xu Qingfan is not a hero with a grand vision of sacrificing himself for a greater good; such heroes often only exist in legends. While he may have some noble feelings to benefit the world, they were only present when Xu Qingfan had no worries and plenty of strength. Although he accidentally played the role of a hero a few times over the years, looking back, those moments were forced upon him by circumstance. Since entering the cultivation world, most of what Xu Qingfan has done has been for self-preservation.

Xu Qingfan did not know that Ting’er, Zhang Ningmei, and Bai Yu were currently following the main force of the Righteous Alliance. If he had known that these three disciples were not at "Ronghua Mountain," he would not be so conflicted. After all, strangers dying are still just strangers. Xu Qingfan might feel guilty or sad, but it would never be to a life-changing extent. After all, Xu Qingfan is just an ordinary person.

Xu Qingfan thought that Ting’er, Zhang Ningmei, and Bai Yu should still be at "Ronghua Mountain," and after the Righteous Alliance main force left, there would be no powerful cultivators above Golden Core Stage remaining there. Zhang Hualing was about to completely enter the dark path at "Ronghua Mountain," and by that time, no one left in "Ronghua Mountain" would be his opponent. All the cultivators remaining at "Ronghua Mountain," along with the surrounding mortals, would face a great calamity.

If that’s the case, then Ting’er and the other three disciples would be in danger.

Should he save them?

Zhang Xusheng said that Zhang Hualing could resist the dark energy invasion for at most one more month. Xu Qingfan had known this for a long time; he understood it while observing Zhang Hualing’s Soul Bead, but at that time he did not know all the powerful beings had already left "Ronghua Mountain."

However, Xu Qingfan also understood that one month was not enough time for him to completely refine the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic." Right now was a critical moment for Xu Qingfan to counter the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" with the "Demon Bead." If he abandoned the fusion with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" to rush back to "Ronghua Mountain" to save others, the "Demon Bead" would surely take over Xu Qingfan’s body and mind completely. At that point, falling into madness would be nearly unavoidable, and the consequences would be even more severe because the fusion with the "Demon Bead" is active, while the fusion with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" is passive.

Won’t you save them?

Xu Qingfan is shy. Even though he is the next generation sect leader of Jiuhua, he often forces himself to talk with other cultivators and pretends to be at ease. For hundreds of years, only five people have really understood him—Jin Qinghan, Dongfang Qingling, and his disciple Ting’er.

Leaving aside Jin Qinghan and Dongfang Qingling, Ting’er’s loyalty and Zhang Ningmei’s careful care over the years have been gentle and soothing. Although he may not notice it most of the time, once he leaves, he realizes how uncomfortable it is without them. Bai Yu, although he has worried Xu Qingfan countless times over the years, is just young and naïve; he truly cares for Xu Qingfan and respects him just as much as anyone else.

Furthermore, these three disciples are Xu Qingfan’s pride and joy from all these years. Can he really give them up?

Should he rush to save them and give up his current chance to merge with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," allowing the "Demon Pearl" to corrupt him? Or should he remain indifferent to the death of the three and focus solely on gaining strength, refusing to be controlled by the "Demon Pearl"?

In this moment, the choice between the two options is incredibly hard; each choice has countless reasons behind it, and each one carries the potential to deeply affect Xu Qingfan’s life.

Choosing the first option might lead Xu Qingfan to be completely consumed by the demon. Even if he saves Ting’er and the others, he could later commit many evil deeds under the control of the Demon Thought, becoming hated and attacked by righteous cultivators, much like what he saw in the divination.

Alternatively, if he chooses the second option, Xu Qingfan will live the rest of his life overwhelmed by guilt for this decision, and he might even experience Qi deviation due to his unstable state of mind.

To save or not to save?

The heavy weight of pressure hit Xu Qingfan’s heart. He never imagined that a choice could be so difficult.

…

While trying to combine the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" and the "Demon Pearl," others became extraordinary when they gained enlightenment, completely immersed in the Heavenly Way and forgetting everything else, but when Xu Qingfan achieved enlightenment, it was not only silent, but he also felt surprisingly clear-minded.

As Xu Qingfan hesitated and struggled, the "Demon Pearl" and the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" constantly integrated with his body. Under the transformation of these two sacred items, his meridians and energy center became wider and more stable, unknowingly growing multiple times larger. The "Formula of Life and Death" continually refined the two enormous powers, and the strength he controlled became stronger and stronger.

In his energy center, all the Spirit Qi flowed continuously toward this place. As the Spirit Qi filled more and more, the Nascent Soul forming inside also gradually grew larger, becoming clearer and more distinct than before, with recognizable hands, feet, and facial features. Though it was quiet, Xu Qingfan was about to break through to the Mahayana Stage.

Because the "Demon Pearl" and the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" had not completely fused with Xu Qingfan, these two powers fought endlessly within him and were several times stronger than the power he controlled, yet Xu Qingfan was unable to control them at all.

As the Nascent Soul gradually took shape, the powers from the "Demon Pearl" and the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" surged toward Xu Qingfan’s energy center, seemingly wanting to compete for control over his Nascent Soul. Xu Qingfan instinctively sensed something was wrong but used all of his life and death energy to block these two powers outside, absorbing the strength for his growing Nascent Soul from the "Withered Qi" and "Flourish Qi" refined by the "Formula of Life and Death."

As the Nascent Soul gradually took shape, a small figure resembling Xu Qingfan, shrunk by dozens of times, appeared in his energy center. Its color was as soft and white as warm jade, but dark gray patterns covered the entire Nascent Soul, the result of the fusion of life and death energies.

A Nascent Soul like this has probably been rare in the cultivation world for thousands of years.

The formation of the Nascent Soul is certainly a joyful event, but at this moment, Xu Qingfan feels no happiness in his heart and is still struggling with the choice of whether to save or not.

Silently observing the scene of the Nascent Soul gradually forming within him, Xu Qingfan thought to himself, "Yes, if I go to help, the formation of my Nascent Soul might face accidents, and demonic energy could invade. If that happens, my Nascent Soul will be controlled by the demonic energy, bringing me closer to completely falling into darkness."

"In this way, even if I rescue Ting’er and the others, or save more people from the Sect Master, once I am fully controlled by the ‘Demon Pearl,’ I will only cause more harm. I would be losing more than I gain."

Thinking silently in his heart, a look of pain flashed across Xu Qingfan’s face, but he had already made his decision.

"Ting’er, Ningmei, Bai Yu, I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to save you, but the situation leaves me no choice. I am truly sorry."

In his pain, Xu Qingfan forced himself not to think about these matters anymore and focused on refining the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" within him to resist the invasion of the "Demon Pearl."

However, the more he forced himself not to think, the more chaotic images filled his mind.

"Uncle, I will walk with you."

This was what Ting’er had said to him back when she had just broken through to the Condensed Core Stage, quietly standing in front of him. It was the first time she had opened her heart to Xu Qingfan and let go of her hatred for him. Now, looking back, Xu Qingfan can still clearly remember the uncontrollable joy he felt at that time.

"Master, you are too tired. Sometimes, it’s good to let everything go and relax a bit. Here is your favorite tea."

Whenever Xu Qingfan felt very tired, Zhang Ningmei would always bring a cup of tea to him and say with concern. This student didn’t speak much, always quietly observing everything around her, remembering Xu Qingfan’s habits and feelings. She would always appear at the right moment, using little things and words to help Xu Qingfan relax. Since she became his student, her care for Xu Qingfan far exceeded the care Xu Qingfan had for her as her teacher.

"Master, please don’t be angry. I promise I won’t mess around anymore. I will focus on my training and make you proud."

This was Bai Yu’s promise, and he had made this promise to Xu Qingfan countless times, but it was rarely kept. Whenever he thought about it, Xu Qingfan always felt waves of frustration and helplessness. But at this moment, what arose in his heart was a feeling of warmth and deep guilt.

Are we really going to let them be killed by Zhang Hualing?

The decision I had made and thought was strong wavered again with the images flashing in my mind.

"Maybe, there are other ways."

Xu Qingfan thought anxiously in his heart.

"Maybe I should quickly refine the ‘Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic’ so that its power can delay the strength inside the ‘Demon Pearl’ for a while, and I can use that time to save Ting’er and the others…"

Thinking this way, Xu Qingfan seemed to see a solution to the problem, but he unconsciously ignored the risks and endless possibilities involved. He quickly closed his eyes and began to refine the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic."

…

As time went on, the sun and moon in the Western Desert cycled more than ten times, and in just over ten days, time had passed by.

Inside Xu Qingfan, the spiritual light and mist outside of the Nascent Soul gradually faded away. Xu Qingfan felt his consciousness growing stronger and more solid, and the Spirit Qi in his body had suddenly increased several times compared to before. Although it was still not as strong as the powers contained in the "Demon Orb" and the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," he could now slightly influence the balance between the two.

Just like that, Xu Qingfan quietly and naturally broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

This was the first time this had happened since the cultivation world began.

When the Nascent Soul officially formed, Xu Qingfan suddenly opened his eyes, temporarily stopping the merging with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," pulling his mind back from the void. He instinctively began to observe the condition of his body.

Under the transformations brought by the "Demon Orb" and the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," Xu Qingfan’s body not only stopped collapsing but also became more balanced than ever. The two energies of good and evil were entwined within him, creating a complex situation.

The "Demon Orb" was still continuously assimilating Xu Qingfan’s body. From the outside, a dark energy surrounded Xu Qingfan, thick black mist swirling around, creating a very strange sight.

Although the refining of the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" has stopped, it has already entered Xu Qingfan’s body, with about three-quarters still unrefined and stuck between his forehead, protecting his mind. However, the power from the magic pearl continuously strikes the protection of the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," with waves stronger than the last, but it is uncertain how long it can hold out.

Inside his dantian, most of Xu Qingfan’s Spirit Qi gathers to protect his Nascent Soul from being controlled by outside forces, while also refining the powers of both good and evil to strengthen the Nascent Soul.

The situation is temporarily stable, but as the "magic pearl" merges more deeply with Xu Qingfan, and the demonic energy grows within him, it is uncertain what will happen in the future.

Xu Qingfan must resolve Zhang Hualing’s problem before the demonic energy becomes strong enough to break the balance of power left in his body along with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic."

When he came to his senses, he found everything around him dim, with yellow sand above, below, and all around, as if he was deep in the Western Desert. Beside him stood countless Dark Crows, while the "World Defying Sword," "Purgatory Staff," and the single remaining eyeball-like pearl from the demon were all quietly placed next to Xu Qingfan. Zhang Xusheng, however, was nowhere to be found.

At this moment, he had unknowingly sunk underground, likely a trick used by Zhang Xusheng before leaving.

Seeing Xu Qingfan awaken, Little Black, who had been quietly by his side, let out an excited cry and darted towards him. But just as it flew within a few inches of Xu Qingfan, it suddenly screeched and retreated far away. Although Xu Qingfan had stopped refining and merging with the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," the part that was already refined had left a powerful presence of Buddhist power and the Power of the Holy Spirit within him. At the same time, the "magic pearl" was constantly assimilating Xu Qingfan’s body, causing demonic energy to surround him. Neither of these powers was liked by Little Black.

Seeing Little Black’s reaction, Xu Qingfan sighed softly and said, "Little Black, my body is a bit strange right now; it’s best if you stay away from me for a while."

While speaking, Xu Qingfan raised his head to look at the covered ceiling. The thick yellow sand made it impossible for him to judge how deep he was buried underground, but he was eager to save someone and couldn’t afford to think about it.

After wasting so much time, there are only ten days left before Zhang Hualing turns evil, and Xu Qingfan still has to rush from the depths of the Western Desert to Ronghua Mountain. Not to mention the threat of demonic energy.

Xu Qingfan took a deep breath and prepared to blast away the yellow sand above his head.

However, at that moment, an astonishing event occurred.