Chen Zhou asked, "Who is Wan Xiu?"
The True Lord of Purity and Filth explained, "He is a creation of Qing Lu. Qing Lu is also one of the Sky-Monitoring Four-Direction Envoys."
"I calculated everything a thousand times over, yet I never expected the Sky-Monitoring Office to possess the means to completely erase an eighth-stage Siming."
"At that time, I already had half a foot through the threshold of the Siming stage."
"Yet, facing Wan Xiu, I didn't even have the strength to fight back."
"Out of desperation, I could only detonate my physical body and exhaust my final trace of foundation to let my primary soul be reduced to ashes to fool his perception."
"I left only a wisp of a remnant soul, escaping into the fragments of the plague origin he had shattered, barely surviving until now."
Chen Zhou listened to the True Lord's description, which was filled with fear and resentment, lost in thought.
Although the True Lord was a demon cultivator, he was still a powerhouse who was half a step into the Siming stage.
As fellow Four-Direction Envoys, Qing Lu shouldn't be much stronger than Vermilion Judgment, which meant he was likely also at the eighth-stage.
But if the gap between the True Lord and Qing Lu's creation was that vast...
A wild, uncontrollable smile curled on the corners of Chen Zhou's lips.
How could a mere creation like Wan Xiu represent the laws of heaven? How could he wipe out an eighth-stage Siming?
That meant he must have a godhead on him.
Vermilion Judgment.
Qing Lu.
They really were good people.
They knew exactly what he was currently lacking and went out of their way to send it to him.
Chen Zhou was in a great mood.
He patted the True Lord of Purity and Filth on the shoulder and asked, "What do you want from me? Do you wish to be resurrected?"
The True Lord of Purity and Filth remained silent for a while before shaking his head.
"I am already dead. There is no hope for resurrection."
"But Tianchi Province..."
"The Tianchi Province I protected for a thousand years has now become a plague land."
"The countless living beings there are still suffering."
"It doesn't matter what happens to me, but I hope that land can truly find peace."
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
The True Lord of Purity and Filth was stunned, then gave a bitter smile.
He knew this request was indeed somewhat abrupt.
Chen Zhou had no relation to him; why should he go against the Sky-Monitoring Office for the sake of his former homeland?
But he said it anyway.
Because it was his only hope.
"I am merely a remnant soul that will soon dissipate."
"I have been inside Lord Rat's body, watching you from the moment you started in the tiny Dead Man’s Forest. In less than a year, you cleared the entire Gloomlight Province and restored peace and clarity to countless beings."
His voice became somewhat sentimental.
"Watching you step by step, I suddenly had such an unrealistic fantasy."
He raised his head and looked at Chen Zhou, a hint of plea in his eyes.
"I hope you won't laugh at me."
Chen Zhou said nothing, only watching him.
The True Lord continued, "I might have been able to stay within the plague origin and linger on for another century."
"But back in the Eastern Region, when Lord Rat was suppressing the black spots at the sea eye, he almost died."
"I gave him all the remaining strength I had to help increase his cultivation."
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me this as a pledge of allegiance?"
The True Lord of Purity and Filth froze for a moment, then shook his head.
"No."
"I didn't do it to demand a favor in return."
His voice became low.
"I just didn't want to see another province follow in the footsteps of Tianchi Province."
"I just looked at the believers under your command, seeing how many of them believe in you so deeply that they are even willing to die for you..."
"I couldn't help myself. I just did it."
Pain filled his eyes, and the rims grew red.
"In the past, I also had a group of subjects who trusted me immensely."
"They believed in me until the very end."
"But I let them down."
Chen Zhou looked at him and noticed that a dense Golden Light of Merit suddenly lit up on the True Lord of Purity and Filth, covering half of his body.
The golden light was brilliant and radiant.
But on the other half, there was pitch-black sinful karma.
It was as black as ink, so thick it could not be dispersed.
Chen Zhou remembered what Wu Gou had said.
In his final moments, this old man had become extremely obsessed with purity, feeling that everything in the world was filthy, including his subjects and even himself.
He had begun a frantic cleansing, killing many people.
Chen Zhou couldn't understand the True Lord's current feelings.
He didn't think it was necessary to understand either.
Regardless, he would never set foot on such a path.
He spoke directly, "Since that's the case, you should know that asking for a favor requires a reward."
The True Lord of Purity and Filth was still immersed in his sadness and was caught off guard by these words.
His old face flushed.
"I was being too abrupt."
He gave a dry cough and tried to steady himself.
"I truly have nothing worthy of presenting."
"But in Tianchi Province, I left behind many natural treasures, some inheritances, and the entire Tianchi Province itself from when I was alive."
"I am willing to hand all of it over to you."
All the legacy of a half-step Siming.
Was it tempting?
To others, they might fight to the death for it, but Chen Zhou felt it was only mediocre.
He waved his hand directly. "I am currently the lord of a province as well. Gloomlight Province is vast and rich in resources. Do you think I'm lacking your little scraps?"
The True Lord of Purity and Filth choked.
Chen Zhou continued, "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to face the false gods of the Central Province head-on for just these things?"
"Are you trying to push me into a fire pit?"
The True Lord of Purity and Filth's expression changed, and he hurriedly waved his hands.
"I wouldn't dare! I never thought of it that way!"
He was so anxious that sweat began to bead on his forehead.
"It was my own delusion, my own abruptness..."
Watching this half-step Siming who once commanded the winds and clouds now looking so dejected as he waited for death, Chen Zhou suddenly smiled.
"How much time do you have left?"
The True Lord didn't understand Chen Zhou's meaning at first. It took a while for him to react, and he said bitterly.
"About... three months."
"This remnant soul of mine can last for another three months."
Chen Zhou nodded.
"Good, that's enough."
"By then, you will be able to witness the day peace is restored to Tianchi Province with your own eyes."
"As for the reward at that time..."
The True Lord of Purity and Filth was stunned.
He stared blankly at Chen Zhou, his mind going empty.
What did that mean?
He agreed?
He didn't even care for the wealth he had in life or the entire land of Tianchi Province. What other reward could he possibly offer that would satisfy this lord?
And...
He only had three months left. Just crossing the realm barrier from Gloomlight Province to reach Tianchi Province was no simple task.
Was such a short amount of time really enough?
The True Lord of Purity and Filth looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.
He wanted to ask, but didn't dare to.
He wanted to doubt, but didn't dare to.
In the end, he only let out a sigh.
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