If You Are Afraid, Step Back

The little book spirit was always like this—possessing the cute appearance of a spirit pet accessory, yet constantly speaking in cryptic riddles.

Hearing this, Xu Xian looked up at the sky with an unnatural expression.

The chaotic battle there continued, with endless roars, surging lightning, and rolling clouds.

He murmured softly, "How did it come to this?"

Shuer comforted him, saying, "Actually, you don't need to feel sad for him. Your Senior Brother was already nearing the end of his lifespan; at most, he had a few hundred years left. Now, by burning his spirit essence and lifespan to reignite his withered lamp for such a hearty battle, it’s not a loss. Hmm... dying in a world-shaking battle is better than passing away in silence."

Xu Xian remained silent.

He understood.

He understood everything now.

Why did his Senior Sister suddenly want a living auspicious beast?

Why did she suddenly tell him to let loose and do as he pleased?

It seemed all of this was Senior Brother Yun Zheng’s intention.

The goal was to provoke the beast race into crossing the line so he could fight a satisfying final battle.

Of course, to an ordinary person, this trip might seem redundant. But that was a covenant signed by the Sword Ancestor. Yun Zheng was the Sword Ancestor’s disciple and had been the helmsman of Wendao Sect for nearly ten thousand years. If he were to take the initiative to tear up the treaty, he would have his own moral reservations.

However, if the beast race struck first, even if the outcome was the same, the nature of it would be entirely different.

With the eyes of the world watching, no one would be able to find a single fault with Wendao Sect.

At the very least, Yun Zheng could feel open and unburdened in his heart.

This was Wendao Sect—a kind of "pedantry" that Xu Xian knew of but found extremely difficult to truly comprehend.

Before his death, he would drag the entire East Desolation down with him.

In this battle, Senior Brother Yun Zheng intended to use his remaining strength to settle the worries of Wendao Sect in the East Desolation.

He could do it, and it was worth doing.

The trouble of the East Desolation, the calamity of the Demon Abyss, the worry of the North Sea, and the sorrow of the Central Province.

If one had to rank these four, the East Desolation undoubtedly deserved the top spot.

Furthermore, the resentment between humans and beasts was difficult to reconcile. It wasn't just a blood feud; it stemmed from the fact that both sides were food on each other's menus and supplements on the path of cultivation.

In the future, when his time came and he fell from this world, Wendao Sect would lack his presence, and the four troubles would surely stir.

This single move would not only eliminate one trouble but also serve as a warning to the others—killing many birds with one stone.

Moreover, for Senior Brother Yun Zheng to go this far, it likely wasn't just his own tribulation. His four senior brothers and his master might also be nearing their fated ends.

The deeper his thoughts went, the thicker his sorrow became. He could understand and admire it, but it was still a pity...

However, it seemed he currently had no way to stop this from playing out.

A lifetime of cultivation eventually ends in death; if one dies without regrets, it can be considered a blessing.

He talked to himself, "Senior Brother wants to use his life to trade for a thousand years of stability for Wendao Sect..."

The red-eyed boy listened with a face full of confusion.

Shuer’s thin eyebrows twitched slightly. Since it was already like this, there was naturally no need for further words.

Xu Xian gazed beyond the battlefield and then looked around at the surrounding lands.

A battle was raging to the point of turning the world dark, yet these people were watching as if they were perfectly safe and sound. How ridiculous.

The Three Sects, Seven Schools, and Hundred Schools of the Central Province...

Heh!

But human nature was like this; he naturally couldn't blame others. If there was anyone to blame, it was himself for joining Wendao Sect—a sect that was always doing these thankless tasks.

Even if he was quite resistant to it at times, he understood that this was right. At the very least, it shouldn't be slandered.

Those who gather firewood for the masses should not be left to perish in the wind and snow.

He pulled back his thoughts, seemingly having made a certain decision at this moment.

The expression in his eyes became strangely solemn, with a faint cold light flickering within. The youth raised his head, his brows arched high as he slowly pointed his finger through the crowd, his gaze as cold as ash.

The people were startled, not understanding his meaning, and their gazes flickered away.

Xu Xian spoke with ridicule, "You, you, all of you, and you over there—I know you're all eyeing this auspicious beast. Look at you all, with your shifty eyes. Fine, I'll give you a chance. Don't be cowards. If you have the guts, come and snatch it."

Swish, swish, swish—

Almost instantly, countless gazes landed on him, all focused on the youth alone.

The rogue cultivators gasped... The Wendao Sect cultivators stood on guard... A group of eighth-stage experts, however, had darkened faces, feeling extremely humiliated and enraged.

To be pointed at and cursed by a junior in front of so many people—who could maintain a good temper after that?

One of the eighth-stage experts looked over with a cold, piercing gaze and asked in a heavy voice, "Little friend, what is the meaning of this?"

Xu Xian’s tone was flippant as he cursed, "What, is Your Excellency a beast or a brute? Can't you understand human speech?"

The man’s face grew even darker, and his fists beneath his wide sleeves clenched instinctively. A killing intent faintly leaked from his eyes, but he was wary of certain things and suppressed it with great effort.

Then, an eighth-stage woman spoke up. "What exactly do you mean?"

Xu Xian said lazily, "Exactly what I said."

"Heh... you're quite interesting."

"It's actually quite boring."

These few sentences caused the surrounding atmosphere to grow even heavier. It was oppressive to the extreme.

Both sides were exercising great restraint, yet the situation was tense, and their cultivation bases were leaking out uncontrollably. They were wary of each other, as if only a single match was needed to completely ignite the flames of war.

The group of cultivators was still whispering, but the eighth-stage experts remained silent and calm. They weren't stupid. Xu Xian was clearly trying to provoke them. Given the current situation, they couldn't afford to act recklessly. If he wanted to enjoy a moment of verbal triumph, they would let him.

Seeing that the crowd had no intention of moving, Xu Xian sneered repeatedly.

"Heh! Heh!"

He mocked, "It seems you're all very afraid! Fine! If you're afraid, then stay afraid..."

As he talked to himself, he handed the chain holding the red-eyed boy to Wen Qingxue.

Wen Qingxue took it instinctively.

Xu Xian spoke deliberately, "Keep a good eye on him. If anyone dares to snatch him, remember who they are. In the future, I will exterminate their entire clan, dig up their ancestral lands, and leave not even a chicken or dog alive."

The eighth-stage experts all furrowed their brows. This boy’s killing intent was incredibly heavy.

The cultivators gasped; the Little Grand-Uncle of Wendao Sect was truly domineering.

The members of Wendao Sect felt a strange sense of trance, feeling that the Little Grand-Uncle before them had suddenly become somewhat unfamiliar.

Wen Qingxue hesitated to speak but finally nodded. She gave a soft "Mhm."

Xu Xian strode forward, and the Wendao Sect disciples consciously moved aside to make a path.

The youth looked straight ahead. Even when he passed by Nangong Ning’s side and she looked at him with deep affection, murmuring softly, "Little Grand-Uncle..." he acted as if he hadn't heard her.

Some tried to stop him. Some wanted to persuade him. But the youth’s footsteps did not falter.

At this moment, the gaze of the entire field fell upon this one person. It was as if the epoch-defining struggle in the sky outside the city had already faded away. Even the red-eyed boy looked on with a dazed expression.

Between heaven and earth, it was as if all sounds had fallen silent. All things in the mortal world became mere foils for the youth. That silhouette was originally walking further away, yet it somehow became vividly clear. It was as if he had walked from their eyes into the depths of their hearts.

What did he want to do? What was he going to do? No one knew the answer.

They watched with anticipation, confusion, worry, and unease... until they saw him leap onto a high wall.

The youth stopped there, standing atop the city wall. The headwind whipped his long hair and the corners of his clothes, making them flap loudly.

Xu Xian stood against the wind, his silhouette towering between heaven and earth. The dark sky, the broken city, the thunder, the tremors, the wind, and the dust. A set of blood-stained robes, a single silhouette...

They heard him say:

"If you are afraid! Then step back..."

"The sword of Wendao Sect will protect you for another ten thousand years!!"