Arguing with the Sovereign

Xu Xian had just left the Ascension Platform. On his way back to the sect, he heard a call from the clouds.

The voice was familiar, and it made one's skin crawl.

He looked up to see a smear of black tainting the clear white sky.

Quite the eyesore.

The Little Book Spirit popped out, arms crossed over its chest, looking very displeased. "Hmph, why is this guy here again? What a killjoy..."

Xu Xian narrowed his eyes and replied calmly, "This stage was built for Him in the first place. Naturally, He was going to show up."

The Little Book Spirit pouted but said no more.

This stage had been set, and this play performed, all because of the Twilight Emperor.

That old fellow really had a lot of nerve.

Xu Xian took a step and teleported above the clouds. He stood on the drifting mist as if on solid ground and asked, despite knowing the answer, "Why are you here?"

That smear of ink-colored mist detached itself from the clouds and transformed into a humanoid figure. He sat cross-legged in the sky, propping his chin with one hand, and countered with a question of his own. "What, shouldn't I be here?"

"There was no need to come so early," Xu Xian said.

The black mist figure replied lazily, "I was bored. I have nothing better to do anyway, so I thought I'd take a look. I must say, you've been quite busy."

Xu Xian remained silent.

The black mist began to count on his fingers. "Negotiating, capturing people, partings... then to the Demon Abyss, then to the East Desolation, then into the North Sea. Tsk tsk. I have to say, kid, you've got a lot of patience."

Xu Xian gathered his breath and said thoughtfully, "It seems you've been watching me all along. I'm honored."

The black mist figure didn't deny it, stating frankly, "To be honest, you've disappointed me."

"Oh?" Xu Xian couldn't help but feel a spark of interest in the conversation.

The black mist glanced down toward the Ascension Platform. "Soft-hearted and hesitant. With a temperament like that, you don't look like someone meant for greatness at all. I remember you weren't like this before?"

Xu Xian asked with interest, "What was I like before?"

The black mist spoke slowly, "If it were the old you, why would you go through all this trouble? You would have just killed them all. Either you don't do it at all, or you do it thoroughly. To be honest, I quite liked the old you. The current you..."

The voice paused, and the black mist let out a soft click of the tongue. "Is a bit underwhelming."

Xu Xian gave a bitter smile.

So, the old Xu Xian's reputation really was that bad.

But...

"That was then, and this is now."

Xu Xian didn't explain further, simply stating his stance.

He admitted it; he had changed.

The world had changed, everything had changed, so naturally, he had changed as well.

After saying this, Xu Xian added, "If I were still the same person as before, I would never have compromised with you. I would have fought to the death for mutual destruction. Is that what you want to see?"

The black mist shook his head solemnly, then immediately broke into a mischievous grin. "However, I was looking forward to it... if it had gone that way, it would have been very exciting. At least more interesting than this."

Xu Xian's lips moved silently as he cursed the man for being insane.

The black mist figure didn't care at all and asked out of the blue, "Do you know what I would have done in your place?"

Xu Xian said coldly, "Not interested."

As if he hadn't heard, the black mist answered his own question. "If it were me, I would have killed them all. And not just them—I would have destroyed their mountain gates, wiped out their descendants, and severed their legacies. I'd pull them up by the roots to end the trouble once and for all. I would use the blood of the world to prove my Sovereign Dao. Hahaha!"

Xu Xian's expression remained unchanged, as calm as a still well.

Anyone can talk big.

It was just flapping lips.

However, the one before him had actually done such things. The Twilight Emperor in the stories told by the old tortoise was even more ruthless and decisive than what Xu Xian had heard or what He had described.

That was also one of the reasons why He had been crusaded against by the entire world.

Because He was too absolute.

Those who offended Him never met a good end.

He made enemies of the entire world.

Xu Xian had once been that kind of person, believing that doing so was the wisest choice for a clever man.

And now?

He had changed after all.

He said with a hint of sarcasm, "Injustice brings its own destruction. Is that why you've become this ghostly mess?"

The black mist didn't mind; instead, he seemed quite proud. "What mess? I'm doing great, and I'll be doing even better. Regardless, at least I'm alive. Do you know why? Because the good die young, but a scourge lives for a thousand years. Hahaha..."

Xu Xian's gaze was cold as he asked, "And? What are you trying to say? Do you want me to learn from you? Do you want me to become you? Or do you want me to walk your old path and end up like you..."

The black mist spread his hands as if it were obvious. "Wouldn't that be great? What I said still stands for you. Drink that cup of Emperor's Blood now, and all past grudges will be wiped clean. Once we're up there, I'll look after you..."

Xu Xian was amused and refused as always. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

The black mist remained unwilling to give up and continued to push. "Don't be like that. Won't you reconsider? We can negotiate."

Xu Xian adopted the posture of those old monsters and spoke with an air of ancient authority.

"Those with different paths cannot plan together!"

The black mist looked disdainful. "Tch... cut the bullshit with me. Can logic fill your stomach? 'Different paths cannot plan together'? Let me tell you, in this world—whether it's the Heavens or the mortal realm, immortal or mortal, black or white—it's all the same."

"The paths of the world are many, but they do not lead to the same end."

"People like us only appear once every few hundred thousand or even a million years. Because we are born extraordinary, conflict is inevitable."

"We struggle against heaven, against earth, and against all living things."

"Domination."

"Conquest."

"Ruling the world."

"That is your path and mine."

"Born in the sea of stars, one should tell the entire galaxy:"

"I came."

"I conquered."

"Understand?"

It was the same old talk, a pointless argument. Contempt flickered in Xu Xian's eyes, but he didn't forget to take the opportunity to probe. "So, you're like the Spirit-Devouring Tribe? You want to unify Cangming by extinguishing stars and spirits?"

The black mist waved his hand, his tone full of distaste and rejection. "Don't lump me in with those monsters. I'm not as foolish as they are..."

"Oh?"

Xu Xian fell into thought. It seemed his guess might be correct.

The Twilight Emperor indeed had a history with the Spirit-Devouring Tribe.

But in reality, they weren't entirely on the same side.

Or rather, their values and goals were different. Just as he had said: those with different paths cannot plan together.

No wonder He was willing to settle for the next best thing and cooperate with him.

He was likely afraid that if He exhausted himself, He would only become a puppet of the darkness upon reaching the Upper Realm.

He was a monarch of the past.

How could He be willing to bow His head and serve another?

If that were truly the case, things were about to get much more interesting.

He didn't want to continue this topic and impatiently ended the argument. "Fine. If you just want to argue over who's right or wrong, then consider yourself the winner. I'm busy and don't have time to listen to your nonsense."

The black mist restrained his aura but continued his sarcasm. "I won't argue then. Just don't come begging me before I crush you with my own hands once we're up there."

"The outcome is not yet decided. You don't get the final say," Xu Xian shot back with his own threat.

The black mist chuckled. This was the feeling—confidence and arrogance, exactly like He had been in His youth. He looked down from the clouds and mocked:

"Look at these fellows. In the vast Fanzhou, after tens of thousands of years of accumulation, there are barely four hundred ninth stage powerhouses. Tsk tsk. To think you'd gamble your life for such a vile land. Tell me, aren't you stupid? That's not how you weigh the cost..."

Xu Xian's gaze didn't waver as he said calmly:

"I don't care what you think; I only care what I think. Whether it's worth it or not isn't for you to decide. I'm the one who decides."

"Got it?"