The Pursuit Continues

"A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study," Shang Yu couldn't help but exclaim.

Then she sighed regretfully and said softly, "If only I had met you sooner..."

These words had a somewhat ambiguous tone, but Si Ming didn't presume to think that he could make the other person fall in love with him based on just a few words. He was probably referring more to Shang Yu as a life mentor.

"I don't understand. Since your values are so upright, why would you fall for Li Ban?"

Si Ming had initially thought Shang Yu was the rebellious rich girl type, like the obedient girl in school who insisted on hanging out with hooligans. But judging from her behavior today, she seemed more like the type to beat up hooligans. Could it be that she had a near-death experience and had a profound change of heart?

Shang Yu recalled, "The Li Ban of the past was not like the one he is now. Back then, he was like a newcomer who had just come down from the mountain to venture into the world, full of expectations for the future. He wanted to make a name for himself through his own efforts, stand out from the crowd, and become a great hero praised by everyone. Rather than ambition, it was more like ideals. His face was full of vigor and light."

After a moment of silence, she said in a heavy tone, "I misjudged his thirst for power. After he tasted power at the Blood Abyss Sect, he quickly succumbed and could no longer extricate himself... I mistakenly thought that Li Ban was still the same person I first met, but I forgot that people eventually change, especially with something as tempting as power, like a drug. Once you've tasted it, you can't control your desire to obtain more."

At this point, Shang Yu raised her head, gave Si Ming an Anomalies look, and said, "In this respect, the Alliance Leader is quite an anomaly. You personally created such a large organization as the Heavenly Martial Alliance, so you must have tasted the feeling of having your word as a royal decree. Why were you able to so easily relinquish this enormous power and leave so gracefully? Are you some kind of saint who has no desires?"

Si Ming laughed upon hearing this and said, "Power is indeed a tempting drug, but not everyone is attracted to it. Just like the beauty of a woman, everyone has different preferences. What is considered beautiful by those who like plump figures might be considered ugly by those who prefer slender figures. There are too many tempting things in this world. Some people like delicious food, some like beautiful women, some like wealth, some like knowledge, some like fame, and some like martial arts."

I even know of a group of people who spend their days in their rooms, chuckling at fictional characters and fantasizing that they are their partners. If you could provide them with the external conditions of having enough to eat and wear, they would be willing to live like that for the rest of their lives. Even if you offered them power in exchange, they would find it troublesome.

Shang Yu was somewhat incredulous. "There really are such strange people in the world?"

"There are quite a few of them; it's a large group."

"A guy like that will never find a wife."

Even a blind cat can catch a dead mouse; every woman has her moments of folly.

Shang Yu empathized, saying, "Yes, women often make foolish mistakes, especially when they meet someone they like. Somehow, they lose the ability to discern even clumsy lies and believe them without thinking... Even if they know the other person is lying, they'll still cling to the possibility that the other person might change their ways and deceive themselves into believing it."

Si Ming said thoughtfully, "Sect Master Wan said that when he stabbed Li Ban with his One Sword, you were captured by Li Ban and used as a shield, which allowed Li Ban to escape. Could it be that...?"

"Yes, I took that One Sword for him willingly; I was willing to die in his place."

"... I'll ask you one more time, what is your wish?"

"Take Li Ban's life."

"Have your feelings changed?"

"I still love him deeply, but that doesn't conflict with wanting him dead. Love is a tempting drug, but that doesn't mean it can be above everything else."

Shang Yu stood up, bowed deeply to Si Ming, and said, "Thank you for your guidance tonight, Alliance Leader. Before, I only wanted to kill Li Ban, but I didn't understand why. Now I have finally cleared up the confusion in my heart."

Si Ming also smiled and said, "It's a good thing for me that you can leave without any regrets."

"It seems you care a great deal about the original owner of this body."

"After all, they're childhood sweethearts, of course I should care."

"Just childhood sweethearts?" Shang Yu's face showed a hint of sarcasm.

"Hey, hey, hey, do the dead also enjoy prying into other people's privacy?"

Even though she's dead, she's still a woman.

The next morning, just as Si Ming was about to set off, he heard Shang Yu, who had been meditating cross-legged all night, suddenly say, "It's done!"

Then she flicked her finger, and three drops of Myriad Filth Tainted Blood flew out, condensing into a ball in the air, constantly writhing and deforming, and finally transforming into the appearance of Liu Qingqing.

"Huh, I can move now?" The blood body looked at its hands.

"That tone... you're Liu Qingqing?"

Si Ming sought confirmation from Shang Yu, who nodded and said, "I've heard about the method of refining an external avatar using the Myriad Filth Tainted Blood Li Ban, and luckily I'm not mistaken. This way, when someone else controls the body, she can exist outside in the form of an avatar."

Si Ming asked worriedly, "Shouldn't we be able to return to our original body?"

"Of course, she can move freely between the two sides. I will also tell her the Mnemonic for refining the avatar. One drop of Myriad Filth Tainted Blood is equivalent to the cultivation of a beginner Grandmaster. Three drops of Myriad Filth Tainted Blood are enough for her to roam freely in the Eastern Martial World. There are few people whose cultivation can surpass her."

Si Ming looked him over and hesitated before asking, "Should we put on some clothes first?"

At this moment, Liu Qingqing looked like a naked jade sculpture, her entire body blood red, her skin incredibly smooth, reflecting sunlight, just like a work of art— Si Ming said he was looking at her with the eyes of someone appreciating a work of art, without a single lewd thought.

"Hmm... so it's a concave type."

Chapter 567 The Pursuit Continues

The Evil Ghost Sect Eastern Martial World, the second Evil Dao sect in the Eastern Martial World after the Blood Abyss Sect, was filled with a suffocating and murderous atmosphere today, with all its disciples wearing expressions as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Ghost Calamity Form, Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood!"

"Man-Made Calamity Form, the Merciless Ravages of War!"

"Divine Calamity Form, the Fall of the Gods!"

"Earthly Plague Form Disease Ravages a Thousand Li!"

The four Technique Method came in quick succession, instantly blasting through the mountain gate. The disciples hiding behind them had no time to dodge and were swallowed up by the Torrent of Technique Method. In an instant, they suffered heavy casualties, some turning into dried corpses, some into withered bones, and some having their flesh and blood explode.

Si Ming raised his foot and kicked the three-meter-tall stone statue standing at the entrance, sending it flying. He shouted, "Hand over Li Ban, and I'll leave you with your corpses intact!"

Shang Yu, who was following behind, reminded them, "At this point, we should say we'll spare your lives, but if we leave you with your bodies intact, they will still put up a fierce fight."

He then glanced at the wreckage scattered on the ground and added, "And you didn't even leave them with their bodies intact."

"Stop nagging, don't worry about the details."