Self-Deception

"So, are you being wary of me?"

Shang Yu stabbed Li Ban through the neck with One Sword Li Ban strike.

Chapter 570 Self-deception

Li Ban glanced down at the sword protruding from his chest, then turned incredulously to Shang Yu, asking in a trembling voice, "Why... why?"

"For justice."

With a cold reply, Shang Yu raised her palm again, gathering the power to ward off evil, and Li Ban in the back, causing him to spit blood and fly out. Then, she swung the Wheel-Turning King Sword in her hand, and the Sword Qi shot out, breaking the magic array that was in operation.

The Wheel-Turning King Sword was naturally lent to Shang Yu by Si Ming, because Shang Yu was currently occupying Liu Qingqing's body. Although her spiritual cultivation was not weak, it was only applicable to Technique Method. If she were to use martial arts, she would inevitably be limited by her body. Even if she suddenly launched an attack, she might not be able to hurt Li Ban, who was considered the number one person in the Evil Dao. Only with a divine weapon in hand could she be unstoppable and ignore the defense of the Blood Flow Gang Qi.

Li Ban flew several feet away, feeling the Evil-Slaying Sword Qi surging within his body. His expression turned extremely grim. Fortunately, the Sword Qi wasn't too strong, so he quickly activated his evil technique to force it out. Then he looked up and asked, "Yu'er, are you being controlled?"

"You are the one controlled by the lust for power. I killed you with my own will, and that is why I have been resurrected."

"Why? I don't understand! Is the feeling between us just a lie?"

Shang Yu shook her head and said, "If only one of us could live, I hope it would be you—this feeling hasn't changed."

Li Ban recalled the moment when Wan Yebai stabbed him with his One Sword, Shang Yu took the blow for him. A tender look appeared in his eyes, but he asked with a hint of doubt, "If that's the case, why are you so determined to kill me?"

"Because love is not the only important thing in the world. Perhaps some women can abandon their Lineage and even turn against their fathers and brothers for their lovers, but I am definitely not that kind of person."

Shang Yu pointed her sword at the other person and continued, "You are the same. I don't doubt your love for me, but which is more important to you, love or power?"

"I did it all for you..."

"Perhaps it was like that at first, because back then you hadn't tasted the power yet, and were still full of longing for beautiful things. But gradually, you changed, becoming more enthusiastic about pursuing power, and love became your excuse, a name to cover up the ugliness in your heart. When you used the banner of avenging me to slaughter the disciples of the Evil-Slaying Sword School Sect, did you ever think about my feelings?"

"I did this because I truly wanted to avenge you. If it weren't for the Evil-Slaying Sword School's constant obstruction, we would have been together long ago! Especially that hypocrite Wan Yebai, who stabbed One Sword without any regard for right or wrong. If he hadn't been determined to kill me, would he have been unable to stop himself in the end? What's even more hateful is that he actually knew I was an inside man all along, but in order to protect the reputation of the Evil-Slaying Sword School, he wanted to kill me to silence me!"

Shang Yu fell silent, a look of hesitation on her face.

Just as Li Ban thought he had persuaded Shang Yu, he heard her say, "I know... I know what the sect leader was thinking, which is why I took that One Sword for you. The sect leader then understood my intentions and stopped pursuing you. Everyone understands, except you."

"What did you say!"

"I swore to the sect leader with my life that I would give you a chance to turn over a new leaf, but you have disappointed me."

Li Ban was first surprised, then angrily said, "I haven't done anything wrong, why should I turn over a new leaf? I've been wronged from beginning to end, why don't even you believe me?"

"Really? You really never had the thought of using your position as an inside agent to seek a higher position and more power within the Blood Abyss Sect?"

"That was an instruction from your father. I had no choice but to climb the ranks in order to better complete my mission."

"Li Lang, I know you better than anyone else, even better than yourself. If you truly mean these words, it only proves one thing—you've even deceived yourself!"

Li Ban took a step back, both surprised and frightened. "Do you really not trust me that much?"

"I grew up in the Righteous Qi Palace. The sect is my home, and my fellow disciples are my family. When you killed them in the name of revenge, did you ever think about my feelings?"

"I did this to avenge you..."

"Stop making excuses! You've only ever thought of yourself!" Shang Yu angrily rebuked. "If you had even a shred of concern for me, you wouldn't have been able to do it. Using revenge as an excuse to deceive others is one thing, but saying such things to me—don't you find it ridiculous? How long are you going to keep deceiving yourself?"

These words, like arrows, pierced through the long-built defenses of the heart. Li Ban's expression shifted between Li Ban and uncertainty. Finally, he sighed, relaxed his guard, and said, "Fine. You saved my life back then, so I'll return it to you. Take it."

After saying this, he seemed to have given up resisting and closed his eyes to await his death.

At this moment, all the murderous aura around him vanished, and he seemed to be just an ordinary swordsman in the martial arts world, rather than Evil Dao demon.

Shang Yu's hand holding the sword trembled slightly. Looking at the face she loved so deeply, recalling the scene when they first met, she felt a pang of reluctance and sighed softly.

"That day, perhaps I shouldn't have saved you. If you had died then, I could have gathered evidence, cleared your name, restored your heroic reputation, and then followed you in death... Now it's too late. You've made a grave mistake, and there's no turning back. May we meet again in the next life."

If Shang Yu were alive, she might have thought of giving Li Ban another chance to turn over a new leaf, staying by his side and guiding him towards goodness, even if he was full of sins, she could repay them one by one. But now she is just a wisp of obsession, more innocent and more determined than the real Li Ban.

He immediately summoned his Buddhist weapon, and a dazzling Sword Qi soared into the sky, piercing towards Li Ban's throat, aiming to One Sword—

You actually want to kill me?

Li Ban caught the Wheel-Turning King Sword, which was inches away, with both hands. His throat was even cut by the residual force of the Sword Qi. He was both shocked and furious, and immediately said, "No, you are not Yu'er! Yu'er would never be so cruel as to kill me! Who are you, impersonating her to ambush me!"

With a surge of surging Blood Qi, he launched a fierce counterattack using his evil skills, instantly injuring and repelling Shang Yu. Then, the Blood Dragon Halberd appeared in his palm and slashed through the air towards her vital points.

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

Liu Qingqing, Blood Spirit Body, suddenly appeared, pointed her finger, and a long spear formed from Blood Sha Qi whistled as it pierced towards Li Ban.

Although her moves were clumsy, she possessed the cultivation of three drops of Myriad Filth Tainted Blood, making her only slightly inferior to Li Ban. Li Ban dared not take this attack head-on, especially since the part pierced by the Wheel-Turning King Sword was still throbbing with pain. He immediately swung the Blood Dragon Halberd and smashed the blood-red spear.

Shang Yu, who had retreated, sighed, her voice filled with disappointment and sorrow. "Are you going to deceive yourself again? It seems you really are beyond help."

"Shut up! You're not Yu'er at all. You just have her memories and want to impersonate her... Oh, right, this must also be Wan Yebai's scheme. He ordered you to impersonate Shang Yu, setting up a psychological trap to make me helplessly offer my neck for slaughter. You're dreaming!"

Li Ban made a hand seal, bit his tongue, and suddenly raised his head, spitting out a mouthful of blood. This mouthful of blood was transformed from his life Essence Blood, and it was no small matter. In the blink of an eye, it turned into countless tiny sparks, which rained down on Shang Yu and Liu Qingqing.

The Myriad Filth Tainted Blood was originally refined by Li Ban, so he was naturally very clear about its characteristics. He knew that ordinary attacks were useless against the Blood Spirit Body, and only the methods of depleting vital Primal Qi and erasing spirituality could produce substantial damage.

"Blood Calamity Firmament!"

Li Ban unleashed his evil magic, Blood Sha Qi, as if alive, automatically differentiated upon leaving his body. Countless sparks of light, like soybeans, multiplied upon contact with the wind, instantly covering a ten-mile radius. Like a torrential rain and hail, it rushed towards Liu Qingqing Shang Yu. This Crimson Blood Gang Sha Essence Blood- fierce aura, catalyzed by his own life essence, was extremely insidious. Once it touched his body, it would directly attack his seven orifices, ignite his true fire, and instantly turn his enemy into ashes.

Liu Qingqing attempted to use the Five Calamities of the Cosmic Dharma Ending, but Shang Yu stopped her in time. "Your current Blood Spirit Body imbues your Technique Method with Blood Sha Qi. If you cannot defeat your opponent, you will only be devoured and empower them. Let me handle this."

As she finished speaking, Shang Yu formed a sword incantation with her hands, pointed her fingers to the sky, and unleashed the Demon-Slaying Sword Technique "Ten Thousand Swords Heavenly Dipper". The Wheel-Turning King Sword immediately shot into the air, transforming into a Sword Qi array and spewing out layers upon layers of sword energy downwards. The sharp edge stirred up waves, sweeping out like a landslide and tsunami.