The Zhao Household's Delivery Arrived Late, but It Arrived
Little C, you're just as childish as that perpetually immature kid.
Lu Ping looked at Little A and Little B and shook his head.
This girl is quite loyal and compassionate.
Lu Ping chose A.
[You chose A.]
You reached out and took the token, then put it away.
[You look at the girl you raised; she no longer needs your protection and is capable of standing on her own.]
[You reach out and gently pat her head, just like you used to.]
[You reached out halfway, then stopped.]
[She's the Sect Master now.]
[You withdrew your hand, and simply said calmly,]
"Practice diligently."
"Qinghe understands."
[Qinghe bowed deeply to you again, remaining motionless for a long time.]
Without another word, you turned and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.
[Qinghe looked up, gazing in the direction you disappeared, her eyes slightly red.]
A figure in cyan appeared beside her; it was Qingyu.
[Qingyu looked in the direction you left and pouted.]
"It's good that they've left. From now on, the Profound Beast Taming Sect belongs to us sisters."
[She said that, but seeing her younger sister's dejected look, she sighed and put her arm around her shoulder.]
[After you leave the Profound Beast Taming Sect, go to Cangxuan City and use the Teleportation Array.]
Your destination is Qingyang City.
[A few days later, you appeared in Qingyang City.]
[This trip to fulfill the eleven-year promise made to Wuming is to obtain the fundamental principles of As-If-Original Seal.]
[This is somewhat similar to the last simulation where I went to the White Tiger Domain to forge the Star River Myriad Blades.]
[Compared to when you plotted to kill the Golden Crow Demon Emperor at Demon-Severing Cliff, you were noticeably more relaxed this time.]
[In the blink of an eye, you've been away from Qingyang Domain for over ten years.]
[You still hold the title of Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect, and you were personally appointed by the Azure Cloud Sect Master. ]
[When you left Azure Cloud Sect, it seems you only paid rent for Xiaolai Peak for two years.]
[If you calculate it this way, you already owe the Azure Cloud Sect nine years' worth of management fees.]
[Spirit Stones are no longer a problem, but suddenly you're finding yourself reluctant to go back to the Azure Cloud Sect.]
[Just let it be. As long as you don't show up, no one can come after you for the debt.]
[You recall Song Fuan's advice: the key to breaking through to the Spirit Transformation lies entirely in comprehending the Principle of heaven and earth.]
But these two words, "Principle," are so elusive and intangible; where exactly should one begin to comprehend them?
[You activate the Formless Myriad-Breath Cloak, concealing your aura to the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
You casually walk into a teahouse and choose a table by the window to sit down.
[Several cultivators at the next table were having a lively conversation.]
"Have you heard? The Zhao Household has gone mad lately; the entire clan has been mobilized."
"The entire clan has mobilized? What for?"
"What for? Hmph, murder, of course."
"Murder? Who did you kill? Was it some kind of sworn enemy?"
"He's a monk! Dressed in white, and extremely handsome. I heard that monk killed the young master of the Zhao Household..."
Your hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.
[The white-robed monk was handsome.]
[At this point in time, near Qingyang City, besides Wuming of Great Forest Temple, you really can't think of another person who fits this description.]
[You put down your teacup, a strange sense of disorientation rising within you.]
[In the third simulation, you, at the Foundation Establishment Realm, killed Zhao Mingchuan. Li Yuniang pursued you, and finally, the Household Ancestor Zhao personally intervened.]
[That time you were being crushed to the ground by the pressure of Nascent Soul cultivator, it was Wuming who traveled thousands of miles to rescue you.]
[You're currently on this simulation timeline, but you haven't gone to the Yellow Fang Secret Realm.]
[After all the twists and turns, it was Wuming who killed Zhao Mingchuan and angered Li Yuniang?]
The gears of cause and effect are truly mysterious.
Is this also part of the Principle?
[Options pop up.]
[A: Heavenly Dao comes around. He went to great lengths to save you back then, now it's your turn to repay him. Set off immediately to rescue him.]
[B: The mere Zhao Household, hehehe, let's kill Zhao Household, loot them, and wipe them out completely before we go get anyone else.]
[C: Send a congratulatory telegram to the Zhao Household regarding Comrade Zhao Mingchuan's physical deliverance, and hang a banner at their door shouting: "I've secured the monk's life! Do you still want Little Zhao's urn? Now only thirty-two Spirit Stones!"]
Looking at Little B, Lu Ping sensed that Little B hadn't had enough of killing 150 Demon Cultivators at the Demon-Severing Cliff.
At this point, the priority is naturally to rescue the people.
Lu Ping chose A.
[You chose A.]
You left the tea money behind and headed straight out of Qingyang City.
[You are now in the Nascent Soul Late Stage, and the Zhao Household has mobilized in great force.]
[With a sweep of your Divine Sense, you easily found the traces they left behind.]
[You followed the trail northwards, and soon stopped for a moment atop a desolate mountain.]
[The mountainside collapsed, and dozens of mutilated corpses lay on the ground.]
[You glanced around and saw several Golden Core cultivators had perished here, one of whose corpses was none other than Li Yuniang.]
[You compared the situation in the third simulation, where Li Yuniang only brought thirty Foundation Establishment with her when she chased you.]
[The team hunting down Wuming this time is noticeably stronger.]
[You didn't stop, continuing to follow the aftershocks of Spiritual Power forward.]
[A day later, a violent surge of Spiritual Qi suddenly erupted in the sky.]
[When you arrived, you saw Wuming crushing a dark blue jade Jade Talisman in mid-air.]
[A silvery galaxy of Killing Intent, mixed with countless flying blades, instantly engulfed an old man in a green robe.]
[That's the Star River Talisman you left for Wuming.]
As you watch this scene, a strange feeling stirs within you once again.
[Back then, when you were being hunted down by the Household Ancestor Zhao, you relied on a phantom image of Jiang Mutian within the ring to instantly kill that Nascent Soul Perfection stage old monster.]
[Now, Wuming, relying on the Star River Talisman you crafted, is facing the same old monster.]
[However, after the power of the Star River Myriad Blades dissipated, the Household Ancestor Zhao did not die.]
He was covered in blood, and half of his body was almost torn apart by the flying blades.
You sighed.
[The Star River Talisman you crafted can only severely injure him in the end.]
[Compared to Jiang Mutian, you are indeed worlds apart.]
[The Household Ancestor Zhao had withstood the attack of the Star River Myriad Blades head-on; already weakened, his eyes were now filled with terror. His feet Escape Light, and he already considered retreating.]
You didn't give him that chance.
[You raise your hand, Thousand Mechanisms Falling Blossoms Instruction is activated.]
[A dozen Low-Grade Spirit Stones shot through the air and struck the remaining protective aura of the Household Ancestor Zhao.]
[I'm the Client, this agreement is effective.]
[The spiritual pressure emanating from the Household Ancestor Zhao suddenly froze, and the protective barrier instantly collapsed.]
[Immediately afterwards, the real Star River Myriad Blades made their move.]
[The flying blade, imbued with the Spirit-Chaos Lure and the Spirit-Winding Threads, followed the pull of the Thousand Mechanisms Falling Blossoms Instruction and pierced directly through his Dantian.]
[After a short while, the shockwave dissipated.]
[The already weakened Household Ancestor Zhao, along with his infant, was instantly reduced to ashes, leaving only an ancient-looking Storage Ring floating in the air.]
[Wuming looked at the lingering blood mist in mid-air, then at you, who remained calm and composed.]
His fingers, which were moving the prayer beads, stopped.
"Senior Lu..."
[He clearly didn't expect you to appear here, and to so cleanly and decisively kill a Nascent Soul Perfection at the peak of his cultivation.]
[Looking at his disheveled appearance, I found it strangely amusing.]
[Back then, you were being hunted down like a dog, and he appeared like a savior.]
Today, however, the script has turned around. No, it has finally turned right.
[Options pop up.]
[A: Speak gently.]
[B: Hmph, little Golden Core, kneel down and kiss my shoes.]
[C: Stepping forward, she cornered Wuming against a tree, lifted his delicate chin, and spoke with a mix of detachment, mockery, and nonchalance: "Master, your disheveled appearance has successfully caught my attention..."]