Su Li's End, and His Foolish Death

Su Li looked at Que Xinyan and lost himself in thought for a moment before speaking. "The future has changed. If you stay at Wanli Holy Land today, you may well meet with disaster.

"And the way to escape it is to leave for Blazing Wasteland right now and go cultivate at the Soul Suppressing Stele. There, you'll gain an incredible opportunity!"

"No, Que Xinyan's opportunity lies at Wanli Holy Land. Little Friend Su has been deducing the Heavenly Secrets too much lately, to the point that he's become overly tense. He's made some flawed deductions, and his words have been affected by interference from the Heavenly Secrets. You shouldn't take them entirely at face value!

"You're a true disciple of Wanli Holy Land, and you have a chance of becoming its Saint Son one day. Who in this region would deliberately make trouble for you?"

Zhuge Wuwei smiled, glanced casually at Su Li, then repeated almost exactly the same words to Que Xinyan.

Su Li's expression tightened slightly. The dormant hot blood in his body showed signs of boiling up again.

Mu Yuxi's hand tightened slightly as she held on to Su Li, as if afraid he would insult Zhuge Wuwei again.

Zhuge Wuwei had forcibly cut off his deductions about cause and effect. It was simply too much!

A rage he could barely suppress rose in Su Li's heart.

Hearing this, Que Xinyan first bowed to Zhuge Wuwei and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Mystic Master Zhuge."

Then he turned his round, ball-like body and bowed to Su Li as well. "Master Su, does that mean... Wanli Holy Land is in danger?"

Su Li asked, "Do you want to live and die with Wanli Holy Land?"

"Master Su, someone as lowly and useless as Xinyan has already been blessed beyond measure to attain my status today.

"So if Wanli Holy Land is in danger, I can't leave on my own.

"As long as Wanli Holy Land stands, so will I. If Wanli Holy Land falls, then I'll fall with it."

Su Li fell silent for a long while, then turned and looked at Yun Wanchu.

Yun Wanchu sighed softly and spoke in a gentle voice. "Que Xinyan, your constitution is well suited to cultivating the Holy Land's core inheritance technique, and you're loyal enough to the Holy Land. Listen to Master Su. Go now."

Hua Yunxiao glanced at Yun Wanchu with some displeasure. Yun Wanchu lowered his head, awkwardly pretending not to notice.

Que Xinyan hesitated, then asked quietly, "Holy Lord, then... may I take one elite disciple with me?"

Que Xinyan wanted to bring Qiao Lian'er along.

"Qiao Lian'er, you mean? She's not worthy of you. If not for your wholehearted loyalty to the sect, someone like her would never have been allowed into Wanli Holy Land, let alone become an elite disciple."

Que Xinyan shook his head, a trace of tenderness in his eyes. He murmured, "No matter what others think of her, in my heart, she's the most beautiful fairy. I like her, and it has nothing to do with whether she likes me back. For someone as lowly as an ant like me, simply having a fairy to love is already happiness.

"In the past, I didn't even have the courage to like someone..."

As he spoke, Que Xinyan looked dejected and remorseful. He lowered his head, his dark, ugly face full of guilt. "I'm sorry, Mystic Master Zhuge, Senior Hua, and Holy Lord. I'm sorry, Master Su. At this moment, when the sect's survival is at stake, I'm still fretting over personal feelings. I've let you down."

Su Li felt a faint pain in his heart, though he couldn't quite explain why.

He took out six cold stalks and cast a divination for Que Xinyan on the spot. The result was the Heaven and Earth Hexagram Pi.

The Pi hexagram meant that everything would go badly, but with caution and patience, misfortune could turn to good fortune.

If Que Xinyan truly went to Blazing Wasteland, his journey might instead bring a turn of fortune.

Su Li checked Que Xinyan's Life Archive. There was no sign that his fate would end in death, either.

"Silly child, go. If... Wanli Holy Land really is gone, remember to cultivate well and pass on its inheritance. Don't let it die out! And don't bother trying to avenge us."

Yun Wanchu patted Que Xinyan on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.

He didn't look at Hua Yunxiao's expression. Partly, he lacked the courage, and partly, he was afraid that if he did, Que Xinyan wouldn't be able to leave.

Que Xinyan listened in silence, then knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Yun Wanchu three times, each thud ringing out.

Then, with great resolve, he turned and left.

"Blazing Wasteland has already become a dead land. If you go there, you'll be walking to your death! Little Friend Su, since you've already fallen into a state of cultivation deviation, why force yourself to continue your deductions until your information becomes jumbled and you mislead a young disciple?"

Zhuge Wuwei spoke again, his tone somewhat cold.

Que Xinyan paused and turned around. He still bowed to Zhuge Wuwei and said respectfully, "Senior Zhuge, thank you for your kind advice. I understand your good intentions. My life already belongs to Master Su. If not for him, I would have died when that enormous stele fell from the sky.

"Senior, I'll take my leave now."

As he spoke, Que Xinyan bowed once more, then resolutely turned and flew away.

He left without the slightest hesitation.

Su Li checked the current thoughts in Que Xinyan's Life Archive and felt a slight sense of comfort.

"Master Su, you're too sharp-edged. You've overshadowed Mystic Master Zhuge, so now he's started targeting you. Master Su, please be careful!"

"Holy Lord, you're not just the Holy Lord. You're my master, and also the father in my heart. But this calamity is simply too great. Last night, the hidden Yin Spirit talent within me gave me a premonition. If I get caught up in this calamity, it will surely bring about a dreadful disaster. So since you've told me to leave, I won't insist on staying.

"I'll endure, bear the humiliation, and cling to life. One day, I'll make Wanli Holy Land's inheritance flourish, then avenge you, Master! I won't let you down!"

"Lian'er, wait for me. I-I'll protect you through this crisis..."

Que Xinyan was gone. Zhuge Wuwei gave a quiet cough and said, "Little Friend Su, you'd best stop wasting your effort. Cultivating the way of the Heavenly Secrets doesn't mean the more you deduce, the better. Know when to stop, and don't let your edge show too much!"

Su Li frowned and said coldly, "When Hua Yunxiao went to Blazing Wasteland and was about to encounter the giant stele falling from the sky, where was Mystic Master Zhuge?"

Zhuge Wuwei seemed displeased. "Little Friend Su, you seem to have a lot of pent-up hostility. For those of us who cultivate the way of the Heavenly Secrets, harboring such hostility is most improper!"

As soon as Zhuge Wuwei finished speaking, Su Li suddenly heard a different voice: "You little brat, you really don't know when to quit! Still hiding your hostility in your words? What, planning to get your revenge once you grow stronger? You won't get the chance!"

Su Li said, "Sorry, but the Heavenly Secrets of Mystic Master Zhuge and I aren't the same. What I cultivate isn't your way of the Heavenly Secrets, either. Those who walk different paths can't work together!"

Then Su Li added, "Does Mystic Master Zhuge think I don't know when to quit? Are you planning to make another secret move, shock my internal organs, and rob me of any chance to grow?"

With a single sentence, Su Li exposed Zhuge Wuwei's intentions on the spot!

This time, it was in full view of the crowd, and everyone could hear him.

When Su Li finished speaking, Zhuge Wuwei's heart gave a sudden jolt. This little brat can deduce my thoughts? What an absurdly heaven-defying talent! What a sharp-tongued little brat. Once I've subdued him and taken him back to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, I'll make him regret it!

Though he thought this, he still sneered. "Ignorant junior, what a joke. My Heavenly Secrets Pavilion commands the Heavenly Secrets and controls cause and effect. Why would we bother with an ignorant junior like you?"

Su Li's Reasoning to Convince ability stirred again. He heard Zhuge Wuwei's inner thoughts once more, so he exposed them directly with a cold laugh. "Is that so? Then why are you still shocked that I can deduce your thoughts? Why are you still planning to subdue me, take me back to your Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, erode my memories, and steal my opportunities?"

At Su Li's words, Zhuge Wuwei's breathing hitched.

Then even Hua Yunxiao's expression tightened, and a strange look appeared in his eyes.

But he hid it well and didn't show anything. Still, through the Life Archive System, Su Li had already noticed that Hua Yunxiao had begun to suspect Zhuge Wuwei.

As far as Hua Yunxiao was concerned, he was supposed to hand Su Li over to Hua Lingshang to possess!

If Zhuge Wuwei snatched Su Li away halfway and used him to refine a soul, how would the Hua Clan's Patriarch, Hua Lingshang, ever revive?

Wasn't this bastard way too underhanded?

So that was why Zhuge Wuwei was in such a hurry to find Zhuge Chunqiu: he wanted to make a move on Su Li?

And this was the "cooperation" with the Hua Clan's Patriarch that he'd promised? Was this what he called sincerity?

He'd said all the right things to my face, only to ambush me behind my back? Steal the fruits of my Hua Clan?

Su Li realized that Hua Yunxiao no longer trusted Zhuge Wuwei, and that their cooperation had developed a crack. At once, he felt much better.

At that moment, new Heavenly Secrets information popped up on the system panel.

[Reasoning to Convince: Exposed Zhuge Wuwei's hypocrisy. Gained 7,661 Heavenly Secrets Value.]

[Reasoning to Convince: Exposed Zhuge Wuwei's hypocrisy. Gained 8,129 Heavenly Secrets Value.]

Su Li saw it and immediately felt as if he'd been pumped full of adrenaline, his whole body refreshed and his anger vented.

No word could describe how satisfying it felt!

Just then, Zhuge Wuwei suddenly felt a strange pang of alarm.

In that instant, he lost control of his mind and felt an urge to kill Su Li on the spot!

His face turned dark and cold. Without hesitation, he gathered the power of heavenly tribulation, unleashing a terrifying aura that surged toward Su Li.

"Brat, watch your tongue! A Mystic Master's dignity must not be insulted! Get down on your knees!"

He shouted furiously.

Su Li was about to activate the Wind Spirit Dust Avoiding Armor to block the attack, but Mu Yuxi immediately stepped forward and stood in front of him.

At the same time, Zhuge Qingchen also darted forward. He raised his hand and sent out a Heavenly Secrets Token, which transformed into a shield and blocked Zhuge Wuwei's attack.

"Master, I owe Master Su a debt of gratitude. Will this be enough?"

As he spoke, Zhuge Qingchen slapped himself across the face.

"Pfft—"

Half the bones in his face shattered on the spot, and the slap smashed one side of his face to pieces.

Mu Yuxi, who had already stepped in front of Su Li, silently withdrew the golden core spiritual energy she'd drawn up and returned to his side.

Hua Ziyan's eyes widened. She bit her lip tightly, then looked at her father, Hua Yunxiao, with some reproach.

Hua Yunxiao's expression shifted unpredictably, and his gaze grew more complicated.

Fang Yueheng, Yun Qingxuan, Yun Qinghong, and the others all wore different expressions.

The whole scene fell completely silent.

Su Li's heart trembled.

"Master, is that enough? If it isn't, I'll do it again!"

Zhuge Qingchen was about to strike again.

"Enough! You wretch! I see I've indulged you far too much all these years!"

Zhuge Wuwei fixed Zhuge Qingchen with a cold stare.

"Heh, Master, it's been over thirty years. You've been too impatient all these years, and your thinking has gone astray. You just haven't realized it yourself!

"Yesterday, Master Su only reluctantly agreed to accept me as an unofficial disciple after I begged him again and again.

"Even if he did so reluctantly, Master Su has still been teaching me with care. I can only blame myself for being inadequate and letting him down!

"So Master Su is my master, too.

"You're pushing him so aggressively, completely disregarding your own standing, and bullying an eighteen-year-old junior like this. Is that how people in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion conduct themselves?"

Blood poured from Zhuge Qingchen's mouth, but he still spoke each word clearly, his bearing undiminished. "The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is no longer what it once was. But I hope there's still some of the original, untainted Heavenly Secrets left within it!

"If there isn't, then I'll make sure I truly hold the Heavenly Secrets within myself! Truly, with a clear conscience!"

Zhuge Qingchen's words were so thunderous that they shook everyone present to the core!

Even Zhuge Wuwei's inexplicably restless, suppressed fury gradually subsided.

His face was dark, yet he radiated an immense, terrifying pressure, like a mountain bearing down on them.

At that moment, even though Su Li wasn't being affected by any laws, he still felt that the world had dimmed, as if he were facing a towering mountain.

"The great calamity is coming, and you lot—truly don't understand anything!"

Zhuge Wuwei barked at them, then raised his hand and cast a Heavenly Secrets barrier around Zhuge Qingchen so the others couldn't hear what he was about to say.

"No one in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion doesn't want to hold the Heavenly Secrets within themselves, with pure energy filling their hearts! But the world itself is already murky!

"Besides, I haven't deliberately targeted this person. It's just that his method of deducing the Heavenly Secrets is exceedingly strange, and it plays an extremely important role in the great calamity!

"It's crucial that our Heavenly Secrets Pavilion takes charge of this thing!

"Can you imagine what would happen if it fell into someone else's hands?"

"What, are you afraid someone might overhear? Do you think I don't know what you've been doing all these years? Spare me those lofty-sounding excuses! At the end of the day, Brother Li—Su Li is only eighteen!

"Are you absolutely certain he doesn't have a master?

"Are you absolutely certain he doesn't have some heaven-defying force backing him?

"Master, you don't need to say any more! If you still refuse to back down, I'll use the Heavenly Secrets Divine Stone to summon the Holy Ancestor and have him judge you!"

Zhuge Qingchen refused to yield.

Zhuge Wuwei swept a cold glance over Zhuge Qingchen, his eyes filled with deep disappointment. "Fine. Since that's how it is, I won't interfere in this matter."

Only then did Zhuge Qingchen let out a breath of relief. "Master, I don't mean to make things difficult for you. It really is just that—"

Zhuge Wuwei gave a cold snort. "You don't need to say anything more. You're young and hot-blooded, with the ambition of youth. There are things you simply don't understand yet! But time will prove that everything I've done was right!"

It seemed Zhuge Wuwei had already relented.

Only then did Zhuge Qingchen relax.

He raised a hand and used the power of the Heavenly Secrets to withdraw Zhuge Wuwei's barrier, then turned to explain things to Su Li.

But at that moment, Zhuge Wuwei struck like lightning, bringing his palm down hard on the back of Zhuge Qingchen's head.

"Thud—"

Zhuge Qingchen's head jolted, and he pitched forward, stiff as a board.

Then Zhuge Wuwei grabbed the back of Zhuge Qingchen's neck and removed the Universe Ring from his finger.

Next, a great mass of Heavenly Secrets power surged from Zhuge Wuwei's hand. It gathered, light spilling out to envelop Zhuge Qingchen.

In an instant, Zhuge Qingchen vanished into the light, captured by Zhuge Wuwei and stored in a special magic treasure.

"Sorry. This disciple is a little disobedient and has violated the rules of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, so he'll need to spend some time in confinement and reflect on his actions."

Zhuge Wuwei spoke lightly, his terrifying aura temporarily reined in.

Only then did he look at Su Li and say, "Little Friend Su, it seems you have quite an objection. Very displeased? Think this old man will harm you? Why don't we discuss it properly?"

Zhuge Wuwei had torn off all pretense. His words were now icy and biting.

Thanks to reader 'E_TY_L' for the 200 Qidian coins! Thanks to 'reader20180902011921799' for the 100 Qidian coins! Many, many thanks!