The Black-Robed Gu Master crushed a red pill between his teeth. A layer of dark red substance appeared beneath his body.
His hands moved rapidly before his chest. His fingernails scraped open his palms, and bright red blood ran down his fingertips. Before it could hit the ground, it had already turned into countless insects.
Ten Thousand Gu Heart-Eroding Array, sacrifice!
The beating wings of countless flying insects converged into a shrill scream that stabbed at the ears.
The insects formed a black web in the sky, blotting out the sun. A crimson light gleamed in each insect's eyes as they sought to devour the dazzling lightning.
Li Pingsheng stood motionless, his right arm hanging diagonally at his side.
His arm, once swollen and purplish, now gleamed like jade. The sheen was a mark left by the lightning's bombardment.
He didn't waver at the shrill insect cries.
The Nine Heavens Thunder-Controlling Art circulated on its own within him. It felt as if every acupoint were filled with boiling liquid.
He drew a circle in the air with his left index finger.
"Disperse."
His voice wasn't loud, but the swarm's buzzing fell silent for an instant.
The purple lightning circling above the well suddenly stirred. Then it shrank sharply in midair before sweeping out in every direction.
Wherever the lightning passed, the Gu Insects—said to be capable of eating metal and stone—vanished into wisps of smoke before they could even make a sound.
A huge gap opened in the black web.
Li Pingsheng took a step forward.
The thunderous force released beneath his boot shattered the bluestone slabs.
His figure became a streak of purple light, cutting through the mist just as the Black-Robed Gu Master's eyes suddenly widened.
The Black-Robed Gu Master tried another way to deal with him, but found that he could no longer lift his arms. Every breath took all the strength in his body.
Li Ping extended his right hand and pressed his fingers together.
A long sword formed in his hand, condensed from lightning.
Its blade was a flying arc of electricity. The mist around it sizzled as it burned.
Someone like you shouldn't exist.
The Thunder Sword cleaved through the night.
There was no sound of impact, only the sizzle of lightning scorching blood.
The parts of the Black-Robed Gu Master struck by lightning immediately blackened and carbonized. His natal Gu Insects, which had been lurking inside him, tried to flee, but the moment they touched the outside air, lightning fire ignited them.
The Black-Robed Gu Master fell to the ground, his remaining eye fixed on Old Qi.
"Well-Guardian... your line will all die in the end..."
Before he could finish, Li Pingsheng casually raised his hand, and a bolt of lightning pierced his forehead.
You have gained 1.5 potential points for killing an evil cultivator.
There are now 3.5 potential points remaining.
When the system notification sounded in his mind, Li Pingsheng paid it no heed.
He turned around and saw an old man sitting by the well.
Old Qi's back was hunched now, and the wrinkles on his face ran deep.
His face was deathly pale, and the Azure Light Shield in his hand was completely shattered.
He had neither fled nor begged for mercy. He had simply sat there, watching the Black-Robed Gu Master turn to ashes, then watched as Li Pingsheng slowly approached.
"You've won."
Old Qi let out a long sigh, his voice hoarse.
Li Pingsheng stopped three paces from Old Qi. Lightning still glowed in his right hand.
"Why did you do this?"
Old Qi didn't look up.
"The seal has weakened."
Old Qi looked at the ancient well, so deep its bottom could not be seen.
"Fifty years ago, when I took over, we sacrificed to the earth's ley lines once every three years. But the turbid energy has grown worse and worse. Whatever lies beneath is on the verge of awakening."
A smile hung from his lips, but there was no mirth in his eyes.
"I tried many methods, but none of them worked. In over a hundred years, you're the first to possess both pure Yang blood and the talent to begin mastering the art of thunder."
"So you think it was right to sacrifice me?"
Li Pingsheng's voice was steady, without a trace of emotion.
After a while, Old Qi finally spoke.
"Sacrificing one person could save the lives of more than thirty thousand people in the Wealthy District, and bring peace to all of Azure Cloud City... I would have done it. Even knowing it was wrong, I still would have done it."
"Is this the 'greater good' you talked about?" Li Pingsheng took a step forward, and several cracks appeared in the stone stele.
"What gave you the right to make that decision for me? Because you've lived a long time? Or because you're holding that worthless piece of bronze?"
Li Pingsheng raised his right arm, the tip of his Thunder Sword aimed at Old Qi's throat.
"The greater good you built is a pride rooted in the flesh and blood of the weak. You didn't dare face the monster at the bottom of the well, nor did you try to find a true way out. Instead, you killed an innocent student to cover it all up."
Old Qi closed his eyes and lifted his thin neck slightly, exposing his scarlet throat.
"You're right. For the past fifty years, I've thought I was protecting something. In truth, I've just been waiting to die. Go ahead. Dying by your hand would at least be some kind of reckoning."
Li Pingsheng looked at him.
Old Qi didn't resist. He even willingly withdrew the energy guarding his heart.
When the lightning struck Old Qi, red spots appeared on his skin.
After a long silence, Old Qi began to tremble slightly from holding his breath for too long.
The Thunder Sword in Li Pingsheng's hand had vanished.
The electric arc had once more hidden itself beneath his skin.
Old Qi opened his eyes. For a moment, he couldn't see clearly, but he kept looking at Li Pingsheng.
"I won't kill you."
Li Pingsheng's voice was quiet and even.
"There's no point in killing someone who wants to die."
He raised his hand and, before Old Qi could react, pressed his index finger precisely against the man's chest.
A streak of purple lightning flowed through his finger into Old Qi's heart.
Old Qi grunted. His heart clenched, and a wave of numbness spread through his blood vessels and throughout his body.
He hurriedly checked his blood. When he saw what was in his heart, his face instantly darkened.
"Thunderbolt Lock."
Li Ping withdrew his hand, and the tension in his face eased.
"The Thunder Stele Origin is in my hands now. The moment you even think of doing something treacherous, this lock will explode. Your internal organs will turn to charcoal in an instant."
Old Qi's lips twitched. A faint pain in his chest left him with a stiff, crooked smile.
"You want me to be your slave?"
"This isn't atonement."
Li Pingsheng turned to gaze at the sky, where noon was fast approaching.
"Don't you owe the people of this city? Spend the rest of your life protecting this well. From now on, you're forbidden to kill yourself or even consider making another sacrifice."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"Since you think sacrificing the few is right, now you can be one of the few. You'll live beneath the thunder. You'll only be released once you've made a contribution to this city."
Old Qi's whole body stiffened. He remained rooted to the spot.
"I accept your orders."
He lowered his head. This time, he bowed deeply.
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