"Kid, hand over all the healing pills on you," Ren Pingsheng said, his Empty Meridian Realm aura shrouding the group.
"A descendant of Great Emperor Tunri, yet you really bring shame upon your ancestor," Xu Zimo said with a smile, utterly unruffled. "For a descendant of an emperor to end up like this, you're pitiful enough."
Ren Pingsheng snorted coldly. The spiritual energy around him surged even more violently, and a massive hand formed from spiritual energy reached toward Xu Zimo and the other two.
"Do you dare touch us? We're disciples of the True Martial Sacred Sect!" Xiao Guizi shouted from the side. "My father is an Inner Sect Elder of the True Martial Sacred Sect!"
Ren Pingsheng frowned, and the giant hand of spiritual energy halted as well. He was not afraid of ordinary Sacred Sect disciples. Killing them was simply killing them; the True Martial Sacred Sect had so many disciples that it was impossible for them to look after every single one.
But if the other party was an elder's son, things became troublesome.
If he killed the man's son, even if the Sacred Sect did nothing, his father would never let the matter rest.
The Inner Sect Elders of the Sacred Sect were all Venerable Meridian Realm experts. Some with extraordinary talent had even reached the Emperor Meridian Realm.
Ren Pingsheng could not afford to provoke them. Though he was a descendant of Great Emperor Tunri, and his status should have been far nobler,
the awkward part was that he had not received his ancestor's inheritance. At present, he only had an empty title.
Ren Pingsheng gave them a deep look, then turned and prepared to leave.
"Hey, how about we discuss a deal?" Xu Zimo called after him.
"I'm not interested in your True Martial Sacred Sect," Ren Pingsheng said flatly as he turned around.
"No, no. Don't you want to obtain your ancestor's inheritance?" Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
Ren Pingsheng's gaze sharpened. At that instant, his heartbeat abruptly quickened. He stared hard at Xu Zimo and asked urgently, "What do you know?"
"Let's make a deal. I can heal your injuries and even help you obtain the inheritance, while you sell your life to me. How about it?" Xu Zimo said bluntly.
"Impossible." Ren Pingsheng's expression changed. Selling his life to another was equivalent to losing his freedom. That was not his style.
"Think it over carefully. In your current state, if no one helps you,
those who covet Great Emperor Tunri's inheritance will definitely not let you off. For the rest of your life, you'll only be able to flee amid endless pursuit," Xu Zimo coaxed him patiently. "But if you follow me and become my war general, I will take you to see the sights beyond the heavens."
"The sights beyond the heavens..." Ren Pingsheng froze, muttering to himself.
Xu Zimo took out a healing pill from his Storage Ring and tossed it to Ren Pingsheng. "If you're willing, take it and recover from your injuries. Then all you need to do is swear a Heavenly Oath."
Ren Pingsheng pondered for a long while. Then an indescribable light shone from his eyes as he looked at Xu Zimo and said, "I can join your force, but you must help me kill that hypocrite Yue Buli."
"I never avenge others," Xu Zimo said with a shake of his head and a smile. "When it comes to enemies, wouldn't it feel best to personally cut them down in blood?"
"But the gap between him and me is still too great. I don't know what year or month it will take. I can't wait that long," Ren Pingsheng said pensively.
Though the Empty Meridian Realm and Venerable Meridian Realm were separated by only one major realm, that single gap was like a vast chasm—one that many people could not cross even in their entire lives.
"Have faith in yourself," Xu Zimo said. "Once you obtain your ancestor's inheritance, you will set foot on the broad road ahead."
In his Previous Life, Ren Pingsheng had been a true ruthless man. It was only that he had yet to obtain the inheritance, so his confidence was clearly lacking.
"I hope you haven't lied to me." Ren Pingsheng nodded, then looked up at the heavens and swore a Heavenly Oath.
"Heavenly Dao above all, today I, Ren Pingsheng, swear this Heavenly Oath. If Xu Zimo can help me obtain the inheritance of the Tunri Ancestor, I am willing to follow him for all my life, to battle beneath the heavens, and never rest until death."
The moment Ren Pingsheng finished speaking, the wind suddenly rose and clouds rolled across the sky. White clouds gathered and blocked the blazing sun, only for everything to return to normal in the blink of an eye.
Such an oath was not merely spoken with one's mouth. It was inscribed upon the Heavenly Dao with one's true life. Once violated, the Heavenly Dao would send down a great calamity and kill the oathbreaker.
Moreover, not everyone could swear a Heavenly Oath. Only after opening the fourth Meridian Gate and successfully condensing a Heavenly Mandate could one do so.
Shili Changkong had once sworn a Heavenly Oath as well.
"Can you tell me where my ancestor's inheritance land is now?" Ren Pingsheng asked.
"Return to your Ren family's Ancestral Hall. A statue of Great Emperor Tunri is enshrined there," Xu Zimo said. "After you return, move the statue aside. There is a hidden brick beneath it, and the key is the long flute in your hand.
"When the time comes, use the flute to open the hidden brick, and everything will become clear."
"My ancestor's inheritance is in the Ancestral Hall?" Ren Pingsheng looked astonished. Why had no one in the Ren family ever known?
If they had obtained the inheritance sooner, the Ren family would not have declined so far.
Xu Zimo said nothing more. "Go back and take a look. If I haven't deceived you, then once you obtain the inheritance, come find me at the True Martial Sacred Sect."
Ren Pingsheng nodded. Then he bowed deeply to Xu Zimo before stepping into the air and leaving.
Watching his departing back, a smile hung on Xu Zimo's lips.
"A rain cape and misty rain through life"—in his Previous Life, this man's name had resounded throughout the entire Yuanyang Continent.
Xu Zimo was merely pushing the boat along with the current. Even if he had not told Ren Pingsheng, before long Ren Pingsheng would have discovered Great Emperor Tunri's inheritance by chance.
Then he would truly embark upon that lone journey that would make his name known far and wide.
"Senior Brother, how do you know so much?" Xiao Guizi still had not wrapped his head around it.
"See more, do more, ask less," Xu Zimo said, looking up.
Xiao Guizi hurriedly nodded. He knew he had been too talkative. What should not be asked, should not be asked.
Ten Mile Town was the location of Xu Zimo's mission this time. It lay east of the Far West Land, within March City's jurisdiction and on the territory of the Green Wood Empire.
Red maple trees swayed gently on both sides of the town entrance. Dark crimson leaves carpeted the ground, drifting toward the distance with vows and dreams.
By afternoon, the three arrived at Ten Mile Town. The Desert Steeds, having run for an entire day, neighed hoarsely and looked utterly exhausted.
A cold wind blew through the sky. Birds spread their wings and flew low in the distance. At some unknown moment, a light rain suddenly began to fall.
At first, it was only scattered raindrops. But as the sky darkened, it had turned into a hazy drizzle.
"Senior Brother, let's go to Steward Hu's residence first," Xiao Guizi said.
Steward Hu was the one who had issued this mission.
Xu Zimo nodded. The group had barely ridden a few steps when another party entered from the direction of the town entrance.
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