Many people on the Douluo Continent also began wiping away tears.
This attitude of calmly facing death gave many people considerable insight into life.
The closer one came to death, the closer one came to one's true heart.
Some Soul Masters who had committed crimes even wanted to turn themselves in.
Not only did they want to depart as freely and gracefully as Grandpa Liu someday, but they had also become certain that death was not the end.
Doing evil brought karma, and those with karma would face judgment in the Underworld and be cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell.
Although they had never seen what the Eighteen Levels of Hell looked like, the name alone hardly sounded pleasant.
"Old Zhao, what's wrong?"
Flender noticed that Zhao Wuji's fierce eyes were red, and he seemed to have something to say, so he took the initiative to ask.
Zhao Wuji wiped his eyes.
"Flender, now that the two worlds are merging, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep this academy running anyway. I've made up my mind. I'm going to turn myself in."
"What? Old Zhao, you need to think this through."
Zhao Wuji was Shrek's only Soul Saint besides himself, and Flender could not bear to let him leave.
"We don't even know when the two worlds will finish merging. What if we all die of old age before it's done?"
Flender grabbed Zhao Wuji's arm with a dry laugh.
"I've already thought it through."
Zhao Wuji straightened his back. "All I did was kill a few deacons from Spirit Hall. If I turn myself in, the worst that can happen is paying a life for a life."
"I, Zhao Wuji, don't want to wait until I die for an Underworld Constable to come reap my soul, nor do I want to keep living in fear like this."
"Flender, I'm leaving."
With that, Zhao Wuji headed outside.
"Stop!"
Just then, a massive hammer shot out and smashed down in front of Zhao Wuji.
"Do you have something to say, Your Excellency Haotian?"
Zhao Wuji's tone was none too polite. He had once feared Tang Hao, but now that his mindset had changed, he looked down on people like him.
"Stay here and behave. You're not going anywhere."
Tang Hao spoke coldly.
"What do you mean? You're going to imprison me?"
"Teacher Zhao, that's not what Daddy means."
Tang San hurried forward.
Zhao Wuji glanced at Tang San, then turned back to Tang Hao. "Relax. I won't sell you out. I, Zhao Wuji, am not spineless enough to stoop that low."
Tang Hao's expression turned utterly ugly. He felt that Zhao Wuji was calling him spineless in a roundabout way.
"I said you can't leave."
Tang Hao gripped the hammer's handle.
"Otherwise, you die!"
Flender hurried forward to smooth things over.
"Your Excellency Haotian, don't be rash. Old Zhao, think it over again too. There's no need to turn yourself in. Spirit Hall has no time to bother with you right now."
Tang San also stared at Zhao Wuji.
"Teacher Zhao, don't worry. Daddy won't imprison you, but if you leave, there really is a risk of exposing us."
Zhao Wuji sneered. A human-beast hybrid on the same level as the Wolf Bandits was actually playing the good guy in front of him.
But Zhao Wuji also saw the situation clearly. Tang Hao would never let him leave.
With Flender half pushing and half coaxing him, Zhao Wuji had no choice but to return to his seat.
"Hmph. At least you know what's good for you."
Tang Hao put away his Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul.
Within the Light Screen, the sky gradually brightened.
After returning, Qian Renxue had been unable to sleep. Grandpa Liu's words kept echoing through her mind. She had finally managed to enter a state of cultivation, only to be roused by cries and wails.
Stepping out of the Earth God Temple, she saw that white mourning banners had already been hung at Grandpa Liu's home.
Thinking back on what had happened the previous night, Qian Renxue felt a great deal.
"Separated by life and death..."
Qian Renxue composed herself, took some melons and fruit, and went to Grandpa Liu's funeral.
Northern Julu Continent.
At Bai Ze Ridge, Xiao Wu lay discarded on the ground like a rag, her body smeared with filth.
She had lost count of how many times she had been taken out and used over the past few days, and that hateful Xiong Jun would not let her wash herself clean with water.
He said washing with water would ruin the texture.
She could only clean herself with her mouth. At first, she had been unable to bear it at all, but later, she discovered that she seemed to have grown stronger.
Moreover, after coming under Xiong Jun, she had overheard a great deal about Demon Beast cultivation.
Lesser demons like her needed no cultivation method. They could grow stronger simply by instinctively absorbing the essence of the moon.
Xiao Wu could sense herself growing stronger every day.
"I have to get stronger!"
Xiao Wu raised her head, wanting to see the moon in the sky, but saw only the cold mountain walls.
"I have to get stronger and seek Ancestor Jade Rabbit's protection."
She knew Ancestor Jade Rabbit was far beyond her reach, but he was the only powerful backer with whom she could claim even a tenuous connection.
That was also precisely why Xiong Jun had spared her life.
"As long as I'm strong enough, I'll definitely earn the ancestor's recognition."
Xiao Wu also wanted to go to the moon someday and never live such a bitter life again.
Western Ox Continent, Nalanda Temple.
"Someone, come quickly! Let me out! I know I was wrong! I promise I won't break the precepts! I'm willing to join Nalanda Temple!"
After being starved for several days, Ma Hongjun had lost a great deal of weight and had become thoroughly obedient.
There was no Dean Flender here, and no one would help him.
He truly could not endure sleeping on dry firewood alongside rats.
With a creak, the woodshed door opened, and a steamed bun rolled inside.
Ma Hongjun scrambled over on hands and knees and stuffed the dust-covered bun into his mouth.
"If you know you were wrong, get out here."
A harsh shout came from outside.
Ma Hongjun was as meek as a quail. The moment he stepped outside, someone thrust an axe into his hands.
"Starting today, your job is chopping firewood."
Seeing blood still clinging to the axe, Ma Hongjun could not help shuddering all over.
"Yes, yes! I'll make sure to finish the job."
Ma Hongjun was terrified. Over the past few days, he had also discovered that Nalanda Temple harbored secrets.
Only vegetarian meals and Buddhist chanting were allowed here, yet he could sometimes smell blood.
If the smell of meat had drifted out, someone might have been secretly eating meat. But the smell of blood without any smell of meat was frightening.
Time flew, and another ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The three who had survived the first ascension to the Primordial World gradually adjusted to their current lives.
For some reason, however, the second wave of ascenders had yet to arrive.
After ten days of diligently working, Ma Hongjun gained Nalanda Temple's initial approval and earned the right to study a cultivation method.
Thus, Ma Hongjun began cultivating every night. His aptitude was inferior to Qian Renxue's, and it took him three days to draw qi into his body. There was no telling how many days he would need to complete the transition to the new cultivation method.
Eastern Continent of Superior Body, Qingshui Village.
"Who's there?"
Qian Renxue, who had been cultivating, shouted sharply and came out with her sword.
She had asked the villagers to forge this sword over the past few days. It was an ordinary weapon in the Primordial World, yet it was already better than her previous sword.
Qian Renxue saw several dark figures flash past and vanish.
"Don't pursue them."
Earth Granny appeared with a grave expression.
"Granny, do you know what happened?"
"It's a Wild God."
"A Wild God?"
"That's right. Do you remember what I told you about Grass-Headed Gods and Wild Gods?"
Earth Granny said solemnly, "Those invested by the Heavenly Court are Orthodox Gods. Grass-Headed Gods serve under Orthodox Gods but have not received formal investiture from the Heavenly Court, while Wild Gods are mostly spirits and monsters who steal incense offerings and harbor ambitions they should never have."
"I'm afraid a Wild God has appeared nearby. This matter is tricky. Don't act rashly. I'll report it to the City God first."
A thought stirred in Qian Renxue's mind.
"Wait, Granny."
"Hmm?"
"Granny, if I can eliminate this Wild God, would that count as meritorious service? Would I have a chance of becoming a god?"
Before you continue