Central City, atop Wanxian Island.
Dressed in a green robe, Tiansun sat before a stone table. With a flick of his finger, a stream of water fell from the sky, directly into the teapot before him.
Soon after, the teapot emitted a burst of azure light and turned into a cup of crystal-clear tea, shimring with a green glow.
Tiansun gestured and said, "Please."
Sitting opposite him was indeed the True God of the Thunder Departnt, Zheng Wentian's father, Zi Yang True Monarch.
Zi Yang True Monarch looked at Tiansun and spoke, "The chief steward of Wanxian Island, favored by the Supre Heavenly Venerate with the title 'Eternal,' why have you found ti to invite this minor god of the Thunder Departnt for tea?"
"Tiansun Zhijun is being too modest. How can we wandering immortals compare to you divine beings with your official titles? Please, do not jest," Tiansun replied with a smile. "I invited Zi Yang True Monarch here to express my thanks for the effort you have made."
Zi Yang True Monarch responded indifferently, "Directing humanity in fierce battles against the Heavenly Demon is part of the duties of the Thunder Departnt; no thanks are needed."
"It's more so to express gratitude for Zi Yang True Monarch's hard work in combating the Heavenly Demon and making laborious, valuable contributions," praised Tiansun. "Had it not been for your efforts to push back public opinion, shrink the defenses, and avoid conflict,
fearful wars might have ensued, bringing untold suffering to countless beings. With this tea in place of wine, I honor True Monarch."
Zi Yang True Monarch silently watched Tiansun. "Tiansun… I recall that in the past… you supported the human race in their cultivation, didn't you? I rember quite a few mortal talents nearly breaking through to 100% Dao integration with your support."
"Just a bit short, and yet worlds apart," Tiansun replied with a bitter smile. "The divide between immortals and mortals is vast, like mud from clouds. It's ti to awaken from that dream. Moreover, the sharp spirit of the Four Great Taoist Schools is currently too strong and detrintal to the overall situation. They indeed need to be subdued."
Zi Yang True Monarch spoke, "I understand your point. Regarding the next appointnt of the Four Great Marshals of the Thunder Departnt…"
"Wanxian Island will certainly support True Monarch with all its strength," Tiansun solemnly stated.
Zi Yang True Monarch nodded his head, his form gradually transforming into specks of light and starting to fade: "The distinction between immortals and mortals is clear, and even more so among gods. Let us keep our conversation between us."
Watching where Zi Yang True Monarch disappeared, Tiansun exclaid, "Such caution. Are you afraid lest other true gods find out about our cooperation?"
"The distinction between immortals and mortals is vast, and even more among gods…"
…
Inside the cave where Zhou Bai and the others were hiding, the ti reached the following evening. Zhou Bai completely devoured the streak of fortune within his Sea of Consciousness, and his Primordial Spirit's power was once more enhanced.
However, during his fight with Xu Dela, Zhou Bai had almost fully unleashed his abilities, activating all sorts of enhancents—Healing, Catastrophic Domain, and everything went into overdrive—using up so of his energy, leaving him with 950,000 remaining.
"I couldn't sell the Guihai Black Demon and that huge Heavenly Demon's remains, a loss of energy. But my Primordial Spirit's power increased by 98 points to 4375, still a gain," Zhou Bai reflected. "It's indeed fast. If only I could continue at this rate every day."
But thinking back on his arrival at the Heavenly Demon Battlefield, he had faced fierce battles nearly every day and even been pursued by a Level 7 Heavenly Demon.
If it hadn't been for Zhao Shouyi, he would have had to resort to Ti Reverse to escape.
Thinking of this, Zhou Bai opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Shouyi beside him, only to find him still sitting cross-legged, in apparent deep ditation.
Qian Wangsun, utterly bored, raised his head, "You're finally done cultivating? I was dying of boredom."
Zhou Bai smiled and asked, "How is it? Any signs of the Heavenly Demons?"
Qian Wangsun shook his head, his face revealing a hint of unease, "Since you started cultivating till now, there haven't been any signs of Heavenly Demons outside. Honestly, it's unusually quiet."
Zhou Bai said, "Let's wait for the principal to wake up then."
Thus, another six hours of waiting followed. Just as Zhou Bai was considering going out to look for the Heavenly Demons, Zhao Shouyi finally opened his eyes.
Zhou Bai asked, "Principal, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Zhao Shouyi stood up and said, "That Heavenly Demon we encountered is likely of the seventh level. We failed to kill him this ti, and he doesn't need ti to revive. I'm afraid he's already targeting you guys. You both should head back now; I need to investigate the situation with the Heavenly Demons."
Zhou Bai was startled, "Where are you going to investigate?"
"To that restricted zone of the Heavenly Demons that you discovered," Zhao Shouyi sighed. "I saw Xiao Pei; I need to check what's exactly going on."
Zhou Bai and Qian Wangsun exchanged glances—they too had noticed a figure that resembled Xiao Pei during the fight, but because the figure was so different from before, they couldn't be sure.
Now, hearing Zhao Shouyi's words, Zhou Bai couldn't help but say, "Principal, Xiao Pei might have already beco a Heavenly Demon…"
Zhao Shouyi said, "I know..." He chuckled bitterly, "Zhou Bai, Qian Wangsun, do you know? Since I was young, I was told to struggle for the sake of humanity. That even self-sacrifice, giving everything, was justified if it's for humanity.
I have always agreed with this and lived by it until now. Because I know that humans, being weak, face annihilation if they cannot stand united and be ready to sacrifice against such foes as the Heavenly Demons.
After all, compared to humans, Heavenly Demons are more splendid—be it in intelligence, survivability, or cooperation, they far surpass humans.
They might have more rights to live in this world, but as a human, I can't accept this outco.
For a long ti, sacrifice has been sothing I considered natural. My father, my mother, my comrades—one by one, they left . I always thought that, like them, I would spend my last monts struggling and sacrificing for the survival of humanity."
At this, Zhao Shouyi looked straight into Zhou Bai's eyes, "I'm about to transform, and probably in one or two months, I will completely lose my self. So originally, I wanted to spend my final monts by your side, contributing to the future of mankind."
"But when I was really about to die, I found out..." Zhao Shouyi let out a bitter laugh, glancing at his hand. Through countless hallucinations, his palm split into many small cuts from which nurous dense scales grew.
"It's all about ," Zhao Shouyi sighed deeply, suddenly clenching his fist, "Now, all I want before I die is to find out exactly what's happening with Xiao Pei. Otherwise, I can't rest… I can't accept it."
"I'm sorry, Zhou Bai, forgive for this bit of selfishness. I really can't protect you now. The current battlefield with the Heavenly Demons is too dangerous. You and Qian Wangsun should head back to West Mountain City quickly. Yun Chong should have already arrived there; he will protect you."
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