In the safe zone of the Departing Fire Secret Realm.
After several days of recuperation, Lie Tian, Shi Yan, Ying Wu, and the others had recovered most of their injuries. Some had even turned misfortune into blessing. Nourished by the pure fire spiritual qi of the secret realm, their cultivation had advanced.
Ling Shuang had fully healed. Moreover, her Burning Heaven Sword Art showed faint signs of breakthrough. Yet she remained constantly worried about the sect’s safety, restless and frequently gazing towards the secret realm entrance.
Heavenly Fire Sword Venerable Ling Yan sat cross-legged on a nearby crystal flame mountain. His aura was deep and steady as if silently comprehending something, though a faint trace of melancholy lingered between his brows.
Suddenly, the light curtain at the secret realm entrance rippled. A blue-robed figure drifted in, carrying a massive body that was barely breathing.
“Senior!”
“Senior Chen!”
Everyone rose to greet Chen Ping upon his return.
When they saw the figure in Chen Ping’s hand, Zheng Gu with both arms severed and in utter misery, Lie Tian’s eyes instantly erupted with bone-deep hatred and excitement!
“Zheng Gu! You traitor!”
Lie Tian stepped forward. His silver pupils fixed deadly on this chief culprit who had caused the Myriad Beasts Gate’s destruction and the tragic deaths of countless fellow disciples. Demonic power surged uncontrollably from his body.
Chen Ping casually tossed Zheng Gu to the ground like a pile of mud.
Zheng Gu barely lifted his head. Seeing the killing intent in Lie Tian’s eyes and glancing at the surrounding former fellow disciples of the Myriad Beasts Gate, who now regarded him with hatred, boundless fear finally overwhelmed him.
What position as sect master of the Fused Beast Holy Sect, what ambitions and aspirations, all became laughable illusions before death.
“Gate… Gate Master! Spare my life! Spare me!”
Zheng Gu struggled, trying to kowtow with his mutilated body. His voice was hoarse and piercing. “I was wrong! I was bewitched! I was misled by the demon sect! I beg the Gate Master, for the sake of the blood I once shed and merits I earned for the Myriad Beasts Gate, spare this dog’s life!”
“I am willing to reveal all secrets, willing to lead the fused beast clan to resubmit, willing to be an ox or horse…”
“Silence!”
Lie Tian interrupted harshly, his voice trembling from extreme anger. “Shed blood and earned merits for the Myriad Beasts Gate? The blood of those elders and disciples who died at your hands and the demon sect’s, is that not blood?”
“Their merits, are they not merits? How did Elder Xiong Tuo treat you? Yet you joined the demonic thieves to surround and kill him!”
“Countless fellow disciples trusted you. Yet you led traitors to slaughter them! Your blood is cold. Your heart is black!”
“Today, I, Lie Tian, in the name of Myriad Beasts Gate Master, shall clean house and avenge the departed heroes!”
With that, Lie Tian gave Zheng Gu no further chance to beg. His right hand fingers closed together. Demonic power condensed into sharp silver wolf claws. Carrying resolute decisiveness and sorrowful rage that tore through everything, he thrust fiercely into Zheng Gu’s heart!
“Urgh ah——!”
Zheng Gu let out a short scream. Life rapidly faded from his eyes, finally turning to dead silence. His massive body slumped completely.
Lie Tian withdrew his bloodied wolf claw. His chest heaved violently. Tears faintly glistened in his eyes.
Great vengeance achieved, yet the dead could not return. Indescribable grief filled his heart.
He slowly knelt towards the direction of the Myriad Beasts Gate and said gravely, “Elder Xiong Tuo, all fellow disciples, Lie Tian… has avenged you! Rest in peace!”
Shi Yan, Ying Wu, and the other surviving Myriad Beasts Gate disciples also knelt, facing the Myriad Beasts Gate direction, silently shedding tears.
After a long while, Lie Tian rose, wiped the moisture from his eyes, and solemnly cupped his fists towards Chen Ping. “Senior’s great kindness in helping me execute this scoundrel, Lie Tian and the remnants of the Myriad Beasts Gate will remember forever!”
“Now that the traitor leader is dead and the Fused Beast Holy Sect leaderless, it is time for us to return to the sect, set things right!”
“I wish to immediately lead our people back to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, rally the banners, purge the rebels, and comfort the heroes’ spirits!”
Chen Ping nodded. “This is proper. The Myriad Souls Demon Sect has just suffered defeat. In the short term, they should be unable to obstruct you. You may act freely. If needed, the Xuantian Sword Sect can also provide aid.”
He conveyed Ling Yunzi’s goodwill.
Lie Tian thanked him again, then began gathering the clan members, preparing to leave the secret realm and return to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
At this moment, Ling Shuang approached. She first gave Chen Ping a graceful bow. “Many thanks to Senior for saving my sect and bringing back the traitor Zheng Gu.”
Then she looked at her master Ling Yan, eyes filled with reluctance yet determination. “Master, the sect has just endured a great battle. Father is gravely injured. As a member of the sword sect, this disciple must return immediately to share hardships with Father and fellow disciples. Please grant permission.”
Ling Yan slowly opened his eyes, looking at this disciple of his who was strong-willed yet deeply sentimental and righteous. Complexity flashed in his gaze.
He remained silent for a moment, then slowly rose, walked to Ling Shuang, and gently patted her shoulder.
“Shuang’er, you have grown up. You have your own path to walk.”
Ling Yan’s voice lacked its usual sternness, gaining instead some vicissitude and gentleness. “Return to the Xuantian Sword Sect. That is your root, your responsibility. As your master… I will not accompany you back.”
Ling Shuang started. “Master, you…”
Ling Yan gazed towards the depths of the secret realm, that vast and mysterious flame world now much calmer after Chen Ping absorbed the chaotic origin fire, yet still expansive.
He then sighed. “This Departing Fire Secret Realm originally existed because of a chaotic origin fire fragment. Now that the core has been taken by Dao Friend Chen, though this secret realm remains a blessed land for fire cultivators, it has lost its most fundamental ‘origin’. My staying here no longer holds much meaning.”
He paused, a trace of sword cultivator’s sharpness and persistence reigniting in his eyes. “I have cultivated for tens of thousands of years, stuck in the Heavenly Immortal realm for long, always unable to glimpse the gateway to a higher realm.”
“Now, perhaps it is time to venture out. In these vast heavens, there must be other chaotic origin fire fragments or other opportunities to aid my breakthrough. As your master, I shall go seek them.”
