Chapter 1062: Bai Jianzhen
"The Lesser Deva World has opened…" When night came, this news exploded to even the most remote corners across the plateau.
Not far from Spirit Mountain where the moonlight was shining on a sparkling great lake, a huge group was already waiting nearby with their eyes fixated on the water's surface.
"Splash!" A sound like a carp crossing the dragon gate came about. More bubbles appeared in a very lively and happy scene as if they had their own sentience.
"Splash! Splash! Splash!" These water ripples slowly jumped and formed a huge Buddhist gate with symbols on them. Each symbol seemed to suppress the world inside, preventing the creatures within from getting out.
"The gate to the lesser world is there, let us go." An ancestor shouted after seeing the stabilization of the portal. He brought his disciples inside and disappeared right away.
Other people quickly followed suit. They had been waiting for this rare opportunity for too long.
"Rumble!" Chariots rampaged through the sky with Venerable Ninesword in the lead.
"Jikong Wudi is coming, we need to hurry!" Many people were startled after seeing this team and pushed past each other in their mad rush into the Buddhist gate.
After Jikong Wudi came, those who hadn't entered yet made way for him. No one dared to stop them, especially after seeing the venerable sitting on a chariot. Anyone would shiver with apprehension.
After this group went inside, other geniuses like Zhan Shi, Heavenly Emperor Lin, and the Jewel Pillar Mortal King went in as well.
Many people were full of admiration after seeing the Mortal King still in high spirits and ready to fight.
"Win some lose some, the Mortal King is indeed a War God. For cultivators, defeat is not scary at all. The scary thing is not having the courage to face defeat. As long as he never accepts defeat, he will be able to reach the top." A fan spoke.
Experienced cultivators, especially the older ones, weren't afraid of losing. It was something that would eventually happen in life, even for Immortal Emperors.
"Hurry! The immortal grasses and treasures in the lesser world are waiting for us." Another ancestor yelled out and scrambled inside with his juniors.
Even after nightfall, Li Qiye still didn't make his move. On the second day, he told Li Shuangyan's group: "Ladies, get ready, get ready. We should be going to the Lesser Deva World as well."
"Young Noble, what kind of creations will you give us this time?" Chen Baojiao smiled coquettishly with a spoiled appearance. She was already pretty enough, so this coy gesture contained an unstoppable charm capable of causing souls to sway.
"You guys do not need more creations." Li Qiye smiled and shook his head: "We have plenty of treasures, and as for merit laws, what could be better than your Immortal Physiques?"
Li Qiye was right. After destroying imperial lineages like the Heavenhoof Ravine, they were not lacking treasures at all.
"Then for what reason are you bringing us inside?" Chen Baojiao continued to act cute.
"The spirit medicines and grasses in the Devil World can be said to be the best in the world. They are pure and magical, so I plan to find some suitable ones for you two." Li Qiye answered while glancing at them: "What you two lack right now is experience. This requires time and training, but the addition of some elixirs and potions will be quite effective. At the same time, you two will be able to see one of the mysticisms of this world."
"What item are you going there for this time?" Li Shuangyan's coldness contrasted Chen Baojiao's charm. It had a different attraction.
"To finish some old wishes as well as to compete against the Nihility Temple." Li Qiye chuckled without elaborating.
However, before they got on the road, a visitor came early in the morning. It was the famous Bai Jianzhen.
"I want to duel against you!" She coldly uttered the moment she saw Li Qiye.
"Duel?" Li Qiye looked at her. Even though she was still as cold as a sword, there was a clear difference. She had an indescribable natural sensation to her. Only when her battle intent surged would she truly be emotionless. At this second, she had stepped into the dao of the sword.
"The agreement between us is still in effect!" With the sword in her embrace, she became a sword, the sharpest blade in this world.
The agreement she referred to was the three swords duel back from the Heavenly Corpse Burial Ground.
Li Qiye smiled and shook his head: "Even if I want to, what are you going to use to fight me? I'm not looking down on you, but your defeat is assured."
"How do you know I will lose without fighting!" She grimaced while a sharp glint flashed. This sword light was able to decapitate the sky.
"There's no need to fight, I already know." Li Qiye smiled while sitting leisurely: "What will you use? Your mad sword or will you use your fate as an offering to the sword? I know all the little tricks from the Sword God Sacred Ground."
"It's none of your business!" She uttered slowly: "I will die if I am defeated, but if I win, I only want your Buddhist Sword!"
"Buddhist Sword?" He chuckled: "After reaching this level, you should know that the Buddhist Sword is not about sword techniques or the dao of the sword. It relies on the heart of the sword." Li Qiye pointed at his heart.
"I require your pointers." She stood there coldly like a divine sword that had left its scabbard. She was ready to begin the ultimate fight of her life.
"I won't fight you because it is meaningless to me." He looked at her and spoke: "I have no use for a dead person. Your dao of the sword and mad sword can't defeat me. The only thing that you can use to even compete is to sacrifice your life and fate for the sword. Even if I beat you, the only thing left will be your corpse, and I am not a necrophiliac."
She stood there quietly. It was not that she lacked confidence, but the truth was that her mad sword was no match for him. Just like he said, she only had one real ace capable of defeating him.
"You have understood the essence of the sword dao." He continued: "However, what you have obtained is only a tiny corner of this essence. To focus on one dao and reach for its limit — I am not saying that this is a flaw since this is a type of cultivation, a way of the grand dao. At the very end, all will return to the beginning. Just like your Immortal Emperor Ye Ti, he still managed to become an emperor in the end."
Having said that, he gently shook his head: "However, your sacred ground's sword dao is too extreme. For example, Ye Ti proved his dao by killing. Even though all the different dao can eventually be used to reach the throne, using killing to prove one’s dao, and you with your crazed state, these are slanted paths…"
"… I don't want to speak about Immortal Emperor Ye Ti with such a negative evaluation. The only thing I can say is that your path will sometimes determine your outcome. Do you know the outcome of Immortal Emperor Ye Ti?" He stared at her and asked.
"What was his outcome?" Her eyes became serious. She had heard a little bit about their patriarch's legends, but there was no way to verify them.
"If you have the chance in the future, you will find out." He said insipidly: "The Buddhist Sword and the mad sword, these are both different parts of the sword dao, and you can follow them to the end. As it is now, you want to obtain the Buddhist Sword, but what about afterward? What do you think is after the Buddhist Sword?"
She pondered quietly while looking at Li Qiye and couldn't come up with an answer right away.
"I can guide you so that you can understand the true meaning of the Buddhist Sword. I can even show you the way after the Buddhist Sword." He slowly offered: "However, there is no free lunch in this world."
She eventually asked him with a deep tone: "What do you want?"
He chuckled in response: "Stay and I will give you a home. In the future, you will surely become a Sword God, a real Sword God capable of slaying gods above and annihilating devils below."
After a while, she answered: "You already have a sword attendant."
"You're mistaken." Li Qiye shook his head and smiled: "You are different from Shuangyan. She is my personal maid, I don't want you to take care of my daily life. What I want is a general!"
He went on to say while looking at her: "I appreciate your stubborn dedication to the dao of the sword. This stubbornness is the most important prerequisite to reaching the apex of the sword. However, what I like even more is that you are a sword yourself, a sword that I can hold in my hand, sharp and dangerous to the point of being ruthless! Wherever I point shall be severed by you!"
She contemplated for a long time. After all, this was an important choice in her life.
"Follow me and I shall give you more than just the dao of the sword." He lightly added: "I can give you much more, such as taking you to the places that Immortal Emperor Ye Ti had visited. I can tell you his outcome as well."
After a long silence, she finally spoke solemnly: "Okay, I agree." With that, she unhesitatingly swore with her true fate. She was indeed a decisive person.
After an agreement was reached, Li Qiye ordered: "If you have anything to prepare, do so now. We will be heading for the Lesser Deva World."
Bai Jianzhen didn't say anything and quietly left.
"And here I thought that you were going to take her in as a bedwarmer." Chen Baojiao smirked after Bai Jianzhen left.
Li Qiye smiled and shook his head: "The three swords duel back then was only a joke. I only wanted to tease her a bit. Plus, who would be more suitable to be my bedwarmers than you two?"
"In your dreams." Chen Baojiao pouted cutely. Even the cold Li Shuangyan had a slight shade of red on her face.
Chapter 1063: Bing Yuxia's Choice
Li Qiye departed for the lesser world with Chen Baojiao and Li Shuangyan. Bai Jianzhen also came along since she stayed true to her deal with Li Qiye.
Li Shuangyan was as cold as ice and Bai Jianzhen was the same when her sword was sheathed. It was a quiet coldness that was different from Li Shuangyan.
The two of them walking together had an entirely different style. It was quite a scenic spectacle.
"I am willing to go with Young Noble." Another person came as they were on their way. It was Mei Suyao who was wearing a light white dress. Even though it was simple, her charm still left others breathless. At this time, her beauty was different from before. It was otherworldly yet natural. Everything was in accordance with her wishes; this gave her a freedom that was difficult to describe.
Mei Suyao met Li Qiye's gaze in a nonchalant manner, but deep in her pupils, Li Qiye saw something extraordinary.
"The path towards the grand dao is long, but it will surely be colorful." Li Qiye smiled and nodded his head.
She replied slowly: "Please continue to guide me. Otherwise, I shall be stuck exploring a tiny corner for the rest of my life, like a frog at the bottom of a well."
Li Qiye only slightly nodded again with a chuckle.
"I will be staying with sisters in the future, please take care of me." The natural Mei Suyao kept a very humble demeanor.
Chen Baojiao chuckled and stared at her for a bit before shifting her glance towards Li Qiye: "We can relax with Goddess Mei here."
Li Shuangyan, on the other hand, only nodded slightly as a greeting. She was not talkative no matter who the speaker was. As for Bai Jianzhen, she had no response at all. She was even more quiet and cold than the others, like a piece of metal!
They went on their way to the lesser world. However, the moment they exited the city, Bing Yuxia was there.
She sat on her chariot while still surrounded by beauties. Li Qiye saw her and looked at the sky a bit to smile: "It seems like you aren't coming with me."
"Smelly Qiye, you have so many beauties next to you, yet you won't share a single one with me. Who would want to go together with you? I'm actually afraid that you will try to steal my girls." She glared at him and laughed.
Of course, Li Qiye was not worried about her because an ancestor from the Icy Feather Palace was accompanying her.
He only smiled and stepped into the sky to directly sit down on her chariot. While being next to her, she really resembled that person.
He sat there comfortably and closed his eyes. Eventually, he looked at Bing Yuxia to say: "You have made up your mind."
Bing Yuxia looked at him with a strange gleam in her eyes. After a while, she revealed a leisurely smile: "The world is very beautiful. I wish to be free; Immortal Emperors and invincibility are not important, don't you think?"
"The world is indeed very beautiful. Everyone has their own aspirations." Li Qiye gently nodded: "Being attached to the mundane world is also an enviable matter."
Bing Yuxia clapped her palm with a folded fan and laughed: "There are too many jade beauties around, I want to enjoy all the romance that this world has to offer."
Li Qiye smiled and finally handed her a manual: "This is some of my experience and findings that I wrote last night that relate to the Heaven Cutting Tablet. You should take a look."
While looking at the manual in his hand, she became quite startled. She didn't expect this to happen since she had already chosen her path.
"Why?" She murmured in a daze.
Li Qiye gently stroked her hair and said: "Maybe it is a type of fate, or perhaps, you allowed me to see something else."
She quietly put the manual away and gently nodded: "Thank you…"
These words were softly spoken, but they carried a heavy sentiment.
"The nine worlds are indeed colorful and worthy of someone spending their whole life to enjoy." Eventually, he patted her shoulder and spoke implicatively before leaving.
At this time, she held her right hand and looked at him again. An indescribable glimmer flashed in her eyes before she eventually spoke: "The entrance to the Icy Feather Palace will always be open for you. I'll wait for you there!"
"Meeting is fate, but parting is also fate." Li Qiye smiled and left her chariot.
In the blink of an eye, her chariot disappeared in the horizon. They were going ahead.
On the other hand, Li Qiye and the girls continued forward without being in a rush.
"Fiercest is here!" Someone shouted after Li Qiye came to the large lake. Many eyes were instantly fixated on him.
Everyone quickly made a path since no one dared to get in his way.
"Fiercest, the Dual Blade Beauties, Sword Goddess Bai, and Goddess Mei…" Someone murmured after seeing those behind him.
All of the eyes on him now had many different emotions — awe and admiration were only two of the many. Jealousy was there as well.
However, regardless of their feelings, no one dared to say anything. Today, the Fiercest was someone everyone was dreadful of.
People were finally able to breathe easy after his group entered the Buddhist gate to go to the Lesser Deva World.
"Damn! Fiercest is indeed Fiercest. His notoriety is peerless, no wonder why the Dual Blade Beauties, Sword Goddess Bai, and Goddess Mei are all going with him." Someone couldn't help but comment afterward.
A famous youth spoke indignantly: "Does he want to take in all the beauties in this world? Does he not care about the feelings of bachelors like us at all?''
"Feelings my ass!" A senior slapped the back of his head and jokingly scolded: "As if those ladies would ever look at you, take a look at yourself in a piss mirror first!"
This junior laughed awkwardly: "Uncle, you can't pick on me like this, I'm still your nephew…"
"Fiercest is definitely worthy of his number one title." Someone emotionally commented: "Not to mention Sword Goddess Bai, who could ever enter Goddess Mei's eyes? I heard Jikong Wudi has tried to court her before, but she simply had no interest in him. But look at things now, she was taken in by Fiercest right away. This romantic luck is truly too enviable." 1
"It makes people crazy with jealousy." Another person who was afflicted with these sentiments spoke: "But this is how a man should be!"
After entering the Buddhist gate, Li Qiye's group was instantly teleported to the lesser world. Looking around, one would find majestic mountains and rivers everywhere with billowing waves. This world appeared before everyone, giving a sense of unparalleled uniqueness.
"One thought to become Buddha, another to become Devil, but who actually knows that one thought can also become Emperor!" Li Qiye stated emotionlessly after entering. 2
"It is definitely a special feeling." Even the reticent Li Shuangyan offered her opinion.
Chen Baojiao felt it too and added: "Yes, this is an extraordinary feeling. While standing here, I feel like there are two different forces trying to control us."
Bai Jianzhen didn't say anything. She stared at the horizon with a serious gaze that was seemingly capable of piercing through this world. After a while, she closed her eyes and hugged her sword while fortifying her heart.
Li Qiye smilingly said: "Mmm, Jianzhen is doing it well. The two of you should learn from her, there's no need to be curious."
The two girls quickly protected their dao hearts as well.
"Where are these forces coming from?" Nevertheless, Chen Baojiao still couldn't restrain her curiosity completely.
Li Qiye looked at Mei Suyao who was standing quietly to the side with her always-transcendent presence.
Li Qiye told her: "Suyao, tell them."
Compared to Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao, Mei Suyao was a lot more knowledgeable. After all, she came from a sect with three emperors.
She had no intention of boasting and only stated: "We are standing on the boundary between the Imperial Border and the Devil World. To the left is the Imperial Border while the right is the Devil World. So when we stand in this place, we can feel two different forces around us. If we step into the Devil World, we will feel an evil energy; if we step into the Imperial Border, we will feel an imperial momentum."
"Devil World and Imperial Border…" Chen Baojiao was quite inquisitive: "Are you saying that there are divisions within the Lesser Deva World?"
"Correct, there are different powers here. Moreover, both of these lands have their own masters." Li Qiye smiled.
"Devils and imperial troops?" Li Shuangyan asked as well.
Li Qiye led the way and ordered: "We'll get going. Suyao, explain the lesser world to them."
Mei Suyao nodded slightly and spoke: "Some people call them that, but whether they are imperial troops or devils is not something we can judge. Just like its name, this place is a lesser world. It is quite vast but a lot smaller than the Buddhist Funeral Plateau. This whole place resembles a gigantic Tai Chi symbol — left is imperial and right is devil. Both sides will do what they want and won't interfere with each other."
"So this is just like the outside, a world with living and sentient beings." Chen Baojiao stated.
"It is more like Spirit Mountain." Bai Jianzhen actually interjected.
Mei Suyao spoke: "Miss Bai is right. There are living beings here, but they are different from us. They have eternal life, or to push it even further, their eternal life is superior to that of the monks on Spirit Mountain."
"No flesh, no life." Bai Jianzhen coldly remarked. At this time, her gaze was locked onto a certain position.
Fiercest in chinese is four words — number one + brutal person. In the past, he was only Fierce. The author added "number one" to it later, so now he is Fiercest. ↩ Remember, Di Shi = Buddhist Emperor. Emperor here might be referring to Di Shi, not Immortal Emperor. ↩