The Price of Revenge

“Senior apprentice-brother!”

Mu Northson, Qingqing, and Uncle White—all of whom had been suspended in worry within the grand formation, hating their own inability to help Ji Ning—their faces turned ashen.

They saw it clearly. That was spatial teleportation!

“I can no longer sense my master’s position,” Qingqing said anxiously. “I don’t even have a vague directional feeling. Master is no longer in the Grand Xia World. He has been sent to a place that is impossibly far away.”

“I can’t sense him either,” Uncle White said, having just carefully probed as well.

“It’s all because of me. Because I’m such a waste. I shouldn’t have been so eager for revenge. I shouldn’t have.” Mu Northson was consumed with regret. Back then, Ji Ning had rescued him and Yu Xia’s souls from the Donglin Mountains. But later, when the Shaoyin clan’s Celestial Immortal ambushed Ji Ning, Yu Xia’s soul had been completely obliterated.

Though his hatred for the Shaoyin clan was boundless, Mu Northson had still harbored a sliver of resentment toward Ji Ning deep in his heart.

But Ji Ning’s kindness, along with their former bond of life-and-death friendship, had caused him to bury that resentment.

But now…

When the Karmic Hellfire had descended, and the suffering youth beneath its flames struggled, the guilt crushed Mu Northson. “If I hadn’t always been pushing for revenge, senior apprentice-brother wouldn’t have been so impatient. He would have continued to wait, to grow stronger, before completely annihilating the Shaoyin clan. It’s all because I was too eager.”

“Enough.” Uncle White barked. “The Shaoyin clan’s Celestial Immortals are already flying over. We need to leave now. Qingqing, Greater Teleportation!”

“Alright.”

Qingqing suppressed her own agony and heartache. With a wave of her hand, she temporarily stored Uncle White and Mu Northson away, then immediately executed a Greater Teleportation.

Whoosh!

They vanished into thin air, returning to Mount Yan.

……

In the high skies, the seven Celestial Immortals of the Shaoyin clan had indeed been rushing toward that grand formation. A single Void Shuttle brought them directly to the edge of the formation. But just as they arrived, Qingqing, Uncle White, and Mu Northson had already departed. They knew perfectly well that they were no match for these Celestial Immortals. They were far too weak. All they could do now was bury their hatred deep in their hearts. If Ji Ning had truly died, they would have to train bitterly, waiting for the day they could avenge him.

“They run fast enough.” Ancestor Xuanji sneered coldly.

“They were weak to begin with, only daring to fight because they relied on Ji Ning. Now that Ji Ning is dead, of course they flee.” Black Rain Celestial Immortal’s voice was cold.

The nearby Chixin shook his head. “Black Rain, Ji Ning isn’t dead just yet.”

“Karmic Hellfire has descended, a heavy tribulation. I refuse to believe he can survive it.” Black Rain said. “Furthermore, our master used the Realm-Binding Tower, sending Ji Ning to some deadly region in the void beyond the Three Realms. Some of those territories can even slay True Immortals and Empyrean Gods, let alone a brat who hasn’t even crossed his Heavenly Tribulation.”

The horned, gold-robed figure nearby turned his head to look at Old Demon Fufeng, who was still writhing in agony some distance away. “If Fufeng can survive this Karmic Hellfire,” the figure said, “I will personally send him to the Ten Kings of Hell. When he is reborn in the future, he must return to my Shaoyin clan, and we will spare no effort in raising him.”

“Mm.”

“Naturally.”

Everyone present nodded.

Of course. If he could survive the Karmic Hellfire, he would undergo a world-shaking transformation. His Dao-heart would become incredibly formidable. Though reincarnation would cloud the wisdom of his past life, the soul’s very strength would ensure a high level of achievement in its next life. Once it awakened its past-life memories, the chances of it crossing the Heavenly Tribulation would skyrocket.

“It depends on whether he can endure it.” The horned, gold-robed man sighed. “Every single cultivator who has weathered the Karmic Hellfire is extraordinary. Even among Celestial Immortals, they are considered first-rate existences.”

Only a very, very small number of Celestial Immortals could endure it!

A cultivator’s Dao-heart strength was difficult to gauge externally. Even someone as powerful as ‘Chixin Celestial Immortal’ wouldn’t dare claim a one-hundred percent certainty of surviving Karmic Hellfire. That was why Celestial Immortals were always incredibly careful. Unless they had no other choice, they would avoid being trapped by Karmic Hellfire at all costs. The descent of Karmic Hellfire was terrifying, but once it was survived, a cultivator’s power would generally rise.

Throughout the Three Realms, those who had weathered the Karmic Hellfire were all legendary figures.

Even Ji Ning’s senior apprentice-brother, ‘Silvermoon Empyrean God,’ was wreathed in Karmic Hellfire, yet he paid it no mind at all. That was the mark of a truly formidable great demon.

The Seamless Gate stronghold in the West Sea of the Grand Xia World.

On the enormous mirror, the scene of the battle at the Chenyu Mountain Range was being displayed. Nine hundred plus Heavenly Demons had been frantically fleeing under the onslaught of the Immortal-Slaying Guard. Ji Ning had suddenly erupted with power far beyond expectations, instantly slaughtering two Celestial Immortals. Then the Shaoyin clan’s Loose Immortal, ‘Old Demon Fufeng,’ had launched a suicidal attack, triggering Karmic Hellfire. Ji Ning had been engulfed in the flames, then teleported beyond the Three Realms by the Realm-Binding Tower…

“Spectacular. Truly spectacular.” Wu Xiao Celestial Immortal watched with endless admiration. “This Fufeng is ruthless and decisive enough. The determination to make such a choice on a moment’s notice, sacrificing his own clansmen—tens of billions of mortals—just like that… that’s the heart of a true demon, vicious and bold.”

“You’re praising him? Such a vile, contemptible creature, and you’re praising him?” Zi Cao frowned.

“Little girl Zicao, this is where you’re wrong. You may have become a Celestial Immortal, but in terms of Dao-heart, you might still be inferior to this Fufeng,” Wu Xiao shook his head. “As for cunning, you are far, far behind him. This is precisely why our Lord has never let you truly govern a region. You still need far, far more experience.”

“I’m inferior to him?” Zi Cao was incensed.

“How much adversity have you actually faced?” Wu Xiao shook his head. “Though we are Celestial Immortals and tend to look down on Loose Immortals—it’s true that ninety-nine percent of them aren’t worth caring about—out of those countless Loose Immortals, there will always be a few who have survived for over a million years. Such Loose Immortals have endured the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations again and again, weathering the assault of heart demons each time. Their Dao-hearts are all incredibly powerful. You, on the other hand, became a Celestial Immortal quite early. Though you have lived longer than them, how many tribulations have you actually endured? Your talent and comprehension might be higher, but you have suffered too few tribulations. Your Dao-heart truly might not compare to his. Look—under the descent of Karmic Hellfire, he can still maintain a clear mind and speak with the Shaoyin clan’s Celestial Immortals. Can you claim you can do that?”

Zi Cao was stunned.

Under the descent of Karmic Hellfire, even a monster like Ji Ning had barely managed to cling to a thread of rationality. But Old Demon Fufeng could speak clearly and coherently, showing just how much stronger his Dao-heart was.

“A hundred billion mortals… if that was the price to kill a peerless monster like Ji Ning, then it was worth it.” Zi Cao suddenly said, “Old man, do you think this method could work against a Celestial Immortal?”

“Are you seeking death?” Wu Xiao shook his head. “The moment you give that order, you, as the instigator, would bear tremendous karmic sin. If a hundred billion mortals die, with luck, you might only suffer a few hundred zhang of bloody light weighing down on you. Without luck, Karmic Hellfire might descend upon you directly. As for the executor you send, they would definitely be struck by Karmic Hellfire. This is a suicidal tactic, pure and simple.”

“Furthermore, amongst Celestial Immortals, the mediocre ones might fail to survive the Karmic Hellfire. But the truly powerful ones can generally endure it. As for True Immortals and Empyrean Gods—they are already major powers of the Three Realms. Every single one of them can weather the Karmic Hellfire. Daofathers go without saying.” Wu Xiao sighed. “So this kind of tactic is truly not worth employing.”

“Alright. This Ji Ning is wreathed in Karmic Hellfire and has been sent by Shaoyin Chou to some deathland in the void beyond the Three Realms. There’s nothing left for me to do here. I’ll be going now.” With that, Wu Xiao Celestial Immortal rose, carrying a jug of immortal wine, and strode away with casual grace.

“Old man, this doesn’t count! You still owe me two more.” Zi Cao shouted.

“Don’t worry. I’m not a flake like you are.” Wu Xiao’s voice echoed in the hall, but he himself had already vanished.

Zi Cao looked back at the scene of the Chenyu Mountain Range reflected on the mirror. She murmured to herself, “So he’s been sent to a deathland just like that. I didn’t even get to make my move. But not needing to move is also a good thing.”

……

Inside the tower.

The seven Celestial Immortals, including the Shaoyin Ancestor, were all gathered. Not far away, Old Demon Fufeng was sitting cross-legged. His body trembled faintly, and the Karmic Hellfire around him had gradually become ethereal. Clearly, this tribulation of Karmic Hellfire was in its final stages.

“It’s already the seventh day. Fufeng is still holding on.” Ancestor Xuanji’s narrow eyes were filled with anticipation.

“The more dangerous it is at the very end. This seventh day is also the final day. If he endures it, he lives. If he cannot…” The Shaoyin Ancestor’s voice grew low, then his expression suddenly shifted. He stared intently at Old Demon Fufeng.

The aura surrounding Old Demon Fufeng began to weaken.

The aura of his soul was fading.

“What’s going on?”

“Why is his aura weakening?”

Each of them was filled with worry.

They knew very little about Karmic Hellfire. They only knew that the tribulation lasted a full seven days, with the final stages being the most terrifying. If one could endure the seven days, the Karmic Hellfire would turn illusory, only detectable by divine sense or heartforce, invisible to the naked eye. But even though it was invisible, the Karmic Hellfire would still cling to its victim, an endless burning pain that felt like being trapped in hell forever.

“It’s his heart. His heart is weakening,” the Shaoyin Ancestor said. “When the heart weakens, the aura naturally fades. Once the heart dies… the soul will be burned to death in an instant. That is the true terror of Karmic Hellfire. The pain of its initial descent is just a forceful assault. Many cultivators with strong Dao-hearts can rely on willpower to endure it. But the insidious, gradual erosion—a thousand different methods seeping in slowly—can cause the sufferer to willingly surrender to death, as if committing suicide!”

Old Demon Fufeng’s aura grew weaker and weaker.

The seven Celestial Immortals watched nervously.

Another three hours passed.

His aura was completely extinguished.

“Boom!”

Mere moments after his aura had vanished and become undetectable, it suddenly shot back upward. Old Demon Fufeng opened his eyes.

“I’ve survived,” Old Demon Fufeng said in a low voice. “Such terrifying Karmic Hellfire. A million years’ worth of Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations are nothing compared to it. And yet, I survived. I don’t want to experience it again. I never want to experience it again.” There was a deep, profound sorrow in his eyes.

“Fufeng.” The Shaoyin Ancestor called out.

Fufeng snapped back to clarity.

“Ancestor.” Fufeng quickly said, “All you ancestors, I sent my hundred billion clansmen to their deaths. My sin…”

“Enough. You have no sin. On the contrary, you have rendered a great service.” The Shaoyin Ancestor laughed heartily. “A hundred billion mortals is nothing. We can just relocate a few tens of billions from our other two lairs, and in a few decades, they’ll have multiplied back. Being able to deal with Ji Ning this time… was all thanks to you. You were willing to disregard your own life, to bear the Karmic Hellfire yourself and launch that one strike. Your merit is immense.”

“Ancestor, my karmic sin is now enormous, and this is a time of great turmoil in the Three Realms. If I live, I will only bring disastrous consequences upon the Shaoyin clan,” Old Demon Fufeng said somberly. “I am prepared to die and descend to the Netherworld.”

“Mm.” The Shaoyin Ancestor nodded. “Very well. With your sin weighing you down, after death, you will be sent to the Boundless Purgatory to suffer endless torment. When the day comes that you can be reborn, I will definitely guide you back to the Shaoyin clan. In the old days, the Netherworld administration would have made things a bit troublesome, but now that Daofather Crimsonbright has established his smaller cycle of reincarnation, the Ten Kings of Hell of that smaller cycle all have to show me some face. I can still arrange everything for you.”

“Yes,” Old Demon Fufeng said respectfully. “Then this disciple will take his leave.”

Without any hesitation.

Hua!

A Golden Lotus Primal was voluntarily dispersed, and a human-shaped soul, wreathed in Karmic Hellfire, flew directly toward the small cycle of reincarnation.

“Swoosh.” The Shaoyin Ancestor immediately followed, heading toward the small cycle of reincarnation.

———

A new volume begins! Why is my monthly vote count rising so slowly… I’m really puzzled… I really, really want to see those monthly votes come flooding in~~~