Both men felt an incredibly strong force crash down around them, sending their bodies flying backward.
Xu Zimo sat up and looked at the two of them with annoyance.
“Go fight somewhere else,” he said plainly. “Don’t disturb my sleep.”
The surrounding youths were stunned, staring in disbelief at Xu Zimo.
Someone around their age had casually stopped the clash of two powerful cultivators.
“Why did you stop me?” Yue Yiming, still lying on the ground, actually began to cry.
He looked at Wang Fenghe, clenching his teeth. “I want to tear you apart alive. Ruyue went to the Mortal Dust Palace because of you, she gave up on the world!”
“Idiot,” Wang Fenghe stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and muttered.
“You really don’t understand anything. Do you think she actually loved me?”
“So you still won’t admit you abandoned her?” Yue Yiming sneered.
“I might as well tell you, she only got close to me because of the Nirvana Pearl,” Wang Fenghe said calmly.
“What Nirvana Pearl?” Yue Yiming was stunned.
But the people nearby, upon hearing this, all turned their eyes to him.
“You’re so obsessed with women that you don’t even know this?” Wang Fenghe said.
“One of the Five Spirit Orbs, the Nirvana Pearl.”
“Where is the Spirit Orb?” an elder nearby asked in a serious tone.
“You think I’d still have it if I just told everyone where it was?” Wang Fenghe said with a bitter smile.
“She already took it with her when she entered the Mortal Dust Palace. That whole ‘giving up the world’ thing, she just wanted to use the Nirvana Pearl’s power to transform herself and earn a shot at competing for Heaven’s Will.”
“No way, you're slandering her!” Yue Yiming panicked, shaking his head.
“Believe it or not, you were just living in a fantasy. Pathetic,” Wang Fenghe said coldly.
He then looked at Xu Zimo for a long moment, turned around, and started to leave.
“Tell me more about the Nirvana Pearl,” Xu Zimo said.
“I’ve already said everything,” Wang Fenghe replied without stopping.
“No, I want to hear what you didn’t say,” Xu Zimo shook his head.
“You’re ridiculous,” Wang Fenghe snorted and prepared to leave.
Xu Zimo smiled and suddenly appeared in front of him, grabbing him by the throat.
“Die, or give me something useful enough to save your life. Choose,” Xu Zimo said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wang Fenghe struggled and replied.
At that moment, the old man in green robes under the Demon-Slaying Tree slowly stood up and walked over.
“My friend, please let go of my disciple,” the old man said.
“Today is the Lan Clan’s Demon-Slaying Banquet. I’d rather not cause trouble.”
“You should stay out of this, old man,” Xu Zimo said with a smile and shook his head.
The God Emperor stepped forward and blocked the old man’s path.
The old man narrowed his eyes, carefully sizing him up. The God Emperor felt like a deep sea, completely unreadable and radiating enormous pressure.
“You really want to fight?” the old man asked seriously.
“You’re not worthy,” the God Emperor said calmly.
The old man’s face changed, and suddenly his aura exploded outward.
The space around them began to distort, as if an ancient power were awakening.
“Grand Eternal Cauldron, Grand Azure Cauldron, Grand Flame Cauldron, Grand Slow Cauldron, Grand Hope Cauldron, Grand Sun Cauldron, Grand Beam Cauldron, come forth!”
With seven loud shouts, seven bronze cauldrons tore through the air and hovered around the old man.
The pressure surged, and he looked unstoppable, like a rainbow shooting into the sun.
“How foolish,” the God Emperor shook his head slightly.
He flicked his finger, and with a loud boom, a blinding light shot out.
The light ripped through space, shattered the bronze cauldrons, and exploded right in front of the old man.
The old man froze, unable to even react.
The explosion stopped just short of harming him, but it was so close that he held his breath, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
After a long pause, the old man finally bowed slightly to the God Emperor.
“Thank you, senior, for showing mercy.”
“Master, you…” Wang Fenghe stared, shocked.
“Fenghe, hand over the Companion Artifact,” the old man said with a sigh.
Wang Fenghe hesitated, silent for a while, but finally took out a red crystal from his storage ring.
Flames burned inside the crystal.
“This is the Nirvana Pearl’s Companion Artifact?” Xu Zimo asked, frowning slightly.
“I call it the Nirvana Crystal. It contains Nirvana Fire and can hold the Nirvana Pearl,” Wang Fenghe nodded.
“If you have the companion item, how did she take the Nirvana Pearl?” Xu Zimo asked, frowning again.
Normally, without the companion item, the Five Spirit Orbs couldn’t be taken away.
“She returned it to me in the end,” Wang Fenghe said calmly. “She told me, when I become powerful enough, to bring it to her at the Mortal Dust Palace.”
Xu Zimo took the Nirvana Crystal and shook his head slightly. “Looks like she did fall for you.”
“Bullshit,” Wang Fenghe muttered. He looked at Xu Zimo. “Can I leave now?”
“Go ahead,” Xu Zimo waved his hand.
Wang Fenghe sighed and walked away, looking a bit defeated.
Night fell. The sky was dark and endless, but tonight it sparkled with countless stars.
A full moon hung like a giant disk in the sky.
Inside the Lan Clan’s inner courtyard, Lan Juntian had just returned to his room, exhausted after the banquet.
Before he could rest, a knock came at the door.
“Come in, Ke’er,” Lan Juntian said.
The door opened, and Lan Ke’er walked in hesitantly.
“Father,” she greeted softly.
“It’s late. What is it?” Lan Juntian asked, puzzled.
“I want to talk to you about the Demon-Slaying Banquet tomorrow,” Lan Ke’er said, nervously clutching the hem of her dress.
“What about it?” Lan Juntian asked.
“Could we… maybe…” Lan Ke’er took a deep breath. “Let the demon go?”
“Nonsense!” Lan Juntian slammed his hand on the table, and it instantly shattered. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“But why do we even fight the demons?” Lan Ke’er finally gathered her courage and looked at her father. “Is the hatred really that deep?”