At this moment, Gu Yinming was in an inn in Merit City's Outer City, joyfully taking stock of his spoils. Seeing the Li family members rising into the air, he paid no mind to the surprised looks from his fellow Skynet members, quickly put away his treasures, and floated up as well.
He called out to Li Tianyue, who was leading the God of War out on a mission, "Lady Tianyue, are you heading off to battle? This humble Gu has been so well cared for by the Li family. In these few short days, I've merely had to hold out my hand to receive pills; I feel I must repay this kindness. It is time for this humble Gu to lend the Li family a helping hand!"
"Then I thank you, Senior."
Li Tianyue saw that Gu Yinming was only in it for the reward, but she didn't call him out on it.
As they moved forward, she glanced at the God of War beside her. On the battlefields of Duskwild Prefecture, they called her the War Goddess in Blood-Red Armor, yet here before her was the God of War of Duskwild Prefecture from thousands of years ago.
It was a pity she couldn't see any of his legendary dashing and high-spirited nature. Instead, he was utterly silent and taciturn, the tiger-shaped token from his home prefecture hanging around his neck.
Unlike Gu Yinming, this God of War's desire to return to Duskwild Prefecture had never faded. It was just that he took his promises extremely seriously.
Since the Li family had spared his life, he had to serve them for a time.
"Senior," Li Tianyue said suddenly, "my Li family has already sent a letter to Prince Yu. After this war is over, you are free to return to Duskwild Prefecture. I will explain everything to my family's elders."
Upon hearing this, the previously listless God of War's eyes instantly lit up. "Thank you, Lady Tianyue! This humble one has received a great kindness from you. I will surely repay it in the future!"
"Oh, honestly…"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yinming put on an expression of disappointment over someone failing to live up to their potential.
"What's so great about Duskwild Prefecture? You haven't been back in hundreds of years; how many people there even know who you are? You'd be better off staying in Eternal Sun Prefecture. The Li family seems pretty great to me. Isn't serving them the same as serving anyone else?"
As he spoke, he kept raising his eyebrows at Li Tianyue, as if to say, See? I'm putting in a good word for you. How about a bigger share of the loot this time?
"Hmph."
The God of War simply ignored a petty person like Gu Yinming, his own spirits lifting even higher.
Li Tianyue gave a wry smile. As someone who came from the battlefield, she understood the God of War's way of thinking better than anyone. For a man like him, once loyalty was pledged to a single person, it would never change.
Even if they forced him to stay, they would never win his true allegiance. All they would have in the end was a man who went through the motions but put in no real effort.
It was far better to let him go. At the very least, it would improve the family's relationship with Prince Yu.
As the three of them departed, Li Wei also looked at his panel. Li Tianyue had already reported the matter to him. Li Wei used the spirit tablet to trace the character for 'Good' in the air before her.
...
Thus passed the long winter.
In just one short month, Li Wei received another report of victory.
[Your descendant, Li Tianyue, leading Gu Yinming, the God of War, and disciples from the Azure Cloud's Black Tortoise Sect, Heavenly Eye Ghost Sect, and Azure Cloud Pavilion, have together conquered the Divinity Transformation power, the 'Clear Heart Hall'.]
[Congratulations! Family Will acquired: 400]
At that moment, Li Wei appeared within the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land of the Clear Heart Hall.
In this place, rivers of blood flowed. Li Tianyue, clad in her blood-red armor, stood amidst a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
The entire Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land was cracking apart from the successive battles.
The Qi and Blood from the dead could be seen surging into her body.
In the sky above, Gu Yinming was collecting the vengeful spirits of the fallen.
Years ago, Li Yaozu had obtained the inheritance of a Sword Venerable, only to give it to Li Tianyue. She had also benefited greatly from Tian Xing's inheritance.
[Your descendant, Li Tianyue, has received the following from Li Yaozu: the Earth-rank sword method 'Killing Life Sword Art,' the technique 'Blood Sword Slashes the Heavens,' the mid-grade Dharma Treasure 'Killing Life Sword,' and the low-grade Dharma Treasure 'Heavenly Profound Heart-Protecting Mirror.']
[Has obtained an inheritance from one of Tian Xing's avatars: the physique 'Bloodthirsty Body.' When killing enemies, she can absorb a small amount of their cultivation base. Their blood can be used to restore her own spiritual power. Side effect: with increased killing, a maddening bloodlust will arise.]
[Acquired the supreme-grade Spirit Artifact from one of Tian Xing's avatars: 'A Trail of Blood.']
And it was all thanks to the 'Heavenly Profound Heart-Protecting Mirror' that the 'Bloodthirsty Body' was completely unable to affect Li Tianyue's state of mind.
The Li Tianyue of this moment was already at the stage of Nascent Soul 'Leaving the Body'.
From the sky, Gu Yinming, who was collecting vengeful spirits, lowered his head.
He saw the blood from the surrounding corpses surging into Li Tianyue's body and even glimpsed, behind her, what appeared to be a demonic fiend roaring with twin swords in hand.
That… was Li Tianyue's Dharma Body. This Dharma Body seemed to be a fusion of Qilin, Flood Dragon, and Phoenix blood, and it was faintly showing signs of a new transformation!
"This girl…"
Gu Yinming wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "How many people has she killed? Isn't she a demonic fiend herself?"
At that moment, standing amidst the piles of corpses, Li Tianyue withdrew her 'Killing Life Sword' and 'A Trail of Blood.'
She, too, was a sword cultivator, though she wielded twin swords.
The family's subordinates were gathering the spoils of war. Li Tianyue glanced at a figure standing outside the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land, which was on the verge of collapse. It was the God of War.
She saw him, covered in blood, bow deeply to her.
A rare smile touched Li Tianyue's lips. She returned the salute with cupped fists as her own red lips parted slightly.
"Senior, I will see you on the battlefields of Duskwild Prefecture."
---
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