"You forced me! You forced me!" Uru Hong Jing shouted.
At that moment, the aura of Mediocrity Gu vanished, and instead.
A wondrous, beautiful Rainbow rapidly took shape.
Blocking the palm.
Yet.
Le Tu's Will did not waver in the slightest, followed by that strike.
His aura surged like an exploding volcano.
A spectral flame was unleashed, shaking the heavens.
At the same time.
Uru Hong Jing gritted his teeth.
[Seeing Red] His already red eyes turned even more crimson.
And several veins could be seen.
Almost instantaneously, he teleported beneath Le Tu.
Beneath the flames.
Using that temporary disconcert from his opponent, the skeletal figure took shape.
Aiming towards Le Tu's legs.
An overwhelming cracking sound was heard as he struck at full force.
The skeletal figure's hand cracked, almost instantaneously, whereas Le Tu was not any luckier.
Several fractures occurred at that spot; internal bleeding could be seen.
And his body was shot away towards the heavens.
But as his body rapidly flew, the condensation of rain in the air grew greater.
The drops fell onto his skin.
[Tears in the Rain]
Several emotions fluctuated through his expression, and so did the tears.
Yet.
His resolve only grew greater; even with reddened eyes, he shouted.
His body was set alight by blue flames.
Uru Hong Jing gritted his teeth.
"You think you are the only one with a Rank 7 Gu?" An almost identical blue aura surged from within the depths of his body.
And he stretched his hands towards Le Tu.
[You are Blue]
Borrowing the might of Le Tu's own glow, Uru Hong Jing struck with deadly force.
And making use of his massive body.
He was able to hold onto something
Le Tu's internal organs, but just as quickly. The energy faded.
The glow in Le Tu's body subsided, turning bronze.
But Uru Hong Jing did not budge.
For he knew his weakness!
Whilst his Extreme Yin-Yang Earth Technique seemed flawless, a combination of offense-defense and mobility, it was not without weaknesses.
While Le Tu conserved his speed whenever he changed mass, that did not mean his speed was the same.
Moving a body of 600 kilograms was not the same as moving one of 60.
His Gu that were effective for movement became even more so whenever he turned his body lighter.
Similarly, they became almost entirely useless whenever he turned heavier.
In reality, Le Tu's approach for combat was turning himself infinitely light, and just at the moment of impact, to harden his body to the very limit.
But that left out a huge flaw.
To turn himself lighter, he inevitably turned himself frailer.
Uru Hong Jing kept pressing him from the side, and so he could not risk turning himself any lighter, making his speed many times lower than usual.
Kao Dao Ji struck fiercely with mighty thunder.
Whereas Le Tu stood there, forcefully enduring it.
Unlike previous times, he did not have the luxury to prepare his 'the ground endures the weight of every footstep' Killer Move.
Of course, he rapidly understood that the situation did not favor him.
The flames rapidly changed colors, becoming pale white.
Becoming chillingly cold.
A layer of cold steam rapidly condensed around his body, turning into snow.
Moreover, Uru Hong Jing's move was rapidly deflated, however.
Uru Hong Jing had predicted his reaction.
A white light was shot towards his body.
Who once more had been hardened to the very limit, his organs were struck by a pale white substance.
Withering almost instantly.
Whereas Kao Dao Ji struck once more.
Lighting befell upon Le Tu; this time, the lighting had sparkles of pink intensity.
Mixed among them were hundreds of Thoughts.
Le Tu ignited his sunny thoughts, obliterating the Clouded Thoughts Gu within his brain.
And raised his middle and index finger, the heat that had been concentrating in a singular spot was unleashed towards Kao Dao Ji.
"You should have listened when I told you to go!" Le Tu roared.
Whereas Kao Dao Ji merely smirked confidently.
Despite their circumstances, both Kao Dao Ji and Le Tu felt nearly certain of their victories!
The eyes of both widened.
Countless particles of dirt moved at a divine speed, reaching towards Kao Dao Ji, and at that moment.
His body froze like a statue.
And descended towards the ground, like a falling meteorite.
The reason?
His body had turned as heavy as a mountain!
From the other side.
Le Tu, who had activated his Sunny Thoughts Gu, suddenly had a bad feeling.
"This. Kao Dao Ji poured something more than mere Thoughts inside my head!"
Instinctively, he used countless Gu to increase the weight of his brain.
At the next moment, a massive explosion took place.
Le Tu's eyes and nose bled heavily.
And the internal damage was even worse.
For his cranium had been broken from the inside.
During this period of confusion, all he could ask himself was:
How did this happen?
What did Kao Dao Ji do exactly?
The answer was simple.
Kao Dao Ji realized that Heaven's Will was everywhere.
It was in the air, it was on the water, it was on the ground.
And it was even within the living beings themselves, of course, the concentration of such an energy varied, depending on the location.
While his abilities were ultimately more limited, he pondered why he couldn't achieve a similar effect.
After several attempts, he succeeded somewhat.
Whilst faint, he had learnt how to engrave minute pieces of Heavenly Energy within the Thoughts, producing an specially kind of deadly attack.
Alas.
Kao Dao Ji was unable to take advantage of the opening his move brought.
As the flames that were unleashed by Le Tu rapidly approached him.
He tried to block them with all his might.
Using every defensive move he knew, but.
How could he compete with the might of a Rank 7 Gu?
Like a hot knife piercing through butter.
His body stood no chance, as he was pierced through in its entirety.
His heart boiled into ashes, but strangely.
The rest of his organs became chillingly cold; he felt hypothermia, he felt dizziness, he felt disoriented.
And he felt fear.
The flames that pierced through his body began to slice their way through, threatening to slice him in half!
But before this happened.
Uru Hong Jing struck once more.
A pair of laser eyes shoots from behind him.
Forcing Le Tu to divert his focus away, as a consequence, Le Tu's white flame Killer Move failed.
And he suffered a backlash.
Yet.
He remained calm.
Around his body, ashes and dust began to spread.
Producing a temporary defense, towards Uru Hong Jing's attacks.
And once they grew larger enough.
They were set alight.
By green flames.
Le Tu screamed in pain as the flames entered the depths of his body, but for every percent of damage they dealt, they healed thrice as much.
Uru Hong Jing understood this, and he struck even more fiercely.
But the green flames protected his body from every direction.
Disregarding the absurd Immortal Essence Cost, it was an exceptional defensive and healing Killer Move.
The pupils of Uru Hong Jing widened.
"Wait! No. This is also the most perfect offensive Killer Move for him."
Le Tu pressed his two palms together, activating a Killer Move.
[The ground bears the weight of every footstep!]
Using his own flames, he continuously harmed and healed his body, but the wounds he accumulated were then stored as energy for his following move.
As such.
With every second, the Killer Move became even stronger and stronger.
The worst part?
Uru Hong Jing observed the body of Kao Dao Ji that was descending towards the ground.
The accumulated frostbite and burns had led him to a state of decay; even if he could save himself, it would likely take him a long time to get into fighting shape.
Uru Hong Jing was alone.
He felt a chill down his back.
How was he supposed to overturn the situation?
Uru Hong Jing stared at Le Tu before making a decision.
He turned his gaze towards the left, and he flickered away.
Le Tu gave chase.
…
…
…
Kao Dao Ji finally fell to the ground.
And as he did.
He felt a sharp pain that spread through his back to the rest of his body, jolting him awake.
He opened his eyes widely.
Before an expression of relief appeared on his face.
"So even this body can fall unconscious, huh?"
A helpless, bitter smile appeared on his face as he muttered weakly.
"What a good thing I created a Will before I did or else…
Heh." He shook his head, his body trembled as he recalled how near he was to death.
But then.
His expression changed.
"No…That is not what truly happened. Even now. Le Tu held back." He took a glimpse at his wounds.
The freezing cold white snowflakes inside his body were embedded with green particles.
Those particles did not quite heal him.
But they stopped the harm from spreading further.
If used alongside other methods, Kao Dao Ji could eventually recover himself.
Even if he had been sliced in half.
Of course, recovery would be tedious and painful, likely requiring weeks and even months.
But he would recover.
"His real goal was never to kill me, only to incapacitate me, to give him a chance of killing Uru Hong Jing.
But what is his end goal with all of this?
Does he simply intend to kill him, even disregarding his life and future?
No. Star Constellation would never let a fated venerable die like this.
So, what is his true purpose?
Does he hold an escape route I am unaware of?
Maybe Shung Mia Yin mastered my Killer Move to the extent that she does not even require my help to execute it.
And he lied before.
Or does he intend to use me as a hostage until he finds a way out?
Whatever the case may be, this may be my end.
I am not sure for what, but Star Constellation engineered this situation too perfectly!
Le Tu struck Uru Hong Jing for a reason; I am sure of it.
Most likely, that reason was his Mediocrity Gu.
Maybe by forcing him to halt the Gu's activation, someone may be able to deduce and discern my true motives, and thus, they may decide to erase me for whatever reason."
As he thought of this.
He finally muttered.
"Star Constellation, she truly is cunning."
He sighed deeply.
A long time ago, he recalled that he began to investigate the Blood Sea Ancestor, and he uncovered the relationship those two held with each other.
As well as their manufactured rivalry.
Initially, he did not pay much attention to it.
He assumed that Star Constellation had merely made a small move in casualty, a slight ripple.
And Spectral Soul had done all the work.
He was an insane being, after all.
He did not really need much of a reason to decide to kill somebody.
He also subconsciously underestimated Giant Sun.
Like many, he had considered him somewhat incompetent for his future dealings and failures.
He believed that by making the right choices, by saying the right words, he could change everything, especially because he was an otherworldly demon, and because his target was not the bloodthirsty Spectral Soul, but the 'kinder' and more peaceful Le Tu.
He sighed bitterly.
"I also underestimated Star Constellation. Whilst I did not underestimate her as much, I thought that her grip in the world was only this firm because she had Fate by her side. I thought that because I am an otherworldly demon and because I know of the Fated Venerable, I could turn the blade against her.
That I could use Fate as my weapon.
I even felt proud when I survived that time when she used Uru Hong Jing as an explosive.
I thought that her scheme had failed, but perhaps that was only to lull me into a sense of overconfidence…"
Finally.
He frowned.
"The most frustrating thing is that nobody else knows this enemy even exists; that is what enabled her to scheme against me so thoroughly so many times."
His eyes shone brightly like a pair of pearls.
"That is right. I wonder. How many of her schemes would have reached this point if everybody knew the truth about Heaven's Will?"
Then.
He gritted his teeth.
Using every ounce of power his body still held.
He forcefully stood up.
Several of his wounds opened.
But he did not care.
He did not have the strength to fight.
But he still could move!
Disregarding everything, he activated several Immortal Killer Moves, and he flew towards Le Tu.
…
Le Tu pressed his two palms together.
A golden palm manifested from thin air.
And moved towards Uru Hong Jing!
Uru Hong Jing gritted his teeth.
Hundreds of eyes manifested from thin air.
Each shining with a different color, he went all out to try to contend against Le Tu, but it proved pointless.
The force of each of his attacks was like a soft wave contending against the ocean.
He flickered away.
But the golden palm gave chase.
So he did it again, and again, and again.
His Immortal Essence Reserves were rapidly burning, and his eyes were losing their sight.
It was getting hard to see, or even think.
As he desperately tried to figure out a way out.
In his desperation, he even opened his aperture and entered it.
Before closing it down!
But.
The palm merely charged towards the aperture.
And gripped onto it.
Le Tu clenched his Immortal Aperture with all his might.
Trying to rip it into pieces, whereas Uru Hong Jing desperately tried to defend.
"Wait!" Kao Dao Ji appeared in front of Le Tu, who looked bewildered.
"Huh? I never thought you'd be the kind of person who would risk everything for somebody.
Especially somebody who you did not have a deep friendship."
The expression of Le Tu softened.
"Regardless, it should be obvious to you at this point. You cannot stop me. Don't try it."
Kao Dao Ji smiled bitterly.
"You think I don't know I cannot stop you? But before you do something you may regret.
Let me ask you something."
"What are your views of Fate?"
The expression of Le Tu changed.
He raised an eyebrow.
"What are you even saying? Do you think I will be dissuaded by mere pretty words and empty platitudes?"
"No. You will not. But that is because what I am saying is not just poetry, or any philosophical deep argument regarding freedom or whatnot.
What I am trying to say to you is.
Fate does exist.
And it is a Rank 9 Gu, one that is being held under the strict control of Heavenly Court."
Those words finally changed the expression of Le Tu.
"Fate? Fate has been under their control?" He asked in a mix of bewilderment and disgust.
He knew very well of their actions, as well as the countless atrocities they had inflicted on his mother, and towards every other variant human.
Before, he would have never dared to express his disgust so openly, but the contradictions brought forth by his Dao Demon revealed his deeply concealed hatred.
"Explain." He asked coldly.
Kao Dao Ji finally sighed in relief.
It does seem that his words were truly having their effect on him.
"It's a very long story. It begun since Immemorial times.
Back when Primordial Origin was born.
Humanity was at its weakest.
Variant Humans had conquered the five regions, and the humans were nothing more than their slaves.
But the Heavens are fair.
They always pursue balance and harmony amongst the myriad of living beings.
Which was why he had been chosen.
He had been chosen to repay for the innumerable tragedies that humanity had suffered.
And to make them the most dominant species in the world, to compensate.
But his actions did not have enough of an effect.
Even he, invincible in the world, could not do as he pleased.
The world was all too vast, and even though he was invincible, the Variant Humans could simply hide forever in their apertures until he died of old age.
After all, both our lifespan and life extension methods are several times more effective than those of humans.
Thus, only a few generations of immortals would pass before he inevitably died.
And Variant Humans reigned supreme once more.
That is why Star Constellation, too, was chosen by Fate to become the second Venerable.
She invented Wisdom Path and gained the ability to track and hunt down Variant Humans all over the world.
But even she was limited by her lifespan.
She was supposed to decimate their numbers so that once she died.
They were supposed to achieve 'parity' with humankind.
But she had other plans.
As she realized her death grew nearer, she grew desperate.
And in the end, before her death, she became one with Heaven's Will."
The expression on Le Tu's face became shaken.
His grip lost its strength.
"Where is your proof?" He asked.
To what Kao Dao Ji frowned, that was the difficult part about his argument.
What was he supposed to say to him?
'Hey, I read this in a novel back on earth before I got isekaied here, where they mention that, and plenty of other cool stuff…'
Even so.
He still held a confident smile.
He stretched his hands into the air as he exclaimed.
"My proof? My proof is the world itself!"
"The Heavens prioritize balance above all the things in the world."
"But what balance can there be found in this world? When humans have remained supreme, for basically forever."
"Even if we assume that only humans are worthy enough to become Venerables.
There is still plenty that Heaven's Will could do to bring balance.
Or at the very least, the least it could do is to stop producing new human Venerables.
And yet during every age without exception, more and more Venerables one after the other have appeared.
Do you not find that strange?"
Le Tu paused for a second to think.
"If what you are telling me is the truth, then. Why hasn't Heavenly Court conquered the world?
Why haven't they wiped all Variant Humans in existence?"
"Because they cannot. Star Constellation fused with Heaven's Will, but the fusion was not absolute.
She is more like a tumor clinging to Heaven's Will, without letting go.
But her strength is magnitudes of times lower.
In fact, she depends on the Immortals of Heavenly Court to rest in their graveyards to nurture her will, which is the reason why, even during a crisis, Heavenly Court only sends one or two of their experts, instead of waking up as many as they can to destroy their opposition."
"…"
"…"
"…"
The expression of Le Tu wavered between two extremes.
Countless memories appeared one after the other inside his head.
"I always felt that my life was guided by an invisible hand. Could it be that Fate truly exists?"
Suddenly.
His eyes widened.
As he stared at Kao Dao Ji.
"I remember now. All of this began some time ago. Back when I first bought that method to delay the speed of my Tribulations.
Back then, you had that weird expression on your face when I said that this had to be a coincidence.
Almost nobody in the world could have deduced the truth about us so quickly.
And the few strong enough to do so would not have resorted to such indirect measures.
But would have simply approached silently, before killing us all in one go."
Then, he paused.
"But if what you are saying is the truth…Then, there is somebody who would both have the ability but lacks the strength to do what you said.
And her motive…
Did she intend to use my Tribulation to kill you?" He raised his eyebrows, finding that somewhat illogical.
After all.
His attack had been made in such a way that it would not truly kill him.
"Just incapacitate…" He muttered to himself.
Realization dawned in his expression.
"My original plan was to kill Uru Hong Jing, and if possible, to steal all his Immortal Gu before doing so.
Whilst I planned to incapacitate Kao Dao Ji if he stood in the way.
Then, once I succeeded at that. I would simply escape using the Divine Travel Gu.
By which point, I could begin my new journey of killing every evildoer and becoming a wandering Immortal."
However.
If what Kao Dao Ji was saying was the truth, then his actions would have killed him.
His expression sobered up.
Not just because of what he was going to do, but because of the greater truth Kao Dao Ji was pointing him towards.
That everybody in the world had fallen into the trap of Heavenly Court and Star Constellation!
The mere thought made his eyes turn red, and his mind regain sanity.
After all, wouldn't it be the most laughable thing in the world, that as he reveled in his new freedom and ideals, to realize that they had been nothing but a sham?
Brought forth by the one who had enslaved and destroyed his people?
As this thought reached his head, his grip softened.
He no longer squeezed Uru Hong Jing in the slightest, but he kept just enough firmness so he would not escape.
Once he knew the truth, he would choose his answer.
Several Immortal Gu were activated one after the other.
Whilst none were of Wisdom Path, he was a Grandmaster of Earth Path after all.
Moreover, during the past years, he had been exposed to Kao Dao Ji and had learnt plenty of his methods.
Of course, as Kao Dao Ji's achievements were limited in this field, it was like a one-eyed man guiding a blind man.
Even so, he made astonishing improvements.
As the lights of those Gu surged, countless thoughts appeared in his head.
His expression darkened further and further still.
But as his deduction progressed further and further, the more certain he became that his enlightenment had been nothing but a lie.
The Dao Demon was crushed by the realization, and he regained his sanity.
And as the Tribulation finally stopped.
One Immortal Gu materialized in his palm.
'Dreaming Gu.'
Yet, despite such an accomplishment.
He felt no relief.
"What have I done?" Guilt appeared in his expression.
"Somebody is going to come here soon!" He stared at Kao Dao Ji whilst saying those words.
To which Kao Dao Ji nodded solemnly.
"Yeah…So, do you have any ideas? Any way we can get out of this situation?"
Le Tu paused.
"I may have a way."
From his aperture, another Immortal Gu was revealed.
'Divine Travel Gu.'
Kao Dao Ji's eyes widened as he saw that Gu.
Finally, he understood everything.
Yet, his expression looked somewhat ugly.
The power of the Gu was to teleport anybody to any location in the world.
But it held one fatal flaw: the teleportation was random.
So.
Was he truly willing to entrust his life to chance?
But what other choice did he have?
Le Tu, who had woken up from his previous state, contacted Uru Hong Jing and explained the situation.
And so, reluctantly, Uru Hong Jing opened his aperture.
And stared at the duo.
Before approaching warily.
Once he realized that they did not intend to attack, he stretched his arm.
Le Tu nodded.
He grabbed his hand and then activated the Immortal Gu.
But just as he did.
Laughter could be heard.
Endless laughter and mockery.
The expression of the three stiffened.
As they saw a very familiar figure on the horizon.
Countless upon countless of Blood Phantoms rising from the surface of Kao Dao Ji's aperture.
And they were all staring at them, with huge smiles on their faces.
A huge barrier appeared surrounding Kao Dao Ji's Aperture, surrounding the membrane in a pink-red liquid.
They were trapped.
And their Immortal Gu was completely useless.
…
From a distance.
Da Chou Jidan and several Immortals of the Da Clan could be seen.
They all moved towards one destination.
Kao Dao Ji's Aperture.