Chapter 480 - 474: All Living Beings Are Equal (2)
Chapter 480: Chapter 474: All Living Beings Are Equal (2)
"To consort with a demon! Master Sui Xiao, you should be condemned for this!" Chen Hongbo roared.
It was hard to say whether his anger was genuine or feigned, but in any case, his performance seemed a bit over the top.
Du Youqian paid him no mind, focusing solely on dealing with Ye Rui Master.
As expected of a True Inheritance Nascent Soul from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect, Ye Rui Master’s Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques were not to be underestimated. Furthermore, she had yet to reveal her Nascent Soul Dharma Aspect.
Du Youqian certainly didn’t believe she hadn’t comprehended the Heaven and Earth Divine Abilities. He suspected she was saving her Dharma Aspect as a trump card.
Coincidentally, Du Youqian also planned to use his Dharma Aspect as a trump card... one of them, anyway.
In truth, once he recovered his breath, ending the battle with his Blood Slaughter Sword Intent would also be a good option. He didn’t plan on leaving anyone alive anyway, so he wasn’t afraid of his secrets getting out.
But not yet.
Using "All Living Beings Are Equal" to cut down his opponent’s lifespan had taken a great toll on Du Youqian. Besides losing a hundred years of his own life, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were in a state of decline, making it difficult to unleash the true power of his Blood Slaughter Sword Intent.
Chen Hongbo was flailing about frantically, but he was completely pinned down by Little Wukong.
Chen Hongbo looked big and burly, but he wasn’t actually skilled in close-quarters combat.
He was especially bad at dealing with a Demon King like Little Wukong, who was small, incredibly agile, and possessed the Copper Skin Iron Bone Divine Abilities.
Well, that was one way of putting it...
In truth, almost no one could easily handle such a Demon King.
Besides, was the Copper Skin Iron Bone Divine Abilities really Little Wukong’s only skill?
Du Youqian, who had once seen Little Wukong go on a rampage, would have something to say about that.
What terrified Chen Hongbo most was that Little Wukong’s aura was still climbing. It seemed genuinely possible that it would break through to become a Tier Four Transformed Great Demon right in the middle of the fight, without needing the usual three to five years.
Du Youqian managed to spare a glance amidst the chaos. ’Whoa, a mid-battle breakthrough. That’s a classic protagonist trope,’ he thought. ’There ought to be a book called *Wukong’s Story* to chronicle his legend.’
Ye Rui Master also realized the situation was turning against them and decisively conceded. "My dear brother, I admit defeat. Let’s stop! I don’t want to fight anymore."
Du Youqian remained expressionless, merely concentrating on controlling his Jinhuan sword. His moves were simple, yet they embodied the principle of great skill appearing unadorned.
’You may have started this war... but when it ends is up to me!’
Ye Rui Master gritted her teeth, knowing it would be difficult to make Du Youqian stop without offering something substantial. "My dear brother, please stay your hand. Both Chen Hongbo and I will swear an oath not to reveal any information about your Divine Abilities to anyone. We were wrong to attack you, and I am willing to pay the price. If you agree, we’ll stop this now!"
As she spoke, she leaped backward, and just as she’d hoped, Du Youqian did not give chase.
Nearby, the monkey bared its fangs, but seeing that Du Youqian seemed inclined toward a truce, it also halted its assault.
"CHEE CHEE!" it screeched, looking provocatively at Chen Hongbo.
Chen Hongbo breathed an inward sigh of relief but put on a disdainful expression. "You’re lucky I’m letting you live."
"CHEE CHEE CHEE!"
Du Youqian smiled. "My dear sister, don’t you go short-changing me now. Why don’t you swear that oath first?"
Ye Rui Master and Chen Hongbo obediently made an oath not to leak any information related to Du Youqian’s Divine Abilities.
Then, Ye Rui Master’s expression softened, her eyes filled with affection. "How could I possibly short-change my dear brother? My senior brother’s belongings are your spoils of war. And I, for one, guarantee no one will come seeking revenge for him. Furthermore, to have troubled you so much today... I feel terribly sorry. I am willing to compensate you with one... no, two Tier Four Treasures."
Seeing Du Youqian’s cold smile, Ye Rui Master had hastily changed her offer.
But how could Du Youqian possibly be satisfied with ordinary Tier Four Treasures now?
And only two of them at that.
It was an offer lacking in both quality and quantity.
Du Youqian laughed. "My dear sister, you plundered so much from Huailai City, yet you offer me a mere two Tier Four Treasures to send me on my way. Do you take me for a beggar? Why don’t we just continue our Magical Combat? I’m sure there are plenty of good things on you and that Lord of Chen. I’m used to being poor, so I really can’t bear to pass this up."
Ye Rui Master laughed and chided, "You rascal, you’re so greedy. But even if you want everything I own, I wonder if your teeth are strong enough. Don’t end up breaking them before you’ve even had a bite."
This was, in fact, Du Youqian’s exact concern.
Otherwise, why would he have bothered to sacrifice a hundred years of his life just to cut down that withered old man?
These Direct Inheritance disciples from Major Sects all had trump cards, and they weren’t necessarily any weaker than his Sword Intent.
And if he wanted to just copy his last move and use "All Living Beings Are Equal" to kill Ye Rui or Chen Hongbo, the price would be far too great.
After all, Ye Rui was not very old, and Chen Hongbo still had at least six or seven hundred years of life left.
As for Little Wukong, although it seemed on the verge of a mid-battle breakthrough, it hadn’t actually broken through yet. And breaking through in the middle of a fight would certainly have some negative consequences for its future.
That was why Du Youqian was more than willing to hear Ye Rui Master’s terms.
He and Ye Rui Master were like a man hitting a snake with a hemp stalk—both sides were afraid.
Ye Rui Master was afraid of his "All Living Beings Are Equal" Divine Abilities; they were simply too unreasonable.
He, in turn, was afraid of her trump card, and also feared wasting too much of his lifespan on her and her companion.
"You don’t need to worry about me, sister. My teeth are just fine. You’d be better off spending your energy thinking of something that might actually tempt me."
Ye Rui Master’s eyes flickered. "Let me think... Ah, I know. How about some information regarding a Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object?"
"How can you tell him about that!" Chen Hongbo hurriedly tried to stop her, no longer acting, but genuinely anxious.
Ye Rui Master chuckled softly and sent a message via Divine Sense, ’Don’t you think this kid might be our best possible ally?’
She looked at Du Youqian. "Interested?"
Du Youqian was somewhat surprised. He had a feeling that the place Ye Rui Master was about to mention was the same one he already knew about.
"Not interested," Du Youqian said with a smile. "I’m not yet qualified to compete for a Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object. I’d rather get some tangible benefits. Four Tier Four Treasures, and I’ll let you go, sister."
Ye Rui Master was also caught off guard. She hadn’t expected to find a Nascent Soul Cultivator in this world who wouldn’t be moved by the prospect of a Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object.
"Do you know how precious a Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object is? If measured in Spiritual Jade, it’s worth at least ten million. In other words, you could trade it for two or even three Tier Five Treasures."
Du Youqian replied candidly, "So what if it’s precious? While I’m confident in my combat abilities, the people who dare to vie for a Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object are undoubtedly some of the world’s top Nascent Soul experts. What makes you think I’m capable of obtaining such a treasure and returning safely?"
"You can’t do it alone, of course," Ye Rui Master said, her eyes as soft as silk. "But what if you add me to the equation? And that big oaf over there?"
’You’re the big oaf! Your whole family are big oafs!’
Chen Hongbo was furious inside, but his expression remained impassive.
He was not Ye Rui Master’s subordinate, but her partner. And, of course, their partnership was driven by their own selfish motives; it was impossible for them to cooperate with complete sincerity.
He had no objection to Ye Rui Master pulling this kid into their group. He had witnessed firsthand just how difficult to deal with and how terrifying his Divine Abilities were.
"Oh..." Du Youqian’s acting was superb, his contemplative expression appearing perfectly natural. "Sister’s proposal does seem a little interesting. However, I want to know more. And what kind of partnership are we talking about?"
Ye Rui Master then gave a simple explanation of the situation at the cavern residence. It was basically the same as what Du Youqian had learned from Zhuge Qing, just not as specific.
After all, Zhuge Qing even had a map of the cavern residence.
However, Ye Rui Master actually knew the time the cavern residence would open.
This was a blind spot in Zhuge Qing’s knowledge.
"As for how we’ll cooperate..." Ye Rui Master giggled charmingly. "Naturally, we will cooperate with utmost sincerity. After we obtain the Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object, we’ll divide it amongst ourselves—based on the contributions each of us three made inside the cavern residence, for example."
Du Youqian considered this.
He considered the nature of those from the Demon Sect. A proper Demon Sect Disciple would definitely agree to these terms, then look for an opportunity to betray and kill their companions to take all the benefits for themselves.
So, he nodded and said, "Two Tier Four Treasures, and then we’ll swear an oath to form an alliance."