Chapter 302 - 189: To Be a Slave

Chapter 302: Chapter 189: To Be a Slave

Su Mu stared at Shi Ziran in silence.

Shi Ziran met his gaze without flinching, his expression open.

"I know it sounds like I’m trying to use you to deal with the Pure Land Sect and avenge our Sect Leader."

Shi Ziran said without the slightest hesitation, "I admit, that is indeed my intention.

However, not a single word I’ve said is false. The Pure Land Sect truly possesses a True Essence Technique that would be perfect for you.

That True Essence Technique was acquired by our Sect Leader back then, along with the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique.

The Sect Leader mastered the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique but failed to master that True Essence Technique. Otherwise, he never would have been ambushed by that villain."

Shi Ziran was remarkably candid, making no attempt to hide his intention of using Su Mu for his revenge.

In truth, there was no way to hide it.

That being the case, he figured he might as well be direct and lay all his cards on the table.

"Even without that True Essence Technique, given what the Pure Land Sect has done, do you think the Taiping Bureau would just let them be?"

Shi Ziran said in a low, serious voice, "They’re traitors to humanity!

From what I know, the Pure Land Sect doesn’t just collude with the Demon Court. Within the borders of Da Xuan, they commit every evil imaginable, stirring up trouble everywhere they go.

What’s more, the upper echelons of the Pure Land Sect cultivate demonic arts.

They are all devils!"

Demons and devils.

When an animal is corrupted, it becomes a demonic beast.

When a human is corrupted, they become a devil.

When an animal is tainted by the world’s Demonic Qi, it gains sentience and becomes a demonic beast.

But if a human uses the world’s Demonic Qi to cultivate, they will lose their humanity and become a devil.

These two starkly different outcomes both stemmed from the same source: the world’s foul, miasmatic energies.

Thanks to the Taiping Bureau’s relentless crackdowns, devils were now a rare sight within the borders of Da Xuan.

The few that did appear were usually just people who had accidentally been tainted by corrupt energy.

The Taiping Bureau would never allow a demonic sect of any significant scale to emerge.

Years ago, the moment the Fragrance Sect showed such tendencies, it was annihilated by the Taiping Bureau.

This Pure Land Sect is even worse than the Fragrance Sect ever was; naturally, the Taiping Bureau would not permit its existence either.

However—

"You overestimate me."

Su Mu said calmly, "I’m just a lowly Taiping Captain. A matter as great as annihilating the Pure Land Sect isn’t for me to decide."

"I’m afraid you haven’t realized your own value."

Shi Ziran said with profound meaning, "Trust me, if you want that True Essence Technique, you’ll find a way to annihilate the Pure Land Sect."

"Oh?"

Su Mu shot him a sideways glance and said coolly, "So, Sect Leader Shi knows me better than I know myself?

Unfortunately for you, I’m not interested in the True Essence Technique you mentioned."

Before Shi Ziran could say more, Su Mu cut him off coldly. "I will report the matter of the Pure Land Sect. How it is handled is the Taiping Bureau’s business. I don’t call the shots, and neither do you."

A chill went down Shi Ziran’s spine. He suddenly recalled their meeting before he had left Wuling City.

Su Mu might seem mild-mannered, but he was domineering at his core.

He would not be threatened, nor would he be used.

He thought he was using a transparent scheme, but he hadn’t realized this was exactly the kind of thing Su Mu detested.

’Shi Ziran, oh, Shi Ziran, when will you ever learn?’

’Who was Su Mu?’

’He had risen from a mere refugee to his current standing, relying on nothing more than the common Submerging Wave Saber Technique at the start.’

’He had cultivated all the way to his current level—the Body Tempering Extreme Realm, with Physical Divine Techniques and comprehension of at least four types of intent—without relying on any supreme Martial Arts Techniques.’

’A True Essence Technique might be tempting, but its allure was nowhere near as great as he had imagined.’

’For a peerless genius like him, even the most ordinary Cultivation Technique could be transformed into something miraculous.’

’And he had actually tried to use such a person, even if the "use" would have been to Su Mu’s benefit.’

’I must have been blind.’

"I’ve said too much."

Shi Ziran was a practical man, quick to admit his mistakes. He said with a serious expression,

’Pointing out that the Pure Land Sect had a True Essence Technique should have been enough. He shouldn’t have overstepped by trying to influence the decision.’

’A man like Su Mu would make his own decisions.’

Su Mu nodded slightly. ’Shi Ziran really is a smart man. No wonder he was still able to thrive in Wuling City even after the fall of the Fragrance Sect.’

"We’re heading through Daxing Mountain to the Untamed Wilds. Are you coming with us, or are you heading back to Jingzhou on your own?"

Su Mu added slowly, "I should warn you, we don’t have the spare manpower to escort you back to Jingzhou."

"I’ll go with you,"

Shi Ziran said without a moment’s hesitation.

’What a joke. In his current condition, alone in the depths of Daxing Mountain, he wouldn’t survive half a day.’

’Following these Taiping Captains was his only chance of survival.’

"Junior Brother Su—"

Xu Chongyuan, having just finished copying the Golden Lotus True Essence Method, suddenly spoke up, shooting Su Mu a meaningful look.

’Their current mission is top-secret.’

’Shi Ziran was the Right Guardian Envoy of the Fragrance Sect. Even though the sect is gone and he claims to have turned over a new leaf, what if he hasn’t?’

’What if the man is harboring ill intentions?’

’This is Daxing Mountain, after all.’

’Having someone like him around is like carrying a ticking time bomb.’

’Besides, the route through Daxing Mountain is top-secret. It absolutely cannot be revealed to someone untrustworthy.’

’As far as Xu Chongyuan was concerned, they had already done more than enough by saving Shi Ziran from that demonic beast. They should just leave him to fend for himself.’

Su Mu gave a slight nod, indicating he understood.

But what kind of man was Shi Ziran?

He was a veteran of the Jianghu, the man they called the Green-eyed Golden Eagle.

How could the exchange of glances between Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan possibly escape his notice?

With just a moment of reflection, he understood everything.