Guan Longzi was silent for a while. Finally, he spoke, “If you wish to forge a new path, there are many great methods of doing so. Your power, my friend, may not be sufficient.”

　　Shen Lian plainly said, “Since that is so, I would like to seek confirmation from Taiyi and gain his power. But there is still an orifice point lacking.”

　　“In the case of Taiyi in Daoism, or Mahāsattva Bodhisattva in Buddhism, their names may be different but they are not that distinct from each other. They are nothing else but the limit of a celestial’s path, and then become one’s own cultivation. In order to gain the state, one must first have the will, and the hardest to gain in this world is the will. In this respect, I am of no help to you. Besides, even if I can help you, I will not,” Guan Longzi replied.

　　Shen Lian’s attention was drawn to the Lamp of Yin and Yang, and faintly said, “It seems that you wish not to help me. And yet you still want me to pay you a small cost before leaving.”

　　Guan Longzi sternly told him, “Since that is the case, Brother Shen, please forgive your friend, Guan Longzi, for being unable to let you walk that road. If you do that, many people would die. Should the selfishness of one person cause all beings to be run to the ground?”

　　Whether or not Shen Lian was capable of building a nation equivalent to that of Xia or Yinshang, the emergence of a sudden power with such rank will surely bring about much bloodshed and sacrifice. Moreover, it might be that the Netherworld will head in a direction even more impossible to predict. When that time comes, no one knows how many more lives will be sacrificed then.

　　Long ago, the Shen Lian that Guan Longzi saw surpassed worldly standards. Then, Guan Longzi saw from Shen Lian’s eyes a heroic emotion that had never been present in the past. This was also the reason for the profound change Shen Lian experienced throughout his life.

　　Guan Longzi could not yet reach the ability to know the past and future states. Naturally, he could not know what actually happened to Shen Lian, but he understood that the things Shen Lian did cause neither Xia nor Shang to be able to coexist with the Shen Lian. Catastrophes were bound to happen when the times comes – an unimaginable situation indeed.

　　After all, Shen Lian was largely different from other demon saints or the heavenly immortals. If Shen Lian was given a period of time to nurture a talent, he could establish a great power in a short amount of time. This could plainly be seen in Shen Lian’s capability to teach according to the abilities of an individual student, coupled with Lei Jing’s rapid progress. Such means were not easily possessed, even if one was a demon saint or a person who achieved the state of heavenly immortal.

　　Guan Longzi also deeply understood the reason why Shen Lian had such capability. The knowledge Shen Lian acquired was all-encompassing, was not any inferior to Guan Longzi. As for the understanding of techniques and Dao formulae, they were not even within Guan Longzi’s capabilities. It could be said that these factors were able to create a cultured person.

　　Although the old Shen Lian did many things that affected the world, they had nothing to do with the great powers. Furthermore, Guan Longzi was also capable of understanding Shen Lian’s undeniable attitude. That was why he sincerely made friends with Shen Lian.

　　But the current Shen Lian was no longer the man with the undeniable attitude.

　　Shen Lian sneered, “My friend, how could I Shen Lian be rattled by mere use of words?”

　　Guan Longzi sighed in reply, “Although I cannot admire you enough for your resolution, my friend, it is unavoidable that I, Guan Longzi, will become the evil person this time.”

　　Shen Lian beamed, “I wanted to test out your means from the very beginning.”

　　Guan Longzi let out a long whistle. The Xia Camp shook and out came the Lamp of Yin and Yang, Life and Death, rotating to a spot in front of him. It let out two streams of light, one red and one white. Like two fire dragons, the two streams wound themselves over his shoulder. When Guan Longzi joined both hands together, the white and red fire dragons came into contact with each other. An immense and terrifying strength was incited as soon as his hands were joined. The entirety of the strength was like a landslide or a tsunami gathering itself in such a small compound. It headed towards Shen Lian, as if to greet him.

　　An ordinary person would know different properties of light that emanated from the Lamp of Life and Death – the red light was capable of damnation and death, while the white light was capable of salvation and life. But an ordinary person would not know that the lamp was strongest only when both streams of light were used in tandem.

　　Life and death were opposites, just as Yin and Yang were opposites. Where life is present, death is present too. Where death is present, life is present too. Life and death alternated between each other and their position was ever-changing. The power that was drawn was more than just the power of life and death.

　　More so, these powers were the pull of reincarnation. Deities who touch on these would fall into oblivion.

　　Shen Lian could not help but exclaim in applause, “Delightful.”

　　In the void there appeared a cold groaning voice, “Shen Lian, do you think you can just come and go as you please in the domain of the Emperor?”

　　At that moment, a large shadow appeared in the Emperor’s tent. The shadow was so large it appeared as though it was a giant that was as tall as the sky. A mighty power strong enough to fill the heavens began its pressure, completely disregarding the soldiers in the tent.

　　Within a short time, many of the soldiers fainted. The power of the karmic circle stifled Shen Lian even more.

　　Immediately Shen Lian laughed, “Emperor, you have waited for this moment for quite a long time, have you not?”

　　At this point, Shen Lian was only an avatar. He would not lose his foundation even if he died in this battle. However, Guan Longzi had already set his desire to kill in motion. Furthermore, there was the appearance of Emperor Xia. In the heavens and earth, the emperor will not stop until he has pursued the true body.

　　Shen Lian had already expected this. After all, when he was determined to enter the Xia Camp, he already anticipated the worst possible outcome.

　　Sooner or later a falling out would occur. But why that day, out of all days?

　　It was a pity for Guan Longzi. To make do of the flesh and blood of his mortal body in this supernatural power. Even if the state was made higher, the strength in his heart was not enough. Damage to his body was but a natural consequence.

　　Faced with the pull of reincarnation bursting forth from the Lamp of Life and Death, Shen Lian let out a laugh and performed the mark of lotus. In his mind, it was as if there was a red sun and a round moon that were simultaneously born. Soon after the scene became a marvel where the sun and moon transformed into a golden crow and a jade rabbit ¹ , chasing after each other.

　　All of a sudden the sun and moon were engulfed by the pull of reincarnation. But there appeared to be a slight halt.

　　The mudrā gestured by Shen Lian was Buddhism’s Mark of the Sun and Moon. The grandeur of the sun and moon could receive and attract all living things, so as not to fall into the karmic cycle. At that point in time, his Primordial Spirit did not actually go in person, and there was a bit of discrepancy, so all that could happen was a standstill.

　　However, the standstill was what Shen Lian wanted all along. Soon after, it was as if there was a meteor slashing pass the mountaintops in the distance. In fact, it was a godly arrow, perfectly hitting its target – the core of the pull of reincarnation.

　　It was not known how much more power the Divine Arrow had, to be able to cause an explosion of the pull of reincarnation. At that point in time, Guan Longzi’s face went pale and he spat out blood. The Lamp of Life and Death in front of him fell over, and its light gradually dissipated.

　　The charm that was originally present decreased tremendously. That was probably because the lamp suffered extensive damage.

　　Because of the explosion of the pull of reincarnation, Shen Lian’s Primordial Spirit slowly diminished as well.

　　Emperor Xia transformed into a giant and so with one step he could reach the place where the arrow was shot.

　　Shen Lian relied on the void to control the emptiness and threw aside the bow he was holding.

　　In his Primordial Spirit, there were still remnants of the Sun Extinguishing Arrow’s power. That night he will surely be using it all. The Lamp of Life and Death was not fearsome enough a weapon.

　　However, Emperor Xia would not let him get away with exposing of the true body of the Primordial Spirit.

　　Emperor Xia said, “Even if I kill you, he will not be resurrected. But if you remain alive, I will forever bear regrets.”

　　“Would it not be the case then, that your greatness should kill Guan Longzi? After all, aside from wiping out me and Tianyi, if the Lamp of Life and Death was in your possession, the High Priest might still have a chance to go on living,” Shen Lian chuckled.

　　Emperor Xia coldly laughed, “I originally did not want to kill him. I wanted him to know, the peace of this world is dependent on the talking of fists and not the talking of principles. If anyone disobeys, they will be killed until they obey. It is only by doing so that Xia Kingdom will continue its existence for thousands of years to come.”

　　“Your greatness, you cannot even subdue me. And yet you wish to subdue the whole of the world?” Shen Lian softly replied as the sleeves of his robe floated with the wind.

　　There was no further comment from the Emperor, only a fist towards the direction of Shen Lian.

　　Shen Lian immediately transformed into a mass of clear water. Towards and from the dangers of the fist, he floated away and reached the clouds of the Nine Heavens.