Chapter 125: Rest assured, if I poison you to death, you'll come looking for me.

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At these words, the patriarchs and sect leaders present all grew even more grim.

Just then, the voice spoke again. “Still, you are right. Hiding like this forever is hardly a solution. I suppose it is time for me to show myself, so you will not have another excuse.”

Boom!

As soon as the words fell, a tremor shook the heavens and earth. The next moment, another tearing sound rang out as the space in the void suddenly began to split apart.

A young man in crimson robes, his long hair streaming in the wind, stepped out from the rift in space.

The moment they saw him, everyone present changed expression.

The wandering cultivators had not expected the hidden figure to be so young.

The patriarchs and sect leaders, however, focused on something else. Their eyes filled with solemnity and caution. With their level of perception, they had never imagined that they would be unable to detect the aura or cultivation realm of this crimson-robed youth.

Even standing right before them, he remained impossible to see through. That silent, unfathomable mystery alone was enough to prove, from another angle, how terrifyingly powerful he was.

“What an expert!”

At that moment, the Dragon God beside Fang Heng spoke directly. “Even my dragon soul cannot perceive his strength or soul. In the Divine Martial Realm, I have never encountered anyone like him. Yet here he is. Brother Fang, can you see through him?”

As he asked the question, the Dragon God turned his gaze toward Fang Heng, only to find Fang Heng’s eyes flickering. He seemed surprised, yet delighted as well.

“Brother Fang?”

Seeing his expression, the Dragon God froze and asked, “What is it?”

“Nothing. It is merely that my earlier premonition was correct. This man is an old acquaintance of mine.”

“An old acquaintance? How close are you?”

The Dragon God’s eyes flashed. “His strength is so terrifying. If he is acquainted with you, then perhaps what follows will be much easier to handle.”

“Heh, how close are we? Perhaps this is no longer something that can be measured in degrees of familiarity.”

Fang Heng smiled. The next moment, he looked toward the sky and shouted, “Ling Xuan! What are you doing here?”

As soon as he said this, everyone present changed expression and turned toward the speaker. When they realized it was Fang Heng, their eyes began to flicker with thought.

Juao was especially affected. The moment he saw Fang Heng and the Dragon God, his expression began to shift. He had never expected Fang Heng to greet this young man so suddenly, and that made the situation far more complicated. After all, the Dragon God and the Giant Whale Clan were allies, while Fang Heng was a friend of the Dragon God’s people.

“Hm?”

The crimson-robed youth standing in the void raised an eyebrow at those words, then turned to look at Fang Heng.

When he saw Fang Heng, Ling Xuan immediately burst into laughter. “Ha! I was wondering who knew my name. So it was you! What brought you here?”

Whoosh!

Without paying any attention to the expressions of those present, Ling Xuan flashed forward and appeared beside Fang Heng.

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“I was about to ask you the same thing. Why is it that whenever some great treasure appears, your shadow is always nearby?”

Fang Heng smiled as well. “Besides, your cultivation has increased far too much since we last met. You have actually managed to make me feel pressured. If I am not mistaken, you have reached the mid-level Divine Martial Realm?”

“Haha, I was simply lucky. I obtained a few treasures and broke through.”

Ling Xuan laughed at once. “But do not talk as if you are the only one who has improved. You have advanced quite a bit yourself. I can see it clearly. Although your realm has not broken through, your strength is already enough to deal with me.”

“Heh, that remains uncertain. Perhaps your strength is still superior.”

Fang Heng smiled. Upon hearing this, Ling Xuan burst into loud laughter.

Listening to their exchange, everyone present began turning things over in their minds. Juao was particularly thoughtful. After his eyes flickered for a moment, he suddenly turned toward the Dragon God beside Fang Heng.

“Heh, Nephew Dragon God, I never imagined that you would know such a friend. Why not introduce him to us at once?”

At these words, the Dragon God’s expression changed. He immediately glanced at Fang Heng. He had not expected Juao to address him so suddenly, and he did not know how to respond. He truly did not know Ling Xuan.

“Oh? Fang Heng, who is this fellow? Is he your friend?”

Ling Xuan raised an eyebrow and asked Fang Heng.

“His name is the Dragon God. He is indeed my friend,” Fang Heng replied with a nod. “And a rather important one at that. As for why, the explanation would be troublesome. Just look for yourself.”

As he spoke, Fang Heng flicked a finger. A stream of light shot forth and entered Ling Xuan’s mind. Ling Xuan’s eyes began to flicker immediately.

Only after three breaths did the radiance in his eyes finally still. His previously relaxed gaze became solemn.

“I see. You have been through so much? And there are still so many unresolved matters? This is truly difficult.”

“It is difficult indeed. Fortunately, you appeared in the midst of all this, which has made things much easier for me.”

Fang Heng smiled.

“It has made things easier for you, but it has increased the pressure on me considerably.”

Ling Xuan gave a wry laugh. “Still, there is nothing to be done. We are friends, after all.”

“Heh, exactly.”

Fang Heng smiled. “There is no need to say anything else for now. Handle things as you see fit. I trust in your abilities.”

“Very well. I will certainly do my best.”

Ling Xuan nodded. The next moment, his gaze shifted toward the Dragon God, and he smiled.

“You are the Dragon God, correct? I am Ling Xuan. Fang Heng is my elder brother, and the two of us share a bond forged through life and death. Since you are my elder brother’s friend, you are naturally my friend as well.”

The Dragon God stared blankly for a moment. Then he hurriedly clasped his fists.

“So you are Brother Ling Xuan. I am the Dragon God. Greetings, Brother Ling Xuan.”

“Haha, there is no need for such formality.”

Ling Xuan waved a hand, then shifted his gaze toward Juao in the sky.

“The Dragon God is my friend. Therefore, I will not hold your earlier words against you. From now on, we can leave each other alone so long as neither of us provokes the other. Does that sound acceptable?”

Juao’s eyes flashed. After a moment, he replied, “Very well. Since that is your position, I naturally have no objection.”

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“Good. Then we have no problem.”

Ling Xuan smiled faintly. The next moment, his gaze abruptly fell upon the old man in the blood-red robe.

“Old man, your demonic cultivation is rather impressive. When others use demonic arts, they are either cruel and overbearing or sinister and terrifying. Yet when you act, there is no sound or trace. That proves your demonic cultivation has reached the stage where murderous energy has been transformed into resentment. Only resentment can seize people silently and without warning. If my judgment is correct, you must have swallowed the blood of at least several hundred thousand people to reach this level.”

A string of words left everyone stunned. The Sect Master of the Blood-Devouring Bone-Transforming Sect was especially shocked. He seemed never to have imagined that Ling Xuan would suddenly address him, much less expose his abilities in a single breath.

“Hmph. So you truly are a fellow practitioner of the demonic path. When you appeared just now, I sensed an aura somewhat similar to mine and suspected that you were a demonic cultivator. Now it seems I was right.”

The Sect Master of the Blood-Devouring Bone-Transforming Sect gave a cold snort. “But since you are a cultivator of the demonic path, why are you standing beside Fang Heng? As far as I know, Fang Heng is not a demonic cultivator.”

“Heh. Of course he is not. But do you know what makes someone demonic? And what makes someone righteous?”

Ling Xuan suddenly smiled.

The Sect Master replied coldly, “Are you deliberately changing the subject? I asked why the righteous path is associating with the demonic path, yet you ask me these questions.”

“Then consider it changing the subject. But do you dare answer?”

“What is there to fear? What makes someone demonic? Practicing demonic arts makes one demonic! Showing one’s true nature makes one demonic! What makes someone righteous? Practicing orthodox techniques makes one righteous! False emotions and duplicity make one righteous!”

The Sect Master spoke with a cold laugh.

“So that is how you distinguish righteousness from evil. No wonder you have swallowed the blood of so many people, yet remain merely at the peak of the intermediate Divine Martial Realm, unable even to break through to the advanced Divine Martial Realm.”

Ling Xuan shook his head.

The Sect Master’s expression changed again. “What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said. What is righteousness, and what is evil? If your actions are righteous, then you are righteous. If your actions are evil, then you are evil. In other words, the boundary between righteousness and evil has nothing to do with one’s cultivation method, one’s ideals, or even one’s temperament. It lies in one’s actions.

“What is wrong with practicing demonic arts? Does practicing them automatically make someone a demon? If demonic arts are used for righteous purposes, if they are used to save people, then the demonic becomes righteous. Conversely, if someone practices orthodox techniques yet commits evil and slaughter, then that person is the demon. Cultivation methods themselves are neither good nor bad. Only the human heart can be good or evil. Do you understand?”

Ling Xuan sneered.

Upon hearing his words, everyone present changed expression. Many of them even revealed looks of sudden realization and nodded repeatedly.

It was the first time they had heard a principle so simple, yet so profound. Many felt as though the door to their doubts had been opened, allowing them to glimpse the true nature of the world.

“Absurd!”

At that moment, however, the Sect Master of the Blood-Devouring Bone-Transforming Sect spoke again.

“Demonic arts are inherently cruel and sinister. To put it another way, practicing them inherently requires one to commit slaughter. The more powerful the demonic arts, the more slaughter they demand. With so much bloodshed weighing upon you, do you truly think that committing a few good deeds can make amends and turn you into a righteous cultivator?”

“Heh. That is precisely what I was saying. Demonic arts are indeed cruel and sinister, but whether that cruelty and sinister nature become good or evil depends on how you use them. If you use them against innocent people, you are creating evil karma. But if you use them against those who have abandoned all conscience, then you are creating good karma.”

Ling Xuan sneered. “Of course, it cannot be denied that demonic arts themselves carry a sinister aura. Yet so long as you are doing what is right, there is no need to concern yourself with that aura. When your conduct is upright, you have nothing to fear from your shadow. Do you understand?”

“Heh. Twisted reasoning.”

The Sect Master laughed again. “But I am already tired of debating with you. Tell me, why are you saying all this to me?”

“Twisted reasoning? It is not twisted reasoning. From the great, one may understand the small; from the subtle, one may discern the profound. You call it twisted because you lack the vision to see the greater picture, and you lack the attention to observe the finer details.”

Ling Xuan continued, “As for why I am telling you all this, it is simple. I merely want you to understand how ignorant you are, and how open-minded our way of thinking is. In our eyes, the distinction between righteousness and evil lies in one’s actions. Our principles are the same, and our goals are the same. So why can we not stand shoulder to shoulder?”

After this succession of words, the Sect Master of the Blood-Devouring Bone-Transforming Sect’s expression became even more unpleasant.