735 Withdrawal (1/2)
In the battle of Nu River, the great warrior, the great Master ”Shi” had summoned a true Immortal who had performed wonders, severed the Heavenly Passage, and undid the demonic aura plaguing the land.
Seeing that Du Huaishang was invested with divine blessings that could signify heavenly mandate, Wu Che, the Marquis of Wutong, General Kou Jin, and many others immediately surrendered. Only Du Gushi, the Martial Monarch was adamant in his refusal to yield. He battled nine great warriors to his death, slaying two and injuring three of his opponents before he breathed his last.
The Revolutionary Army crossed the Nu River and reorganized while they sent word to the capital.
Before long, news of the dramatic battle spread far and wide, piquing the interest of everyone who heard of it.
At the same time, there was an intriguing tale of one of the most powerful warriors of the former generation, one who was known as the ”Heaven-defying Dragon.” He was rumored to have passed on many years ago, but his abode was recently discovered. It was wide open, without any magical barriers in place. It seemed to have been recently inhabited, and there were no signs of plunder.
Meng Qi and his companions were returned to the Samsara Square where dense mists lingered. He felt the humid atmosphere moistening his skin as he was stripped of all fatigue and weariness. Even the damage to his Dharmic Form due to his use of the Nature-involving Knack had been restored.
He had always suspected that unknown detriment may lie behind the healing of the Dominator of the Samsara of Six Realms, but their adventures in the World of Samsara had often put them almost at the brink of death. It left him no choice but to accept the goodwill of the slavemaster who was also their benefactor and hope that he would discover alternatives in the future.
”The Revolutionary Army led by Du Huaishang has crossed Nu River and is on its way to take the capital. The main task has been completed and you will each receive a reward of 4,500 Karma points.
”You slew a Top Class Master Pro and two Peerless Master Pro from the opposing faction. You will each receive 7,000 Karma Points.
”There will be no evaluations for this task. You will each be awarded a Reincarnation Charm.
”With the completion of your second Death Task, you will now tread deeper into the World of Samsara. You will discover more ancient relics and encounter other Samsara travelers of different tribes and ethnicities, including demons, monsters, immortals or other supernatural beings. Unique tasks that reward disciplines and skills of the Dharmakaya Realm, as well as Precious Weapons and artifacts of the same Realm, shall also be open to you. Your rewards will no longer be restricted to skills or disciplines that may be incomplete or have costly drawbacks. You can also select a name for your company and also select a site as a haven—a sanctuary in a world that you are truly familiar with. You can select three portals of entry around the actual world that will lead to the Samsara world itself, and Time in both worlds shall be in sync but it will not be an ancillary dimension.”
”We have indeed been given more freedom and prerogative after the completion of the second Death Task...” Meng Qi thought to himself, swelling with emotion, as he stepped out of the swirling mist.
The final privilege mentioned might seem hardly useful since his admission into the guild of The Immortals, but there may come a time when he would need it. There was a snag, however: they did not have any world or dimension that they were fully familiar with.
Apparently, they were getting promoted too fast, that they had limited experience in the worlds of Samsara!
He had barely sighed when the voice of the Dominator of Samsara in Six Realms reverberated again.
”Qi Zhengyan has elected to withdraw from the company and become an independent Samsara traveler.”
Meng Qi's thoughts and eyes froze. Sadness crept from his heart as he took in the news. ”So comes what had to come after all...”
”This...” Jiang Zhiwei had noticed that Qi Zhengyan had been behaving strangely since the end of their previous mission. Her suspicions had grown during the course of this mission but never had she imagined that Qi Zhengyan would withdraw from the company so abruptly. They were close-knit friends who had survived fire and steel together. Was there no way of resolving whatever discord they may have?
Ruan Yushu pursed her lips glumly. In the previous Death Task, their companions had died, and now there was the agony of separation.
Their adventures in the World of Samsara had opened her eyes—a doted and pampered daughter of a noble family—to the torment and powerlessness of Man's fragile and abiding mortality
Having endured pain due to the death of his companions, Zhao Heng was only surprised and faintly shocked this time, recalling Qi Zhengyan's quirks recently.
”Qi Zhengyan has left you a message, do you wish to listen to it now?” The lofty voice of the Dominator came again.
Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi looked at each other. He nodded gently and hoarsely said, ”Yes.”
There was a pause before the familiar voice of Qi Zhengyan echoed.
”The first twenty years of my life were ordinary and mundane. It was not until I met all of that everything changed. Since then, I have been exposed to various martial disciplines and skills, was supplied with weapons, and had the opportunity to increase my strength, all of which have helped me improve. More importantly, I have been fortunate to know a band of brothers and sisters—siblings that have my back during battle.”
Qi Zhengyan normally revealed nothing of his feelings and emotions, but they could detect melancholy in the words he uttered.
”Senior Brother Zhang is a true and honest person. He never looked at us with disdain or contempt despite our humble background. He is, with no doubt, a true Senior Brother to us all—a person worthy of our admiration and respect. Sister Jiang Zhiwei only has her study of swordsmanship in her mind, but she is generous, noble and warm of heart, sprinkling everyone around her with sincerity and kindness. I would have fallen for her if we had not met under such circumstances. Sister Ruan Yushu is altogether different from what I envisioned a daughter of a noble family would be. Despite her frosty demeanor, she is actually a kind person. A person who looks upon everything with an impartial eye and never one to shy away from danger. Zhao Heng keeps in his heart a dignified ambition, but he set aside all differences of standing and prestige to mingle with us.
”Meng Qi wears a silly and whimsical facade, but he is actually one who has an eye for even the most delicate detail about everyone around him. A noble and warm person at heart, he would do anything for a friend—even charge headfirst into battle for a brother. He is a person I would gladly trust with my secrets. I might have long fallen into the Devil Path if not for his outspokenness and candor.”
Multitudes of intense emotions filled Meng Qi. He felt his nose throb as he muttered. ”Damn you, Senior Brother! Do you have to be so eloquent at a moment such as this?”
Ruan Yushu's eyes were reddish and Jiang Zhiwei braced herself, hardly breathing as sadness lingered over all of them.
Qi Zhengyan continued. ”Still, we are hardly the only ones living in the world. There is no friendship that is completely free from the trappings and restrictions of the mortal world. I received the legacy of the Devil Lord during our adventure at the Devil Tomb. It was when all else had failed during our adventure at the Holy Mountain that I was forced to embrace the corrupting contagion of evil. Through the numerous adventures we had together, especially the meditation and assimilation of the Wordless Stone Stele and Meng Qi's interpretation and adaptation of the teachings of the School of Mo, I was able to form my own insights—a vision that I will do anything to realize!
”I may not descend into the path of evil, at least not in the conventional sense, but there will inevitably be conflicting ideas between us—clashes that would have made our separation unavoidable.”Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click visiting.
He began to expel all emotions from his words, becoming lukewarmly composed with a hint of pensiveness. ”I have always admired people who wield dominant strength and powers and are able to befriend anyone regardless of their beliefs and standpoints, but now I know: Separation is inexorable, friendship or kinship be damned. We will walk our own separate paths when the time comes, not because of good or evil but because of the ideas we choose to embody.”
”What ideas were they?” Jiang Zhiwei directed the question at Meng Qi, certain he would know about it.