Chapter 268 Grief is Unfortunate

Following the prompt execution of the Great Preceptor, Zhenwu Shenquan was sealed by the emperor as Grand Marshal of the Empire, Chief Magistrate and Protector of the Imperial Family, de facto taking command of all aspects of governance. Now, even without his title of Slaughtering Shadow, he could lead the empire as he pleased.

Some imperial princes and nobles refused to bow to Zhenwu Shenquan but were taken down by his three eldest sons. This event reminded the lords and ladies of the Spiritual Aristocracy that, even without their patriarch, the sons of the Zhenwu clan had no trouble keeping the East in a chokehold. The terrifying might of the Zhenwu clan's bloodline and Perfected Warrior Scripture bewildered many, adding credence to the rumor that Zhenwu Shenquan was an illegitimate son of the Taiyang clan—perhaps even Taiyang Yuan himself.

With the capital secured, Zhenwu Shenquan took off, leading his troops to crusade against the fallen Yaozhou Province. Bloodstone-Xinzi had expected a swift retaliation of the empire, but with hordes of mysterious beasts that, under the leadership of a nine-tailed fox, could potentially unite in offensive arrays to stomp through all provinces, Bloodstone-Xinzi didn't believe that Zhenwu Shenquan would personally lead the re-capture of Yaozhou.

The man didn't even bother to assess enemy forces. But while some might see this as a reckless move, Zhenwu Shenquan had the firm belief, that throughout the Eastern Continent, none could resist his divine fist.

The Headless Flame Knights of Yaozhou dug large tunnels, connecting the Bloodstone Cult's mountain ranges to the supercity and states of the Yaozhou Province.

Like all other provinces of the Eastern Continent, Yaozhou possessed a Border Formation that the border troops or hegemon could activate upon detecting the lawless approach of foreign powers. This barrier stood no chance before the Human King, who destroyed it with a single fist.

Zhenwu Shenquan ignored the states, going straight for the supercity. But thanks to the destruction of the Border Formation, Bloodstone-Xinzi now knew about the Zhenwu offensive.

"Mhm...it's you? Our first confrontation occurs much sooner than I expected. Why are you in such a hurry, little Shenquan? It's too soon. You still have to grow. But fine, I will use you to declare the establishment of my Yellow Spring Undead Kingdom." Bloodstone-Xinzi shook his head, then sent a single peak-stage Demon Creed Corpse Demon to hide in the tunnels, waiting for the confrontation between Zhenwu Shenquan and the capital of the new Yellow Spring Undead Kingdom.

...

Meanwhile, unfettered by the outside world's troubles, Xinzi stood above a valley hill, sweeping the Green Leaf Village, Celestial Farm and Liberation Temple from a distance. Zi Feng and Tusha stood one step behind him, the former at his right, and the latter at his left.

Thanks to the Sacrament of the Blood Star, Tusha broke through to the seventh order of the Bloodsoul path. That unique path not only multiplied her battle-prowess but altered her Sanguine Reincarnation bloodline so that her heart slowly turned into a Blood-Star Demon Heart—a mighty noble clan that in ancient times, competed with the Asuras for the claim of number one warrior demon lineage. The only disadvantage in all this being that, until Tusha's Blood Energy gains matched her Soul Force gains, she couldn't break through to the next level.

"Abbot, I'm confused, why did you abandon Tieshan in the stone palace? And, considering the foundation you laid down, would it not have been better to turn the Bull Demon Prince into a Green-Hat swordsman?" Tusha, who'd learned of these events from Xinzi himself, asked.

A part of the Infernal Nun resented Tieshan for having beaten her to the abbot's bed. But another wondered why, after three days of nonstop dual cultivation, Xinzi didn't waste a second before leaving Tieshan behind.

The Bull Demon Prince's situation was even more incomprehensible. As divinely powerful as the White-Winged Demons were, they didn't have the infinite growth potential of a Green-Hat Swordsman. Since Xinzi had already led the foundation for the Bull Demon Prince to rapidly cultivate the Green Immortal Sword Art, why not give him the mnemonics? Instead, he turned him into a White-Winged Demon, not only taking all the pain away but also destroying the possibility of the former Bull Demon Prince ever becoming a Green-Hat Swordsman.

White-Winged Demons...couldn't experience grief.

"Oh, I already know what Tieshan will say after recovering from her orgasmic daze. 'I'm not cowardly enough to say that this was a mistake. But you shouldn't be mistaken either. I wanted to use you to punish Niu Yan and free myself from the Heart-Wrenching Demon Noble. And while I prefer a partnership with you, I'd rather spend a lifetime alone than become one of your harem members.'

But then she will let me convince her that being 'friends with benefits' isn't that bad of a deal. Afterward, I will have two paths towards conquering her. One, I destroy her pride, and with absolute power, make her accept deference to my every whim. Two, I make a mess of her core principles, confusing and eroding them to the point that she's willing to give up on her pride to join the harem. Maybe a bit of both.

I'm too lazy to deal with that now, so I left. With that said, the move will probably rattle her pride—a win-win situation.

As for the Bull Demon Prince, I just don't hate him."

"What?" Tusha and Zi Feng said in synch. Though till now, Zi Feng said nothing, just like Tusha, she was full of curiosity, and carefully listened to Xinzi's reasons. But when our monk said, "I just don't hate him," both failed to process the words. Tusha, especially, couldn't comprehend when in Xinzi's plans, "hatred" became a part of the equation.

"People that offend me, I want them to suffer. People that stand in my way, I have to take down. Their sufferings still stimulate my demon hearts, but their grief brings no pleasure to my soul. The Bull Demon Prince, for all his flaws, was just a man that stood in my way. I don't hate him, so why make him spend an eternity in grief?" Xinzi asked in a serious tone, and to these words, neither Tusha nor Zi Feng had anything to answer.

As their silence dragged on, Xinzi resumed his speech.

"Grief is unfortunate. A sorrowful reality that I'd rather not impose upon those that owe me nothing."