Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 148: Demon Sword Li Xiaobai

It was only a moment, and all the cultivators present involuntarily lunged toward Li Xiaobai below them.

Their expressions changed dramatically, What was going on, and why did they feel an urge to kneel down and receive the sword in their hearts?

Below was lava, and if they went down, it was estimated that all the cultivators present would perish.

Little Monk Liaowang’s pupils suddenly constricted. His body was also out of control, and no matter how he stimulated Buddhist Law, he couldn’t escape from this controlled state. Most crucially, he genuinely wanted to kneel down and receive the sword. What kind of move was this!

“What’s going on, my body is out of control!”

“I don’t know, I feel the urge to kneel and receive the sword!”

“Is this his technique? Damn it, what kind of cultivation technique is this?”

“Sorcery! This must be sorcery! It’s not just us. Those prodigies also jumped down!”

The cultivators were panic-stricken and agitated, but their bodies had already leaped off the cliff, dropping into the lava like dumplings.

Sssss!

Plumes of smoke rose. Most of the cultivators’ bodies that plunged into the lava didn’t even have time to let out a scream before they disappeared without a trace.

The temperature of the lava was slowly dropping. Ordinary cultivators couldn’t withstand the power of the molten rock, but a small number of cultivators were still struggling desperately.

Wang Mang was one of them.

Initially, when he saw everyone targeting Li Xiaobai, he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he would be saved, but after that person swung his sword below, an inexplicable sense of reverence surged in his heart, and his body uncontrollably wanted to rush over.

His hands raised high, knees on the ground, he wanted to catch the sword, and the shameful pose made him feel the urge to die on the spot.

However, after seeing that the other prodigies also adopted the same pose, he felt considerably more balanced mentally.

He followed the path of physical sanctification; his physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary people. Moreover, since the temperature and power of the lava were slowly decreasing, he could stay in the lava for a moment.

But even so, he couldn’t hold on for much longer. The burning power of the lava was eroding his body, the skin on the surface already charred and showing signs of peeling off.

He wanted to struggle to stand up, yet he was unable to move, as if only his thoughts retained agility and his limbs were firmly locked in place on the ground.

Panic filled his heart.

“Demon Sword, this is the Demon Sword!”

Li Xiaobai was very satisfied with the harvest from this wave. Just now, he had acted quickly, rescuing quite a few Space Rings, and made a small fortune.

Looking at the remaining cultivators in front of him, Li Xiaobai’s expression was somewhat surprised, as there were still more than a dozen cultivators who had not been immediately burned to death by the lava and were still struggling fiercely.

Having Monk Liaowang as their leader, several geniuses were even managing to operate their cultivation techniques, their bodies glowing to resist the erosion of the lava.

However, their limbs were firmly locked, making it impossible for them to attack him.

He walked forward unhurriedly, skilfully searching through each genius’s belongings and swiping anything valuable; he didn’t even spare Little Monk Liaowang’s possessions.

“Master, although you are kind-hearted and excellent in character, I still need to take your Space Ring. In the world of cultivation, only the outcome matters, not the process. In order to become strong, cultivators will stop at nothing. No matter how much you try to persuade the world, you can’t change this fact.”

“Today you all better accept the harsh reality.”

Li Xiaobai said lightly.

“Amitabha. It is said that man’s delights are nine out of ten matters of the heart. Whether one’s wishes are fulfilled depends on one’s thoughts alone. When looking at the world with the heart, everything takes on the color of the heart.”

“Master Li, what you’re saying is indeed true, but good and evil are determined by people’s hearts. As long as you cleanse the soul, even those who are greatly wicked can walk the path toward good.”

Little Monk Liaowang spoke.

“Master, what you describe is too abstract. Along the way, I haven’t seen anyone whose soul you’ve cleansed. The world of cultivation is filled with slaughter; the strong have all walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.”

Seeing that Li Xiaobai was not heeding the advice, Monk Liaowang fell silent and spoke no more.

Li Xiaobai threw all the treasures and resources of the pride of heaven into his Space Ring.

Gazing at the glittering Spirit Stones and various heavenly materials and earthly treasures, Li Xiaobai’s breathing became a bit rapid. These scions of major forces were indeed flush with wealth, each dripping with riches.

However, when he saw Monk Liaowang’s ring, his brow furrowed.

The monk’s ring was nearly empty save for a bedroll, a Kasaya, and some basic scriptures.

“Master, why is your Space Ring so unique? It doesn’t even have a single Spirit Stone,” Li Xiaobai asked.

“This humble monk has never touched a Spirit Stone. I have no interest in them—a few scrolls of Buddhist scriptures are more than enough,” Liaowang replied.

“Don’t you need to cultivate, Master?”

“With Buddhist scriptures, that is more than enough.”

Li Xiaobai: “…”

Silently, he put the Space Ring back onto Monk Liaowang’s finger. The guy was not ordinarily poor—he had only a few pieces of spiritual wealth.

The geniuses were shocked; this person could immobilize even Monk Liaowang with one Sword Imprisonment. Moreover, it seemed that as long as the opponent maintained the downward slashing motion, they would remain immobilized.

Compared with this sword, the earlier act of enduring the attacks of the cultivators and the devouring of the Annihilation Sword Evocation of the Xingtian Sect seemed inconsequential.

Sword Imprisonment—that was the Demon’s Wicked Sword!

“May I dare to ask, from which Sect did you learn?” Yu Xi asked.

“I am self-taught,” Li Xiaobai said.

“Could you release us? We guarantee not to oppose you henceforth.”

Yu Xi said, soaking in the magma. Although they were unharmed for the short term, it was only temporary, and a prolonged stay would spell doom for them.

“Swear by your Dao heart that you will never be my enemy in this life,” Li Xiaobai said indifferently.

Their breaths hitched—this was too domineering. The path of cultivation was a clash of major forces; if they truly took the oath, as long as Li Xiaobai lived, they would have no chance of striving for the summit.

Seeing their hesitation, Li Xiaobai turned and walked away.

“Fellow Daoist, wait! I, Wang Mang, swear by my Dao heart that I will never be your enemy in this life!”

Wang Mang’s eyes were filled with fear as he hastily made his vow. His skin was already peeling away and the bones of his elbows were eerily exposed—he could not hold out much longer.

Seeing this, the others followed suit and made their vows. Faced with the choice between their future and their lives, they chose life.

Yu Xi and several other geniuses looked uncomfortable. It seemed that if they did not swear, they might die here today.

“I also swear by my Dao heart, never to oppose Li Xiaobai in this life.”

Li Xiaobai nodded in satisfaction. “What about you, Master?”

“Amitabha, the donor is creating senseless slaughter, and this humble monk must do everything in my power to stop it. Although I bear no malice, I will surely prevent the donor’s sinful deeds,” said Monk Liaowang.

“Aren’t you afraid of dying, Master? If you die, you will have nothing.”

“If I am not in Hell, who will be?”

Li Xiaobai was speechless; this monk certainly was persistent.

He gave a slight nod and turned away to leave.