After Le Tian left, Li Qingshan looked back. The Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes stood tall, plunging into the clouds.
He had merely been impelled by his curiosity to see that underworld ox-head. His priority right now was still to prepare for the upcoming visit to Ruin’s End.
Where exactly was Ruin’s End, and what kind of a place was it?
As a counterfeit, while he possessed the bloodline of the spirit turtle, he did not have the corresponding legacy. Even his bloodline was not pure enough.
But wasn’t there a legitimate spirit turtle right here? He would be perfect for asking questions.
Li Qingshan directly made his way to the highest floor of the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes, finding the Spirit Turtle of Ocean Returnance without any obstructions along the way through his special access as the first senior brother.
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance was the same as before, gazing at him silently like he was hiding something, waiting for him to speak as if he already knew he would come.
Li Qingshan clasped his hands and said, “May I ask the spirit reverend where Ruin’s End is?”
“You want to go to Ruin’s End?” The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance shut his eyes.
Li Qingshan said, “I do.”
“Give up. You’re not a true spirit turtle!” The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance warned him, but he knew he would not give up.
Li Qingshan grinned. “It’s not good to be racist.”
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance said, “This isn’t a matter of discrimination. Many people have gone down to hell and come back, but there has not been a single person who’s entered Ruin’s End and returned.”
“Is it really that scary? I do have some of a spirit turtle’s bloodline after all.”
Li Qingshan smiled, but he did not believe the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance was lying to him. He was entering Ruin’s End to meet with a “prisoner”, a prisoner whose name that even Su Mirao refused to mention, yet he was still trapped in Ruin’s End. The power of Ruin’s End obviously went without saying.
“Those who ignore the advice of the elderly are bound to suffer.” The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance shook his head and walked away with his hands behind his back, refusing to talk to him.
“The elderly also have a saying that suffering builds character.” Li Qingshan blocked his path with a flash.
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance squinted his eyes and cold light flashed through them. “Kid, do you really think I’m powerless against you just because you’ve become some first senior brother?”
“Pah! In front of Human Immortals and Daemon Immortals, the first senior brother ain’t shit!” Li Qingshan stroked his chin and smiled. “Though, you really do seem powerless against me?” He huddled up closer. “Heh, what are you fearing?”
After probing him a few times, Li Qingshan had basically confirmed the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance would not do anything to him, even after contacting the Elder of Heavenly Tomes beyond the Nine Heavens.
Since he had already become a Human Sovereign, even if the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance tried something against him, it probably would not be enough to kill him. If they actually began fighting, the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes would definitely be destroyed.
Just like how those with nothing to lose did not fear those with something to lose, it naturally came with a sense of superiority of the lumpenproletariat.
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance’s eyes shone coldly. He said earnestly, “Since you possess the bloodline of the spirit turtle, how come you don’t understand the principle of being worldly-wise and playing safe?”
Li Qingshan asked, “What is worldly-wise, and how do I play safe?”
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance said, “You are but a measly chess piece on the chessboard. That is your greatest fortune.”
“How come?”
“The more useful a chess piece you are, the more danger you are in. If you become even more useful, you can have your moment of complacency, but you’ll definitely be butchered!”
Li Qingshan stopped grinning, listening with great modesty.
“The battle of Black Cloud city was only a tiny skirmish in the furthest corner of the entire chessboard, and your body was almost shattered, your soul destroyed. If you venture any deeper and try to influence the overall situation, you’ll be taken immediately!”
Taken! Li Qingshan shuddered inside before smiling again. “These chess players have no respect for the rules at all!”
He understood that the “chessboard” was merely a metaphor. If he really agitated the “chess players”, they were capable of anything, whether it was stealing chess pieces, flipping the table, or even smashing the chessboard into their opponent’s face!
As a result, he understood his current status even better, which instead brought him much more peace. Any Demon God could easily erase Black Cloud city from existence if they personally took action. The reason why they did not do that was only because it was not worth it.
There were plenty of people in the trade that could get them killed, but there was no one in the trade that would take a guaranteed loss.
Find the original at Hosted Novel.
If they had a firm grasp over victory on the chessboard, who would be willing to break the rules? Not only would they adhere to it, but they would even force everyone else to play with the same rules too, allowing them to win everything smoothly.
In other words, at least for now, he did not have to worry about the hand of a god or buddha suddenly appearing above him and crushing him to death. He still did not possess that right. How infuriating!
“The rules?” The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance sneered. “The reason why you’re still alive is just because you still can’t change anything yet, so you’re not worth eliminating, only worth observing. With that being the case, you’re better off sticking to the path of inaction, to make use of uselessness and withdraw yourself before you’ve set foot on the true battlefield.”
Li Qingshan lowered his head, sinking into his thoughts.
“You’re already the first senior brother of the Myriad sect. With your disposition, cultivation, cultivation method, and bloodline, as long as you cultivate peacefully, becoming a Human Immortal is nothing difficult. You even have a good chance at becoming a True Immortal. I know you’ve taken part in many gambles, and you’ve already won it all, so it’s time for you to stop. Why would you let your brilliant future and endless life all go up in flames over this?”
“What…” Li Qingshan raised his head. “…did you mean by the true battlefield?”
All the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance saw was his glowing eyes. Not only were they devoid of any fear, but they were filled with eagerness. He had said so much, yet that was all this kid had taken in. He could not help but say furiously, “You just can’t teach children!” He stormed off.
Li Qingshan grabbed his sleeve. “Please don’t be irritated, senior. Hear me out.”
“Our paths diverge. There’s nothing to talk about!” The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance tried to break free, but Li Qingshan had already grabbed his arm firmly. His current strength was anything but normal, so for a moment, the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance was powerless over him too.
Li Qingshan said, “Among the myriad living creatures, there is nothing more important to them than their own life. The spirit turtles treat preserving their own lives as the utmost priority. It is truly an exceptional decision, but I have once heard of a poem that goes, The divine turtle may enjoy longevity, but there is still a time when death comes. The flying serpent rides on the mists, but there is still a time when it will be reduced to dust. No matter how you preserve your life, it’s impossible to achieve eternal life at the very end. Even for the immortals and buddhas beyond the Nine Heavens, I think they just live slightly longer than mortals.”
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance furrowed his brows firmly and murmured, “The divine turtle may enjoy longevity, but there is still a time when death comes. The flying snake rides on the mists, but there is still a time when it will be reduced to dust!” He squinted his eyes and stared straight at Li Qingshan. “Where did you hear this poem from?”
“Sigh, that’s not the main point!”
Li Qingshan was intrigued. He had only mentioned it casually to show off his knowledge. He never expected the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance to respond with such interest. Was being a novel lover just his cover, and he was actually a poem-lover instead?
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance glanced at Li Qingshan deeply. “You actually know so much!”
“What do I know?” Li Qingshan was puzzled. He tried reciting a little more of the poem. “The elderly purebred rests in the stables, yet its ambitions race into the horizons. Even when men of soaring aspirations reach old age, they never stop their advance.”
However, it resulted in no response from the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance. “It’s a fine work, but it’s nothing special.” He questioned, “You wrote it?”
Li Qingshan brushed this topic aside awkwardly, no longer dwelling on it. “I mean that while you are wise, you’re not a man!”
The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance said indifferently, “I’m not human!” Li Qingshan’s gaze was calm yet fervent. “That’s why you don’t understand the most sorrowful thing that can happen to a man is being unable to find his battlefield, being unable to find something worthy of dying for!’
