Vol 2 Ch 44: Betrayal of Destiny


    “Even though you two acted as if you didn’t know each other, there were small clues that gave you away. For instance, when we first boarded the ship and I made an excuse to attack Fan Xing, you intervened to stop me…” Zhang Xuan smiled.


    While such a detail alone wouldn’t reveal much, Zhang Xuan used the power of his soul, allowing him to leverage the Library of Heaven’s Path. Any attempt at concealment became aughable endeavor under its scrutiny.


    “That makes sense. What’s the second clue?” Mo Xiaosheng asked.


    Zhang Xuan replied, “Destiny Masters cultivate their abilities by manipting fate. Their progress is much faster than simply absorbing Source Energy step by step. The power you’veprehended requires continuous betrayal to advance. I can believe you infiltrated crowds or the Hanyuan royal family, but staying hidden alone in the mountains for years? Impossible! If you really did that, not only would you fail to progress, but abandoning your destiny would damage your cultivation.”


    Mo Xiaosheng pped his hands. “I’ve heard Elder Ling is remarkable; I didn’t expect your observations to be so meticulous. I admit I underestimated you.”


    As Mo Xiaosheng spoke, his skeletal frame began to creak and shift. It was as though he were shedding ayer of skin. His body grew taller, his build more robust, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a pale-faced middle-aged man.


    He was none other than Li Yue’an, the notorious fugitive from Hanyuan City’s Hunting List, a man everyone wished to kill.


    Stretching his unbound body, Li Yue’an exhaled deeply. “The ‘Painted Skin’ technique of the Art Gate is indeed impressive. It can alter one’s appearance and aura, but after a long time, it bes stifling. I’ve been by your side for six years, and I was on the verge of suffocating…”Seeing his transformation, Fu Yingying stepped back in rm, her face pale with terror. “You… you…”


    She wanted to say more but found herself speechless.


    Li Yue’an chuckled. “Surprised I’ve been hiding by your side? Elder Ling was right; I need betrayal to progress. If I were to infiltrate the royal family, any sudden appearance of a Dharma Aspect Realm expert would attract thorough investigations. In the ck market, things are simpler—loyalty is all that’s required.”


    Fu Yingying fell silent. The ck market consisted mostly of ouws or those with blood on their hands, so background checks were seldom rigorous. This loophole had allowed him to slip through unnoticed.


    Her expression darkened as a thought struck her. “The ck market has suffered several riots in recent years, forcing relocations three times. Were you behind all of them?”


    Li Yue’an smiled. “Miss Fu isn’t as clueless as she seems. Without those betrayals, how else could I have broken through the Detached Realm and reached the third stage, Dharma Aspect?”


    Fu Yingying was visibly shaken. “You’ve reached the third stage?”


    If he were only in the Detached Realm, she and Ling Buyang could still put up a fight. Against a Dharma Aspect expert, however, it was almost impossible. ?


    Li Yue’an nodded. “Correct.”


    Zhang Xuan stepped forward with a smile. “With the power of the Dharma Aspect Realm, continuing to betray the ck market yields diminishing returns. So, you’ve set your sights on betraying Fu Yingying, the one you’ve followed for years. Killing her would deepen your betrayal of destiny, advancing your cultivation further. When you saw my bounty had skyrocketed, you decided to make a move.”


    “You had your apprentice report to her about my whereabouts, convincing her to team up with me. Killing Fu Yingying would solidify your betrayal, elevating your cultivation. Killing me afterward for the bounty of 59 million Source Coins would ensure a carefree life. Quite the n!”


    Zhang Xuan’s tone grew colder. “There’s just one thing I couldn’t figure out. With your Dharma Aspect strength far exceeding mine, why didn’t you simply kill me after leaving Hanyuan City? Why dy until now?”


    Ling Buyang had only revealed the strength of the Second Level of the Ninth Stage of the Source Pool Realm, which was strong but no match for a Dharma Aspect expert. There was no need for Li Yue’an to bring him here.


    Then Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up in realization. “Oh, I see now. You’re not the only one who wants me dead. You’ve made a deal with others in the city. But you feared they’d seed first and im the bounty, so you decided to betray them and lure me farther away.”


    Li Yue’an pped again, his face full of admiration. “If anyone still ims Elder Ling is all brawn and no brains, I’ll be the first to refute them. To deduce so much just from our location… Impressive. But so what? It’s toote now! With two betrayals fueling me, my strength is surging past the Dharma Aspect Realm. No matter what you say, today you’ll die!”


    He spread his arms wide, lifted his head, and shouted, “Destiny is mine tomand. Power,e to me!”


    Wham!


    At hismand, an overwhelming torrent of Heaven’s Fate Energy surged toward him, pouring into his body and threatening to break through his cultivation bottleneck at any moment.


    Betraying destiny yielded greater benefits the stronger and closer one’s victims were. After six years at Fu Yingying’s side, the energy he’d umted was immense.


    “Been waiting for this…”


    Zhang Xuan let out a breath of relief. The Library of Heaven’s Path had long exposed Li Yue’an’s identity. Zhang Xuan had willingly followed him here, engaging in a lengthy conversation, precisely for this moment. Now that the energy had arrived, he stopped wasting time and activated his powers.


    Countless tendrils of spiritual intent surged outward, devouring the scattered Heaven’s Fate Energy in an instant.


    The energy umted from years of betrayal was far stronger than anything Zhang Xuan had absorbed before. Within moments, the vast Heaven’s Fate Energy condensed into books inside the Library. Simultaneously, the previously fractured Mo Dao Water Flow grew robust andplete.


    “Ten thousand strands!”


    Zhang Xuan’s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    In just over ten breaths, he had absorbed 10,000 strands of Heaven’s Fate Energy! Five thousand strands had nourished the Mo Dao Water Flow, while the rest transformed into books, floating within the Library.


    “What a generous benefactor! Following you here wasn’t a waste after all…”


    With this influx of energy, Zhang Xuan’s stalled cultivation broke through. His soul separated from his body, stepping into the Detached Realm, the First Level of the Ninth Stage of the Source Pool Realm!


    Unlike purchased, refined energy, this raw Heaven’s Fate Energy allowed him to surpass his limits effortlessly, reaching the very peak of the Source Pool Realm, with 999 units of power. His soul also grew significantly stronger.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As Zhang Xuan basked in his breakthroughs, Li Yue’an, arms wide open, was left dumbfounded. The energy he’d summoned should have propelled him to the next level. Instead, he had barely absorbed a fraction before it disappeared entirely.


    “Where’s my Heaven’s Fate Energy?” he muttered, stunned.


    Seeing Zhang Xuan’s aura surge, realization struck him. “It


    Before he could react further, he roared in fury, “I’ll kill you!”


    Charging forward, he unleashed his technique. Lotus blossoms filled the air as his power surged toward Zhang Xuan, aiming to rip him apart.


    “Be careful, Elder Ling!” Fu Yingying cried out. “This technique, Step by Step Lotus, hides three fatal attacks!”


    Before her warning could finish, Ling Buyang charged forward directly, showing no hint of evasion. His crude, seemingly reckless move made Fu Yingying’s heart sink.


    But contrary to her fears, Zhang Xuan calmly extended his hand.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The lotus blossoms exploded one after another as Zhang Xuan’s punchnded squarely on Li Yue’an’s chest. Blood sprayed from thetter’s mouth as he was sent flying, smashing into a tree and breaking it in half.


    Fu Yingying stood frozen in shock. “This…!”


    Without hesitation, Zhang Xuan walked over, grabbed Li Yue’an by the neck, and lifted him off the ground.


    “You…” Li Yue’an’s voice was filled with disbelief.


    “What me?” Zhang Xuan pped him across the face. “The Omniscient List dared to raise my bounty to 59 million. Did you think I’d be so easy to kill?”


    After delivering several more ps, Zhang Xuan coldly dered, “Enough. You can die now.”


    Just as Zhang Xuan tightened his grip to finish him, Li Yue’an desperately cried out, “Don’t kill me! If you spare me, I’ll tell you who I was working with and lead you to them. Otherwise, they’ll remain in the shadows, and even with your strength, you won’t be able to guard against them!”


    Author''s Note