Chapter 176 ·If Surrender Means Surrendering Like This, Then It’d Be Better to Just Smash One’s Head Against a Wall and Die

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍moment Gu Yan emerged from secluded cultivation, his divine sense stirred slightly as he detected something unusual.

Outside ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Hall of Longevity, the Eternal World Tree of the Myriad Heavens had grown a second leaf.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍walked forward leisurely and raised a hand to touch the leaf gently.

Sure ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍enough, the tree had connected to another world.

Gu ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yan pondered briefly before casually summoning Dragon Lord and instructing:

“Go ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍investigate the details of that world.”

“If it’s ordinary like the previous world, then let Fang Yuan bring the Heaven and Earth One Family Great Love Alliance there. Spread the Dao where it should be spread, develop where it should be developed, and let Great Love spread throughout the world.”

“If there exists any combat power capable of rivaling you and me, then first determine their true strength and proceed gradually.”

Dragon Lord accepted the order. His figure transformed into a streak of flowing light and entered the leaf.

After approximately the time it took an incense stick to burn, Dragon Lord returned from within the tree and respectfully reported:

“Dao Lord, that world is similar to the previous one. There are no remarkable high-level combat powers.”

“It is currently in the midst of war, with various factions dividing the land while the people suffer miserably. It is quite suitable for spreading the Dao.”

Gu Yan nodded and asked no further questions.

A world of that level was not worth him personally wasting effort on.

He casually transmitted a strand of divine intent to Fang Yuan, instructing him to bring the members of the Heaven and Earth One Family Great Love Alliance there.

With Fang Yuan’s methods, he could directly sweep across and develop within such a low-martial world.

Gu Yan leisurely returned to the Hall of Longevity and sat upon the Great Void Returning Origin Meditation Cushion, inwardly calculating that once this world also became filled with Great Love, the halo of Great Love behind him should become even brighter.

The thought merely passed briefly through his mind before he stopped thinking about it.

It was like hanging up a game to grind experience automatically. Occasionally glancing at the progress bar was enough—there was no need to stare at it constantly.

Cultivation remained the priority.

......

Spirit Realm, somewhere within the Northern Plains.

This was a palace built deep underground. Calling it a palace would be less accurate than calling it a prison.

The surrounding walls were carved full of densely packed demonic formations.

The air was filled with scorching demonic qi that ceaselessly eroded both the souls and flesh of those trapped within.

Remaining inside felt like being slowly roasted over raging flames. The flesh showed no visible wounds, yet the soul suffered endless torment day after day, unable to live and unable to die.

Within the hall were tens of thousands of cultivators crowded together, all rogue cultivators and sect disciples captured from throughout the Spirit Realm.

Among them were quite a few disciples from the Central Lands and the major sects of the Eastern Continent, such as the Heavenly Expansion Dao Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Great Void Palace. Every sect and faction was represented.

There were even several disciples from the Azure Wave Sect.

Some had been imprisoned here for only several months, while others had already endured several years. Most of their spirits had already become utterly dispirited.

Before every cultivator rested a fist-sized gu insect.

The gu insect was entirely pitch-black, covered in barbs from head to tail. As its mouthparts opened and closed, waves of foul stench spread outward.

Consume it, and one would be implanted with a demonic seed. From then onward, one’s soul would be controlled, with life and death no longer belonging to oneself, completely reduced to a member of the demonic cultivators.

Refuse to eat it, and one could only continue enduring the agony of soul torment here day after day until finally collapsing.

On this day, the palace gates burst open with a thunderous roar.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign strode inside with great momentum, demonic flames surging around his body while his pressure resembled a towering mountain. The tens of thousands of cultivators inside all changed expressions simultaneously.

Standing atop the high platform, he looked down upon the cultivators below like lambs awaiting slaughter, a playful smile hanging upon his lips.

“Everyone, this sovereign has come today to give you two paths.”

“First, voluntarily consume the Soul-Devouring Gu before you and enter my Heaven Burning Imperial Dynasty.”

“This sovereign can guarantee your lives, preserve your cultivation, and ensure you lack no cultivation resources in the future.”

“Not only will you survive, but you may even live better than before.”

“The second option is to refuse.”

“Then you may slowly continue enduring things here.”

“One year from now, regardless of whether you eat or not, all of you shall become sacrifices for the True Demon.”

“At that time, both body and soul will perish, and you won’t even have the chance to reincarnate.”

In truth, with the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign’s methods, he could simply suppress all these cultivators directly and force them to consume the gu insects.

With his peak Tribulation Crossing cultivation, even if everyone present were bound together, they would not survive a single exchange against him.

But he did not want to do that.

Forcing people was too boring.

Once a person became perverted, their way of thinking naturally differed from normal people.

It was like a cat catching a mouse but refusing to bite it dead immediately, instead releasing it several times only to catch it again, enjoying the sight of the mouse fleeing in panic.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign was currently in precisely such a state of mind.

What he enjoyed had never been the result.

It was the process itself.

Watching these so-called righteous path cultivators gradually collapse under fear and humiliation, little by little abandoning their dignity, until finally wagging their tails before him like dogs begging for mercy—

That feeling was a hundred times more satisfying than killing them outright.

The moment his words ended, the hall fell into deathly silence.

The tens of thousands of cultivators looked at one another.

Some revealed fear.

Some gnashed their teeth in hatred.

Others had flickering eyes, clearly already calculating things within their hearts.

At that moment, a figure in the corner stood up.

It was a man with feminine features. His appearance was exquisitely beautiful like a woman’s, and his frame was rather petite as well.

His cultivation was only at the middle stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, unremarkable among these tens of thousands of people, yet he instantly became the focus of the entire hall.

He lowered his head to look at the ugly gu insect before him. After remaining silent for a moment, he suddenly reached out, grabbed it, shut his eyes, and swallowed it in one gulp.

The instant the gu insect entered his stomach, a trace of pain flashed across his face, though it quickly returned to normal.

He raised his head and respectfully bowed toward the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign atop the platform, his voice clear and bright.

“This junior is willing to serve the Demon Sovereign like a dog or horse, braving boiling water and raging flames without hesitation.”

Seeing this, the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign was instantly overjoyed.

He liked sensible people like this the most.

Sensible people were easiest to use.

He carefully looked over the speaker.

Mm.

Although he was male, his appearance was even more exquisite than many women’s, and his petite figure was rather delicate and refined.

Though his cultivation was not high, this appearance possessed… a rather unique flavor.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign burst into loud laughter and waved a hand. A stream of magic power directly pulled the feminine man over into his embrace.

With one hand, he pinched the man’s chin and forced him to raise his head before laughing:

“Good, good, good! A wise man submits to circumstances. This sovereign likes outstanding people like you the most.”

“Serve this sovereign well tonight, and your rewards will naturally not be lacking.”

The feminine man’s expression instantly froze.

The color drained visibly from his face, turning deathly pale.

His lips trembled slightly as though wanting to say something, yet no words came out.

He had originally believed that surrender merely meant kneeling, kowtowing a few times, and saying several pleasing words in exchange for survival.

Who could have imagined…

Who could have imagined there was this aspect as well?

The other cultivators in the hall had originally still been observing.

But after witnessing this scene, all of them simultaneously sucked in a cold breath.

Hiss—

The expressions of many people became even uglier than that feminine man’s.

Especially some of the younger and handsome righteous path disciples. At this moment, they felt an inexplicable tightness in their lower backs, chills running down their spines as they instinctively shrank toward the back of the crowd.

What the hell…

If surrender meant surrendering like this, then it would be better to just smash one’s head against a wall and die.

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