Legend of the Great Sage

Chapter 1403: Fate

The two armaments of tribulation lightning gathered the sky full of lightning and the surroundings actually fell silent instantly, only leaving behind the whooshing sounds of the wind and waves.

Ruan Yaozhu watched silently. She also felt slightly powerless. No one could survive a situation like this, even if it was him. The outcome of a pincer attack from armaments of tribulation lightning would definitely be obliteration and annihilation. She was unable to save him either.

She could not help but become lost. Have I travelled all the way here just to see how he dies?

Li Qingshan seemed to be completely unaware of the situation he was in, staring at the demon nascence in the air and mocking that weak version of himself. His expression was extremely similar to the demon nascence’s from earlier. When he smiled like that, the expression of the demon nascence gradually grew blank, repeating the same, simple phrase over and over again. “You’re going to die… you’re going to die…”

It was like a broken voodoo doll, never forgetting about the curse it had been engraved with.

“Yeah, I’m going to die.” Li Qingshan murmured, “If I wasn’t going to die, why would I have taken this path in the first place?”

The insects of summer knew no concept of ice, just like how a short lifespan was no match for the long. Mortals had a century as their lifespan, while it was rare even for cultivators to live past a thousand years. As for more than ten thousand years, that was something that even cultivators could only dream of.

But in this vast world, what were centuries and millennia supposed to be? Who could escape death? That was the deepest fear and the most ancient curse on all living creatures.

Li Qingshan had once died before, so he understood this fear better than anyone else. After all, he had once spent a life in mediocrity too, haggling over measly profits and filled with weariness. Only when the moment that death suddenly descended upon him did he realise it. So I can’t live forever!

He did not hate the ever-changing nature of the world, nor did he regret the transience of life. All he feared was in his life, there was a single day where he had not managed to live to his heart’s content. It was exactly this fear that gave him the unstoppable courage he possessed in this life.

Since even drifting mindlessly won’t prolong my life, why not live heartily? Since I am fated to die, why not die a worthy death?

He placed his right fist on his chest. His heart thumped away. “Don’t worry, you’ll get what you want one day, but not today, not here!”

Boom!

The sword and blade merged together, descending from above. The countless bolts of lightning linked the two of them together. When they first began to fall, they were very slow, which made them seem extremely heavy. They locked firmly onto Li Qingshan’s body and mind, heart and soul, such that there was no chance to dodge anymore, just like the unstoppable fate- No, this was the unstoppable fate!

In the flashing lightning, the demon nascence roared, “Die! Die!”

Li Qingshan furrowed his brows. Not only had he lost control over the small world in his body, but even his body had escaped his grasp slightly. He clenched both hands and arched up his back, rippling with muscles as something that resembled a deep growl rang out from the depths of the earth.

He powered the small world as hard as he could, earth, fire, wind, water, and space; the ox, tiger, turtle, phoenix, and ape. The small world began to revolve, moving faster and faster.

The blade and sword of lightning accelerated too. Ruan Yaozhu could not help but widen her eyes.

“The Ox Demon, with its Great Strength, Sinks in the Mud!”

Suddenly, the ox demon’s figure appeared behind him, butting its horns at an invisible enemy. He took a step forward, like a puppet that had broken free from a string, taking root in the ground.

“The Spirit Turtle Suppresses the Seas, Foreboding Fate!”

Taking another step, the surging ocean became mirror-smooth, reflecting the sword and blade of lightning shining in the tribulation clouds, as well as his unmoving body and a pair of scarlet eyes.

“The Tiger Demon Forges its Bones, with a Frenzied Heart!”

He threw his fists violently; the strings attached to his arms collapsed. He let out a roar at the sky, and his voice held back the clouds, making murderousness whistle like the winds.

“The Phoenix Undergoes Nirvana Rebirth, with an Undying Heart!”

He spread his wings, reflecting beautifully on the ocean, flapping away as if he was trying to fly.

At the same time, the small world reached its limit in circulation, such that it approached collapse. However, it continued to accelerate, preferring to be destroyed than become restrained.

The demon nascence’s voice became even sharper and faster, “Die, die, die…”

Li Qingshan raised his head and smiled brightly. The small world exploded violently; the demon nascence’s voice came to a halt, having broken free from the final shackle. Blinding light erupted from his body, contending against the sword and blade of lightning in the sky.

He leapt up as hard as he could and flapped his wings, taking to the skies!

The sword and blade of lightning spun rapidly, falling down like a blazing meteor with a long arc as a tail!

“The Ape Demon Scoops the Moon, All to Null and Void!”

The figure of the ape demon appeared. Li Qingshan’s arms abruptly extended, shooting straight towards the sword and blade like he was trying to grasp fate.

Gorgeous light erupted the moment he collided with fate, reflecting on the tranquil ocean. The splendid colours left even Ruan Yaozhu dazzled as a rumble that had surpassed her senses of hearing shook up her Yang Soul. In a daze, she felt like she was no longer in a mortal world anymore.

After just a split second of stalemate, Li Qingshan was crushed viciously, falling towards the endless ocean. The light he gave off had dimmed, and his eyes had been melted away by the lightning, only leaving behind a pair of holes. The phoenix wings disintegrated, filling the air with feathers. His organs, flesh, and bones had already begun to melt in the light he gave off when he ignited himself.

However, he felt no pain or fear, only the joy of living, which turned into a furious, hysterical howl, firmly contending against fate. Even when his tongue had melted away in the light, the howl continued, remaining unfazed.

At this moment, the soul nascence returned to his body again, casting itself into the chaotic world that resembled an exploded furnace.

He laughed madly, pressing against the blade and sword, lifting up fate and rushing up into the air.

The sharp edges of the weapons met the palm of his hands, piercing his arms instantly and making them disintegrate inch by inch!

He could clearly feel that as long as the two weapons met within his body, then that would be complete destruction. Even the phoenix’s nirvāṇa could not save him.

Under the threat of fear and death, his will to live had instead become even clearer and firmer than ever before.

“The Qilin, with its Hovering Steps, Sympathises with the Living!”

Green light spread through his arms, wrapping around the violet sword and blade of lightning. It only lasted for a moment, but he slammed his arms together, and the weapons inside them collided violently. At the same time, he erupted with all the power his body contained.

Boom!

The sky and sea was completely illuminated, scattering the sky full of tribulation clouds and peeling away the sea water layer by layer, exposing the dry, cracked seabed. The footsteps he left behind were clearly visible, but his figure had already melded into the boundless light.

Ruan Yaozhu appeared and subconsciously brought her hand over her eyes, basically forgetting that she was currently a Yang Soul. Under the glow of the light, she was forced to retreat. That power was enough to destroy her Yang Soul.

After who knew how long, she returned to her senses and lowered her hand. The light had already vanished and the dark night flooded over. There was not a single cloud in sight, exposing a sky full of stars. The wind and waves were calm as if nothing had happened at all.

Don’t tell me he’s already…

Her Yang Soul immediately flew over to where Li Qingshan faced the tribulation. It was empty there, with the figure who had just contended against fate nowhere to be seen. She could not help but call out gently, “Qingshan.” as if she was afraid of disturbing someone.

There was no reply. She felt a strange sense of distress, so saddened that she was almost about to shed tears.

“Who’s calling for me?”

“Fantastic, you’re still alive!” Ruan Yaozhu was very surprised and overjoyed. She saw Li Qingshan floating up to the surface of the ocean.

“Senior sister Ruan! Why are you here?”

Li Qingshan lay on the surface of the ocean with his limbs splayed out. He could not even move a finger now. Ruan Yaozhu appeared in his view right above him, and she seemed quite disgruntled. “You owe me an explanation!”

Li Qingshan laughed dryly. “Erm… would you like a new mount?”