The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings

Chapter 824: Chapter 774: Heaven’s Scourge

The core of the Eight Trigrams Formation is to ensnare. As Pei Xuanjing’s realm advanced, his understanding of this sword technique became even more refined. The so-called trap was no longer just a simple, tangible spatial constraint, but also an intangible bondage.

Take this moment, for instance. Even if someone could shatter the spatial command of the Eight Trigrams Formation and grasp the fleeting opportunity to escape during the reformation of shattered space, the power that composed the Eight Trigrams space wouldn’t cease to exist. In that instant, the eight forces would fuse with the opponent, entwining them, making it impossible to expel in a short amount of time.

It is important to note that the Eight Trigrams Formation was constructed with Heaven and Earth Essence Qi and Pei Xuanjing’s sword qi. As long as the sword qi wasn’t worn down or the connection to the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi utterly severed, then within this timeframe, the Eight Trigrams Formation could reassemble and create a new spatial configuration to ensnare the opponent once more.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye, from the emergence of the malevolent god, to its betrayal and assault, and finally to Pei Xuanjing’s subjugation of it.

After trapping the malevolent god, Pei Xuanjing no longer focused on it. No matter how furiously it rebuked or roared, he viewed it only as the whining of a defeated dog, not worthy to be mentioned.

With a wave of his sleeve, he once again brought Qingxu Taoist to his side and said, “I had mentioned earlier that there is a way to recover the losses of your True Martial Sect. Do you remember?”

At this moment, the divine power still emanated from Pei Xuanjing, who seemed more like a god king wielding authority, high above the firmament, rather than the Taoist from Shenxiao Mountain who had been solely focused on pursuing the Tao.

Sensing the might and the manner of speech coming from Pei Xuanjing, Qingxu Taoist, who had also refined and controlled a divine position, clearly understood Pei Xuanjing’s current state.

“I, of course, remember. Please, Zhen King, employ your divine abilities, and I shall offer my full cooperation,” Qingxu Taoist responded, adjusting his address from ‘True Man’ and ‘National Preceptor’ to that of ‘Jade Purity True Monarch,’ which was a way of addressing gods and deities.

“Good!” A satisfied look flickered across Pei Xuanjing’s dignified eyes as he nodded slightly and said, “This malevolent god harbors ill will because it is influenced by a spirit of slaughter. Now, I can erase its intelligence, and your True Martial Sect can select another to merge with it, naturally assuming this divine position.”

After experiencing all of this, Pei Xuanjing had a complete understanding of the True Martial Sect’s Zhenwu Plan, the core of which was to replace gods with humans.

In such a situation, since the True Spirit of Master Sanfeng, originally fused with the malevolent god, couldn’t be controlled, Pei Xuanjing thought the solution was simple: just erase its intelligence and let another cultivator’s True Spirit merge with it to assume the divine position.

At least, for someone of Pei Xuanjing’s current power, while the task wouldn’t be considered trivial, it also wasn’t particularly difficult; it would just require a bit of thought.

“You, you dare to erase my intelligence! This is a blasphemy against the gods; you will certainly incur divine retribution,” the malevolent god, originally struggling and angrily rebuking, cried out in horror when it heard Pei Xuanjing’s words.

The gods, representing Heaven on Earth, hold authority that is favored and watched over by the Will of Heaven and Earth. Their deaths naturally displease Heaven and Earth, and the killing of ordinary or less powerful gods generally doesn’t have much impact.

But the more control a god has over authority, the more attention they receive from Heaven and Earth, and their death as such results in the slayer also facing rejection and punishment from Heaven and Earth.

Of course, this does not mean that the killing of weaker gods goes unpunished. The saying ‘many a little makes a mickle’ applies; the wanton killing of a large number of gods would also result in the malice and punishments of Heaven and Earth.

For the gods, whether they are Innate Gods or enfeoffed deities, they have all received the favor and attention of celestial intent. As long as they comply with the operation of Heaven and Earth, representing the Tao on behalf of Heaven, then they will always be partly protected by Heaven and Earth.

However, should a god or deity go against the Will of Heaven and Earth and fail to fulfill their duties, they will lose the favor and protection of Heaven and Earth. Under such circumstances, the death of a god or deity will not provoke the rejection or punishment from Heaven and Earth; in fact, executing a malevolent god or deity might even earn celestial rewards.

The malevolent god before them might not meet the expectations of Pei Xuanjing and his group, but it was undeniable that it was an Innate God borne from the divine embryo that the True Martial Sect had created at great cost, even holding a position as high as that of the True Martial Emperor. The blessings of the Will of Heaven and Earth and the authority it wielded were significant, and at times of flourishing Qi Luck, it could even be referred to as a ‘Child of Heaven and Earth.’

Typically, for such an Innate malevolent god, who has yet to truly harm Heaven and Earth and has not exhausted its celestial favor, a rash killing would certainly draw the disdain and rejection of Heaven and Earth and might lead to divine retribution due to the death of an Innate God.

“Actually, the best approach would be to let you go, wait for you to harm Heaven and Earth, gradually losing the protection and Qi Luck from Heaven and Earth, and then suppress and execute you. At that time, not only would there be no celestial punishment, but there would also be a reward,” Pei Xuanjing said coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.

“However, I am unwilling,” he continued, his voice turning authoritative as it echoed between Heaven and Earth, “I have always acted according to my heart. Why should I rely on others, and I cannot allow you, this malevolent god, to harm Heaven and Earth. Such a deceitful act is not something I can condone. It is not my way of the Divine Tao.”

Cultivators cultivate not only their Qi, Spirit, Body, and reach the level of Golden Core or follow the Spirit Divine Tao, but they also follow their true heart.

At Pei Xuanjing’s level, their every word and deed originates from their true heart, aligning with their own Tao and will. Lies can deceive others and even Heaven and Earth, but they cannot deceive one’s own heart.

No matter how powerful or authoritative a cultivator becomes, once their actions betray their heart, they risk halting their progress or even dissipating their cultivation and meeting their demise.

Allowing the malevolent god to expend its heavenly grace by committing evil, waiting for it to lose the protection of Heaven and Earth before executing and erasing its intelligence, is indeed the most favorable approach. However, it is not in line with Pei Xuanjing’s heart, and he cannot reconcile with this.

Even though Pei Xuanjing has relentlessly executed countless throughout his journey, he does not agree with using innocent lives as pawns and letting a malevolent god wreak havoc upon the world.

It may seem hypocritical to some, but this is Pei Xuanjing’s true heart, undeniable.