The Word of Heaven

Chapter 346 Fate, My Will

On the desolate plains, Zhao Qi's gaze lingered on the Bright Moon Platform, fixed on the arrogant Demon Lord.

A lazy, slightly rustling sound drifted on the wind and entered my ears.

"How long can you stand in front of him before you break through to the next level?"

Zhao Qi withdrew his gaze and looked at Pei Jingge, who was dozens of feet away. These words had come from her mouth.

"I wouldn't consider such a question."

"Tsk."

Pei Jingge chuckled softly.

Zhao Qi looked at her and asked, "Are you really that unwilling to have peace and quiet?"

The silence in the conversation doesn't just mean keeping quiet.

Pei Jingge said calmly, "I don't understand what you're talking about."

Zhao Qi remained unmoved and said, "The Dao Master wants you to leave, but you not only refuse, you even want to make another move."

Pei Jingge's smile remained unchanged, still beautiful, without the slightest hint of anything amiss.

"Refuse the Dao Lord's goodwill..."

Zhao Qi looked at him quietly and said, "You will die."

Pei Jingge disliked the first half of the sentence, but paid attention to the second half: "Wang Jingshuo will die soon, and these military personnel will also die. The remaining four ships will inevitably become garbage. I am very curious how this situation will proceed tonight without His Majesty the Emperor intervening."

She said casually, "Are we still counting on the Xuanjia heavy cavalry that are on their way? But even if all 20,000 heavy cavalry arrive, what good will it do? They'll just be staring blankly at that high platform."

These are all facts, facts that are happening now and that can be foreseen; their words have their own power.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Qi shook his head and said, "You want to know what exactly was written in that letter, and why it led me to the conclusion that the Demon Lord is doomed to defeat."

Pei Jingge said, "Curiosity is one of the most beautiful innate human traits."

As she said this, a bright, autumn-rain-like smile played on her lips, making her look just like a young girl.

Zhao Qi looked at her, thinking about the words he had seen in the letter, and after a long silence, shook his head again and said, "This is a wasteland."

The conversation between the two ended again, not only because Zhao Qi was unwilling to continue the discussion, but also because the 'enlightenment' from the high platform under the bright moon had arrived.

As one of the three great generals of Qin, Wang Jingshuo always left the impression of loyalty, causing many people to overlook his youth compared to the other two generals, as well as the fact that he guarded the wilderness for decades and his hands were never short of blood.

In terms of combat strength at the same level, Wang Jingshuo is fully comparable to Nan Zong and even surpasses Qing Xiaoyue at her peak.

His most proficient weapon was the spear.

It originated from the spear technique taught by Her Highness the Eldest Princess.

……

Bang! Sparks burst forth from the tip of the gun as the metal collided at high speed head-on.

A tremendous force traveled from the gun barrel to Wang Jingshuo's hand, forcing him to sink and retreat, unable to move forward.

He frowned, his blood-stained brows furrowing, a fleeting look of confusion in his eyes—the brilliance of the Princess's marksmanship never lay in technique, nor in subtle ingenuity, but in power, in the act of crushing others with a dignified and glorious air.

That summer, during the sacrificial ceremony at Cangshan Mountain, Yu Sheng used his spear to draw down lightning, which was the best proof of this idea.

That's why Wang Jingshuo felt so angry when he heard those words.

This is a spear technique aimed at the spirit and will.

Everyone has their own will and therefore does not need anyone's guidance.

Thoughts only last for a moment.

The Demon Lord continued to wield his spear, casually swinging it around him, creating an independent world that was not a dojo, yet was no different from one.

The other two powerful figures from the Qin army made their move when Wang Jingshuo was forced to retreat; one wielded a knife, and the other an axe.

The swords and axes split and fell, attacking from the east and the west, each targeting the weakness of the spear.

The two who survived the previous Dao Annihilation attack were naturally already in the Dao Realm and were pillars of the Qin army, second only to the three king generals.

The countless combat experiences accumulated over a century have given them an extraordinary and terrifying intuition in life-or-death battles... However, what happened next was beyond their intuition.

The blades and axes were clearly aimed at the Demon Lord's shoulders and abdomen, but in the end, as the man in black casually took a step back, they naturally converged at the tip of the iron spear, meeting there.

The moment they met, the force that had forced Wang Jingshuo to retreat surged back, causing real injuries.

With just one shot, the three were completely routed.

In the distance, a crossbow bolt, carried by a strong wind, whistled in, straight and unbending, aimed directly at the Demon Lord's brow.

However, the moment it entered the range of the iron spear, the arrow's straight flight trajectory suddenly changed. Instead of falling helplessly like a bird with broken wings, it naturally went to the tip of the spear, sparked again, and finally fell to the ground with a soft sound.

The Demon Lord remained unmoved.

Wang Jingshuo, who was the first to be repelled, watched this bizarre scene with perfect clarity. His throat, which was surging with blood, suddenly felt extremely dry, as if he had been exposed to the scorching sun in the desert for decades. Even the act of swallowing brought him extreme pain.

But he couldn't control the strong urge to vomit.

That was the true nature of the iron spear in the Demon Lord's hand, a nature that was completely opposite to his previous understanding of cultivation, and it brought a heavy impact to his Dao heart.

That was a sentence that was never spoken—you're wrong, the kind of person who should be like me is the one who wields the gun.

Wang Jingshuo lowered his head, took a deep breath of the cold air from the night sky high above, letting the chill seep into his lungs like water, forcibly erasing the gloom in his mind, clenched his fists, and raised his gun again.

The other two military leaders remained silent, forming a mutually supporting defensive position with the general. This was the most simple and unadorned method of combat, passed down from countless years ago, simple and direct.

Because it is simple and direct, it is often reliable.

Wang Jingshuo ignored these things.

He kept his head down, but his eyes grew increasingly calm, as cold and gloomy as a deep pool.

Draw your gun.

The spear, though drawn, was not like a dragon, but merely a tiger.

A sinister tiger, its beard and hair stained with blood.

……

More than a hundred years ago, that broken-down man returned, his wheelchair rolling over the thousand-year-old bluestone slabs.

The entire hall was completely silent. No sword flashed, yet the people inside were already torn apart by blood and flesh.

Wang Jingshuo still clearly remembers that day when his grandfather broke through the barrier and his eyes were incredibly bright.

However, however... when the young man in the wheelchair drew his sword, that bright color turned into blood.

My grandfather died on the spot, beheaded by Qieman.

Later, some busybodies deduced and calculated that Wang Ji unleashed 50,000 swords in that instant, and the head of the Wang family blocked 6,040 of them. As a result, he was cut into 43,960 pieces, and his flesh was so thin that even the thinnest part of his flesh could not be described as thin as a cicada's wing.

Wang Jingshuo was the only one who clearly saw the sword light.

Wang Ji did not kill him in the end, but sighed with regret, hoping that another member of the Wang family would ascend to immortality.

In the years that followed, Wang Jingshuo made many efforts for this.

In short, it's nothing more than drinking the bitter wine of fifty years of hardship and desolation in the wilderness.

Wang Jingshuo suddenly looked up at the Demon Lord.

Throughout hundreds of thousands of hours of cold moonlight and warm sunshine, he never slacked off for even a moment, never indulged in any pleasure, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.

How can you deny that my path is wrong?!
A furious roar erupted from his mouth, echoing through the sky.

The true essence surged forth like water bursting its banks, leaping from the spearhead into the real world, unstoppable!

Fresh blood spurted from his body, staining the iron spear and intensifying the stench!

then.

Since the start of the battle tonight, this is the first time everyone has seen the Demon Lord's expression no longer calm, but slightly furrowed.

The spear that had been taken from Wang Jingshuo was now being used to meet the spear in Wang Jingshuo's hand.

A fierce wind rose up, blowing the black shirt so hard it rustled loudly, and the fabric was even slightly torn, no longer intact.

A murderous intent blazed forth.

Whether it was the two Dao Realm experts on the Bright Moon Platform, the military leaders on the flying boat dozens of miles away, or even Pei Jinge and Zhao Qi, the two strongest people in the world who had entered the Feather Transformation Realm, they all couldn't help but take notice of this shot.

Even with such a terrifying shot, the situation remained exactly the same as before, with the spearhead inevitably... or rather, like the truth of water flowing downhill, tilting towards the iron spear in the Demon Lord's hand.

Even before the two shots clashed head-on, everyone present had an absolute premonition that if the previous scene were to repeat itself, no matter how high Wang Jingshuo's martial will climbed, no matter how confident he was, even if he truly touched the threshold of ascension at this moment, there would only be one outcome for this confrontation.

That was a single word.

--defeat.

This unquestionable belief, like a brand, was engraved in the hearts of everyone who looked directly at the Demon Lord's spearhead, prompting the events to unfold.

Therefore, Wang Jingshuo did not stop there.

He made an incredibly brave decision: he saw himself as a spear, his blood flowing from his chest as the red tassel on the spear, revealing its sharpness, and his punches were like those of a spear.

Throughout the entire process, Wang Jingshuo stared intently at the spearhead in the Demon Lord's hand, showing no fear whatsoever, his expression growing increasingly ferocious.

One shot at a time.

He used his arm as a spear to face the Demon Lord's spear, and the remaining spear naturally broke through that unquestionable truth, thus pointing directly at the Demon Lord's chest.

No one could have imagined that Wang Jingshuo would make such a decision. So much so that when his entire right arm broke off inch by inch under the spearhead, making an indescribable, shocking sound, many of the remaining people were just coming to their senses. In that instant, their eyes lit up with hope as they stared at the other iron spear that had shattered the truth.

At that very moment, in that instant... the Demon Lord spoke.

"very nice."

It was a gentle voice, tinged with appreciation, but ultimately turning into regret: "But such things have actually happened before."

As soon as he finished speaking, the iron spear in his hand that had shattered Wang Jingshuo's entire right arm flowed like water, striking first and then moving later, and was held horizontally in front of him.

boom!
The spear tip landed squarely on the spear shaft, unleashing its immense killing intent and martial will without reservation, causing the spear in the Demon Lord's hand to vibrate and shake continuously.

Iron filings, accompanied by sparks, shot out, illuminating Wang Jingshuo's blood-stained, ferocious face.

His eyes grew brighter and brighter. He could clearly hear the creaking sound of the gun straining under its strain. Just one more foot forward, just one more foot, and he could pierce through the Demon Lord's chest... Then, everything came to an abrupt end.

Like the dragon in that painting that's missing its eyes.

Like that carp that failed to leap over the Dragon Gate.

It's like... that frog finally got out of the well and was able to see the sky.

With a soft click, the gun broke.

It is a gun in the Demon Lord's hand, but also a gun in Wang Jingshuo's hand.

The spearhead and shaft turned to ashes, scattered by the wind, along with the blood.

Wang Jingshuo collapsed, falling to one knee.

His hair, which had come loose at some point, clung to his face in strands, mixed with dust, iron filings, and blood.

If the tide recedes, the immense power unleashed in that instant of rage dissipates even faster than it did upon arrival, like a nightmare.

When another sound rang out, the Demon Master swept his broken spear, forcing back the attacks of the other two.

The high platform under the bright moon was once again deathly silent.

So desolate and cold.

The ships in the distance did not launch another attack, whether out of shock or bewilderment, it was unclear.

Wang Jingshuo looked at the broken spear and said in a hoarse voice, "So that's how it is..." He recalled the figure who always stood at the forefront, the comrades who rarely died in those years, and the princess who had experienced countless deaths... How could he not understand the true meaning of the Spear of All Beings?

It's not about fighting against all living beings with one's own strength, but about being a solitary and proud figure in front of millions of people.

Having already stood before all living beings, who in this world can surpass me?
This is a fact that needs no further explanation.

This is the true reason why Bai Nanming's forces can easily subdue all living beings in this world, making him invincible and majestic.

If it had been Princess Changxia who faced Dao Mie's attack earlier, no one would have died, and there would have been more than just three people alive.

"This has to do with her being too lazy to teach people."

The Demon Lord said, "But more importantly, you want to follow in her footsteps too much, but you can't be as confident as she is invincible in this world."

These words were spoken without any attempt to hide them from anyone; the voices were very clear and could be heard by everyone.

However, apart from the parties involved, only Pei Jingge and Zhao Qi understood the true meaning behind it.

Wang Jingshuo remained silent for a long time before saying, "I am on this path because she is stronger than Wang Ji."

The reason is simple, and therefore powerful.

"And I don't agree with your advice."

He finally said to the Demon Lord, "The iron spear in my hand has its own name; it is not called 'All Beings'."

The Demon Lord didn't say anything more, perhaps because he was quite connected with the two people mentioned in the conversation.

Wang Jingshuo stood up, coughing incessantly, causing blood and flesh to come out with him.

The outcome has been decided.

Life or death is imminent.

They were all strong men who had survived blood and fire, whether they were alive or dying, all prepared to die.

Someone walked up to Wang Jingshuo and helped the general with the missing arm to his feet.

He didn't say anything to the Demon Lord, nor did he offer those self-comforting words of "defeat at this moment, victory at dawn." He simply calmly prepared to face death and engage in the final battle.

There is a powerful force in this silence, enough to make one's heart tremble.

What's even more terrifying is that, from beginning to end, these powerful figures in the Qin military never questioned the White Emperor's decision, nor did they consider that they were victims of this war.

Even Wang Jingshuo had never had such a thought.

What a terrifying belief this is!

The Demon Lord gave this due respect.

"You can still kill without a gun," Lin Wanyi said at the summer festival that year, and her words are now famous throughout the world.

He raised his gun and committed murder.

Wang Jingshuo prepared to die.

Between life and death, the White Emperor issued a decree, and the words he had spoken to him that day flew through his mind.

“Wang Ji is far stronger than you imagine. In the Weiyang Palace incident, he was on par with Dao Xiu in the end, only slightly behind me.”

"How does it compare to the Dao Lord?"

"It is also a front line."

"Your Majesty is on par with the Dao Lord of yesteryear?"

Upon hearing this question, the White Emperor remained silent for a long time before uttering four words, tinged with emotion.

"Yes, that's true now."

"The difference between the King and you now is only a hair's breadth... So, all my desires in this life have been in vain?"

There is only one exception.

"Please speak plainly, Your Majesty."

"Master."

Wang Jingshuo put aside his thoughts and moved forward.

The Demon Lord's broken gun plunged into his chest, drawing a small amount of blood.

His fist failed to land, remaining frozen halfway.

The other two powerful Qin military figures were in the same situation; neither of them could escape the encirclement of guns and were caught within it.

Even though the broken gun was now less than a finger's width away from Wang Jingshuo's heart.

The immense true energy, showing no signs of diminishing, erupted from the Demon Lord's palm.

The aura that poured out directly tore apart the bodies of the other two powerful figures, exposing their internal organs to the moonlight.

Right now.

The sky and earth suddenly darkened, clouds surged from all directions, and the moonlight vanished.

The wind and rain are coming.

……

Pei Jingge's expression changed drastically, her face turning ashen.

She gazed at the night sky, sensing the undeniable will within, and asked in a cold voice, "Is this the key to victory mentioned in that letter?"

"good."

Zhao Qi's voice was extremely complex: "Just like back then, this time, it will still be divine retribution."

After a moment of silence, Pei Jingge shook his head and said, "There shouldn't be such a fate."

……

On Baidi Mountain, in the shadow cast by that chestnut tree.

The changes thousands of miles away were accurately perceived by His Majesty the Emperor.

His eyes remained calm, devoid of joy or surprise, because he had expected it.

So at that moment, he naturally took that step, stepping into a world disturbed by the tolling of dawn and dusk, his steps firm.

At the same time, the formation that the deceased eunuch leader had painstakingly overseen and meticulously repaired was rekindled.

A beam of light shot straight up to the night sky.

The area within a hundred miles returned to daylight.

In the boundless light, the White Emperor seemed to be strolling leisurely in a courtyard.

His figure appeared simultaneously in every chaotic flow of time created by the tolling of the morning and evening bells. Hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands of him walked into the depths of it, stepping towards the place where the bells began.

His face began to turn pale, but there was no sign of weakness; rather, it was more like a rock that had been battered by waves, its old appearance fading away.

The sound of the bell was no longer melodious, no longer faint; it gradually became clear and urgent.

The White Emperor's lips curled slightly, revealing a smile, but it was not one of joy, but rather of melancholy.

He knew that the dawn and dusk bells were about to appear before his eyes, a presence that had kept him from finding joy for a hundred years.

He knew that he would soon be able to turn the bell into scrap metal with his own hands.

This is certainly not a victory.

This is only the first step towards victory.

Why should he be happy about this?
……

……

Xuandu.

Inside the Ancestral Hall, the voices of those who came before cannot be heard.

Whether it's regret, remorse, indifference, or disdain... no matter the tone, they all tell the same story.

"He's dying."

Yu Sheng lowered her eyelids slightly.

Still a young girl, with no trace of a newlywed wife in her eyes, she listened quietly to the words of these so-called patriarchs and sages.

Perhaps finding it too noisy, she said softly, "There's no need to rush to celebrate. I'll send you down first, and you can offer your congratulations when you see him on your way to the underworld."

The moment the words left her lips, Yu Sheng turned around and walked out of the hall.

But the other beings did not leave with her.

It transformed into a sharp, cold light and rushed towards the ancestral master statue deep within the hall.

Countless voices, unwilling to die, first expressed disdain, then indifference, and finally terror, for this iron spear could actually suppress and even kill them for countless millennia.

As Yu Sheng walked out of the Taoist temple, a scene came into Lin Qianshui's view.

Under the night.

The ancestral hall of the Heavenly Dao Sect, which had been passed down for nearly ten thousand years, collapsed with a deafening roar.

From this day forward, there will be no more living beings in the world.

Yu Sheng's lips were bleeding.

There was not a trace of regret in her eyes.

……

The bright moon is no more, and the desolate plains are ravaged by wind and rain.

A burst of laughter erupted from Wang Jingshuo's mouth.

The Demon Lord failed to kill him.

But it was in this moment between life and death that he sensed the opportunity to break through his current realm!
He only needs to take one more step forward to enter that long-awaited realm!

This is God’s will!
A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, illuminating the dark world, and struck the figure in black.

Just then, the Demon Lord's voice rang out in the wind and rain.

The sound was so loud that even thunder couldn't drown it out.

"This is indeed the will of Heaven."

Gu Zhuo looked at him quietly, waved his sleeve to disperse the thunder, and said indifferently, "But, this is not what I intended."

Wang Jingshuo's laughter stopped abruptly.

In his boundless joy, a tiny hole appeared between his eyebrows.

That is the edge of the sword on the Yi River.

Fresh blood kept oozing from the wound.

Death and rain, however, go against the grain and enter into it.

Wang Jingshuo died at this time.

He died at the moment he stepped into immortality.