Sixty years of blacksmithing, a single hammer blow forging a celestial being.

But thinking about it, it makes sense, after all, the Holy Maiden is the Holy Maiden of the Lingtian Holy Land.

One day, he might even become the Holy Lord of the Lingtian Holy Land.

Their status and position at that time will be incomparable to what they are now.

This Golden Core cultivator was just trying to curry favor with the Holy Maiden ahead of time.

Step, step, step.

The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer, eventually stopping in front of Li Ping'an's cell.

Li Pingan slowly raised his head and saw the saintess's clear eyes, which were devoid of any emotion.

"Li Ping'an, it's so good to see you're still alive!"

A slight smile appeared on the saint's lips.

But his eyes were equally cold and sharp.

Li Ping'an didn't even look up, responding to her in a hoarse voice.

"Really? Didn't you want me dead? Why do you want me to live now?"

The saintess said with a smirk.

"I've come to my senses too. I am the Holy Maiden of the Lingtian Holy Land; how could I personally kill a piece of trash like you, who is as insignificant as an ant?"

"That would get my hands dirty. Also, if I did that, I'd be constantly criticized for killing my childhood sweetheart to prove myself. That won't do!"

"so?"

Li Pingan glanced at Lu Xue and said,

"So you want me to commit suicide?"

"No!"

Lu Xue shook her head and said,

"I want not only yourself, but I also want you to kneel down and tell me how much you love me and how sincere you are towards me."

"Finally, you'll willingly say you're willing to die for me. Then you'll end your own life with your own hands, dying in front of me."

"This is the best way to end this obstacle in my heart!"

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'an almost laughed.

"Lu Xue, you're dreaming! Don't think that just because you're some kind of saintess, I have to be devoted to you and obey your every word!"

"Let me tell you, I don't care if you're some kind of saintess or Lu Xue! It doesn't matter to me anymore!"

Li Pingan shook his head and sighed as he spoke.

So, Lu Xue, whom he had liked for so many years, was just like this, this kind of person.

For a moment, Li Ping'an felt a pang of regret and amusement that he had spent sixty years forging iron in the blacksmith's workshop just to see this one person.

Seeing Li Ping'an's indifferent attitude, Lu Xue even became a little annoyed.

He looked down at Li Ping'an.

"Li Ping'an! You need to understand your current situation! If you don't listen to me, do you know what the consequences will be?"

"What could the consequences be?"

Li Pingan smiled.

"Since I'm going to die anyway, why not die with dignity?"

Why should I die a pathetic death in front of you?

"Lu Xue, let me tell you, I did love you very much before, but now I have absolutely no feelings for you! Don't expect me to do anything for you anymore! Get out!"

Li Pingan spoke the last word with conviction and without any politeness.

Lu Xue was stunned when she heard this.

This was the first time in all these years that someone had spoken to him so rudely.

However, he was not angry. Instead, he curled his lips and looked Li Ping'an up and down.

"Let's not talk about that now. Li Ping'an, I really didn't expect you to be a collaborator with the demons. It's truly an eye-opener for me!"

"So what if you're a demon? So what if you're not? It's none of your business!"

Li Ping'an said without looking up.

"All I know is that some people, though claiming to be from respectable families, secretly engage in all sorts of despicable and shameful acts!"

This statement is naturally referring to Lu Xue.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xue flew into a rage, and her spiritual energy suddenly burst forth.

Instantly, Li Ping'an felt an extremely terrifying pressure coming towards him.

It made him feel suffocated.

"Say that again if you dare!"

Li Ping'an, however, remained fearless, his eyes fixed on the raging Lu Xue as he spoke.

"I'm telling you, you're a hypocritical, despicable slut! So what? Go ahead and kill me if you dare! I'm invincible today anyway, the worst that can happen is death! Why should I still fawn over the Holy Maiden!"

Hearing this, the saintess became even more enraged.

He couldn't help but want to tell Li Ping'an to tear him to shreds.

But then he stopped.

The spiritual pressure receded, and the figure looked at Li Ping'an with a cold smile.

"Li Ping'an, do you think I can't do anything to you now? Do you know that you've been labeled a traitor to the Demon Clan, and what will become of that abandoned hall you manage?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'an's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Then Lu Xue continued speaking.

"Now your abandoned hall has been designated by the Enforcement Hall as a secret gathering point for the demon race! And your brothers in that abandoned hall..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'an immediately lost his composure.

He suddenly stood up and stared intently at Lu Xue.

"What happened to all the disciples I dismissed?"

Lu Xue smiled slightly and said.

"What else can we do? They've all been labeled as demons and will all be executed tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'an's eyes reddened.

He slammed his hands on the iron railings and roared.

"You're talking nonsense! My disgraced disciples are all innocent! It has nothing to do with them!"

To say that Li Ping'an colluded with the demons wouldn't be entirely unfair to him.

After all, he was the one who released the Red Lotus.

He did have some collaborations with Hongling, but they were all unintentional.

However, there is still some connection.

However, to say that all the disciples of the abandoned hall were involved with the demon race is pure nonsense.

They had absolutely no idea.

This must all be the work of that saintess.

They deliberately used the disciples of the abandoned hall to blackmail him.

"How about that? Now you're getting anxious?"

Seeing Li Ping'an's anxious appearance, the Holy Maiden's mood immediately improved.

He crossed his arms and looked coldly at Li Ping'an.

"If you don't want all your disgraced disciples to perish with you, do as I say! I promise you I can let them go down the mountain and return to being ordinary people!"

"You're despicable!"

Li Pingan gritted his teeth and stared intently at Lu Xue.

"So what if I'm despicable?"

Lu Xue looked at Li Ping'an with a cold smile.

"A few days ago, that damned demon saintess Hong Ling humiliated me in front of everyone, trying to ruin my cultivation."

"Actually, no. Instead, it made me realize something: in this world, only the strong have the right to speak. There is no right or wrong, no morality, only the strong and the weak."

"When you are strong, whatever you say is the ultimate truth. When you are weak, whatever you do is nothing more than a pawn or plaything for others. Therefore, I must become stronger! I will abandon all worldly conventions and embark on the path of becoming stronger! This is my current belief!"

Listening to Lu Xue talking endlessly about her life philosophy.

Li Ping'an silently retreated to the corner of the wall, without saying a word.

Now all he can think about are those disciples from the abandoned hall.

He understood those disciples; they were all kind and simple people.

But now they're all being implicated because of him.

In an instant, thoughts raced through Li Ping'an's mind.

Should I just agree to her request?

At worst, I'll die anyway; at worst, I'll suffer some humiliation.

As long as the disciples of the abandoned hall can survive, isn't that enough?