Chapter 543: The Trend of Fate, Signing the Soul Oath
This decision might look foolish.
Wanting peace, but not fully seeking peace.
Wanting a hard stance to display authority, yet not being truly uncompromising.
But in truth, this was exactly the best choice Shengya Mountain could make without knowing his true strength.
The bigger a sect, the more it had to consider. Especially for a righteous sect like Shengya Mountain, its actions could not be based on personal whims.
Right now, in the eyes of the outside world, he was just a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator. If Shengya Mountain gave him too much respect, how would other sects see it? Would they think Shengya Mountain had weakened?
On the other hand, if they punished him too harshly, it would damage the sect’s reputation.
So with this decision, no matter whether he won or lost the duel, Shengya Mountain would remain unaffected as a Nascent Soul giant.
If he lost, it would prove Shengya Mountain had no reason to negotiate with him.
If other sects, like Earth Sword Mountain, chose to strike him down while he was weakened, Shengya Mountain’s honor would remain intact.
If he won…
Then his strength would be enough to deter dogs like Earth Sword Mountain from acting rashly.
And Shengya Mountain clearly had no need to curry favor with a mere new Nascent Soul cultivator.
If they became enemies with him, then so be it.
Tens of thousands of years had passed, yet Shengya Mountain still stood tall as the leader of the righteous path in the Haizhou region of the Xiao Kingdom.
A great power naturally had the strength to face all this with ease.
‘But if not so… how would kings and nobles of the world keep changing, one after another?’
Wei Tu mused silently.
For a great power like Shengya Mountain, stability was the safest path. Yet this very inertia would inevitably push them onto a downward slope.
That was the unseen current of fate.
Wei Tu did not believe himself to be “the trend” itself, but as a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, he clearly already had the strength to influence its direction.
“In that case, two years from now, the place of my duel with Situ Yang shall be… Earth Sword Mountain.”
Wei Tu spoke calmly.
“Good!”
“Since Fellow Daoist Wei has decided, this old man will set out at once and give Shengya Mountain their answer.”
Hearing this, Divine Master Du Long’s expression showed no surprise. He simply nodded, bid Wei Tu farewell, and turned into a streak of light flying toward the Xiao Kingdom.
…
Two months later—
Divine Master Du Long returned to the Ying Ding Tribe once more.
But this time, he was not alone. With him came two Nascent Soul cultivators of Shengya Mountain.
Wei Tu recognized one of them—it was Zhao Yu’e, the Ancestor of the Zhao clan of Shengya.
The other, he did not know. But with Du Long’s introduction, information about this Nascent Soul elder quickly surfaced in his mind.
“The Sect Master of Shengya Mountain—Lian Shourang!”
Wei Tu’s gaze grew solemn.
Aside from being the sect master of Shengya Mountain, Lian Shourang was also Situ Yang’s master.
But what gave Wei Tu some relief was that Lian Shourang’s cultivation was only at mid-stage Nascent Soul, the same as his own, not late-stage.
It wasn’t hard for Wei Tu to guess. Lian Shourang had come personally not only to represent Shengya Mountain and sign the spiritual contract for the duel but also to probe into his true strength, ensuring no accidents occurred.
Yes, in Shengya Mountain’s view, the only “accident” in this duel would be Situ Yang losing to him.
“My unworthy disciple has other matters in the sect and cannot come today. I ask Fellow Daoist Wei to understand.”
Inside the great hall of the Divine Master’s residence, Lian Shourang glanced at Wei Tu, a flash of purple light passing through his eyes, before he smiled faintly as he spoke.
The secret art of spirit eyes was not unique to the She Ri Tribe. As the leader of the righteous path, Shengya Mountain’s methods were complete, and it lacked nothing comparable to the Sun-Gazing Golden Eyes.
The one Lian Shourang used now was called “Purple Light Dharma Eye,” one of Shengya Mountain’s profound spirit-eye techniques.
This art could dissect enemy spells during combat and also had the special ability to peer into an opponent’s dharma body and cultivation foundation.
“More profound than a new Nascent Soul, already at early Nascent Soul great accomplishment, nearly at the peak ready to break through…”
“In a mere hundred years to reach this point. This one truly has ability, worthy of being called a genius rogue cultivator with great comprehension.”
“No wonder he dares to speak harshly to Shengya Mountain and challenge Yang’er to a duel.”
After a moment, the purple light in Lian Shourang’s eyes faded as he thought to himself.
By common sense, for a Nascent Soul cultivator training in the barren lands of Kang Kingdom, it would take several hundred years to break through even a minor realm.
“But compared to Yang’er, he still falls short.”
Lian Shourang shook his head.
Though Wei Tu seemed ahead of Situ Yang by one small realm, in actual combat strength, Lian Shourang did not believe Wei Tu could surpass Situ Yang, who had already fully awakened the battle talent of his spiritual body.
Within the same major stage, such minor realm differences meant little.
“Besides, in two years, Yang’er’s realm will advance further to match his level.”
Lian Shourang’s lips curled in a relaxed smile.
Only—
What he did not know was that his little trick had been seen through completely by Wei Tu.
What he saw was merely the false realm Wei Tu deliberately revealed.
In controlling the body, he was far inferior to Wei Tu, this fourth-tier body cultivator.
Under such eyes, the difference in realm was only reflected by the amount of dharma power stored in the body.
It was not hard to disguise that.
…
Of course, Wei Tu himself did not know how powerful Lian Shourang’s spirit-eye technique was.
But he was clear on one thing.
If Lian Shourang had known his true cultivation, he would never have remained so calm, nor urged him to sign the contract.
He would have immediately stopped the duel with Situ Yang.
Because no matter what supreme secret arts Shengya Mountain possessed, such a vast gap in cultivation could not be erased by mere advantages.
As for talismans or treasures…
In this duel, fairness required that both sides be forbidden from using talismans or artifacts beyond their own realm.
“Fellow Daoist Wei, if you have no objections to the terms of the contract, you may inscribe your soul oath upon this Heaven’s Nether True Page.”
Lian Shourang reminded him.
Now that Wei Tu had lost the bond of marriage with the Zhao clan, his path and Shengya Mountain’s were fated to be enemies.
So Lian Shourang had no interest in pleasantries or wasting time. Once he confirmed Wei Tu’s realm as he believed, he immediately conducted the matter officially.
Hearing this, Zhao Yu’e, standing behind him, sighed softly in her heart.
She had once greatly favored Wei Tu as a son-in-law.
Now she could not help but feel sorrow for his impending defeat.
But at this moment, she could not openly persuade him otherwise before Shengya Mountain’s sect master.
After all, she no longer had any stake in this.
“This contract, Wei has checked and found no issue.”
Wei Tu nodded, took the Heaven’s Nether True Page from Lian Shourang’s hand, and used his dharma power to inscribe his soul oath upon it.
“Good!” Lian Shourang’s lips curved with a faint smile. On behalf of his disciple Situ Yang, he also left his mark upon the page.
“The oath is sealed.”
“Two years from now, you and I shall meet at Earth Sword Mountain.”
As the soul oath took effect, Lian Shourang cupped his hands to Wei Tu, then swept his sleeve and flew straight out of the Ying Ding Tribe, leaving without pause.
On Shengya Mountain’s side—
Only Zhao Yu’e remained.
“If you lose and beg for mercy, Situ Yang promised me he would try to spare your life.”
Zhao Yu’e gave Wei Tu a serious look, spoke these words, then turned and followed after Lian Shourang.