Chapter 6: The Death of Li Feichen

Li Moqing had never imagined that her uncle could be such a cold and ruthless person. At that moment, she herself had no idea what thoughts were churning within her heart; she only felt that everything before her eyes was utterly surreal and deeply unfamiliar. Right now, she truly wanted to leave this place. In the past, she had genuinely loved the Suyi Pavilion and had been willing to sacrifice everything she had for it. Yet now, she genuinely doubted whether what she had done before was right or wrong. Even at a time like this, Li Moqing still held onto a final shred of trust in her uncle. "Uncle, tell me, what Xuan Bing and the others said isn't true."

However, her uncle's reaction left Li Moqing deeply disappointed. He fell silent. What did silence mean? It meant that everything previously mentioned was, in fact, the truth. "You would have found out about this sooner or later. Telling you now might be a bit early, but since you already know, I never intended to keep hiding it from you. That's right, all of these things are true."

"Your uncle has always been this kind of person. I can sacrifice everything for the Suyi Pavilion, and I would do the exact same for you. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I believe that even if you were in my position, you would ultimately make the very same choice I did. Because even if we were to replay this all over again, the choice I make would still be identical."

"This is why I have always been reluctant to let you return. Once you came back, you would inevitably witness a side of your uncle that is different from usual. At this very moment, your heart must be aching terribly, isn't it?"

"Hahaha, that's right! Li Moqing, now you see it too. This is your uncle's true face. Tell me, what are you going to do now? Come, you belong with me now, and only I can truly help you. From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were a person of exceptional talent. Have you spent all these years enduring bitter cultivation just to make things convenient for these people?"

Xuan Gang was extremely confident in his eloquence. In truth, even without his instigation, a rift had already formed between Li Moqing and Li Feichen, and that gap would only continue to widen. This young woman was a rare talent; if she were wasted here, he would never forgive himself.

"Moqing, you don't need to fear anything right now. You can act entirely according to your own heart. Uncle knows that with things turning out this way, your heart must be filled with profound pain. Rest assured, Uncle has always thought very highly of you. Even without me, you will certainly be able to go much further in the future!"

"As for you, you no longer need Uncle." With that, Li Feichen turned his gaze to Xuan Gang. "Xuan Gang, congratulations, your objective has been achieved. If your goal was to defeat me, you have succeeded. However, do not forget that this is the Suyi Pavilion. The notion that you can seize the Suyi Pavilion is an absolute impossibility. No one understands my niece's temperament better than I do. Do you believe it? The moment I die before your very eyes, this young woman will unleash the most formidable power imaginable!"

"When that time comes, not even you will be her match. All these years, I have always known that Moqing possessed peerless strength, though I had never witnessed it until today. To think that the first time I would see it would be at the cost of my own life!"

Slash!

The sharp blade plunged directly into his own body. At that moment, Li Feichen's eyes held a trace of release and a faint smile. Eldest brother, in the end, I still failed to fulfill your wish. As a brother, I have truly failed you. But do not fear, our brotherhood will be reunited very soon, and when that time comes, I will apologize to you once more. If I have any regret, it is handing over this half-ruined Suyi Pavilion to Moqing!

"The ambitions of the four great sects of the world have long coveted our Suyi Pavilion. If not for your formidable strength back then, Eldest Brother, the Suyi Pavilion would never have survived until today. Since I was a child, I wanted to become a man just like you, but as I grew older, I finally realized that no matter how hard I tried, I could never become a person like you!"

"Perhaps, in my own eyes, I am simply a failure." With this long monologue, he finally poured out the innermost thoughts of his heart. His tall, imposing frame finally collapsed to the ground, yet a faint smile remained upon his face to the very end!

"Uncle!!"

Li Moqing had never imagined that her uncle would leave her. Of course, it wasn't that she couldn't accept such an outcome; rather, she could not accept that a powerhouse like her uncle had died in such a cowardly manner. At that moment, it felt as though a piece of her heart had been torn away, and the agonizing pain within utterly consumed her physical body. Having endured countless hardships through years of cultivation, Li Moqing had suffered much, but the pain brought by those trials could never compare to this very moment!

Whether her uncle was good or bad, what did that matter to her? Even if he was ruthless to everyone else, he had always treated her with utmost care and affection. Why, then, had she allowed a man like Xuan Gang to manipulate her emotions? What on earth was this man doing here today? It was all for the sake of the Suyi Pavilion. Yet realization of such a simple truth had come far too late. At that instant, an impulse to weep surged within her, only for her to discover that she could no longer shed a single tear!

Her uncle and Zhuang Yunzhen were both immensely important men to her. Losing either of them would be a fatal blow to Li Moqing. Yet, regardless of the overwhelming rage and grief raging in her heart, she had to forcefully suppress it all right now! She could not forget what her mission for today was. Slaughter—she would slaughter everyone here today!

"Hahaha, you foolish man! Did you think that by committing suicide, everything would simply come to an end? No, such matters never truly end. The Suyi Pavilion, which you and your brother guarded with one heart, is finally going to belong to me today. What? Is your heart filled with resentment and reluctance? If you wish to stop me, you should stand up—pity that you no longer possess the possibility of doing so!"

"You pinned all your hopes on your niece, but just how formidable is your niece's cultivation truly? No matter how powerful she is, in my eyes, it is utterly useless!"

Whoosh!

Right at that moment, a piercing sword qi pierced directly through his flesh. The event unfolded with blinding speed—so fast that it left no time for any reaction. The man spat a mouthful of blood, clearly suffering grievous injuries. The only person capable of executing such a feat with such icy composure was none other than Li Moqing!

"Li Moqing? To think you still possess such formidable cultivation at a time like this! I assumed you had accepted my proposal. It appears our negotiations have broken down. Very well, since you are courting death, I will grant it to you. Once you are dead, no one will ever be able to stop me!"

Xuan Bing had been monitoring Xuan Gang's movements closely. The current situation felt bizarre; the ambient aura in the surroundings had begun to shift, and Li Moqing's presence seemed entirely altered. "Xuan Gang, withdraw immediately! You are no match for this young woman right now. If this fight continues, you will die!"

It was a well-intentioned warning, but in Xuan Gang's eyes, Xuan Bing was merely flaunting her own superiority. "Xuan Bing, even at a time like this, must you still utter such nonsense? How much time has passed? My strength has long since surpassed yours. Why is such a simple fact so difficult for you to grasp? Is it really that hard for you to accept that I am stronger than you now?"

"You are a fool! When have I ever thought that way? Naturally, I would be genuinely happy if you grew stronger. But I am speaking the truth. Can you honestly not sense the peerless might Li Moqing wields right now?"

"Of course I sense it. But let me tell you, this is precisely what I have been waiting for. Do you believe me? I have always wanted to witness Li Moqing's true strength. I've heard countless rumors about this woman; rumor has it that she is the very first person since the founding of the Suyi Pavilion to cultivate the Undying White Flame to its absolute peak!"

"Is the Undying White Flame truly that formidable? If it possesses such power, then I must experience it firsthand right now. Xuan Gang, Eldest Brother sent you here to assist me. Of course, if you believe your strength surpasses mine, you are welcome to step into the fray yourself!"

"If you lack the ability, then simply stand by and watch. In truth, I am fighting this battle for your sake as well. I want to show you that after all these years, my strength has completely surpassed yours. Do you think I was unaware that Eldest Brother always looked down upon me?"

"That's not true! I am well aware of how disciples of the four great sects view me. Though I may be somewhat dull-witted, am I incapable of reading people's expressions? Their eyes always tell me that without your assistance, I could never have achieved what I have today. What absolute nonsense! Everything I have achieved is the result of my own efforts. What did you people ever give me? Nothing but endless mockery!"

Xuan Bing knew that anger had long simmered within Xuan Gang's heart, but she had never imagined that his resentment had reached such an extreme degree!

"Very well, since you put it that way, I leave this battle entirely to you. Besides, I have long desired to see just how formidable you truly are. You are right; Eldest Brother sent me to help you. Since you possess such immense confidence, I shall leave the rest to you!"

"As it happens, I have little appetite for this fight anyway. Didn't you want to prove your true strength? This is the ultimate opportunity. If you can truly win this battle, I will grant your every desire. I know you have striven tirelessly all these years for the rise of the Xuan Gang Sect, but you must also realize that only I can truly help you achieve it!"

Boom!

Xuan Gang's battle intent erupted entirely at that moment. "Hahaha, this is wonderful! Li Moqing, I know you possess peerless strength. If that is the case, I must unleash my ultimate power as well. Do you think that mere sword strike of yours could actually injure me? No, you are mistaken! I will now show you the true meaning of fear!"

"The Universe Infinite Array!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As his voice fell, ripples surged across the sky, and four colossal pillars descending from the heavens materialized, trapping Li Moqing from the four cardinal directions of east, west, south, and north!

"Li Moqing, at this stage, I refuse to believe you can still break free from my formation. You should know that such a feat is fundamentally impossible. You must be quite familiar with this array; the four directions represent the power of the Four Symbols. Though you possess quite remarkable strength, against the power of the Four Symbols, you are powerless!"

"The Universe Infinite Array is a supreme secret of the four great sects. According to my standing, I truly lacked the qualifications to wield this power. Yet the more others forbade me from mastering it, the more determined I became to claim it. Only by doing so could I prove my might. Perhaps others cannot understand these sentiments of mine, but you certainly do, don't you?"

"In essence, you and I are cut from the same cloth. It is a pity that we ultimately chose two divergent paths. I will give you one final opportunity: surrender now, and I will pretend none of this ever happened. But if you refuse, I will have no other choice—you shall truly perish here!"

"Xuan Gang, you should know that no matter the adversity, I will never retreat. I must win this battle. My fury burns all the more because of you, and through it, I have truly mastered the Undying White Flame! Do you genuinely believe your formation can trap me? No! If I so desire, no place under the heavens can contain me. If you don't believe it, feel free to try!"

"Suzakus Infinite Swords!"

Overbearing and fierce divine fire of the Vermilion Bird condensed into a razor-sharp divine sword within her grasp. In an instant, the area was saturated with astonishing sword qi. It was a swordsmanship she had not used in a very long time—she had refrained from using it previously because her cultivation was insufficient. But what about now? Was her cultivation truly sufficient now?"

"Yes, her cultivation was indeed sufficient now. Swarms of fierce sword qi devoured the entire firmament. Ordinary sword qi mattered little, but what happened when the entire sky transformed into a colossal sword array? Facing such sword qi, any master would feel terror grip their heart, wouldn't they?"

"Is this the Suzakus Infinite Swords? Splendid! Many years ago, I heard tales of this swordsmanship, though I never witnessed it firsthand. To behold it with my own eyes today is quite a privilege!"

The sky transformed into a vicious, ferocious beast, and pristine stretches of the firmament fractured into jagged splits resembling abyssal maws. Contact with those chasms meant certain death or, at the very least, catastrophic injury!

"Xuan Gang, I know your physical defense is peerless. Come, test it out and show me how you plan to crack this swordsmanship of mine! In truth, I have infused this swordsmanship with a brand-new transformation!"

From the boundless sky, a pair of gigantic hands slowly extended, clenching tightly into massive fists. Before absolute power, all techniques became utterly meaningless!

"Hahaha, that's it! I have been waiting for this very move of yours. It seems you haven't disappointed me after all, woman! Yet you underestimate me deeply. Did you think my Universe Infinite Array was so simple? It is currently the most formidable array in the world. While it once served purely for defense, it now achieves offensive-defensive integration. You will soon find out!"

To push the array's power to its absolute zenith, the lengths to which he had gone were unimaginable... Xuan Gang's muscular torso leaned forward gradually, his posture mirroring that of a stalking tiger as his muscles burst with violent power!

Whoosh!

The next second, the man shot toward Li Moqing like a beam of light. "Hahaha, Li Moqing, you now realize that your techniques are truly futile before me! I know not what experiences you endured all these years, but I am here to tell you that you are no match for me. Try it if you disbelieve!"

Boom!

A ferocious shockwave slammed directly into Li Moqing. Despite her exceptional cultivation, she proved incapable of withstanding such overwhelming impact!

Puff!

A mouthful of blood spewed violently. The woman suffered catastrophic internal injuries. Already harboring prior internal wounds, forcing herself into battle had been a monumental feat in itself, yet she had now suffered compounding trauma. The two internal injuries fused, and she felt her strength continuously drain away.

"What is happening to me? Why must such fate befall me? No, after struggling for so many years in bitter toil, is this the final result I am granted?"

"Li Moqing, you realize it now, don't you? You are no match for me. If you persist in this fight, you know the consequences better than anyone. Achieving your current standing was no easy feat. Think carefully about what your next step should be!"

"Only by following me can you secure a brighter future! Yet you have always been arrogant, relying solely on your own strength throughout your life. You fail to realize that all your power is ultimately subservient to us. You've felt Xuan Bing's power by now, haven't you? What do you say to that?"

"Xuan Gang, for all your talking, your meaning boils down to one thing: deep down, you fear me, don't you? Yet you should know that I have survived countless battles like this over the years, forging an unyielding resolve. My uncle died because of you, and you seek to seize the Suyi Pavilion. But I tell you today: even if I am the last person left standing in the Suyi Pavilion, I will never let your scheme succeed!"

"I can choose to die in battle, but expecting me to surrender is utterly impossible. Because I am not like you! Your power is formidable indeed; your shockwaves have shattered my meridians. But do you know the true power of the Undying White Flame? I suspect no one else in this world knows except me—it possesses an extraordinary regenerative capability!"

"Once it acknowledges your power, no matter how severe your internal injuries are, as long as you do not die, it can heal you entirely! Did you truly know this? I discovered it only recently myself, but such details matter little now. Armed with this ability, I remain perpetually invincible!"

"Invincible? You speak of yourself? Yet you know such a thing is absolute nonsense!" Indeed, a shocking spectacle unfolded: the near-fatal woman regenerated entirely before their eyes, her cultivation surging even higher than before! What on earth was happening?

Regenerative power—did such an ability truly exist in this world? Previously thought to be mere legend, its manifestation proved terrifyingly potent!

"Splendid! A battle reaching this stage finally grows interesting. But do not forget how formidable I am. Let me show you that my supreme defense has likewise reached its ultimate limit. Have you truly shattered my array?"

"You must feel a strange energy flowing through your meridians right now, don't you? What is that energy? The power of the Four Symbols. Once it infiltrates an enemy's body, within half an incense stick of time, their physique will burst apart from within! Well? Terror begins to creep into your heart now, doesn't it?"

"Terror? You should know that such an emotion vanished from me long ago. As long as I keep Eldest Brother in my heart, I can face any tribulation head-on! You ignorant man know nothing of the power of love. Once a person holds love in their heart, they transform entirely. I once doubted love, but ever since I met Big Brother Zhuang Yunzhen, that belief changed completely! The one who dies today is you!"

An immensely fierce iron fist condensed in midair into the shape of a colossal beast, its continuous roars capable of twisting the very fabric of the firmament!

Were it not for the overpowering formation encasing the surroundings, the sky itself would have fractured completely. Even if it did shatter, it mattered little; to secure victory in this battle, Li Moqing was willing to pay any price!

Xuan Gang had always believed that possessing peerless physical defense meant he could conquer anything. Yet she realized her error—even with overwhelming strength, many things remained beyond one's grasp. If absolute power solved everything, why had her uncle chosen to leave her?

"All of this is because I was simply not strong enough. In the past, Uncle was terribly strict with me. At the time, I couldn't comprehend his motives, but now I understand—everything he did was to prepare for this very battle!"

"Hahaha, Eldest Brother, do you know my state of mind right now? I once thought I disliked combat, choosing evasion at every turn. But I finally understand: how long can I truly keep running? Guarding the Suyi Pavilion, guarding you—this is my inescapable duty. If fulfilling this responsibility demands that I fight, then gladly I shall!"

Far away in the Poison Sect, Zhuang Yunzhen distinctly perceived Li Moqing's inner voice. "Moqing, you are doing wonderfully. Do whatever your heart desires. Rest assured, whatever transpires, I will always be by your side. Though your big brother is no supreme titan, I am willing to forge myself into an unyielding shield to protect you. In truth, ever since I met you, I have grown stronger as well!"

"I never anticipated such a thing. The two of us must strive together, continuously fighting and elevating ourselves for the ideals we cherish in our hearts!"

At that moment, an overwhelming wave of energy erupted around Li Moqing. Though seemingly gentle, it carried an oppressive majesty that Xuan Gang found agonizing to bear!

Xuan Gang had experienced countless battles over the years and considered himself well-acquainted with powerhouses. Yet now, she realized that resonance existed between forces!

Why had she failed to master this power of resonance all these years? Had she grasped it, everything would have turned out vastly differently!

"Indeed, this is the power of resonance I value above all. I harbor two forces within me—my own, and Zhuang Yunzhen's. Facing me alone gives you no cause for fear, but how will you fare against the blended might of Zhuang Yunzhen?"

"You feel it now, don't you? The sheer magnitude of this oppression—were you truly oblivious to it? Mere pressure alone suffices to crush you to death. Reflect upon the consequences should you persist!"

"You will likely perish, an outcome I eagerly anticipate. By now, you fully grasp the depths of my hatred toward you!"

"Xuan Gang, you are the truly arrogant one. Severe internal injuries already plague your body, making this battle an excruciating ordeal for you. You are the one who ought to surrender!"

"Do you know why you harbor such grievous internal injuries? If I am not mistaken, before coming here, you clashed with your elder brother, Xuan Huo. The Undying White Flame allowed me to sense a trace of pure fire energy within you—an invasive flame that prevents your true cultivation from erupting. Absent that handicap, even I would struggle to defeat you!"

The woman proved terrifyingly perceptive. Indeed, Xuan Gang had crossed swords with Xuan Huo. An elder brother remained an elder brother; despite her best efforts, she still fell short of his flame power. In truth, she had initiated that clash herself, reasoning that since all Suyi Pavilion members utilized fire attacks, she needed to adapt to its tyranny. Had she succeeded? Clearly not. Fire power seemed ordinary, but mastering it proved immensely treacherous; the slightest misstep yielded catastrophic consequences!

The fire lingering within her body had been intentionally planted by her elder brother as a lifeline for critical moments. Yet she had disregarded his counsel, attempting to forcibly refine the power in the shortest time possible to gain supreme might.

The resulting backlash meant that had her foundation not been exceptionally solid, she would have long since been reduced to ashes rather than standing here in combat!

"Li Moqing, do you think knowing this grants you victory? True, severe internal injuries plague me. But what of it? During our earlier exchange, I already injected that inner flame into your body. From this moment onward, your techniques are entirely neutralized—more than that, I have assimilated them!"

"Didn't your Suyi Pavilion people constantly claim that a cultivator's greatest enemy is oneself? I never understood that sentiment before, but now I do. You spoke truly: achieving greatness requires transcending oneself. I surpassed myself years ago, a truth I shared with no one else!"

"You claim I shall die today. Perhaps. But you, young woman, will never live to witness it. Prepare yourself to experience the true meaning of terror!"

"Heart Fire Incineration!"

"The seventh realm of the Undying White Flame is the Heart Fire. What a pity—despite being the first in the Suyi Pavilion to master the flame fully, your proficiency pales hopelessly in comparison to your uncle!"

Li Moqing knew all too well the terrifying might of the Heart Fire. Yet Xuan Gang remained utterly ignorant of her true depths, unaware that she had mastered an even more formidable power years ago! "Aaaargh!" Li Moqing let out successive shrieks of agony!

"Hahaha, exactly! Believe it now? Before me, your techniques are utterly useless. Today, my sole purpose is to force your surrender. Only by witnessing you yield will all my years of toil be justified!"

"I never anticipated the Heart Fire possessed such terrifying might. Now you understand your ultimate fate when fighting me. Still refusing to yield?"

"True, I shall never surrender under any circumstance. Do you know the price I've paid over the years to protect everyone? I trained relentlessly every single day simply to conquer all foes. Yet you appear quite smug!"

"Very well, let me impart one final truth: the Heart Fire you unleashed has just been absorbed by me. You seem to have forgotten that I wield the Undying White Flame; any flame under the heavens can be absorbed into my being! Frankly, I expected far more from the Heart Fire you conjured. What a disappointment—you are simply no match for me!"

"You've exhausted all your tricks, haven't you? Yet you remain oblivious to my preparations. Observe your surroundings—did you notice no change at all?"

"Hahaha, what possible change could occur around me? Do you think mere words will frighten me? At this stage, regardless of your strength, you are no longer my match!"

The sky suddenly plunged back into pitch blackness, and ambient temperatures skyrocketed violently, threatening to incinerate everything in existence! What was happening?

Xuan Gang whirled around to check behind her, only for a cold sweat to drench her body. Unbeknownst to her, a colossal beast wreathed in golden flames had materialized at her back!

"How is this? My gift prepared specially for you—do you appreciate it? This is the true form of the Undying White Flame. Though I've cultivated it for years, this is my first time beholding this manifestation. Frankly, a thrill courses through me, for I have finally mastered the power to annihilate you completely!"

"Impossible! How could a woman like you achieve this? I never believed you possessed such strength. I see now that you concealed your prowess all this time. I pride myself on reading people accurately, yet I miscalculated here. Still, I look forward to the remainder of this fight. What about you? Aren't you looking forward to it?"

"Indeed, I look forward to defeating you shortly. Only then will all my efforts attain true value, and you shall finally be reduced to my defeated foe. You can scarcely imagine the joy that moment will bring!"