Transcending the Nine Heavens

To others, it seemed that Diwu Qingrou was worried about the attack on Shi Qishu and Xiao Zhuyan. However, nobody knew that his mind was preoccupied with a completely opposite issue.

The doubts in Diwu Qingrou’s heart were growing. They claimed to help him, but they disregarded his decisions and refused to carry them out. At such a time when they needed experts, they brutally killed one of their own, an eighth-rank supreme expert. What did this represent?

Diwu Qingrou’s eyes were gentle, and he sat without moving. No one knew what he was thinking, and from his expression, there was no sign of loss or anger.

As usual, he appeared calm as water.

Night had fallen, and Diwu Qingrou still sat quietly.

It seemed like he was waiting for something. He believed that the four of them would surely come!

A mist appeared in the air, and two figures emerged before Diwu Qingrou. Both were dressed in tattered clothes, covered in dirt, and their eyes were bloodshot, filled with extreme grief and anger.

However, Diwu Qingrou seemed not to notice. He simply said calmly, “You’re back?”

The leading white-clothed masked man took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, “Yes, we’re back. There’s been an unexpected change. Shi Qishu is dead.”

Diwu Qingrou responded indifferently, “Dead, huh…”

He didn’t say anything more, as if it were a very ordinary matter.

The white-clothed masked man waited for a long time, expecting Diwu Qingrou to ask for the reason, but Diwu Qingrou simply did not.

“Why don’t you ask me the reason?” The masked man’s eyes were sharp as knives. “We agreed not to kill anyone beforehand, but now someone has been killed. Aren’t you curious? Aren’t you angry?”

Diwu Qingrou replied nonchalantly, “It’s just the death of one person. In this world, people die every day. If we say they shouldn’t die, everyone has a reason not to die in someone else’s eyes… But what use are those reasons? Dead is dead.”

Diwu Qingrou mocked, “Even a ninth-rank supreme expert, once dead, is nothing but a piece of rotting flesh! Is that so strange?”

The two white-clothed masked men gasped for breath, staring intently at Diwu Qingrou with clenched fists. Hoarsely, they said, “Not only is Shi Qishu dead… Out of the four brothers who went out, only the two of us returned!”

He clenched his fists tightly, his voice sounding as tragic as if he were spewing blood, “My third and fourth brothers are dead too!”

Diwu Qingrou raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Oh, so it seems.” His voice and expression remained calm.

The white-clothed masked man panted heavily. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Diwu Qingrou’s collar, shaking him violently as he growled in a low voice, “My brothers are dead! Two of them! They died while working for you. Can you at least show some emotion? Don’t you have anything to say?”

Diwu Qingrou remained silent, his eyes cold as he looked at the hand gripping his collar. Slowly, he raised his head to meet the eyes of the white-clothed masked man, his gaze calm, deep, and indifferent.

Still, he said nothing.

However, under Diwu Qingrou’s gaze, the white-clothed masked man couldn’t help but feel a wave of palpitations and released his grip involuntarily.

As if nothing had happened, Diwu Qingrou adjusted his clothes and slowly sat down. “There are many people who die in this world. They were important to you, but what does it have to do with me?”

Both white-clothed men frowned and stared at him angrily.

Diwu Qingrou smiled faintly, “Is it because your brothers died… that their corpses look better than others? You’re causing a commotion here, and so are the Shi family members.”

He sneered, then suddenly began to beat a rhythm with his hand and recited a poem, “Life is full of strife; once you enter, how can you leave? A mountain of corpses and a road of heroes’ blood; young men die in battle, but what stirs the anger of commoners? Those who once laughed in the wind are now in the bellies of beasts and birds!”

“Gentlemen, you’ve been fighting for thousands of years, with countless heroes’ bones beneath your feet. If both friend and foe share the same anger, how many lives do you have to exact revenge?”

“You’ve killed people for thousands of years; why shouldn’t you die? What’s there to be sad or upset about?”

Diwu Qingrou scoffed, “Failing to complete the mission and making mistakes is a capital offense! If you were under my command, you’d have been beheaded long ago. And now, you two dare to seek justice from me?”

The two men gasped for breath, staring intently at Diwu Qingrou.

Diwu Qingrou casually said, “You are all experts, but I can’t afford your help. Please leave, and farewell.”

Diwu Qingrou’s thoughts of cutting off cooperation didn’t stem from anger. Indeed, he had some thoughts of severing ties.

Because in such cooperation, Diwu Qingrou saw no hope for the Fifth Family: You have offended everyone for me! Even if I could revive the Fifth Family and win over most of the people here, the evidence is still in your hands.

If any of you were to be exposed, the entire Fifth Family would be doomed!

In this case, wouldn’t I, Diwu Qingrou, become your puppet?

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If these people had followed his instructions, only injuring and not killing, Diwu Qingrou might have continued. In that case, he would have made the situation more dependent on him, uniting everyone against the common enemy, creating immense pressure, and taking control of everyone.

But Shi Qishu was dead.

The plan was completely ruined!

Now, only the thought of revenge remained, and Diwu Qingrou could no longer exploit this violent emotion. Especially with Xiao Zhuyan, who had narrowly escaped death, taking charge; moreover, Shi Qishu and Lan Mofeng were different – the Lan family was gone, and Lan Mofeng was a lone minister with nowhere to turn. However, behind the Shi family’s forces, there was still a huge clan supporting them. They wouldn’t be driven into a corner!

Of course, Diwu Qingrou had other plans: if they only wanted to use him, then they would probably give up after today. With all that had happened in the past few days, he hadn’t been deeply involved, and even if it were exposed, he could still deny everything and walk away. But if they truly wanted to help the Diwu clan, then… after today, the real mastermind should reveal themselves.

The two men in white were stunned. If they were to return now, they would undoubtedly be skinned and deboned by the Law Enforcer. Although they were both grief-stricken and furious, they were powerless against Diwu Qingrou. After humbling themselves for a long time, Diwu Qingrou remained silent, his expression cold and indifferent. Left with no other choice, the two men eventually left.

Watching them disappear, Diwu Qingrou sighed softly and shook his head.

…

It was already deep into the night, but the heavy snow continued to fall outside. Since Diwu Qingrou’s arrival, the snow seemed to have never stopped. In fact, in this northwestern region, there were barely two months in a year without snow.

When it finally reached this hour, Diwu Qingrou exhaled, unsure whether it was relief or regret, and prepared to sit down and practice his cultivation. Just then, a sudden voice said, “You were too reckless in driving them away!” Diwu Qingrou, unfazed, replied calmly, “So you’ve finally decided to show yourself?”

The voice asked, “You were looking for me?”

Diwu Qingrou was silent for a moment, then said, “Give me a reason! Otherwise, I will never cooperate! I, Diwu Qingrou, would rather bide my time and scheme in secret than become a puppet!”

The person paused for a moment before saying, “You are a direct descendant of the Diwu clan. Do you recognize this object?” As he spoke, a jade token appeared with a snap on the table in front of Diwu Qingrou. A drop of blood flew through the air and landed on the token, which then lit up under the lamplight, emitting a crystal-clear glow. In the halo, a line of text slowly appeared.

First among mortals, the boundless heavens.

Second among mortals, the vast earth.

Third among mortals, wind, clouds, water, and fire.

Fourth among mortals, gods and demons reign supreme.

...

I am the fifth, the mortal world’s fifth!

Diwu Qingrou trembled, and for the first time, his eyes changed color. This was the Diwu clan’s ancestral life token! It had always been the clan’s supreme treasure, only accessible to the direct descendants of the Diwu family with their divine soul and bloodline. Ever since the family’s destruction, its whereabouts had been unknown.

Now, it appeared here.

The fact that this drop of blood could activate the life token’s illusion meant that it definitely belonged to a direct descendant of the Diwu clan! This life token ranked the heavens, earth, gods, and demons, and the natural elements as the world’s top four, with the Diwu clan listed as the fifth. It essentially claimed: though our surname is Diwu, we are, in fact, the world’s number one!

Diwu Qingrou stood up, straightened his clothes, and respectfully bowed three times to the life token. He then asked, “May I ask, who are you, senior?”

The voice sounded somewhat melancholic, “I am the Fifth! Now, will you still refuse my help?”

…

Meanwhile, Chu Yang and the others traveled hurriedly through the night and arrived at the place where Lang Yilang had perished. After a brief rest, Chu Yang paid his respects to the heavens, and couldn’t help but think of Wei Wuyan, his gaze becoming somber for a long time.

Mo Tianji said, “Chu Yang, let’s split up here.”

“Split up?” Chu Yang was taken aback.

“Yes, we’ll divide into three groups.”

...

“The first group consists of me, Ao Xieyun, and Rui Butong, heading to the Li family!” Mo Tianji calmly said, “You, along with Dong Wushang, Qingwu, and Leier, will assist me from the outside.”

“The third group, Gu Duxing leading Ji Mo, Luo Kedi, and Xie Danqiong; they will act independently and seize opportunities. Duxing, remember, you are not allowed to take action unless it’s during the great battle between the two families! Strike and withdraw immediately!”

“Each battle will follow the same pattern!”

“Splitting into two groups doesn’t seem to be a problem for us, but the three of you entering the Li family… Isn’t that too risky?” Chu Yang asked.

Mo Tianji smiled faintly, “There won’t be the slightest risk… The Li family is currently too weak, and if they lack a strategist, they might be consumed in a short time once Diwu Qingrou truly launches his offensive… That’s why I must go! This great battle is also our fight for time!”

“This time, we must borrow their strength,” Mo Tianji said indifferently, “What you need to be aware of are the movements of the Lan, Xiao, and Shi families. I will constantly create opportunities for you.”

Chu Yang nodded and said, “Alright!”

Each person was given an incomplete version of the Nine Layered Pill to carry with them for emergencies.

Mo Tianji smiled elegantly, “Once I leave, do not contact me unless the Li family is truly desperate! I am confident that I can turn at least half of the thousands of supreme experts in this area into bones!”