Chapter 36: Setting the Pace
“Haha, haha…”
Zhou Bujue began to laugh strangely, his voice chilling.
Ye Changsheng was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Zhou Bujue to be so lacking in resilience. When he was training with Mo Baizhi back then, he was constantly berated for being weak and useless, but he never became so withdrawn.
“You win… I lost…”
Zhou Bujue gave up all resistance, his fighting spirit extinguished. He was like a broken man.
“Eldest Senior Brother?”
Yu Xin’er’s lips trembled. It was the first time she had seen Zhou Bujue so dejected, a stark contrast to his spirited demeanor in the past.
“Go surrender yourself to the King of Hell.”
Ye Changsheng gathered his True Qi, approaching Zhou Bujue.
Zhou Bujue hung his head, his hair bun coming undone, looking utterly disheveled. He had no intention of resisting.
“Wait, Eldest Senior Brother, don’t do anything rash!”
Yu Xin’er scrambled to her feet, grabbed her weapon, and charged at Ye Changsheng.
Of course, this was all part of Ye Changsheng’s plan. He had already de-activated the Sword Suppressing Art.
“Obstructive.”
Ye Changsheng flicked his sleeve, sending Yu Xin’er flying back to Zhou Bujue’s side. Her weapon clattered onto the ground.
Seeing Yu Xin’er’s tear-streaked face, Zhou Bujue suddenly seemed to realize something. A glint of light flashed in his clouded eyes.
“Wait, hold on! Demonic Path, no… Your Excellency, Demon Lord!”
Zhou Bujue used a respectful address towards Ye Changsheng, falling to his knees. He begged like a coward, prostrating himself before him.
This action shocked everyone present. A man’s knees are made of gold. For Zhou Bujue, the Chief Disciple of the White Emperor Sword Sect, to kneel before someone of the Demonic Path was absurd and laughable. If word of this got out, Zhou Bujue would be condemned by all!
“Eldest Senior Brother, please wake up! These are devils and heretics! You can’t do this!” Yu Xin’er anxiously tried to pull Zhou Bujue up.
“Shut up! Yu Xin’er, I am perfectly clear-headed. Don’t speak in front of the Demon Lord!” Zhou Bujue pushed her away in annoyance.
He seemed possessed, his gaze sweeping across the astonished faces of all the White Emperor Sword Sect disciples, silencing them all.
This fawning display didn’t please Ye Changsheng; instead, it deeply disappointed him. What true genius, what chief disciple of a righteous sect, was nothing more than a coward when faced with death, no different from a weak and pathetic Cult? If he had maintained his unyielding stance, Ye Changsheng might have gained some respect for him.
“What do you want?” Ye Changsheng asked coldly.
“This humble one has but one request for Your Excellency, the Demon Lord.”
“What is it?”
“Spare my life.” The former prodigy’s head struck the ground as Zhou Bujue voiced his sole desire.
“To survive, you would even cast aside your dignity?”
“Yes.”
“Pathetic.”
“You may treat me as a clown, I don’t mind, as long as you listen to my request.”
“Your desire to cling to life is quite genuine. Then I shall hear what this request is.” Ye Changsheng did not immediately refuse.
Zhou Bujue then uttered words that shocked everyone present for a second time.
“Please spare the lives of all my junior brothers and sisters. In exchange for your mercy, I am willing to accept any fate at the hands of Your Excellency, the Demon Lord – be it torture, death, or having my soul refined into a wraith. I will cooperate fully.”
“…This is your request?” Ye Changsheng was taken aback.
Zhou Bujue’s eyes flashed with determination. “The people from the Soul Refining Sect are the ones I killed. If you seek revenge, come after me alone. Please do not harm my junior brothers and sisters.”
“Eldest Senior Brother, it’s not worth it to do this for us!!” Yu Xin’er couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Yes,” Zhou Bujue said without looking up, unyielding. “I am the Eldest Senior Brother of the White Emperor Sword Sect. Protecting my juniors is my duty. Before I die, I must fulfill this obligation.”
“Eldest Senior Brother…” Tears welled up in the eyes of the other White Emperor Sword Sect disciples.
However, Ye Changsheng wasn’t entirely convinced. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:
“Your junior brother, Zhao Hu, wasn’t it? Let me tell you a shocking truth about what he did earlier.”
“I, I…!” Zhao Hu trembled, unable to hide the panic on his face.
“The reason I could so easily break your Sword Formation was because someone deliberately created a flaw. The person who wanted to humiliate you – that was Zhao Hu of the formation’s wing.”
“Zhao Hu, how could you do such a thing!!” Yu Xin’er bit her lip, glaring at him resentfully. “Did you do this out of jealousy towards Eldest Senior Brother?!”
Zhao Hu’s despicable act exposed, he was unable to retort, his hands falling limply to the ground.
“It’s because of traitors like you that we’re all going to die now!!” Yu Xin’er pointed at Zhao Hu mercilessly.
Ye Changsheng expected Zhou Bujue to be shocked or waver, but he remained motionless. His kneeling form was like a bronze statue.
“Demon Lord, the moment you broke our formation, I knew it was Zhao Hu’s doing,” Zhou Bujue said, his resolve unwavering.
“So Eldest Senior Brother… knew all along?” Zhao Hu stammered.
Ye Changsheng asked, “Knowing this, you still wish to sacrifice your life to save this despicable wretch who plotted against you?”
“Yes, Demon Lord. Zhao Hu is also my junior brother, and I must be responsible for him. My failure to gain his approval is also my fault,” Zhou Bujue’s voice was filled with resolve. “As the Senior Brother, I will bear all the responsibility.”
Zhou Bujue was truly prepared to sacrifice himself. “This is not a lie to gain your favor. If you don’t believe me, let me prove it to you!”
With a fierce determination, Zhou Bujue roared, suddenly raising his hand. The Heavenly Extreme Star Washing Sword flew into the air.
The Immortal Grade Spirit Sword let out a mournful cry as its blade began to distort. As the owner of the Spirit Sword, Zhou Bujue snapped his Natal Magical Treasure in front of everyone.
This coveted weapon of a True Immortal broke into two pieces, its Spiritual Energy extinguished, turning into useless scrap metal.
Having lost his Natal Magical Treasure, Zhou Bujue vomited a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
The disciples of the White Emperor Sword Sect sobbed uncontrollably, their nails digging into their palms in shame and unwillingness. Even Zhao Hu was overcome with regret and sorrow.
This man is truly ruthless, Ye Changsheng mused inwardly. From the beginning, he hadn’t intended to kill them, only to find a way to dismiss them. But it was Zhou Bujue who ended up setting the pace himself. Ye Changsheng’s opinion of him changed; he saw Zhou Bujue as a true man, capable of both yielding and standing firm, qualities not possessed by those who merely pretended.
“Demon Lord, Demon Lord! I have something to report!”
Zhao Hu crawled and then knelt before Ye Changsheng.
“What is it?”
“I beg you to spare Eldest Senior Brother! If you spare him! We will offer all our Spiritual Stones, Magical Treasures, Spiritual Artifacts, and Pills!! We have plenty!”
“Oh?”
Seeing Zhao Hu provide a step for him to descend from, Ye Changsheng played along.
“Your fellow disciples seem to have seized many Spiritual Stones, totaling a hundred thousand. There are even large quantities of Pills,” Zhao Hu said excitedly. “And during our trial in the wilderness, we obtained Star Profound Meteorite Iron! If you nod your head, all of this will be yours!”
Ye Changsheng primarily wanted the Spiritual Stones and Pills; he didn’t care much for anything else. But to maintain appearances, he feigned contemplation and deliberation.
No one dared to speak, adopting a subservient posture towards Ye Changsheng, fearing that the Demon Lord might suddenly change his mind and annihilate them all. Under the silent pressure, the disciples of the White Emperor Sword Sect were gradually nearing the brink of a mental breakdown.
Seeing that the atmosphere was ripe, Ye Changsheng nodded, reluctantly agreeing.
“Fine. Leave everything behind, and I’ll spare your lives.”
