Chapter 1226: Good and Evil Ultimately Meet

"Who are you?"

Sun and Wang had arrived with Xiaoqing and Xiaohong, and for a moment, Xu Ke, in a daze, thought they were his descendants. However, he quickly realized that a small world like the Empire, with its scarcity of spiritual energy, could not possibly produce cultivators of their caliber. Xu Ke's profound gaze immediately fell upon the two men.

Sun Erlang, neither humble nor arrogant, cupped his hands and said, "By my master's command, I have come to request an audience with you, Senior."

"Oh?" Xu Ke was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected anyone in this world to still remember him.

After Xiaoqing and Xiaohong telepathically recounted the Empire's recent plight, Xu Ke's expression grew increasingly solemn. "Someone who knows me and possesses such power? Who could it be?" Blurred figures flashed through his mind, but he dismissed each one.

Imperceptibly, Xu Ke glanced at the decaying wooden coffin behind him. He had originally intended to decline their invitation. But... his gaze lingered on Xiaoqing and Xiaohong. Then, he sighed softly. They clearly knew his location yet still brought Qing and Hong with them. The implied threat was self-evident. Although he had avoided them for a thousand years, it was out of necessity. How could Xu Ke be a heartless man, capable of watching them suffer?

Considering this, Xu Ke shook his head slightly. "I can go with you, but I have a few conditions." Sun Erlang quickly replied, "Please state your terms, Senior."

"First," Xu Ke said slowly, "one of you must take my place and sit on this mountain peak. Before I return, no matter what happens, you must not leave early. To prevent any unforeseen issues, I will set up a restriction."

"This..." Hearing the strange request, Sun Erlang hesitated. "No problem. I'll sit here in your place, Senior," Wang Xuanba readily agreed, patting his chest. Sun Erlang knew that after cultivating the techniques passed down by their master, his brother could manifest thousands of avatars, just like exotic beasts. Even if this body were completely destroyed, it wouldn't have a significant impact. So, he didn't stop him.

Xu Ke nodded and continued, "Secondly, after I leave this small world with you, no one is permitted to approach within a ten-zhang radius of me. Otherwise, I will show no mercy." Xu Ke glanced at Xiaoqing and Xiaohong, emphasizing his words. Clearly, "no one" included both Qing and Hong. Sun Erlang's heart tightened upon hearing this, but he still nodded in agreement.

"And finally..." Xu Ke said to Xiaoqing and Xiaohong, "If there's anything wrong with me, kill me. Don't hesitate for a second." As he spoke, a small wooden sword, no larger than a palm, appeared in his hand at some point. Xu Ke extended his hand, and the wooden sword flew spontaneously to Xiaoqing. Xiaoqing was completely stunned. But seeing Xu Ke's aged yet resolute face, so much like when he had insisted on leaving the Empire years ago, tears welled in her eyes. Xiaoqing said nothing more, merely whispering her assent. "Alright." Xiaoqing gripped the wooden sword tightly, while carefully listening to Xu Ke's telepathic instructions on how to use it.

After everything was settled, Xu Ke looked at Sun and Wang. Seeing Xu Ke's solemn demeanor, Sun Erlang and Wang Xuanba dared not be negligent. "Do you have any other instructions, Senior?"

"Wait a moment, and stand back a bit," Xu Ke instructed. The two men and two beasts didn't understand why. They exchanged glances, then obediently flew away from the abrupt stone mountain where Xu Ke stood.

Xu Ke placed his right hand on the mountain peak and pressed down gently. The stone mountain, the heavens and earth, and even the entire world, trembled slightly in that instant. It was as if sharp, malevolent curses rang out, yet it could have been an illusion. After the tremors subsided, the small world seemed subtly different, though Sun Erlang and the others couldn't pinpoint the exact change.

Xu Ke slowly rose, looked at Wang Xuanba, and stomped his right foot. Wang Xuanba signaled Sun Erlang not to worry, then flew to Xu Ke's side.

"Sit down," Xu Ke said. As Xu Ke moved his foot, a deeply sunken area appeared on the mountain peak. Wang Xuanba sat down with a thud.

"It might hurt a little, but you won't die," Xu Ke said slowly as he floated into the air. The moment he flew beyond the range of the towering stone mountain, Wang Xuanba let out a shriek. It was as if something heavy had suddenly pressed down on him, and caught off guard, his spine was immediately flattened against the ground. The sound of bones being crushed and ground echoed continuously.

"Xuanba?!" Sun Erlang exclaimed. "I... I'm fine!" A hand emerged from his body, which had been almost flattened into a meat patty. It weakly waved at Sun Erlang. "It just... really hurts."

Xu Ke pointed gently at Wang Xuanba. "Let's go. I told you he wouldn't die." Seeing this, Sun Erlang took a deep breath. Without hesitation, he, Xiaoqing, and Xiaohong led the way. Xu Ke followed closely behind.

Like Qing and Hong, Sun Erlang covertly observed Xu Ke from behind. While Xu Ke had been seated, the seemingly decaying coffin behind him hadn't been very noticeable. But Sun Erlang couldn't tell if it was his imagination, for ever since they left the small world, the coffin seemed to be becoming increasingly intact. Its form was also slowly growing larger. It was as if... something could emerge from it at any moment. Recalling Xu Ke's three strange requests from earlier, a subtle unease began to stir in Sun Erlang's heart.

Furthermore, inexplicable low whispers drifted into his ears. Just as Sun Erlang was about to give in and listen, a chilling sensation suddenly surged within his mind, activating on its own. The buzzing in his ears instantly vanished, replaced by Xu Ke's whispered warning. "Don't pay attention to those strange voices." Sun Erlang immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He prided himself on not being weak-willed, having even experienced another real life within the simulated world of the Taiyan Sect's Dao-Transforming Stone. Yet, his centuries of experience proved so vulnerable before those sinister sounds. He had almost succumbed instantly. "If it weren't for Master's personal transmission of the Immortal Heart Incantation, I would surely have been in trouble." "This Xu Ke..." Sun Erlang dared not look at Xu Ke or the coffin behind him again, instead focusing and quickening his pace.

Before long, the group traversed a long void passage and arrived outside the Great Qi Small World.

"Huh?" This time, it was Xu Ke who uttered a sound of surprise and uncertainty. Sun Erlang looked back and saw that, for some unknown reason, the coffin behind Xu Ke had once again become decayed and smaller. It was almost no different from how it had appeared in the world where Xu Ke originally resided.

Having received advance notice, all citizens of Great Qi in Holy Capital City had returned to their homes. The vast city was deserted, with only a straight, ethereal path leading directly to the Holy Emperor's Throne, cleared specifically for Xu Ke. "Master is already waiting for you, Senior," Sun Erlang said respectfully. There was no longer any need for guidance.

Ever since arriving here, Xu Ke had felt the omnipresent, powerful aura that enveloped the entire small world, like a great sun in the sky. It far surpassed the conventional understanding of the Dao Integration realm. It even had a certain suppressive effect on the Profound Yellow Malevolence sealed within the coffin behind him. What made Xu Ke even more incredulous was that he subtly detected a hint of familiarity within this aura. But... "How is that possible?" Xu Ke's heart held three parts doubt, three parts trepidation, and a hidden trace of excitement.

Finally, he entered the Holy Emperor's Throne. Upon clearly seeing the figure seated above, Xu Ke breathed a sigh of relief. A hint of disappointment also flickered within him. "I was overthinking it. How could it be Mr. Bai, who is already dead?" Forcing down the distracting thoughts in his mind, Xu Ke intently observed the legendary Faceless Holy Emperor of Great Qi—or rather, the Heavenly Mandate Holy Emperor.

At the same time, Li Ping was also observing Xu Ke, and the coffin behind him. Naturally, Li Ping saw more than Sun Erlang did. He didn't see decaying wood, but a faintly visible, transparent, pale figure. The figure possessed the most beautiful countenance in the world, yet it was coupled with an expression full of malevolence and wickedness. Li Ping sensed that the urging of the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao had descended once more, and it was becoming increasingly intense. Simultaneously, the pale Profound Yellow Malevolence seemed to sense something as well. It abruptly lifted its head, staring intently at Li Ping. Correspondingly, the coffin behind Xu Ke began to shake violently and uncontrollably. Loud thumping sounds continuously echoed within the tall Holy Palace.

"You..." Xu Ke suddenly became alert. His figure rapidly retreated, and an illusory spinning wheel appeared above his head. The golden wheel spun rapidly, and images and roars of countless fierce beasts emerged from it, attempting to suppress the shaking coffin. However, the Profound Yellow Malevolence struggled with unprecedented intensity. Only when Holy Emperor Li Ping, with a thought, caused the myriad spirits of heaven and earth and the refined souls of all beings in the Great Qi Small World to subtly activate, obscuring the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao, did the Profound Yellow Malevolence, having lost its connection to its other half, gradually quiet down. At this moment, Xu Ke, having tried for a while and realizing he couldn't fly out no matter what, also gave up his futile efforts. He stared coldly at Li Ping. "Who exactly are you?" By now, Xu Ke couldn't possibly be unaware that this Holy Emperor had come specifically for the sealed Profound Yellow Malevolence.

"Who am I..." Li Ping paused slightly. "That's actually not important. What's important is, it's time for things to return to their rightful owner." Xu Ke's expression changed dramatically. "Return to their rightful owner?"

"Back then, Mr. Bai betrayed the trust of the Heavenly Dao and sealed a part of its power. Now, I will set things right and return the Dao to Heaven." Li Ping's voice was not loud, yet it continuously echoed within the Holy Emperor's Throne. To Xu Ke's ears, it was like a peal of thunder. "What did you say?!"

Having lived for so long, and having witnessed many bizarre events in the past, Xu Ke had never been so shocked. "It's better to guide than to block. Sealing is merely a temporary measure; the longer it's suppressed, the more severe the backlash will be when it breaks free. Didn't Mr. Bai teach you this principle?" "How much longer can you hold on?" Li Ping gave Xu Ke no time to react, continuously unsettling his mind. Cold sweat dripped from Xu Ke's forehead.

"You are..." he asked, somewhat incredulously. "The Grand Heavenly Venerate of Profound Yellow?" The moment that title was uttered, the air in the Holy Emperor's Throne seemed to thicken imperceptibly. After a brief silence, Li Ping simply chuckled softly. "No." This answer was clearly beyond Xu Ke's expectation, and he immediately fell into confusion.

"After Mr. Bai's betrayal, do you think the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao would ever trust cultivators again?" Li Ping's tone was enigmatic. "I am not the Profound Yellow Heavenly Venerate." "I am the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao." As Li Ping spoke, he abruptly rose from the Holy Emperor's Throne. In an instant, his figure seemed to expand infinitely, filling Xu Ke's vision like a colossal giant reaching the heavens. And the already exceedingly powerful aura emanating from Li Ping once again erupted and surged.

The concealment of the Myriad Spirits Grand Formation vanished, and Li Ping borrowed the power of the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao. For its sealed other half, the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao was uncharacteristically generous this time. A faint crack subtly appeared in the sky above the Great Qi Small World. It was a sign that the entire world was being stretched to its limit. If not for the fact that Great Qi, under Li Ping's governance over the years, had been greatly upgraded and its upper limit far surpassed that of ordinary small worlds, it would likely have directly exploded from this strain. Although it seemed that the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao was helpless before the Dharma-Imparting Heavenly Venerate and the Immortal Ruin True Immortal, in reality, with the current physique of the Profound Yellow Realm, which had merged with numerous fragmented cultivation worlds, the power of the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao was not significantly weaker than when it was originally complete. Strength and weakness are relative.

At this moment, in Xu Ke's eyes, he seemed to once again see that graceful figure from the past, whose every move carried the rhythmic will of heaven and earth. Loved by all creation, fully embodying its essence. But the difference was that Mr. Bai was gentle and refined. While the figure before him now... was domineering and majestic. Inspiring both awe and conviction.

In a daze, Xu Ke recalled Mr. Bai's parting words. "On the matter of leaving, my opinion differs from this consciousness." "I don't believe I'm wrong, nor do I believe this is betrayal." "I'm simply searching for a better way to save the world." "Xu Ke, if you can, please keep an eye on it for me." "I believe that one day, it will understand."

At the time, Xu Ke didn't understand Mr. Bai's words. Over these thousands of years, the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao consciousness, separated by Mr. Bai, not only failed to understand but instead developed in an increasingly extreme direction. The thoughts and curses it conveyed became more and more malevolent. It even affected any being that approached it. The small world where Xu Ke resided, used to seal the Profound Yellow Heavenly Dao consciousness, slowly lost its vitality and completely turned into a desolate Gobi Desert. And his body also aged more rapidly than normal. Until today, Xu Ke had thought he would eventually meet the fate of being consumed by the malevolence. He never expected... "Is this what Mr. Bai meant by 'understanding'?" "It's just the other, original body's understanding." Xu Ke couldn't help but think this.

"Give it back to me," Li Ping spoke again, just as Xu Ke's thoughts were racing. This startled Xu Ke from his contemplation. He instinctively took a step back, the golden spinning wheel still suppressing the decaying wooden coffin.