Chapter 1236: Life and Death

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Saint, what do we do?”

Zhao Chen panicked in the face of such an unstoppable enemy and rushed to He Xiaofeng. 

[Since you’re a Saint, you should handle it, right?]

[Besides, he’s dead while you’re alive.]

He Xiaofeng’s face twitched, his heart shaking as he found himself stuck unable to do anything. He was the Sacred Mountain’s young master, with lofty cultivation enough to toy with any other fools outside as none could do the same to him.

Here though, he couldn’t raise his head, for his fist was weaker.

Bam!

Another boom echoed as the Saint’s fist came for another blow. Lightning flashed, with the space cracking in places and warmth coming from one hole.

[That’s yang energy!]

He Xiaofeng shouted, “That’s the exit. Use it to leave!”

“Humph, you’re right about that, for no matter how hellish the Nether Sea is, a glimmer of hope will always exist.”

The dark man’s hand took out a cup with bamboo sticks, throwing it to the ground, “These are Life and Death Omens, with only ten of a thousand bearing life. Win and get lost. Lose and you’ll stay, forever.” 

The group looked grave.

With this peak Saint taking charge, there was no forcing one’s way out. The only choice was to follow his rules, test their luck on those sticks and hope to get that one slim chance at life.

None felt the odds any bit promising.

“I’ll go first!”

Zhuo Fan stepped out. Others found this situation a life-or-death case, while he tried to look beyond it and understand its purpose. 

[Since the Sovereigns set this up, I should be safe.]

Without a care, Zhuo Fan reached out for a stick. The others were tense and grateful.

Even Zhao Chen felt admiration for the man.

[Steward Zhuo is a cut above the rest. It’s a shame his cultivation is so low, for he excels in everything else. Not everyone can take the pressure of facing imminent death.] 

They were oblivious to the fact that the game was rigged and he knew it.

The stick he chose had the word life written in red.

“Good sign.”

Zhao Chen laughed, “With just one percent chance, he picked life. Steward Zhuo’s fortune is beyond life, ha-ha-ha…”

“What fortune, that is a total disaster.”

He Xiaofeng spat, “Picking life means our odds just dropped, imbecile!”

Zhao Chen choked.

No one else was eager to try their luck. In the end, Bali Yuyu finally went for it.

The thin stick had a black word on it, death.

Bali Yuyu sighed towards Zhuo Fan. The others tensing. 

[Life is fortune while death is normal. But will such a blessing fall on me as well?]

“What are the rest of you waiting?”

The peak Saint huffed, “I take it that you give up and choose to stay in the Nether Sea forever!”

He Xiaofeng glared hard at Zhao Chen, barking, “Go pick!”

Since the order wouldn’t change anything, Zhao Chen reached out with a shaky hand, picking up a life stick.

Zhao Chen was elated and laughed. He Xiaofeng’s face twitched. 

[Curses, I should’ve gone instead! Now the odds are lower.]

He Xiaofeng reached out with a trembling hand, sweat trickling down. But then he thought better and pointed at Chu Qingcheng, “Wait, what about her? How can she pick one when she’s tied up?”

“Her? She caused trouble and was tied up. She’ll have to let another pick for her. Her fate is either to live or to have her soul destroyed here and now, never even able to wander the Nether Sea.”

[What?!]

Everyone gasped. 

[What did she do to deserve such cruel punishment?]

Zhuo Fan understood everything and said nothing.

He Xiaofeng’s eyes shone and picked… death.

He Xiaofeng’s horrified face was pale as paper. The peak Saint cackled, “Rotten cretin, how many souls did you kill in the Nether Sea so far? You should’ve been tied up as well and die at my hand. Now that you chose death, you’re dead anyway.”

His palm flashed with unseen speed.

“Wait!” He Xiaofeng shouted.

The savage palm halted, “Any last words?”

“The stick wasn’t for me, but for her!” He Xiaofeng pointed at Chu Qingcheng.

Chu Qingcheng shook her head, “No, I didn’t ask him to pick for me. That stick is his!”

“Yeah, why would you get to pick for her?”

“B-because she’s my fiancée. I decide everything about her.”

“As if! I’m not your fiancée!” Chu Qingcheng denied as she turned to Zhuo Fan.

He Xiaofeng shouted with pride, “My Sacred Mountain supports your master and she obeys us. You were always meant for me. You have always been my child bride. Everything you have is because of me. You can just ask your master when you go back.”

“No, that just cannot be!”

Chu Qingcheng shook her head in anger, “You’re just afraid of dying and are spouting crap!”

“No, he is right.”

The peak Saint boomed, “You entered with your souls in the Nether Sea and manifested yin bodies. In other words, your souls’ energy is under the Nether Sea’s watchful eye. Any lie you say will be reflected on your yin bodies. As there is no reaction from him, this proves it is true.”

Chu Qingcheng shuddered, hanging her head in disbelief, “How could master…”

Zhuo Fan pondered.

[They know of the Sovereign path on her and they now want it.]

“Well, can I choose for her now?”

“Yes.”

Ignoring Chu Qingcheng’s crushed face, He Xiaofeng asked for clarification. Then grinned, having extended his life for a couple more minutes.

He now had another chance to actually survive this.

So he picked a stick again, far more carefully.

Pa!

He Xiaofeng chose from the middle and held out the stick with the red word as he cackled, “It’s life! I picked life. I can return, ha-ha-ha…”

“You three can return while the women will stay.”

The peak Saint spoke, “You also have the option to give your stick to another, if you so choose to.” 

“Tch, who’d ever pick death over life? That added part is pointless.” Zhao Chen sneered.

As he looked around, he saw He Xiaofeng’s savage grin.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Nothing, just wish you’d give life to Qingcheng.” He Xiaofeng’s spoke evilly, “As my fiancée, I have to save her.”

[Screw you! Now you care? What about just now when you used her?]

Zhao Chen’s face twitched, cursing inside. Then he turned to Zhuo Fan, “Saint, why are you going after me when he also has one?”

“Yeah!”

He Xiaofeng’s eyes shone with savagery, setting his sinister smirk on Zhuo Fan.

The peak Saint stepped in, “Once chosen, only the two doing the exchange may decide. In other words, the one who chooses life must want to, but the one who chooses death must want just as well for the deal to work.”

“Tch, it’s obvious for a life chooser, but what’s up with a death chooser refusing?”

Zhao Chen sneered, “How do you know they wouldn’t want to?”

The man mocked, “Vulgar fools like you can never understand life and death. Have you forgotten that the Nether Sea is watching your souls? Your true intentions will be laid bare regardless of lies.”

[That’s why the Nether Sea insists for souls to enter. It’s like baring yourself and exposing every aspect of you.] 

He Xiaofeng sighed and spat, “Zhuo Fan, weren’t you always fond of Qingcheng? You should sacrifice yourself for her.”

“No, I changed my mind.”

Zhuo Fan chuckled, turning to Bali Yuyu, “I want to give my life to Yuyu.”