âWell, all I can say is that the situation is quite unfavorable. But donât forget, youâre not alone even when I leave. You still have White Crane.â
âWhite Crane Legion.â The person said: âYou have brought this up back then. Ah, when you created this legion, you also destroyed the list.â
âIâm the only one who knows the members in the thirteen continents.â Li Qiye smiled and pointed at his head.
âHowever, youâll find out too.â Li Qiye paused and said: âNot only you but White Crane will also move forward. Of course, youâll naturally become its leader.â
âBut you wonât give me the list.â The person smiled, understanding the Dark Crow after cooperating for so long.
âRight, itâs not that I donât trust you, but we donât know who else could be potentially eavesdropping. Youâll find out all the members eventually.â Li Qiye chuckled.
âThen Iâll look forward to it.â The person didnât mind at all. Their trust was unquestionable; the guy naturally had his reasons.
âTheyâll appear when the time is right, just remember to not carelessly trust anyone.â Li Qiye said.
âI will.â The person nodded.
This legion has always been mysterious. Not to mention the nine worlds, even few in the thirteen knew about it. In fact, despite their long-running partnership, Li Qiye had never revealed any member of the legion to him.
âWhen to start an expedition?â The person eventually asked.
âEventually.â Li Qiye said: âThe final battle will determine everything. A few things are unpredictable too, like the Ancient Ming back then. Iâm sure no one hopes for another race like that to come!â
The person became serious as well after hearing this name: âItâll be really bad to experience another Ancient Ming.â
âNot just bad, a catastrophe!â Li Qiye said: âSo thatâs why the expedition will come, just not right now. I donât want any mistake along the way.â
âBut thatâs not within your grasp. Even if you donât start one, others might. For example, that great Buddha.â The person said.
âHe will do one sooner or later, maybe even before me.â Li Qiye nodded: âBut, he wonât be able to do it despite his confidence.â
âDonât forget, he had prepared for this battle for a long time now, even longer than you!â The person revealed.
âI know.â Li Qiye smiled: âBut longer isnât always better. Plus, he doesnât belong to our epoch so heâs at a great disadvantage from the very start. Otherwise, with his effort and accumulation, he would amount to even more. The final battle required our own epoch as the main banner riser, or it would be the reflection of the flower in the morning dew or the moon in the night water.â
The person contemplated for a bit and said: âIf you were to win, what will you replace it with, yourself?â
âYouâre overthinking it.â Li Qiye laughed and shook his head: âYou think I would do something so tasteless? Plus, the world wonât change when my dirty hands take over, not much at all.â
âThen what?â The person remained tense when asking this question.
âThe judgment of the heaven and earth, the only thing that is impossible to fool in this world.â Li Qiye declared.
The personâs eyes became serious and eventually replied: âHmm, I donât think it can be carried out!â
âWho says so?â Li Qiye answered solemnly: âYou should know that it is very real, not just in theory. The thing exists but we simply canât touch it.â
Few understood this concept for what it is, limited to using the common adage to stand for justice, more so in the mortal world. However, cultivators were gods to mortals. They didnât need to believe in a higher power. Nevertheless, this mysterious person understood the existence of this ethereal arbitrator. The exact details remained elusive because no one could truly grasp it.
âI have toiled for generations, not for survival like those dark overlords and epoch lords that want to protect their world. All I wish for is to fight to the end!â A terrible light flashed in Li Qiyeâs eyes.
âOne day, people might think you will become the devil as you keep on going down this path.â The person said.
âAnd some might also think that I will become the high heaven, such as those hiding in order to live longer, but they donât know that has never been my wish.â Li Qiye smiled.
The person sighed again. The Dark Crowâs thinking was always unexpected because his vision was much more insightful than others.
âBeing hated as a devil or being worshiped as the high heaven? Either oneâs fine. I will only be doing what I want to do, thatâs all.â Li Qiye concluded.
The person looked at Li Qiye and said: âAs you have said earlier, the future wonât be easy but I wonât let the current situation fall completely. I donât care what you will do or become, devil, high heaven, judgment, whatever. Just guarantee me that a second Ancient Ming wonât appear. You are aware of the grave consequences of that happening!â
âI canât.â Li Qiye replied: âThe only thing I can guarantee you is that if a second race of that nature appears, I will be the first to cut them down, no matter where I am, alive or otherwise! Is that enough?â
The person couldnât say anything after hearing this. This guarantee from Li Qiye was stronger than everything else.
They kept on talking about secretive plans regarding the fate of the thirteen continents! Each individual plan was incredible and would certainly astound emperors.
Eventually, the conservation was heading to an end. The person said: âI wish you luck. Maybe you will meet immortals or become one yourself. At that point, no one will be able to catch up to you.â The person sighed.
âRegardless of the future, the Dark Crow will still be the Dark Crow. The existence of immortals might not be a good thing. My becoming an immortal will not be good news either. If you catch wind of this news, Iâm telling you, run as far as possible, dig yourself a hole and hide, donât ever show up again.â Li Qiye said slowly.
It sounded like a joke but carried a realistic stench of blood.
âAlright, Iâll be the first to run then when that happens.â The person joked back.
The two of them disappeared without leaving any trace of this meeting. No seer could ever detect or calculate it.
***
The thirteen continents were quiet after the battle at celestial like a serene pond. Many imperial lineages have closed their doors and connecting portals. People even felt as if the emperors themselves didnât dare to breathe loudly right now. Everyone was playing it safe.
All of this was interrupted by auspicious energy coming out of nowhere, something similar to when reishi mushroom came out. [1]
In just one night, majestic power of grand dao and chaos energy slowly emerged. The world seemed to be heading towards the original chaos once more.
All of these powers were connecting together and headed for the same direction. Though it wasnât that fast, the sheer amount coming from all thirteen continents gathered like endless rivers with loud detonations. These rivers flowed above the sky and everyone could see and hear them.
1. A sign of good luck