Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 16

Volume 7 Chapter 16: Becoming a God (Part 2)

"What Taoist Friend Liu said is certainly reasonable, but there is one thing that Taoist Friend Liu got wrong."

Xu Qingfan shook his head.

Liu Ziqing was slightly surprised and said to Xu Qingfan, "Please advise me, Island Master."

Xu Qingfan smiled and said, "I understand everything that Taoist Friend Liu said, but has Taoist Friend Liu considered that the Zhong family was able to stand firm on the Shenzhou Continent because their ancestor was present, and everyone was afraid to act recklessly? As for us, our strength is nowhere near as powerful as the Zhong family was back then. If we show up, to prevent any surprises, both the Human Alliance and the Zhong family, or even the Shura Clan, would rush to attack us. At that time, we wouldn’t have even started to change the situation on the Shenzhou Continent before we disappear into the battles here. Furthermore, the Human Alliance is not at its last resort yet. Even if we could join now, we would not gain their trust. The righteous path and the dark path are ultimately very different."

Liu Ziqing smiled proudly and said, "About that, I have a plan…"

Xu Qingfan interrupted, shaking his hand, "I have a plan too, but that is not the key issue. The key issue is that even if we can safely return to the Shenzhou Continent and get the Human Alliance to put aside their prejudice and accept us, then what? Once I join the Human Alliance and act according to Taoist Friend Liu’s plan, I can confidently say that Zhang Xusheng and the original Righteous Alliance will end up fighting among themselves for control over humanity. This way, the Shura Clan won’t have the energy to deal with us, and the Zhong family will be too busy to bother us. The only benefit is that it will greatly limit the growth of Zhang Xusheng’s forces."

As he spoke, a sharp light flashed in Xu Qingfan’s eyes as he stared closely at Liu Ziqing and slowly said, "Or perhaps, you have thought of all this, and the reason you say this, trying to lure me into action, is just to make me help deal with Zhang Xusheng and distract him a bit so that you can find a way to deal with Zhang Xusheng again when chaos arises, correct?"

Liu Ziqing fell silent. He didn’t expect that after just thirty years, Xu Qingfan’s growth would be so rapid, and his hidden true intentions were so easily uncovered by Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan sighed, "What surprises me is that this approach doesn’t seem to fit your style, Taoist Friend Liu. According to your usual methods, you would help me gain some strength before pushing me to fight Zhang Xusheng. Yet now, you seem eager to pull me into your hatred with Zhang Xusheng. Is it because you think I have no potential to be your long-term strength against Zhang Xusheng, or do you believe Zhang Xusheng’s forces are developing too quickly and you must do everything to limit his growth?"

Liu Ziqing finally lifted his head, silently met Xu Qingfan’s gaze, and after a long while, suddenly smiled and said, "Both."

Upon hearing Liu Ziqing’s words, Xu Qingfan was not angry at all. Instead, he looked even more relaxed and said, "It’s good to clear this up, Taoist Friend Liu. You never really wanted to join Rainbow Spirit Island, did you?"

Liu Ziqing nodded and replied, "That’s right, but did you really invite me to join Rainbow Spirit Island?"

Xu Qingfan asked, "I said I did. Do you believe me?"

Liu Ziqing fell silent again.

Xu Qingfan looked at Liu Ziqing, his body becoming more and more hazy, as if he was ready to act at any moment. He smiled and said, "Taoist Friend Liu, you don’t need to be nervous. When I invited you, I thought of all your concerns, so I am not angry and won’t harm you."

"Oh? Then what do you really want?" A flicker of doubt passed through Liu Ziqing’s eyes, but he became calm and asked Xu Qingfan directly.

Xu Qingfan said slowly, "Let me guess, Taoist Friend Liu, you have always wanted to get revenge on Zhang Xusheng over the years. Unfortunately, you have focused too much on schemes and manipulation without building your own power. So in the future, if you want to deal with Zhang Xusheng, you must rely on a strong force. The Shura Clan and humans are at odds, that won’t work. The Human Alliance will never escape Zhang Xusheng’s watchful eyes, and my strength is also not something you consider valuable. So, the only force you can rely on is the Zhong family. Therefore, your ultimate goal is likely to use the power of the Zhong family to fight against Zhang Xusheng, right?"

Listening to Xu Qingfan’s slow explanation, Liu Ziqing remained very calm and simply asked, "Yes, and so what?"

"If that’s the case, how about I make a bet with you, Taoist Friend Liu?" Xu Qingfan asked with a smile.

"What bet?" Liu Ziqing asked back, unable to help himself.

"Ten years!" Xu Qingfan said, "Within ten years, if I can eliminate the Zhong family and raise my own power to the Soul Splitting Stage, then you, dear friend, will sincerely and wholeheartedly help me for thirty years. Of course, we will act like honest men. During these thirty years, you will need to let me keep your Soul Bead safe. After thirty years, you will be free to go. If I cannot accomplish this within ten years, then I will agree to three of your conditions, no matter if they are reasonable or not. How does that sound?"

Hearing what Xu Qingfan said, Liu Ziqing was taken aback. Although Xu Qingfan’s power was beginning to show its strength, eliminating the Zhong family, which had countless powerful zombies and a strong ancestor, seemed impossible. Moreover, although Xu Qingfan had reached the peak of his current level, the path of cultivation became harder as one progressed. Even if they appeared to be just a step apart, a genius would need hundreds of years to make that breakthrough.

No matter how one thought about it, Xu Qingfan’s bet seemed very safe for Liu Ziqing, but he still felt a bit hesitant.

First, since Xu Qingfan dared to say it, he probably had some confidence in his success. Second, and most importantly, if he lost this bet, it would cost him his Soul Bead. Unlike regular cultivators, he had completely abandoned his physical body to reshape it with Original Soul and Spirit Qi. Once someone got hold of his Soul Bead, they would control his life.

Seeing Liu Ziqing’s hesitation, Xu Qingfan smiled and said, "What’s wrong? Are you really so unsure of your own judgment, dear friend?"

After a moment of silence, Liu Ziqing suddenly looked up and smiled, saying, "You don’t need to urge me; I will take this bet."

Suddenly, Liu Ziqing realized that this bet posed no real risk to him. If he won, that would be great; if he lost, it would mean that the Zhong family was not as powerful as he thought. Leaving the Zhong family to join Rainbow Spirit Island to fight against Zhang Xusheng would be his only choice. Moreover, he believed that if Xu Qingfan could really destroy the Zhong family and reach the Soul Splitting Stage, then competing with Zhang Xusheng would just be a matter of time.

As for his Soul Bead being in Xu Qingfan’s hands, Liu Ziqing did not care; as long as they had the same goal, he believed Xu Qingfan would never harm him.

After Liu Ziqing agreed to the bet, both of them smiled at each other and gave a high-five as a promise.

Then, the two acted as if nothing had happened, chatting together about the current situation in the Shenzhou Continent, predictions for the future, and problems they encountered in their cultivation, as if Liu Ziqing had never plotted against Xu Qingfan and Xu Qingfan had never forced Liu Ziqing to make a vow.

The atmosphere was warm and friendly.

As they talked, they began discussing their experiences with Zhang Xusheng.

"Zhang Xusheng is truly an extraordinary hero. Since he first betrayed Jiuhua, he has not faced many obstacles. Thirty years ago, he was defeated by Immortal Zizhen and Mr. Liu, but later it became clear that everything was just Zhang Xusheng using the Righteous Alliance. In my view, this is Zhang Xusheng’s fatal flaw; while he acts cautiously and is very calculating, he is also too arrogant. Coupled with his self-destructive tendencies, he has provoked many powerful people. One should know that everyone has their limits, and one day he will fail and perish because his enemies are too strong."

Liu Ziqing spoke confidently.

Xu Qingfan listened with a smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Liu Ziqing’s words, but he felt a bit skeptical.

People often say that Liu Ziqing is the closest person to Zhang Xusheng in the world, but Xu Qingfan saw that Liu Ziqing repeatedly failed in front of Zhang Xusheng because of two fatal flaws in his character. His intelligence is high, and his strategies are good, but each of his plans always feels somewhat taken for granted, never considering how his opponent might respond or how to recover if he fails. His strength is certainly impressive, and he is one of the few top cultivators among humans, but while he does not misjudge himself, he often misjudges his opponents, even with Zhang Xusheng.

Maybe his early life was too smooth, which kept him wrapped in the halo of a genius and a wise man for too long. This made him always unwilling to admit his failures, and he wouldn’t even think about them. If this fault is not fixed, he will never be Zhang Xusheng’s rival.

However, Xu Qingfan did not say everything. He just frowned and asked, "Friend Liu, you should be the person who understands Zhang Xusheng best in this world. We now know that the kind side of his soul wants to destroy itself, but Zhang Xusheng is controlled by the evil side of his soul. From your view, what do you think is the ultimate goal of Zhang Xusheng’s seemingly chaotic actions, driven by the evil side of his soul?"

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Liu Ziqing’s expression became serious for the first time. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "If I’m not mistaken, Zhang Xusheng’s ultimate goal should be—to become a god!"