Chapter 1627: Pledge

“Hate? Was it that great of a grudge?” Gu Qing Shan tried asking.

『 Indeed 』Li An confirmed.

“But weren’t the Tianma originally living beings of the Samsara as well?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

『 Which realm were we the living beings of? 』Li An asked.

“The Wraith realm” Gu Qing Shan replied.

『 Are there any Wraiths left in the current Wraith realm? 』Li An asked again.

Gu Qing Shan was startled.

Li An continued: 『 I’m not too sure of the other secrets, but ever since I was young, the living beings of the other five realms had always wanted to eradicate us Tianma. I’ve seen with my own eyes how my own sisters were killed in the hands of those people 』

Gu Qing Shan paused briefly before asking again: “If that’s the case, let us not mention the Samsara. Consider this a personal favor, please help me awaken Demon Dragon’s senses”

Li An turned away, then finally gave her answer after a long while: 『 This is only because it’s you, as Li An the individual, I will personally give you a hand 』

A resounding screech abruptly echoed through the void of s.p.a.ce: 『 Definitely not! 』

With a flash of light, numerous Tianma showed themselves in troves.

A dignified woman descended from above.

Gu Qing Shan’s heart felt tense and quickly greeted her: “Greetings, Progenitor Fiendess”

The woman was Li An’s mother.

Li An’s face instantly became flushed and muttered: 『 Mother, why did you come? 』

The Progenitor Fiendess coldly snorted and replied: 『 If you had gone to meet anyone else, I wouldn’t feel worried, but this youngster Gu Qing Shan is an extremely sly schemer, I was afraid that you would help him count the money after he sold you out 』

She ignored Li An’s awkwardness and faced Gu Qing Shan directly, telling him in a cold tone: 『 No matter who they are, no Tianma is allowed to do anything that would benefit the Samsara. This is the iron-clad rule of our Tianma race, and it shall not be broken because of you alone 』

Gu Qing Shan couldn’t help but refute: “Auntie, this has nothing to do with the Samsara, I’m merely here to save all the living beings of the Boundless Void”

The Progenitor Fiendess raised her eyebrows with a hint of killing intent and wanted to say something but abruptly stopped herself.

『 I can’t discern your cultivation realm… could it be… 』she muttered.

She then stared straight at Gu Qing Shan, then at the rock that was sitting on the table.

——the rock that was carved full of Li An’s name.

The Progenitor Fiendess looked closely at the rock, then at her daughter, and finally turned back to Gu Qing Shan.

Gu Qing Shan was very puzzled about what was going on.

All of a sudden, the Progenitor Fiendess changed her tone and praised: 『 Excellent, your feelings towards Li An were indeed true, and even more praiseworthy was your fidelity—– to be able to reach such a high cultivation realm and still remain pure, I have never seen a man like you before 』

All the Tianma women turned their gazes towards Gu Qing Shan.

Even with his fortress-wall thick skin, Gu Qing Shan felt a bit awkward regarding this.

“Shannu, Luo Bing Li, what exactly did you tell Li An?” he silently asked.

In his Thought Sea, both of their figures had vanished.

They had turned back into their sword forms, lying motionlessly like they had nothing to do with it.

The Progenitor Fiendess then pulled back her killing intent and sighed: 『 Gu Qing Shan, perhaps you don’t know, but if the Samsara manages to survive this great calamity, it would have a chance to reconstruct itself. When that happens, the living beings of the Samsara would become increasingly more powerful, we Tianma would find it increasingly tougher to live, or perhaps be completely eradicated by them one day 』

Gu Qing Shan had no choice but to ignore his two swords for now and ask: “If that was the case, why does the Tianma not partic.i.p.ate in the Samsara Clash for Supremacy as well? Wouldn’t the Tianma also grow increasingly more powerful that way?”

The Progenitor Fiendess looked closely at him and answered in a solemn tone: 『 Do you think we haven’t thought of that? Even in our dreams, we think about obtaining a Chosen Saint candidacy, because that would be the only way for us to take our revenge on the other beings of the Samsara! 』

She then sighed and continued: 『 Unfortunately, even after such a long time, some sort of issue had persisted with the two Realm Protector Divine Artifacts of the Wraith realm, and the Wraith realm had continued to belong to the Grand Empress of the Pantheon 』

“The Grand Empress of the Pantheon…” Gu Qing Shan muttered.

Hearing him parrot this name, the Progenitor Fiendess showed clear anger and shouted: 『 Gu Qing Shan, open your eyes wide and take a look. This entire world is full of the Grand Empress’ subordinates, they had even stolen the Chosen Saint candidacy of the Wraith realm, we Tianma never had a chance 』

『 ——-within the Reality Gate, there is n.o.body who would be able to fight against the Grand Empress, and definitely not us Tianma! 』

Gu Qing Shan told her: “Someone will fight against and defeat Reneedol very soon. And the Wraith realm’s Chosen Saint candidacy would no longer belong to her subordinates”

『 That’s impossible. The Wraith realm had already been weakened too much, the only Chosen Saint candidacies remaining are now in the three Wraith Lords’ hands, this was common knowledge among the void 』the Progenitor Fiendess affirmed this.

“The three Wraith Lords? They died just now” Gu Qing Shan replied.

The Progenitor Fiendess was startled and formed a hand seal to carefully discern the truth, then slowly dispelled her hand seal and fell silent.

『 …It is true, who exactly was it that killed them? 』the Progenitor Fiendess asked.

“I did” Gu Qing Shan replied.

『 You did? 』

“Yes. To be exact, it was ‘me’ during this period of time who killed them. The ‘me’ that’s standing in front of you right now has actually traveled back here from the future” Gu Qing Shan explained.

The Tianma all appeared a bit confused.

But the Progenitor Fiendess understood his words and sighed, then dejectedly muttered: 『 It’s great that they died, and how regretful… 』

Li An walked up to her and gently clutched her hand.

The Progenitor Fiendess began talking to herself: 『 How regretful, I originally wanted to find a chance to take our revenge on them, then retake Chosen Saint candidacy for ourselves 』

She then sorrowfully chuckled: 『 Who would have thought, before the Samsara Clash for Supremacy has even begun, the Wraith realm had already lost. We truly have no other choice but to continue being ghosts without a home, we no longer have any chances left… 』

“No” Gu Qing Shan refuted.

He took out the Samsara Wicked Mask from his chest and displayed it for her to see.

“The Wraith realm still has one final Chosen Saint remaining, me”

The Progenitor Fiendess stared in disbelief at the Samsara Wicked Mask, then at Gu Qing Shan.

『 No… That’s impossible… the Wraith realm from back then… shouldn’t have enough power left to manifest another Chosen Saint candidacy 』she muttered in shock.

Gu Qing Shan silently took note of the time to discern the situation outside.

At this point in time, Boss was most likely trying to persuade Reneedol.

I need to seize my time!

Gu Qing Shan quickly said: “Aunty, you can examine it for yourself. If what I said was true, then please help me together with Li An, I hereby vow to not allow the Wraith realm to fall or let you face any other humiliation”

Li An was also impatient.

She took a few steps back and formed a hand seal, uttering: 『 Revelation of war! 』

Instantly, two different kinds of glows appeared on Gu Qing Shan’s body.

One b.l.o.o.d.y crimson glow.

And a ma.s.s of yellow fog.

Li An exclaimed: 『 He truly is a Chosen Saint of the Wraith realm! 』

The Progenitor Fiendess was barely able to maintain her calm and asked: 『 I can see the presence of Huang Quan on you as well—– why do you have the status of a Huang Quan Chosen Saint as well? 』

“I was originally the Huang Quan Devil King who ruled over the dead people of h.e.l.l” Gu Qing Shan replied.

All the Tianma women were speechless, staring at him with eyes wide open.

『 No one had ever gotten the Chosen Saint candidacy of two realms of the Samsara before, this would only cause them plenty of complications and trouble—– what exactly are you thinking? 』the Progenitor Fiendess was unable to understand him.

Gu Qing Shan explained: “Don’t worry, aunty, my main focus still lies with the Wraith realm. Being the Huang Quan Devil King is only a small side job”

The Progenitor Fiendess’ expression remained hesitant.

Li An was worried and cut in: 『 Gu Qing Shan, this really couldn’t be helped, we Tianma live by our ancestor’s teachings, we can’t—— 』

『 Wait! 』the Progenitor Fiendess shouted.

Her eyes were clearly glowing full of resolution as she stared straight at Gu Qing Shan and asked: 『 Do you have the courage to vow that if we help you during this battle, you and the Tianma race would forever face life and death together? 』

“Even without a vow, this Gu had never and will never betray a comrade” Gu Qing Shan replied.

『 No, you must make a vow! The Wraith realm can no longer endure any lies or deception—– our Tianma vow is even more severe compared to a vow of heaven and earth, will you clasp my hand for this vow? 』the Progenitor Fiendess questioned him.

“Please” Gu Qing Shan offered his hand without hesitation.

The Progenitor Fiendess raised their hands and into the air and recited: 『 Today, we of the Tianma race shall stand by the final remaining Chosen Saint of the Wraith realm, vowing to fight along his side, to mutually endure all hards.h.i.+ps, mutually face all victory, and even partic.i.p.ate in the Samsara Clash for Supremacy! 』

“You want me to lead you all in the Samsara war?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

『 Of course. By taking advantage of your qualifications, we will also be able to partic.i.p.ate 』the Progenitor Fiendess answered.

“Alright, but I also have one condition. No matter what you do in the future, you cannot stand against my s.h.i.+fu” Gu Qing Shan replied.

『 Your s.h.i.+fu? 』the Progenitor Fiendess doubtfully asked.

“My s.h.i.+fu is Xie Dao Ling of Bai Hua sect, without her, there would be no ‘me’ of today” Gu Qing Shan replied.

『 So you were a man of old relations as well—— so be it! 』

The two of them clasped their hands together.

The Progenitor Fiendess smiled, then shouted: 『 Li An, hurry and issue the grand degree to summon all the drifting wraiths here to aid us 』

『 Yes! 』

Li An took out a small seal.

One side of the seal depicted a beautiful heavenly girl, while the other side depicted a horrifying wraith.

Seeing Gu Qing Shan looking closely at the seal, the Progenitor Fiendess explained: 『 This seal was originally carved before the Samsara was broken, an heirloom of the Tianma race, do you know what it represents? 』

“I’m all ears” Gu Qing Shan replied.

『 The name ‘Wraith’ actually originated from others calling us that way. In reality, we were originally Heavenly Immortals 』the Progenitor Fiendess explained.

“I’ve seen other Wraiths in a fragment of Huang Quan as well…” Gu Qing Shan mused.

『 They were all our family members, they had suffered a lot 』the Progenitor Fiendess shook her head and didn’t continue.

Without being able to ask for any details, Gu Qing Shan took note of the time again.

Reneedol should have been deceived by Demon Dragon and surrendered to the Apocalypse already.

—-Boss had also just destroyed the 7-colored spear.

The two Deities of Fate should be dead already.

After this, the giant eyeball panicked and fled as it felt the Reality Gate being opened.

The Deathmatch Dance will begin soon!

As soon as Reneedol dies, the Apocalyptic Divine Weapon that had possessed Demon Dragon would open the Reality Gate.

—–if I want to do anything, I need to do it right at this final bit of time!

Gu Qing Shan quickly spoke: “It was the Wraith realm that sealed the Apocalyptic Divine Weapon in the past, have you ever heard of it?”

『 Naturally, it was the ancestors of us Tianma who sealed it away in the past, we remember it well 』the Progenitor Fiendess replied.

“The only thing we need to do now is to separate the Apocalyptic Divine Weapon with its wielder” Gu Qing Shan told her.

『 Naïve! By the time that the weapon and its wielder had fused together, no one would be able to split them apart 』the Progenitor Fiendess replied.

“Listen, the wielder of the Apocalyptic Divine Weapon hadn’t completely fused with it, he was being forced——– would we be able to do anything about it?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

The Progenitor Fiendess was surprised and asked: 『 You mean that the wielder of the Apocalyptic Divine Weapon was actually being forced to wield it? 』

Gu Qing Shan affirmed: “Yes, his consciousness was actually being controlled by that Apocalyptic Divine Weapon——- I know that the Tianma are ent.i.ties who best understand the soul, that’s why I had tried to ask Li An for help”

The Progenitor Fiendess thought briefly and told him: 『 If that’s the case, then we do have some hope, but us Tianma alone won’t be able to achieve what you want 』

『 Furthermore, I need to tell you something ahead of time—– what we’re about to attempt is exceptionally dangerous, you might even die 』

『 And also, even if the Apocalyptic Divine Weapon had been separated from its wielder, it would still leave enough power to protect its wielder and quickly return to them 』

『 Additionally, if the wielder of the weapon tried to summon it, the Apocalyptic Divine Weapon would immediately appear in their hand without any delay, regardless of how you try to isolate them 』

“That’s great!” Gu Qing Shan clenched his fist.

He appeared extremely delighted.

The Progenitor Fiendess looked at him and asked in surprise: 『 That’s great? Have you gone mad by the despair that you felt this situation to be great? 』

Gu Qing Shan shook his head: “No, I heard you very clearly, we have a tiny hope”

『 That’s right, it’s almost impossible to achieve 』the Progenitor Fiendess confirmed.

Gu Qing Shan silently smiled, then told her: “Before you arrived, I had nothing but despair; but now I have a tiny bit of hope, of course, I would be delighted because of it”

Intense fighting spirit radiated from his body.

Hope.

——–Even though it’s the tiniest bit of hope.

Even though it’s extremely risky with every chance for me to die in battle.

I don’t care.

As long as there truly is hope, then this battle is worth it!