The Kind and Benevolent One

That blatant disregard ignited a flicker of rage in the Golden-Winged Roc, whose life was already hanging by a thread. Its nearly dissipated spirit somehow found the strength to rally.

Slowly, Gu Qingfeng walked to the Ethereal Spirit Spring, bent down, and scooped the entire spring source into his palm-sized world.

"No!!"

The Golden-Winged Roc’s eyes nearly burst from fury. The Ethereal Spirit Spring—its most treasured possession, guarded for thousands of years—had just been snatched away.

"Huh? You’re still alive? As expected of a primordial ferocious beast, tougher than your average demon. Well then, allow me to send you off properly."

With that, Gu Qingfeng kicked the Golden-Winged Roc’s head clean off.

Golden-Winged Roc—deceased!

After dealing with the Roc, Gu Qingfeng stored its corpse and took out Sword Maniac’s Qiankun Ring, rummaging through it for the Emperor’s Scripture.

He figured someone of Sword Maniac’s status as a peerless genius would likely possess one.

Now that he had the Ethereal Spirit Spring, all he needed was the Emperor’s Scripture to condense a flawless Divine Core. He couldn’t wait any longer—his cultivation had stagnated at the Soul Realm for far too long, severely dragging down his overall strength.

But after searching for a while, Gu Qingfeng’s expression darkened.

Nothing. Still fucking nothing!

Damn that Sword Sect, hiding the Emperor’s Scripture so well!

Screw it, I’ll just ask Sword Maniac directly!

Gu Qingfeng immediately activated Earth-Treading Golden Light and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Hanging Heaven Secret Realm, he feared no one. He could do whatever he wanted. Once outside, these people would have their sect elders backing them—now was the time to act!

Thanks to the speed of Earth-Treading Golden Light, it didn’t take long for Gu Qingfeng to locate Sword Maniac, who was recuperating beneath a waterfall.

Whoosh!

A flash of golden light, and Gu Qingfeng appeared right beside him.

Sword Maniac jolted in shock, hastily rising to his feet. He never expected someone to approach him undetected.

Such terrifying speed!

When he sensed it was Gu Qingfeng, his face instantly tensed with wariness. "I’ve already given you everything. What else do you want?"

"Hand over the Emperor’s Scripture," Gu Qingfeng demanded without preamble.

Sword Maniac froze for a moment.

Just as Gu Qingfeng grew impatient and was about to threaten him—

"Fine."

This time, it was Gu Qingfeng’s turn to be stunned. The hell? That easy?

I haven’t even started torturing him yet. This Sword Sect’s so-called peerless genius is way too compliant.

"You’re giving in this quickly. Are you planning to trick me with a fake Emperor’s Scripture?"

Sword Maniac shook his head. "The Emperor’s Scripture embodies the laws—it’s a perfect entity. It’s impossible to forge. Tampering with the Emperor’s Words within it would disrupt its harmony, like ink stains on pristine paper. The flaws would be glaring."

Gu Qingfeng was half-convinced, but he wasn’t worried about being deceived. With his talent and insight, he’d see through any forgery.

"Then why agree so readily? Got a grudge against the Sword Sect?"

His mind immediately conjured up a dramatic scenario—a persecuted genius, biding his time for revenge.

Sword Maniac shook his head again. "The sect has treated me well. I’m only agreeing because I don’t want to die.

I can tell you’re the type who’ll stop at nothing to get what you want. If I refuse, you won’t let me go. Am I wrong?"

"Don’t slander me! I’m a man of peace. Everyone who knows me says so. Watch your words, or I’ll sue you for defamation. More importantly, where’s your pride as a peerless genius? Scared of death?"

"Pride doesn’t fill my stomach. And it’s not that I’m afraid to die—I just don’t want to. Not yet."

"What’s the difference?"

"‘Hearing the Dao in the morning, dying at dusk is acceptable.’ I want to witness the Supreme Sword Dao with my own eyes. Until then, I can’t die."

"And you think the Sword Sect will just let you hand over the Emperor’s Scripture like this?" Gu Qingfeng eyed him skeptically.

Sword Maniac stared back—despite the black silk blindfold, his gaze felt piercing.

"You don’t actually think the Sword Sect has kept its Emperor’s Scripture from leaking over tens of thousands of years just by relying on disciples keeping their mouths shut, do you?

No secret in this world stays hidden forever. Sooner or later, everything gets out. The Emperor’s Scripture is no exception.

The Sword Sect is powerful, but it can’t control hearts. There will always be disciples with ulterior motives.

Yet, even after all these millennia, no Emperor’s Scripture has ever circulated openly—not just the Sword Sect’s, but none from any Imperial Court or immortal sect. Do you know why?"

"Tch! Are you asking for a beating? I’m the one questioning you here. Spout any more nonsense, and I’ll make sure you never lay eyes on that Supreme Sword Dao!" Gu Qingfeng threatened.

Sword Maniac was taken aback. So this is the so-called ‘man of peace’?

A wry smile tugged at his lips as he hurriedly explained, "The reason the Emperor’s Scripture has never spread isn’t secrecy—it’s strength."

"Strength?"

Gu Qingfeng instantly grasped his meaning.

"Exactly. The Imperial Courts and immortal sects are so powerful that anyone who dares learn their Emperor’s Scripture is erased. They don’t fear leaks because they’ll hunt down and kill anyone who studies it. That’s the real reason it’s never surfaced.

So even if I give you the Sword Sect’s Emperor’s Scripture, the sect won’t punish me. They’ll just send someone to kill you. And when an Imperial Court wants someone dead, no distance is too far."

"Well, well..." Gu Qingfeng mused. "Now that’s what I call dominance. Cutting the problem off at the root."

"But here’s a question—what if I learn the Emperor’s Scripture, then kill you? No one would know I’ve studied it, right?"

Unfazed, Sword Maniac replied calmly, "It won’t work. The Emperor’s Scripture isn’t something you can hide once learned. The Sword Sect will sense it."

"What if someone from another Imperial Court learns it? Would that start a war between two Imperial factions?"

"The Emperor’s Scripture is the scripture of the Heavenly Emperor—a sovereign’s edict, bearing supreme laws. Heavenly Emperors are beings who suppress the myriad Daos of heaven and earth with their own. No one can master two Emperor’s Scriptures. Attempting it means death.

Every Imperial Court believes their Heavenly Emperor is the strongest and their scripture the most profound. They’d never study another’s.

Besides, not just anyone can learn the Emperor’s Scripture. Unless you’re a peerless genius like me, it’d be like reading the stars—utterly incomprehensible."

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