Chapter 14: The Judgment of Life and Death

As Master Xiao performed the technique, Hou Niao felt an inexplicable force enveloping him and then lifting him towards the sky!

He had never imagined that one day he would fly; such a method, reserved for immortals, was now manifesting in him, which was indeed quite incredible—except for one thing, he seemed unable to fully control his own body?

As he rose higher, he began to shift his gaze from the white clouds downward and was shocked to discover that his body was still at the original spot! Not just his, but everyone's!

So he instantly understood; it must be that his divine soul had left his body, or perhaps his spirit root had?

Even though he was quite bold, he was somewhat worried that if he floated away like this, would his consciousness be able to return to his body? If it couldn't, could that be one of the intended purposes, to eradicate them, the cultivators who kill indiscriminately?

His limited knowledge couldn't help him make a precise judgment, and although risk often accompanies wealth, it was only when real danger arrived that he realized he had no power to resist it.

There was no time to feel this passive flight, for he soon plunged into darkness, surrounded by pitch black, with only about a dozen human-shaped figures glowing and floating together; they were the ten or so sacrificial offerings, not knowing where they were.

For each person, this was a first-time experience, and no one knew how best to deal with it; they could only rely on their instincts.

One of the figures drifted toward him, a look of panic on its face, "Little friend Hou, you wouldn't mind if I stay close to you, right? This solitude frightens an old man like me…"

It was Old Man Baoshi, the only person Hou Niao knew among these criminals. He said nothing, just quietly watched as the old man moved closer to him, floating side by side.

He wasn't worried about anything; he believed that any filth would be exposed under such mighty power; perhaps, the old man was genuinely afraid? His realm was indeed very low, and Master Baoshi's Essence Building Realm was not much higher, while qualities like will and courage were innate.

Before he could think further, he suddenly felt beams of light descending on them, nineteen beams encasing each person; having no spare energy to worry about others, he could only focus all his attention on his own beam of light!

It was like hearing an echoing voice from the depths, "Heaven bestows the spirit root, are you allowed to commit evil intermittently?"

Hou Niao stood upright, his eyes wide with anger, not knowing how to resist, without any weapons or magical treasures at hand, and no familiar spells or magic artifacts, except for his fists!

With a fierce swing and a roar, he shouted, "I don't care who you are, blind-hearted and mindless, what gives you the right to administer punitive actions in the name of Heaven!"

He had no expectations that his punch could repel the beam of light; the divine power of an immortal could not possibly be comparable to that of a mere mortal cultivator.

But he had to throw that punch; it was his right! He had the right to vent his anger, and no one, not even the ruler of this world, could prevent it!

Yet to his surprise, the majestic beam of light actually recoiled before his punch, which certainly wasn't due to physical strength, but could it be that indomitable will?

He had killed many, never an innocent, and this was the courage that empowered his punch!

What he didn't know was that, among the nineteen people, only two, including himself, had the courage to resist; the others lacked even the ability to make a gesture of resistance, a matter unrelated to their realms but tied to their actions and behaviors in life!

This all transpired in an extraordinarily brief moment, arriving and disappearing mysteriously; the beam vanished, and he could see the others again, falling downward just like him.

There was no anticipated judgment or enumeration of charges; to the immortals, cultivators of their level weren't worth a second glance, dismissed with a mere wave of the hand.

Is this the end? What exactly happened to him? Could he return to his own body? Was his spirit root stripped away? What about the others?

At least for now, everyone seems fine, just as they were when they arrived. Hasn't anyone disappeared into thin air?

While he lingered in his melancholy, the Elder Holding Stones suddenly grabbed his hand. "That Bright Light was truly vicious—it almost refined me away! How do you feel, Hou Niao, my young friend?"

Without waiting for a response, he moved closer—his figure that was initially wispy was about to overlap!

Hou Niao hesitated not a moment and reached forward, grasping a flickering Ghost Fire within the Elder's body. He did not understand profound truths, but in that moment, in that scene, he knew this was the Elder's lifeline!

Despite the Elder's status in the Essence Building Realm, towering high above him as a sanctified man, Hou Niao had somehow easily seized his lifeline, leaving his life hanging by a thread!

"Hou Niao, young friend, why do this? What have I ever done to offend you, that you should harm me so?"

Hou Niao looked at him coldly, "Is it that your Spirit Root has been eradicated? Is that why you've become so weak?"

The Elder Holding Stones dared not struggle. In such a mysterious environment, the soul and root were his two pillars of existence. Now, devoid of the root but with his soul still intact, he was at the mercy of the young man, his life or death hanging on the latter's thoughts.

"Young friend Hou Niao, this is a misunderstanding. If you are unwilling to help me, can I not just keep my distance?"

Hou Niao remained unmoved. "If I'm not mistaken, just now you were attempting to seize my soul and take over, weren't you? It was a good opportunity, with mighty forces withdrawn, the outcome sealed, not yet turned back, the perfect time when no one would notice you, right?"

The Elder Holding Stones felt the hand gripping his soul tighten even more. Knowing his actions were uncovered, and that stubborn resistance might yield no fruits, he decided it was better to lower his stance—perhaps that could spare his life.

"Young friend, it was but my momentary confusion, my greed clouding my judgment! Normally, knowing you to be upright and straightforward, I thought there was a great chance to preserve my Spirit Root by taking such desperate measures.

Many things I told you previously were lies. The reason I approached those criminals was to find one who might luckily maintain their Spirit Root. They are all experienced old hands, and only you were unaware of the deep secrets of cultivation…"

"Young friend, I was wrong! Look, I am an old man in his twilight years, with not many left to live. Please forgive me!"

Hou Niao scoffed, "A person who keeps making mistakes is never wrong, because you are just that kind of person!

The people who forgive you are the ones who are sick! If everything is forgiven, then what was the point of all the trials I endured?"

His grip tightened, "Remember, under the law, Fufeng Criminal Investigation does not trade, does not forgive, does not compromise!"

The Elder Holding Stones' Soul Fire was crushed and twisted, his form issuing a reluctant wail of agony. And as the Soul Fire disappeared, his figure also vanished without a trace, becoming the first among nineteen sacrifices; it was just unknown to whom he was sacrificed.

Indeed,

Both fortune and misfortune are preordained, why then lament?

Just do good deeds, pay no heed to the outcome.

Ice melts away with winter's end, grass grows anew with spring's arrival.

Observe this principle, dear friend, for the law of Heaven is immensely clear.