Heaven and Hell

Heaven and Hell . . .

"Is he Qin Wentian?" The Star River Association expert fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian's silhouette. "In the past, he merely relied on the strength of others. What's there to fear now that he's here?"

A trembling sensation coursed through the expert from the former transcendent power of Grand Xia. The Star River Association may not fear Qin Wentian, but those in Grand Xia vividly remembered just how fearsome he could be.

However, Qin Wentian paid them no mind. His timely arrival had brought him to the presence of Fairy Qingmei and the others. While the Medicine Sovereign and Mo Qingcheng were absent, the sight of his friends lightened the burden in his heart.

"Sis Luo Huan." Qin Wentian smiled, his gaze warm as he looked at her. Then, he turned his attention to the others and called out, "Senior Qingmei, Ouyang, Fatty, Yun Mengyi, Bailu Yi... I've returned."

"It's good that you came back," Luo Huan said, her eyes welling with tears. Qin Wentian approached her and asked, "Senior sister, it must have been hard for you. How is our teacher?"

"I was with Senior Qingmei. Teacher and the Emperor Star Academy don't have many individuals that would interest the Star River Association. There shouldn't be any harm that's befallen them. However, I've lost contact with him as well," Luo Huan replied, shaking her head.

"Mhm," Qin Wentian nodded, his heart swelling with joy at the reunion of friends.

"Boss, why are you back?" Fan Le couldn't hide his bewilderment; it all seemed too magical.

"I had always planned to return sooner or later. I learned about your danger when I encountered the Battle Sword Sect in the immortal realms," Qin Wentian explained. "But let's talk later. There are matters here that need to be settled."

"Mhm," everyone agreed. Qin Wentian then turned his gaze to the leader of the Thousand-Jue Alliance. His eyes brimmed with icy intensity, carrying a faint trace of killing intent.

"I didn't catch that. Could you repeat what you said?" Qin Wentian's voice was frosty. The members of the Thousand-Jue Alliance wore uncomfortable expressions. The alliance leader locked eyes with Qin Wentian and replied, "Qin Wentian, we were coerced into this. In this era, the Star River Association reigns supreme. No one dares to defy them, and death is the only alternative. Now that you're back, my Thousand-Jue Alliance is willing to abstain from this conflict between the two sides."

"Abstain?" Qin Wentian chuckled, his anger ruffling his hair in the wind. "The Thousand-Jue Alliance readily submits to a stronger power. In my absence, you've become traitors, plotting to annihilate the royal clan of Grand Xia. But now that you see me here, you're willing to abstain?"

"Utterly thick-skinned and shameless," declared the sect leader from the Mystic Moon Hall, her face frigid. "You claim you were coerced? If you feared the Star River Association, you could have simply left our alliance. No one would have stopped you. You could have lived, albeit as a coward. But today, you betrayed us, revealing our location to the Star River Association and causing the death of our comrades who scouted for information. You even intended to offer our lives to gain favor, absolving past debts and elevating your own status. So, tell me, were you truly coerced into this?"

The Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader wore an extremely troubled expression as he continued, "Qin Wentian, the Star River Association has completely dominated this world. When the numerous immortal senses guarding the Medicine Sovereign Valley emerged, the Star River Association obliterated them, issuing a stern warning against meddling in their affairs. How can I possibly defy such overwhelming power? Even with your return, can you contend with them?"

"And then?" Qin Wentian responded coldly.

"Truthfully, there's hardly anything you can do to change the state of this world," the Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader reasoned. "If you have immortals aiding you, persuade them to transport you out of this world. Don't involve yourself in the conflict any further, and don't provoke the Star River Association, or they might chase you to your demise. Everything is predetermined, and you are powerless to alter the course of events."

"Immortals?" Qin Wentian fixed his gaze on the alliance leader as an awe-inspiring aura emanated from him. A radiant immortality enveloped the surroundings, casting an ethereal glow. This aura completely engulfed the area, causing the Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader to abruptly cease speaking. His face turned ashen, and the expressions of the Star River Association's experts soured. Immortal. This young man was, indeed, an immortal!

"I. Am. An. Immortal," Qin Wentian declared, his eyes piercing into the alliance leader. He continued, "All of this is just the beginning. What's with your nonsense about 'everything is predetermined'?"

"Even if you are an immortal, you can't possibly contend with the Star River Association," the Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader retorted, his complexion pallid. He seemed to be trying to reassure himself that he hadn't made a terrible choice.

"Are you trying to comfort yourself?" Qin Wentian scrutinized him. "I don't need you to justify anything. I merely wanted to inform you that the entire Thousand-Jue Alliance will be buried because of your actions."

"I made this decision on my own. Why must you involve everyone here? Can't you consider our past relationship and spare the Thousand-Jue Alliance?" The alliance leader's body quivered.

"Consider our past relationship? When you chose to betray us, did you consider that?" Qin Wentian retorted. "All these people willingly followed your lead, and evidently, they've made their choices too. If I hadn't appeared today, there's no doubt they would have wielded the butcher's blade against my friends and comrades. So, can you truly claim their innocence?"

Qin Wentian's sword aura surged, saturating the air with his intent to kill. The alliance leader trembled uncontrollably, and the members of the Thousand-Jue Alliance wore ashen expressions.

"Submitting to the strong, my choices were justified. Even if the Thousand-Jue Alliance meets its doom today, it's simply a result of my ill fortune. Crossing paths with you, who've only recently entered the immortal-foundation realm, means we stand no chance. But you should realize, despite your recent breakthrough, you're still no match for the Star River Association," the Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader declared, gazing at the sky with a defiant spirit, unwilling to yield. Luck had simply not been on his side.

"You're correct," a voice responded from the heavens. The Star River Association's experts wore expressions of delight, seemingly emerging from a hopeless situation.

"I can guarantee that the Thousand-Jue Alliance won't be obliterated. As for these remnants of rebellion, they'll all meet their end today," the voice continued. In no time, a figure emanating immortal radiance materialized in the sky. He stood there, peerless in the world, a second-level immortal-foundation expert. His presence exuded an imposing aura, devoid of anger yet radiating dominance. As he gazed down, it was as though he were regarding ants with disdain.

"Qin Wentian, I didn't expect you to appear here so swiftly. Well, that saves me the trouble. I'll capture you directly and present you to my superiors. I needn't continue pursuing your wife or the Medicine Sovereign any longer," the immortal-foundation expert declared, shifting his attention to Qin Wentian. The elusive Medicine Sovereign had managed to elude detection by the inhabitants of this particle world and even resisted an immortal's personal pursuit. His whereabouts remained a mystery.

"If you dare harm anyone from the Thousand-Jue Alliance, I will ensure your friends and comrades suffer a fate far worse than death," the airborne immortal expert taunted, folding his arms arrogantly. The countenances of Fairy Qingmei and the others darkened. They hadn't anticipated the Star River Association would dispatch an immortal-foundation expert. This time, they were truly in dire straits.

"HEAVEN IS ON MY SIDE!" the alliance leader burst into uproarious laughter as he fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian. "I've always maintained that submitting to a greater power is the wisest course of action. Qin Wentian, today you won't escape your impending calamity."

The earlier representatives from the Star River Association and the Thousand-Jue Alliance all breathed sighs of relief. They had been drenched in cold sweat, but now, smiles adorned their faces. Everything had reached its conclusion, an emotional rollercoaster ride. When Qin Wentian began emanating immortal light, they believed they were teetering on the brink of despair. Little did they know, an unexpected twist awaited—the Star River Association had dispatched an immortal-foundation expert.

"Your optimism knows no bounds," Qin Wentian retorted, his gaze icy as he regarded the Thousand-Jue Alliance. With a nonchalant wave of his hand, a beam of immortal light lashed out, and the air rang with the sound of something being severed. Blood painted the skies amidst the anguished cries of the Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader.

"Have you lost your sanity?" the alliance leader roared, his fury palpable. "Do you wish for Fairy Qingmei and the others to suffer a fate worse than death?"

"Are you deliberately provoking me?" the second-level immortal-foundation expert in the air interjected, releasing his formidable immortal power.

"Do you think he can save you?" Qin Wentian pointed at the airborne immortal while fixing a piercing stare on the Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader. "Pay close attention."

As his words echoed, Qin Wentian ascended into the heavens, confronting the second-level immortal head-on. His immaculate saint-grade immortal foundation unleashed an unparalleled force. The moment he ascended, the immortal radiance emanating from the second-level immortal expert was inexplicably suppressed. He felt his immortal foundation quiver violently, as if an overwhelming pressure were bearing down upon it. It was clear that this was a suppression effect when a lower-grade immortal foundation encountered a higher-grade one.

"How is this possible?" The second-level immortal's expression underwent a drastic change as his aura surged uncontrollably.

"BOOM!" A thunderous explosion resounded throughout the sky. The second-level immortal from the Star River Association trembled as his immortal foundation quaked. It seemed as if his immortal foundation was on the verge of shattering. When Qin Wentian's immortal foundation unleashed its power, an ethereal image of his foundation materialized, flickering in and out of existence. This phenomenon had never been witnessed before, and it exerted such a profound suppression on the second-level immortal that he struggled to even draw breath.

For a lower-level immortal to oppress a higher-level one... At this moment, the Star River Association's second-level immortal turned ashen.

"Chi..." A ferocious, ancient halberd descended, carrying with it the destructive energy of universal laws. In that instant, it felt as if this ancient halberd was the sole existence in the entire world. The second-level immortal from the Star River Association dared not attempt to defend himself. Instead, he chose to retreat.

"BOOM!" The ancient halberd expanded at a staggering pace, hurtling from Qin Wentian's grasp. Destructive beams of light materialized, piercing through his adversary. The second-level immortal's immortal foundation crumbled in an instant. His body quivered, disbelief filling his eyes as he extended a trembling finger, muttering, "How... how is this possible?!"

As his voice faded, his body erupted into a violent explosion, his soul disintegrating. Such a merciless demise transpired in the blink of an eye.

"Thump... thump..." The heartbeats of those below raced. The Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader's visage resembled that of a ghost. As for the other Star River Association experts, their expressions turned as lifeless as ashes. In a single breath, Qin Wentian shattered their hope, plunging them back into despair.

In the span of a breath, they plummeted from heaven back into the depths of hell.

Qin Wentian's form flickered, reappearing before the Thousand-Jue Alliance Leader. "The heavens are assisting you?"

There was no trace of color left on the alliance leader's face. He now wondered if he had made an irrevocable mistake.

"No need for your pretentious and shameless justifications," Qin Wentian declared. "Had betrayal not occurred today, the Thousand-Jue Alliance might have been a dominant force ruling this world. But now... only death and devastation lie in your future." His voice echoed like thunder, reverberating through the heavens and earth, shaking the minds of the Thousand-Jue Alliance's experts. In the next moment, Qin Wentian waved his hand, and beams of sword light descended. "Annihilation!"