“I want to kill!”

“… kill!”

s.h.i.+ Fan's voice was not loud. In contrast, it was rather relaxed and carefree. However, everyone present heard it.

After Second Elder, Fourth Elder, and Sixth Elder heard his words, the three of them exchanged a look and instantly waved their hands at the Heaven Dao Pavilion disciples.

“Listen up, Heaven Dao Pavilion disciples. 36 of you shall form one team. You will lay down the sword formation in eight different positions, in case an accident happens!” Sixth Senior instructed quickly.

“Yes!” The Heaven Dao Pavilion disciples accepted the order and quickly, they split up. Instantly, in all eight positions, they lay eight sword formations.

When s.h.i.+ Fan saw this, he naturally knew what the Heaven Dao Pavilion was doing. Both sides had to be blamed for this accident. Doing this would prevent Fang Zhengzhi from running, and it would prevent them from going back on their words.

Of course, to him, this was not an issue.

This was because his main target this time was Fang Zhengzhi. If Fang Zhengzhi died, then all his problems would be resolved.

“Fang Zhengzhi, do you now know where you have gone wrong? If you can show remorse now, I'll give you a quick death and I'll guarantee you an intact body!” s.h.i.+ Fan looked at Fang Zhengzhi, who said nothing yet, as if he was staring at a dead man.

Of course, he was not alone. Everyone else all looked at Fang Zhengzhi as if he was a dead man.

He was surrounded by three elders of the Black Moon Island, a Sage State cultivator from the Yin Yang Hall, three elders and a few hundred disciples from the Heaven Dao Pavilion.

Under this situation…

How could he live?

“Wrong? Hurhur… what have I done wrong?” Fang Zhengzhi finally opened his mouth. His eyes did not betray any look of panic or desperation. Instead, he was smiling.

In fact, the moment he saw Yan Xiu, he knew that the situation could not be changed. Running off again? That was almost impossible.

“Tian Xing, the Leader of the Nine Pinnacles Mountain, died because of you. My disciple, Wan Lei, died because of you too. A life for a life, how can you say that you have done nothing wrong?” s.h.i.+ Fan appeared to be enjoying the sensation of pa.s.sing judgment. After all, Fang Zhengzhi was a dead man. To kill a dead man, he had to be in a morally superior position.

After all, his trip here was not glorious.

Of course, none of these was important. Strength was what was important. After all, he was a powerful cultivator and a winner. Hence, he could determine the life and death of those weaker than him.

“So dying because of me puts me in the wrong? So, what about you bunch of hypocritical ‘false sages'? I am only in the Rebirth State but to catch me, four Sage State cultivators ambushed me and even took hostages. Is this a job well done?” Fang Zhengzhi laughed. He laughed very loudly. “Furthermore, Second Elder and Fourth Elder of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, don't you want to capture me and bring me back for trial in front of Mu Qingfeng? Why aren't you catching me now?”

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Second Elder and Fourth Elder. Then, he turned to Sixth Elder, who was next to them, and he said, “Sixth Elder, I think you know very clearly why did I not make it to the Ninth Heaven after I entered the Divine Rain Pond, but instead, I appeared in the Jungle of Mysteries.”

“This…” Sixth Elder choked on his words. He naturally knew what Fang Zhengzhi was talking about.

When Second Senior and Fourth Elder heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, they looked at Sixth Elder together. They both had ugly expressions on their faces.

“That's right. Chi Guyan can't lose, but I can. Right?”

“That's right!” Sixth Elder nodded his head and said, “Chi Guyan is the Chosen One. How can she marry someone like you, who's going to die? Stop dreaming!”

“That's right… Hence, you think that you can decide whether I live or die here. You can watch as the blood drains from Yan Xiu's body and you can ignore all their wrongdoings in the territory of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, right? You read so many books on the virtues of the Dao, but you do not behave as if you have learned them. How can you call yourself a Sage?!”

“You…” Sixth Elder's chest heaved and his face turned red.

“Fang Zhengzhi, destroying the Heaven Dao Pavilion's Divine Rain Pond carries with it the penalty of death. All we're doing now is to hand you over to them, where's the difference?” Fourth Elder opened his mouth and spoke.

“If I kill your entire family, will you still be willing to hand me over to them for execution?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.

“You… foul-mouthed rascal. How dare you speak rubbis.h.!.+” Fourth Elder was so angry that he stuttered as he spoke.

“Hurhur… for Tian Xing, the Leader of the Nine Pinnacles Mountain, he tried to kill me. So why can't I kill him in my defense? For Wan Lei, he tried to backstab me when I was not aware as he tried to steal my body's medicinal power with his Dao of Yin Yang. So how can he not die because of me? If we want to discuss guilt, aren't you just using me as a scapegoat? Judge me? You are not worthy!” Fang Zhengzhi roared with laughter.

In fact, since his birth, he knew about the ‘rules' of this world. When he was in the Southern Mountain Village, Li Huer had a father who was the vice-squad leader of the hunting squad. This was how he earned the right to join the Hall of Dao.

In the Hall of Dao examinations, he became the Double Roll Champion, but what was the result?

He was borne into a poor family.

This meant that he had no power and no background. For someone like him to have it easy in life, the best way was for him to depend on someone powerful and abandoned his ident.i.ty and disavowed his own parents…

Fang Zhengzhi did not do so. Hence, his path was more arduous than others.

In the words of other people, this was ‘staying guarded against others' and ‘playing the game of thrones'. If one could not use a particular talent for himself, the best thing to do would be to kill him!

It was a simple rule.

In the Holy Region, the rules were even crueler.

The five sects of the Holy Region ruled this place. Fang Zhengzhi did not make enemies out of any one particular faction. However, he was embroiled in their conflict. Hence, the fate that awaited him was death.

The reason was simple. He did not join any of the five sects and hence, he had no background. His birth was modest and he had no powerful backer behind him.

Hence, even though Tian Xing's death had nothing to do with him, and even though Wan Lei brought his own death upon himself, the end result was still his fault.

Just like the scene that took place earlier.

In less than two hours of deliberation, they could determine the life and death of a person.

s.h.i.+ Fan had the right to discuss because behind him stood the Yin Yang Hall. Even the three elders of the Black Moon Island had the support of the Nine Pinnacles Mountain.

What did Fang Zhengzhi have?

He had nothing. He did not join the Heaven Dao Pavilion and he did not keep a low profile while abiding by the rules. He wanted to change his destiny in the Holy Region…

“So naïve!” Fang Zhengzhi looked up into the sky as he watched the clouds floated past him. At this moment, he felt that he was like a cloud which was floating across the Holy Region.

His plan was to find rare treasures in the Holy Region. He wanted to do his best and he wanted to search for treasure here without any restraint.

However, it seemed like his thinking was really naïve.

This was because as long as he entered the Holy Region, he would be inescapably dragged into its conflicts. How could he not face restraints?

What if his lifespan was not limited?

Then, what would be the result of him impersonating as a disciple of the Heaven Dao Pavilion?

What if he did not choose to leave the Heaven Dao Pavilion?

What would be his fate after he destroyed the Divine Rain Pond?

Yes!

There was no ‘if'.

Fang Zhengzhi no longer cared for all these. He picked this path himself. Hence, even if it led to a dead-end, he would continue on it.

For himself, and for Yan Xiu.

Personally…

He had to rescue Yan Xiu from Yuan Rong.

Personally…

Kill Yuan Rong!

Even if the result was death!

“So are you guys coming up at one-by-one, or together?” Fang Zhengzhi did not wait for s.h.i.+ Fan and the rest to reply. He had already lifted the sword in his hands up.

s.h.i.+ Fan's mouth started to move. He seemed as if he wanted to debate Fang Zhengzhi, but when he saw him lift his sword, he guffawed.

“Hahaha… not bad. Too bad you can't hold a candle to my radiance! So what if you are a scapegoat? You are too showy but you have no background. Even the Heaven Dao Pavilion couldn't stand you. So… how can you not be a scapegoat? Who else can be one?” After s.h.i.+ Fan said these, he smiled gleefully.

When the three elders of the Black Moon Island heard this, they gritted their teeth because they knew that Fang Zhengzhi was telling them the truth. They were indeed using him as a scapegoat.

This was because they could not exact revenge on Chi Guyan.

Hence…

They could only have Fang Zhengzhi.

Similarly, this was the current situation of the Nine Pinnacles Mountain. There was no way they could fight the Heaven Dao Pavilion. However, they had to find a way to regain their lost dignity.

“Elder s.h.i.+, there's no need to debate with this rascal. The situation is already as such, kill him straight away!” An old man who stood next to s.h.i.+ Fan said.

“Yes. Since you are unwilling to admit your guilt, let me send you on your final voyage!” When s.h.i.+ Fan heard the old man's words, he nodded his head gently too.

“Elder s.h.i.+, he's only in his Rebirth State. If you kill him personally, it'll sully your name. Let me do it,” said the old man once more.

“That's fine, but please be careful. He's… not weak!” When s.h.i.+ Fan heard this, he fell silent for a while before nodding his head.

“Please don't worry, Elder s.h.i.+. We struck him with our palms twice just now. He's putting on a final show of bravado. In three moves, I'll end this!” The old man smiled coldly. Then, he took five steps forward and stood in front of Fang Zhengzhi, before saying, “Rascal, my name is Yin Sen. I entered the Sage State three years ago. When you're on the other side, remember this name. Of course, with your age, you should refer to me as ‘Elder Sen'!”

“Swoos.h.!.+”

Right after Yin Sen said that, a figure was already in front of him. A look of surprise flashed across his eyes.

More shockingly, he saw a pair of eyes.

This was a pair of bright but transparent eyes. In this pair of eyes, countless images swirled. More importantly, in that diagram, golden symbols flashed.

“So fast!” When Second Senior, Fourth Senior, and even Sixth Senior, saw this scene, they could not help but exclaim.

They knew how fast Fang Zhengzhi could be.

However, when they last saw him on the Heaven Academic Altar, his speed was incomparable to now.

How could he become so fast?

Could it be because of the Divine Rain Pond…

Just when they were marveling at his speed, another shocking scene took place. This was because they saw a shadow on Fang Zhengzhi.

An incorporeal shadow.

However, without knowing why, they felt that this shadow was familiar. They felt as if they had seen it before.

Of course, this was unimportant.

Importantly, why was there a shadow on Fang Zhengzhi?

Could Fang Zhengzhi possess a Gifted Bloodline? Impossible. This was because if he did have one, why did he not use it during the battle at the Heaven Dao Pavilion?

They did not understand.

However, the shadow behind Fang Zhengzhi was real. Furthermore, countless golden symbols flowed in the shadow.

As the golden symbols flowed, Fang Zhengzhi's hands started to s.h.i.+ne with a faint black light. To be precise, this did not seem to be just a black light but instead, a black armor.

“Boom!”

At this moment, a huge sound could be heard. Then, a figure flew into the air instantly afterward. Blood spewed from his mouth.

“F*ck you, old man Sen!” An enraged voice roared out.

Then, the flying figure landed with a ‘thump' onto the ground. Its face was pale and it wore a look of utter disbelief.

Silence.

The original ruckus completely died down.

All of the Heaven Dao Pavilion disciples looked at the kneeling figure. They looked at the blood trickling out of his mouth, and the b.l.o.o.d.y hole in his shoulders. They did not know what to say.

One punch!

Just one punch!

It was actually enough to severely injure Yin Sen, who was in the Sage State.

“Cough cough… this rascal actually has a Gifted Bloodline?” Yin Sen spat out two mouthfuls of blood as his eyes bulged.

After all, he was very clear about Fang Zhengzhi's strength.

While he had never fought him before, he knew that Fang Zhengzhi possessed both the Heavenly Rebirth Dao and the Near-Life Dao. He was a stunning genius.

Even though he was only in his Rebirth State, he did not dare to underestimate him.

However, his intelligence did not tell him that Fang Zhengzhi had a Gifted Bloodline. Hence, when he saw the shadow float out from behind Fang Zhengzhi, he was surprised.

This tiny moment of surprise…

Almost cost him his life.

That punch came too quickly and was way too vicious. It struck his heart. If not for the fact that he forced his body to sink down, the punch would not have pierced his shoulder but his heart instead.