Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 754: Even Gods Can Die

Zhao Changhe did not go off to die. He simply went to wash up, fooling himself into thinking he was like Ximen Chuixue[1], cleansing himself before heading out to kill.

Everyone knew the real reason. There was no need to spell it out.

The blind woman, with her heightened perception, watched the three of them wash up separately and felt nothing but exasperation. She found it hard to imagine how this group of people, given their current state, could possibly be battle-ready at a moment’s notice.

And yet, the reality was quite the opposite—at least for Huangfu Qing and Yue Hongling, who were now brimming with killing intent, eager to draw blood. That damned pig had done nothing outwardly, merely helping them harmonize their internal energy, but since they could not vent their frustrations on him, they could only take it out on someone else.

Three figures, faces taut and silent, slipped out of the embassy and made a beeline for Louguantai.

Everyone had witnessed the rift between Yuxu and the Dao Lord. But under normal circumstances, even with such a schism, the Dao Lord would not kill Yuxu. Someone like Yuxu, a pillar of the Daoist sects, would not simply die under mysterious circumstances. Beyond the sheer loss of power, the reputational damage alone would be a cause for celebration among the Four Idols Cult and the Buddhist factions.

If Yuxu were to die, the Tome of Troubled Times would certainly announce it, broadcasting to the world that the Dao Lord had slain him. If that happened, the Daoist sects would be plunged into turmoil.

With the Buddhist factions already in decline, Yuxu had become Li Boping’s best candidate for religious supremacy in Guanzhong, potentially elevating Daoism to the status of a state religion. The Dao Lord would not sabotage such an opportunity at this crucial juncture.

So, Yuxu’s life should not be in immediate danger. Furthermore, the Dao Lord did not seem to have the ability to control souls—if he did, he would have already acted, rather than waiting until now.

But did that mean everything was fine?

Of course not!

Why should they remain on the defensive? Why not take the initiative? Could they not turn the tables and help Yuxu kill the Dao Lord instead?

Zhao Changhe was never one to sit back and wait. Neither were Huangfu Qing and Yue Hongling.

A moonless night, a perfect time for murder.

However, just ten ti away from Louguantai, Zhao Changhe suddenly came to an abrupt halt, throwing out an arm to block Huangfu Qing and Yue Hongling. “Jiuyou is there too. Conceal your presence, slow your approach.”

Both women froze. They were all of similar cultivation levels, with Huangfu Qing even slightly superior. Their perception was already razor-sharp. They were capable of detecting spirit and soul fluctuations like a radar scan rather than through direct sight. However, an opponent’s cultivation could interfere with this perception, and when that opponent was Jiuyou, someone even stronger than them, there was no way they could have sensed her presence from such a distance, especially if she was standing still.

Yet, Zhao Changhe not only sensed her presence but even identified her specifically as Jiuyou.

How could he possibly detect Jiuyou’s movements? Did he see her? And if he could see her, then wouldn’t she be able to see him as well? Would concealing our presence and moving slowly even make a difference?

It turned out that it did. Jiuyou, like them, relied on perception. She was not going to waste her energy scanning every inch of land ten li away. At least for now, her sensory abilities were nowhere near as refined as those of the blind woman, whose perception was practically on a different level altogether.

As for whether that was simply because the blind woman had recovered more or because her fusion with the Heavenly Tome had elevated her to another realm entirely, that part was still unclear.

Is this omniscient gaze an ability of the Night Emperor, or does it belong to the Heavenly Tome?

The thought flickered through Zhao Changhe’s mind before fading just as quickly.

Inside the hall, Yuxu sat in meditation while Jiuyou stood beside him, her cold, ethereal features facing the statue behind him. She spoke in a detached tone:, “Among all the so-called gods and Buddhas I’ve seen, you are the most cowardly. With this level of resolve, how do you expect to seize even the slimmest chance?”

The statue... actually replied, “Because I am the only one who has personally suffered Ye Wuming’s wrath. No one else understands her true power better than I do. She seems even stronger than before, while we... we have yet to recover our peak strength. We are no match for her. I don’t know what concerns are holding her back, but if not for those concerns, with her power, she should have already swept everything aside.”

Jiuyou let out a cold laugh. “Ye Wuming hasn’t even appeared, and yet you’re scaring yourself. You’re like a bird flinching at the sound of a bowstring.”

The statue replied, “Whether she has appeared or not, one thing is certain—Zhao Changhe is her chosen agent. Even when punishing a dog, one must consider its master. And haven’t you yourself been staying your hand again and again? You knew Qin Jiu was Zhao Changhe, yet even within your own domain, you dared not act against him. You even tried to marry him—only to end up having it spread all over Chang’an that the young lady of the Li Clan pursued him and got rejected. If anyone here is laughable, it’s you.”

Jiuyou’s voice remained indifferent. “I was merely testing whether Ye Wuming was lurking nearby and probing the true nature of their relationship. Whether she is merely indulging a mortal of this era or has actually taken him to bed. Either way, if anyone lost face, it was the Li Clan’s young lady. How many people in this world even know the name Jiuyou?”

The blind woman remained expressionless.

The statue mused, “I think you’re overcomplicating it. She likely doesn’t even have a physical body, so what bed is there to share? And even if there were some spiritual communion, does Zhao Changhe even have the ability for that?”

It was almost amusing. Daoists often spoke of the harmony of yin and yang, so for the Dao Lord to discuss such matters academically made sense. But Jiuyou’s tone carried a peculiar undercurrent... it was hard to say what she was aiming at.

Of course, Jiuyou had no intention of lingering on such a topic for long. She quickly shifted the conversation.

“Anyway, from my probing, Ye Wuming does not seem to be nearby. Otherwise, after all the things I said about helping others claim her power, she would have erupted in fury and fought me on the spot.”

For the first time, the statue’s expression shifted slightly. After a long pause, it murmured, “Perhaps... she can carry out a divine descent?”

Jiuyou looked at the Dao Lord with obvious disdain as if finding his cowardice insufferable. “You finally have my cooperation, yet you’re too afraid to act simply because Ye Wuming stands behind Zhao Changhe. When, in this lifetime or the next, do you plan to obtain the Heavenly Tome?”

The statue fell silent.

Jiuyou continued, “I have no need for the Heavenly Tome. This time, we act together. If Ye Wuming does descend, I will handle her. As for Zhao Changhe and his two women... can you deal with them? This may be your only chance to claim those pages of the Heavenly Tome.”

“And what do you gain from this?”

Jiuyou sneered. “Anything that displeases Ye Wuming, I will do. I need no other reason. In the end, if you want the Heavenly Tome, you will have to take it yourself. You don’t actually expect me to kill Zhao Changhe someday and then just hand the pages over to you, do you?”

The statue’s gaze finally settled on Yuxu, and Jiuyou also turned to look at him.

Yuxu sat cross-legged, eyes closed, silent. But deep inside, he could barely suppress his laughter. What is the Dao? How could this man claim to be the Dao Lord? He’s just a Daoist version of Papiyas, nothing more.

He knew exactly why they were looking at him, and the reason was even more ridiculous. If Jiuyou were to handle the Night Emperor, then the Dao Lord alone, despite being at the second layer of the Profound Control Realm, would struggle to kill Zhao Changhe and seize the Heavenly Tome. If they wanted a foolproof plan, then Yuxu would need to act as well.

Yuxu had already been reluctant to strike against Zhao Changhe before. Tonight, he was even less inclined.

At last, the statue spoke, “Yuxu, you received my teachings and cultivated to where you are today, revered across the world. Yet whenever I ask something of you, you hesitate and resist at every turn. In worldly terms, is this not ungrateful betrayal? Can your Dao Heart truly remain unshaken?”

Yuxu replied impassively, “I have already upheld the Daoist legacy, even when certain tasks went against my own will. The Great Han Empire has recognized the Four Idols Cult as its state religion, so I supported the Li Clan against them, even opposing Zhao Changhe when necessary. But what lies within your heart is no longer Dao but something far more sinister. If I were to follow, that would be the true corruption of my Dao Heart.”

The statue responded, “You should understand that since you inherited this legacy, you are bound by its karma.”

“If the Dao Lord wishes me dead, then my soul shall wither away. It’s better than to be subject to the five signs of decay[2].” Yuxu raised a single palm in a ceremonial salute. “This humble Daoist is prepared.”

“You—!” The statue’s voice burned with fury. “You would rather die than assist me?”

“My Dao is eternal; my body is insignificant.” Yuxu’s tone remained tranquil even as he talked about his own impending death. “In truth, I should advise you, Dao Lord. Your heart is consumed by selfish desire. You have long since lost your Dao Heart. Even if you were to fully revive, you would be nothing more than a Heavenly Demon, not a Dao Lord. When that time comes, the one whose Dao Heart will truly shatter, whose body will perish and whose Dao will fade into nothingness... will be you.”

Jiuyou, watching this confrontation, smiled faintly but said nothing, as if amused by the unfolding drama.

The statue let out what seemed like a deep breath before speaking slowly, “Are you truly going to force me to use soul-controlling arts? It is not that I lack the ability. I simply did not wish to use them on you before. But if you remain obstinate, do not blame me for disregarding our past ties.”

Yuxu remained calm. “Then, by all means, go ahead.”

As his words fell, his expression stiffened slightly. A trace of pain flickered across his face as though an invisible struggle was unfolding deep within his consciousness—his soul was locked in battle.

And then, from beyond the heavens, the Milky Way cascaded downward. An overwhelming wave of vicious qi surged forth, a terror beyond reckoning, dyeing the night sky blood-red.

The statue abruptly turned its head. A towering figure, whose momentum was like a crumbling mountain’s and whose grip was firm upon the hilt of a broad saber, charged forth under the crimson moon.

Scattering the Gods and Buddhas!

Jiuyou’s expression shifted ever so slightly, but before she could react, the space around her twisted and warped. In an instant, she was transported to an unknown realm through some mysterious spatial technique.

From the void, the blind woman walked forward at an unhurried pace. “This is not your battle to interfere in. Didn’t you want to restrain me? Then I shall grant your wish.”

Two strikingly similar women, both clad in black, stood face to face in this nameless void.

Jiuyou studied the blind woman for a long while before suddenly asking, “Why do you keep your eyes closed?”

The blind woman did not answer.

Jiuyou continued slowly, “Why do I get the feeling... that it’s not Zhao Changhe aiding you, but rather, you cooperating with him?”

The blind woman responded with tranquil certainty, “I am not only cooperating with him. I am also cooperating with Yuxu.”

Jiuyou was momentarily taken aback.

The blind woman continued, “The battle against the Sea Emperor proved that even a god of his caliber can die. That realization has planted a seed in the hearts of all those who take notice. The gods and demons may be lofty, but mortals never cease their pursuit. If you ignore that and focus only on conflicts among yourselves, then you will inevitably come to understand, through mortal hands, what it means when gods and Buddhas are scattered.”

At that very moment, Dragon Bird crashed down upon the statue with a resounding impact. Behind Zhao Changhe, Yue Hongling and Vermillion Bird struck simultaneously, closing the formation to encircle their target.

Almost at the same time, from outside the hall, a bronze-colored light streaked in like a meteor, slamming viciously into Yuxu.

Li Shentong! He had been hidden here all along, unnoticed by anyone. No one knew how he had done it.

With the impact, a faint shadow wavered and nearly separated from Yuxu’s body.

So that was it. The statue was not the Dao Lord’s true body; he had been hiding within Yuxu all along!

Zhao Changhe had not been aware of this, but Yuxu himself knew, obviously. He had been resisting in secret all this time, and the message had long been passed on.

A single jug of clear wine. Within it, an entire plan of rescue across a thousand li.

There are always heroes in the mortal realm.

“We did not dare to conspire with even a single word, relying only on tacit understanding... When I learned that King Zhao had arrived from Bashu, this old Daoist knew that the time had come to reveal the truth.” Yuxu opened his eyes, and his voice was steady and resolute as he stated, “Even gods can die.”

1. Ximen Chuixue is a fictional character in the Lu Xiaofeng series by Gu Long. He is a swordsman known as the “God of the Sword.” ☜

2. This is actually a Buddhist concept—Buddhism holds the tenet that no life is eternal and even heavenly beings (e.g. devas, and presumably this Dao Lord) eventually die. The five signs of decay are the loss of divine traits (such as perfect and pure bodies and constant bliss) that marks the end of their life. They signify that the divine beings have become mortal. ☜