Chapter 53 – Better to Let Me Betray the World Than Let the World Betray Me

Perhaps feeling he held an overwhelming advantage, or perhaps having gone too long without speaking to an outsider, Heretical Fang Heng was in no hurry to strike. Instead, he began taunting Lu Chen with words.

“Kid at the Qi Condensation Stage, since you won’t be leaving here alive today anyway, I’ll tell you what that fool Fang Heng went through in the Azure Cloud Sect.”

“Do you know how the Azure Cloud Sect treated that idiot Fang Heng?”

Lu Chen remained silent, his eyes fixed on the Blood Sword in Heretical Fang Heng’s right hand, recording every trace of Spiritual Power flowing over its surface.

Heretical Fang Heng didn’t seem to expect an answer either, continuing on his own: “Innate Sword Physique—Fang Heng possessed the Innate Sword Physique! Born with Sword Intent, a once-in-a-century genius of the Sword Path in the Immortal Cultivation World!”

“If he had been in any other sect, they would have done everything to temper the weakness ingrained in his bones, molding him into one of the rare Sword Cultivator powerhouses in the sect’s history.”

“But what did the Azure Cloud Sect do? They actually let Fang Heng cultivate on his own, saying that true cultivation was about cultivating the true self, cultivating transcendent liberation.”

“They even said things like, ‘If your Dao is forcibly imposed by others, it likely isn’t truly yours.'”

“So they never forced Fang Heng to do anything, only letting him follow his own heart in cultivation.”

“And guess how that guy Fang Heng cultivated?”

“Because he was afraid of seeing blood, he only dared to practice swordsmanship with wooden swords in daily life, never fighting living creatures.”

“And because of his timid nature, he never argued with other disciples, enduring grievances alone even when wronged.”

“Frustrating—it was so frustrating for me to be with him.”

“If I hadn’t been deceived by the Sword Intent within him back then, thinking he would take me out into the world to make a name for ourselves, why would I have acknowledged him as my master and let him take me out of the Sword Pavilion?”

Seemingly angered by the memory of the past Fang Heng, Heretical Fang Heng’s breathing grew rapid, taking a long while to calm down.

Despite having cursed Fang Heng for so long, Heretical Fang Heng couldn’t help but praise him a little.

“But you have to admit, that kid’s talent in the Sword Path was no joke.”

“Precisely because he feared seeing blood, he created a swordsmanship technique called ‘Traceless.'”

“This technique had no other characteristic except one—speed. So fast that even after killing an enemy, the sword would remain unstained by blood.”

“Honestly, if given enough time or a relatively stable cultivation environment, I believe that kid, even without ever venturing out for experience, could have eventually used the sword to enter the Dao, achieving Golden Core, even Nascent Soul True Person status—certainly not just a mere Foundation Establishment.”

“But unfortunately, not only was he born in the wrong era, his own personality also wasted his innate talent.”

“Can you believe it? When enemies attacked the sect, that guy didn’t even dare draw his sword, retreating again and again until he hid in this Hidden Sword Pavilion, where he was casually struck down when that heretical powerhouse shattered the Sword Pavilion with a single sword strike.”

“Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Don’t you think that guy’s life… was truly pitiful?”

Heretical Fang Heng had expected Lu Chen to agree with his words.However, Lu Chen held a different opinion on the matter.

He looked at Heretical Fang Heng and spoke earnestly, “Compared to Fellow Daoist Fang, I find the current you… somewhat more pitiable.”

“What did you say!”

Heretical Fang Heng stared at Lu Chen, his eyes blazing with fury.

“You think I’m pitiable? You actually dare to call me pitiable?”

“Do you expect me to be like him—a coward who hides from every challenge all his life?”

“A Sword Cultivator who has never stained his sword with blood—how could such a person even compare to me? What right does he have to stand beside me!”

Facing the enraged Heretical Fang Heng, Lu Chen remained unperturbed. “I wasn’t comparing you to anyone. I was merely stating facts.”

“You may disapprove of Fellow Daoist Fang’s character, and you may reject all his choices.”

“But you cannot use that to humiliate him. Though he has never drawn his sword against an enemy, neither has he ever turned it against his comrades.”

“No one ever said a Sword Cultivator must shed blood, nor that a Sword Cultivator cannot retreat.”

“This is his Dao, and he has always walked steadfastly upon it, never wavering.”

“All paths under heaven ultimately lead to the same destination. Though I do not endorse Fellow Daoist Fang’s Dao, neither would I recklessly deny its validity.”

“As for you—while your words are filled with contempt for Fellow Daoist Fang, in essence, you are merely trying to force your own Dao upon him.”

“Is it not… pitiable? This cowardly act of pushing others to do what you yourself cannot achieve?”

“Compared to Fellow Daoist Fang, have you not been retreating all along?”

Heretical Fang Heng fell silent, for he could find no immediate rebuttal to Lu Chen’s words.

After a moment, two spectral flames slowly ignited within his empty, eyeless sockets.

His expression shifted from madness to chilling calm.

Yet this transformation only made Lu Chen more wary.

Heretical Fang Heng stared at Lu Chen, his voice icy. “Well, well… Now I understand why I felt an irresistible urge to tear you apart the moment I saw you.”

“You’re just like those stubborn old fools from the Azure Cloud Sect—always carrying that inexplicable tolerance, as if the whole world were virtuous and I alone were wicked.”

“You should consider yourself lucky. If not for that brat Fang Heng holding me back earlier, I would have torn you to shreds the moment you stepped through that door.”

“I don’t know where a mere Qi Condensation Stage cultivator like you finds the audacity to lecture me.”

“Did you truly believe a few careless words from you would make me spare your life?”

“Don’t dream, boy. Your death is certain today!”

Heretical Fang Heng expected this death threat to shatter Lu Chen’s infuriating composure.

After all, he had rarely seen anyone face death without flinching.

But today… he witnessed exactly that.

For Lu Chen remained utterly unmoved by these words.

He gazed at Heretical Fang Heng with such tranquility, it was as if he knew nothing of death.

This demeanor only infuriated Heretical Fang Heng further.

Just what gives you the right to be so arrogant, kid?

Could there truly be people in this world who fear not death?

Did Lu Chen fear death?

Naturally, he did.However, he wasn’t afraid within the instance, because inside the instance… he wouldn’t truly die.

He looked at Heretical Fang Heng, who was so enraged his face had turned crimson and slightly distorted, shaking his head as he said, “Lu Chen doesn’t consider himself any great expert, nor does he harbor grand ambitions to save the world.”

“Everything I’ve done to reach this point has been for the sole purpose of seeking immortality, to see the Major Thousand Worlds I’ve never laid eyes upon.”

“And there’s one thing you might have misunderstood—my attitude toward Fellow Daoist Fang isn’t tolerance.”

“I treat everyone equally and firmly believe that every decision I make is right.”

“If there ever comes a day when Lu Chen must stand against the entire world, then the fault surely doesn’t lie with me, but with the world itself… this is my Dao.”

“If I believe Fellow Daoist Fang is right, then he… is right.”

“Hahahahaha!”

As if hearing something utterly ridiculous, Heretical Fang Heng couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter.

After his laughter subsided, Heretical Fang Heng sneered, “So you think he’s right, therefore he’s right, and since I’m wrong, that makes me automatically mistaken?”

Lu Chen replied calmly, “Yes.”

“Hahahaha… Then I’d like to see what a brat like you can possibly do to me.”

As these words fell, Heretical Fang Heng made his move.

His right hand, transformed into a Blood Sword, moved swift as lightning, Traceless and formless.

But for Lu Chen, who had maintained extreme focus and enhanced himself with several layers of Talismans’ power—

He finally managed to barely perceive Heretical Fang Heng’s sword strike.

(End of Chapter)