Chapter 1442: Killing and killing

The black flames howled as they rose up to the sky.

A large patch of land had been completely scorched, turning into a zone of profound grey death.

Gu Qing Shan lightly leapt forward and looked afar.

Not a single living being as far as the eye can see.

Suddenly, a figure appeared.

Reneedol.

She looked at the scene of carnage in front of her then asked: “Rhode, were you fighting just now?”

“A bunch of refugee martial artists and weapon users, they wanted to eat me, so I had no choice but to kill them all” Gu Qing Shan replied.

Reneedol looked at Gu Qing Shan for a bit and asked: “How much strength did you use?”

Gu Qing Shan became cautious for a brief moment, but naturally made an expression of disdain and replied: “Not even 10%—– they might be impressive while the Laws lost their effects, but once we can use the power of the Laws, both martial artists and weapon users are nothing”

“Naturally” a male voice followed up.

Atley had also arrived.

He continued Gu Qing Shan’s words: “Our World Valley is definitely the strongest. If there hadn’t been an issue with the Law Behemoths, no one would have been able to act tough in front of us”

—–nice support!

Gu Qing Shan silently praised.

Of course, this was also the truth.

The World Valley had always been known as the strongest.

Hearing their words, Reneedol couldn’t help but nod in agreement, still with a bit of confusion on her face.

Gu Qing Shan glanced at her, then suddenly said: “Reneedol, you startled me by suddenly appearing next to me, I almost attacked you since I thought you were an enemy”

“This was a kind of movement technique” Reneedol explained.

“Strange, I don’t remember there being such a movement technique in our World Valley” Gu Qing Shan mumbled.

Atley laughed and said: “It’s obvious, Reneedol must have taken an enemy’s ability again”

“I did, it’s from that Red Wraith” Reneedol replied.

——she just absorbed a swordsman’s ability, but the situation suddenly changed once again and swordsmen are no longer very powerful.

That swordsman hadn’t formed a covenant with a Law Behemoth, he couldn’t even use world Origin power.

Even if that person was the 7th strongest swordsman in the world, if he doesn’t know how to utilize the power of Laws, he could still not be considered a strong person in the truest sense.

Gu Qing Shan looked at her.

——-is she hesitating because of this?

Gu Qing Shan smiled and asked: “What’s the matter? Do you think that the swordsman called Red Wraith is able to go against the power of the Laws?”

“Of course not, I’m just trying to think how powerful would the strongest swordsman in the world would actually be”

She was gazing far into the distance and appeared lost in thought.

Gu Qing Shan slowly calmed his heart.

Reneedol is obviously looking down on the ‘7th strongest swordsman’.

At the same time, every time she looked at each of Gu Qing Shan’s abilities, she would subconsciously harbor this thought:

[Even an ability like this can only rank 7th among all the swordsmen in the world]

In Reneedol’s eyes, the only thing she needed to care about was ‘the strongest’, only the one at the very top.

——due to this prejudice, she would naturally not try to understand and utilize those abilities too deeply.

Gu Qing Shan followed up: “I think that in the long term, Shroud would definitely become stronger compared to that swordsman in the future”

Atley and Reneedol both nodded.

“Right. Although I have Red Wraith’s abilities, I’ve never really liked swords and swordsmanship, so I couldn’t win against him, having no choice but to retreat” Reneedol replied.

Gu Qing Shan slowly said: “You’ll need the type of ability that suits you”

“Like your power of the Law of Death, or Shroud’s power of the Law of Radiance” Reneedol commented

Her gaze faced Gu Qing Shan’s head-on.

Both of them fell silent.

Gu Qing Shan saw a crimson thread of death manifesting on Reneedol’s body, one end coiled around her hand while the other end had coiled around his hand.

Behind Reneedol, heavy and gloomy fluctuations began to manifest, as if something gigantic was moving within it.

This was a manifestation of Fate, Gu Qing Shan could see it, but Atley couldn’t.

—–Reneedol had resolved to kill.

Now that Shroud was heavily wounded, he wouldn’t know what was happening here.

And with Reneedol’s strength, she would be able to easily conceal everything.

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

Reneedol narrowed her eyes.

She seemed to be preparing—–

“Ahahaha…”

Gu Qing Shan abruptly laughed.

“What are you laughing about?” Reneedol asked.

Gu Qing Shan shook his head and continued to laugh.

—–if Reneedol could absorb the power of everyone to use as she pleased, why would she need to say anything at all?

When Reneedol was first taken away, she used those people’s powers to defeat each of them.

…

“…I felt that it would be too easy to kill them all, so I used the boss’ power to kill his aide, then the aide’s power to kill the squad leader, then use the squad leader’s power to kill the minions”

…

She openly explained this to everyone.

She was toying with them while killing them.

—–then, if she was toying around anyways, why didn’t she just use the boss’ power to kill everyone, but slowly reduced in level?

Furthermore, she had definitely devoured the Grand Elder.

She had the Grand Elder’s power, but hadn’t used it up to now.

From before, it might be because the Law Behemoths were fighting, but now that the Laws have returned, she’s considering regaining the power of Laws from Rhode and Shroud.

—–why not just continue using the Grand Elder’s power?

The answer was clear.

She can only absorb and use abilities belonging to a single entity at the same time!

Having confirmed this, Gu Qing Shan continued to laugh and replied with a calm heart: “You have no idea what someone would need to do after forming a covenant with the Overlord of Death”

Reneedol stopped.

—–that’s true, I’ll be able to obtain everything from him, including his covenant.

But if I accept his covenant, I would have to accept the terms of the covenant as well, since the power I obtain would come directly from the Overlord of Death.

This is karma.

Karma is a part of Fate, even I wouldn’t be able to escape it.

“What does the Overlord of Death want you to do?” Reneedol asked.

“I was only interested in killing at the time, that’s why the Law of Death is suitable for me” Gu Qing Shan replied.

Reneedol asked while surprised: “You mean your powers require killing in order to activate?”

“That’s right, I need to provide sustenance for Death in order for Death to grant me power” Gu Qing Shan replied.

As he said so, a cluster of profound dark flames flickered behind his back.

——Reneedol and Atley both turned to look at it.

The Laws resonated with Rhode.

This proves that Rhode is telling the truth, and that the covenant he formed was indeed what he said it was.

Reneedol pondered, then shook her head.

I can obtain Rhode’s power, but this power came from the Laws—-

And the price for using it was killing.

This greatly limited its usage.

However…

A certain thought flashed through Reneedol’s mind.

The thought was unclear, but it was making her hesitant to simply give up.

Finally, she looked at the scorched land in front of them and leisurely said: “We’ve seen the power of the Law of Death—— this is very terrifying, Rhode, perhaps one day, you will surpass Shroud”

“I can’t compare to Shroud. He’s the strongest, and will continue to be the strongest” Gu Qing Shan said that as a matter of fact: “His talents far surpasses mine, and he’s much more hardworking too”

Reneedol slowly gave up her intentions, her killing intent also faded away.

She turned around and returned.

——for a certain dream, goal, or wish, if an individual won’t even think about striving for it and instead actively gives up on it…

Then they would truly be unable to achieve it.

This was something that Reneedol understood.

Gu Qing Shan watched as the thread of death that connected him and Reneedol slowly broke away.

“Come, since you’re already here, help me hunt” he suggested.

“I can’t, I came running because I thought there would be a problem, but since there’s no issues here, I’ll return to take care of Shroud”

After saying that, Reneedol disappeared.

Atley shrugged: “Rhode, I’ll go back as well, I need to continue cultivating myself”

“Alright, do as you like” Gu Qing Shan smiled.

Atley flew away.

——-both of them had left.

Gu Qing Shan stood still for a while.

It was only when a gust of wind blew past that he realized he was soaked in a cold sweat.

When he looked down, he found that the colorful snake in his hand was still alive, but it was squeezed so hard that it had fallen unconscious.

“Tch… so I was cornered to this degree”

Gu Qing Shan silently thought.

Reneedol’s Fate ability is truly terrifying.

My spirit sense could clearly feel that it didn’t care about any difference in strength.

As soon as it appeared, it was already impossible to resist.

Gu Qing Shan’s strength was considerable, but he understood very well that while the current Shroud could fight with him on even grounds, he still hadn’t actually exerted all of his strength.

In fact, he could still summon the pixies and Law Behemoths to aid him.

He displayed this capability when he saved Reneedol.

The power of a Law Behemoth cannot be disregarded.

The Grand Elder of the World Valley would definitely be stronger compared to Shroud.

And yet, even a Combatant of that level couldn’t resist the Fate ability, he was devoured and turned into a substitute body.

Then, how would Gu Qing Shan fare?

Gu Qing Shan stood still.

The sky was already growing gloomy as the sun was setting.

The howling of the wind became increasingly more harrowing.

Rain began to fall.

Gu Qing Shan continued to stand still for a few moments, only after he couldn’t sense any inner sight peeking at him did he finally mutter: “She had always needed [Longing]…”

As he recalled, Reneedol had needed Fei Yue’s Fate ability for a very long time.

But now, she had already obtained it from me.

She simply doesn’t know that yet.

——-my soul has been released, so my capabilities are too varied and complicated, she has most likely still not discovered this ability.

“…I can’t let you discover this ability…”

Gu Qing Shan’s gaze became firm.

If Reneedol had the power of [Longing], everything she wanted to do would become a smooth sailing endeavour.

As she currently was, her only issue was that she was restrained by her lackluster understanding of the world, but in truth, no one could stop her Fate ability.

“Then… I have no choice but to force you to give up my abilities…”

Gu Qing Shan disappeared.

At the same time, another him appeared where he was and began heading into the wilderness once again.

—–Shannu had disguised herself as him to continue hunting.

Gu Qing Shan put on his Samsara Wicked Mask and concealed his presence to its very limits, then hid in the dark clouds to ensure that he couldn’t be detected.

Very slowly, he moved within the clouds towards the tree.

——-the tree where everyone else was resting.

Closer.

And closer.

Reneedol remained crouched next to Shroud, meticulously caring for him.

She was hoping from the bottom of her heart that Shroud would survive, grow stronger, and become the strongest.

Gu Qing Shan stopped briefly to observe the situation below.

A second later.

Reneedol looked down at her arm.

A crimson thread had silently tied itself around her wrist.

“Huh?” she exclaimed in confusion.

Right at that moment, Gu Qing Shan formed a hand seal.

He dived directly down.

Reneedol unleashed a gigantic sword image without hesitation.

Gu Qing Shan swiftly dodged it and pointed two fingers towards Shroud.

Two flying swords shot downwards, slashing at Shroud.

“Red Wraith, how dare you!”

Reneedol’s face abruptly changed as she shouted.