Su Bai smiled and returned the bow.
Five years of toil.
Even though they were all powerful Returning Void Realm True Masters, the hardships they had endured went without saying.
His bow was truly heartfelt.
"We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare!"
How could they dare to accept his bow? They all scrambled to get out of the way.
"We must also thank you for saving our lives, Senior."
"But... what should we do with all the demons in these mountains?"
The Huaisheng Daoist glanced worriedly at Su Bai’s illusory form, which was growing increasingly faint and unstable.
Ultimately, the Summoning Technique was just that—a technique. It only borrowed a sliver of Su Bai’s power; a true incarnation had not descended.
He had slain two Feathered masters back-to-back, then used his Great Magical Power to seal the entire mountain range, preventing countless Great Demons and Little Demons from escaping.
One could only imagine the immense toll it had taken.
Yet right now, within these mountains, there were over a hundred Great Demons at or above the Returning Void Realm—and the Cangying King!
’If Su Bai were to disappear now, I don’t have the power to perform the summoning again anytime soon.’
The Confucian Daoist Venerable, Chen Qin’Yin, and the others shared this worry. They all turned to Su Bai, awaiting his command.
"The heavens gave birth to the Ten Thousand Spirits, each with its own nature. As for the demons here, kill any who bear a sinful aura. Bury them in these mountains and return them to the heavens and the earth."
"As for those without sin, you need not create needless slaughter."
Su Bai replied briefly, his hands clasped behind his back.
Then, his gaze fell upon the ruins in front of the main hall.
The Cangying King, his face ashen, staggered forward, his entire body trembling.
"True Master, this..."
It wasn’t just the mountain demons; the Huaisheng Daoist and the others were also completely baffled by the Cangying King’s return.
’A mighty Great Demon of the Feather Transformation Realm!’
’For him to flee without a fight was surprising enough.’
’But to flee and then run back to beg for mercy? That was something they just couldn’t wrap their heads around.’
The Cangying King arrived before the main hall, his expression incomparably bleak.
He looked up, and upon seeing Su Bai, his body convulsed reflexively.
Su Bai didn’t answer the Huaisheng Daoist’s question. He simply watched the Cangying King with an indifferent gaze.
"Done running?"
The Cangying King’s chest heaved, and a flicker of conflict crossed his face.
Then, with a dejected sigh, he dropped heavily to his knees.
"I’m done running..."
"I’ll never run again..."
One’s principles are a fluid thing.
Take one step back, and you often find that a few more don’t seem to matter.
From a frantic escape to a forced return.
And then to kneeling and begging for mercy—the Cangying King’s principles were broken, one step at a time.
Now, as he bowed his head, he couldn’t even feel the slightest trace of resistance in his heart.
"I intend to erect a God-Sealing Platform on each of the Five Continents. The one on the Eastern Continent is nearly complete, and I have already dispatched someone to the Western Continent. That leaves the Northern and Southern Continents, where no one has yet been sent."
Su Bai stated calmly.
The speed of avians is something land-based races simply cannot match, and the Cangying King was a master among them.
He was so fast that even an average Feathered master would be left in his dust.
Naturally, Su Bai had no intention of killing him so easily.
However, avian Great Demons are notoriously defiant, and the Cangying King was a prime example.
He was nothing like that old ape who would immediately grovel and beg the moment things looked bad.
This outcome may have seemed simple.
But it was the result of a single sword strike Su Bai had delivered two years prior, a blow that had brutally haunted the Cangying King for over two years.
WHOOSH!
A moment later, Su Bai’s form grew even more ethereal, looking as if it might disperse with the wind at any second.
Yet the Cangying King kept his head bowed. Even sensing this, he didn’t dare look up, let alone think of striking now.
’A blade hung in his Heart Sea, utterly unstoppable.’
’How could he dare attack?’
"I am willing to build the God-Sealing Platform for you, True Master! I will be at your command and work tirelessly without complaint!"
A bitter taste filled the Cangying King’s heart as he heard Su Bai’s words, finally understanding why he had been spared.
And yet, he couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
He slowly raised his head and spoke respectfully.
"I only ask... I only ask that you spare my life, True Master."
"Merits are merits, and faults are faults. The two can coexist, but one cannot cancel out the other."
Su Bai stood atop the main hall, his indifferent gaze reflecting the monstrous, sky-blotting aura of sin that clung to the Cangying King.
"Once the God-Sealing Platform is built, I can promise you a good death."
The Cangying King was a king among demons, a champion among avians. His murderous nature was immense; in his travels across the Four Seas and Five Continents, he had devoured countless living beings.
With an open mouth, he could swallow a city; with a closed one, a mountain.
He devoured humans and beasts alike!
The slaughter he was responsible for was immeasurable.
Now, as Su Bai’s gaze brought this sin into focus, it was like a Blood Sea from hell was flowing before his very eyes.
Countless vengeful souls shrieked and wailed within it.
"Fine... a good death..."
Hearing Su Bai’s words, the Cangying King’s body shuddered, and he let out a tragic laugh.
"A ’good death’... what a ’good death’!"
’This True Master’s ruthlessness... it might even rival that of Venerable Bai You!’
The Huaisheng Daoist was left speechless.
The White Lotus Daoist, Chen Qin’Yin, the Confucian Daoist Venerable, and the Iron Sword Young Venerable all exchanged a look, each seeing the same panic and terror reflected in the others’ eyes.
’He’s dead if he does it, and dead if he doesn’t.’
’A mighty Great Demon of the Feather Transformation Realm is condemned to die no matter what.’
’So why would he possibly agree to do your bidding?’
Though they grumbled internally, none of them dared to speak up.
But to their astonishment, after his tragic laugh, the Cangying King actually agreed.
"I only ask for a good death... I only ask for a good death..."
The Cangying King’s expression was utterly defeated. His very essence, energy, and spirit seemed to have hit rock bottom. A rotten aura emanated from his body, as if his final day was at hand.
Or perhaps... he had already resolved himself to die.