Chapter 132: Liu Ruyan

"Have you finally shown your face?"

Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed faintly behind Chu Tian. He turned to look, and to his surprise, a woman with a voluptuous figure and a cold expression had appeared behind him without a sound!

It was Liu Ruyan!!

What shocked Chu Tian even more than her presence was her cultivation level. As he sensed her aura, it felt as vast and unfathomable as the deep sea!! It even resonated faintly with the powers of heaven and earth!!

This was the unmistakable prestige of a Void God cultivator!! Liu Ruyan had actually reached the Void God realm!!!

"You..." Chu Tian suppressed the horror in his heart, his voice trembling.

The crowd around them was equally terrified and bewildered. They could not fathom her strength, nor did they understand what a Void God was. They only knew that Liu Ruyan’s current aura was terrifying, stirring an involuntary sense of dread in their hearts. It was the awe of the weak before the strong, and a primal fear of the inexplicable transformation she had undergone.

"Kneel and await your death."

Before Chu Tian could say another word, Liu Ruyan parted her lips, her voice calm and detached. As she waved her hand, Chu Tian felt a crushing force descend upon him!

BOOM!!!

A deafening crash erupted! Under this immense pressure, Chu Tian was instantly slammed into the ground, unable to move an inch! The ground beneath him spiderwebbed with deep cracks from the sheer force of her aura.

*Whoosh...*

At the same time, the black mist that Chu Tian had been controlling only a moment ago let out a strange, shrill sound. It shuddered once and then dissipated entirely...

"Saint Son Chu Tian has fallen into demonic ways. By the ancestral decree of the Immortal Forest, I execute this demon!"

Liu Ruyan’s expression remained calm, her gaze deep and unfathomable. As her voice drifted through the Immortal Forest Sect, a massive, terrifying blade of energy began to condense in the sky above! It was as if a final judgment had been passed, a ultimate sanction against Chu Tian.

"I... am not reconciled..."
"My life... should not end here..."

Sensing the immense pressure from above, Chu Tian’s eyes grew desolate, his voice hoarse. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his expression was one of absolute despair. It was bad enough that his previous life as the Pill Demon had ended in catastrophe; why was this life, too, so wretched?

High above in the distance, Li Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Ding! Chu Tian’s identity as a demonic cultivator has been exposed. Destiny points reduced by 2,000. Additional Destiny points awarded to the host."
"Ding! Chu Tian’s mental state is damaged. Destiny points reduced by 500. Additional 5,000 Destiny points awarded to the host."
"Ding! The host's servant has shocked the crowd. Additional 2,000 Destiny points awarded to the host."

...

As the system notifications rang in his mind, Li Changsheng’s heart bloomed with joy. His elaborate plans had paid off handsomely; this was a massive profit. *But,* he mused, *with only a few thousand Destiny points left, what turn of events could possibly save you now?*

The thought only deepened his smile. *A child of destiny must be strangled in the cradle... especially one who has crossed me.*

"Who dares to harm my disciple!"

Just as Liu Ruyan’s executioner blade shuddered and began to descend toward Chu Tian, a booming, ancient roar echoed through the air! A terrifying pressure, far exceeding the Immortal realm, surged forth, instantly plunging the entire Immortal Forest Sect into a state of stifling dread!

A white-haired, white-bearded elder in black Daoist robes appeared, stepping through the void with a ferocious, menacing glare! He looked ready to demand a reckoning!

Suddenly, the entire territory of the Immortal Forest Sect trembled! A strange, profound aura rippled outward, and a calm man’s voice echoed softly.

"Sever."

As the word was spoken, the very void of the Immortal Forest Sect shuddered!

*Swish... swish...*

A sound like water flowing—as if from the dawn of creation toward the final end of all things—resounded. A ghostly, dark river suddenly emerged above the Immortal Forest Sect! Countless ethereal threads appeared, and everyone present felt a sudden, chilling sensation that their destinies were no longer their own!

"Threads of Karma!!!"

Upon seeing those illusory threads, the old man’s eyes widened in unimaginable horror! He let out a shrill, piercing scream of panic and, without a second thought, turned to flee into the distance!

*Pop!*

At that exact moment, the massive web of karmic threads above the old man’s head snapped! His eyes filled with absolute terror; before he could even finish his scream, his entire being simply vanished! His body and soul were utterly annihilated!

Simultaneously, the sound of countless karmic threads breaking echoed throughout the Immortal Forest Sect!

The crowd blinked in confusion, their minds wiped clean, forgetting the very moment the old man had appeared! Only Liu Ruyan, Xiao Tianding, and a few others stood trembling, their eyes wide with shock.

*This sight was too terrifying!! How can the moonlight compete with the brilliance of the gods? To erase the existence of living beings with a single thought! How could such power ever be compared to the mere moon!!*

Li Changsheng, however, remained calm, his expression unchanged. After all this time, he had grown accustomed to it. *I wonder,* he pondered, *if the spiritual energy within the Underworld River can be absorbed by me...*

He fell into deep thought. His own cultivation had always been his greatest weakness. While his talent was monstrous, he was simply too lazy... He had made some progress over the past few days, but it was still not enough.

*BOOM!*

As Li Changsheng was lost in thought, Liu Ruyan’s executioner blade finally struck! The violent spiritual energy churned and swept outward, and Chu Tian’s body shattered instantly!

"Ding! The person who cultivated the path of Chu Tian has been killed. Chu Tian’s Destiny points reduced by 4,000. Additional Destiny points awarded to the host."
"Ding! Chu Tian’s physical body destroyed, leaving only a remnant soul. His development is restricted to the greatest extent. Destiny points reduced by 2,000. Additional Destiny points awarded to the host."

*A remnant soul?*

Li Changsheng’s thoughts shifted, and his divine sense surged into the Underworld River, instantly enveloping the entire Immortal Forest. As the world transformed before his eyes, he noticed a faint anomaly. Not far away, a tattered soul was fleeing toward the far horizon!

"You cannot escape."

A smile touched his lips as he shook his head. With a wave of his hand, a chilling, ghostly power surged out and instantly engulfed Chu Tian’s remnant soul!

"Ah!!"

A faint, fleeting scream echoed from the soul, then vanished. None of the people present noticed a thing.

"Due to the demonic cultivator's treachery, the Sect Master has fallen. From this day forward, I, Liu Ruyan, shall be the Master of the Immortal Forest. Those of you who are injured, proceed to the Pill Gate to collect herbs for your recovery. In one month's time, the Great Competition will be held; the one with the highest attainment in alchemy shall inherit the title of Saint Son."

Having settled the matter, Liu Ruyan did not delay. With a shimmering gaze and an ethereal aura, she spoke, her voice amplified by spiritual energy, reaching every corner of the Immortal Forest.

The disciples and elders, though surprised, remained silent. Power was respected, and Liu Ruyan had indeed performed a great service by eliminating the sect's hidden danger. No one dared to object to her taking the position of Sect Master. After all, when Liu Ruyan’s voice had echoed throughout the sect, the two reclusive Supreme Elders of the Sword Forest and the Ice Cloud had not even stepped forward to intervene.

Liu Ruyan had been one of the three Supreme Elders under the Sect Master. As for the other elder who had been effortlessly erased... he had been a recent recruit of the former Sect Master, Duan Tianya, and most disciples were unaware of his existence. Poor man; he had come with grand ambitions, only to die because of his arrogance. No one mourned him. Destiny was a fickle thing, after all.

"Master."

After dismissing the disciples, Liu Ruyan flickered and appeared before Li Changsheng, dropping to one knee. The layout was complete; as a servant, she naturally had to await her master's next command.

"The matter is settled. Develop the Immortal Forest well. It will be of great use in the future."

Li Changsheng’s expression was calm, his voice devoid of emotion. Liu Ruyan bowed respectfully and acknowledged the order.

"Withdraw."

Li Changsheng did not linger. After giving the command, he took a light step, holding Zhao Wan'er’s hand, and vanished instantly! Sword Elder followed close behind.

"Respectfully sending off Master."

Liu Ruyan remained kneeling, bowing deeply until long after Li Changsheng had departed. Only then did she rise, step into the air, and turn to leave.

*Master... did he... just forget about me...?*

Down below, Xiao Tianding, drenched in sweat, felt a pang of heartache. He had fought so hard, just for a word of praise from his master... *Master, it’s fine if you don’t acknowledge my merit, but how could you forget my toil? I was almost slaughtered just now...*

He felt a deep sense of injustice—the feeling of a subordinate running his legs off while the superior merely gave orders.

"Master, wait for me!!"

After a moment of silence, Xiao Tianding sighed bitterly. With a shake of his head, he shouted and, unleashing his Gold Core cultivation, flew rapidly toward the south of the Immortal Forest Sect! *Master may abuse me a thousand times, but my devotion remains unchanged...*

...

"Open the attribute panel."

Li Changsheng was currently sitting outside a quiet pavilion in the south of the Immortal Forest. As he mused, a panel appeared in his mind.

*Still over twenty thousand short?*

Seeing that his Destiny points had reached over three hundred thousand, Li Changsheng smiled. *It seems I should intervene less often.* When he had been suppressing Lin Hao earlier, he had done so much work for a mere few tens of thousands of points. This time, he had barely lifted a finger, and he had easily gained nearly a hundred thousand. Being a mastermind behind the scenes was truly lucrative.

*But,* he wondered, *what would happen if two children of destiny were brought together?* A strange glint flashed in his eyes.

"This is..."

Suddenly, Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the Underworld River behind him trembled, and a drop of its water flew out, transforming into a strange scene before him!

In the image, an elderly man in embroidered robes was kneeling and kowtowing to the sky, muttering prayers.

"My Lord Changsheng, this lowly servant has sinned..."
"The Phantom Demon Palace has been wiped out by this servant, but one woman escaped..."
"This servant deserves to die a thousand deaths..."
"I am guilty, and I am willing to bear your wrath, My Lord..."
"I only beg that you spare the One Sword Sect..."

The man in the image was Zhao Ming, the Sect Master of the One Sword Sect. The man who had only 10 Destiny points. *10 Destiny points...* Li Changsheng remembered him well.

"Sword Elder, go to the One Sword Sect and investigate this matter. Find that person, but do not startle the snake."

Although he didn't want to see Zhao Ming, Li Changsheng looked at the Sword Elder behind him and spoke calmly. According to Zhao Ming's report, only one person had escaped. To be able to escape under the nose of a Law-Establishing cultivator, one was either a person of heaven-defying destiny or a reincarnated master! This concerned a child of destiny and could not be ignored.

"Yes!"

Sword Elder was startled, but after a moment of hesitation, he bowed deeply. Responding respectfully, he turned and stepped into the void, vanishing instantly!

"It is also time to go and greet Lin Hao."

After the Sword Elder left, a sharp glint flashed in Li Changsheng’s eyes. He murmured to himself, took his companion by her slender waist, and stepped out, instantly disappearing into the distance!

"Master, wait for me!"
"Master, wait for me!!"

No sooner had Li Changsheng left than a disheveled figure appeared on the horizon! It was none other than Xiao Tianding, who had rushed over in a panic. Realizing that Li Changsheng had truly forgotten him, Xiao Tianding’s heart felt heavy with bitterness and heartbreak.

"Master..."

His mournful sigh echoed through the air. He looked like a child abandoned, unable to find the warmth of home, wandering the empty mountains in the dead of night, feeling a sense of utter desolation.

"Do not presume to guess the thoughts of the divine. As a slave, you should know your place."
"If you have nothing better to do, help me retrieve an item."

Just then, a voluptuous figure draped in red gauze appeared beside Xiao Tianding. She seemed born with an enchanting aura, every movement radiating intense seduction. As her voice drifted out, Xiao Tianding felt a strange wind sweep over him!

*A mere Void God dares to act this way before me??*

"I am a dignified..."

Xiao Tianding, furious, was about to retort when he found his body moving uncontrollably, flying directly toward the main hall of the Immortal Forest Sect!

...

Meanwhile, in a canyon, the void above suddenly trembled. A noble figure in black and gold embroidered robes stepped out. It was Li Changsheng!

"So, this is where you are."

Li Changsheng spread his divine sense, taking in everything within a radius of ten thousand miles. He murmured to himself. Looking down into the depths of the canyon, he saw a figure in tattered clothes fighting a bloody battle!

The man was surrounded by demonic energy, his expression deranged, bordering on madness! It was Lin Hao! He was currently surrounded by tens of thousands of strange, poisonous insects! His situation was precarious!

However, it was precisely in this dire situation that a strange, profound force began to emerge around Lin Hao! Li Changsheng recognized it—it was the sign of an imminent breakthrough!!

"About to reach the Nascent Soul stage?"

Watching the stubborn, battered youth below, a strange look crossed Li Changsheng’s eyes. He formed a seal and pointed, and a wisp of a remnant soul instantly surged toward a dead poisonous insect beside Lin Hao!

That soul was none other than the remnant of Chu Tian!

*Swish... swish...*