Chapter 94: The Vital Energy Beneath the Scorching Sun, Part Two

"What path have you forged?"

At the threshold of life and death, one determines life and death—for others.

Before the gate of union with the Way, one comprehends the laws of the Way—one’s own.

That is why Gu Yi asked such a question.

Shu Yu and Shu Le still did not understand, but Mo Chi did. "My body is not me. Though my body scatter, I remain. Human nature is true and cannot be defied. My Way is the Way of man."

Gu Yi sneered faintly. "The ways of heaven, earth, and man—and you have grasped only the way of the individual, yet you dare be so arrogant."

"You are mistaken. My parents were human, I was born human, I love people, and I also loathe them. From this I become the Way of man. Then the Way of man is my great path, with no distinction of good or bad, no rank of high or low, because it is my Way."

To say Shu Yu had called him a prodigy was no exaggeration.

"What are you two talking about?" Shu Yu asked in confusion.

Mo Chi's eyes brimmed with desire. "Want to enter the Union realm? Heh heh, I can tell you all of my insights. Once you step into union with the Way, you are no longer the same as in the four earlier realms. Every path in the Union realm is different. Isn't that interesting?"

"Every path in the Union realm is different..." The two girls quietly savored the words, as if trying to draw something unusual from them.

This was the difficulty of the Union realm.

If one could not see through this point, one might remain in the Return to Simplicity realm for a lifetime.

And there were plenty who did.

"I want to fight him," Shu Le suddenly said.

Either death, or transcendence.

"I do as well," Shu Yu said, no less brave.

Mo Chi seemed to have become a coveted prize.

But in truth, Gu Yi understood more: every path in the Union realm is different, whereas every holy law of the Sage realm is the same.

"Then let me go first."

He had his own plan.

His figure drifted slowly forward, sword in hand, held upright.

"Come and try the human Way you look down on." Black spiritual mist rose with his will, first taking the shape of a snake, then gathering intent. "How did you break through realm after realm and enter Return to Simplicity?"

Gu Yi said, "When one gains enlightenment, one passes into the realm."

"How can it be so simple to gain enlightenment? I ask you, what is Spirit Guarding?"

"With my belt growing looser, I do not regret it; for her I grow haggard and worn."

"What is Return to Simplicity?"

"Searching for him in dreams a thousand times over, and then, upon suddenly turning back, finding that person there where the lantern light is fading."

Mo Chi said nothing. After a moment of thought, he said, "You and that girl Shu Yu—I will spare neither of you. Stay and keep me company."

"Impossible."

"It is very possible. Even if you escape this time, I will come after you."

While he was speaking, Gu Yi had already awakened the most active spiritual energy in the area. With a sweep of his sword, it surged up in a roaring upheaval. The boundless tide of spiritual energy was fierce and overwhelming.

In the experience of the other three, none had ever used such a vast amount of spiritual energy, because spiritual energy was stored within the body, and the natural rule for strengthening combat power was to use as little spiritual energy as possible for the best result.

Usually, one was frugal.

But Gu Yi was different. He stood at the center of the tide, like a war god descending from the heavens.

Mo Chi's brow darkened. Black spiritual mist coiled like a snake, winding around his body and veiling his face.

The towering wave of spiritual energy was like a raging flood, yet with a single thought from Gu Yi it came crashing through the air. A high, clear ringing resounded across the world. The lake beneath them churned, the forest shook, and the black mass at the heart of the spiritual vortex looked even more like a lone skiff adrift on the sea.

"We can't drive back that black snake mist," Shu Yu said, lips pressed tight.

Though Gu Yi's attack was grand in momentum, the difference in realms remained. It seemed he still could not injure Mo Chi.

"I already said it—union with the Way means perceiving the laws of heaven and earth and merging into the world. All this spiritual energy will be mine!"

The cold, sinister voice rang by his ear, followed by a thunderous boom.

The one struck by the tidal surge of spiritual energy was actually Gu Yi.

And the spiritual energy in the air revolved and accelerated around that mass of black mist, eventually no longer following Gu Yi's will at all, but moving instead with the black mist.

"Useless, Gu Yi. Mo Chi can siphon away that spiritual energy!" Shu Le could not help warning him.

Gu Yi merely wiped the blood that had spilled from the corner of his mouth after the impact, his gaze fierce as he continued to draw spirit from heaven and earth.

"Hm?" Mo Chi, surrounded by the rotating spiritual energy, was not harmed by the wave; instead, he devoured this unexpected gift. His aura rose with it, yet his expression was not arrogant, only cautious as he watched Gu Yi.

"I, Mo Chi, am not so easily fooled. I’ve killed more people than you brats have ever seen. Though I don’t understand what this little punk is doing, I know you're a clever boy and won't bring trouble on yourself. So whatever you’re planning, I won’t let you continue."

As he spoke, he swept his right hand sideways, and a dense array of spiritual arrows appeared in the space to his right.

It had already been said that any summoned spiritual energy would be absorbed by him, yet Gu Yi still held both hands to the sky and kept at it. If it were some ordinary underestimating fool, they might let him continue. But Mo Chi was a cultivator known as a prodigy and a freak of talent. He had no interest in finding out what Gu Yi was truly planning.

Better to cripple him first.

Gu Yi held his posture unchanged. Even he could not gather too much spiritual energy at will, and the nearby energy had already been summoned; the rest would take a little time.

But the black arrows in his vision were growing larger and larger. If he did not evade them, he would surely die on the spot.

"You do have a plan, don't you?" Shu Yu asked through gritted teeth. She was prepared to strike, but if Gu Yi was doing something foolish, then he would only be wasting her spiritual energy.

"Yes. I plan to stay alive."

Shu Le could sit still no longer. With one hand she tossed her sword upward, letting it hover in the air. Her freed hands drew strange talismanic patterns, then her thumbs and forefingers came together, pulled apart, and thrust forward.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

A pink curtain of light blocked the black arrows flying toward them.

The instant it made contact, Shu Le felt a stabbing pain flood her body. She was only in the Return to Simplicity realm, while her opponent was in Union with the Way. The spiritual energy inside her body drained away rapidly as though being sucked out, and only then was the barrier able to withstand the attack.

As for Mo Chi, he remained composed and unconcerned.

Whoosh!

Shu Le could not defend perfectly, and one arrow slipped through. It streaked past Gu Yi's ear, cutting away a few strands of hair and leaving a shallow red wound along the edge.

"Hng!" Shu Le grunted, forcing herself onward, panting as she said, "Quick... quicker, Gu Yi. My body... can't hold on much longer!"

Boom, boom!

With Gu Yi's sword intent, spiritual energy from all directions formed a second wave, surging and boiling as it charged straight at Mo Chi.

His expression bore a trace of anger and a hint of impatience. "What on earth are you doing, you brat?"

Gu Yi said nothing. He only faced his enemy and concentrated on the battle.

Mo Chi was also thinking: was this opponent actually sending spiritual energy for him to absorb? Impossible. There was only one explanation—this person wanted him to absorb it.

Something was off.

His expression shifted slightly, and he crossed his arms before his chest. His aura suddenly erupted, layers upon layers of substantial spiritual mist bursting out from his body.

He was going to scatter all of it!

"Mo Chi is getting serious," Shu Yu said with a trace of caution.

Gu Yi, however, revealed a barely perceptible smile. Foolish things are often done by clever people.

A pity, for this clever person was named Mo Chi.