Chapter 179: Chapter 178: Secret Battle (Part 6)_1
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Your swordsmanship has improved since we last parted.
Facing Ji Liushuang’s immediate strike, Fu Qian still did not make any move.
He was very certain that this was not an attempt to kill him.
The sword thrust straight forward, eventually stopping with the tip at Fu Qian’s forehead.
An invisible ripple swiftly expanded.
The next moment, Fu Qian felt a jolt in his spirit, and everything went black.
When his vision returned, Fu Qian found himself in a pure white space, with Ji Liushuang sitting opposite him with proper decorum.
“This is Xinjian Prison.”
Seeing that Fu Qian had regained his senses, Ji Liushuang slowly began to speak, still in that flat tone.
“The Heart-Questioning Sword I just used allows our consciousnesses to converge here, so we can communicate as pure entities of awareness.”
“Pleased to meet you!”
Fu Qian was not at all surprised and greeted “it” who had personally taken action.
“The special thing about Xinjian Prison is that you can’t lie while you’re in it; that’s why I’ve decided to talk to you here.”
Ji Liushuang watched Fu Qian without blinking.
“So… I have a proposition for you, given the current situation, and I hope you will consider it carefully.”
“Sure, by the way, how should I address you?”
“Is there any need for a special title?”
Ji Liushuang shook her head.
“Actually, I chose to come in this form because it’s the least effort, and also because you have a lower degree of rejection toward her. It’s better to continue using the previous name.”
“Alright.”
Fu Qian was not a stickler for details, so he nodded at once.
“You can tell me your proposition now.”
“My proposition is simple… become my believer.”
“Believer… and then?”
“We would stop the pointless fighting, you would share my power and be granted eternal protection, a link that even I cannot sever.
You would become the foremost person on the Sword Dao of all time and have an unobstructed path to godhood!”
Ji Liushuang pointed to herself.
“Furthermore, all who comprehend Sword Intent will unconsciously gravitate towards you as their core. You will be the invisible king in their lives.”
“It does sound quite tempting.”
Fu Qian stroked his chin with his right hand as if pondering.
“These are the benefits. What about the downsides?”
“There are no downsides; if what you’re asking about are changes… becoming my believer means opening your mind to me, you will forget my existence.”
“But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You just need to enjoy the protection, which can actually prevent the current situation.”
“I think I understand.”
Fu Qian sighed.
“So what do you say?”
Ji Liushuang looked directly at Fu Qian.
“I need a little time to consider, and before I give you a formal answer, may I ask a few minor questions?”
“…Ask away.”
“When did you merge with Sword Intent?”
“I…”
Apparently not expecting Fu Qian to ask this, Ji Liushuang hesitated to answer for a moment.
“As expected, you can’t say here that you are the Sword Intent.”
Fu Qian had a look of ‘I knew it’ on his face.
“It seems my guess is right; there’s no fundamental difference between us; we are both contaminations of the concept of Sword Intent, except you took the lead.”
“The Swordsmanship Department people really are unlucky, diligently practicing their cultivation only to have their spiritual totem turn into an Evil God!”
“If not for me, most of them wouldn’t stand a chance of comprehending Sword Intent in their lifetimes.”
Ji Liushuang snorted, implicitly acknowledging Fu Qian’s guess.
“You haven’t answered my question yet.”
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“It’s been a long time, but I completely digested it a few years ago.”
Facing Fu Qian’s question, “It” also no longer concealed anything.
“Was it from that time that you began to actively respond to summons?”
Fu Qian remembered what Lanaia had mentioned about the great development of the Swordsmanship Department.
“Yes, but I was very restrained, no one could sense my presence, except you…”
“In fact, it’s not bad for everyone. They got what they had always dreamt of while I grew quietly.”
“Believe me, after becoming one of my followers, you would receive far more than them!”
“Alright, I’ve answered enough questions, now it’s your turn to give an answer.”
Hmm!
Fu Qian nodded.
“Thank you very much, I’ve basically got answers to all my doubts, and I also feel your sincerity.
Innate Sword Deity, Son of Destiny, they do sound impressive—but I refuse!”
“Why?”
That instant, “It’s” tone became cold and gloomy.
“I am a person who pursues freedom.”
Fu Qian blinked.
“I don’t like being dominated.”
“How absurd, cognition and consciousness are all influenced by various factors. How can you be sure that your current thoughts have not been controlled by a higher existence?”
“You should know that even an existence like me cannot determine if there is such a thing as fate.”
“Considering my recent experiences, I really can’t.”
In the face of “Its” counter-question, Fu Qian honestly replied.
“Then what’s the meaning of your so-called pursuit of freedom? What impact does my intangible protection have on you?
You’re not like those young humans, are you?
Declaring the whole world wrong at the slightest setback, claiming to pursue absolute freedom, yet rebellion often lasts only until one achieves success.
No one has ever been able to control their destiny, let alone be certain of what fate is… you can’t be that foolish, can you?”
“Discuss philosophy? Sure!”
Listening to “Its” increasingly eager voice, Fu Qian’s smile remained unfaded.
“Indeed, I am not one of those ‘the whole world is wrong’ types of people. Of course, a long time ago, after certain things happened, I did briefly enter that state, for about a week.”
“In fact, the difference between me and them lies in—”
Fu Qian’s expression became serious.
“I don’t care about the right and wrong of the world!”
…
Facing the silent Ji Liushuang, Fu Qian pointed a finger.
“I come, I see, I think, I act, but I have only one demand of myself… even if one day, waking from eons of time, I find that the universe is but a glass globe in the hands of divine beings, and my life is merely an illusory flash, I will have no regrets about each moment of thought and decision.
I can be foolish and clumsy, but I must not deceive myself or others.”
Fu Qian gestured around.
“Look, I have spoken these words as well, proving that I am not lying.”
“You really are mad…”
“It” was silent for a long time before finally speaking.
“Mad? According to your logic just now, who defines ‘madness’? Is someone mad just because they don’t fit your ideas?”
“Enough!”
Under Fu Qian’s relentless mental barrage, “It” finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Since you are so unreasonable, then it will be a fight to the death, let’s see how long you can hold out!”
Ji Liushuang abruptly stood up, waved her hand attempting to dismiss the Sword Prison, but the next moment, she froze—the pure white Sword Prison was as stable as ever.
“Oops, no response, what’s going on?”
Fu Qian made a mock surprised sound, his smile turning crazed.
“I was just thinking, since the essence is the same, there’s no reason you can do something I cannot, this place was formed by the union of our two consciousnesses and naturally, it’s influenced by two wills as well.”
“So, now that we’ve come this far, no one can leave until there’s an outcome!”
“Today, one of us must die!”
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