He certainly would not answer that question; having already fallen to this state, death was inevitable anyway. Why should he make things easier for another?
“Feng Zikang! You, a disciple from the three teachings and nine schools of the righteous path, actually commit such villainy—are you not afraid of punishment from your own sect!”
His spirit was not yet crushed; he still dared to shout back in defiance.
Feng Zikang gave a cold smile. “That is none of your concern. The only reason I spared your life was for the Bajiu Xuangong and the Art of Transformation. If you tell me willingly, I might even grant you a chance at reincarnation. If not, what difficulty is there in making your body and spirit perish utterly?”
He was bluffing Hongkang with these words. With the Fengshen Bang now involved, Hongkang was the destined person for this tribulation; erasing him would certainly invite immense karmic retribution from the coming great calamity of heaven and earth. But he was exploiting Hongkang’s ignorance of the real situation.
“Body and spirit perish utterly!”
Hongkang’s expression was utterly dejected, his lips mumbling wordlessly.
This, ultimately, was what he feared.
Mortals, after death, could still reincarnate. Once one set foot on the immortal path, there would eventually be a day to return to one’s origins. But after the utter annihilation of body and spirit, it was true descent into eternal night, without a shred of hope.
This was what cultivators feared most.
“Think it over carefully.”
Feng Zikang did not press him further. He took Hongkang’s corpse and returned to Lizhou. The government troops in Lizhou City naturally found their morale soaring. The vanguard of the Guzhongtang forces, seeing Hongkang killed, were terrified and retreated thirty li to set up camp.
A cultivator’s physical body was not something to be defiled lightly. Feng Zikang ordered Hongkang’s body returned, considering it a small gesture of respect towards his sect.
“Senior Brother Feng has indeed succeeded spectacularly, having successfully slain Hongkang. A joyous occasion!”
Master Xuyuan came forward to offer congratulations. Seeing that Hongkang’s vital spirit had scattered, proving his death absolute, he was slightly puzzled, assuming perhaps Feng Zikang had been too heavy-handed and failed to truly succeed.
“This brat did possess some genuine skill. If it weren't for the God-Slaying Blade, I truly wouldn't have managed him!”
Feng Zikang gently stroked the God-Slaying Blade, smiling faintly.
Master Xuyuan observed his composed demeanor. Though suspicion remained in his heart, he felt it inappropriate to press the matter.
“Senior Brother Feng slaying Hongkang today marks the perfect time for us to crush the Guzhongtang forces!” Master Xuyuan then turned to instruct everyone to inspect their troops and prepare to fight immediately.
“Why such haste?”
Luo Kedi was startled. “Master Xuyuan, the enemy troops are slowly retreating in an orderly fashion. Attacking now might lead to excessive losses; this is not the moment for a decisive battle.”
Master Xuyuan sighed. “Do you think I wish this? It’s just that with Hongkang dead, his master is known to be extremely protective. He will surely come looking for trouble. If we don’t seize this opportunity now, I fear this campaign against Guzhongtang will drag on indefinitely, and we’ll never be free of it.”
“Oh?”
Feng Zikang inwardly sneered. Who Hongkang’s master was, he had been completely unaware of before. But Master Xuyuan certainly knew. He hadn't mentioned it before the battle, only speaking up once killing Hongkang rendered everything irreversible.
Of course, Feng Zikang felt no fear of any protective master. Now that he held the Fengshen Bang, he was the destined one of Heaven’s mandate, and at least during this great calamity of heaven and earth, he was completely safe. He only took slight issue with Master Xuyuan’s methods.
“Might I ask who this master of Hongkang’s is?”
Master Xuyuan chuckled. “Senior Brother Feng need not worry. Hongkang was the disciple of True Man Hongye, the Sect Master of Qixia Mountain. Although True Man Hongye is a Core Formation expert, you have nothing to fear.”
Behind Feng Zikang stood the entire military faction of Longhu Mountain, now bolstered by the entire lineage of the Nine Schools. Even those from the rival Three Teachings on the battlefield would have to support him for the sake of his control over the Fengshen Bang. What was there to fear?
“True Man Hongye…”
As Feng Zikang pondered, he suddenly saw a red leaf drifting down from the horizon, landing right before him.
With a loud crash, the red leaf split in two. A voice, ancient and cold, emanated from it.
“Feng Zikang, you killed my disciple. This matter cannot be settled lightly! True Man Hongye of Qixia Mountain will arrive in three days to demand justice!”
“How fast!”
Master Xuyuan’s expression shifted—whether genuine or feigned was unclear. “This… Hongkang’s death, and True Man Hongye learns of it so quickly? I thought it would take at least half a day. I never imagined his devotion to his disciple would bring him here within three days!”
“Damn it! Damn it!” He stamped his foot and sighed. “It’s a pity the eradication of the Guzhongtang forces must be postponed again!”
Feng Zikang saw the performance and smiled faintly. Given Master Xuyuan’s judgment in matters, he must have anticipated this outcome long ago. Putting on this show now was simply ridiculous.
“Master Xuyuan need not worry. To the wronged, the retribution falls. Since I was the one who slew Hongkang, I will bear the full responsibility for this matter to the end!”
Feng Zikang slapped his chest to guarantee it, and a hint of joy bloomed on Master Xuyuan’s face.
“Martial Uncle! True Man Hongye is a Core Formation expert, how can you…”
The gap between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation was far greater than that between Qi Induction and Foundation Establishment. No matter how strong Feng Zikang was, challenging a Core Formation expert with his current Foundation Establishment cultivation was pure fantasy.
Feng Zikang wasn't a fool.
With his current cultivation, ending the life of a Core Formation master would be difficult, but to actually defeat one was a pipe dream. If the opponent possessed any powerful magic treasures or divine abilities, striking first, his fragile Foundation Establishment body might not withstand the assault.
“Heh heh, since it is my master coming forward, naturally I must also invite an expert to assist.”
Feng Zikang certainly had his own calculations. Why should he fight the Core Formation expert alone? If the other side was bringing in experts, then his side didn't need to bear the burden solo.
Even as he said this, his gaze subtly flickered toward Master Xuyuan’s face. Sure enough, he saw the joy in his expression deepen, only to be quickly suppressed.
Clearly, this path of action also fell within his machinations.
His objective was the same as Feng Zikang’s: to fan the flames and make this struggle for the mortal throne even more spectacular.
Though he still didn't know Master Xuyuan’s true origins, for now, they were on the same side. What harm was there in facilitating his wishes? After all, this was also what Feng Zikang desired.
With a Core Formation expert stepping in, this finally began to resemble a genuine tribulation.
In his heart, he hoped that in this great battle, it wouldn't just be Core Formation experts taking action, but even higher-level beings. Though the Three Teachings and Nine Schools had agreed when establishing the Fengshen Bang that Nascent Soul masters and above should not interfere, with the tribulation unfolding, it might be hard to maintain control.
That was a matter for later. Feng Zikang's current task was simply to stir the waters until they were as chaotic as possible.
“Martial Uncle, are you returning to Longhu Mountain?”
Luo Kedi naturally assumed Feng Zikang would return to Longhu Mountain to seek aid from a Core Formation elder to resolve the situation. Feng Zikang, however, shook his head.
“The journey to Longhu Mountain is long. I have a few other places I might visit… but there’s no rush.” Feng Zikang shook his head again. “After these three days, I will meet this True Man Hongye first!”
When he first spoke, Luo Kedi thought he meant the three days were too short for him to return to the military faction of Longhu Mountain for help. But hearing his follow-up words—that he intended to meet True Man Hongye himself—Luo Kedi was greatly alarmed!
“Martial Uncle! That is a Core Formation expert!”
His concern for Feng Zikang was genuine. Feng Zikang laughed heartily. “Kedi, rest assured. I have my own plans. Although I am no match for a Core Formation master, it won’t be that easy for them to kill me. I want to gauge True Man Hongye’s divine methods first, so I know who to find to counter him.”
Master Xuyuan was also surprised, his eyes showing admiration. “Senior Brother Feng truly possesses great courage… However…”
Truthfully, he was also uneasy about Feng Zikang. At this critical juncture, he did not want Feng Zikang dying inexplicably under the walls of Lizhou City.
Feng Zikang nodded to him, smiling slightly. “No need to worry. In three days, everything will be clear!”
Three days later, indeed, the Guzhongtang encampment had set up covered pavilions, with drums and music sounding loudly, seemingly welcoming a person of great virtue.
A Core Formation expert was already at the pinnacle of worldly power. They rarely moved in the mundane world, so their arrival was a major event. It seemed the Guzhongtang forces in the camp dared not treat the reception lightly.
Feng Zikang gazed from afar and saw a mass of red Qi approaching from the northeast, slowly settling into the camp.
“This True Man Hongye’s cultivation method is indeed different from Hongkang’s…”
This was obvious. Hongkang practiced the mysterious and unfathomable Bajiu Xuangong. Feng Zikang didn't know from what fortunate encounter he had acquired this technique. Over the past few days, Feng Zikang had let the Four Symbols Divine Demons torture him, yet he was far tougher than Huo Zhongguang, gritting his teeth and refusing to yield an inch.
“Those from Qixia Mountain do not cultivate the Bajiu Xuangong. They practice a technique called the Heart Method of All Things’ Wither and Flourish. They use the changes in the life force of heaven and earth in meticulous detail, directing it toward the Daoist path,” Master Xuyuan explained, being widely knowledgeable.
“True Man Hongye ascended from Foundation Establishment to the Core Formation stage by borrowing the Great Reincarnation Plate of the Celestial Master Dao. Only then did he succeed by sheer luck; otherwise, it wouldn't be so easy.”
Natural breakthrough to Foundation Establishment was possible, but natural breakthrough to Core Formation was one in ten thousand. Without the aid of the Great Reincarnation Plate, countless people would be stuck fast at this barrier. True Man Hongye’s ability to borrow the Plate from the Celestial Master Dao indicated, on one hand, the subordinate relationship between Qixia Mountain and the Celestial Master Dao, and on the other, that True Man Hongye had earned considerable merit for the Celestial Master Dao.
Feng Zikang smiled faintly, completely unconcerned.
Master Xuyuan, seeing his composure, was impressed. Even he, knowing that such a powerful, top-tier force was targeting him, would likely be unable to eat or sleep in peace. This man, showing no change of expression, was truly worthy of being born for this great calamity of heaven and earth!
“Isn’t this exactly what you wished for, Senior Brother Feng?” he squinted, saying with a smile.
Feng Zikang laughed heartily. “And are not your wishes the same, Master Xuyuan?”
The two exchanged knowing smiles just as a furious roar shook heaven and earth outside the city, making even the city walls hum.
“Who dares harm my disciple? Come out quickly and accept your death!”