Chapter 58: Wager Between Righteousness and Evil, The Oath of Heaven's Consent

However, Xiao Lin had to admit that the Fallen Sword Immortal's imposing manner was indeed quite impressive.

If his previous persona lacked any sort of aura and hardly befitted the ultimate boss who spanned the entirety of the original plot of *Sword Mountain Romance Record*, then at this moment, he undoubtedly possessed a genuine demeanor of a seeker of the Dao.

Just as the Fallen Sword Immortal himself had put it, he was a reflection of Shen Wuhai’s former splendor.

Regarding this, Xiao Lin did not feel for a second that the development team was being superfluous.

In fact, the more imposing the Fallen Sword Immortal appeared, the more valuable it would be when he eventually killed him later on.

Otherwise, a villain who only made verbal threats would merely feel like a two-dimensional cutout to the audience, no matter how many times he was killed.

It would lack all sense of reality and gratification.

Watching the character of the Fallen Sword Immortal gradually gain depth, Xiao Lin could not help but mentally give the development team a thumbs-up.

As long as they did not delve into his past and flashbacks, the development team was generally reliable.

"Seeking the Dao." Xiao Lin's eyes flickered, as if he had some realization. "Is this why you waited for me here?"

The Fallen Sword Immortal said leisurely, "I have already told you, I am Shen Wuhai’s obsession and pursuit of the Great Dao. It’s just that after fusing with myriad evil thoughts, the Dao I pursue can naturally no longer be the Sword Dao, but another Dao."

"The Evil Dao?"

"That is where you are mistaken." The Fallen Sword Immortal shook his head. "What I seek is simply to rid the world of all evil thoughts so that, looking across the mortal realm, there will be no more disputes or chaos. Surely... would that not be considered the Righteous Dao?"

Xiao Lin’s eyelids twitched slightly.

Well, here comes a villain who wants to remake the world and make it a better place.

"I already told you, do not attempt to bewitch me. Your prized demagoguery is nothing more than a joke in front of me," Xiao Lin sneered. "If evil thoughts were to vanish, you would perish of your own accord without anyone needing to lift a finger. Could it be that you are willing to sacrifice yourself for such a world?"

"If that were truly the case, why ever not?"

The Fallen Sword Immortal’s gaze was incomparably earnest.

Xiao Lin remained silent, clearly unconvinced.

The two of them tacitly brought this topic to a close.

The Fallen Sword Immortal smiled. "I know you don't believe me, and it is impossible for you to switch to practicing evil arts. Your existence is undoubtedly the biggest stumbling block on my path of seeking the Dao, so there is only one option..."

"Kill you."

These three simple words instantly turned the previously peaceful atmosphere solemn and murderous.

Even the lake breeze stopped right on cue.

The wind died down, leaving only the chirping of two or three cicadas from the shore drifting vaguely into the boat and brushing against their ears.

Xiao Lin suddenly laughed. "Is this why you dragged me into a dream last night—to tell me that you hold a city full of citizens hostage, and force me to surrender?"

The Fallen Sword Immortal shook his head. "No."

"Why I devised that scheme is naturally not something I would tell you; otherwise, what kind of plan would it be?" the Fallen Sword Immortal said calmly. "However, uttering such words underestimates not me, but yourself..."

Xiao Lin was slightly taken aback.

The Fallen Sword Immortal said slowly, "Having died at your hands, I understand you better than anyone. You are not one of those pedantic old fools; on the contrary, your sense of justice is both pragmatic and pure."

"If I truly threatened you with a city full of ordinary people, you would likely only watch them die with your own eyes, and then return the favor a hundredfold upon me to avenge those citizens."

"Otherwise, if you grow to become a Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivator in the future, are you telling me that if any random Qi Refining evil cultivator threatens you with a few hundred people, you would just directly slit your own throat? You aren't that foolish."

"Furthermore, this is not what I desire."

A wave of shock truly rippled through Xiao Lin’s heart.

The Fallen Sword Immortal had actually seen right through him.

Faced with the trolley dilemma, his only thought would indeed be to eliminate the person who posed the problem.

Sacrifice or devotion—preserving oneself always came first.

At that moment, Xiao Lin’s expression tightened as he developed an unprecedented level of respect for the Fallen Sword Immortal.

He finally realized that the Fallen Sword Immortal in front of him was no longer the generic minion who could only bark furiously, but a heavyweight character of immense substance.

If he didn't take him seriously, there was a real possibility of capsizing.

Seemingly sensing the shift in Xiao Lin’s attitude toward him, the Fallen Sword Immortal smiled faintly. "Therefore, I would like to propose a wager with you. I wonder if you..."

"Dare to take the bet?"

Before Xiao Lin could say anything, the Fallen Sword Immortal continued, "That is a redundant question; you will certainly bet, for the sake of the city's inhabitants."

Xiao Lin looked at him indifferently. "What are we wagering on?"

Clap, clap, clap.

The Fallen Sword Immortal gave a few slow claps and said, "This city full of commoners is indeed a threat, but I would never use such crude tactics to back you into a corner and bind your hands. On the contrary, I will give you ample time to gather your forces so you can meet my onslaught."

"You can even rest assured that I won't resort to making you pay with your own life in the end to exchange for the lives of these citizens. Instead, the price will be something else. What do you say?"

"When all is said and done, do I have a choice? So stop acting like you possess the moral high ground." Xiao Lin instantly saw through the Demonic nature of the Fallen Sword Immortal. "There must be other conditions. Speak."

"Shen Wuhai stopped at nothing to seek the Dao; why shouldn't I? An evil cultivator is what I am." The Fallen Sword Immortal smiled. "The only condition is that no Golden Core experts are permitted to come."

"Very well, but I don't trust you."

Anticipating this, the Fallen Sword Immortal’s seemingly normal arm suddenly turned into black qi, yet he still forced several drops of scarlet blood out from it.

Using blood as ink, he began drawing something in the void while murmuring under his breath, "The heavens as my witness, the Dao as my proof, I take my vital blood as a pact and my soul as collateral..."

Driven by his incantation, those droplets of blood gradually condensed into a bloody curse.

"...Not using the mortals of this city as leverage to threaten Xiao Lin into trading his life for theirs. Should I violate this oath, may the nine heavens strike me with lightning and my soul plunge into the endless abyss!"

Boom!

A sudden clap of thunder exploded across the sky, as if responding to the Fallen Sword Immortal.

This oath was granted by the Heavens.

The Fallen Sword Immortal withdrew his arm. "I have sworn a Heavenly Dao oath. Can you rest assured now?"

"As for this oath, you need not swear it."

Xiao Lin silently nodded, though a calm smile played within his heart.

The Fallen Sword Immortal had racked his brains and pulled out all the stops to construct this stage, all to strip away his cultivation and destroy his foundation before the entire world.

Little did he know that all of this was equivalent to making wedding garments for him in vain.

With a villain like this, how could one lack foreshadowing, and how could one worry about lacking popularity points?

Xiao Lin truly wanted to stand up, pat the Fallen Sword Immortal on the shoulder, and say, "Not bad, Old Fallen. When the time comes, I'll definitely blow the suona to send you off in high spirits."

Yet his outward expression remained entirely grave and devoid of any hint of emotion.

The Fallen Sword Immortal chuckled. "Five days. I give you five days. Whether you can save this city full of people depends entirely on what methods you possess."

"Fellow Daoist, please take your leave; I won't be seeing you out."

Hearing this, Xiao Lin remained rooted to his chair as if nailed down, not moving an inch.

"I truly did not expect that you would spare the citizens and spare me, doing all this purely for the sake of the Dao. I truly underestimated you before."

A look of perplexity crossed the Fallen Sword Immortal's eyes. "Hm?"

He then heard Xiao Lin continue, "Though I do not know what kind of Dao you seek that requires you to make such a grand production of it, reserving a battle with me for five days hence, I have at least realized one thing: at least until then, you won't do anything to me, and you dare not do anything to me."

A sense of ominous foreboding stirred in the Fallen Sword Immortal's heart.

The next moment, a cold gleam flashed as the Immortal Slayer sword was unsheathed. An aura of Asura righteousness—one that made the souls of everyone present tremble—instantly enveloped them all.

Asura Soul-Slaying Domain.

Xiao Lin’s cold, merciless voice echoed through the space.

"What need is there for oaths? What need is there for five days? Acting on behalf of the heavens, I execute justice right here and now."

"Those whose righteousness falls short of mine..."

"Shall have their souls shattered into dust!"