Library of Heaven’s Path

“Why?” Zhang Xuan asked in confusion.

He did not understand what the difference between him and Luo Ruoxin was.

The two of them possessed the fragments of the heavens, so why could his fragment of the heavens not be snatched? Was it because he was too weak?

“You haven’t become a God Monarch on par with us yet,” Kong shi replied. “Only upon reaching this level can the fragment of heavens inside you be said to have fully matured. Otherwise, the imbalance in power would make it impossible to fuse the two fragments together, possibly causing a collapse in harmony instead.”

Zhang Xuan nodded in realization.

If one viewed the different fragments of the heavens as separate powers, it would be of paramount importance to ensure that those powers were on par with one another before fusing them together. Otherwise, it would just lead to one power suppressing the other, resulting in internal disharmony within the body.

If so, instead of saving the world, he could very well be harming everyone instead.

“The Firmament and the heavens, huh?” Zhang Xuan muttered with a bitter look on his face.

It was no wonder everyone said that it was impossible to avoid this life-and-death duel. He could see what was going on now.

This was the fate that was destined for the three of them. If they attempted to defy this fate, it would only spell the end of the world.

“Is there really no other way?” Zhang Xuan asked silently.

All along, he had been grateful that he had the Library of Heaven’s Path with him. However, rather than a blessing, it turned out to be an obligation instead.

“I have been thinking hard over the years, and I did manage to come up with an idea. However, I don’t know whether it’s truly feasible or not. You are very fortunate to be walking on a different path from mine. Perhaps you will reach heights that I’ll never be able to,” Kong shi said with a gentle smile.

It felt like he had really seen through life and death, paying nearly no heed to it at all.

“A different path from yours?” Zhang Xuan asked in confusion.

“Well, the secrets of the heavens mustn’t be divulged, or else it could lead to unintended consequences. It’s all up to you… In any case, God Monarch Lingxi and I have already done everything that we need to. As for how far you can go, that’s up to you,” Kong shi said.

Seeing how the other party was unwilling to talk about this matter, Zhang Xuan knew that it was pointless for him to continue probing. So, he asked about another matter instead. “Kong shi, I have comprehended the Heavens’ Imperfections whereas you have comprehended the Heavens’ Order. Do you know what God Monarch Lingxi has comprehended?”

That was the one thing that he had been curious about all this while.

If the heavens had been split into three fragments, what was it that Luo Ruoxin had comprehended?

Why could Luo Ruoxin sense him whereas he was unable to feel anything at all?

“I am also quite curious about that!” Kong shi replied with a shake of his head.

“You don’t know either?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

In order to investigate Kong shi, Luo Ruoxin went all the way down to the Master Teacher Continent in order to uncover his abilities, and yet, Kong shi did not even know what kind of abilities Luo Ruoxin possessed.

How was he intending to win the duel like that?

“Over the past forty years, I have spent my time comprehending the nature of the heavens of the Firmament. Despite its deficiency, it was still able to sustain itself without completely collapsing. It felt like there was some sort of power working in the background to protect the lives in the Firmament,” Kong shi suddenly remarked.

There were many things that he could not talk to his direct disciples about, and his relationship with the Nine God Monarchs was poor. In the end, it turned out that the only person he could really confide in was Zhang Xuan.

“Do you mean to say is that the power that is working in the background has something to do with Ruoxin? So, has she comprehended something along the lines of the Heavens’ Protection?” Zhang Xuan asked.

Despite the uncompassionate nature of the heavens, it still provided the environment that allowed countless lives to thrive within it.

For example, the environment of his previous world had been so intricately designed to shelter the life living on it from most harm, be it the ozone layer or the elements that make up each habitat.

This could be the way in which the heavens protected the world.

Could this be the final fragment of the Firmament?

“It’s possible, but what I have in mind is different from that,” Kong shi said with a shake of his head. “I believe that the ability she has comprehended has something to do with the Heavens’ Nature. Due to that, the people of the Sky of Freedom highly respect autonomy and freedom. As for the Heavens’ Protection, I think that it is a notion embedded within the idea of the Heavens’ Nature.”

“I see…” Zhang Xuan nodded.

“It’s all conjecture on my part at the moment. It’ll take some looking into in order to figure out the truth,” Kong shi said with a smile.

Zhang Xuan was silent for a moment before he asked, “How confident are you in the fight?”

“Not very. However, it won’t be that easy to bring me down,” Kong shi replied with a composed yet deeply confident tone.

He had come a long way to reach where he currently was. He had founded the Master Teacher Pavilion and the Ethereal Hall, and he had singlehandedly challenged eight of the God Monarchs, allowing his reputation to echo all over the world.

He was confident that no matter what kind of adversities stood in his path, he would be able to overcome them eventually.

Seeing this, Zhang Xuan could not help but sigh once more.

There was no way to get around this.

If Kong shi won, it would spell Luo Ruoxin’s death, and vice-versa. There was no way to circumvent it!

But after hearing Kong shi’s words, he knew that it was futile for him to struggle to stop this duel.

The War of the Heavens was a fight that they would not be able to escape. It was their responsibility and obligation to see the fight to the end!

“There’s no need to worry. I…”

Sensing Zhang Xuan’s worries, Kong shi chuckled softly beneath his breath. But just as he was about to say something, the spiritual energy in the air suddenly began trembling, swiftly becoming frighteningly violent.

At the same time, the earth also began to tremor.

Both Zhang Xuan and Kong shi quickly walked out of the room, and looking at the dark sky, they saw a full moon. Its brilliant silver light shone coldly upon the lands.

“Teacher…”

The disciples whom Kong shi had gestured to leave earlier had gathered once more, and they looked at their teacher with eyes reddened in agitation.

The night of the full moon had come, and the battle was about to begin.

“We have walked a long journey together, and you know my temperament. Life and death are part and parcel of life. Once autumn sinks in, unfortunate as it may be, leaves will be shed, and flowers will wither. However, that is all in preparation for a new spring,” Kong shi said. “If I fail to return from the duel, you are to serve Zhang Xuan as your new leader. With him around, you’ll be safe from danger.”

“I understand,” Kong shi’s direct disciples replied.

“Me? Everyone here is my senior, so how can I take on this responsibility?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Be it Ancient Sage Ran Qiu, Ancient Sage Zi Yuan, Ancient Sage Bo Shang, or Ancient Sage Qiu Wu…

They were all his seniors, and he had benefited greatly from their guidance in the past.

It did not seem appropriate for him to become their leader.

“As someone who has a fragment of the heavens, you should be more confident in yourself,” Kong shi said with a wave of his hand.

“But my strength is still lacking…”

His cultivation was only at God King realm primary stage, and it would likely take him a long time before he could reach the pinnacle stage, let alone Conferred God King.

Given that Ancient Sage Zi Yuan and the others were all stronger than him… he could not help but feel deeply pressured becoming their leader.

“Your strength is only temporary. You have comprehended a cultivation technique that surpasses the heavens, so it’s only a matter of time before you become a transcendental existence,” Kong shi said with a smile. “You don’t need to worry too much about it. I am only saying this if the worst-case scenario comes to be. If I come back alive, the final duel will eventually be between you and me…”

Zhang Xuan was speechless for a moment before nodding in resignation. “Alright, I’ll take good care of the Master Teacher Pavilion.”

It would be unbecoming of him to turn down the request of someone who could very well lose his life in the duel.

Nodding with a satisfied smile, Kong shi said, “The duel is about to begin. I’ll be heading off now. Farewell…”

Hu!

Right after saying those words, Kong shi leaped into the air and swiftly flitted toward the full moon.

“Kong shi, take me there as well!” Zhang Xuan quickly shouted.

This was a duel that involved Kong shi and Luo Ruoxin. Even if he could not stop it, he wanted to witness it with his own eyes.

However, Kong shi had already completely vanished from sight, seemingly having missed his words.