by <unknown>
"We have calculated every detail carefully. No proof has ever been left. Don't be fooled, everybody!" Xiao Xuance assured them and kept listening.
"Your so-called 'proof' is purely groundless and not of any worth," Si Koulie said. "I agreed to talk to you only because I had guessed who you were!
"You are… Bai Xinghe!"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe replied with silence. There was nothing except the blank noise in the communication channel.
"As expected of the Pirate Potentate," Si Koulie said. "You were bold enough to barge into Heavenly Saints City all by yourself.
"I was very curious about your real purpose. That was why I decided to talk to you. But no worries. The conversation is just between us, because I know very clearly that you are monitoring it in a certain way and will run away quickly at the earliest ominous sign.
"Bai Xinghe, although you've been a major headache for the Cultivators, it is also a fact that you waged a war against the Temple of Immortals five years ago. So, I'm willing to give you a chance and hear what you have to say.
"However, if what you are going to say is crap like that, then you might as well save your time. I will abort the communication immediately and order your capture.
"Right. I can offer you a piece of information for free.
"According to the deductions and calculations we made in the last five years, of the four kings of the Temple of Immortals, at least one is fake. Either the Lotus King or the Sea King does not exist at all!"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe seemed to be surprised. He exclaimed, "What?"
"Don't you see?" Si Koulie sneered. "The so-called four kings were the Temple of Immortals' own claim. It is just their own words. Not just four kings. If they want, they can declare that they have a hundred and eight kings!
"A nonexistent Lotus King or Sea King has forced us to waste a huge amount of manpower and resources on investigations over the past years, to the point that every Cultivator lived in fear. Many Cultivators were suspected or accused and had to suspend their work. As a result, our counterattack plan was postponed for years, and intense mistrust among the six sects of Heavenly Saints City, the Star Fighters' Alliance, and Iron Plateau was brewing!
"From that perspective, a nonexistent Lotus King or Sea King is as damaging as the Mountain King or the Black King, isn't he?
"Even if we destroy the Temple of Immortals someday, we cannot eliminate a nonexistent person. The so-called Lotus King or Sea King will haunt us and live on as a symbol and an idol when the Immortal Cultivators rise again.
"Now, are you still insisting that Xiao Xuance is the Lotus King or the Sea King?"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe replied coldly, "Interesting news. However, I do not intend to accuse Xiao Xuance of being the Lotus King or the Sea King. Not at all."
"Is that so?" There was surprise in Si Koulie's voice. He said, "Then, what kind of indictments are you going to make that can push Xiao Xuance down right before the final battle?"
The man he spoke to said, "How about intentional homicide?"
"Who is the victim?" Si Koulie asked.
"Tomorrow," the man said, "the morale-boosting rally for the battle of Spider Den will be held. The leadership of more than four hundred and seventy of the top 500 sects will attend. It is definitely the greatest event in the world of Cultivators in the past five thousand years!
"If you present unquestionable evidence to the tens of thousands of Cultivators at the rally, proving that Xiao Xuance butchered a whole starship of Cultivators and ordinary people a hundred and twenty years ago just in order to steal their food, fuel, and supplies, do you think your arraignment can push down Xiao Xuance, the leader of all Cultivators and the crownless king?"
His words struck Xiao Xuance like a lightning.
Xiao Xuance's mask-like cold and determined face cracked and collapsed.
"A hundred and twenty years ago…"
Xiao Xuance's eyelids were twitching violently beyond his control.
The Immortal Cultivators were all discussing heatedly, too.
They had thought that the dangerous person would provide certain evidence suggesting that Xiao Xuance was the Lotus King of the Temple of Immortals and a hardcore Immortal Cultivator.
They were all prepared for such a prosecution and had hundreds of countermeasures.
But the man had tossed out such an unexpected bomb!
Even Si Koulie seemed to be caught unprepared. He asked, "A hundred and twenty years ago, he butchered a whole starship of Cultivators and ordinary people?"
The man who was suspected to be Bai Xinghe replied, "You heard me. The Star Fighters' Alliance must have investigated Xiao Xuance's background, too. You should know that he was involved in a cosmic storm a hundred and twenty years ago and luckily escaped after going missing for a long time."
"Yes," Si Koulie mumbled, "it is true that he was unfortunately consumed by a cosmic storm during an operation to hunt space pirates. He did not appear with the seriously damaged crystal warship again until after almost half a year.
"Are you suggesting that, for his own survival, he looted other starships and killed innocent people during the half year?
"If such an accusation is true, Xiao Xuance will definitely be crucified. But tell me one thing first. How do you know about it?"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe laughed in grief and misery. "It's simple. I was an eyewitness of the event!
"I saw with my own eyes that Xiao Xuance killed my parents as well as everyone else on board!"
Si Koulie gasped, utterly shocked by the breaking news.
Xiao Xuance's body shook slightly. He gritted his teeth and said, "Hurry up and get all of Bai Xinghe's photos and videos in our database. Scan and rebuild Bai Xinghe's appearance. Try to show his face between the age of seven to ten. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!"
The conversation went on in the communication channel. Si Koulie calmed himself down and said, "If everything you said is part of the Temple of Immortals' scheme, then I have to admit that this is much more refreshing than the previous accusations I have heard."
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe said calmly, "Although I've told countless lies in my life, I am speaking the truth this time.
"In the cosmic storm, my parents' crystal warship was taking shelter in the same place as Xiao Xuance's did. In the end, we all ran out of food and supplies and could not persist any longer.
"For survival, Xiao Xuance butchered everyone on our starship. I luckily escaped because of my parents' protection, only to end up on Spider Den and become a space pirate later.
"From then on, to destroy Xiao Xuance and avenge my parents has been the sole purpose in my life!
"After I became the Pirate Potentate, I began gathering proof about the crime years ago in secret, but it was a long time ago and Xiao Xuance had covered up most of the evidence.
"I spent my whole life collecting enough evidence to prove that Xiao Xuance was guilty, but I never had the opportunity to send it out before I was involved in the final battle against the Temple of Immortals.
"Thankfully, the heavens watched over me. I was not killed below the ground. It's been five years, and I've finally crawled back out!"
Chapter 784: I Am Not Bai Xinghe |
Si Koulie finished his story for him. "Then, you snuck into Heavenly Saints City, found me, and hoped that I could help you crucify Xiao Xuance with the evidence you provided?
"A very marvelous story, but there is one issue.
"If you really have solid proof, why did you not store it in the Cosmos Ring and send it to me along with the Great Pagoda VII communicator?
"Or, is the so-called evidence nonexistent, and everything part of your trick?"
The other man chuckled. "The evidence is of paramount importance. It is my lifelong work. Of course, I would not send it in a package. Who knew whether or not it would be blocked half way through?
"Moreover…" he paused for a moment and said unhurriedl
y, "why would I give you all the evidence when we have not negotiated the conditions yet?"
Si Koulie laughed. "You need conditions to avenge your parents?"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe replied, "There's no need to be sarcastic. A guy as smart as you must have realized that, if Xiao Xuance was coldblooded enough to butcher a starship of innocent people a hundred and twenty years ago, his personality is no different from that of the Immortal Cultivators. The odds that he is also an Immortal Cultivator will significantly increase!
"If Xiao Xuance is really an Immortal Cultivator, the battle of Spider Den to come shortly is likely a great trap that could potentially overturn the world of Cultivators.
"Even if you are selfless enough to not want to push down Xiao Xuance for your own interests, you don't want the Flying Star Sector to be mired in chaos and ruled by the Immortal Cultivators, do you?
"For me, it doesn't matter. Even if the Immortal Cultivators assume power, I'm now all by myself with a different appearance, and I can live a comfortable life anywhere!
"But you are different. The Star Fighters' Alliance is too large an enterprise for you to run anywhere. Besides, your ideology is the opposite of the Immortal Cultivators'. A brutal fight for the true path of the great Dao is inevitable!
"Therefore, the evidence is more important to you than it is to me.
"If you are unwilling to make a deal, we can always go our separate ways. I can leave now and wait to watch how Cultivators like you are slaughtered in the battle of Spider Den patiently."
Si Koulie was silent for a moment, before he opened his mouth again. "What are your conditions?"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe said, "Firstly, abandon the investigation and the pursuit of Bai Xinghe forever. Bai Xinghe is really dead. All the crimes that he committed when he was alive should be pardoned. I am not Bai Xinghe."
"That explains a lot. You reincarnated yourself in a different body!"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe remarked, "That's what you say. I did not say, nor did I admit, that I am Bai Xinghe.
"In another several years, when my soul and my body are better combined, there will be no proof that can associate me with Bai Xinghe.
"I can swear a Blood Oath to you that I don't have any ill intentions. I'm just tired of being a space pirate and want to live a tranquil life under a different identity."
"What else?" Si Koulie asked.
'Bai Xinghe' smiled and said, "Secondly, I'm alone and cash-strapped right now, and I don't want to make a living with what I'm familiar with. Therefore, shouldn't the Cultivators provide decent support for a big devil who has abandoned darkness for the light? You know, for the sake of the peace of our society?"
"How much money do you want?" Si Koulie questioned.
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe was angry. "Money? What kind of person do you think I am? Isn't it too vulgar to talk about money for people in our level?
"I don't want any money. I merely want the ownership of certain Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, resources, real estate, natural paradises, and mother lodes. Here's the inventory…"
He spoke an astronomical number of items.
Both Si Koulie in the Star Fighters' Plaza and the Immortal Cultivators on Heavenly Phantom were dumbfounded by his demand.
Si Koulie raised his voice. "You are insane!"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe snickered and said, "Si Koulie, you must bear in mind that the evidence that I'm about to offer you will possibly rescue the entire Flying Star Sector. Is my reward too high for you? It seems that you don't value the Flying Star Sector highly enough!"
Si Koulie said solemnly, "It's not about the worth. Tomorrow is the morale-boosting rally. I cannot prepare so many things overnight even if I agree to your conditions!"
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe said, "It doesn't matter. I can trust your promise as long as you agree to my conditions. However—"
He finished the rest of his demand quickly. "I want you to get to an uncompleted building named 'Complex Star Plaza' in the northwest district of the tenth space ring in an hour and a half.
"I have established a 'Spiritual Horn Soul Poisoning Array' inside the building. As long as we make a Blood Oath in the array, the oaths will be a hundred times more effective than normal Blood Oaths. The consequences when the oaths are broken are too much even for a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.
"I will swear that all the evidence I give you is true and that I will retire, cause no damage to the Flying Star Sector, and kill no innocent people in the future.
"In return, you will swear that you will withdraw the accusations and bounties on Bai Xinghe and transfer everything I demanded legally to me bit by bit.
"There is no room for the space pirates in the Flying Star Sector in the future. With so many resources at my disposal, there is no reason for me to restart my old job.
"If you break the vow, you will suffer the consequences yourself first. Then, I will kill your entire family one by one!
"Hehehehe. Si Koulie, I am much younger than you. You are old and weary. With the consequences of the strengthened Blood Oath, you will not live another ten years! After you are dead, I will have plenty of time to send your offspring to the hell to accompany you!
"Therefore, with such assurances, I think neither of us will break our vows, will we?"
Si Koulie did not burst into fury. He replied calmly, "How do I know that it is not a trap? Chances are that you will assassinate me when I just set foot in the tenth space ring!
"We are all in the Nascent Soul Stage, but you are a combat-type one; I'm no match for you."
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe replied, "What benefits can I get by killing you?
"If everything I said was a lie, or a scheme of the Temple of Immortals, killing you is still meaningless, because you are just the second in command of the world of Cultivators. There's still Xiao Xuance above you!
"Killing you will only infuriate the Cultivators and cannot stop the final battle."
Si Koulie pondered for a long time and said, "Alright. I promise you, but I will not go there by myself. Four bodyguards will come with me.
"Make no mistake. It's not because I don't trust you, but because there might be assassins of the Temple of Immortals in the tenth space ring."
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe said, "Alright. You can bring four bodyguards, but not 'Su Changhe'. He is an expert in mental attacks. I don't want any experts of mental attacks to be near me. Choose a different one!
"Also, you cannot tell your bodyguards your true purpose, nor can you reveal our conversation to anybody else.
"The more people who know it, the more danger I will be in. I trust nobody in this place, including you!
"If a third person learns of the matter, I will go away immediately and hide myself in a place that is totally safe. I will simply watch the army of Cultivators' doom on Spider Den."
"There's no need for alarmism," Si Koulie said. "I will make a judgement myself as to if your story is true when I see the evidence."
The man suspected to be Bai Xinghe sneered and cut off the communication.
On Heavenly Phantom, there was nothing but dead silence in the command center of the Immortal Cultivators.
On the light beam, a 3D image of Bai Xinghe's head appeared.
With the efforts of the facial analysis specialists and the modelling experts, the wrinkles on the face were gradually removed, and the skin became smoother and younger.
Eventually, it turned into a face of a boy around eight years old.
"This is the most likely appearance of Bai Xinghe when he was eight!"
Xiao Xuance gazed at the face, deep in thought.
"CEO!" One of the Immortal Cultivators stood up and asked solemnly, "Is what Bai Xinghe just said true?"
Xiao Xuance nodded slowly and said with a heavy heart, "It is. I know the face. There was such a boy on the starship. I thought that he was killed during the explosion.
I did not know that he slipped through the accident and even became the Pirate Potentate!"
Humming whispers were immediately echoing among the Immortal Cultivators.
The Immortal Cultivator continued his questioning. "Then, theoretically speaking, is it possible that Bai Xinghe gathered solid evidence about the event years ago?"
Xiao Xuance lowered his head and considered carefully for ten seconds, before he struggled to nod his head. "If Bai Xinghe said that he grasped evidence that I was the Lotus King, it would have been absolutely impossible. The whole thing would definitely be a trap.
"However, when the incident occurred, I was not the leader of the Feathered Snakes Brotherhood yet, nor the CEO of the Grand Illusionary Group. The Second Imperium was far from being established, too. There were not many resources that were absolutely under my control.
"Theoretically speaking, it is indeed possible that Bai Xinghe has found some evidence. It may not be enough to prove that I am guilty, but it should be enough to raise the suspicion of Si Koulie, the leadership of the six sects of Heavenly Saints City, and all the other Cultivators!"
The Immortal Cultivator raised the third question. "So, if they complete their deal and Si Koulie really throw out all the evidence on the morale-boosting rally in front of tens of thousands of Cultivators, will our plan likely be disrupted?"
"Yes," Xiao Xuance confirmed.
All the Immortal Cultivators were silent for three seconds. Then, shouting and yelling a hundred times louder than before burst out.
The command center seemed to have turned into a honeycomb. Every Immortal Cultivator was barking at the top of their voice.
"Kill them!"
"Now that few people know of the event, everything will be taken care of as soon as the two of them are killed. In another few days, the army of the Cultivators and the Grand Illusionary Soldiers will jump to the Spider Den Space Zone. There will be absolutely nothing to fear then!"
"Yes, but we must not take action until they meet in the tenth space ring and the decisive proof is presented!"
"Right now, the central area of Heavenly Saints City is packed with Cultivators of various sects. Every place is heavily guarded, and it is difficult for us to assassinate anybody."