Chapter 2134: Not in Vain, All in Vain (Part 2)
Faced with Sha Xing's gaze, Pan Bu Wang's eyes did not flinch. His expression was cold, and his voice was calm without a trace of ripple:
"Star Divine Son dares to publicly disdain me, the Xiaodie Divine Son, in such a manner? Are you not afraid that your own arrogance will backfire and wound your face?"
He repeated his previous words verbatim, as if afraid that the Star Divine Son still "had not heard clearly." His tone even deepened by several points.
Within a single breath, a surge of the most complex changes of his lifetime roiled through Sha Xing's eyes: shock, bewilderment, confusion, astonishment, disbelief, incomprehension, unacceptance... All kinds of emotions were chaotically blended together, only to settle and precipitate into layers of disappointment, sarcasm, and... anger.
"Heh... heh heh." He laughed painfully, three parts laughing at others, seven parts laughing at himself. The look he gave Pan Bu Wang was no longer as clear as before: "So? Pan Bu Wang, what do you intend? Don't tell me..."
Pan Bu Wang raised his right arm. A pitch-black demon spear materialized in his hand and slammed heavily into the ground.
*Bang!*
A dull thud, and demonic light burst forth, carrying a sinister hiss that belonged to Dark Profound Force.
"Though our friendship runs deep, I am, after all, a son of the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom! To me, the dignity of my divine kingdom must transcend all else. Since you have disdained me, the Xiaodie Divine Son, I am destined to point my spear at you."
"Aiya, aiya." Wu Shen Yue shook her head regretfully and said lazily, "What a fine play. Pitiable that my Xing'er's sincere loyalty and righteousness was misdirected at a jackal with a charred soul."
Wu Shen Xing gave a light snort and said indifferently, "Two rats from the same hole never produce different kinds of vermin. But to Xing, isn't this a good thing? The sooner he sees through human nature, the sooner he will grow."
"On the contrary, I should thank this pitiable and pathetic Pan Bu Wang for giving Xing a good lesson. This sudden stab in the back far surpasses my countless instructions and teachings."
"Indeed," Wu Shen Yue agreed deeply.
"Heh... hahahaha!" Facing Pan Bu Wang's words, Sha Xing gave a cold laugh, then let himself laugh out loud, abandoning decorum: "I once regarded you as a close friend, because I respected your love and hate without pretense, your words and actions in unison... I was still too naive; I didn't even realize my eyes had been blind for so long."
"Endlessly claiming disgust, hatred, and finally a heart as deep as an abyss... yet in your heart, you're desperately hoping to find a pole to climb back."
His eyes no longer held any respect, and his words no longer concealed their mockery: "What a pity, what a pity. This battle is the Divine Son Contest. You don't even have the qualification to step in and face me! Oh no, I almost forgot—you've already been expelled from the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom. Not to mention Xiaodie Divine Son, you're not even a citizen of the Xiaodie Kingdom anymore!"
Pan Bu Wang's expression did not change. He said coldly, "The Star Divine Son is mistaken. My father god's revocation of my title as Divine Son has only ever been spoken by word, never carried out with a formal ceremony of deposition."
As the crowd looked on in slight surprise, he continued calmly: "If we strictly follow the rules and regulations, I, Pan Bu Wang, can still be considered the Xiaodie Divine Son!"
This remark caused many present to snicker uncontrollably.
When a new Divine Son was established, a grand ceremony was naturally held to announce it to the world. But to depose a Divine Son, why would one bother to waste effort on a ceremony of deposition?
"Pan Bu Wang, get down from there! Stop making a fool of yourself here!"
The Qiheng Divine Sovereign finally spoke, but each word carried disgust and impatience. As he spoke, he did not even spare Pan Bu Wang a glance from the corner of his eye.
Pan Bu Wang did not move.
Just then, the voice of the High Priest rang out like a great bell:
"The name of Pan Bu Wang is still recorded in the Register of Divine Sons of Six Kingdoms, and has not been erased."
"If Pan Bu Wang no longer has the title of Divine Son, his name can be erased at the Ten Thousand Dao Divine Office after this meeting. But at this moment, he does have the qualifications to participate in this battle."
The High Priest's words sealed the matter.
Pan Yu Sheng's face showed helplessness.
For a completely abandoned waste who had even given up on himself, why would the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom go out of their way to visit the Ten Thousand Dao Divine Office in the Pure Land to erase his name?
And this loophole, which was not even a real oversight, had become a reason for this discarded son to stir up trouble.
Pan Bu Wang's shouting in the face of Sha Xing would not make anyone think highly of the Xiaodie Divine Son; it would only invite more sneers. It could be foreseen that after Pan Bu Zhuo's crushing defeat, facing an enraged Sha Xing, Pan Bu Wang would only lose even more disgracefully, adding further shame to the already humiliated Xiaodie Divine Kingdom.
Pan Yu Sheng could not refute the High Priest. He spoke again: "Pan Bu Wang, I will say it one more time: *Get*. *Down*. *From*. *There!*"
His last three words carried the fury of a Divine Sovereign.
But Sha Xing spoke first, loudly: "The Unruly Divine Son has stepped forward to fight for the honor of the Xiaodie Divine Son's title. The Qiheng Divine Sovereign should praise him, not stop him and get angry."
The words "Unruly Divine Son" carried a mockery so thick it threatened to overflow.
"Good. Very good." The Celestial Wolf greatsword, which had just been lowered, was raised again by Sha Xing. The tip pointed at his former close friend: "This battle, I accept. I hope the Unruly Divine Son... will spare no *effort*. *in*. *teaching*. *me!*"
Pan Bu Wang raised his eyes and said calmly, "The Star Divine Son seems to have misunderstood. I do not wish to challenge the Star Divine Son alone, but rather... the Star-Moon Dual Gems!"
"...!" A moment of shock. Sha Xing's face darkened sharply: "What... did you say!?"
The Moon Divine Son, Xian Yue, also changed expression slightly.
As if completely unaware of Sha Xing's suddenly flaring anger, Pan Bu Wang continued to explain in a detached tone: "The world knows well that the true form of the Star Moon Divine Kingdom's Star Divine Son and Moon Divine Son is their combined force, the Star-Moon Dual Gems. To fight only one of them has no meaning to me."
The scene immediately erupted into uproar. Snickers and low laughter filled the air. The gazes directed at Pan Bu Wang shifted again, as if looking at a clown displaying all manner of ugliness.
"Aiya, this I can't quite understand." Wu Shen Yue's expression instantly became intrigued: "Such strange words don't seem like an act of submitting to the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom, but rather like deliberately provoking Xing'er? Or perhaps using such self-harming means to wound the Xiaodie face?"
Wu Shen Xing narrowed his eyes: "Probably the latter... oh no, I'd say both. After all, provoking the Celestial Wolf can also achieve the latter more thoroughly. No matter what, it's interesting, isn't it?"
"Extremely interesting." Wu Shen Yue's eyes narrowed into two long slits that hid a seductive light.
Pan Bu Zhuo covered his right face, stepped to Pan Yu Sheng's side, and said in a pained voice, "Father god, he's not trying to disgust Star Moon; he's trying to disgust us..."
Pan Yu Sheng said coldly, "Shut up."
Pan Bu Zhuo immediately fell silent.
"Heh... heh heh heh!" Sha Xing laughed... At this moment, he truly experienced what it meant to laugh with extreme rage.
"Challenge the Star-Moon Dual Gems? Who do you think you are?" He looked at Pan Bu Wang with eyes that were both unfamiliar and cold. "But since the Unruly Divine Son is so bold, how could I... be stingy?"
*Bang!*
The Celestial Wolf Star-Bearing Sword slammed heavily to the ground. A terrifying wave of air, carrying the anger of the Star Divine Son, shook the surroundings, violently stirring Pan Bu Wang's black hair and black clothes, making them rustle.
"Today, if you have the ability to defeat me, I will bring the Moon Divine Son along and grant you the privilege of witnessing the Star-Moon Dual Gems. I wonder if the Unruly Divine Son is satisfied?"
The words "ability" and "grant" were equally overflowing with mockery.
"Good." Pan Bu Wang agreed without a trace of hesitation. "In the Pure Land, beside the Abyss Emperor, one must not break one's word!"
With these words, he transformed into a shadow and shot straight into the barrier, facing Sha Xing from a hundred zhang apart.
A quarter of an hour ago, they had walked side by side as close friends. Now, as they looked into each other's eyes, they were separated by a thousand ravines.
"Pan Bu Wang, do you know what you look like to me now?"
Sha Xing laughed coldly: "A mangy dog that has had its fur torn off, its spine broken, and been thrown out of the door—yet it still barks and yaps for its master to try to crawl back over the threshold, sacrificing all dignity."
Sha Xing had never deigned to utter such humiliating words... nor had he ever imagined that the target of such words would be Pan Bu Wang.
Pan Bu Wang was neither angry nor annoyed. His eyes were like a pool of stagnant water.
And his heart was as calm as his expression. What stirred in the sea of his soul were the words of the Mist Emperor from that day.
...
*"Master, on this trip to the Pure Land, what exactly should this disciple do?"*
*Mist Emperor: "Wait! Wait until the Divine Son Battle, when Sha Xing vents your hatred by crushing Pan Bu Zhuo in public, breaking his dignity as a Divine Son."*
*Bu Wang: "But... asking Sha Xing to bring me into the Pure Land is already a great favor. Why would he have a reason to go out of his way to offend the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom for this disciple?"*
*Mist Emperor: "Actively reveal to him your identity as the 'disciple of the Mist Emperor.' He will do it. Because at that time, you will not only be a friend who trusts him and seeks his help, but you will also share the secret of 'Mist Emperor' together."*
*"The bond that most invisibly deepens a relationship is a shared secret. The bigger the secret, the more unbreakable the bond."*
*"Add to that his eagerness to repay and clear the Mist Emperor's favor... with his temperament, he will certainly do what he believes he should."*
*Bu Wang: "Since it is Master's judgment, it surely cannot be wrong. After that, what should this disciple do?"*
*Mist Emperor: "After Pan Bu Zhuo's defeat, you, in the posture of a Xiaodie Divine Son, use the excuse of rectifying the Xiaodie Divine Son's honor to declare war on Sha Xing!"*
*Bu Wang: "Eh? But... but this disciple has fallen to such a state, and only Sha Xing treats this disciple as he did before. Such loyalty is precious, and he is the only true friend this disciple has in this world."*
*"If he, as Master says, will go so far as to offend the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom for this disciple, then his righteousness is as heavy as a mountain. How can this disciple commit such an act of betrayal..."*
*Mist Emperor: "Shut up! Pan Bu Wang, your own blood brother, to secure his position, humiliated and trampled you into the mud, and even caused your mother's death! Your biological father, who once doted on you, threw you away like trash from the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom to protect him. If blood kin can be like this, you, who now have nothing, still cling sentimentally to so-called friendship, foolish and pedantic to this degree!"*
*"It seems I have misjudged you! In this life, you are only fit to be a useless waste! Clutch your 'loyalty and righteousness' that you refuse to let go and get out of here!"*
*Bu Wang: "...Master, please calm your anger! Your words are like an enlightening downpour. This disciple knows his mistake and will never repeat it. I beg Master's forgiveness! On the Pure Land, this disciple will do his utmost to defeat Sha Xing!"*
...
Pan Bu Wang held his spear. The spear shaft stirred faint dark ripples, and with the movement of his arm, it slowly leveled in front of him.
In the Mist Sea, he grew every day.
Among his growth, the slowest was his profound force, while the fastest were his dark talent and his temperament—both had been reborn.
And this unexpected battle, in the eyes of others, was not part of the Divine Son Contest, but a complete laughingstock.
Pan Bu Zhuo had already suffered a crushing defeat at Sha Xing's hands. How could Pan Bu Wang, whose divine rank and dark talent were both inferior to Pan Bu Zhuo's, possibly be a match for Sha Xing? The so-called "witnessing the Star-Moon Dual Gems" was an even bigger joke.
Looking at the spear in Pan Bu Wang's hand, Sha Xing snorted again: "This spear is probably unworthy of your status as a Xiaodie Divine Son. Why not borrow your fellow Xiaodie Divine Son's Cold Crow Spear? So you won't say later that I won unfairly. As another Xiaodie Divine Son and your own flesh and blood, how could he bear to refuse? ...Right."
"No need."
Pan Bu Wang replied calmly, speaking softly: "This spear is named 'Silent Night Long Geng.' It was the spear my mother used during her lifetime. When she entrusted it to me, she said that Long Geng is the star that announces dawn. Even if I lose everything and fall into silent night, as long as the spear remains, she will always be by my side to bring me light."
As he spoke, the dark, eerie light flowing along the spear seemed to take on a faint warm hue.
Pan Yu Sheng averted his gaze. There was not even a trace of shame in his eyes.
"..." Sha Xing did not mock him further. With a low shout, the shadow of the Celestial Wolf suddenly bared its fangs. Its momentum and might were even greater than when he faced Pan Bu Zhuo.
"In memory of our past friendship, I will grant you a final dignity... I will give you the most direct and brutal defeat!"
*Roooor!*
The Celestial Wolf howled at the moon, its roar shaking the sky. The greatsword swept down with destructive aura, and within a hundred zhang, the space shrank instantly under the terrifying Celestial Wolf divine light.
Before the fearsome might of the Celestial Wolf even reached him, Pan Bu Wang was forced to step back half a step. He stared at the Celestial Wolf shadow rapidly expanding in his pupils, and a profound, dark, strange light flared deep in his eyes.
...
*Bu Wang: "...On the Pure Land, this disciple will do his utmost to defeat Sha Xing!"*
*Mist Emperor: "No, what you must do is not defeat, but shatter!"*
*Bu Wang: "Shatter? Please enlighten me, Master."*
*Mist Emperor: "Within three exchanges, shatter him!"*
*Bu Wang: "Master, it is by no means that this disciple underestimates himself. I am very confident I can defeat Sha Xing, but three exchanges... I truly cannot manage it."*
*Mist Emperor: "In a direct confrontation, of course you cannot. But remember, when you fight Sha Xing, you have a great advantage. That is..."*
*"Cognitive deviation!"*
*"Your body has now achieved perfect affinity with Dark Profound Force. Such affinity is unprecedented in Abyss history; even your father god cannot hope for it. That means the first time someone fights you, they will surely misjudge your mastery of dark power."*
*Bu Wang: "Master means... winning by surprise?"*
*Mist Emperor: "Correct. You must use this advantage, which can only be used once to its fullest, to the extreme you can achieve!"*
*"The Divine Son Battle is not entirely the same as an ordinary victory-or-defeat battle. Following the usual conventions, the arena is limited to a barrier only ten thousand zhang wide."*
*"The first thing you must do is enrage Sha Xing. Your public betrayal is the first layer of anger; the second layer is your declaration to directly challenge the Star-Moon Dual Gems."*
*"Anger devours calm. A mature strongman will try to extinguish anger when fighting, but the Celestial Wolf is different. Because anger fuels the power of the Celestial Wolf, Sha Xing will not suppress his anger; he will let it burn through his body."*
*"Under anger, he will surely want to crush you in the shortest time. Then the sword techniques he uses next will follow his burning anger."*
*"He will strike before you. The first sword: two chances it's 'Celestial Wolf Slash,' seven chances it's 'Primeval Fang,' one chance it's 'Instant Prison Calamity'... Now, I will teach you to recognize the starting gestures of these sword techniques..."*
...
Everything unfolded as if deliberately following the script the Master had written in advance, with hardly any difference.
The moment Sha Xing raised his sword, Pan Bu Wang recognized it: the second sword of the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture—Primeval Fang!
He could not understand, nor did he dare ask, why his Master had such terrifying insight into the Celestial Wolf sword of the Star Moon Divine Kingdom.
...
*"If his starting sword technique is 'Primeval Fang,' you must retreat half a step to the left and show a third of defeat when receiving the move... When 'Primeval Fang' establishes this kind of suppression, Sha Xing will have more than a ninety percent chance of executing 'Heavenly Star Lament.'"*
*"'Heavenly Star Lament' has immense power, but also a huge flaw. And if the preceding move forms sufficient suppression, he can disregard the flaw when executing 'Heavenly Star Lament'... In Sha Xing's understanding, and in the understanding of everyone in the Abyss, even if you completely abandon defense and fight desperately, you cannot, under suppression, erupt with enough Dark Profound Force to seize the flaw."*
*"So, the moment his Heavenly Star begins to gleam, strike with an instant burst of dark power at a point three fingers below his right collarbone. In that instant, the surging Heavenly Star force will scatter completely and rebound to harm him!"*
...