Chapter 313 After Giving Up Protection…

Of course, this isn't just spectating—absolutely not!

Lu Ye was simply a bit curious.

After all, he had been reborn and suffered such severe betrayal that his awakening was seared into his soul, agonizing to the extreme.

He nearly swore off love and emotion entirely.

But Shouren Daoist was different—he hadn't reached that point yet, nor had he experienced such a profound awakening.

Both he and Shouren Daoist had cast off the Guardian Dao, so how would they differ?

Lu Ye's injuries healed.

Shouren Daoist stood vigil by his side.

Lu Ye opened his eyes.

"Daoist Lu, how are you feeling now?" Shouren Daoist asked.

Lu Ye nodded.

"Everything's fine. And you?"

Shouren Daoist immediately lit up. Originally appearing to be in his forties, after some proper rest, he now looked like a man in his thirties.

His figure had also become straighter and more imposing, and most importantly, the gloom in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a radiant glow.

*Whoa, talk about a glow-up.*

Shouren Daoist wore a brilliant smile.

He practically turned into a beaming, bright-eyed guy.

"Incredible! Never felt better!"

Lu Ye nodded. "Since you're feeling great, I'll follow you for a while. Do whatever you'd normally do, and I’ll see what shifts. How does that sound?"

"No problem. But there are still some stragglers from the Shanhai Sect left to kill—is that not urgent?" Shouren Daoist asked.

Lu Ye...

*Whoa, did he really change this much?*

The Shouren Daoist still shackled to the Guardian Dao, upon hearing Lu Ye wanted to follow him and halt the killing, would have suffered anything, even death, to keep Lu Ye from leaving.

But now, he was volunteering to remind Lu Ye.

His first words were about "leftovers."

"No rush, they’ll keep till later!"

Shouren Daoist pondered for a moment. "I don’t have anything else to do anyway. Why not kill them now? I’ll join you!"

"The Shanhai Sect betrayed their word, treating this old Daoist like a fool! Before, influenced by the Guardian Dao, I actually thought I should forgive them? Truly out of my damn mind! This is a blood debt—forgiveness isn't even an option!"

Lu Ye’s brows shot up.

[System Ding!] "It worked *this* well?"

Although Shen Xitong didn't appear, it was obvious she had become alert.

Excellent! With Daoist Shouren in this state, this is going to be entertaining!

While the host's drama is the sweetest and most fragrant, others' drama can still hit the spot!

"Fine, let's keep killing then!"

Lu Ye was even more indifferent—the sooner done, the better.

Lin Chuyue's eyes went wide.

Is this Daoist Shouren?

The same Daoist Shouren known throughout the Fourth Heaven, beloved by all, hailed as the most generous and kind-hearted?

Holy crap!

Just by changing one Providence, a person could undergo such a drastic transformation?

Lin Chuyue followed Lu Ye, utterly astonished the entire way, exclaiming "Holy crap!" repeatedly.

There was no helping it—the recent events had completely defied all logic, utterly unbelievable.

The three traveled together.

Lin Chuyue kept eyeing Daoist Shouren curiously.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, is something the matter?" Daoist Shouren asked with a smile.

"You know me?"

"The Heavenly Gate exists to protect Providence. We cultivators should all be grateful—naturally, I recognize you, Fellow Daoist."

"So, how does it feel to change your Providence?"

"Before severing it, fear; while severing it, reluctance; after severing it, like a new person—never again wishing to be controlled by guardianship!"

Lin Chuyue couldn't help but salute.

"In the entire Nine Heavens, few have the courage to alter their Providence. Truly admirable."

"HAHAHA!" Daoist Shouren laughed heartily.

Indeed, Providence is the most important part of a cultivator's life—many even live solely for it.

Renouncing Providence is practically like being reborn.

The slaughter began!

Some were killed instantly under Lu Ye's ambush.

Others put up a brief fight, engaging Lu Ye in combat—those who could fight him were naturally Heaven-Earth Realm cultivators.

But Lu Ye's strength was overwhelming; the Heaven-Earth Realm stood no chance.

A Heaven-Earth Realm member of the Shanhai Sect spotted Daoist Shouren and pleaded desperately for help.

"Daoist Shouren, save me!"

He flew straight at Daoist Shouren.

But Daoist Shouren retaliated with a palm strike—and a full-power one at that.

"Boom!"

The Heaven-Earth cultivator never saw it coming. He was sent flying, his eyes wide with shock.

"Why the hell should I save you? You blew off my warnings back then and insisted on attacking Lu Ye. Did you ever think this day would come?"

"If Lu Ye had lost and come crying to me, and I’d saved him, would you all have just backed off?"

"You reap what you sow—even the Karma realm understands this principle. Yet you, a Heaven-Earth realm cultivator, still fail to grasp it. What kind of half-assed cultivation is this?"

Daoist Shouren roared angrily.

The Heaven-Earth cultivator: ...What?

Wait, what?

Since when does Daoist Shouren talk like this?

Not to mention, what happened to your whole ‘protect the weak’ shtick?

Lu Ye’s blade ran through the airborne Heaven-Earth cultivator, shattering him with a single strike. The Human Emperor Banner snatched up his soul in an instant.

"Next!"

The Shanhai Sect’s elites dropped like flies.

As the last one fell, his eyes were wide open, glaring fixedly at Daoist Shouren, filled with resentment and hatred.

Daoist Shouren just laughed.

"Lin, get a load of this guy!"

"You were the one who killed him, yet he directs his hatred at me—just because I didn’t save him. How messed up is that?"

Lin Chuyue just stared.

"It’s also my fault. I spoiled them all rotten before, making them think I would always stand by their side no matter what. The second I switched sides, they turned on me!"

"This is what I deserve!"

"But hey, they had it coming!"

Lu Ye smirked.

"Alright, my business is settled. What’s your next move?" Lu Ye asked.

The Vermilion Bird True Flame reduced the last of the Shanhai Sect members to ashes.

"Come by my place—I’ve got good wine to share with you two. Don’t leave me hanging!"

Lu Ye nodded.

"Good, let’s go then!"

The three of them traveled together, flying toward Taoist Master Shouren's mountain retreat.

After half an hour.

Amidst the towering mountains and rugged peaks, an area pulsing with spiritual energy, like something out of an immortal realm, appeared before their eyes.

A family of three was playing in the courtyard, looking perfectly content.

The man had refined, jade-like features, while the woman was gentle and graceful.

Yet when the woman saw Taoist Master Shouren, she froze for a moment, her warm smile slowly hardened.

"Junior Brother, why are you here?" Wang Kerou said in a chilly voice.

Taoist Master Shouren looked at the family of three.

His expression first showed bitterness, then shifted to relief, and finally turned icy.

"Senior Sister, this is my cave dwelling. I don't need your permission to return to my own home, do I?"