Chapter 1263: Stunning Revelation
Back then, the Ma Family was annihilated. Because Ma Ling was eventually knocked unconscious, she didn't personally witness what happened afterward. She could only make deductions based on the scene. Although she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she was able to piece together most of the truth through various details, with little deviation from the facts.
To Yang Haoran, whether Ma Ling's conjectures about what transpired after she lost consciousness were accurate or not was actually unimportant, for he already knew the full extent of the matter, and naturally, he cared little for the trivial details at the end.
“So that's what happened. No wonder you harbor such intense hatred for the Corpse Driving Sect. However, now that things have come to this, you should try to be more open-minded about it. ”
Yang Haoran offered words of comfort, his signature smile slowly receding from his face as Ma Ling recounted her tale. Although he favored using that faint smile to conceal his true emotions, he also knew how to adapt to the situation. In certain special circumstances, he would completely drop that smile.
Furthermore, as Ma Ling narrated the entire ordeal, he could discern the profound sorrow in her heart from her tone and expression. In such a situation, it would obviously be highly inappropriate for him to maintain a smiling face.
Yang Haoran's comfort drew a faint smile onto Ma Ling's face, but it looked exceedingly unnatural. Anyone could tell that this smile was clearly forced.
“Heh heh, so many years have passed since that incident. I've long since emerged from my initial grief. However, my hatred for that person and for the Corpse Driving Sect has not diminished in the slightest with the passage of time; rather, it has only grown more intense! ”
Yang Haoran was well aware of whether Ma Ling had truly moved past her sorrow. However, he wasn't foolish enough to bluntly point it out. Such things were best understood implicitly; bringing them into the open would only create an awkward situation for both parties. Given his approach to dealing with people, he naturally wouldn't do such a thing.
“I understand your feelings, and I support your desire for revenge. A life for a life, debts repaid — these are matters of course, just and proper. However, who exactly is this person you speak of? Could it be the current Door Master of the Corpse Driving Sect? ”
Yang Haoran asked. No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yang Haoran felt a slight impropriety, so he quickly added a supplement.
“Of course, I am not afraid of the Corpse Driving Sect's Door Master. Even if the person you mentioned truly is the Corpse Driving Sect's Door Master, it makes no difference. My support for you will absolutely not waver in the slightest because of it. ”
Ma Ling shook her head upon hearing this, then spoke with a solemn expression.
“That person is not the Door Master of the Corpse Driving Sect, but his status within the sect is far higher than that of ordinary high-ranking members. His name is Fu Yan, and he is one of the Corpse Driving Sect's elders. Not only does he possess strength comparable to a mid-stage Corpse King, but he also maintains a Corpse King and several peak Corpse Ghouls in his possession. It is rumored that he is highly likely to cultivate another Corpse King within a few years! ”
Ma Ling was currently severely wounded and her aura was weak, with little power remaining within her. Thus, it was impossible to accurately ascertain her current cultivation realm through the power fluctuations emanating from her.
However, according to the information Tang Shi had gathered for Yang Haoran, Ma Ling's current cultivation, judged by the Exorcist's realm division standards, had already entered the Grand Exorcist realm, but she had only recently stepped into it, meaning she was at the early stage of Grand Exorcist.
This realm was equivalent to an Underworld Official of the Underworld Office who had just opened their Heaven and Earth Souls. It also aligned with the same standard as an early-stage Corpse King.
In truth, such strength was not considered weak throughout the entire New Beginning Realm, but compared to the Fu Yan that Ma Ling spoke of, there was still a considerable gap. Even if Ma Ling understood the Way of Formations, confronting this individual would still be very troublesome, and the chances of victory would be slim.
After all, at this realm, every slight improvement in cultivation was fraught with immense difficulty. A small realm difference signified a massive disparity in strength. Therefore, it would be incredibly difficult for an early-stage Ma Ling to defeat a mid-stage Fu Yan, especially when the opponent also maintained a powerful Corpse King!
Ma Ling was equally clear on this point, which was why even after stepping into the Grand Exorcist realm, she still didn't dare to directly target Fu Yan, for she knew that with her current strength, confronting Fu Yan would only lead to certain death.
She was very afraid of death, but the reason wasn't cowardice; it was because if she died, no one would be left to avenge the Ma Family's grievances. Thus, before fulfilling her oath, she had no desire to do anything that was clearly suicidal.
This was also the reason she wished to remain in Tong Continent. Because in her view, although there was still a considerable gap between her current strength and Fu Yan's, this gap was not entirely insurmountable. Once her own strength caught up, or if she encountered an opportune moment, she could then take Fu Yan's life at the first chance!
“If you trust me, then leave this person named Fu Yan to me. I will absolutely make him vanish from this world without a trace, unknown to gods or ghosts. Furthermore, my relationship with your Ma Family is not shallow. Since he committed such an act, I have no reason to let him off. ”
Yang Haoran spoke calmly. He knew that if Ma Ling relied solely on her own abilities to exact this revenge, it would be an eternity before it happened. After all, while Ma Ling was increasing her strength, Fu Yan was also improving.
Moreover, as one of the Corpse Driving Sect's elders, Fu Yan certainly had far more channels for resources than Ma Ling. It wasn't that Ma Ling had absolutely no hope of catching up to Fu Yan, but the likelihood was slim. The greatest possibility was that Ma Ling would die at the hands of the Corpse Driving Sect before successfully achieving her revenge.
After all, the Corpse Driving Sect now had strong defenses against Ma Ling and had even laid down a deadly trap specifically for her. If Ma Ling still wanted to secretly attack the Corpse Driving Sect as before, it would certainly be fraught with immense difficulty. Not only might she fail, but she could also fall into the pit the Corpse Driving Sect had dug for her, waiting for her to jump in, just like this time. Therefore, Yang Haoran didn't believe Ma Ling would truly succeed in her revenge by remaining.
Beyond this reason, there was an even more crucial one: Yang Haoran couldn't afford the long wait for Ma Ling to remain in Tong Continent seeking revenge. He urgently needed Ma Ling to return and help him; he didn't want to delay even a single day. Because every day of delay would push his plans back by a day. One or two days might not seem like a problem, but if it stretched to a year, two years, or even longer, the impact on his plans would be significant, potentially even directly affecting the final outcome, and this was something he wished to avoid. Thus, he decisively chose to take action himself, to avenge Ma Ling and fulfill her long-held wish!
However, after hearing his words, Ma Ling gently shook her head, rejecting him without a moment's hesitation.
“No need. I must kill that beast with my own hands, otherwise my heart's hatred will never be appeased. If I can't even accomplish this, how could I face my deceased family? Furthermore, what I desire is not merely to personally slay that beast Fu Yan; I also want to annihilate the entire Corpse Driving Sect. Since their Corpse Driving Sect annihilated my Ma Family back then, I, too, shall annihilate the entire Corpse Driving Sect, making them vanish completely from this world! ”
Ma Ling's words caused Yang Haoran's brows to furrow slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“Dealing with a single Fu Yan is simple. However, confronting the entire Corpse Driving Sect, and moreover, wiping it from this world, is no small matter, nor is it an easy feat to accomplish. ”
Ma Ling nodded solemnly, then replied.
“Brother Yang, you are right; this is indeed no small matter. But precisely because it is no small matter, I require a long time to achieve this goal. Whether it takes ten years, twenty years, or even longer, I am willing to sacrifice anything for this objective, even my own life! ”
Ma Ling spoke with absolute resolve, leaving no room for negotiation. However, as the words left her mouth, she felt a slight inappropriateness. She then reined in the cold killing intent on her face and spoke to Yang Haoran with an apologetic expression.
“Brother Yang, what do you think of this arrangement? I'll first return with you to help resolve the difficulties you currently face, and then I'll go back to Tong Continent to continue my unfinished mission. The only reason I am still surviving in this world is because I am sustained by that original oath. Therefore, no matter what, I must fulfill that oath. I hope you can understand this. ”
The reason Ma Ling spoke these words at this moment was because she felt that Yang Haoran had traveled a great distance to seek her help and had, moreover, saved her life once again. To heartlessly refuse Yang Haoran directly like that would simply be inexcusable. Furthermore, she genuinely didn't want to refuse Yang Haoran, which was why she devised a compromise.
However, this time, it was Yang Haoran who shook his head in refusal.
“No. The matter I need your help with is extremely complex, and the scope of work is immense; it's simply impossible to complete in a short period. I can guarantee this, even if I am not an Array Master. ”
Upon hearing Yang Haoran's words, a troubled expression appeared on Ma Ling's face. For a moment, she found herself at a loss for words.
Yang Haoran observed the subtle changes in Ma Ling's expression. He pondered for a moment, then took a deep breath, as if suddenly making a momentous decision.
“How about this: I'll annihilate the Corpse Driving Sect for you. Just give me a few days, and I will ensure the Corpse Driving Sect vanishes completely from this world. As for Fu Yan, that elder of the Corpse Driving Sect, I will personally deliver him before you, and you may then dispose of him as you wish. What do you say? ”
Comments