Library of Heaven’s Path 2: Eternal Destiny

Vol 2 Ch 47: Revenge for You

As the first wave of puppets was defeated, Feng Zhaoting’s hand shook again, and more than a dozen figures emerged. They were similarly at the Jade Bone and Organs Easing realms, with the strongest reaching the Divine Soul realm.

“Mo Young Master? Han Yusheng, the great Mr. Han? Elder Liu Yang?”

Upon seeing these individuals, Fu Yingying seemed to recognize a few and couldn’t help but exclaim.

“You know them?” Zhang Xuan asked.

Fu Yingying nodded. “That Mo Young Master was famous in Hanyuan City—a young genius with a righteous heart, always upholding justice. He did a lot of good deeds. Three years ago, he went to investigate a human trafficking gang and disappeared. I never thought… he’d be turned into a puppet!

“And Mr. Han was a devoted teacher, tirelessly educating others. He charged the wealthy more and taught the poor for free. In his thirty years of teaching, he nurtured countless students. Two years ago, while investigating the disappearance of some of his students, he vanished. Now, to think…”

Fu Yingying’s expression turned dark with anger.

She had long suspected Feng Yizhou was up to no good and that Feng Zhaoting was far from innocent, but she hadn’t expected them to stoop to such despicable acts.

Seeing that she recognized his controlled puppets, Feng Zhaoting snorted coldly.

Killing people to refine their corpses—if such news got out, he wouldn’t just lose his position as vice-hall master, but even the Destiny Hall itself might suffer. He had originally planned to spare her, but now, there was no room for mercy.

“Set the formation!”

Under Feng Zhaoting’s command, the many puppets moved into specific positions. As power surged, the courtyard’s formation filled with an oppressive killing aura, as if countless vengeful spirits had been summoned, their mournful wails stabbing into everyone’s mind.

In the blink of an eye, the courtyard transformed into a hellscape. Ghostly flames burned, the air turned chilling, and an oppressive dread pierced the soul, leaving everyone dazed.

“This is… the Thousand Threads Soul Control Array! It attacks the soul, causing temporary loss of reason and judgment…” Fu Yingying trembled, clutching her head, her face pale.

The Vajra Shield Talisman could fend off physical attacks, but it offered no defense against soul-based assaults.

Just as she felt she couldn’t hold on, a voice full of disdain came from nearby.

“This qualifies as a formation? What a joke!” Ling Buyang sneered as he stepped forward.

Fu Yingying raised her head, just in time to see him smirk and stomp. The previously oppressive formation was instantly dispelled as sunlight flooded the courtyard, banishing the ghostly flames like snow melting under the sun.

At that moment, Ling Buyang seemed like a radiant sun in the dark night, so dazzling it was impossible to look directly at him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The attacking puppets were sent flying like kites with broken strings, all rendered incapable of further attacks in mere moments.

“How do you know how to break formations?” Feng Zhaoting’s face darkened, and he instinctively stepped back, clearly shaken by Ling Buyang’s intervention.

“Take a guess.” Zhang Xuan wasn’t interested in wasting words. He dashed into the fray again, his power surging like boiling water. His punches tore through the air like whips, his movements like a tiger in a flock of sheep. Even Jade Bone and Divine Soul realm experts couldn’t withstand a single blow.

“This guy’s physical strength is terrifying. It seems I’ll have to rely on soul attacks. Thousand Threads Soul Shatter…”

Seeing Zhang Xuan’s ferocity, Feng Zhaoting knew he couldn’t hold him back, and his planned ambush was falling apart. He let out a roar, and a wave of threads shimmered from his fingertips.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

A chorus of eerie hums rang out as the Divine Soul realm puppets activated their soul powers. One by one, towering soul projections emerged, as if cicadas shedding their shells.

“They’re burning their souls?” Fu Yingying’s face turned ashen.

“What does that mean?” Zhang Xuan asked.

Fu Yingying explained, “Burning the soul sacrifices one’s cultivated soul power in a single battle, essentially a mutual destruction strategy. Once performed, these puppets will be permanently destroyed.”

“You’re quite knowledgeable, but it’s too late now… You’re all going to die!” Feng Zhaoting sneered, his soul threads transforming into towering demons that surged toward Zhang Xuan.

“Not just controlling bodies but also burning souls. No wonder they say the Thousand Threads puppets can rival the Machete Sect’s Dao Li techniques—it’s true.”

Despite the onslaught, Zhang Xuan remained calm and even marvelled at the Thousand Threads technique.

While the Dao Li technique excelled in single combat, Thousand Threads thrived in group battles. Even someone as strong as Ling Buyang would struggle in such a situation.

“These puppets took me twenty years to refine. To die under this move is an honor…” Feng Zhaoting laughed coldly as his soul threads weaved through the air like a net.

Zhang Xuan smirked. “Honor? You think too much.”

With a casual wave of his hand, the soul projections were sucked into the Xuan World, unable to resist or even self-destruct.

Even Divine Soul experts were powerless against the lord of a world.

“That’s impossible… Have you also broken through? Reaching the Dharma Aspect realm?” Feng Zhaoting’s face drained of color, his confidence crumbling.

“More or less.” Zhang Xuan shrugged, his disinterest cutting deep.

Zhang Xuan shrugged off Feng Zhaoting’s question and stepped forward again. By now, most of the puppets had been eliminated. Desperate, Feng Zhaoting swung his Dharma Aspect power in a brilliant arc to block Zhang Xuan’s advance while sending out countless threads from his palm, summoning more puppets.

“Even if you’ve broken through, you’re still going to die!” he roared, releasing waves of Heaven’s Fate Energy. The powerful aura, reminiscent of the Dao Li martial technique, filled the air with an overwhelming sense of destiny controlled by his will.

“Heaven’s Fate martial technique?” Zhang Xuan observed quietly instead of attacking. Activating the Eye of Insight, he carefully studied Feng Zhaoting’s moves.

When Yu Qingyu had displayed the Dao Li martial technique, Zhang Xuan had discerned its essence and replicated it. Now he wondered if he could do the same with Feng Zhaoting’s Thousand Threads Heaven’s Fate.

The thought barely formed when the massive reservoir of Heaven’s Fate Energy he had stored in the Library of Heaven’s Path surged forth, converging into a river. Like the Dao Li technique, this Heaven’s Fate manifestation appeared rootless and boundless, suspended in a quiet flow.

On closer inspection, the river’s structure was composed of countless interwoven threads.

Thousand Threads Heaven’s Fate.

He had successfully replicated it.

However, replicating it had completely drained his store of Heaven’s Fate Energy. Worse, the manifestation within the Library seemed frail, like a flickering candle on the verge of extinction. Despite the vast amount of energy used, the technique wasn’t fully formed.

“Such a con! This is clearly more advanced than the Dao Li technique…” Zhang Xuan muttered, his annoyance mounting as he analyzed the incomplete skill. Before he could devise a solution, Feng Zhaoting’s threads surged toward him.

“Elder Ling, be careful! Feng Zhaoting is trying to control you!” Fu Yingying shouted anxiously.

Feng Zhaoting, knowing his life was on the line, didn’t hesitate to unleash every ounce of power he had. Even if it meant injury or regression in cultivation, he was prepared to forcefully subjugate Zhang Xuan’s soul.

“You’re too late… Thousand Threads Soul Refinement!” Feng Zhaoting bellowed. The dazzling threads aimed for Zhang Xuan’s head, attempting to pierce his mind and seize control of his soul.

Zhang Xuan’s brow furrowed, and he instinctively prepared to counter. However, just as the threads invaded his mind, the faint Thousand Threads Heaven’s Fate within the Library of Heaven’s Path quivered, effortlessly devouring the incoming threads.

With the additional energy, the weak manifestation gained substance. It now rivaled the Dao Li Heaven’s Fate river in size, glowing faintly like a celestial star.

“What the…?” Feng Zhaoting spat blood as he realized what had happened. His most powerful technique, honed over decades, had been absorbed and turned against him. His confidence shattered as his body trembled uncontrollably.

With a single step, Zhang Xuan closed the distance and grabbed Feng Zhaoting by the throat, lifting him off the ground.

“So powerful…” Fu Yingying watched in awe. She had known Zhang Xuan’s strength was formidable—possibly even at the Dharma Aspect realm—but she hadn’t anticipated it would be to this extent. The combined might of so many puppets and Feng Zhaoting himself had been utterly overpowered, as if they were mere children.

“Fortunately, I chose the right side,” she thought grimly. Otherwise, she might be the one dangling helplessly in Zhang Xuan’s grasp.

“Don’t kill me…” Feng Zhaoting stammered, his arrogance replaced with desperation. “I’ll step down as vice hall master. I’ll leave Destiny Hall!”

“Step down? I killed your brother,” Zhang Xuan reminded him coldly.

“That was his fault! He deserved it! If you hadn’t acted, I would have taken care of him myself…” Feng Zhaoting pleaded.

Zhang Xuan shook his head. “You also tried to kill me.”

“I was blind to your strength! I’ll make it up to you. I’ll give you compensation—ten million Source Coins, twenty million, fifty million! Whatever you want, just name it!” Feng Zhaoting’s voice cracked with desperation.

His tone grew frantic. “Besides, I have the Thousand Threads Pavilion backing me. If you kill me, my master and senior brothers won’t let you go. And don’t forget, Hall Master Han won’t turn a blind eye to this either!”

He continued to bargain, dangling the threat of his powerful allies and the allure of wealth.

Zhang Xuan smirked faintly. “You’re right; I don’t want trouble. But unfortunately for you, I made a promise…”

With his free hand, Zhang Xuan lifted a Source Coin. The images of Yu Fei, Xiao Zhuo, and their family flashed through his mind.

He sighed. “I like wealth, and I prefer to keep a low profile. But if I let you live, more innocent families will suffer. That’s something I can’t accept.”

“Wait! You’ll regret this!” Feng Zhaoting howled. “The Thousand Threads Pavilion won’t let you—”

“Relax. We’re both elders of Destiny Hall. How could I kill you?” Zhang Xuan interrupted, mimicking Feng Zhaoting’s earlier words. “However, you went alone in search of Li Yue’an, encountered danger, and perished. I avenged you by killing Li Yue’an. No problem with that, right?”

“You…” Feng Zhaoting’s body went cold as he realized the irony of his own words being turned against him.

Snap!

Before he could say more, Zhang Xuan tightened his grip, snapping Feng Zhaoting’s neck. His lifeless body fell to the ground, leaving behind only silence.

With Feng Zhaoting’s body lifeless on the ground, Zhang Xuan walked toward Yu Fei and his family’s remains. Their corpses, turned into puppets, had been desecrated beyond rest in life or death—a fate no one could have imagined.

Sighing deeply, Zhang Xuan extended his hand. With a gentle press, the ground shifted to form a large pit.

Carefully placing the family of three into the grave, he retrieved the Source Coin and placed it in Xiao Zhuo’s small hand. The child’s face was peaceful, almost identical to when he was alive, but there was no longer any sign of the pain that had plagued him in life.

“At least now, you’re free from suffering. May you eat all the candied hawthorn you love in your next life…” Zhang Xuan murmured.

For cultivators, extravagant burial sites meant little. A simple and dignified burial was the highest respect he could offer. Though their meeting had been brief, Zhang Xuan couldn’t bear to leave them unburied.

He pressed his hands together and said solemnly, “Your vengeance has been fulfilled. Rest in peace.”

Author's Note