Chapter 260: Kind Words Cannot Persuade the Damned

“Would you be willing?”

Of course not.

Lu Ye had no intention of agreeing—and he knew full well that this so-called peace offer was nothing more than Daoist Shouren’s wishful thinking.

Among that entire group, not a single one truly desired peace. If any did, they were few and far between.

And yet, watching Daoist Shouren now, Lu Ye couldn’t help but feel a sense of mutual sympathy.

The man’s current appearance—so laughable—wasn’t it exactly how he himself had looked in his past life?

Only difference was, Lu Ye had the system.

Without it, who knew how pitiful his fate might have been.

“Daoist,” Lu Ye said, “if each sect is willing to offer one million supreme-grade spirit stones, then I’ll agree to peace. But I have one request of you—don’t tell them my terms yet. Ask them first what they’re willing to offer to achieve peace.”

Lu Ye had already decided how he would deal with Daoist Shouren.

Once his cultivation reached the level where he could suppress Heaven and Earth Realm experts, he would act.

He would cripple Daoist Shouren’s Dao of Protection.

No one understood the man’s inner thoughts better than Lu Ye.

That heart—forever at war with itself.

Loathing the Dao of Protection, yet unable to let it go.

He was mired in the swamp, struggling with every humiliation—but the more he thrashed, the deeper he sank.

Daoist Shouren did not react with joy upon hearing Lu Ye’s response.

He wasn’t a fool.

He understood exactly what Lu Ye meant.

But those who cultivated such a Dao always carried hope in their hearts.

Even if he could foresee the eventual outcome—he still wanted to try.

“The poor Daoist takes his leave.”

Lu Ye nodded. “Safe travels.”

Daoist Shouren departed.

He had said it before—Lu Ye was no demon among demons. From their conversation, he could faintly sense that Lu Ye, too, was a pitiful soul.

What in the world had happened to this world?

Daoist Shouren made his way to Mount Cangmang, where many powerful cultivators had set up a temporary base.

“Elders, Daoist Shouren has returned,” a Domain Realm cultivator reported.

Wang Yi of the Wang Clan spoke. “Let him in.”

Daoist Shouren strode in quickly, his expression slightly invigorated.

“Everyone, good news—Lu Ye has agreed to peace!”

The moment those words landed, the powerhouses in the hall exchanged glances.

“He’s truly willing?” Wang Yi asked.

“He said so himself.”

“Hahaha, then that’s good news indeed. We have no desire for internal strife among the human race,” said Hong Tian Daoren from Three Immortals Mountain with a smile.

“Agreed. If he’s willing to make some sacrifices, peace is acceptable. As long as he hands over his divine abilities and methods of achieving the Dao, Invincible Sword Sect will have no problem coexisting peacefully.”

“I’m not too interested in his Dao methods,” another said. “But I am intrigued by the treasures he left behind in his previous life. No need for him to surrender all of it—just let me choose a few, and Invincible Sword Sect will coexist peacefully with him!”

“If you ask me, treasures are unnecessary. With all his past-life experience and techniques, he’ll rise quickly even without them!”

One voice after another chimed in.

Daoist Shouren stood in silence.

Wait a moment...

Weren’t we the ones trying to make peace with Lu Ye?

How did it suddenly turn into him having to offer things up? And now they’re saying he doesn’t even need treasures?

A sect named Heaven Array Sect—an elite force in the Fourth Heaven—was represented by its Grand Elder, Zhang Xunzou. He finally spoke.

“Daoist Shouren, what did Lu Ye ask for in return for peace?”

He used the word “ask.”

Daoist Shouren let out a long sigh.

“He said, one million supreme-grade spirit stones from each sect. If you’re willing to pay that, then the past grievances will be written off.”

“One million? Isn’t that a bit too little? Spirit stones aren’t exactly what we lack.”

Daoist Shouren’s eyes flared with anger, and his voice rose sharply.

“It’s us asking him for peace—not the other way around! Those one million spirit stones are something you’re giving to him—not something he’s giving to you! And you say it’s too little? Is it really too little now?!”

“Smack!”

A wooden table exploded into splinters beneath a palm.

“Absurd! Utterly absurd! If the Daoist hadn’t intercepted him, he’d be dead already! And now we’re supposed to ask him for peace and even give him a million spirit stones? He’s lost his mind! Madness!”

“Daoist Shouren,” another added coldly, “this condition is outrageous. You should’ve rejected it outright. We are the stronger side—why should the stronger beg the weaker for peace?”

“That’s right! Let’s stop entertaining such unrealistic fantasies. Purging this demon is a duty we all share. We must stand together and exterminate him!”

Daoist Shouren stepped back.

He looked around at their agitated faces, listened to their furious roars.

And at last, he spoke one final sentence:

“Anyone who wishes to make peace... can come to me.”

“Shouren! Are you trying to sow discord among us?” Wang Yi roared.

Daoist Shouren...

...said nothing more.

He withdrew in silence.

Alone, he stood in the clouds, gazing down at the vast, endless land.

Below the Fifth Heaven was one immense landmass. But the Fifth Heaven itself—and everything above—was made of stars and void.

The Fourth Heaven had the widest territory of solid earth.

The Fifth Heaven, the most emptiness and void.

No one knew what Daoist Shouren was thinking at that moment.

In his past life, there were moments when Lu Ye was like this too—drifting alone in the starry sky, staring in silence at the river of stars.

Others thought he was comprehending the Dao.

But he himself knew the truth—he was simply lost.

“Daoist!”

A voice suddenly called out.

Daoist Shouren looked toward it.

It was Zhang Xunzou of the Heaven Array Sect.

“Fellow Daoist, what is it?” he asked.

“This is one million supreme-grade spirit stones,” Zhang Xunzou said. “Please pass them to Fellow Daoist Lu Ye. Our sect’s recent actions were driven by greed, and we deeply regret the trouble caused. From now on, Heaven Array Sect will cease all hostile actions against Fellow Daoist Lu Ye. We ask only for his understanding.”

Daoist Shouren froze.

Then his face lit up with joy.

“Fellow Daoist...!”

He grasped Zhang Xunzou’s hand.

So—there were still people in this world worth protecting.

People who let him protect them.

The Daoist’s once-shaken Dao heart now regained its strength.

Yes. That was the Dao of Protection.

No matter how battered and bloodied one became—as long as ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) there was a single ray of light—one could forget the pain.

“Fellow Daoist,” Zhang Xunzou added, “would you help me ask if any other sects are willing to make peace?”

But he shook his head at once.

“You’ve already said it—they’re unwilling. That’s their problem. I can’t control them. I ask for your understanding.”

Daoist Shouren cultivated the Dao of Protection.

Zhang Xunzou did not.

The lives of others... what did they have to do with him?

Kind words cannot persuade the damned.

If they insisted on killing Lu Ye, if they hungered for his treasures...

Then let them go and kill.

After all—it wasn’t his life on the line.