The divine soul left by the evil god was much easier to find than imagined.
And unlike the remnant soul they encountered in the secret realm, this divine soul was merely a ball of light suspended in mid-air, incapable of communication or harm.
However, even so, the aura emanating from the light ball was the greatest harm of all.
Liu Buli found the aura unbearable, and upon approaching, he could clearly feel the soul-shattering malevolence.
Despite shielding his vital energy with spiritual power, prolonged proximity still brought waves of oppressive discomfort.
As Liu Buli pondered how to handle the situation, Lu Wuming, sensing his master's unease, spoke up first. "Master, if you're uncomfortable, you don't need to stay here with me. This thing can indeed be absorbed, but it will take some time. You can think of it as me cultivating in seclusion. Didn't you always want me to work harder? Then consider this an exception. But it's only this once; I will never do anything that separates us again."
With that, Lu Wuming walked to the light ball and stood firm. He then looked back at Liu Buli, smiled, and nodded, signaling that his master didn't need to worry and should leave the cave as soon as possible.
Knowing that Lu Wuming's actions were out of concern for him, and acknowledging that he was indeed struggling with the aura, Liu Buli did not hesitate further. He simply nodded gently at Lu Wuming and turned to leave the vast cave.
As he departed, the night outside had not yet ended, but the moonlight cast upon the pure white snow provided some illumination, unlike the utter darkness within the cave.
Liu Buli stopped once he reached a place unaffected by the malevolent aura. He didn't care about cleanliness and found a rock to sit on. Gazing at the round moon in the distance, a phrase from the being resembling the Heavenly Dao in the secret realm suddenly surfaced in his mind – kAnshu伍.ξà
If he continued on his current path, his future would be shrouded in darkness.
If he were to go to the Ghost Realm, he would likely never see the sun or moon again, would he?
Liu Buli pictured that scenario and, truthfully, he detested the feeling of utter darkness.
However, if it were a necessary condition for staying by Lu Wuming's side, then he wouldn't mind at all. He only hoped that if that time came, Lu Wuming would keep his word.
Even if he had to create a fake sun and moon, it would be better than nothing, wouldn't it?
Lost in these scattered thoughts, it wasn't long before Liu Buli once again felt a surge of overwhelming malice directed at him.
He knew this meant Lu Wuming had begun to absorb the evil god's divine soul. However, he hadn't anticipated that the impact of absorbing the divine soul would be so outrageously powerful.
He didn't put up any significant defenses immediately. The consequence was being struck by the malevolent energy, leaving his mind in a daze.
In this state, Liu Buli wasn't sure if it was his imagination. He seemed to hear the voice of the Heavenly Dao again, the same words, the same pronouncements, echoing in his ears, reminding him of the despair he would face if he continued.
Liu Buli had initially intended to ignore these warnings, just as he had done before, pretending not to hear anything. Since the entity couldn't cause him any substantial harm, ignoring it was undoubtedly the best course of action.
Yet, for reasons he couldn't fathom, after listening for a while, he inexplicably spoke, responding to the voice. "If I listen to you and abandon all my current actions, can you send me back to the world where I belong?"
As if completely taken aback by his question, the voice fell silent after Liu Buli spoke.
With no intention of showing mercy, Liu Buli sensed the voice's silence and hesitation and let out a cold scoff. "You want me not to disrupt the trajectory of this world, yet you cannot send me home. Then why should I listen to you? Even if, as you say, I continue on my current path and my future will be without light, at least that proves I will have a future. But if I stop now, I will have no future at all, will I?"
And it wasn't just him; Lu Wuming would be in the same predicament.
If the two of them chose to give up from this point on, they wouldn't even need the Ghost King to act. Those in the cultivation world who coveted them, disliked them, or viewed them as thorns in their side would be more than capable of ending their lives.
With this thought, Liu Buli spoke again. "Therefore, I find your proposal acceptable. After all, a world without light is quite unpleasant. I am not a fool; I can discern which environment is more conducive to survival. But I have sincerity, and you must also show yours. Tell me how to return home, to the world where I belong. If you explain clearly, I will act as you say."
In truth, Liu Buli himself hadn't expected to ever be in a position to negotiate with the Heavenly Dao. However, once the words were spoken, the lingering anxiety in his heart largely dissipated.
He had to admit, perhaps because he had articulated all his thoughts, Liu Buli even felt a sense of calm.
Yawning, he said, "My disciple is currently absorbing the evil god's divine soul. Once he has fully absorbed it, the trajectory of this world will likely become even stranger. However, since you are the Heavenly Dao, you must also know that with just a word from me, I can make him stop. He will immediately cease his current actions and will not continue absorbing it."
"Therefore, you still have some time to consider. You can come to me with your answer anytime before my disciple finishes absorbing it. Kunlun will not run away, and if you deceive me, I can return at any time. By then, our negotiation will not be able to proceed as before."