Chapter 581: Decline

"Fight?" Baili Qingfeng scratched his head. "Why would we fight? Fighting isn't good. Did I do something to upset you? If I did, I'm really sorry."

"No," Li Pin replied calmly. "It's not that. I've just heard about your achievements, and I wanted to have a proper match with you."

"Achievements? What achievements? I'm just an ordinary student... " Baili Qingfeng hesitated, his voice trailing off. " Well, maybe not so ordinary anymore. It's been a long time since I last went to school."

As he spoke, his expression turned gloomy. It's as though his spirit had been drained away.

Li Pin, confused by the sudden shift, glanced at Zhao Tiangang for some explanation. But Zhao Tiangang was visibly uneasy, not daring to even glance at Baili Qingfeng. Standing this close to the Void Emperor was already pushing the limits of his courage. As for anything else... he didn't dare to even think about it.

With no answer from Zhao Tiangang, Li Pin had no choice but to turn his attention back to Baili Qingfeng. "A student? No, you're not just a student. Who are you, really? You're the human incarnation of the Void Emperor, a being who stands at the very peak of existence."

"Yes, senior, I know about that." Baili Qingfeng nodded seriously. "I've witnessed the rise and fall of countless worlds, the fading of countless eras, wandering aimlessly through endless voids for what could be billions of years.

"In the time it takes a mortal heart to beat, countless galaxies and star systems vanish in dazzling brilliance before my eyes.

"Yet, even now, I feel nothing for them—no emotion, no sympathy. I am the void itself, unable to hear, see, or feel anything... Ten million, a hundred million lives—vanishing into nothingness. I am eternal life, eternal death, eternal emptiness, eternal nothingness...."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "But, senior, I made all of that up."

"No, you didn't." Li Pin's expression grew solemn. "Everything you just said is true. You are eternal life, eternal death, eternal emptiness, eternal nothingness."

"But that was just part of our promotional material," countered Baili Qingfeng. "Isn't it common to use some grand, albeit vague, phrases for marketing purposes?"

He explained patiently, "To be honest, I also felt that this kind of false advertising wasn't right. But given the situation, we had to stabilize the Aurora Empire as quickly as possible, which is why we came up with the concept of the Void Sacred Hall...."

At this point, he began to look visibly guilty. "If those promotions misled you, wasted your valuable time, and made you halt your cultivation to travel all this way just to challenge me, then... I sincerely apologize."

With that, he bowed deeply to Li Pin, his expression filled with genuine sincerity.

For a moment, Li Pin was completely taken aback.

His gaze instinctively shifted back to Zhao Tiangang, with only one thought in his mind,

Is this really the Void Emperor? The man who, with just a glance, could bring about catastrophic consequences—the central figure of a world-shaking plot?

"I'm truly sorry. Let me make it up to you with a meal, okay?"

His guilt was apparent. No, it was practically written all over his face. He genuinely seemed to be apologizing.

"Do you like barbecue? How about some beer? Wait, did you drive here? If so, then no alcohol! Safety first...."

"No! I don't want that!" Li Pin responded firmly. "I just want to fight you."

Baili Qingfeng looked puzzled. "Are you sure? There's a great place in the alley near my house. Their lamb skewers, grilled cabbage, and roasted eggplant are amazing. I rarely recommend it to anyone..."

Li Pin couldn't help but blurt out, "You just want to eat there, don't you?"

Then, realizing he had been sidetracked, he quickly refocused. "Enough of that. Just tell me. What will it take for you to fight me?"

"Senior, you're looking for the Void Emperor, but I'm really not him. That was all just part of the promotion," Baili Qingfeng stressed.

After a moment of hesitation, he added resolutely, "If you truly feel deceived and want to vent your frustration, then go ahead and hit me. As long as it helps you feel better, that's fine with me."

Li Pin felt exhausted just trying to convince him. "Why is this so difficult? I just want to fight you fair and square, to determine who is stronger!"

He turned to Sword Saint Zhao. "I mean a real fight. Not just exchanging a few perfunctory blows before giving up."

Then, as if recalling something important, he added in a solemn tone, "If you're worried about injuring or even killing me, don't be! As long as I get to witness your peak form, even if I die at your hands, I will have no regrets."

"Absolutely not! That's out of the question!" Baili Qingfeng quickly objected. "We have no grudge between us. In fact, some of the promotions about me might have even led to misunderstandings on your part. How could I possibly harm you? And killing someone? That's completely unacceptable! I'm a law-abiding, model student. How could I ever kill someone without reason?"

"A law-abiding, model student? You?" Li Pin's expression turned incredulous. "Said the one who has killed, set fires, and even wiped out entire families before?"

"Well, yes, I've killed, burned things, and wiped out families... but only those who deserved it," Baili Qingfeng explained earnestly. "That's called upholding justice. Doesn't that count as being law-abiding? Doesn't that make me a model student?"

Li Pin stared at Baili Qingfeng, a sense of unease creeping over him.

Something feels off... like a crucial piece of the puzzle is missing.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was definitely something about Baili Qingfeng that didn't add up.

This is just...

"Forget it. Judging by your travel-worn appearance, you must have just wiped out a clan. You're probably exhausted and not in your best condition. Get some rest first. I'll come back in a few days when you've recovered."

Li Pin decided he needed to gather more information from other pioneers.

Zhao Tiangang... ultimately, his rank is too low. As a Silver Pioneer, he simply didn't have what it took to get involved in the main storyline.

"Senior, you are always welcome to visit my home," Bai Liqingfeng said with a firm nod. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "By the way, senior, what's your name?"

"Li Pin," Li Pin replied, then turned to leave.

This brief exchange brought a sense of relief to many present, though some with ulterior motives couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at the missed opportunity.

As Li Pin walked away, Baili Qingfeng's voice, filled with genuine joy, echoed behind him. "I'm home."

It seemed that simply returning home was enough to fill him with happiness.

Hearing this, Li Pin couldn't help but pause for a moment.

At this stage, the Void Emperor still retained a strong sense of humanity....

Perhaps, if the mission from the Divine Treasury Hall truly required awakening the Void Emperor and bringing him back to the Existence faction, a more personal approach would be necessary.

But before considering that, he must figure out a way to engage the Void Emperor in a few battles.

Of course, before anything else, it was crucial to determine whether their understanding of the Emperor was accurate or if there were any misconceptions.

***

Once outside the perimeter of Mountain Qingyuan, Zhao Tiangang let out a relieved sigh. "

Whew!

"

He was about to speak, but upon seeing Li Pin's contemplative expression, he quickly remembered his own earlier behavior and was overcome with guilt. "I'm sorry, Pioneer Li... I've never been this close to the Void Emperor before..."

"To be fair," Li Pin remarked, "he's just a character in the story, a creation of Baili Zhu within this world. He might not even be the real Void Emperor, but rather Baili Zhu's interpretation of him. Knowing that, why still act so apprehensive?"

Zhao Tiangang replied, "Even though he's merely a creation of the divine treasure world's owner, dying here means I'll be stuck in limbo for a hundred stellar years. With my limited lifespan, another hundred years of waiting would mean I'd just wither away from old age. So, if the Void Emperor kills me, it's no different from true death."

"But if you avoid the main storyline characters, how do you expect to break free from the Void Divine Treasure World?" Li Pin countered.

As soon as he spoke, Li Pin realized Zhao Tiangang's true intentions. He was simply trying to coast through, prolonging his existence for as long as possible. Compared to being trapped in limbo for an eternity, at least he could still enjoy a few more decades of life while he was alive.

If no one managed to break the divine treasure world by the end of this cycle, his final years wouldn't be spent in vain. And if someone did succeed, he'd win without lifting a finger.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

With that mindset, all Zhao Tiangang wanted was to steer clear of danger at all costs.

Understanding this, Li Pin said firmly, "From now on, you don't need to follow me anymore."

Zhao Tiangang's face turned pale. "Pioneer Li, I—"

"It's fine," Li Pin cut him off. "If I manage to break open the divine treasure world, I'll compensate you for the guidance you provided me earlier. If I fail, then none of this will matter anyway."

"Please, Pioneer Li, allow me to follow you! Even if it's just as a peripheral member of your team..." Zhao Tiangang pleaded earnestly.

Peripheral member....

Li Pin considered this option for a moment. Zhao Tiangang was, after all, a Silver Pioneer who had survived four cycles.

In the end, he didn't refuse outright.

"Very well. First, find me a place to stay. Then, search for a marker to locate my teammates. If you can't find them, leave a mark so they can come to me instead."

"Understood," Zhao Tiangang replied, his spirits lifting as he quickly set to work.

Though Zhao Tiangang had faltered in the face of the Void Emperor, he proved remarkably efficient when it came to handling tasks. In just half a day, he returned and led Li Pin to a quiet courtyard in the heart of Xiaya City.

Waiting at the entrance was Li Pin's long-separated teammate, Fang Zhiqian. Behind Fang Zhiqian stood two identical women.

After a brief moment of thought, Li Pin recognized them. They were his new teammate, Shi Keqing, and her twin sister, Shi Yiren, who had entered one cycle earlier ahead of them.