Righteous And Foolish

A hundred soldiers, clad in iron armor and wielding swords and spears, marched towards Big Ox Village with unwavering resolve. Some rode ahead on horse-like spirit beasts, their presence casting a long shadow over the once-peaceful settlement. Xu Tian, alongside the village head and other residents, emerged to greet them.

Hope flickered in the eyes of the villagers, but Xu Tian's expression remained grim. As the farmers in the fields approached the soldiers with open arms, a horrifying scene unfolded. Swords and spears descended upon them without warning, leaving lifeless bodies strewn across the ground.

"No…!" the village head screamed in horror. "What madness is this?! Weren't they sent to help us?"

Xu Tian remained silent, his eyes filled with a chilling determination as he stepped forward to confront the approaching soldiers. They showed no signs of stopping, their pace quickening as they advanced with the intent to annihilate every villager.

One of the officers, mounted on a spirit beast, charged towards Xu Tian, his spear raised high. But the Great Doctor stood his ground, his hands clasped behind his back. With a surge of soul energy, he formed an ethereal arrow that pierced through the officer, shattering his soul instantly. The spirit beast continued forward, oblivious to its rider's demise, until it finally collapsed to the ground.

Xu Tian's gaze swept across the remaining soldiers, his aura radiating power despite his weakened state. Even the bravest among them, a cultivator at the peak of the third layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, had fallen to a single strike from this seemingly frail old man.

"Ninth Layer!" the commanding officer exclaimed, his voice filled with awe and fear. He signaled his soldiers to halt and dismounted, bowing respectfully before Xu Tian. "Greetings, Senior. Forgive us for mistaking you for ordinary mortals. We are soldiers of the Spear Clan, tasked with purging the plague."

"Purge the plague?" Xu Tian scoffed. "Inform your superiors that I, Great Doctor Xu Tian, am working on a cure."

The soldier's eyes widened in surprise. A Great Doctor? Despite his astonishment, he remained resolute. "I regret that I cannot comply, Senior. We are under strict orders from the overlord to eradicate this plague."

Xu Tian frowned, his mind racing. The area around Mount Ironclaw belonged to Radiant Bridge City. Even if the city's ruling clan chose not to intervene, the southern general would surely take action. The Brave Clan had no reason to bypass their authority. However, disobeying a direct order from the overlord would be foolish, even for the Spear Clan.

"Go back," Xu Tian commanded, his voice laced with authority. He knew that his weakened state and the parasitic infestation had diminished his aura. In front of seasoned soldiers, it wouldn't be enough.

The leading soldier, a cultivator at the fifth layer of the Spirit Sea Realm, stood firm despite facing a ninth-layer cultivator like Xu Tian. "Senior, retreat is not an option," he stated resolutely. "The plague has begun to affect cultivators. We must purge the mortals and eliminate the source."

"Eliminating them won't solve the problem," Xu Tian countered. "We need a cure. Return to your lords and relay my message."

The soldier shook his head. "Senior, you know better than that."

Xu Tian understood the unspoken truth. The Brave Clan, pulling the strings behind the scenes, would never prioritize mortal lives over the potential threat of a plague that could infect cultivators. The soldiers, caught in the middle, faced a grim choice – obey orders and commit atrocities or defy their superiors and face execution.

The soldier leading the charge found himself deeply conflicted. Xu Tian's unwavering determination to protect the villagers, despite his own weakened state and the risk to his life, resonated with him. Coming from a background where mortal kin outnumbered cultivators, he understood the significance of Xu Tian's sacrifice.

Recognizing the futility of their current approach, the soldier made a difficult decision. "Men, we move to the next village!" he declared, ordering a tactical retreat.

But as they turned to leave, Xu Tian's aura surged, his presence demanding their attention. How could they simply walk away to leave a trail of devastation and despair in their wake?

Sensing the Great Doctor's resolve, Ming Ren intervened, his spiritual sense reaching out to Xu Tian. 'Senior, let me handle this,' he transmitted.

With a sudden burst of power, Ming Ren's ferocious aura washed over the soldiers and their spirit beasts. The horse-like creatures collapsed to the ground, their riders thrown off balance. The beasts lowered their heads in submission, as if bowing before a deity.

Fear gripped the soldiers as they witnessed this display of power. The leading soldier, thrown from his mount, looked up to see a handsome young man with silvery-black hair standing before him, his hands clasped behind his back, an air of mystery surrounding him.

"What's going on?!" The soldiers trembled, confusion and fear etched on their faces as they witnessed the spirit beasts cowering in terror and the mysterious young man standing before them.

Ming Ren, his demeanor calm amidst the chaos, held no animosity towards the soldiers for following orders. However, their actions had nearly forced Xu Tian to further deplete his already dwindling spiritual energy, hastening his demise.

"Forget about the other villages," Ming Ren stated, his voice carrying the weight of truth. "Right now, you cannot even save yourselves."

"What are you talking about?!" the leading soldier demanded, his initial fear momentarily replaced by anger as he assessed Ming Ren's seemingly low cultivation level.

"How dare you threaten us!" the other soldiers roared, their weapons held at the ready.

"Threaten you? This is no threat," Ming Ren smiled, his words laced with a chilling certainty. "Why would I threaten those who are already doomed?"

"What! Preposterous! Seize this insolent brat!"

"Enough!" the leading soldier commanded, his frown deepening. "Explain yourself."

"It's quite simple," Ming Ren continued, his gaze unwavering. "Attempt to leave and carry out your murderous orders, and Senior Xu Tian will annihilate you all before you can even finish your next meal."

He glanced at Xu Tian, his aura flaring once more, emphasizing his point. "And I won't even need to lift a finger."

The soldiers were about to protest, but Ming Ren silenced them with a wave of his hand. "Yes, if you retreat, the Brave Clan will likely execute you. But even if you succeed in slaughtering all the mortals, the plague will not end. Didn't the Great Doctor explain? Your mission is doomed to fail. And what becomes of those who fail their missions in the Spear Clan? Even if your clan wished to spare you, the Overlord would not."

He drew his finger across his throat, a gesture that spoke volumes. The soldiers fell silent, the truth of his words sinking in.

"But ultimately, it doesn't matter," Ming Ren continued, his voice turning grim. "You were destined to die the moment you stepped foot in these lands, the moment you shed the blood of these innocent villagers. Didn't you say it yourselves? This plague infects cultivators!"

The soldiers' eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Impossible! It couldn't have infected us that quickly!"

"We are all infected," Ming Ren declared, his voice carrying the weight of their grim reality. "From the moment you arrived, you were already touched by death. Do you doubt the words of a Great Doctor? We will all perish unless he finds a cure. Look around. That is your future."

He gestured towards the burning pyres of corpses, their stench filling the air with the unmistakable odor of decay. The soldiers were visibly shaken, their faces pale with the realization that all paths led to their demise.

Sensing their despair, Ming Ren softened his demeanor, his menacing aura dissipating. "There is another option," he offered, his voice now gentle and reassuring. "A path to survival. Tell me, how long until they discover you haven't completed your mission and send replacements?"

The leading soldier, surprised by the unexpected turn of events, pondered for a moment. "Perhaps a week, maybe more," he replied. "This village is of little consequence to them."

"Then we shall give the Great Doctor a week to find a cure," Ming Ren proposed. "When they send reinforcements, you can claim you were forced to remain here. Surely the words of a Great Doctor carry some weight? Senior Xu Tian will take responsibility. They cannot punish you for avoiding offense to someone of his stature."

Xu Tian stepped forward, his voice firm despite his weakened state. "I will take full responsibility. Even the Spear Clan must show me some respect, regardless of the overlord's commands."

Hope flickered in the eyes of the soldiers as Ming Ren's plan unfolded. The promise of avoiding punishment and the potential for a cure offered a glimmer of optimism amidst the despair.

"Men, set up camp nearby," the leading soldier ordered. "We will assist the doctor."

Though some soldiers remained skeptical and resentful, they recognized that this was their best chance at survival. They reluctantly agreed, and soon a makeshift camp was established near the village.

"I trust you will keep your word, Senior," the leading soldier said, clasping his hands before departing to oversee the camp's construction.

Xu Tian approached Ming Ren, nodding in approval. "You have handled this situation well, avoiding further bloodshed and buying us time. However, I am still far from finding a way to weaken the parasites…"

"That is why I must go, Senior," Ming Ren replied with a determined smile. "To Mount Ironclaw."

Xu Tian's brow furrowed with concern. "Even if you find the source of the metal Qi pulse, it will not solve the problem entirely. It is too dangerous."

"I believe they are connected, Senior," Ming Ren insisted. "The Qi pulses, Mount Ironclaw, and the spirit bugs. I have this… feeling."

A strange sensation stirred within him, a whisper from the depths of his soul. 'Is this the Power of the Stars guiding me?' he wondered.

"Ah, interesting," Xu Tian chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You continue to amaze me. You were outside my spiritual sense range, yet you still detected the approaching army."

Ming Ren scratched his head sheepishly. "Senior is too sharp," he replied with a smile.

They shared a laugh, a brief moment of levity amidst the impending danger.

"I must take my leave now, Senior," Ming Ren announced, his expression turning serious.

Xu Tian nodded, his gaze filled with concern. "Be careful, Yu Ren. Don't take unnecessary risks. This world needs young people like you."

Ming Ren clasped his hands and bowed respectfully. "We will meet again soon, Senior."

He gracefully leaped onto the roof of the town hall, his eyes scanning the scene below. The soldiers were diligently setting up camp, their trust in their leader evident. Ming Ren knew, however, that their obedience stemmed not from loyalty but from the harsh reality of their expendable lives.

He looked down at Xu Tian, his Bright Eyes technique revealing the parasitic infestation that plagued the Great Doctor's body. 'I wish I could do something to improve his condition,' he thought with a pang of regret. 'My resources are insufficient to restore his vitality. My cooking ingredients won't be enough to help his constitution any further. For his vitality to return, his broken gates need to be fixed. To heal his broken gates is beyond my current capabilities.'

A new determination ignited within him. 'I cannot risk Xu Tian's life by delaying my return,' he resolved. 'If he could use his spiritual energy freely, he would be able to defend himself despite his weakened state. This is a dangerous gamble, but I will not allow anyone else I care about to perish. That is my Dao!'

Taking a deep breath, Ming Ren channeled the One Breath Luminescence Law, drawing in the Qi of Heaven and Earth with astonishing speed. The air around him swirled with energy as his spirit sea swelled with power. The enhanced cultivation law, now operating at its full potential within the Spirit Sea Realm, hummed with intensity, radiating a luminous glow that seemed to attract energy from the surrounding landscape.

"What is he doing…?" Xu Tian exclaimed, his voice filled with concern. "It's too dangerous to cultivate there!"

He attempted to send a spiritual message to Ming Ren, but his attempt was blocked by the young cultivator's own spiritual sense.

Ming Ren released a multitude of nearly invisible Qi threads, each pulsating with energy, and extended them towards Xu Tian and the afflicted villagers. Xu Tian, trusting Ming Ren's intentions, remained calm, his gaze fixated on the intricate display of Qi manipulation unfolding before him.

As Ming Ren's mastery over spiritual energy reached new heights, his Qi threads became conduits of immense power, drawing in the surrounding spiritual essence with an insatiable hunger. The featherwing spirit bugs, their instincts guiding them towards the potent source of energy, eagerly followed the shimmering strands into Ming Ren's body, disappearing into the depths of his being.

Xu Tian, realizing what Ming Ren was doing, attempted to sever the Qi threads, but it was too late. The parasites had been drawn from his body and the bodies of the villagers, leaving them free of the infestation. Ming Ren had taken their burden upon himself.

"Young man, what in the heavens are you doing?!" Xu Tian cried out, his voice cracking with shock and disbelief. He had never witnessed such reckless selflessness, such a blatant disregard for one's own well-being for the sake of others.

Ming Ren looked at him with a gentle smile. 'With this, my heart will be at ease,' he thought. 'Senior, protect them and yourself well.'

And with that, he dashed away towards Mount Ironclaw, his speed leaving Xu Tian and the villagers in awe.

Xu Tian, still reeling from the shock of Ming Ren's actions, whispered a silent prayer for the young cultivator's safety and success. 'May the Heavens protect him,' he thought, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair.