Breaking the Precept

The entity at the other end of the six-star bone shard fell silent, seemingly trying to recall the set of techniques.

Jian Xiaolou had already given up on relying on him. The excruciating pain caused by the Soul-Splitting Nails had numbed her senses, replaced by a bone-chilling cold.

Huddled on the ground with her knees drawn to her chest, she shivered, a layer of frost forming on her hair and brows. Memories of her family—those from this life and the last—played in her mind, offering a fleeting warmth.

"My apologies, I really can't remember."

Jian Xiaolou ignored him, having lost all hope in the dragon.

"Actually, there is one method I do remember," the voice hesitated. "But it's so agonizing that you might not endure it."

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and despite knowing this ancient dragon was unreliable, she couldn't ignore even the slimmest chance of survival. "What method?"

"The foreign fire within you—do you struggle to control it?"

Since they were separated by countless starfields, she thought speaking truthfully wouldn't matter. What harm could it do when her soul was already about to be extracted? Summoning her remaining strength, she explained haltingly, "I have an eighteen-petaled Red Lotus Flame Buddha treasure within me, said to be condensed from the karmic fire of the Eight Cold Hells. Unfortunately, I'm only at Qi Refining Stage Six…"

"Red Lotus Karmic Fire?"

The dragon's voice, always slow, languid, and hoarse, finally wavered with interest. "Hmm, isn't that…"

Jian Xiaolou strained to catch his words. "What did you say?"

"Oh, nothing. If it's the Red Lotus I'm familiar with, then your odds of survival might just increase. Fortune and misfortune are intertwined—if you possess the mental fortitude to endure, not only could this enhance your soul's strength immensely, but the Red Lotus within you might even accept you as its master."

She didn't care if the Red Lotus recognized her as its master.

If anything, she resented the Red Lotus within her. Without it, she wouldn't be suffering like this!

"However," the dragon cautioned, "I must warn you. This method is exceedingly risky, and the pain will make you wish for death. Compared to this, having your soul extracted might even feel merciful."

"Please, senior, teach me. As long as there's a way to survive, I'm willing to endure any pain."

"Is living really that important?" The dragon's voice carried a tinge of bewilderment. "Why do I feel that for me, living and dying seem no different?"

That's because you've lived for too long, she thought, though she was too exhausted to voice it.

She didn't know if living was important, but she couldn't die like this—not in such an unjust and meaningless way, like her elder brother.

After all, those who owed her still had debts to pay.

Jian Xiaolou's disappearance didn't cause so much as a ripple in the vast sea of Fire Refinement Sect.

Each day, Yue Ze would enter the secret chamber and drive another Soul-Splitting Nail into one of her acupoints.

In the beginning, her muffled groans of pain could still be heard. But by the end, she lay as motionless as a dead dog.

On the twenty-seventh day, the final Soul-Splitting Nail was driven into her Shan Zhong acupoint. Half an hour later, like the fleeting brightness before death, Jian Xiaolou regained consciousness.

Weakly propping herself up, she lifted her head slightly, her dull eyes meeting Yue Ze's.

Yue Ze crouched down, gently stroking her pale cheek with his forefinger, his expression tender. "Xiaolou, it's all over now. Don't be afraid. You haven't truly died—your soul will gain eternal life within the divine weapon."

What a hypocritical, heartless lunatic!

Jian Xiaolou wanted to roll her eyes and faint again but instead forced herself to squeeze out tears, feigning resignation. In a hoarse voice, she pleaded, "Senior Brother Yue, can I ask you for a few things?"

Yue Ze nodded. "Speak."

"I beg you… send a message to my parents. Any reason will do. Also, send them two mid-tier spiritual tools. It's nothing to you, but consider it the price of my life… Lastly, please leave my body intact and bury me in either Dragon Prison Mountain or somewhere near our Tianbao Peak. My elder sister says that ghosts of destroyed corpses go straight to hell…"

"Alright."

Such requests were hardly difficult. Yue Ze, a man of principles in his own twisted way, had already considered compensating her family. He agreed without hesitation.

"Rest easy, little girl," he murmured.

With that, he spread his palm. A glowing sphere of light appeared, enveloping Jian Xiaolou's forehead. Threads of misty light began to separate from her spirit, drawn into the crystal orb in Yue Ze's hand.

Yue Ze let out a long breath, his eyes alight with obsession.

"Jin He, come in."

A shiver ran through Jin He, who had been waiting outside the cave.

"Yes," she replied, forcing herself inside with growing dread.

"You don't need to pretend. I know you've already been here and told Li Jianzhao."

"I…" Jin He hesitated, trying to explain.

"No matter," Yue Ze interrupted calmly. "I didn't intend to hide it from you. You'll need to assist me in crafting the divine weapon."

Jin He's face fell, regret flooding her for the impulsive actions that brought her to this point. Why did I risk this for someone like Jian Xiaolou?

"First, bury Xiaolou's body," Yue Ze instructed, carefully setting the crystal aside.

"What?"

"I recall she liked the flower fields in the back of Tianxiang Valley. Lay her to rest there."

"Why not just destroy the body instead?" Jin He asked hesitantly.

"I've praised your kindness before; don't disappoint me now," Yue Ze scolded. "We shared a bond as fellow disciples. She was my beloved junior sister, and I was forced to extract her soul. A proper burial will ease our conscience and stabilize our Dao hearts."

Hearing such righteous words from the very man who killed her sent shivers through Jin He.