Breaking the Precept

With a fierce and bloodied expression, Li Jianzhao looked terrifying enough to scare anyone.

"Whimper, whimper," the small spirits huddled together, sobbing. This man was no good either, just another intruder trying to steal from them.

Chu Fengchen sheathed his sword and flew up, saying, "Humanoid demons are indeed formidable."

Jian Xiaolou nodded in agreement. Compared to the beast-like demons they had encountered in the Asura Hell, humanoid demons were on a completely different level of danger.

Zhan Tianxiang took out a second Binding Immortal Rope after remembering how Li Jianzhao had escaped before. He tied him up like a dumpling and sealed his mouth before dragging him away.

Suddenly, from the direction where the dark cultivators had retreated, thousands of silver needles shot out, glittering with a faint light that revealed a spellbreaker incantation. They were aimed straight at the little spirits.

The intent was clear: if they couldn't take them, they would destroy them.

The needles moved too fast, and with the power of a Golden Core cultivator behind them, Zhan Tianxiang, at the Foundation Establishment level, couldn't intercept them. Chu Fengchen had already taken to the skies, and the only one who could stop this was Master Zhi Hui, who made no move to intervene.

It was Jian Xiaolou who shouted, "Release the dog!"

Zhan Tianxiang froze briefly but caught on immediately. He untied the ropes binding Li Jianzhao.

"You damned Zhan family mutt! If you tie me up again, I'll—" Before Li Jianzhao could finish his threat, he bolted like a gust of wind.

In an instant, he positioned himself in front of the little spirits, arms outstretched, facing the oncoming needles. Around him, the air surged violently, forming a protective wind barrier. His long hair danced wildly, and his robes billowed as the little spirits stared in awe.

The silver needles, imbued with the spellbreaker incantation, were caught in the swirling winds and all embedded into Li Jianzhao's back.

Master Zhi Hui marveled, "This young one has cultivated such righteous qi at his age. A blessing for the Confucian sects and the world!"

Far away, the Golden Core cultivator hiding in the distance squinted. Indeed, it was the aura of righteousness. Such a Confucian cultivator would be a formidable opponent.

Chu Fengchen gave a thumbs up. "Impressive!"

The little spirits, on the other hand, burst into tears. "Oh, benefactor, we must repay you with our lives!"

Li Jianzhao wanted to curse but couldn't. His entire body spasmed from the pain, and his back, thighs, and calves were riddled with needles, making him look like a hedgehog lying on the ground.

Due to the protective nature of his righteous qi, the needles had only penetrated his muscles and not his internal organs, but the pain was excruciating. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he lay immobilized, tears forming in his eyes.

Why? What did he do to deserve this?

One of the little cat spirits, her eyes brimming with tears, used her furry paw to wipe at his face. "Oh, benefactor, please don't be sad. We know you tried your best. The sisters who perished won't blame you."

This comment hit him like a knife to the heart. Blood spurted from his mouth as he collapsed onto the little cat spirit and passed out.

"Benefactor!"

"What's wrong, benefactor? Whimper, whimper."

The little spirits were oblivious to the needles covering his backside. Watching from above, Jian Xiaolou covered her eyes. Righteous qi was indeed terrifying—would Li Jianzhao even survive until Mei Ruoyu came for him?

Even Zhan Tianxiang couldn't help but pity him. Flying down, he hoisted Li Jianzhao onto his shoulder. As he prepared to leave, the little cat spirit tugged at his robes, teary-eyed. "Senior, will our benefactor be okay?"

Zhan Tianxiang nodded. "He's tough. He won't die."

The little fox spirit tugged at his sleeve as well, pleading, "Senior, can you help us? We're maidservants from Moonwatch Valley. Our steward was killed by disciples of the Limitless Sect when we were out purchasing supplies..."

Zhan Tianxiang hesitated for a moment before flying up and asking, "What should we do with these little spirits?"

Jian Xiaolou raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"After we leave, the Limitless Sect might come back for them. Should we escort them home first?"

"They're spirits," Chu Fengchen commented. "Shouldn't we exterminate them as part of our duty to slay demons?"

Spirits were foreign to him, but in his mind, they were no different from beasts.

"They're low-level spirits," Zhan Tianxiang explained. "Weak and without much potential for growth. They're quite pitiable."

Master Zhi Hui recited a mantra. "Spirits are still spirits. If they don't harm others, it's only because they lack the strength."

Zhan Tianxiang retorted solemnly, "But not all powerful spirits harm others. If you say that, aren't you assuming all non-human creatures are treacherous?"

Master Zhi Hui sighed. "You should discuss this with the Northern Celestial Sect, which often battles the Spirit Nation."

Chu Fengchen distanced himself, uninterested. Jian Xiaolou listened to the debate between Zhan Tianxiang and Zhi Hui, feeling exasperated.

On the Crimson Sky Continent, racial prejudice ran deep: demons looked down on humans, spirits looked down on humans, ghosts looked down on humans, and humans despised everything non-human.

After some thought, she asked, "Where is Moonwatch Valley? Is it on our way? If so, we could escort them there."

"Moonwatch Valley is to the southwest, but we're heading south to Kasyapa Temple. It's not on our route," Master Zhi Hui explained. "However, we could send them to Silverlight City ahead, where they could take a merchant airship to the southwest."

"Then let's do that."

With the decision made, they brought the little spirits back to the ship, which soon bustled with activity. Only the little cat spirit, Miao Miao, sat outside Li Jianzhao's cabin, ears twitching as she tried to catch any sounds from within.

Inside, Zhan Tianxiang methodically extracted needles from Li Jianzhao's back, working with the precision of a craftsman.

When Li Jianzhao awoke to the sharp pain and found himself naked on the bed with Zhan Tianxiang touching his back, he was mortified. "Zhan family mutt! What the hell are you doing to me?!"

Zhan Tianxiang, unfazed, replied, "Pulling out the needles. What else?"

"You had to strip me?!" Li Jianzhao snarled.

"How else could I do this properly?" Zhan Tianxiang asked.

Li Jianzhao was at a loss. "Couldn't someone else do it?!"

On this ship, though, who else could it be?