Node Eighteen

Sang Shuiyun looked at him, even as streams of power escaped deep into the earth, rapidly moving away from the cave dwelling.

“Brother Entropy, I never thought you’d see me this way.” Sang Shuiyun’s voice was low. “I do have some secrets, and so do you! I thought… we understood each other, that neither of us would probe into the other’s secrets. I didn’t expect you to investigate me, even thinking I could be the Blood Cloud God Lord? Do you really believe a solitary cultivator like me could possess such power?”

Entropy Tianyan looked at him. “Still denying it at a time like this?”

“You’ve truly made a mistake,” Sang Shuiyun said, looking at him.

“If I’ve made a mistake, why has your true body already fled?” Entropy Tianyan countered, his gaze fixed on him.

Sang Shuiyun fell silent.

“Brother Entropy,” Sang Shuiyun finally said with a sigh, “it seems you are stronger than I anticipated, to be able to detect my escape technique.” His escape technique incorporated three Chaos Realm moves, making it silent and undetectable by ordinary Eternal True Gods.

“I’m not particularly skilled in anything; I just know a bit about artifact refining,” Entropy Tianyan replied. “It’s just that after returning to Huyang City, I no longer have the desire to compete, so outsiders say my artifact refining is among the best here.”

“Among the best without even competing?” Sang Shuiyun looked at him. “I always knew you were like me.”

“You and I are not the same,” Entropy Tianyan said, looking at him. “We are both very lonely in this world, with not many attachments. But I am grateful for my life’s experiences. I observe the wonders of this world, watching cultivators, each with their own pursuits, their own beloved… just like you and I once were, full of spirit and yearning.”

“This world is so wonderful. Why must you destroy it all?” Entropy Tianyan looked at him. “What do you gain by destroying all of this?”

“As long as I can become stronger, any sacrifice is worth it!” Sang Shuiyun’s gaze was sharp and cold. “What does it matter if billions of sentient beings perish? I, Sang Shuiyun, will surely become a Chaos Master, and in the future, even a God King!”

“What if you become a God King?” Entropy Tianyan looked at him. “Even as a God King, ancient powers like the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom and Thunder Ancient Kingdom would still far surpass you. In the vast Origin Continent, there will always be someone stronger than you.”

Sang Shuiyun said indifferently, “I am alone in this world. Now, I only wish to cultivate and become stronger!”

“To become stronger for the sake of becoming stronger?” Entropy Tianyan shook his head. “You and I truly are different.”

“Of course we’re different!” Sang Shuiyun declared. “You are merely an insignificant ripple on the Origin Continent, while I… will be like the vast heavens and earth, dominating all things! The countless beings across the entire Origin Continent will be influenced by me; my will shall determine the life and death of countless lives.”

Entropy Tianyan looked at him. “Then, will you be happy?”

Sang Shuiyun was taken aback.

“No matter how powerful you become, no matter how many lives’ fates you can decide, ask your own heart: if you are still lonely and in pain, then your path will be one of suffering,” Entropy Tianyan said, looking at Sang Shuiyun. “We have been friends. I only hope you can walk a path where your heart finds liberation and joy, a path where you can calmly face your former beloved.”

“No matter how the outside world changes, your inner feelings are what truly matter,” Entropy Tianyan stated, looking at Sang Shuiyun.

“Hahaha, you actually tried to change me?” Sang Shuiyun looked at Entropy Tianyan. “We’ve known each other for too long. I can see through your thoughts at a glance.”

“Yes, I am trying to change you. I know I can’t stop you. Even the Yu Nation might not be able to kill you. A cultivator like you, with such monstrous crimes, truly has the potential to become a Chaos Master or even a God King. I only hope that a future peerless powerhouse… will face this world with goodwill, not malice.” Entropy Tianyan looked at Sang Shuiyun.

“Hahaha…” Sang Shuiyun’s eyes showed madness. “You have your path, and I have mine! Good and evil mean nothing. My will is the will of heaven and earth, the will of all living beings!”

Entropy Tianyan gently shook his head.

“Since you came, you must have a backup plan,” Sang Shuiyun said, looking at him. “What is your backup plan? No one in Huyang City can kill me now, not even General Yong, who would worry about affecting countless lives. So, your backup plan relies on a major power?”

“Truly clever,” Entropy Tianyan said.

“What kind of backup plan did you arrange?” Sang Shuiyun stared at him. “Tell me, and I can spare your life.”

“Guess,” Entropy Tianyan smiled. “My backup plan isn’t guaranteed to kill you, but it should have about a ninety percent chance.”

“What exactly is this backup plan?” Sang Shuiyun’s eyes were filled with madness.

“Let me test your strength! The strength of the Blood Cloud God Lord!” Entropy Tianyan suddenly threw a punch.

He was bare-handed, yet a single punch carried a terrifying might that made heaven and earth tremble! Sang Shuiyun stood motionless, allowing the punch to pierce his chest. His entire body flowed like a wave of blood.

An invisible domain enveloped the entire cave dwelling. Sang Shuiyun, in his blood-wave form, stared at Entropy Tianyan. “Self-refining your divine body, transforming it into something like a mechanical-flow secret treasure? Brother Entropy, your artifact refining skills truly surpass anyone in Huyang City. You shouldn’t die just like this. Tell me, what backup plan did you leave behind?”

Knowing the backup plan would allow him to better react. He knew Entropy Tianyan too well! Entropy Tianyan appeared to enthusiastically make countless friends and was friendly towards many disciples in his sect, but when it came to schemes, he was absolutely no less cunning than Sang Shuiyun himself. The two of them understood each other very well!

“Do you think I’d tell you?” Entropy Tianyan shook his head.

“Then I’ll just have to personally send you on your way!” Sang Shuiyun’s body transformed into a blood wave, completely enveloping Entropy Tianyan.

Entropy Tianyan, enveloped by the blood wave, turned his head to look at this world. “This world is so wonderful, yet you want to wantonly slaughter and destroy it, all for a sliver of hope for a breakthrough…”

The blood wave corroded Entropy Tianyan’s body, which quickly dissolved, his True God Heart annihilated.

Sang Shuiyun stood silently in place. Entropy Tianyan was dead. His only friend in this world had been killed by his own hand.

“Anyone who stands in my way deserves to die.” Sang Shuiyun was expressionless as he looked around. “There are no ambushes at all. It seems you didn’t place your hopes on the powerhouses within Huyang City. Are you trying to use external forces to kill me?”

That wisp of blood cloud power also silently burrowed into the ground and departed. A battle had taken place here, making it unsuitable for continued residence.

At an ordinary residence, the metal lifeform, Uncle Qiumo, gazed at the night sky, waiting anxiously. Suddenly, within his Karma Communication Token, the karma of his sect leader, ‘Entropy Tianyan,’ dissipated.

“Sect Leader…” Uncle Qiumo’s heart trembled. He knew that the Sect Leader had, after all, died.

Without hesitation, following the Sect Leader’s prior arrangements, Uncle Qiumo immediately sent confidential messages to five targets. In truth, Entropy Tianyan wasn’t absolutely certain that Sang Shuiyun was the Blood Cloud God Lord, so he needed to confirm it! He worried that by the time he confirmed it, he might die before he could transmit the information. Therefore, he had Uncle Qiumo help spread the confidential messages. In reality, Entropy Tianyan also used his ‘Karma Communication Token’ to transmit more precise information.

At the City Lord’s Estate, Mo Limeng was handling the aftermath. After all, the Blood Cloud God Lord’s rampage had affected and slaughtered over eight billion beings, which would have a significant impact on the entire Huyang City. If mishandled, it could cause widespread panic.

“Hmm?” Mo Limeng first received Entropy Tianyan’s message, and then the confidential message from Uncle Qiumo.

“The true identity of the Blood Cloud God Lord is ‘Sang Shuiyun’?” Mo Limeng showed a look of pleasant surprise. “This Sang Shuiyun has resided in Huyang City for too long. I’ve encountered him many times at the Dream Flower Building. Wherever he passed, there would be traces. The more traces, the more one can try to deduce heavenly secrets and track his whereabouts… Hmm?” Mo Limeng finished reading Entropy Tianyan’s complete confidential message.

“What an Entropy Tianyan! He actually possesses a ‘Karma Tracing Token,’ and it contains Sang Shuiyun’s karma? With this Karma Tracing Token, Sang Shuiyun can be tracked?” Mo Limeng was overjoyed. “This makes it easy now. With the ability to track his location, the Marquis can meticulously plan to eliminate him in one fell swoop.” Even if his strength matched General Yong, as long as his location was confirmed and preparations were made in advance, enough powerful forces could be mobilized to eradicate him in a single strike.

“Entropy Tianyan has truly performed a great service.” Just as Mo Limeng was excitedly thinking, he suddenly noticed that Entropy Tianyan’s karma within the Karma Communication Token had dissipated.

“He’s dead?” Mo Limeng’s heart trembled.

“His Karma Tracing Token is stored at the Yanfeng Guild Hall, and only my father, Mo Lixiao, can retrieve it?” Mo Limeng didn’t dare to hesitate and immediately went to report this information. This was the intelligence Entropy Tianyan had left behind with his life.

In truth, Sang Shuiyun was extremely cautious. Even though he was Entropy Tianyan’s closest friend, he never left behind blood or similar items, which would prevent Entropy Tianyan from locking onto his karma. However, Sang Shuiyun did not understand the methods of an artifact refining master. Their long association naturally led to karmic entanglement between them! By relying on their mutual karma, Entropy Tianyan was able to imprint it into a ‘Karma Tracing Token,’ which could then be used to track Sang Shuiyun’s location.

In Entropy Tianyan’s view, as long as the Blood Cloud God Lord continued to cause harm, the Yu Nation might tolerate it once, but certainly not a second or third time. Once the Yu Nation decided to kill the Blood Cloud God Lord, having the Karma Tracing Token to pinpoint his location made it a highly probable outcome. But Entropy Tianyan also knew very well that there were too many variables in the future; he could only do his best.

The Dream Flower Building Master was alone in her small building, playing a tune, when suddenly, she received a message.

“Hmm?” The Dream Flower Building Master checked it.

“The true identity of ‘Blood Cloud God Lord,’ leader of the Eater Nation faction, is Sang Shuiyun! At this very moment, the top powers in Huyang City all know this information! But don’t worry, the City Lord’s Estate owes me a good deal, and I’ve entrusted them to look after you. Also, several other top powers in the city have a good relationship with me, so I believe they won’t trouble you. If you genuinely encounter great danger in the future, other powers are unreliable; only God Lord Luohe can help you.

“I know his temperament. For my sake, he will help you once. You absolutely must not bother him too much; he dislikes trouble! Once he finds you annoying, he will no longer care whether you live or die.

“And you don’t need to worry about Sang Shuiyun; he won’t be coming to the Dream Flower Building anymore.

“Menghua, your illusion techniques are quite ordinary, among the bottom tier for Eternal True Gods skilled in illusions. You must cultivate diligently in the future. In this world, ultimately, you must rely on yourself.”

This confidential message left the Dream Flower Building Master bewildered. Entropy Tianyan and Sang Shuiyun were the only two Eternal True Gods infatuated with her.

“Tianyan is dead?” The Dream Flower Building Master discovered that Entropy Tianyan’s karma within the Karma Communication Token had dissipated. She stood dazed, her mind thundering with too many thoughts to find peace.

Inside the cave dwelling, on the peak of a high mountain.

Luo Feng sat cross-legged, cultivating peacefully. He did not use a Karma Communication Token, so he couldn’t receive Karma Communication messages, but he received information from the Yanfeng Guild Hall’s Dark Hall.

“God Lord Luohe, Entropy Tianyan is confirmed dead. According to his dying wish, all the treasures he left in our Yanfeng Guild Hall’s Dark Hall, including over three million ‘Universe Sand’ and a confidential letter, are to be transferred to you. Please come to the Yanfeng Guild Hall’s Dark Hall in person to claim them.”

This message stunned Luo Feng.

“Entropy Tianyan, confirmed dead?”