197: What is fate?

Fu Gu, the Lou Lan Remnant, slowly gathered the cursed Qi in front of him.

The curse marks on his body solidified, appearing like a blood-weeping painting behind him.

On his chest, where curse marks should have been entangled, a colorful tiger appeared.

The colorful tiger's gaze was ferocious, its pupils gleaming with a bloody luster.

The tiger seal... it had been refined.

Yet, he showed no sign of joy.

To be a tiger's accomplice.

He said he refined the tiger seal, that he refined a heaven and earth treasure, but what he truly refined were the vengeful spirits of Loulan's ancestors, who died in that war of annihilation.

What joy was there in refining his own ancestors?

His Physical Body had reached its limit; if not for the suppression of this celebration, he would have long ago broken through the Half-Step Dao Foundation threshold and stepped into the Dao Foundation Realm.

Within his heart, thePrototype of a Divine Ability had already formed... That Divine Ability was named [Soul Suppressing Stake].

However, he knew... this Divine Ability could only be successfully manifested once he killed this last enemy, that Cultivator from Qingchi Mountain.

The host of this celebration, Qingchi Mountain... would never allow him to break into the Dao Foundation Realm so easily, nor would they allow him to establish a nation with such ease.

Fu Gu was a machine; he did not like the joys and sorrows of the world. Since his birth, he knew what he lived for.

The Lou Lan Remnant naturally lived for the Loulan Kingdom.

He did not want to call it an Ancient Kingdom.

Ancient... The Lou Lan Remnants had not all died out, so why call it ancient?

Fu Gu stretched, only to see a several-meter-tall woman slowly emerge behind him, her fiery Physique barely covered by extremely thin material.

She squatted slightly, her spring-like charms frequently revealed, as she placed her hands on Fu Gu's shoulders.

She was the top accomplice ghost within the tiger seal.

The last Queen Jingjue.

The Queen Jingjue's voice was exceptionally seductive, one could even say utterly fawning.

She submissively said, "With Master here, Loulan will never be cut off."

Fu Gu did not speak. The accomplice ghosts within the tiger seal were no longer the people they were in life.

Who would have thought... that the last queen, who fought to the death with the Demon Kingdom in the final battle, both sides suffering heavy losses, would transform into such a lowly state?

He also did not wish to accept this kindness... In his heart, he always held... reverence for this queen.

Suddenly, Fu Gu felt a bone-chilling coldness. He looked up.

He saw the dense Bitter Bamboo Forest reappear in the void!

The Loulan remnants were about to swarm forward but were stopped by a wave of Fu Gu's hand.

He watched as the Bitter Bamboo Forest gradually dematerialized, then transformed into tiny objects that were placed into a Storage Pouch.

A frost-white figure, bearing infinite nobility and grace, walked over.

Even Fu Gu, who had a completely different aesthetic from the Central Plains, had to admit... the person before him possessed an undeniably superior appearance.

It was a beauty that transcended racial aesthetics.

No... it wasn't just the appearance... it was the Qi emanating from their very bones.

The figure drew closer and closer; with each step, the frost-white mist behind them intensified.

The pavilions on both sides were covered in a layer of snow-white frost, which then gradually condensed behind him into a tree shaped like jade.

Until the two were fifteen steps apart, the person slowly stopped.

He saw... on the illusory treasure tree behind that person, a moon palace fairy sat on a branch, swinging her legs.

She formed a stark contrast with the seductive and enchanting Queen Jingjue!

"Fellow Daoist, do you wish to restore your nation?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Upon the ruins of the Loulan Ancient Kingdom."

"This place belongs to my Qingchi Mountain. Fellow Daoist is not from Qingchi Mountain."

"I can be."

"That's interesting..." Shen Li said with a smile.

"It's just, Fellow Daoist, I have also desired this place for a long time."

Fu Gu observed Shen Li for a long time, then suddenly said, "The previous you, was not you?"

"It was me."

"In combat, you are not as good as him."

"Perhaps."

"No room for negotiation?"

Shen Li smiled and said, "The struggle for the Great Dao... one walks alone, there's nothing more to say!"

Before his words finished, Fu Gu's figure was like a raging tiger, instantlyComing at you, striking with a punch!

Fu Gu's Physique was naturally extraordinary; after refining the tiger seal, it had even been enhanced into the [Cursed Tiger Centennial Physique].

A surge of resentment boiled, and the blood shield in his hand became even more black and red!

It looked extremely fierce and terrifying!

The Evil Qi on his fist was undisguised, and a foul Qi suddenly emerged.

Shen Li's expression was calm, his body retreating backward, as Frost Walls rose majestically like a Rashomon!

Each was incredibly thick, clearly greatly amplified by the Immaculate Lunar Physique!

However, they still could not block the fist technique filled with Evil Qi!

They suddenly shattered, sending ice shards flying!

Seeing Fu Gu's ferocity, he remained calm, his Spiritual Qi flowing, his movements fluid.

Dense ice cicadas poured down like a torrential storm!

Evil flames suddenly flared up on Fu Gu's body, beginning to burn, but they couldn't withstand the sheer number of ice cicadas.

Soon, his rapid charging speed slowed down.

He moved his fingers, and dark clouds gathered in the sky.

Wind and snow poured down.

Ice cones fell to the ground like a downpour!

"Go!"

Boom!

The battle between the two suddenly began.

Both sides had their victories and losses, engaging in hundreds of exchanges in mere moments!

The entire Inner City was reduced to ruins!

Frost and sand-attribute spells constantly intertwined within the Inner City, causing the Spiritual Qi to become incredibly chaotic!

After a good half-day!

Dark clouds once again floated in the sky.

The accumulated dark clouds continued to pour down raindrops!

Dense ice cones buried an area dozens of meters around Fu Gu, turning it into a kingdom of ice!

When the spells dissipated, Fu Gu's savage, mountain-like figure stood amidst it.

Dozens of ice cones were embedded in his Physical Body.

The amplification provided by the Immaculate Lunar Physique to Ice Law and Lunar spells was simply too powerful.

This power far surpassed the amplification of Fu Gu's Physical Body!

And in the prolonged exchange of spells, his Physical Body had gradually been broken down by the Ice Law... his reactions gradually slowed.

The advantage and disadvantage seemed to have already become apparent...

Shen Li tilted his head, while Fu Gu twisted his wrist.

Dozens of Loulan remnant souls landed on his shoulders, pulling out the ice cones for him.

In this scene, Fu Gu truly had the demeanor of a king.

"The Loulan Kingdom has existed for hundreds of years; it should not perish so quickly..."

"All things in the world must follow their laws. Since it is already like sand in the wind, dry bones in a tomb, why must Fellow Daoist be so obsessed?"

Shen Li sighed, saying with a compassionate look in his eyes, "Fellow Daoist, you sensed the crisis of life and death... several times you could have clearly avoided it, yet you chose to endure it. Was it to induce a Heart Demon?"

"I didn't expect... I actually gave Fellow Daoist a very bad start."

Fu Gu's voice was low, his tone already carrying a hint of madness.

Clearly, he had successfully provoked his Heart Demon.

Although he was not a Central Plains Cultivator, and the spells he cultivated were all extreme unorthodox methods.

Ultimately, they were all Cultivators who absorbed Spiritual Qi... thus, they all had Heart Demons.

"Fellow Daoist... this name is quite awkward."

Fu Gu lowered his head, shadows covering his face.

"But Fellow Daoist... your situation and mine are always different."

"You are an immortal race Cultivator, I am a barbarian from a fallen small nation barely clinging to life."

"I only have one chance... but you are different."

"The previous you... was different. Heart Demon, huh... I don't often hear that name in my clan."

"It's clearly my Physical Body, but why do I feel... my combat strength has increased by more than twofold?"

"Fellow Daoist... is this Heart Demon good or bad?"

Seeing this, Shen Li merely shook his head slightly.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes..." Fu Gu suddenly looked up, saying fiercely, "It doesn't matter anymore!"

"As long as I can achieve Dao Foundation and restore Loulan, how I do it doesn't matter anymore!"

"This is my mission!"