Bai Zihan prepared for another round of torture but felt quite confident, knowing that the intensity of the pain had lessened due to his stronger body.
Perhaps this time, the pain might be more tolerable—and he was hopeful of that.
Just then, the Remnant Soul appeared out of nowhere, nearly scaring him.
“What the… Why are you here?”
Bai Zihan asked.
“I came to check on you!”
She replied.
Her eyes soon fell on the Eternal Spirit Sword.
(This Sword… )
She couldn’t tell that it was but an ordinary sword. Although it seems to be Earth-Grade, it was a normal artifact.
(He has so many things that even, I who once ruled the world couldn’t see through. )
“So, Bai Xinyue has started to receive the Inheritance?”
The Remnant Soul nodded her head.
Bai Zihan still felt that it was regrettable he didn’t get it, even though he believed he deserved it.
However, he was obviously not going to sacrifice his little brother for that, even if it meant becoming the strongest man in the world.
“About that, I want to ask you something as well. Do you have a bad relationship with Bai Xinyue? Like… Do you want to kill her or something?”
The Remnant Soul asked.
Bai Zihan thought for a second.
Did he have a bad relationship with Bai Xinyue?
Certainly!
After all, she was talented—unlike him—which made him jealous of her.
Then came the event of his mother stealing her Dao Bone to give it to him.
But if asked whether he wanted to kill her because of that, then his answer would be no.
He would, of course, keep his eyes on her and might even kill her—but not for those reasons.
It would be because she was Heaven’s Chosen One and destined to be his enemy.
And there’s no need to show mercy to the enemy.
Showing mercy to the enemy is being cruel to yourself.
“I do have a bad relationship with her, but whether I want to kill her or not depends entirely on her.”
Bai Zihan answered.
The Remnant Soul nodded.
She understood what Bai Zihan meant—because if Bai Xinyue were to pick a fight with him, it was only expected that he would retaliate.
She was glad that at least on Bai Zihan’s side, the animosity didn’t seem too deep.
“If you don’t mind, can I ask why you two have a bad relationship? Looking at your names, you two are clearly related.”
The Remnant Soul asked.
She was curious. Though there’s often bad blood between relatives, she didn’t think that two of them—so young—would have such deep hatred between them.
At most, perhaps jealousy and small fights.
“Oh, that’s because I had taken her Dao Bone.”
Bai Zihan replied casually.
Though in reality it was his mother, in the end, he was the one meant to benefit. So, it didn’t make a difference whether he said it was his mother or him.
He knew that Bai Xinyue also thought the same.
“What?”
For a second, the Remnant Soul’s mind went blank.
Taking someone’s Dao Bone—such a hatred might even be deeper than killing one’s best friend.
After all, having a Dao Bone and not having one made a world of difference for a cultivator.
You could make new friends, but the chance of obtaining a Dao Bone was one in a million.
Now she understood why Bai Xinyue harbored such deep hatred toward Bai Zihan.
Moreover, to think that Bai Xinyue was still that talented even after her Dao Bone was taken away—she could now see why she was the fated person.
But this also made the situation worse than she had anticipated.
After thinking for a while, she finally decided to ask Bai Zihan:
“Can I request something?”
“Well, that depends on what your request is,”
Bai Zihan said.
He was a bit grateful to her and didn’t outright reject her, which he normally would have done.
“Can I ask you not to kill Bai Xinyue?”
The Remnant Soul requested.
It was a very big request, considering that Bai Xinyue was likely to come after his life.
But Bai Zihan still didn’t outright reject her.
“Can I ask the reason? Although she is your heir, that doesn’t mean I would spare her just because of that,”
Bai Zihan replied.
“… I can’t tell you everything, but you must know this: I’m not asking you to spare her life because she is my heir.”
“You know I can’t just accept that when there’s no reason for me to do so—especially considering that she might come for my life. Moreover, you don’t have anything to bargain with me.”
The Remnant Soul understood that, but she still asked.
Although she had told Bai Xinyue that she would become stronger than Bai Zihan, she had also considered other possibilities.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that even if Bai Xinyue were to receive her Inheritance, she might still end up killed by Bai Zihan.
Not to mention that mysterious Refinement Technique—even she couldn’t see through it.
Therefore, she had come to request Bai Zihan to show mercy to Bai Xinyue.
And indeed, she doesn’t have anything to bargain for. She already gave him all the treasures she had in compensation for the Inheritance that he didn’t receive.
“How about this—I’ll agree to your request if you agree to mine.”
Bai Zihan said, which immediately made the Remnant Soul excited.
After all, Bai Zihan was saying he would keep Bai Xinyue alive even if she might one day try to kill him—though she didn’t know what his request would be.
“Okay! What is your request?”
“You!”
He once again asked her to be his.
“This again! Like I said—once the Inheritance is given out, this soul of mine will vanish along with it.”
The Remnant Soul replied.
“I know! You just need to agree, and I will agree with your request. Isn’t it a win for you?”
Bai Zihan asked.
Indeed, if Bai Zihan kept his word even though he would get nothing in return, then it was a win for her.
And she had already warned him that her soul would vanish after completing its task, so it wasn’t like she hadn’t been clear.
“Sure, if you’re okay with it!”
The Remnant Soul answered.
“I just need you to keep your word.”
Bai Zihan said with satisfaction.
The Remnant Soul now found herself wondering how to ensure Bai Zihan would keep his word.
Once she vanished, she would have no way of knowing whether he honored his vow or not—and this wasn’t something she could take lightly.
She considered forming a soul contract to bind their agreement.
But then Bai Zihan raised one hand, fingers forming a strange mudra, and spoke solemnly.
“I, Bai Zihan, vow to the heavens above—if I kill Bai Xinyue without just cause, then let my path to immortality be forever severed. Let my soul shatter before I ever reach the Dao I seek.”
The Remnant Soul’s eyes widened slightly.
He was serious.
A Heavenly Oath wasn’t something to be taken lightly. It was the kind of vow that tied itself to one’s very fate and cultivation.
If broken, it wouldn’t just cripple a cultivator—it would destroy them completely.
Even the heavens would bear witness.
(Haha… Well, if the heavens can truly kill me, that is.)
In the end, it was all an act to make sure the Remnant Soul kept her promise.
There were multiple ways to kill Bai Xinyue—even if he didn’t do it himself.
Not to mention, if heaven could kill him, it would’ve done so by now.
He didn’t believe that Heaven could do anything to him!