Chapter 648: The Heart of Buyi

Chapter 648: Chapter 10: The Heart of Buyi

Su Zhou did not reply. He simply listened in silence.

Zhou Buyi narrowed his eyes. He lowered his head, gazing at his own hands.

“At first, I renounced my rights as the Alliance Chairman of the Tianzheng Alliance and accepted no offerings. I had no interest in power, wealth, or pleasure. I simply slew demons for the Demon Suppression Bureau. But then I realized—how long could I keep that up? The moment a Martial Artist of my own tier appeared, would the Alliance truly be able to endure? Everyone desires immortality. If someone were to once again obtain power from the Divine Wood, could I, without the Blade of Annihilation, defeat a Demon Emperor even stronger than the one from the past? Even the Blade of Annihilation wouldn’t be enough. I would need an even stronger Divine Soldier… After all, you haven’t shown yourself once in over a century. I couldn’t possibly count on your intervention.”

“So, I decided to study it. Even if I didn’t use it myself, I had to understand how to counter it… But the more I researched, the more alarmed I became. The Divine Wood may have been sealed, but the world had already been changed by it. In the future, only those who cultivated the Divine Wood Power could become the strongest. If I didn’t strive in that direction, it was only a matter of time before someone cultivating Wood Element Inner Qi surpassed me. It’s not that I can’t bear the thought of being surpassed. It’s just… how could I guarantee that person would be virtuous and would want to maintain the peace as I do?”

“Furthermore, I eventually realized that only the system derived from the Divine Wood Power could truly allow one to achieve Eternal Existence—to reach the realm of ‘immortality.'”

As he spoke, the aura around Zhou Buyi surged, and a pale green Spiritual Power began to materialize around him.

As the Spiritual Light flared, the wooden door in front of him and the desk and chairs in the office began to pulse with vitality. They gradually came to life, sprouting verdant branches, leaves, and flowers.

An overflowing vitality seethed like an ocean tide, threatening to transform the small office in the flying fortress into a primeval jungle!

This scene was just like—no, it even surpassed—that of the former Demon Emperor in the Divine Wood Celestial Palace!

‘This guy’s pretty amazing.’

At that moment, Yara, still in the form of a hat, spoke to Su Zhou for the first time in the Divine Wood World. It spoke with keen interest. ‘By painstakingly studying the corrupted Divine Wood Power, he has forged a completely new path, one entirely different from the Immortal Banyan Tree. If he keeps going, he could actually transform his human body into another true Divine Wood!’

‘I noticed that too. His power is completely different from the Immortal Banyan Tree’s, which is why I found it strange at first and didn’t question him about it right away.’

Su Zhou was not surprised in the slightest. ‘He’s Zhou Buyi, after all. I could tell back then that his talent was exceptional. He just hadn’t had the time to mature and hadn’t fully developed. Now, after more than a century, the fledgling has become a complete being. He’s a totally different person from the somewhat green young man he once was.’

“I understand you.”

While communicating with Yara in his mind, Su Zhou spoke aloud. He raised a hand and sighed with a hint of resignation. “You might not believe this, but I didn’t actually come running over here because you’re cultivating the Divine Wood Power. I mean, I have other goals, like getting stronger, but for the most part, I’m mainly on vacation and wanted to see how the world was doing.”

“To be honest, you’ve done an excellent job. The museum is well-built, the patriotic education isn’t heavy-handed, and the caliber of the Martial Artists is high. You’ve done far better than I ever imagined. You have to understand, I came here fully prepared for the Divine Wood Power to resurface, ready to raise my blade and cleanse the world once more. But this world is ridiculously peaceful. If you could keep up this good work, I wouldn’t bother meddling at all.”

“But…”

“But it’s still not perfect, is it.”

Zhou Buyi, who was already releasing his aura and openly probing Su Zhou’s power, cut him off. He chuckled. “So, you’re planning to make your move now?”

“You’re almost two hundred years old and you still like cutting people off. In that respect, you’re even worse than me!” Su Zhou frowned, annoyed at being interrupted. He glared at Zhou Buyi. “Of course it’s not perfect. And yes, I know this is just nitpicking, but because of the choices you’ve made, innocent people have died, haven’t they? Yes, I know their deaths have surely saved more lives, and that you’ve suppressed the world’s development in the name of a better future Order.”

“But that is still evil. And I can’t just stand by and ignore it.”

The expression on Zhou Buyi’s face slowly vanished. He fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly in acknowledgment. “It is indeed evil. I was wrong. In the beginning, I wanted to be a leader who could save everyone, one who could let everyone live in peace and enjoy a tranquil life. But I later discovered that was far too difficult. So in the end, I took a shortcut.”

To eradicate every source of evil, step by step, and make all suffering impossible—that was the grand, Righteous Dao. But in reality, whether it was allowing a lesser evil to fester to justify one’s power, or setting one beast to devour another, there were always faster, more convenient ways to prevent a greater evil from emerging. Resisting such shortcuts was incredibly difficult.

Gazing inward, his aura swelling even stronger, Zhou Buyi spoke calmly. “When my master gave me the name Buyi, he hoped my heart would remain *unchanging*. I can still say that my core conviction hasn’t changed. But as a man, my principles, my thoughts, my very spirit… they simply couldn’t withstand the erosion of time. I admit my error and am willing to accept your judgment—even if, as you say, your judgment is nothing more than nitpicking.”

“Cut the act.”

Su Zhou clicked his tongue at Zhou Buyi’s all-but-declared challenge and shook his head. “That’s enough. From start to finish, I haven’t seen a single trace of fear from you. In fact, you seem almost… eager. You wanted to test your strength against mine from the very beginning, didn’t you? That’s why you came here so quickly.”

“Who knows.”

Zhou Buyi murmured, his hand slowly closing around the hilt of the sword at his waist. The corners of his mouth lifted into a delighted smile.

Zhou Buyi smiled, and Su Zhou laughed in return.

“Your confidence is burning like a Flame. Zhou Buyi, when you started cultivating the Divine Wood Power and forging your own path, you must have thought you’d become the strongest in the world.”

As he spoke, the young man’s own aura began to surge. Even the tips of his hair began to shine with a Spiritual Light so dense it glowed, pulsing faintly with enough Spiritual Power to warp the very air. “I happen to think the same thing.”

“This aura… are you planning to kill me with your full strength?”

Zhou Buyi asked, his eyes filled with anticipation. Su Zhou shook his head. “Of course not. Your evil hasn’t reached that level. Besides, killing you would mean ruining this golden age of peace, wouldn’t it? Even so, don’t think for a second that I’ll hold back. Whether or not you live will depend entirely on how strong you are.”

“After all, no one ever said you can’t kill a man without murderous intent.”

Despite his words, Su Zhou then did something that stunned both Zhou Buyi and Shao Qiming, who had been about to deploy an airbag and risk watching two Commander Tier experts fight up close.

He turned and strode toward the exit of the flying fortress. Before he left, he grabbed Shao Qiming and began to half-drag him away.

“Wait, Azhou, aren’t you two about to fight? Why are you suddenly leaving?”

The refined young man’s confused voice echoed from the hallway. Su Zhou’s irritated reply shot back, “Isn’t it obvious? His real body isn’t here! I was stalling for time talking to him so I could pinpoint the place in the entire world with the highest concentration of that specific Wood Qi.”

“That guy’s real body is still over in the Southern Celestial Capital, right by the Immortal Banyan Tree!”

BOOM—WHOOSH! The sound of the flying fortress’s armor being violently smashed through echoed out. Su Zhou, who rarely bothered with doors, had just made a direct exit from the Liaozhou fortress. In mid-air, he transformed into a streak of light and shot south.

A stunned Zhou Buyi hurried out in pursuit. He stared at the massive hole and the sky beyond. The man raised a hand, signaling to the Demon Suppression Bureau members who were scrambling to assemble and give chase in their Flying Airships. He waved them off, then smiled, shook his head, and walked back into his office.

‘Hah, that’s Su Zhou for you. I didn’t expect him to see through it so quickly.’

He took a bottle of liquor from his office drawer. It was an old-fashioned bottle, and the label showed its vintage: New Era First Year.

[Hundred Herbs Sect – Demon Dynasty Annihilation Commemorative Edition – Brewed in the New Era First Year]

Opening the cap, which had been sealed with a Spirit Technique, Zhou Buyi poured himself a glass. He took a sip. The taste was nostalgic.

‘If he’d figured it out a little later, we might have had a chance to share a drink… But Su Zhou doesn’t drink, does he? I remember he didn’t. Then again, it’s been over a century. Who knows.’

Sitting back down in his office chair, Zhou Buyi—or rather, Zhou Buyi’s wooden avatar—slowly closed his eyes.

In the darkness, he savored the familiar taste from one hundred and forty-seven years ago. For a moment, it was as if everything and everyone he knew had returned to his side. He was back at that jubilant victory banquet, with everyone cheering the dawn of a peaceful era, their laughter echoing in his ears.

But in reality, the man sat alone at his desk. One man, one glass, drinking by himself.

‘Everyone… I waited until Su Zhou returned. I saw him… Even he acknowledges my accomplishments. There are parts he doesn’t approve of, but when I made my decision, I had already considered that. I’m sure you all would rebuke me as well—but this was my choice. I hope you won’t hold it against me.’

Muttering to himself, Zhou Buyi gave a carefree laugh. He opened his eyes, his gaze shining. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter what you think, or what he thinks. You’re all long dead, after all, and he’s an Abnormal Person, detached from this world.”

“—If I don’t uphold the peace in this world, who will.”

As his voice faded, the seemingly living body of flesh and blood began to transform. It started from the tips of his limbs, as pale green, jade-like wood grain spread across his skin. Soon, Zhou Buyi’s entire body had become a cyan wooden statue.

And an identical wooden statue stood in each of the one hundred and forty-four prefectures of the Tianzheng Alliance.

In New Southern Celestial Capital, at the former site of the Demon Dynasty Cloud-top Celestial Palace, now the Victory Memorial Hall, a giant wooden statue at the heart of the sculpture garden slowly raised its head. It looked toward the distant north and smiled.

At that very moment, all across the Tianzheng Alliance, every resident along the path from Liaozhou to the southern border looked up and saw it.

A streak of cyan-purple light, like a meteor, blazed across the sky above the clouds, hurtling southward at incredible speed.

And there, at its destination, a pale green Wood Qi Spiritual Light began to flare with new radiance upon the long-withered Divine Wood.