Chapter 8

After bidding farewell to the parents' endless gratitude and refusing their gifts, the two returned to Yuan Wuxing's small courtyard.

"I see you can talk a lot when you're with me, but why don't you speak up in the hall? Perhaps the City Lord Zeng didn't even notice you."

Yuan Wuxing scratched his head and laughed, "I was timid, I've never seen such a scene before, and my mind went blank for a moment."

Jiang Li laughed, "You, you spent ten years investigating the massive Jiang family, knowing the hope was slim but still persisted. If someone said you lacked determination, they would surely be blind. But you always get timid at critical moments. Today at the Jiang family, and in the hall, it was the same. When you tried to break through to the Yuanying stage, it was the same. Our Dao Sect emphasizes the cultivation of both life and nature, but you are only cultivating nature, not life."

Yuan Wuxing felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

He indeed was as Jiang Li described, always hesitating when trying to break through to the Yuanying stage, his thoughts as chaotic as surging sea waves. He thought, "I'm still young, why take the risk of dying or losing my Dao? Isn't it better to live a carefree life for a hundred years before breaking through? What's the point of breaking through to the Yuanying stage? Above Yuanying is the Hua Shen stage, when will cultivation ever end? So many people have failed to break through to the Yuanying stage, why should I succeed?" This led to his several attempts to break through to the Yuanying stage being just a hair's breadth away from success, yet always ending in failure.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior." Yuan Wuxing bowed respectfully to Jiang Li, who just smiled and said nothing.

Yuan Wuxing remembered something and asked anxiously, "Senior Zhang, I suspect the Jiang family will send people to that space to destroy the evidence. Let's go stop them!"

"Actually, I'm afraid they won't go to that space. Otherwise, how could we make a bigger fuss?" Jiang Li gestured for Yuan Wuxing to calm down but didn't tell him the reason. Yuan Wuxing really believed Jiang Li's words and calmed down.

Although they had only spent one day together, Yuan Wuxing began to trust Jiang Li without any reason.

"Is this Mr. Zhang Li and Mr. Yuan Wuxing?" came a light knocking on the door.

The knocking was very gentle, and after speaking, the person outside didn't repeat it when there was no response from inside, just standing politely at the door, showing that the visitor was very courteous.

Yuan Wuxing opened the door, his hand trembling uncontrollably, barely restraining himself from attacking.

"I, an old man, know I have wronged the people. If you can beat me to relieve Mr. Yuan Wuxing's hatred, I have no objections."

Clan Leader Jiang stood at the door with a cane, his eyelids drooping, looking apologetic. With the cultivation of the Jindan stage, he faced a peak Jindan and a peak Yuanying enemy without any followers behind him.

How could Yuan Wuxing not hate Clan Leader Jiang? If Jiang Yixing was the main culprit, then Clan Leader Jiang was the biggest accomplice. The deaths of those infants could definitely be attributed to Clan Leader Jiang.

"What are you here for, to threaten us?"

Yuan Wuxing ultimately didn't attack, just gave a sarcastic smile and sat down, drinking tea in large gulps.

He didn't dare to act, who knew what tricks this old man had. It was better not to cause any unnecessary trouble.

To his surprise, Clan Leader Jiang threw his cane aside and knelt on the ground, startling Yuan Wuxing so much that he almost dropped his teacup.

Jiang Li watched Clan Leader Jiang with interest, curious to see what this junior would do.

"Although the old ancestor was wrong, no matter how great the mistake, it cannot surpass the Emperor of Humanity. If the news of the Emperor of Humanity's brother cultivating the demonic path spreads throughout the Nine Provinces, what would people think? They might harbor resentment. If someone stirs up the situation, it would greatly damage the Emperor of Humanity's reputation!"

"Outside the Nine Provinces, there are extraterrestrial demons eyeing us. Fortunately, the successive Emperors of Humanity have raised the banner of the Nine Provinces, fighting against the demons, thus saving the Nine Provinces from disaster. The power of the Emperor of Humanity lies in faith. If the human race's faith in the Emperor of Humanity is shaken, the Emperor of Humanity's strength will surely decline, which would be a great danger to our Nine Provinces!"

"I know both of you care about the people and are righteous. The Jiang family is just a petty person in secret, but our stance against the demons is the same. Please consider the well-being of the millions of lives in the Nine Provinces and let this matter rest. I, an old man, thank you both in advance!"

With that, Clan Leader Jiang actually kowtowed three times, the sound of his head hitting the ground echoing, leaving blood marks on his forehead. When he stood up and looked up, his face was already streaming with tears.

Yuan Wuxing was moved by Clan Leader Jiang's sincere words and actions, unconsciously thinking that maybe they should let this matter rest. It wouldn't be good if it really affected the Emperor of Humanity.

To put it another way, even if the Emperor of Humanity cultivated the demonic path, what of it? He did it to fight against the demons, for the sake of the people.

Yuan Wuxing was almost convinced by Clan Leader Jiang, as his words were reasonable, and the possibility of shaking the people's faith in the Emperor of Humanity was real.

The strength of the Emperor of Humanity is half due to his own formidable power, and the other half due to the faith of the people. The two combined make the Emperor of Humanity's power extremely terrifying, almost godlike, though not yet a deity.

Outside the Nine Provinces, the space is chaotic, and it takes hundreds of years for an extraterrestrial demon attack to occur, but each time it brings a catastrophic threat to the Nine Provinces. As the strongest expert in the Nine Provinces, the Emperor of Humanity is the first to fight against the demons, and more than half of the Emperors of Humanity have died in this process, with few ending their lives peacefully.

If the Emperor of Humanity Jiang's faith declines, leading to his death in a future battle against the demons, Yuan Wuxing would truly feel guilty for the rest of his life.

"Clan Leader Jiang's words are reasonable. But if the Jiang family knew it might shake people's faith in the Emperor of Humanity, why did they still sacrifice infants?"

Clan Leader Jiang said shamefully, "The old ancestor was greedy for the world's prosperity, wanting to break through to the Yuanying stage to see a few more days. Who knew that one misstep would lead to eternal regret, making it impossible to turn back."

Jiang Li was greatly surprised, "Clan Leader Jiang, what are you saying? If the Jiang family wants to turn back, how could I not help?"

Clan Leader Jiang was delighted. These self-proclaimed righteous people indeed cannot be coerced or tempted; they must be convinced with righteousness.

But Jiang Li continued, "Even if Yuan Wuxing and I don't accuse the Jiang family, other cultivators will come to investigate. I will give the Jiang family a way out. According to the laws of the Great Zhou, the dead are not held responsible. Please have Jiang Yixing correct his mistake and commit suicide."

Clan Leader Jiang's smile froze, and he was at a loss for words to refute.

Indeed, as long as the old ancestor died, the matter would be settled. But how could that be possible? I came here to act to stop you from making a fuss, but how could I end up acting out my old ancestor's death!

"Mr. Zhang Li is joking."

"Those are my sincere words."

Clan Leader Jiang's face was so dark it could drip water. He slowly stood up, no longer showing his previous compassionate demeanor.

"It seems Mr. Zhang Li is determined to settle this matter."

Yuan Wuxing finally realized he had been pretending all along and was suddenly filled with fear. This old fox was indeed terrifying; not a word or expression could be trusted. Fortunately, Senior Zhang Li was here.

"It's not about settling, just about finishing what we start. Clan Leader Jiang, please."

Clan Leader Jiang coldly snorted and left with a wave of his sleeve.