I… do I regret?

Jiang Wang asked himself.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a familiar tavern.
It was familiar because he had just left it.
It was the same tavern in the State of Zhongshan where he was captured.
Before him stood Zhao Xuanyang, embracing his wooden sword. Behind him were the tavern’s waiter and patrons, huddled in a corner.
He directly faced the sudden crisis that had descended, while those people still whispered amongst themselves.

“Damn it, the demon spy was right here!”
“Fear not, Zhao Xuanyang has arrived. This villain won’t escape today!”
“Let’s see how he dies!”
“Keep your voice down, this is a demon collaborator, utterly wicked! What if he takes you down with him!”
“To not be a good person, but instead be a dog of the demon race, truly deserving of death!”

Those whispering voices, in Jiang Wang’s ears, controlled by the Immortal Aspect of Sound-Perception, were so clear. Every word, every hint of loathing… distinctly entered his hearing.

At this very moment, he faced Zhao Xuanyang, feeling the pressure of death. At this very moment, he heard those whispers, feeling the hostility these strangers held towards him.
It was like being in a cramped, dark room, enduring the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies.
Utter torment!

No one knew what willpower he used to maintain his tranquility!

“They all think you’re a demon!” the voice in his heart asked. “Why not show them what a demon should do!”

What should a demon do?

Use the lives of these people as leverage, force Zhao Xuanyang to reveal a flaw, and fight for an opportunity to escape. That way, he wouldn’t have to be escorted to Jade Capital Mountain, wouldn’t be publicly judged as a demon spy, and everything could still be salvaged!

I… do I regret?

Jiang Wang asked himself once more.

What should a demon… do?

“Jiang Wang? Jiang Wang?”

When Jiang Wang opened his eyes again, what he saw was the exceptionally stern and upright face of Dong A.
The look in his eyes as he regarded Jiang Wang now held a hint of concern: “What’s wrong? Are you unwell?”

This was in the Dao Academy of Fenglin City, in Dong A’s solitary room.
The time was… not long before the destruction of Fenglin City.
And he had just finished reporting the movements of the White Bone Dao to Dong A. He suspected that the White Bone Dao would soon make a major move in Fenglin City, and he had been mistaken for the White Bone Dao Son.

“That’s enough. You may leave.”
“I will handle it.”
“As for Wei Quji, I will communicate with him myself.”
“Cultivate diligently, and take good care of your sister.”
“…Stop bothering me.”

He had risked being killed by Dong A’s palm, honestly recounting everything he knew, hoping to secure an opportunity for the Fenglin City region. And Dong A had given him these replies.
Of course, the present him already knew what would happen next.

“No, nothing.” Jiang Wang said with difficulty.

“You’ve worked hard during this time,” Dong A said casually. “Go back and rest well.”

“Alright.” Jiang Wang rose stiffly, bowed in farewell, and walked towards the door.
He tried his best to calm himself… but how could he be calm?
This person sitting behind him…
Was the mentor he had once trusted wholeheartedly, and later the Deputy Minister of the State of Zhuang whom he had personally killed!

“Are you truly alright?” Dong A’s voice sounded from behind.

“Perhaps I’m too tired…” Jiang Wang paused. “A night’s rest should be enough.”

“Alright, go back first. I’ll have someone send you two doses of calming medicine later.”

“Thank you… Master Dong.”

Dong A’s voice from behind said again, “Oh, and if they reveal any more information to you, their future Saint Lord, tell me immediately.”

Jiang Wang slowly walked out of the small courtyard.
The winter sun outside the house gave him a feeling of exceptional chill.

“Understood,” he said.

He walked alone in this City Dao Academy of Fenglin City.
From time to time, fellow disciples passing by would greet him, and he would nod in response to each.
That bluestone path, that row of red maple trees… even the sky, felt familiar.
It was as if he had never left, yet he had been gone for a long time.

Jiang Wang walked in the place where he had lived for several years, feeling a kind of melancholy that no one at this moment could understand.
He didn’t know why he had returned to this day. But he needed to know what he should do!
Go to Jade Capital Mountain or the State of Jing to expose this matter?
Is there still time?
With his status as just an ordinary disciple of a small state’s City Dao Academy, and his incomparably weak cultivation.
Could he even see those great figures who held the power of decision?
Would anyone believe him?
Even… could he leave the State of Zhuang?
The conspiracy of the White Bone Dao had already begun, and the plans of the Zhuang court officials had also begun.
After he reported the matter of Fenglin City to Dong A, was he not already under Dong A’s watchful eye?
He had once trusted Dong A, burying this matter in his heart until the day of disaster…
If he hadn’t trusted Dong A then, but instead wanted to warn the people of the region by himself, loudly proclaiming the White Bone Dao’s conspiracy? Would he not… have already been erased?
Fierce beasts, heretical practitioners, cultivation gone awry… there were plenty of reasons to bury an unremarkable ordinary disciple.

What should he do? Jiang Wang asked himself.
In this moment of uncertainty, he heard the voice in his heart again.
It was as if another self was interrogating himself: “The world considers you a demon, do you know what a demon would do?”

What would a demon do?
A demon can be a race, or it can be an attitude of extreme selfishness in life.
The destruction of Fenglin City was a calamity…
The destruction of Fenglin City was also an opportunity!
Because it was the result of the White Bone Dao’s years of planning, it created a true White Bone Pill!
Zhuang Gaoxian consumed this pill, his old injuries completely healed, and he even ascended to the Divine Illumination realm, becoming a True Person of this era.
If he could swallow this pill… why worry about not soaring into the heavens?

In his original experience, it took him two whole years, countless life-and-death battles, exhausting all his efforts, just to barely achieve a Four Divine Power Inner Mansion, utterly powerless before Zhao Xuanyang.
This time, if he could snatch the food from the tiger’s mouth and swallow that true White Bone Pill… who could say the Divine Presence realm isn’t achievable?
There is also the Underworld Candle currently hidden in the Tongtian Palace, and Zhuang Chengqian, the founding ancestor of the State of Zhuang, who is observing everything coldly from within the Underworld Candle.
If he could make good use of that game of Lifeless Tribulation, is there a way to simultaneously scheme against both Zhuang Chengqian and the White Bone Heretical God?
The White Bone Heretical God wants to seize everything from Zhuang Chengqian, and Zhuang Chengqian wants to in turn devour the White Bone Heretical God’s divine authority. With full knowledge of the methods, trump cards, and responses of both sides, is it possible for him to profit from their conflict and claim everything?
If successful…
Then at the very least, on the Day of the Red Dog in the 3919th year of the Dao Calendar, he could ascend to the Divine Illumination realm, and simultaneously control the divine authority of the Underworld!
What would a mere Zhao Xuanyang matter?
He could be extinguished with a flick of the wrist.
Who in the world would dare to falsely accuse him of colluding with demons?!
Even if he carried the Blood Puppet True Demon by his side, who would dare to gossip?
People would only praise his power, praising him for being able to refine a true demon into a puppet!

Li Yi was the youngest True Person of this era in history.
But he could break and refresh this record, advancing it to eighteen years old!
He would be the true number one champion of the Yellow River Meet, fully qualified to enter the Great Qi Military Affairs Hall!
What a sight that would be!
Du Ruohui, a turtle in his palm!
Zhuang Gaoxian, easily extinguished!
Dare Hai Zongming still covet the Rouge Mirror? Dare Granny Biyu still harbor greed? Dare Young Master Ji still provoke him?
Even Gu Huaixin will be killed together!
Who in the world cannot be killed!
How long would it take for an eighteen-year-old True Person who also controls the divine authority of the Underworld to achieve the Dao Manifestation realm?
Would the Great Qi Military God Jiang Mengxiong still be so protective of his subordinates?
Would the Master of Fishing Sea Tower, Wei Xun, still be so arrogant?

The world sees me as a demon…
When I am a demon, the world should be different!