In New An City, the heart of the Zhuang Kingdom, an old man with hair like spun silk knelt before the Ancestral Worship Hall, unmoving. Few in the bustling city recognized him. Yet, in the former Maple Forest Domain, his name was known to nearly all. He was none other than Wei Quji, the previous Domain Lord of Maple Forest.

His governance was renowned for its benevolence and diligence. Throughout his tenure, he personally traversed every town and village within his domain, a feat never before accomplished by Wei Quji, nor by any other Domain Lord in the entire Zhuang Kingdom. It was he who personally presided over the retrial of the thirteen-year-old Du Yehu, who had slain a man in court. He also sent Du Yehu to the Dao Institute for cultivation, thus paving the way for the rise of the now famous Commander Du of the Jiujiang Black Armored Army.

During his time in the Maple Forest Domain, he was deeply loved by both soldiers and civilians. Later, recognizing the decline of his age and the fragility of his cultivation, he voluntarily resigned and retired. This life, he had no children, no kin, no disciples. In the year Zhuang Gaoxian attacked the Yong Kingdom, he distinguished himself with significant contributions in the war. He received the Maple Forest Domain from the Zhuang Court for his merits, taking not a single coin, and after a life of dedication, he returned the domain to the nation.

And now, the Maple Forest Domain was no more. The entire domain, every dog and chicken, every handful of soil, had vanished without a trace. They said the White Bone Dao had caused the upheaval. But where did this century-silent evil cult acquire such power? What were the Jixing Si of the Zhuang Kingdom doing? Why was there no prior detection? Why did the entire Maple Forest Domain perish, yet Dong A alone survived? Why did Dong A see through the plot, while the esteemed National Preceptor, Du Rujui, famous throughout the land, failed to intervene? Why…

The Zhuang Court’s explanation satisfied the world. Not because it was perfect or without flaws, but because those people were not from the Maple Forest Domain. Because there was no one left in the Maple Forest Domain! Only he, Liu Yian. Only this old and withered body, with his waning life force, still pursued the truth relentlessly.

But when he questioned the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister refused to see him. When he questioned the Monarch, the Monarch remained secluded in the deep palace. When he questioned the ministers, none paid him heed. Who would pay attention to an old man with no prospect of rising again, an old man with a weak breath, shattered cultivation, and no combat prowess? Especially one so stubborn, insisting on exposing a festering wound in the prosperous era of the Zhuang Kingdom.

The old man was now a commoner. Commoner Liu Yian wandered alone through the vast New An City, seeking answers, questioning the very heavens. Nine days passed with no response. No one paid attention. On the tenth day, he knelt before the Ancestral Worship Hall. He wanted to question Taizu himself! If Taizu were still here, would he see this present day, this situation, this scene, and remain silent?

“The Monarch is like a boat, the people like water. Water can carry a boat, and it can also overturn it!” he wailed before the Ancestral Worship Hall, helpless as a child.

Outside the Ancestral Worship Hall, on the opposite side of the long street, stood Dong A, the Vice Minister of the Zhuang Kingdom, his hands tucked within his sleeves, silent.

Outside the former site of the Maple Forest Domain, Du Rujui, with hair like black ink, stood with hands lowered. Though his face bore the marks of age, his spine remained straight as a spear. In the entire Zhuang Kingdom, only one person could command such respect from him – the Lord of the Zhuang Kingdom, Zhuang Gaoxian.

He was a middle-aged man with a tranquil countenance, meticulously examining the fog-shrouded Maple Forest Domain. At first glance, he seemed no different from an ordinary gentleman on a spring outing. One could never imagine, simply by his appearance, that he was a man of such decisive action. His sharpness in matters of state surpassed all previous monarchs of the Zhuang Kingdom.

After observing for a while, Zhuang Gaoxian remarked with a smile, “Teacher, this time you have truly wounded the White Bone Evil God. It sought to drag this place into the Netherworld, yet only managed halfway. It has left the Maple Forest Domain suspended in the rift between the present world and the Netherworld, turning it into a dead land. It is neither digested by the Netherworld, nor does it cease to be a perpetual scar on my Zhuang Kingdom’s border. Such damage without benefit to itself reveals its boundless resentment.”

Had the Maple Forest Domain been entirely pulled into the Netherworld, this region in the present world would have been erased. The neighboring Qichang Mountains might have become part of the Wangjiang Domain or the Sanshan Domain. With time, it would have gradually been forgotten. But now, trapped between reality and the Netherworld, the White Bone Venerable Deity had pointlessly expended divine power, gaining nothing in return. Meanwhile, the Zhuang Kingdom was left with this perpetual dead land. Every person who witnessed this dead land would recall this chapter of history.

As early as when Zhuang Gaoxian was still a prince, Du Rujui had been his teacher. After Zhuang Gaoxian ascended the throne, the position of Prime Minister was never considered for another.

“Your Majesty,” Du Rujui bowed, “This old minister has heard that ancient sage lords rejoiced when their people were safe and wept when their people suffered. Outside the former site of the Maple Forest Domain, Your Majesty should not smile. Zhuang Jun entering the Cave True realm is an honor for the Zhuang Kingdom. Sacrificing the people to achieve this realm, however, is Zhuang Jun’s shame. Furthermore, those restless departed souls are right before Your Majesty’s eyes.”

“Gaoxian accepts the teaching,” Emperor Zhuang immediately adopted a solemn expression, speaking with a voice full of shame, “Indeed, in the pursuit of that old fellow from the Yong Kingdom, in the thought of future border peace and the people’s tranquility, I became somewhat carried away.”

Though Zhuang Gaoxian’s realm now surpassed Du Rujui’s, he still maintained the respect of a student towards his teacher.

Du Rujui, hearing these words, neither pressed the matter fiercely nor found great comfort in his heart. Instead, he lightly turned the conversation.

“Your Majesty can erect a spirit monument outside this domain as a memorial. On the monument, state the responsibility for the loss of land, record it as a national enmity. Re-list the eradication of the White Bone Dao as national policy, vowing to comfort the departed spirits. In doing so, you can appease the people’s resentment, gather their hearts, and unite their will.”

Zhuang Gaoxian sighed in admiration, “These are truly golden words!”

The last time the Zhuang Kingdom had made the eradication of the White Bone Dao a national policy was during the era of Taizu Zhuang Chengqian. At that time, the White Bone Dao had indeed been uprooted. Now, the resurrected White Bone Dao’s momentum was far less than in that year. But re-establishing this policy could still awaken the memories of the Zhuang Kingdom’s people. It would both express the intention to uphold ancestral ways and indicate an irreconcilable determination against the White Bone Dao. All the people’s resentment would be focused on the White Bone Dao. Once the White Bone Dao was eradicated, Zhuang Gaoxian would not only escape blame for the fall of the Maple Forest Domain but would instead win the people’s hearts by personally avenging the national enmity.

Du Rujui’s actions were like a spring breeze turning into rain, his methods vicious yet smooth. This was also a crucial reason why he could support the Zhuang Court while Zhuang Gaoxian recuperated.

Within the Maple Forest Domain, fog surged, concealing the tragedy within. It was as if all the stories that had occurred in this region were now lost between yin and yang, no longer illuminated by the sun and moon.

“The No Birth No Extinction Array has also been inspected. What does Your Majesty intend to do?”

Zhuang Gaoxian lightly flicked his sleeve, “Since I have come to Qinghe County, how can I not visit Elder Qingjiang?”

After leaving the You Kingdom, Jiang Wang continued his journey towards the Qi Kingdom. The Heaven You Kingdom was merely a stage in his travels; he had his own path to walk. Hastening his steps was not his sole purpose; more importantly, it was about refining his sword, his body, and his heart along the way. He would use heaven and earth as his furnace, the mortal realm as his fire, and his own body as the copper. From the small Zhou Heaven, towards the great Zhou Heaven. Encountering mountains, he would climb them; encountering rivers, he would cross them; encountering inns, he would rest his feet; encountering injustice… he would draw his long sword.

The path beneath his feet grew longer, and the path of cultivation expanded wider. He gradually felt a change occurring. It was like a road shrouded in clouds and mist, becoming clearer and clearer, and also firmer and firmer.