Jiang Wang’s voice, clear and resonant, easily carried throughout the square.

For a moment, the bustling throng of Blood River Sect disciples all turned their gazes upon him.

Jiang Wang surveyed his surroundings with an air of composure. “I, of Great Qi, with a hundred thousand elite troops, guard Chang Luo and ensure the stability of its subterranean cavern. And I, Marquis Wu An, Jiang Wang, represent the Qi country as the first to arrive in support of the Poison Water. I know not who here is in charge.”

The burly man who had spoken earlier pushed through the crowd, first offering a respectful salute. “Beneath, Yu Xiao Chen of the Blood River Sect, temporarily responsible for receiving guests offering aid from all sides.”

Speaking of which, this was Jiang Wang’s first visit to the sect from which the Devour Heart Human Demon, Xiong Wen, originated.

Initially, the Devour Heart Human Demon’s bizarre methods had left a significant impression on him. Xiong Wen could even be considered the first extraordinary cultivator who had pushed him to the brink of life and death, thus initiating his “destiny” with the human demons.

Just as he was about to exchange a few pleasantries with this Yu Xiao Chen, Si Yu An, who had been behind him, stepped forward and asked directly, “Where is the Blood River True Monarch?”

If a powerful being of the Derivation Path did not wish to be seen, they would not be seen. Only when Si Yu An stepped out at that moment did Yu Xiao Chen finally perceive him.

Evidently recognizing this prominent figure of the Southern Domain, he hastily offered another salute. “Reporting to True Monarch Si, our Sect Master has already entered the Poison Water.”

Si Yu An cast a glance at him, immediately seeing through his origins. “You are Peng Chong Jian’s disciple.”

Peng Chong Jian, the Left Protector of the Blood River Sect, was the renowned True Person of Mountain Moving. The Mountain Moving divine ability was a relatively common one, and many powerful individuals throughout history had gained fame through it. Even now, among the sea tribes, there were formidable beings whose signature ability was Mountain Moving. However, since ancient times, across all races and without restraint, no one who had cultivated the Mountain Moving divine ability had reached the level of attainment of Peng Chong Jian.

He could be called the foremost in Mountain Moving.

Yu Xiao Chen respectfully replied, “True Person Mountain Mover is indeed my master… If you wish to enter the Poison Water, I shall lead the way for you.”

“There is no need. I shall enter the Poison Water together with Marquis Wu An of the Qi country. I merely inform you all here.” Si Yu An nonchalantly flicked his large sleeve, then vanished from this place, taking Jiang Wang with him.

From Mount Tianmu to Bitter Sea Cliff, he could, of course, have brought Jiang Wang directly down to the Poison Water. However, he still made a point of passing through the Blood River Sect’s mountain gate, which was a gesture of respect to the Blood River Sect.

For the Blood River Sect itself was the gateway to the Poison Water.

To pass through another’s home without greeting them would be unreasonable.

*Hua la la!*

The roar of the tide.

When Jiang Wang regained his senses, he and Si Yu An had already appeared above a water domain.

Complex emotions assailed him from all directions, endless negative perceptions attempting to invade his divine soul.

Thus, Jiang Wang understood that he had already arrived at the legendary Poison Water. Si Yu An had brought him directly through the gateway, bypassing the complicated procedures for entering the Poison Water.

The sky was a black cloud of negative emotions, every wisp of cloud and mist condensed with negative emotions sufficient to drive a cultivator with a firm Dao heart in the Inner Mansion realm mad.

To throw a cultivator in the Outer Building realm with a firm Dao path into this “black cloud” would likely be difficult for them to last for more than a quarter of an hour.

But the Poison Water beneath his feet was quite different from what he had seen before.

Extreme hatred, irreconcilable resentment, eternal jealousy… All the negativity in the world converged here.

The Poison Water should be incredibly complex, fundamentally unable to be depicted with specific colors. Yet, the Poison Water here had a specific color—it was clearly visible, a deep red like blood.

“This Poison Water…” Jiang Wang murmured.

Si Yu An’s eyes were clear and bright as he surveyed his surroundings, casually asking, “How is it?”

“It’s different from what I’ve seen,” Jiang Wang said.

“It shouldn’t be red, should it?” Si Yu An said, “The Blood River Sect has a sect precept—’The red of the Poison Water is the blood of my human race.’

I say this, and you can understand.”

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment.

He had always felt that the name “Blood River” was somewhat evil and strange, coupled with the preconceived notions brought by Xiong Wen, as well as ferocious Blood River Sect exclusive Dao techniques such as “Devour Soul Blood Flame” and “Cuckoo Weep Blood.” Even though he knew the Blood River Sect was a world-renowned sect guarding the Poison Water, he still held some unfavorable views.

But only today did he understand why the Blood River Sect was called the ‘Blood River Sect’! Only today did he understand the heavy weight of the two characters ‘Blood River’.

“Fifty-four thousand years ago, there was a great powerful being who, together with the leaders of the Dao, Confucian, and Buddhist schools, founded a sect at Bitter Sea Cliff and left behind its inheritance. Three hundred years later, the Poison Water became turbulent. This person stepped forward, guarding the Poison Water alone, battling for one hundred and three days, and died from exhaustion. After death, the essence blood of his entire body transformed into the Blood River, forever separating the front from the Poison Water.”

“That powerful being’s original name is no longer known. The sect he founded was also renamed the Blood River Sect from then on, and its original name was also forgotten by everyone… Successive Blood River Sect masters have all been titled Blood River True Monarch, in commemoration of this great powerful being.”

“Generation after generation of Blood River Sect cultivators bravely advanced, irrigating it with fresh blood. This Blood River gradually became the barrier river blocking the Poison Water. Many later Dao techniques of the Blood River Sect also originated from this Blood River.”

Si Yu An said, “The water domain you see is the Blood River. Strictly speaking, it still belongs to the Poison Water, but it has already changed the essence of the Poison Water to a certain extent. It is the first line of defense blocking the Poison Water.”

Although he had arrived at the Poison Water in a daze and was unable to experience the process of passing through the Red Dust Gate, he thought it should be similar in nature to the Ten Thousand Demons Gate.

“Then what is the second line of defense?” Jiang Wang asked.

Si Yu An did not speak, merely patted the straw sword at his waist, then looked at him again.

Jiang Wang thus understood.

It was people.

It was countless cultivators, like Si Yu An in general, and also like him—generally, who, upon hearing of the Poison Water’s change, simply drew their swords and came forth.

The blood of the human race as the boundary river, the human sea as the boundary sea, human bones as the dike. Though the Poison Water may surge for ten thousand years, it shall not enter the human world!

Jiang Wang’s hand rested on his long sword, reflecting on the past and present, and only felt his heart surge. For ten thousand years and generations, those who protected the human world were truly heroes! While the two of them were speaking, Si Yu An suddenly turned his head.

Jiang Wang followed his gaze, and then saw a gradually solidifying figure appear above the Blood River covered by the black clouds.

This person looked like only an ordinary youth, with an unremarkable appearance, even somewhat clumsy. He wore a simple, plain-colored Confucian robe, without any romantic air, yet possessing a kind of warm and honest demeanor.

But able to appear here in this manner at this time, how could he be ordinary?

He first greeted Si Yu An, his courtesy warm and cautious. “Pavilion Master Si, how is the situation here?”

Si Yu An smiled bitterly. “Mister Chen, I have just arrived as well.”

Dressed as a Confucian scholar, addressed as “Mister” by Si Yu An, and bearing the surname Chen, this person’s identity was already on the verge of being revealed.

Except for the Dean of the Evening Drum Academy, Chen Pu, who else could it be?

Jiang Wang curiously sized up this contemporary great Confucian, who had penned “A Hundred Calamities, Life and Death Unyielding; The World’s Extraordinary, Has an Absolute Peak.” He only felt that the gentleman was like jade, without any overbearing air.

Even though he already stood at the absolute pinnacle of the extraordinary peak, he absolutely did not make any ordinary person feel pressured.

What was called a spring breeze brushing the face, was probably to describe the feeling he brought to people.

Initially, if Senior Brother Wang Chang Xiang had been able to survive, perhaps he could also have grown into this kind of character.

Chen Pu sighed. “The scale of the Poison Water’s turbulence this time far surpasses the usual. I have to come and see it with my own eyes, otherwise, I cannot sleep peacefully.”

“I have just received the message,” Si Yu An said. “They say it is the highest wave in the past hundred years, and has not reached this level before.”

The meaning of True Monarch is self-evident.

Jiang Wang had been flown here and there by him, bewildered and unaware of when he had also conveniently received the message.

Chen Pu slightly furrowed his brows. “Is Sect Master Huo inside?”

The one he was asking about was, of course, the Sect Master of the Blood River Sect, the contemporary Blood River True Monarch’s real name, which was Huo Shi Ji.

Si Yu An said, “I have not found him yet, he should have gone deeper.”

Chen Pu nodded, then looked towards Jiang Wang. “Is this young friend a newly accepted disciple of Pavilion Master Si?”

Si Yu An laughed. “I do wish, but he might look down on this old sect of mine.” He then pointed out whom he held more of a grudge against in the end.

Jiang Wang merely pretended not to hear, stepped forward, and offered a salute. “Junior Jiang Wang of Qi, upon hearing of the Poison Water’s turbulence, specifically requested True Monarch Si to bring me along. Though my strength is meager, I also wish to contribute slightly.”

“Young and promising,” Chen Pu praised him, then said, “The situation is urgent, Pavilion Master Si, please!”

The world-renowned Marquis Wu An of Great Qi, he was actually not very familiar with. Usually, he just buried his head in classics within the academy, rarely concerning himself with worldly affairs. If not for this time’s Poison Water turbulence, he would not have come out of seclusion.

But his praise, although simple, did not feel perfunctory, but rather contained a kind of very sincere emotion. He was truly happy for this young person’s progress.

Si Yu An also said “please,” and the two powerful beings of the Derivation Path then stepped together towards the depths of the Poison Water.

His body was enveloped in flickering light, and the myriad scenery before his eyes continuously passed by.

Together with two contemporary True Monarchs, Jiang Wang did not have a feeling of being completely at ease. On the contrary, his perception of crisis grew stronger and stronger.

Speaking of which, although he was in a fierce place like the Poison Water, with the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion, Si Yu An, the Dean of the Evening Drum Academy, Chen Pu, plus one Blood River True Monarch, Huo Shi Ji, who had already gone deeper, this was three True Monarchs here!

No matter how one thought about it, it was very difficult for there to be any danger.

But then again, what kind of place, what kind of danger, would only be worthy of three contemporary True Monarchs rushing here?

A moment of thought was enough to make one shudder.

Sword light swayed for ten thousand *li*, and the Blood River was quickly crossed. The familiar Poison Water once again fell into Jiang Wang’s eyes.

The negative emotions here were also ten times or more denser.

The feeling the Poison Water gave Jiang Wang was far more vast than the sea.

Only at this moment, it was actually somewhat “crowded.”

Sky connected to water, and turbulent waves surged to the sky.

Between the waves of complex colors, were heads of terrifying aura and various appearances of monsters floating and sinking. All the horror stories of the human world had walked into reality this time.

There were human-faced wolf spiders, blood-faced dwarves, and snake-haired beauties.

Either flying or jumping, or crying or roaring. Sorrowful songs wept blood, mournful voices struck pots.

They covered the vision, and also invaded the perception.

Even more fearful was that the power of these monsters was actually all above the God Arrival level!

Jiang Wang felt as if he had returned to the Mountain Sea Realm, no, far more terrifying than those strange beasts in the Mountain Sea Realm…

Because god-like power was merely their basic level.

Among this terrifying pile of monsters, there was no lack of existences with Cave True level power. And even upon…

That colossal shadow in the distance that connected the sky and the sea clearly already possessed the might of the Derivation Path!

The upper body of this monster was human-shaped, its muscles like mountains, its veins like giant pythons. It had six arms of different colors, each holding weapons, respectively a knife, a fork, a pestle, a mace, an axe, and a whip, dancing along with the wind and rain, shaking the sky and moving the earth.

But above its neck was a skull. Only bones, no flesh.

Piles of maggots, like mountains, shuttled back and forth in its empty eye sockets.

And its lower body was a python tail as thick as a mountain peak. On the black python body, wind-like, evil moss-like green oblique lines made people look and want to vomit.

A powerful being of the Derivation Path in a blood-colored Dao robe was currently in a great battle with it.

Fighting to the point where waves rolled the sky and water, the five elements were reversed, and countless surrounding monsters were dead and injured. That existence in the blood-colored Dao robe must be the Blood River True Monarch, Huo Shi Ji.

And this terrifying monster, as well as all the monsters visible within his perception, all belonged to “Poison Monsters,” a unique evil sight within the Poison Water.

The World Honored One said, “All thoughts evil beget private deluded intent, that is called evil view. I cannot obtain fruit with my heart, why then seek to eliminate it!” (Seen in the classic “Bodhi Sit Dao Sutra,” which records the words and deeds of the World Honored One by Buddhist disciples).

Later Buddhist Venerables all held the same thought, saying in “Bodhi Note Ben,” that evil view is the possession of evil.

This explains that the “evil view” the World Honored One spoke of is precisely the concrete manifestation of “evil” in the world.

And there were no existences that could fit the two characters “evil view” better than these monsters in the Poison Water.

Evil view, without knowledge, without awareness, without thought.

Generally, divine and enlightened existences all necessarily possess extraordinary wisdom.

But these Poison Monsters were different. They did not possess any wisdom, only the instinct and power to slaughter. This included Poison Monsters with Cave True level power, and even Derivation Path level power, all of them.

Even without wisdom, of course, there was no Dao path, no true understanding of the world, yet they could still approach the Cave True, as well as the Derivation Path… That is because their “understanding” of the world originally came from this world.

The cumulative negativity of the entire present world over ten thousand years, Jiang Wang could be considered to have seen a corner of its appearance today.

Chen Pu stepped here, saw this scene, and casually flipped his palm upwards, supporting it as if a heavenly god was supporting the sky. Boundless white *qi* condensed into a sea of clouds, simulating a giant hand covering the sky, resisting the sky!

*Hong long long!*

The entire sky dome, including the endless negative black clouds within, was directly lifted several thousand *zhang*!

Before his eyes, it suddenly opened up.

This Dean of the Evening Drum Academy’s eyebrows were still not unfurled, because soon more evil views would rush out from the Poison Water, filling the gap in his vision.

“Sect Master Huo!” Chen Pu raised his voice and asked, “It is not yet the time of calamity, how could so many evil views appear?”

“I also do not know. It changed three days ago, and I have been suppressing and killing them here, but the more I suppress, the more there are. Today, even this six-armed human-snake has come out, triggering the change of the entire Poison Water!” The Blood River True Monarch replied while fighting, “First, clean them up, then we’ll trace the cause. Otherwise, if we prematurely lead out the Bodhi Evil Ancestor, we will make a great mistake!”

The title ‘Bodhi Evil Ancestor’ was obviously very serious.

Not only Chen Pu, but even the expression of the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion, Si Yu An, became much more serious.

“You yourself be careful.”

Si Yu An greeted Jiang Wang, then held the straw sword in his hand, and directly took one step forward.

When he took this step, everything directly in front of him, including the sky and clouds, including the Poison Water, including the evil views, be they God Arrival level or Cave True level, all cracked, splitting into two halves!

A dark seam clearly appeared in the sky dome, leading to unknown places.

*Ye la la!*

The ten thousand *qing* of Poison Water that were split at this moment actually became clear and visible, no longer complex, and the negativity within it was also chopped away!

He used thatch grass as a sword, cut the sky and broke the sea, and extinguished countless evil views with a raised hand. The might of a True Monarch, to this extent!

Jiang Wang watched for a while, cold sweat breaking out on his back.

He couldn’t help but wonder how he had dared to talk back to such a figure before, where did he get the courage?

But although his heart was filled with a thousand thoughts, his actions were not slow in the slightest.

The next moment, he drew his sword and rose, leaping forward!

The evil views ahead were like a sea, and his sword light swayed.

He had actively requested to come to the Poison Water, not, of course, to always shelter under others’ wings. He also wanted to exert his own share of strength.

No matter how great the danger of this place was, the responsibility of the extraordinary was inherent here.

Though he did not possess the might of the Derivation Path, he had the advantage of three feet!