“Why are these two cultivators from the Criminal Investigation Division here? And why do they carry beast cages, capturing so many creatures? Their intent is plain to see.”

Jiang Wang’s gaze fell upon another unopened beast cage, and a fierce impulse to shatter it surged in his heart.

He carried the weight of the Yuheng Peak battle, remembering vividly the cultivators who had fallen, the sacrifices made.

It turned out, the onslaught of fierce beasts was not a natural calamity, but a man-made disaster!

What then, was the meaning of those desperate struggles, those costly sacrifices? The senior brother who, before his death, carved boastful words? The City Lord perched atop Shu Bi Peak, meticulously flaying his skin to combat the Assassin Wasps? The woman who shattered her own path, forcing open five palaces? What was the meaning of all this?

“Don’t move.” Bai Lian’s gentle touch rested on Jiang Wang’s shoulder. Sensing the uncontrollable tremor coursing through him, she whispered softly, “This time, I truly cast an illusion.”

Within the valley, the transformation from common beasts to fierce creatures was complete. Their savage nature immediately drove many to turn on each other. For a time, the valley echoed with bestial roars, a gruesome spectacle of tearing flesh and flying blood.

“Why are there so few beasts in this wave?”

With a voice laced with dissatisfaction, a cultivator clad in the uniform of the Criminal Investigation Division descended from the sky.

Jiang Wang instinctively held his breath. To walk on the void, this individual possessed at least the cultivation of the Tenglong realm!

Though displeased, the cultivator did not linger on the matter. He halted mid-air above the valley, formed a hand seal, and a mountain wall groaned open, revealing a wide canyon.

From Jiang Wang’s vantage point, the area beyond the canyon remained concealed.

At this moment, the Criminal Investigation Division cultivator’s hand seal shifted. Jiang Wang noticed faint crimson array patterns flickering across the valley floor within his sight. However, the Daoist Academy had only imparted basic knowledge of array patterns and formations. He could not decipher their meaning.

But those newly “birthed” fierce beasts ceased their internecine slaughter. As if controlled by some force, they surged into the canyon as one.

Where would these fierce beasts go? Which village, which town? How much sustenance would they consume, how many innocent lives would they devour?

The thought ignited a cold, killing intent within Jiang Wang.

This was the first time he had ever felt such an urge towards individuals from the Criminal Investigation Division, who, in a sense, represented the Imperial Court.

One must understand, for the students of the Daoist Academy, the Ministry of War, the Criminal Investigation Division… these were among their potential future destinations.

It was true that after achieving success in cultivation, entering the Imperial Court directly and being granted official appointments was a common aspiration. Yet, many also discovered paths more suited to them during their cultivation. And there were still those who, since childhood, harbored dreams of joining the Criminal Investigation Division.

It was a vital transcendent power, dedicated to hunting down criminals and preserving the stability of the State of Zhuang.

And what exactly were the cultivators from the Criminal Investigation Division doing here on Yuheng Peak?

“You cannot kill him.” Bai Lian, sensing something, immediately spoke. “If anyone dies here, news will immediately reach the Imperial Court. The reason the arrangements here are not stringent is because the lives of these individuals are the best warning signal. And the strong one overseeing this matter possesses the *shen tong* of ‘咫尺天涯’. Once he is alerted, he will appear here instantly. By then, even I will not be able to escape.”

Jiang Wang couldn’t help but force a wry smile. How could he possibly possess the power to kill a strong individual with at least the cultivation of the Tenglong realm?

However, he understood. Bai Lian hadn’t killed the two Criminal Investigation Division cultivators outside the cave earlier, not because she cared about his feelings? Clearly, she dared not.

By this time, the strong individual from the Criminal Investigation Division had already departed, and the canyon rumbled shut.

“What lies behind the canyon?” Jiang Wang asked.

“I cannot take you there.” Bai Lian shook her head. “That place is unlike this; it is equipped with a true grand formation. Even I would not dare to venture deep. At most, I can only share my guess.”

“What guess?”

“You should know that the main ingredient of the Opening Vein Pill is the Dao veins of demon beasts. But have you ever considered that within the various states of the human race, there are hundreds of millions of people? What is the demand for Opening Vein Pills? With so many demon beasts being killed, can they reproduce quickly enough? I suspect the reason demon beasts can continue to exist is closely related to these fierce beasts.”

This guess was highly plausible, especially given that the fierce beasts before them had transformed from ordinary creatures. Then, through some unknown means, they were transformed into demon beasts possessing natural Dao veins. This was not impossible. After all, there were some special fierce beasts capable of using spells, and apart from lacking intelligence, they were no different from demon beasts.

If this were true, then in a certain sense, Yuheng Peak was one of the Imperial Court’s resource bases. It was also the guarantee for the development of the State of Zhuang. It was even the source of the Opening Vein Pills needed for cultivation by Daoist disciples like Jiang Wang and Ling He.

It was just…

Those ordinary people who perished before the fierce beasts.

Those who stood before the populace until death, facing the fierce beasts in battle.

Those kept in ignorance, including Jiang Wang and others.

What exactly were they?

“If that’s the case, why hide it from everyone? Why watch the cultivators of each city realm constantly sacrifice their lives?” Jiang Wang’s voice was hoarse, his worldview deeply shaken.

“You must understand that all captive demon beasts will lose their natural Dao veins in the next generation.” Bai Lian seemed unsure herself, a thoughtful expression in her eyes. “I believe that wildness is a necessary element for demon beasts, and killing is a process they must undergo. There is some secret in this that I do not know, but it determines this outcome. Therefore, this kind of thing cannot be widely known but can only be mastered by a select few, because no one would be willing to die meaninglessly.”

Her eyes turned playful: “Or, wait until you become a high-ranking official in Xinan City. Ask Zhuang Gaoxian face to face?”

Wait until you become a high-ranking official, ask the ruler of the State of Zhuang.

This sentence was merely an ordinary jest.

But it was a sentence that particularly struck terror into Jiang Wang’s heart.

He had not failed to imagine what he would do in the future after learning of such a matter. He firmly believed that no matter the reason behind the cultivation of these fierce beasts, he would stand with the innocent people who died and abolish such practices.

But Bai Lian’s question made him ponder:

A large portion of those influential figures in Xinan City had all cultivated step by step from the major city realms. They must have experienced or felt the pain of being ravaged by fierce beasts. Among them, there must also have been individuals who harbored the ideal of protecting the territory and the people since childhood, and possessed the ambition to save the common people.

Yet, nothing.

The State of Zhuang had been established for over three hundred years, and all information regarding fierce beasts still kept the vast majority of people in the dark.

All the youths who once vowed to change the world were ultimately changed by the world!

And it wasn’t just the State of Zhuang. The State of Yong was the same, and the world was the same!

Wasn’t this terrifying?

How utterly terrifying this was!

…

“How about it, do you want to destroy this place?”

Bai Lian deliberately leaned in, her breath like orchids, and whispered, “On one side is the Imperial Court you will serve in the future, and countless Opening Vein Pills. On the other side are the poor people of the three mountain city realms… well, that doesn’t seem to have much value…”

Jiang Wang had already interrupted her: “I want to.”

At this moment, he did not allow his mind to rationalize but surrendered the decision to his instincts. To the depths of human nature, to the most unavoidable kindness and compassion.

Bai Lian watched him for a moment and said, “This is the first thing I want you to do.”