Yuan Ming gazed at Hai Dafu's corpse, and for some reason, a difficult-to-describe emotion welled up in his heart.

Cultivators begin their journey primarily to transcend the mundane and chaotic, chasing after greater power, and sharing a lifespan with the heavens and earth. In the eyes of mortals, Immortals can travel through heaven and earth and are omnipotent, seemingly no longer susceptible to worldly suffering or mortal troubles, free to roam the universe.

Yet, cultivators themselves originate from mortals, favored by the heavens and earth with a Spirit Root, pursuing the supreme path. However, they often cannot truly detach from the secular world and also possess the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, experiencing the joys and sorrows of separation and reunion.

In the end, one is human first, and becomes an Immortal later.

Where there are people, there is a martial arts world; where there is a martial arts world, there are grievances—such is also the case in the Cultivation World.

Ever since he embarked on the path of seeking Dao, he had merely moved from one martial arts world to another—a more chaotic, dangerous, and deceitful bloody world.

Mortals, at least, have the order and morality of the secular world and the governing of officials. If tired of the worldly life, one can wash their hands clean and retire from the martial arts world.

In the Cultivation World, although there are certain constraints, in most cases, strong power represents everything. Without equivalent power, there's simply no such thing as fairness.

In other words, if one has no value, no one will stand up for them.

Today, Hai Dafu died by his own hands, killed by impulsiveness as well as lingering familial affection. If Yuan Ming were ever slightly careless or if his cultivation halted, he too could follow in those footsteps; his end might not be any better.

Yuan Ming sighed lightly, gathering his scattered thoughts, and silently moved forward to collect the Storage Bag and Spiritual Beast Bag from Hai Dafu's body.

Cultivators with Demon Cores inherently have weak Divine Souls. He almost effortlessly caused them to turn against their allies. After casting an Illusion Technique to deceive Hai Dafu, he also used his Emotion Manipulation Ability to amplify the emotions within Hai Dafu's heart, and upon his breakdown, had the Insect Arm Cultivator kill him.

Everything happened in the flicker of a flame; Hai Dafu spent such a long time in the illusion, but in reality, it was only a matter of a few breaths.

Not far away, Yan Sijing saw Hai Dafu lash out and was somewhat worried about Yuan Ming, but seeing Yuan Ming kill Hai Dafu so swiftly, she was especially surprised.

With other people around, Yuan Ming, after cleaning up the battlefield, did not check his gains but simply smiled slightly at Yan Sijing, "Miss Yan, it has been a long time."

His voice was calm and composed, as if the recent skirmish had never happened.

Yan Sijing snapped back to reality, her face still showing disbelief, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, it's been many days. Your strength has really improved."

"Miss Yan flatters me. It's just that I happened to master the Transplanting Technique, knowing the secrets to controlling these Demon Core Cultivators, making them turn against each other at the critical moment, making it so easy," Yuan Ming explained half-truthfully.

Yan Sijing nodded, seemingly not quite believing Yuan Ming's words, but also knowing that if he was reluctant to say more, it was not her place to pry further.

"By the way, I didn't expect Miss Yan that you had reached the Golden Core stage. Congratulations! However, I wonder why now you are traveling with Thunderbolt Ancestor? Where is your sister? Is she well?" Yuan Ming changed the topic.

Hearing this, Yan Sijing's expression darkened, and she sighed deeply, "It's a long story. After parting with you that day, my sister and I immediately returned to Hundred Pills Square, dismissed the staff, and took the accumulated resources to hide in Spirit Wind City, trying to lay low for a while."

Yuan Ming raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised, "Oh, that is really coincidental. I was also staying in Spirit Wind City before, what a pity that I never encountered you sisters."

"Alas, it's probably for the best that you didn't run into us. My sister and I thought we would just hide out in the city, not going out until things cooled down. But unexpectedly, not long after staying in Spirit Wind City, I was discovered by an entity known as the Nether Moon God. Upon hearing this, my sister immediately took me to another Underground City to seek refuge. Coincidentally, Elder Chai was also hiding in that city. His whereabouts were still somewhat undiscovered by the people of Five Thunder Sect, which led Thunderbolt Ancestor to come personally and eventually, he found us sisters in the city," said Yan Sijing ruefully, having already learned about this situation from listening to Golden Dawn Fairy and others' arguments outside, and therefore was not surprised, but bitterly smiled.

While she spoke, her beautiful eyes stared unblinkingly at Yuan Ming, as if trying to read something from his face, whereas Yuan Ming maintained a calm and composed expression throughout, showing no signs of irregularity.

Yan Sijing felt somewhat helpless and continued, "After Thunderbolt Ancestor captured us, he forcibly made us practice a Cultivation Technique to nurture the Primordial Essence, preparing to use us as Furnace Tripods for replenishment. For this purpose, he forcibly elevated my Cultivation to Core Formation and, using my elder sister as a threat, commanded me to stay by his side for emergency needs. The two other Core Formation female cultivators who accompanied me were also spare Furnace Tripods. However, they wholeheartedly attached themselves to Thunderbolt Ancestor and had long become his accomplices, strictly monitoring me. It's only now, with them not around, that I am able to converse with Fellow Daoist Yuan."

While speaking, Yan Sijing sighed deeply, her words tinged with a hint of melancholy, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, I heard from my sister that you destroyed the Guiyuan Sect's mine using the name of the Nether Moon God in Spirit Wind City. Could it be that the Nether Moon God came for you and by chance discovered me there?"

"Perhaps that is so. I had previously reported the affair of Yu Hong to the Nether Moon God. Later, when I formed my Core in Spirit Wind City, the Nether Moon God indeed descended in person to bless me. However, he did not mention this matter to me," Yuan Ming replied with a gentle sigh, yet he chose not to reveal the truth.

Yan Sijing was silent for a moment, her emotions suddenly agitated, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, forgive my frankness. If the Nether Moon God truly exists, he had assured me in the past that if I ever encountered danger, I could silently chant his name to seek his protection. When Thunderbolt Ancestor appeared, I chanted it, but why didn't he show himself? With his Great Divine Power and the flag of allowing everyone in the mine to determine their own destinies, why didn't he reach out to help us?"

Yuan Ming did not respond, merely silently watching Yan Sijing vent her feelings.

Seeing Yuan Ming's reaction, a hint of despair flashed across Yan Sijing's face. She pursed her lips, turned away, and said no more.

Just then, Yuan Ming suddenly spoke:

"God is omnipotent, but God does not watch over the mortal world at all times. Miss Yan, did you worship and pray after hearing the divine decree? As a Divine Envoy residing in Spirit Wind City, God naturally casts his gaze there. But in a city without believers, how would God pay attention? Moreover, those who disdain God on ordinary days only pray when disaster strikes. What kind of God would care for such people?"

"Only believers can be redeemed, and such a god dares to claim he saves all beings?" Yan Sijing retorted with a cold laugh as she turned back.

"You are mistaken. It's not only believers who can be redeemed but those who are awakened. Only self-rescue can lead to salvation. God has formidable power in the world, but since all beings suffer, he does not grant wishes indiscriminately. That would not be saving people, but harming them. His redemption is showing us a path of self-rescue. We follow in the footsteps of God and walk this path, ultimately achieving our own redemption," Yuan Ming continued measuredly.

Yan Sijing blinked, her large, clear eyes showing a flicker of contemplation.

Yuan Ming gave her a glance, his expression unchanging as he proceeded:

"Just like the battle at the Guiyuan Sect mine, it was I who resolved Hai Qing, but the remaining Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement realm guards were ultimately freed by the mine slaves themselves. The Nether Moon God freed their minds, allowing them to depend on themselves, gaining their freedom."

"Similarly, if you devoutly pray to the Nether Moon God, God might send me to grant you the Cultivation Technique needed to achieve Core Formation. Then, facing Thunderbolt Ancestor, even if you can't defeat him, you might still have a chance to flee with your sister. If even fleeing is impossible, then God will personally intervene to deal with Thunderbolt Ancestor for you."

At these words, Yan Sijing pressed her lips together, seemingly unwilling to accept this, yet ultimately, she could only let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh, it's too late for anything now."

However, Yuan Ming shook his head and said, "As long as the heart is sincere, it's never too late."

Yan Sijing paused, then saw Yuan Ming continuing, "As the Divine Envoy, my presence here signifies that the Nether Moon God is watching this place. From now on, if you sincerely believe in the Nether Moon God and embrace his ideologies, he will forget past grievances and grant you grace when you need it most."

"Grant grace? What kind of grace? Will he personally help me kill Thunderbolt Ancestor? Or will he directly take my sister and me somewhere else where Thunderbolt Ancestor can't find us?" Yan Sijing asked with a smile.

"I said, God is omnipotent, but he does not grant requests indiscriminately. Now, trapped like a caged animal, similar to the trapped mine slaves, Thunderbolt Ancestor is like a collar around your neck. Only if you pray sincerely, the Nether Moon God will help you remove that collar, but freeing your sister ultimately requires you, who has broken free, to save her yourself," Yuan Ming shook his head as he spoke.

A flicker of hope ignited in Yan Sijing's bright eyes, and she was slightly persuaded, quickly saying, "Alright, I agree. From now on, I will pray sincerely to the Nether Moon God. If he truly can help me kill Thunderbolt Ancestor, allowing me to gain the strength to rescue my sister, I will also make my sister believe in the Nether Moon God. When Hundred Pills Square is rebuilt, we will have everyone there believe in the Nether Moon God, becoming his believers."

"The Nether Moon God is watching this Immortal Mansion. Your words will reach his ears. Just remember, you are not yet a Divine Envoy of the Nether Moon God, so your prayers must be sincere. The Nether Moon God will tolerate once, but not a second time," Yuan Ming nodded and advised solemnly.

"I remember, and I won't gamble with my sister's and my own lives," Yan Sijing earnestly assured.

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