Chu Mo also stood there, his lips twitching as he watched the old man with a full head of black lines.

The elder let out a sigh, slowly sat down, and told Chu Mo about a past event that was a secret even in the Heavenly Realm.

"I was born in a very small clan within the Heavenly Realm. Our clan was modest, with no remarkable ancestors. As such, although my talents were decent, I struggled due to lack of resources, which greatly slowed my cultivation progress. This situation finally improved after I entered the Ascension stage. It was during a herb gathering expedition that I met Ding Ling. But at that time, he was not yet known as Ding Ling, his real name was Ding Ling."

As the elder narrated, a story that had been sealed for tens of thousands of years unfolded before Chu Mo like a slowly unraveling scroll.

This elder was named Wang Zhong, an ordinary and unremarkable name. After meeting Ding Ling, the two quickly became friends who could talk about anything.

At that time, Ding Ling, apart from being a bit selfish and somewhat dark-hearted, did not have any major flaws.

"However, all this changed completely with an opportunity he encountered," Wang Zhong sighed. "Ding Ling was also from the Human Clan like myself, born into a minor family. We couldn't rely on our families for much and had to depend solely on ourselves. Fortunately, we were both born in the Heavenly Realm... where, as long as you are diligent enough, reaching beyond the Great Luo Jinxian realm is generally not an issue."

Chu Mo nodded, saying enviously, "Indeed, such matters... there's no such thing as fairness. In the Spirit Realm, geniuses with exceptional talent consider it a great achievement to reach the Primordial Infant realm."

"Yes, back then, Ding Ling and I were close as brothers, searching for various medicinal herbs together, gathering resources to sell, and then buying elixirs. Those days were probably the happiest time of my life," Wang Zhong spoke solemnly. "Later, Ding Ling once ventured out alone and accidentally entered a ruin. The ruin, however, belonged to a powerful figure from the Demon Clan. Unable to resist the temptation, Ding Ling inherited the mantle of that powerful demon…"

Chu Mo then recalled his own encounter with a powerful figure from the Demon Clan in the Ruins of Return. Although he had not taken up the demon's inheritance, he had learned many techniques from him. To Chu Mo, the Demon Clan... might not be as inherently evil as people claimed. At least the powerful demon he met seemed quite normal.

Thus, he couldn't help but ask, "Are members of the Demon Clan... all evil?"

Wang Zhong glanced at Chu Mo and sneered, "Are there truly evil races in this world? There are only evil human hearts, my child!"

Chu Mo was stunned and then responded, "You make a good point!"

These words were almost identical to what Chu Mo had previously said to Qi Xiaoyu, but as perspectives differ, there are always things one doesn't see. Thus, hearing Wang Zhong speak about the Demon Clan provided Chu Mo with a sudden enlightenment.

"I didn't quite understand this principle back then," Wang Zhong said, looking at Chu Mo with a bitter smile. "So, when I learned that my best friend had taken up the mantle of the Demon Clan and become one of them, my first reaction was sheer rage. I confronted him, asking why he chose this path. He told me that he wanted to become stronger."

Wang Zhong let out a breath, saying, "That statement left me speechless. Indeed, who doesn't want to become stronger? Who doesn't want to ascend to higher realms in the cultivation world? But after that, we gradually drifted apart. Then one day, he came to find me. By then, we had both entered the Emperor Realm, but his cultivation was a bit stronger than mine. Meanwhile, his title as the Blood Demon Ancestor had become widely recognized. Many cultivators feared him, and some felt terror just hearing his name. But when I heard those four words, I only felt sadness."

Wang Zhong looked at Chu Mo, "Can you understand that feeling? To watch helplessly as your best friend gradually descends into the abyss, yet you can do nothing. That feeling... is incredibly painful." Then he sighed, "He came to me, saying there was a way that might offer a chance to step onto the supreme path. I advised him then to turn back, my brother... you cannot continue this descent. But he... he then shared with me a method I had never heard of before."

Chu Mo looked at Wang Zhong, asking, "Is it the method that brought you here?"

Wang Zhong nodded, giving a bitter smile, "I thought then that those people were all great sinners, so any treatment of them surely wouldn't be excessive, right? The more I thought... I started my hunting journey. Even my actions left a significant reputation in the Heavenly Realm!"

"Punishing the wicked to promote the good... surely leaves a good reputation," Chu Mo also bitter-smiled. He thought to himself that the affairs of this world really couldn't be judged on the surface alone. Who would have thought that Wang Zhong's apprehension of notorious villains was not really for the sake of justice, but to seek the supreme path?

If not for knowing the truth, few would think Wang Zhong was in the wrong, except the malevolent villains themselves.

Yet even after knowing the truth, Chu Mo simply couldn't blame Wang Zhong, saying that his actions were wrong. After all, those wicked people... truly deserved to die!

The only mistake Wang Zhong might have made was perhaps not truly understanding the Heavenly Dao, right?

"So, you're saying that Ding Ling, the Blood Demon Ancestor, wasn't as insane back then as he became later?" Chu Mo looked at Wang Zhong because previously when he mentioned the four words "Blood Demon Ancestor," Wang Zhong blurted out 'demon,' and his complex expression was enough to indicate that the two of them had interactions later on, and most likely... they became enemies.

Wang Zhong nodded, saying, "Back then, Ding Ling had already started to fall into the demonic path. This 'demon'... was actually his heart! He began to become ruthless, more vicious... Later, I heard that he had even cultivated a demonic technique called 'All Bodies as One.' It must be said, people's hatred for the Demon Clan isn't without reason. Many sinister techniques are born from the Demon Clan. This 'All Bodies as One,' in particular, represents one of those wicked techniques, and within the entire Demon Clan, its notoriety is quite significant!"

Listening to Wang Zhong talk about this technique, Chu Mo couldn't help but bitterly smile in his heart. If it weren't for this technique, how could he have gotten entangled with an existence like the Blood Demon Ancestor and become mortal enemies?

Wang Zhong sighed and said, "When I heard that he had started practicing this technique, I rushed over to dissuade him, but by then, Ding Ling had already completely succumbed to the demonic path. He was almost like a madman. He wouldn't listen to my advice at all, and instead questioned me, saying that the wicked technique he practiced was fundamentally no different from the techniques I cultivated!"

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Oh, the double monthly tickets...

My emotions are a mix of everything.

Working hard all month long, bursting out updating like a fool, desperately seeking monthly tickets. Then just within a few days of double tickets, I watched helplessly as one after another rose vigorously, watching others breeze past me, feeling like thousands of roosters were running through my heart. I can't blame others for being strong; I can only blame myself for being weak.

Nothing else, just melancholy, one misstep after another.

Sometimes I really wonder, if I could publish regularly and burst update during that year and a half, would the result be as it is now?

I don't know. But I think the situation would be better than it is now.

Today I will continue to burst forth, still bursting!

Because I refuse to accept this!!!!

I never believe that our readers are inferior to anyone else's!

So what if it was a year and a half late?

I will keep fighting until the day I can no longer fight.

If you like it, cast a monthly vote for me.

I don't want to lose.

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