Under the cover of pink mist, a look of shock rose in Feng Xiao's eyes, quickly replaced by endless desire. Like a beast, he let out a series of roars. Within the pink mist, two golden orbs rose and entered the woman's mouth. Moments later, the pink mist dissipated, leaving only a trace of black ash that was swept away by the wind.

...

Deep in the Longyin Swamp, at the edge of the Poison Crocodile Hills, many talented individuals were still waiting, eager to see the battle between Li Sheng and the mysterious demon cultivator. Thunder echoed from afar, dark clouds gathered, and the sky turned bleak in an instant.

"This Longyin Swamp has such unpredictable weather; one moment it's clear, and the next it's shrouded in darkness..." Yan Yunfei remarked while shaking his folding fan.

"Why don't you go? I won't join the fun... You've been missing for so long, have you found some treasure?" Yan Yunfei suspiciously eyed Wang Ye.

"In this desolate place, where could there be treasure..." Wang Ye replied, looking displeased.

Just then, two immense pressures approached from the southern sky. Before their arrival, a calm voice echoed through the space. "Who dares to slay three of my Yan Kingdom's grandmasters? Yan Shengjing has arrived; why not show yourself?"

As the words fell, two white-haired elders appeared in the air. Yan Shengjing was surrounded by flames, radiating intense heat that distorted the space around him. Zhou Tianyi, adorned with faint blue feathers, emanated a sharp aura, slicing through the air.

"Yan Shengjing! Zhou Tianyi!"

"Top Grandmasters?!"

"They've reached the level where their divine powers can manifest outward."

"These two have comprehended the essence of martial arts to the utmost; soon, there will be two more grandmasters in the world!"

"Comprehending the essence of martial arts? Easier said than done..."

"The Yan Kingdom's ancestors have arrived swiftly; this should be a spectacle..."

"A battle between a heavenly-stage cultivator and a top grandmaster this will be exciting..."

"What's there to be excited about? I bet that Li Sheng will escape. Compared to the top three on the genius ranking, the rest are too far behind the grandmasters!"

...

Deep in the hills, Li Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, his expression grave as he gazed into the sky. "They've come quickly; this is troublesome..."

Glancing at the blood-colored orb, he sensed the energies within rising steadily, unsure when it would complete its transformation. Acknowledging the probing gazes from above, Li Sheng steeled himself to meet them.

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In the air above the hills, a faint electric arc flickered, revealing Li Sheng's figure. Yan Shengjing raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him. Earlier, he had learned from a talented individual about the situation and some details regarding Li Sheng.

"A mere loose cultivator can condense a heavenly-stage divine seed; this young man is quite lucky..."

Yan Shengjing exchanged a glance with Zhou Tianyi, both sharing a moment of understanding.

"Li, the loose cultivator... I wonder when my Yan Kingdom offended you, prompting you to take such harsh measures, or are you acquainted with that demon cultivator in the valley?"

Yan Shengjing asked slowly, sounding like a refined teacher.

Li Sheng narrowed his eyes. He had killed three grandmasters from the Yan Kingdom, yet this old man remained so composed. This worked to his advantage, as his senior sister's transformation wasn't complete; buying time was crucial.

Maintaining his calm demeanor, Li Sheng replied, "I have previously stated my intentions: to fight that demon with all my strength and forge my martial path. As for your kingdom, I bear no grievance."

"Oh? If there is no grievance, why take such harsh actions? Do you think my Yan is weak?"

Yan Shengjing smiled, but a faint killing intent lingered in his words.

"Your Yan Kingdom engages in inhumane acts, forcibly opening demon lairs and using millions of lives as resources for cultivation. Shouldn't such actions warrant punishment?"

A hint of sharpness flickered in Li Sheng's calm gaze.

Yan Shengjing's expression froze, followed by a laugh. "Still a kind-hearted one; interesting, interesting..."

"My Yan Kingdom has a population of 1.7 billion. While it may not be perfectly peaceful, most can live with dignity. Do you know what will happen if I lose this grandmaster?"

With a low chuckle, Yan Shengjing continued, "Without my protection, the Yan Kingdom would become a feast for wolves. The entire kingdom would crumble under the assaults of neighboring countries. How many lives would be lost then? One hundred million? Five hundred million? Or ten billion?"

Li Sheng's expression darkened, already guessing the trajectory of the conversation.

Yan Shengjing laughed heartily, his beard swaying as blazing flames illuminated half the sky, exuding overwhelming authority. "I am the stabilizing force of the Yan Kingdom. As long as I am here, I will continue to stand strong. Even if it means sacrificing an entire region for my own sustenance, it's just a common occurrence! Do you believe that if the truth were revealed, 99% of Yan's citizens would blame me? They would instead revere me like a deity!"

Li Sheng opened his mouth to retort, but words fell silent.

Ten years ago, upon arriving in this world, he had lived in a small city of 70,000 to 80,000. When the demon disaster struck, the suffering of the people left a deep imprint on his mind. Those who prayed to the gods if they were told that sacrificing another city's population would save them, what choice would they make?

In that moment, he fell silent, aware that while the other's reasoning was twisted, the harsh reality suggested that it was likely to occur.

Seeing Li Sheng's expression, Yan Shengjing sighed. "Not everything is simply black and white; one must consider the current circumstances. You're still young; more experience will bring clarity..."

Li Sheng felt a heaviness in his heart. Sacrificing 60 million lives to save 1.7 billion seemed like a win-win. As a ruler, Yan Shengjing's perspective was defensible on a grand scale.

But who ever asked those 60 million whether they were willing? What about their families and loved ones?

"In the end, it comes down to lacking power. If I were invincible in this world, these petty matters would be of no concern!" Li Sheng's resolve to pursue his path grew stronger.

Yan Shengjing observed in surprise; typically, when one's understanding of reality shatters, it's difficult to rebuild in a short time. This young man was recovering impressively fast.

With a look of pity, Yan Shengjing said, "Since you care for the people, why not join my Yan Kingdom and protect the lives together?"

Li Sheng raised an eyebrow, realizing that Yan Shengjing had shared so much in order to recruit him.