"There is no need, if you came here to say so in front of everyone then I will believe in your sincerity." Li Zhen denied Hong Li's proposition to watch his son's last battle.

Although those were his words, once this matter is settled, he plan to observe every single detail of Li Qiang's fight against Ye Mo.

However, he needed to maintain appearances in public. He went on the Rallying Stone Plateau like a tiger, ready to devour Ye Mo with astonishing bloodlust, he couldn't simply leave to view a fight in the tent for a few minutes then return and continue haggling with this kid and his representants, his aura would deflate like a balloon and he will lose all his momentum, showing a lack of confidence.

Hong Li wouldn't come out and openly back up Ye Mo if it was discovered this one lied all this time.

At this moment, Ye Mo took out something from his spatial pouch and another from under his belt.

In his hands layed Li Qiang's pouch and sword that he raised towards the Li clan patriarch.

"Although I am in no age to be a father, I can emphasize with the loss of family members hence I recovered his belongings for you." Ye Mo said looking sincere.

Li Zhen had a complicated expression as he took the objects in his hands.

Of course this action from Ye Mo wasn't without meaning.

In the city, the Li clan had the reputation of a proud, but fierce and unforgiving clan, quick to take offense and slow to forgive.

In Ye Mo's case instead, most onlookers here didn't know him so by showing himself as amicable and compassionate while facing the cold and domineering patriarch, he could easily win the favors of the public.

In a martial art world where fists talked the most and killing was an achievement, it was rare to see this kind of display from a cultivator.

Many among the spectators saw him in a new light and even those dissatisfied by the final ranking of the competition immediately found him more bearable to the eyes.

Li Zhen who was a powerful cultivator that operated the Li clan for many years was experienced in many ways and quickly realized the machination.

He first attacked a junior without any good reason then lost the justifications he prepared, yet this junior not only didn't take offense, but also offered him his son's possessions, if he still attacked after this, he would seem too petty and unreasonable and no matter which way it would go, his clan's honor would suffer regardless.

The Li clan, like any organization couldn't live on thin air and needed a stable source of income to subsist. The Li clan had many businesses like taverns, inns and even a tea workshop to amass their wealth, if he was greatly feared and disliked by the majority of people, who would dare go in these Li clan properties in the future? At the slightest mishap from a customer, the patriarch or an elder might come and take their heads without any explanation nor consession, like they tried to with Ye Mo, right? If customers and money came to miss, cultivation resources would also dwindle and without these resources, the Li clan would lose strength and simply crumble targeted by a rival clan.

Without mentioning that the Li clan was vast and held countless members, feeding them all also had its cost.

Hong Li watched Ye Mo's deed and couldn't help but show an appreciative glance, "Ye Mo has great political skills, with his wits he could have become a grand cultivator and found his own clan, sigh, if only he wasn't a rank 2 talent."

Although he wouldn't let Li Zhen do as he wish with his Tiger Martial Institute's students, he would rather avoid fighting him and enter in conflict with his Li clan so he was very supportive of Ye Mo's demeanor.

He and Han Zhen Jun who were among those who knew Ye Mo were also surprised this usually dispassionate and unruly kid could act so calm and friendly at this instant.

Ye Mo was different from other cultivators present here.

People in this place were raised in the righteous path, suffering from its influence and indoctrination since birth. Righteous organizations glorifies sacrificing personal interests for the collective, portraying obedience as a moral virtue. Members naturally internalize guilt and shame for even contemplating selfishness or rebellion. At the same time, respect of authority and the collective over the individual is instilled in the heart of every children, taking their elders words to heart and lectures as irrefutable.

Because sects and clans condition members to see their hardships and sacrifices as noble, even if they suffer exploitation, this creates a self-reinforcing cycle where members justify their own oppression to avoid confronting the unpleasant truth.

All to create pawn pieces that could be controlled and willingly exploited by the organization.

It could be witnessed with Bing Jia's story, he was the top student of the Sky Martial Institute in the past and when he was challenged by Zhang Xuanhan, he undeniably had the strength to fight him. If he went all-out and won, he could have maintained his title and the ressources necessary to further his cultivation, he might even have broken through the Foundation Establishment Realm by this time; yet there wasn't even a need for the dean to say a word for Bing Jia to step down and take this loss silently, afraid of offending the higher-ups and being ostracized from the institute.

He held this position so dearly but still sacrificed it for the greater good of the institute, what else couldn't he do to integrate himself?

Of course, wether in the demonic or righteous path there are always exceptions that differed from the teachings taught to them.

Since he started cultivating seriously, Shen Xue has been cold and uncooperative towards even his own clan members, acting on his own and training by himself. This behavior from a clan member would have been shunned and punished, yet he was always sensible enough to never implicate his clan in his activies, like when he avoided killing other young masters during competitions so with his rank 5 talent and quick growth, no one dared say anything.

The righteous path influence spread wide and even before you join any organization, this kind of control would already be established by the parents who were themselves influenced when young, encouraging to chase after family love, friendship, romance, unity and loyalty to fill their spirit, indulging in being in a group while afraid of being alone.

This kind of conditioning was very subtle, most people would never realize it.

Only with the years of experience and making your way to a position of power could you see the intricacies of the righteous path control and exploit it yourself.

However, Ye Mo lost his parents when he was very young and grew up in the slums as an insignificant mortal. The old man that helped him had his hands full trying to make them pass the day and quickly followed his parents in the grave, leaving Ye Mo by himself to survive.

Such a person, he was a mistake. He should never have been able to become a cultivator, he was destined to live and die in the malnourished districts of the city.

Without parents nor being part of an organization and lacking any kind of exterior connection, he has never been subjected to the righteous path brainwashing.

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His beliefs were conclusions born through years of experiences and contemplation in a cold and unforgiving environment. His dream was the result of his own thoughts and desires. No ideas or life view was burrowed in his head by anyone.

This upbringing gave him a sky-far-different perspective compared to others and often helped him grasp the core of political matters when youths his age would only scratch the surface.

When juniors take leader figures as benevolent moral paragons, Ye Mo saw them as a bunch of powerful, greedy individuals with different circumstances and objectives who tried to profit the most from each situation.

"Mortals, Qi Gathering or Inner Core cultivators, they are all the same. It is just that those at the bottom of the food chain are exploited by those placed higher and the same ones bribe, fight and bootlick to climb the ladder. The higher you go, the more benefits you gain, but even those at the top of the food chain can't escape the weight of responsibilities managing the organization, in return advancing slowly. Only when being detached and solitary can you truly be free."

Ye Mo wasn't denigrating the higher-ups mentality, in their position, he would also fully exploit the system and use juniors under the guise of guidance to gather benefits for himself.

It is precisely because he wasn't part of any organization nor did he idolize these leader figures that he could put himself at their place and understand their intentions well. At this point, it wasn't difficult to find ways to oppose them.

Right now he was quasi-completely sure Li Zhen won't attempt to kill him publicly anymore. Even if Hong Li and Han Zhen Jun would protect him, cultivators of the Inner Core Realm could kill people like him with the bat of an eye and just standing too close of their fight as a Qi Gathering cultivator was very dangerous.

It was for the best if the confrontation could be avoided for now.

Li Zhen understood the situation didn't bode well and blamed Ye Mo, "If you could take these, why didn't you bring back his body, am I supposed to burrow a spatial pouch in his place?"

Ye Mo smoothly explained, "I don't possess any poison-averting battle skill, I wouldn't last long in contact with his body, moreover how would I survive the remaining days of the competition with a corpse on my shoulders much less reach the first place? It simply was impossible for me."

Knowing that this conflict could not be resolved, Li Zhen gritted his teeth, gazed at Hong Li, looked down then finally sighed and extended his hand, "It seems in my grief, I treated you unfairly young man, let's leave this matter in the past."

Ye Mo looked at the opened palm with calm, if he had the choice, he would rather avoid shaking it, but everyone in the righteous path had to follow the rules and regulations, to maintain his act and keep his public image, he raised his and clasped the patriarch's hand.

Instantly, he felt a spiritual wave wash over him and his mind crumble.

Ye Mo fell on one knee as blood spurted from his nose and mouth.

"Scumbag!" Hong Li roared in his mind as he immediately expanded his spiritual sense, protecting Ye Mo while warding off Li Zhen's one.

Li Zhen scoffed as he turned around and left crisply, he knew Hong Li would defend Ye Mo, he didn't plan to kill him with his spirit sense, but only to teach him a lesson.

The spectators were bewildered seeing Ye Mo suddenly fall down and Li Zhen leaving, the spiritual sense was invisible to the naked eye so no one could notice what just took course. Obviously, many thought of the spiritual sense among the onlookers and were convinced but it was all suppositions, without proof or confirmation, no one would dare say anything.

While Liu Zhen walked away, Ye Mo wiped the corner of his mouth, laughing coldly as he mumbled lowly, "I can understand why one could be affected this much by Li Qiang's death, he was the most valiant of us all, even in death he continues killing blood beasts with his body."

No one could hear him beside Hong Li and Han Zhen Jun who were just beside him and evidently, Li Zhen.

"Sssh!"

"Be quiet!"

Hong Li and Han Zhen Jun immediately erupted, alarmed by this sudden but familiar change of behavior, however it was too late.

Li Zhen stopped for an instant, behind his sleeves, his fists were clenched hard until his knuckles turned white before he finally released them and went on his way, jumping down the platform and reuniting with his Li clan members.

Those didn't ask him anything, just from his expression they knew what the future held.

"He is furious."

"This kid is dead for sure."

"It might have been better for him to let the patriarch eliminate him today, now it is far too late, he won't have a good end at all."

While whispers flew in the camp, Ye Mo stood up wiping out the blood on his face, the Endless Vitality battle skill operating unnoticeably in his body.

"This hurdle is finally settled, but although Li Zhen had to renounce in an open execution, he would never give up eliminating me since the moment I killed Li Qiang. Death await at every corner of this city, but it is still according to my predictions. Now I only have to wait for this day..." Ye Mo thought, his gaze shining obscurely

"I did it, I am number one, the Encompassing Washing Pill is mine."

During this time, Qiong Lieyu finally left the Jade Forest and reached the Rallying Stone Plateau as the Li clan members broke camp and left, leaving one elder to watch Li Qiang's fight and bring the recording to the patriarch.

He clutched his belly as he walked, several inner injuries Shen Xue inflicted made him wince in pain at every step yet, he only felt joy and satisfaction as he joined the other students.

"Because of the Ruling Saber technique taking so long to learn, I lack many useful battle skills, but I still obtained the first place of this competition! Now I will be able to choose a peak-tier Yellow class healing battle skill and recover from these wounds in no time, everything is going perfectly!"

Pride and confidence brimmed from Qiong Lieyu as he directly endured the pain and jumped before landing on the Rallying Stone Plateau among the instructors.

He noticed Shen Xue and glared at him intently, but this one didn't even glance at Qiong Lieyu as he observed Ye Mo being checked up by instructors.

Qiong Lieyu's lips curled up into a mocking smile, "Hehe, I didn't think you would be such a petty loser, just because you lost against me while I took the first place, you can't even bear to look at me? Then watch as I sweep this competition clean of all its prizes, there is no use being jealous, you better get used to defeat facing me because it will only keep happening from now on!"

Qiong Lieyu walked forward and approached the central tent, aiming to take pleasure spotting his name at the top of the leaderboard.

"I may be only rank 3, but my determination is unrivaled and my battle strenght supreme, who can match me among my peers? Hahaha!"

On his way, many instructors shot strange gazes at him, but he ignored them as he attained the tent and stood before the banner.

He raised his head to look at the rankings and immediately froze, staring with bulging eyes.

"What... what the fuck..."