The Persuader

After bidding farewell to the profuse thanks of those parents and declining their gifts, the two returned to Yuan Wu Xing's small courtyard.

"I saw you're plenty talkative with me, so why didn't you speak up in the hall? Maybe City Lord Zeng didn't even notice you."

Yuan Wu Xing scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly. "I'm timid. Never seen that kind of scene before. My mind went blank for a moment."

Jiang Li chuckled softly. "You, spending ten years investigating the behemoth that is the Jiang Family, knowing the odds were slim yet persisting—if anyone said you lacked resolve, they'd be blind. But you flinch at critical moments. Today at the Jiang Family, in the hall, and back when you tried to break through to Nascent Soul—it's the same. Our Dao Sect emphasizes cultivating both nature and life force. Right now, you're only cultivating nature, not life."

Yuan Wu Xing felt as if struck by lightning.

He was exactly as Jiang Li described. Every time he tried to break through to Nascent Soul, he hesitated, his thoughts churning like a sea of waves. He'd think, I'm still young, why risk life and dao to break through? Wouldn't it be better to enjoy a hundred more years first? What's the use of Nascent Soul anyway? Above it lies Spirit Transformation—when will cultivation ever end? So many have failed to break through to Nascent Soul—what makes me think I'll succeed? This led to him being just one thread away from success several times, only to fail in the end.

"Thank you for the guidance, Senior." Yuan Wu Xing bowed respectfully to Jiang Li. Jiang Li just smiled and said nothing.

Yuan Wu Xing suddenly remembered something and asked anxiously, "Senior Zhang, I suspect the Jiang Family will send people to that space to destroy the evidence. Let's go stop them!"

"I'm afraid they won't go to that space. If they don't, how can we blow this up?" Jiang Li gestured for Yuan Wu Xing to calm down but didn't explain why. Yet Yuan Wu Xing trusted Jiang Li's words and settled down.

Though they had only spent a single day together, Yuan Wu Xing had begun to believe in Jiang Li without reason.

"Are you Mr. Zhang Li and Mr. Yuan Wu Xing?" A knock sounded at the door—thump, thump, thump.

The knock was light. After speaking and receiving no response from inside, the visitor didn't repeat themselves but stood respectfully outside. It was clear they were well-mannered.

Yuan Wu Xing opened the door. His hand trembled uncontrollably, and he barely restrained himself from striking out.

"This old one knows he has wronged the living. If beating me would ease Mr. Yuan Wu Xing's hatred, I would not utter a single word of objection."

The Jiang Clan Leader stood outside, leaning on his cane, eyelids drooping, an apologetic look on his face. As a Golden Core Stage cultivator, he faced an enemy of Golden Core Peak and Nascent Soul Peak without a single attendant behind him.

How could Yuan Wu Xing not hate the Jiang Clan Leader? If Jiang Yixing was the chief culprit, the Jiang Clan Leader was his greatest accomplice. The deaths of those infants could absolutely be laid at his feet.

"What are you here for? To threaten us?"

In the end, Yuan Wu Xing didn't strike. He just sneered sarcastically, plopped down in a chair, and gulped down tea.

He didn't dare act. Who knew what tricks this old bastard had up his sleeve? Better not to stir up more trouble.

But to his shock, the Jiang Clan Leader tossed his cane aside the moment he entered and knelt directly on the ground. Yuan Wu Xing was so startled he nearly dropped his teacup.

Jiang Li watched the Jiang Clan Leader with keen interest, curious to see what game this junior would play.

"The Old Ancestor has erred, but no mistake outweighs the Human Emperor. If word spreads across the Nine Provinces that the Human Emperor's cousin practices demonic arts, what will the people think? Resentment is inevitable. And if those with ulterior motives fan the flames, how great a blow will this be to the Human Emperor's reputation!"

"Beyond the Nine Provinces, Extraterrestrial Demons lurk with greedy eyes. Thanks to successive Human Emperors raising the banner of the Nine Provinces and fighting the demons, the Nine Provinces have been spared calamity. The Human Emperor's power lies in faith. If the people's faith in the Human Emperor is shaken, Jiang Human Emperor's strength will surely wane. How dangerous would that be for our Nine Provinces!"

"I know you two care for the living and are righteous people. My Jiang Family may be villains in the shadows, but when it comes to the Extraterrestrial Demons, our stance is the same. I beg you both to consider the billions of lives in the Nine Provinces and let this matter rest. This old one thanks you both here and now!"

With that, the Jiang Clan Leader actually kowtowed three times. Three dull thuds rang out, and blood marked his forehead. When he raised his head, his face was streaked with tears.

Yuan Wu Xing was moved by the Jiang Clan Leader's heartfelt words and actions. Unconsciously, he thought, Maybe I should just let this go. It wouldn't be good if it really affects the Human Emperor.

Stepping back, even if the Human Emperor practiced demonic arts, so what? He did it to fight the Extraterrestrial Demons, for the sake of the world.

Yuan Wu Xing was almost convinced by the Jiang Clan Leader. After all, what he said was reasonable, and the possibility of shaking the Human Emperor's faith was real.

Half of the Human Emperor's strength came from his own formidable power, and the other half from the faith of successive generations. Multiplied together, it made the Human Emperor's might reach an utterly terrifying level—not yet an immortal, yet surpassing one.

Beyond the Nine Provinces, space was chaotic. Every few hundred years, an Extraterrestrial Demon attack would occur, each time bringing the Nine Provinces to the brink of annihilation. The Human Emperor, as the Nine Provinces' top expert, bore the brunt of the fight against the demons. More than half of the Human Emperors died in this process; few met a good end.

If Jiang Human Emperor's faith waned and he fell in a future battle against the Extraterrestrial Demons, Yuan Wu Xing would truly be haunted by guilt for life.

"The Jiang Clan Leader speaks reasonably. But since the Jiang Family knew early on that this might shake the people's faith in the Human Emperor, why did they still sacrifice infants through blood rituals?"

The Jiang Clan Leader said shamefacedly, "The Old Ancestor was greedy for the splendor of this world. He wanted to break through to Nascent Soul and see a few more days. Who would have thought one misstep would lead to eternal regret, making it hard to turn back?"

Jiang Li was greatly surprised. "What are you saying, Jiang Clan Leader? If the Jiang Family intends to turn back, how could I not accommodate them?"

The Jiang Clan Leader felt a surge of joy. These self-proclaimed righteous types—you can't coerce or bribe them. You have to persuade them with greater principles.

But then Jiang Li continued, "Even if Yuan Wu Xing and I stop prosecuting the Jiang Family, other cultivators will come to investigate this matter. Let me show you a way out. The Great Zhou Law stipulates that the dead are not held accountable. Please have Jiang Yixing recognize his mistake and kill himself."

The smile froze on the Jiang Clan Leader's face. For a moment, he couldn't find a rebuttal.

It was true—if the Old Ancestor died, the matter would be settled. But how could that be? I came here to put on an act so you'd stop making trouble. How did the act end up with my Old Ancestor dead?!

"Mr. Zhang Li must be joking."

"Just words from the heart."

The Jiang Clan Leader's face darkened as if it could drip water. He slowly rose, shedding his earlier sorrowful and compassionate demeanor.

"It seems Mr. Zhang Li insists on seeing this through."

Only then did Yuan Wu Xing realize it had all been an act. A wave of fear washed over him. This old fox is truly terrifying—not a single word or expression can be trusted. Thank goodness Senior Zhang Li is here.

"I wouldn't call it seeing it through. I just like to finish what I start. Jiang Clan Leader, please."

The Jiang Clan Leader snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and left.