With those words, he directly blocked any rebuttals they might have made.
Since they sought freedom, then apart from the proper methods of cultivation within the world, they should not interfere excessively with the Human Path and mortal affairs. Otherwise, they would be walking in the opposite direction from the beliefs they used to resist Qiu Yan.
If you sought freedom, then naturally you had to stand above the world. If you shouted of freedom while making the imperial court retreat, yet relied on transcendent power and the advantages of your own sect to interfere with the mortal Human Path, that was a double standard and could not stand.
"Enough. I trust you all understand this point. It is not some compulsory restraint. On the contrary, it is merely a bottom line, one that can help you gain Rectifying Names. So long as you hold fast to this intention, even the imperial court can only assist you, not suppress you."
As he spoke, Qiu Yan moved his finger and pointed at the second row of four words—
Know Good and Evil!
The meaning contained in these four words differed from the four above. Standing above the world carried a sense of Transcendence, of drifting freely beyond all things, while these four words stained by good and evil were ever-shifting and unfathomable. They held both a righteous heart and wicked intent.
"Are you asking us to punish evil and uphold good?" Blood-Transformation Venerable's expression darkened. "Marquis of Pacifying the Realm, you should understand very well that on the path of cultivation, many things cannot be measured by good and evil."
"Indeed. When Transcendence is at hand, good and evil, right and wrong, can all be cast aside." Qiu Yan nodded. "But knowing good and evil does not mean punishing evil and