What Could He Know Before a Word Was Spoken?

Throughout history, periods of dynastic change and war between nations have been times of Fortune. When cultivators reach a certain level in their self-cultivation, they must absorb and release Fortune. Even those with low cultivation levels know to follow the trend. Therefore, during times of dynastic change and war, a large number of cultivators often enter the world to seize fortune.

Normally, detached and otherworldly cultivators will often appear at this time, joining some mortal sect, either following the trend or defying it to cultivate their fortune.

However, anyone who enters the world the Essentials have a goal. Seizing opportunities is like gambling with one's life. First, choose one side, and then gradually increase the stakes. It is impossible to gamble everything. This is something that experienced cultivators understand. Even if two countries go to war, no true Daoist Sect will step forward before the situation is clear.

However, these considerations would not appear in the minds of cultivators who were eager for quick success and instant benefits. Not long after the two countries went to war, some cultivators chose sides for their own interests.

Compared to the well-structured and complete Great Rui, the scattered and loosely organized Grasslands tribes were undoubtedly easier to deal with. Moreover, their smaller size made them more agile and allowed for flexible steering, enabling them to withdraw in time.

The cultivators who went north to the Grasslands were originally targeting Qiu Yan and the scriptures. As a result, war broke out between the two countries. Although Qiu Yan's Slave Army had no formal organization, both the Grasslands and the Great Rui regarded it as a force of the Central Plains.

Therefore, a group of cultivators led by Ding Chunzi dispersed to various tribes to secretly assist them, hoping to squeeze Qiu Yan's marching space.

Qiu Yan's army possesses a Qi and Blood formation that can suppress Divine Ability to a certain extent and support the execution of Military School Order. It is effective against both cultivators and tribes, making the alliance between the two sides a natural outcome.

Subsequently, Qiu Yan's offensive was indeed suppressed to some extent over the next two weeks, but it was not enough to reverse the situation.

In Qiu Yan returned with his army, he used a feint attack to the east and a counterattack to the west, breaking through the Tulang Tribe's stronghold in one fell swoop and shattering one of the four most powerful tribes below the Rouluo people.

Moreover, this time, Qiu Yan deviated from his usual practice and went on a killing spree! His army's advance was aimed directly at the upper echelons of the tribe!

In the past, he conquered a tribe. He didn't commit much bloodshed, but merely broke through the prison and released the slaves. However, after breaking through the Tulang Tribe's headquarters, Qiu Yan did not stop. Although he didn't kill many people, he relentlessly pursued the tribe's upper echelons.

The once vast Tulang Tribe was torn apart, but Qiu Yan was still unwilling to let it go, pursuing the remaining Tu Lang soldiers until they had nowhere to run. Several times they sought refuge with other tribes, but this only led to the destruction of several other tribes.

In that case, who would dare to take them in?

However, some cunning individuals saw an opportunity in this and devised an ambush, intending to use the roving Tu Lang as bait to lure Qiu Yan into a trap.

Finally, they indeed encountered Qiu Yan, but the Slave Army fought with increasing ferocity, slaughtering the remnants of Tu Lang's forces and those who had been lying in ambush!

The fighting raged on, darkening the Fortune and earth, yet no Karma or consequence seemed to fall upon them. Instead, the cultivator who instigated the incident suffered a dimming of fortune and was burdened with Karmic Sin Karma.

The leading cultivators were all at the peak of the Third Realm. The most senior among them was named "Ding Chunzi," an elder of the Burial Bone Dao.

Besides these two, there are two others. One is the weathered man mentioned earlier, named Prison-Dragon Guest. He was originally a Rogue Cultivator from overseas, but returned to the Central Lands due to family ties. He established an island in the Eastern Sea, called Prison Dragon Island, and called himself the "Prison Dragon Island Lord".

The other person was a woman, a rising star who had suddenly emerged within a year. She called herself Lingxiu, and the busybodies in the cultivation world called her "Lingxiu Fairy".

However, this fairy was quite mysterious. She was covered by a light veil, wore a veiled hat and a veil, and did not show her face. This did not dispel the curiosity of those who were curious. On the contrary, it made her even more alluring and even caused several conflicts. But putting all that aside, this woman was indeed amazing in her cultivation. The Cultivation Method she practiced was very profound. Ding Chunzi and the Prison Dragon Island Lord could not see her lineage.

When operating on the Grasslands, the three cultivators with the highest cultivation levels naturally became the leaders. They would discuss matters together, set the general direction, and then announce it for implementation.

In the world of cultivators, cultivation level and seniority are extremely important, and the countermeasures devised by these three were all successfully implemented.

However, after half a month of campaigning, they still couldn't get to Qiu Yan. Even using intelligence and the traps set by the Tulang Tribe couldn't stop them for long, which somewhat shook the prestige of the three.

Qiu Yan's army had gathered many warhorses during their campaign. They moved like the wind, and when they launched an ambush, they were as swift as thunder. The battle ended quickly amidst the thunder of hooves, and they then disappeared into the distance, leaving behind a trail of dust on the horizon.

Seeing the blood and severed limbs scattered everywhere, the three cultivators couldn't help but feel horrified.

"What happened? Wasn't Qiu Yan supposed to be a man who didn't kill many people? The tribes he conquered didn't suffer heavy casualties, so how come he slaughtered nearly a thousand people in this battle? Isn't he afraid of Karma Karmic Sin?"

Looking at the chaotic scene before him, the Prison Dragon Island Lord looked extremely grim.

Beside her, Lingxiu Fairy added, "Judging from the intelligence, those slaves who didn't agree to travel with him were all treated well upon their return. Judging from this, he should be a kind-hearted person. How could he be so ruthless?"

The Prison Dragon Island Lord continued, "Let's not dwell on that. Judging from our several encounters, although Qiu Yan is the top scholar in the imperial examination, he definitely possesses cultivation as rumored. I wonder what his level is. But if that's the case, he should be able to sense the Fortune. How could he kill without any restraint?"

These words are full of doubt. You see, when these two countries clash, death is a common occurrence. But the generals leading the army are not tainted by much Karma and Karmic Sin unless the killing is excessive. This is because generals and officials act according to orders and are shielded by the Dragon Qi. Most of the Karma and Karmic Sin are borne by the Dragon Qi, and only a drop in the ocean falls on the human body.

But cultivators are different. Even if they have official positions and are conferred titles by the imperial court, they still need to cultivate. When they reach a high level of cultivation, they will be involved in controlling the Fortune. The higher their realm, the clearer their understanding of internal and external Karma. They cannot afford to be confused in the slightest.

Before the Dragon Qi can absorb the Karma and Karmic Sin incurred from murder and arson, the cultivator's own Fortune must first absorb them. Although this can increase one's aura in a short time, once the Karmic Sin are deeply rooted, they are difficult to eradicate.

That's why the Prison-Dragon Guest was puzzled, not understanding why Qiu Yan, who possessed cultivation, was leading his army to commit massacres.

However, Ding Chunzi shook her head slightly, a glint in her eyes, and from her expression, it seemed that she had discovered something.

"Senior, do you know something?" Lingxiu Fairy noticed Ding Chunzi's expression and asked.

Although the three of them were of similar cultivation level, there was a difference in their seniority. Ding Chunzi's seniority was very high in the entire Central Plains cultivation world, but it was slightly insufficient to match his cultivation level. This was why he was eager to break through. If he could not make a breakthrough soon, his lifespan would come to an end, and by then, it would be too late to talk about anything else.

This situation is not uncommon in the cultivation world. Many cultivators who go astray and embark on a path of no return often begin when their lifespan is nearing its end and they have no choice but to take action.

Upon hearing the question, Ding Chunzi sighed first, then said, "We overlooked Qiu Yan's purpose."

The Prison-Dragon Guest said, "His purpose is nothing more than to free the slaves and the Tulang Tribe, isn't it? It's not hard to see these things from his actions."

"That's just an appearance," Ding Chunzi shook her head. "He freed the slaves, truly for the sake of so-called morality and righteousness? Wrong. His goal from beginning to end has only been one thing..." The old man said, raising a finger, "It was to destroy the Tulang Tribe!"

"Oh? What do you mean?" Seeing his confident demeanor, the Prison Dragon Island Lord had a sudden thought. "What about the slaves he saved? And what are those two effects?"

"Slaves serve two purposes for Qiu Yan..." Ding Chunzi frowned slightly. "Did I just mention these two purposes?"

Despite his confusion, urged on by the Prison-Dragon Guest, he still voiced his thoughts, thus clarifying his own ideas in the process.

"First, naturally, is to gather popular support, form a military formation and Qi and Blood momentum, and supplement it with the Military School Order, thus ensuring victory in every battle!"

The Prison-Dragon Guest was taken aback, quite puzzled. "Wasn't that his original purpose? Could it be that he had other motives besides this?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Chunzi sneered and retorted, "If he has no other ideas, Qiu Yan can gather manpower by force alone, and it would be even more convenient for him. He can summon them at will and without getting dirty. Why would he bother to gather slaves from a broken tribe that would only cause him trouble?"

"Um?"

Seeing the two astonished people, Ding Chunzi took a deep breath and said, word by word, "Slaves, whose destiny has been forcibly broken, and then subjected to undisguised oppression and coercion, are the most inhumane of Human Path. Such acts inevitably involve layers of karmic Karma and lingering Karmic Sin. Rescuing slaves means returning their destiny to them, but the accumulation of Karma and Karmic Sin still exists..."

"Senior, do you mean that Qiu Yan gathered slaves precisely for this Karma and effect, this Karmic Sin?" Upon hearing this, Prison-Dragon Guest understood a bit more and felt a sense of dread. "In that case, this person intends to pile up all these Karma, blurring the target, and venting them all on the Tulang Tribe. Good heavens! In this way, he's pinning the Karma of dozens, even hundreds of tribes, on one tribe. No matter how many people he kills, it's just clearing away the Karma. Not only will he not incur Karmic Sin, but he might even gain merit!"

The more he talked and thought about it, the colder Prison-Dragon Guest, his head and toes grew.

"What a deep cunning! No wonder he dared to go on a killing spree! We were all deceived by his facade, thinking he was a pedantic man who only did good deeds. We never expected that his actions were merely to prevent the accumulated Karma and Karmic Sin from dissipating and diminishing. No wonder he even took great care of those who came south to return to the Central Lands! But in that case, who could stand against him on the Grasslands?"

"There are ways..." Ding Chunzi glanced at the two of them, "It just depends on whether you dare to try."

"Please enlighten me, senior!" Prison-Dragon Guest had come to the Grasslands with a sense of gamble, and he asked for guidance through gritted teeth.

Ding Chunzi smiled slightly and uttered two words—

"Blood sacrifice!"

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