In the West Sea, on Jade Lang Mountain, Li Ling returned by spatial transference and summoned the assembled leaders to discuss a course of action.
The leaders of the Merchant Association's various factions dared not delay. They immediately joined the deliberations, either coming in person or transmitting their thoughts through various communication Magic Treasures.
Yet what they heard was an utterly incredible proposal the moment Li Ling opened his mouth.
"I have decided to provide relief to the entire Misty Wave Kingdom. We must spare no effort to preserve its remaining five or six hundred million people. We cannot let the Demonic Path turn this place into a Netherworld Ghost Domain."
Xi Yuanlin said in shock, "Elder Li, you still intend to protect those mortal people?"
Zhu Tianxiang could not help saying, "We have already done enough. We cannot keep involving ourselves here. Otherwise, entangled in cause and effect, we will find karmic obstacles springing up everywhere, to our immense detriment."
"Is that so?" Li Ling said coolly. "You fear the Heavenly Tribulation a thousand years from now, but do you not fear me, standing before you?"
Everyone's expression froze at his words.
Wh-what did he mean by that?
"Elder Li." After some thought, Zhu Tianxiang's attitude softened considerably, even taking on a pleading note. "This truly beggars belief.
"What do five or six hundred million people represent? Hundreds of millions of living souls, vast as a forest. With all their loves, hatreds, grievances, and tangled wills, even cultivators like us would be tainted if we intervened.
"Providing relief to these people would consume hundreds of millions of jin of grain every day. Let us calculate it at roughly five hundred million jin per day, the minimum needed to keep the refugees alive. That is five billion jin in ten