These cultivators could certainly be noisy.

Wu Wang had stopped showing off and sat properly in his seat, inhaling Divine Power and drinking hot tea. He occasionally chatted with Ling Xiaolan and enjoyed the service of two burly men hammering his shoulders with small wooden mallets.

Lin Suqing and Immortal Mu had other tasks; they were wandering near the members of Heaven Fire Sect with the Crystal Ball Wu Wang had given them.

Ji Mo and Le Yao had already shown themselves at the base of Sun Demolition Sect. On Ji Mo's waist hung a purse embroidered with mandarin ducks. Walking among the crowd of Sun Demolition Sect, he could strike up a conversation with anyone he intended to talk to, regardless of their gender, age, or cultivation level. As expected of Ji Mo, his reputation as the "Immortal of Talk" was well deserved.

「Thus, after four hours.」

Several Heavenly Immortal Realm pinnacle stewards from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion were called over by Wu Wang. He handed them two Jade Talismans with a few simple instructions before they hurriedly left.

「Another hour passed.」

A stack of petitions was delivered to Wu Wang.

Wu Wang's expression was solemn as he earnestly began to read the petitions, constantly inviting the elders from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion to join him for consultation. His serious attitude changed the impressions many of the older Cultivators had of him.

Dragging on for a full hour, Wu Wang approved twenty-seven 'feuds' that required resolution, all involving bloodshed from both parties, and demanded that each case be dealt with one by one. The life-and-death platform, which ordinarily wouldn't take half a day, was forcefully stretched by Wu Wang into a minimum two-day event before conclusion.

Soon, the first 'case debate' between Heaven Fire Sect and Sun Demolition Sect began.

Both sides presented two individuals each: one directly involved in the issue at hand, and the other a 'lawyer' provided by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. They first stated their case regarding the injury incident, with both sides naturally claiming they were wronged. Next, evidence was presented, and third-party testimonials were provided to clarify who was at fault and who had taken advantage. After this, both sides engaged in rebuttals, discussing how to handle the issue.

Wu Wang listened with keen interest as a male and a female steward appeared behind him.

"Hall Master."

Wu Wang asked through a spirit transmission, "Have you kept an eye on those previously marked?"

"We have, my lord. You can rest assured."

"Good. If any of them try to flee, act immediately and detain them all," Wu Wang instructed. "Better to kill them than let them escape."

"Yes!"

The two stewards answered with determination. Wu Wang handed them two more Jade Talismans, which marked the second batch of suspects from Ten Evils Hall that needed to be shadowed. In these talismans, not only were the locations and strength descriptions of the Ten Evils Hall suspects written, but Wu Wang had also drawn simple portraits of each suspect with distinct Divine Souls, to avoid any mistakes.

But even these were just the easier targets among the Ten Evils Hall suspects—those with unusual Divine Souls.

Wu Wang glanced around the area, certain that there were hidden 'higher-order' spies from Ten Evils Hall amongst them; Anyone who later tried to instigate trouble or spoke with veiled malice must be captured for thorough investigation.

After the first debate, it was clear that both parties were somewhat at fault, but the Cultivators from both sides still stubbornly refused to give in.

Wu Wang transmitted a few instructions to Xiao Jian Daoist, who stepped forward and drew a circle with his Sword Qi.

The Transcendent Sword Cultivator spoke out loud, "It is clear now. Sun Demolition Sect was the first to injure, and Heaven Fire Sect retaliated excessively, resulting in the death and injury of several disciples from both sides. The one who started it, Sun Demolition Sect, is fined thirty thousand Spirit Stones as punishment. Do both parties wish to proceed with a life-and-death duel? If so, each shall send one individual related to this incident, whose cultivation must not exceed mid-stage Heavenly Immortal Realm, to prevent the waste of Human Domain's strength."

One Heavenly Immortal from each side stood up simultaneously.

Xiao Jian Daoist asked, "Do you both wish to fight?"

"A duel!"

"To avenge my brothers!"

Xiao Jian Daoist said gently, "Although this life-and-death platform is set to decide life and death, you must remember, vengeance begets vengeance, and you should keep your life for the protection of the Human Domain... Begin."

The Daoist retreated as the two Heavenly Immortals surged with energy, locking gazes and almost simultaneously soaring into the sky.

Wu Wang sat upright, looking up at the fierce battle overhead, where each combatant exerted their utmost strength, and the streams of light they unleashed in their high-altitude battle could inflict severe injuries upon the other.

The duel lasted but a brief moment, and soon one figure plummeted from the sky, hitting the ground where a Formation immediately absorbed the impact. The figure crashed onto the floor, coughed up blood, and with his eyes wide open, he was seriously injured and unable to move.

The Heaven Fire Sect side stood up, an urgent expression on their faces.

A streak of blood flashed as the other duelist appeared on the ground. The burly man's red robes were mostly torn, and his hair showed signs of being singed. Holding a blade, he moved forward with furious eyes, charging directly towards the Daoist lying on the ground.

Thousands of silhouettes from Sun Demolition Sect stood up simultaneously, with some ready to cheer. He lifted his blade! The Sun Demolition Sect member roared loudly, veins bulging on his arms as flames seemed to almost burst forth from his eyes!

However, the Longsword in his hands could not fall as he hesitated.

Sun Demolition Sect, Heaven Fire Sect, and representatives from over a dozen other Immortal Sects around Heaven Fire Sect all fell silent at this moment, watching intently to see how the scene would unfold.

Suddenly, a shout came from the distance, "Why can't you swing down? Is this all there is to a life-and-death arena?"

The Cultivators started talking among themselves, half of them jesting, half discussing whether a killing blow would actually happen.

Without Wu Wang having to remind them, the experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion immediately focused their Immortal Consciousness on the first speaker, secretly keeping an eye on him.

The Sun Demolition Sect member's arm fell, and the Longsword was thrust into the ground next to the ear of the Heaven Fire Sect's Heavenly Immortal.

"I'll spare your life. From now on, guard the border! Don't let me see you again!"

Having said that, the sturdy man from Sun Demolition Sect withdrew his Longsword, glanced wearily at his foe, and walked away with heavy steps.

The Heavenly Immortal from Heaven Fire Sect closed his eyes and heaved a sigh. After a while, he got up, bowed to his fellow sect members, and then knelt and kowtowed to the old Sect Master. Without a word, the man went to sit in meditation behind an expert from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, choosing not to return to Heaven Fire Sect.

Xiao Jian Daoist appeared in the center of the arena and declared loudly, "Sect Masters from both sides, step forward."

The old Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect and Sect Master Le Tianbai from Sun Demolition Sect swiftly entered the arena.

Xiao Jian Daoist asked, "Is the first matter settled now?"

"It's settled."

"Let's leave it at that."

"Please, both of you have a drink," called out Xiao Jian Daoist as two female Immortals from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion brought forward two bowls of clear wine.

The two leaders did not say much, simply lifted their bowls and drank them down in one gulp. Le Tianbai tossed his bowl to the ground, smashing it, while the Heaven Fire Sect Master shattered his by squeezing it. The two men each bowed their fists in salute, then flew back to their respective Sects.

Xiao Jian Daoist proclaimed loudly, "This matter is concluded. Sun Demolition Sect's debt of thirty thousand Spirit Stones is noted for final tally. Let us proceed to the second case; both parties enter the stage!"

At that, four individuals stepped forward, beginning another round of verbal fencing.

The second case proceeded steadily as per protocol, the debate raging on with intensity. This time, Heaven Fire Sect clearly had the upper hand; their two Heavenly Immortals fought fiercely until they were bloody, but it was Heaven Fire Sect's Heavenly Immortal who ultimately won.

The female Heavenly Immortal from Heaven Fire Sect descended from the sky with several Longswords on her back, gazing at the gravely injured Demonic Sect Elder.

She said coldly, "My disciple can no longer be brought back to life, and the one who killed her has already paid with his life. You may go guard the border. Heaven Fire Sect has this much magnanimity!"

Wu Wang felt a slight relief in his heart, and his gaze met that of Ji Mo, who was hidden among the crowd of Sun Demolition Sect. They shared a knowing smile; Ji Mo continued his earnest conversation with the Elders around him.

The matches continued—the third, the fourth... The Immortal Sects and the Demonic Sects yelled at each other, with Heavenly Immortal Cultivators facing off directly. The life-and-death arena, once meant for high-skilled fighters to battle to the death, was no longer about life and death; instead, the defeated Cultivators were being 'dispatched to the border.'

The victorious Cultivators in the duels all actively showcased the magnanimity of their Sects. The life-and-death arena was less bloody, but because of the mix of literary and martial performances and a well-maintained overall rhythm, the Cultivators who came for entertainment still found it quite engaging.

More and more Cultivators arrived from all directions, among them many from Ten Evils Hall.

Wu Wang quickly realized he had underestimated the decision-makers of Ten Evils Hall. These people from Ten Evils Hall began to secretly fuel the animosity between the paths of Immortals and Demons. Their rhetoric was sophisticated, their wording exquisite, and no matter how a discussion began, it always returned to the differences between Immortals and Demons.

Clearly, these people from Ten Evils Hall had undergone some form of 'centralized training' beforehand.

Statements like, "The middle and high ranks of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion are clearly dominated by those from Immortal Sects. Heaven Fire Sect is bound to come out unscathed today."

Or, "Heaven Fire Sect should invite a higher-ranking Immortal Sect to deal directly with Sun Demolition Sect."

The effect of their instigations was quite good, with Heaven Fire Sect's supporters gradually becoming exclusively Immortal Dao Cultivators, and the majority behind Sun Demolition Sect turning out to be Demonic Cultivators. As these Cultivators began to speak from entrenched positions, they essentially put Heaven Fire Sect and Sun Demolition Sect on the grill. This conflict, though bloodless so far, was quietly morphing into a full-blown Immortal-Demon conflict.

Wu Wang dared not be careless and distributed several more Jade Talismans, totaling over three hundred marked individuals. The experts from Benevolent Emperor Pavilion were starting to run thin.

Not until the sun began to tilt to the west and half of the cases were dealt with did the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion request both sides to 'cease hostilities for now.'

「A two-hour intermission.」

Heaven Fire Sect and Sun Demolition Sect hurried to deploy their forces and discussed strategies for the next day's debates; both sides had experts who argued so vehemently about the lineup for the next day's debating and dueling that they almost came to blows.

In the brightly lit concourse, Wu Wang called over a dozen high-ranking officials from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion to him. It seemed like they were discussing the matters of the morrow, but in reality, they were contemplating when to close the net.

Everyone suggested they could wait a bit longer, maybe they could catch more 'ferocious fish.'

Wu Wang, however, made a decisive call, stating firmly, "The villains from Ten Evils Hall we've caught are not few; among them, several are masters in the early stages of the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Our haul has exceeded our expectations. We should close the net now; we cannot let them continue to bewitch Cultivators everywhere. Once caught, we must interrogate them immediately. Do not forget our aim is to uncover the location of the Fourth Main Hall—that is of utmost importance."

"Yes!"

The dozen or so high-level Cultivators answered in unison, hurrying off in their respective directions.

Suddenly, within a hundred miles, Immortal Lights soared and disturbances emerged amongst the crowds. Tens of thousands of Immortal Soldiers stood ready for battle, while hundreds of experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion took action simultaneously in the blink of an eye. The oppressive might of Transcendent Realm Cultivators subdued everyone present!

"The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion apprehends Ten Evils Hall spies! Everyone, there is no need for panic! Please, sit tight in your places!"

"No need to panic, everyone. People from Ten Evils Hall have infiltrated this place, sowing discord and spouting nonsense with malicious intent."

"How could I be a spy? I am a legitimate Immortal!"

"Silence! If it is confirmed that you are not a spy, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion will offer an apology with proper rites!"

There was a clamor everywhere for a while, but soon it quieted down.

Heaven Fire Sect and Sun Demolition Sect each had a dozen or so people taken away by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, and dozens from the ten-plus Immortal Dao Sects involved in the event were also apprehended by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. Hundreds of villains were captured without a single one missed. Those under suspicion were also temporarily detained and escorted to a heavily guarded Immortal ship to undergo interrogation through the night.

Four hours later, the life-and-death arena of Heaven Fire Sect and Sun Demolition Sect reopened, and another round of verbal spars and magical duels ensued.

In the latter part of the dueling, there was no sound from outside the venue. Those there for the spectacle still watched eagerly; occasional discordant voices emerged, but they were no longer as jarring.

「At dawn.」

The sun rose from Yang Valley in the east, while the moon hid at the edge of the sky.

A square table was placed in the center of the venue, with Xiao Jian Daoist sitting right in the middle, flanked by the two Sect Masters on either side, with hundreds of experts behind each of them.

Twenty-seven battles, twenty-seven grievances resolved, twenty-seven heavily injured Heavenly Immortals were set to rush to the frontier, never to return to their respective Sects.

Xiao Jian Daoist said, "The grievances between the two parties are cleared. Sun Demolition Sect is fined 360,000 Spirit Stones, and Heaven Fire Sect is fined 240,000 Spirit Stones. Both parties, hand over the Spirit Stones."

Neither side said much; each took out a pile of Storage magic treasures and handed them to the officers of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. Such an amount of Spirit Stones was indeed a heavy blow that could shake the foundations and sap the vitality of both great Sects.

The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion carefully counted the Spirit Stones and confirmed there was no mistake. With a wave of his hand, Xiao Jian Daoist then took all the Spirit Stones. Then, according to Wu Wang's request, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion distributed 540,000 Spirit Stones. They granted 20,000 Spirit Stones to each Sect for every lost duel and for each Heavenly Immortal going to the border, thus reimbursing the two parties.

The dozen or so Immortal Sects following Heaven Fire Sect didn't get anything as they hadn't sent anyone to duel before. Heaven Fire Sect, however, having lost seventeen battles with seventeen experts heading for the frontier, actually reclaimed 340,000 Spirit Stones.

"Speak up."

Xiao Jian Daoist gathered his breath, his face stern as he began to scold, "Both Sects are pillars of the Human Domain, renowned Cultivators on the path of cultivation, aren't they? At first, you did not restrain your disciples, and now it has gotten this far out of control! I think you have become complacent, unawakened! Feeling as if the Human Domain has no enemies! The Heaven Palace is still watching us! Especially you few, all of whom have experienced the transcendence catastrophe, all of whom have felt that will to annihilate us—do you really think it's just for show? That's a formidable foe seeking to eradicate the Human Domain, a Heavenly Emperor aiming to destroy the way of cultivation! The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion apprehended a total of sixty-two spies from Ten Evils Hall... Sixty-two! Your Sects are riddled through like sieves!"

The faces of the experts from each Sect were overcast, yet they did not know how to reply.

Le Tianbai sighed and said, "It is my negligence that led to this. I will seal the mountain for twenty years and conduct an internal examination."

"My Heaven Fire Sect will do the same, seal the mountain for twenty years."

The old Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect showed a shameful expression and spoke in a low voice, "This matter began because I failed to stop it in time. It started with a minor issue, but eventually, it turned into a dispute that lasted for thousands of years."

Le Tianbai solemnly said, "From today onwards, all past grievances are forgotten."

The old Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect said, "Both Sects shall avoid each other, never to meet."

"Please!"

Le Tianbai stood up and made a welcoming gesture. The venerable Elder of Heaven Fire Sect also stood up, cupped his hands in salute, and said, "Let's go." He then led the group of experts to slowly fly towards the several dozen flying magic treasures of various sizes suspended in the western sky. Their disciples had already gone ahead to wait for them.

Le Tianbai rose to his feet and, with a cupped fist salute to Wu Wang, led his people flying towards the east side, where there were also more than a dozen large ships. It was clear that Sun Demolition Sect had greater financial strength.

Once both parties had simultaneously departed, the Cultivators scattered as well, each discussing this 'unprecedented' life-and-death arena. This incident would inevitably spread throughout the Human Domain. Although it seemed like there were no casualties on either side, in reality, both had lost quite a few masters. Yet the overall combat strength of the Human Domain remained undiminished.

By sorting through the grievances of the two families one by one, elucidating and debating them, the rights and wrongs became clear to all. Everyone could then make their own judgments about who was in the right and who was in the wrong. Both parties would seal their mountains for twenty years and avoid each other upon meeting in the future. Any further disputes would incur severe punishment from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. Such a resolution would naturally satisfy everyone.

Wu Wang stood with his hands behind his back in the now-empty venue, looking at the figures of the Heaven Fire Sect Cultivators as they departed, one flying magic treasure after another vanishing into the horizon.

"Sect Master."

The Grand Elder chuckled beside him, "This matter has been successfully resolved, and everything was within your plan. Truly an eye-opener for this old man."

"Grand Elder, don't you think this went a bit too smoothly?" Wu Wang murmured softly, a hint of contemplation in his eyes.

The Grand Elder replied gently, "Sect Master, you needn't doubt yourself. Whether it was your strategy for the lawsuit or your approach to untangling their mutual grievances, both were extremely clever. Not to mention, there was the tacit cooperation of Sect Master Le Tianbai. The first person Sun Demolition Sect sent out was also carefully selected by Young Master Ji Mo. Such an outcome is within reason."

Wu Wang stretched lazily, saying, "I was referring to the matter of Ten Evils Hall… Never mind, the result is ultimately good, after all. Grand Elder, use your Cloud Mirror Law to keep a close eye on these two families until they return to their respective strongholds—caution is the parent of safety."

"Rest assured, Sect Master, I will keep a close watch on them."

"Thank you for your efforts."

Wu Wang felt much more at ease in his heart. The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's experts had already gathered around him, waiting for the Hall Master to say, "Let's return." Then, everyone would mount the clouds together, merging into the sky toward the lofty ship and Flying Shuttles.

The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's fleet also embarked on the return journey.

In the large ship occupied by Wu Wang, several Heavenly Immortals from Ten Evils Hall were still under severe torture, but the specific location of the Fourth Main Hall still had not been obtained.

Wu Wang glanced at Ling Xiaolan by his side but was not in a hurry to use such a trump card. After all, Ling Xiaolan's status was different now as the Tianyan Saintess, the darling of Xuan Nu Sect. If the title of 'Interrogation King' spread, Xuan Nu Sect would probably come knocking for answers. The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion had its own interrogation experts, and they too deserved an opportunity to perform.

Wu Wang returned to the top floor's elegant room and had just settled onto the soft couch when Xiao Jian Daoist quickly approached and said in a low voice, "Hall Master, Young Master Ji Mo and his wife have hurried over to express their gratitude."

"Let them in," Wu Wang said. "They are my good friends; no need for formalities."

Xiao Jian Daoist understood and instructed someone to openly and honorably bring Ji Mo and Le Yao over.

The group drank tea and chatted, with most of the conversation being cheerful. Ji Mo clearly felt relieved, as his laughter became more and more uninhibited. Yet during the conversation, Wu Wang's mind frequently wandered. He felt that something wasn't quite right, but after carefully reviewing the operation, there were no mistakes anywhere; everything had gone according to his plan.

Am I just overthinking it?

Wu Wang pondered briefly in his heart, then perked up, continuing to chat and drink tea with Ji Mo and Ling Xiaolan.

「Meanwhile; Thousands of miles away.」

A procession of more than a dozen Heaven Fire Sect flying magic treasures of various sizes was slowly gliding across the azure sky. A number of other Sects had departed, apparently on less than amicable terms.

The atmosphere on each ship was a bit somber, with Cultivators either meditating or gathering to talk. There were many expressions of dissatisfaction in their conversations. Out of twenty-seven duels, they had lost seventeen—ultimately a defeat.

"If the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion was truly just, it would have severely punished Sun Demolition Sect!"

"Hmph, it's all because of Young Master Ji Mo's relationship with Wuwang Palace Lord—a close friendship. Haven't you all heard about it?"

"Enough. The handling of the matter by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion was generally fair. Everything was laid out openly, and the rights and wrongs were clarified. Since we didn't win the duels, we can't blame others."

An Elder passing by scolded, "Focus on your cultivation and stop talking nonsense! This matter is already over!"

Several Cultivators hurriedly closed their eyes and resumed meditation, daring not to speak further.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from outside. It seemed that a female Cultivator was being chased and was flying towards their fleet. Many Cultivators from Heaven Fire Sect dispersed their Immortal Consciousness, watching several figures that had appeared to the left of the fleet. There, a female Cultivator enveloped in pure qi was being chased by four Cultivators shrouded in a bloody glow. At a glance, one could distinguish the Immortal Dao from the Demon Path.

Immediately, an Elder of Heaven Fire Sect said, "Protect that female Cultivator and find out what happened."

From the edge of the fleet, figures flew out from two large ships, guarding the injured woman behind them and blocking the pursuing Cultivators. What no one noticed was the panicked look on the woman's face that hid a strange glint in her eyes. Her body seemed unable to support itself and was sliding downward, when immediately two Immortals from Heaven Fire Sect stepped forward to help her.

"Thank you, benefactor."

She replied with a trembling voice, her face pitiable and stirring sympathy. Strands of grey, red, and black qi flew out from her jade arms and entered the wrists of the two Cultivators. The eyes of these two Cultivators flickered with grey light, stunned for a few moments before smiling at the woman and nodding their heads. Then they turned and walked forward, patting the shoulders of people they knew…

The tricolor qi silently spread among the crowd.

Moments later, the several Demonic Cultivators were subdued and brought back to the two large ships on the fringe. And the female Cultivator, along with the blood-colored Treasure Bead wrapped within her sea of qi, was taken to the grand airship where the Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect resided.

After a while, several Cultivators flew out from those two ships, visiting friends on other large ships.

An hour later, the dozens of large ships suddenly quieted down. The sounds of discussion ceased everywhere, and it seemed most Cultivators were cultivating in secret. Even the experts on the ships did not notice that the course of the large ships had slightly deviated from the original direction, heading towards the location of a Great Demon Sect. Those Elders at the Heavenly Immortal Realm would naturally not be the ones steering the ships.

Why am I always so restless?

Within the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's fleet, Wu Wang left the lively private rooms and leaned on the railing to gaze at the sea of clouds ahead.

What else is amiss? After capturing so many villains from Ten Evils Hall, the grudges between both parties are temporarily suppressed. Would the Cultivators on both sides have emotions about this? That is inevitable; after all, it's a grudge that has lasted for thousands of years, and it can't be resolved over one cup of wine.

Glancing at where Yang Wudi was, I saw the guy sleeping in his bed. It was obvious he was not alone in there.

PTUI! Indulge yourself; I'll deal with you later!

I can't wait any longer.

Wu Wang took a deep breath, turned on his heel, and rushed back to the private room, calling out, "Bring the two Heavenly Immortal Realm villains here! I'll interrogate them myself!"

Immediately, an executor from the Punishment Hall responded loudly to the order.

In the midst of hurried footsteps, two severely injured villains were thrown in front of Wu Wang, wrapped tightly in chains. Wu Wang didn't hesitate. Summoning a Longsword with a wave of his hand, he was about to strike the two, intending to catch their Primordial Spirits and insert them into the Crystal Ball for Fairy Ling to interrogate.

At this moment, a flash of bloody light appeared on the left, and the Grand Elder stood up with a grave expression.

"Sect Master, something is not right."

"What's wrong?"

Wu Wang immediately perked up, "What is it?"

The Grand Elder said, "As per your instructions, Sect Master, I used the Cloud Mirror Law to monitor the movements of Heaven Fire Sect and Sun Demolition Sect. Sun Demolition Sect is safe since they are not far from their Sect and have smoothly returned to their own gates. But Heaven Fire Sect's dozens of great airships have deviated from their intended direction, off by about a hundred miles."

A hundred miles?

Wu Wang, with a sword in his right hand and left hand behind his back, barely hesitated before asking, "What lies ahead on the path?"

The Grand Elder spread his palm open, a shimmering light within, forming a screen of radiance.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, five hundred miles directly ahead of them, there is a Demonic Sect stronghold, abundant with Demonic Cultivators. It appears to be... the Refining Heaven Sect, ranked twenty-ninth among the Demonic Sects."

Wu Wang could not help but mutter, "How come the names of the Sects are all so domineering, either eradicating or refining heavens."

Ji Mo, who was shaking a folding fan beside him, said in a deep voice, "Could it be that Heaven Fire Sect harbors resentment and wishes to stir up trouble again?"

"Unlikely."

Ling Xiaolan replied softly, "If Heaven Fire Sect causes trouble at this critical juncture, their Sect's reputation would be ruined, and they would also be accused of deliberately provoking conflict between Immortals and Demons."

"Regardless, this matter cannot be taken lightly."

Wu Wang declared firmly, "Xiao Jian Daoist, lead the troops forward immediately to intercept! Check if there is anything unusual with Heaven Fire Sect's fleet! Take more experts!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Jian Daoist immediately acknowledged the order, and just as he was about to turn around, his body froze. His gaze, sharp as a sword, turned towards the two villains from Ten Evils Hall. His body flashed as he shielded Wu Wang behind him.

"Hall Master, be careful!"

"TSK, TSK, TSK, HA HA HA!"

The villain on the left trembled slightly but let out a series of strange laughs.

The Grand Elder raised his palm to strike, but Wu Wang raised his hand to signal him to stop. Immortal Mu protected Lin Suqing, and Ji Mo immediately stood in front of Le Yao, gesturing for her to retreat.

The villain slowly raised his head, his face smeared with blood and bearing a cold smile.

"Wu Wangzi, it seems like this time, I am the one who wins."

Wu Wang frowned slightly and calmly said, "Xiao Jian Daoist, hurry and lead the troops! He must have revealed himself because we uncovered his scheme. Quick, stop Heaven Fire Sect's convoy!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Jian Daoist rushed out of the cabin immediately, and shouts could be heard one after another as the outer perimeter of a dozen Flying Shuttles started to change direction. Dozens of experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion crossed Heaven and Earth in a straight line, hurrying ahead to the fleet of Heaven Fire Sect.

The villain's smiling face slightly stiffened, and he coldly said, "I am just here to appreciate your reaction. Delaying? You are too arrogant."

"Is that so?"

Wu Wang shook the Longsword in his hand, and a head was flung into the air. At the neck, strands of black aura condensed into a three-foot long Qiong Qi shadow, which gently swayed and transformed into the figure of a middle-aged man, facing Wu Wang eye to eye.

The Qiong Qi shadow smiled and said, "Why don't you let the expert beside you open a Cloud Mirror and enjoy the magnificent scene created by 210,000 mortal souls."

The Grand Elder shielded Wu Wang. Seeing Wu Wang nod slightly, he created a Cloud Mirror behind Qiong Qi. Through the Cloud Mirror, the dozens of big ships from Heaven Fire Sect eerily came to a stop.

Wu Wang coldly said, "What have you done now?"

"What have I done?"

Qiong Qi laughed and said, "Can't you guess? I simply used a small trick, placing a few puppets among them. This method took me a long time to come up with. Using the resentment of mortals as a catalyst and combined with my Divine Skills, if there is the slightest crack in their Dao hearts, I can devour them in a blink of an eye. How about that? Isn't it ironic?"

As soon as it finished speaking, the scene in the Cloud Mirror suddenly changed. A large ship burst forth with numerous streams of Immortal Light, then broke apart explosively, and hundreds of figures flew out from within.

"What's happening!"

A loud shout was heard, and the Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect along with dozens of experts rushed into the air, looking at the exploded ship with a stunned expression. It was only at this moment that they realized something was wrong.

Several middle-aged Cultivators hurriedly flew over and anxiously said, "Master! The fellow disciples on that ship suddenly went crazy!"

"Crazy?"

The Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect was about to move forward when suddenly a black light appeared before him. Luckily, this expert of the Transcendent Realm reacted quickly, mustering his strong immortal power, and knocked away the black light and the attacking disciple at the same time.

"What are you doing!"

Those disciples revealed the same cold smile from the corners of their mouths and, shockingly, they all pounced towards the Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect!

Around them, dozens of large ships and boats exploded simultaneously, and thousands of figures wrapped in black aura, accompanied by eerie wails and howls, surged towards Heaven Fire Sect's dozen or so experts! Ghostly shadows obscured the sky, and the Sect Master along with those experts were wide-eyed with shock.

「Outside the Cloud Mirror.」

Veins bulged on Wu Wang's forehead, and his gaze struggled to remain calm.

"Qiong Qi, you shall have no way out from now on!"

"HAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Qiong Qi threw his head back in laughter, then sneered and said, "Wu Wangzi, don't you always pride yourself on being astute, understanding human nature? After your mediation, why would Heaven Fire Sect still have cracks in its Dao heart, still discontent, still have grievances? Without them giving me a chance, no matter how powerful my Divine Skills or how strong those mortals' resentments, it wouldn't be possible to break through their defenses so quickly."

Wu Wang took a deep breath.

Qiong Qi crossed his arms and laughed, saying, "Let me tell you what the human heart is really like. You think you have been fair, but if they don't get the results they want, they will feel wronged; a win-or-lose mentality, such is the nature of the human heart.

"Every person in the Human Domain feeds on a sense of superiority. If you don't make them feel above the rest, those who are accustomed to criticizing weaker Sects will believe they have suffered injustice at the bottom of their hearts! This is human nature.

"That's why, compared to any other race in the Hundred Races, your Human race is so easy to control. Wu Wangzi, you don't even understand this, and still you want to compete with me?"

Wu Wang remained silent, his gaze piercing through Qiong Qi's illusory figure, looking towards the Cloud Mirror. The experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion hadn't arrived yet, but the Cultivators from Heaven Fire Sect... had begun to self-destruct.

Qiong Qi was indeed too vicious. The ones controlled covertly were those who either had not yet become Heavenly Immortals or had just achieved that status with their Dao hearts not strong enough.

Qiong Qi's original plan was to have Heaven Fire Sect crash into that Demonic Sect. When Wu Wang and the Grand Elder saw through this plan, Qiong Qi immediately made Heaven Fire Sect self-destruct. The Sect disciples rushed madly at the dozens of experts who were not controlled by Qiong Qi. The Sect Master of Heaven Fire Sect kept shouting questions, trying to restrain the disciples one by one, but his efforts were as futile as trying to extinguish a house fire with a cup of water.

For a master to kill his own disciples—what agony!

A streak of sword light crossed the sky; Xiao Jian Daoist had already arrived at the scene.

A trace of flute music sounded, followed by the clash of qin and se. Several experts from Xuan Nu Sect at the Heavenly Immortal Realm joined hands to channel calming spiritual techniques through their music, trying to suppress the Heaven Fire Sect members who were falling into a demonic state. Waves of blue-green ripples crossed the Cloud Mirror.

Before Wu Wang, Qiong Qi gave a cold laugh.

The thousands of Immortal Sect Cultivators, shrouded in black aura, uniformly raised their right hands. Some clutched Weapons, others gathered Immortal Light. All aimed at their own chests, locking onto the location of their Primordial Spirits and Nascent Souls.

Qiong Qi chuckled, "Do you wish to fight against a god without shedding blood?"

PFFT!

Qiong Qi's phantasm silently exploded, with tendrils of black aura quickly evaporating. The over three hundred villains captured by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, any whose Divine Souls were unusual, were now all turned into pools of blood.

Displayed on the Cloud Mirror, thousands of Heaven Fire Sect Cultivators pressed down their Weapons in unison, destroying their Primordial Spirits and Nascent Souls in an instant. Figure after figure plummeted from the sky, and a rain of blood pervaded the air.

At that moment, the dozens of experts from Heaven Fire Sect and other Immortal Sects were momentarily stunned in midair.

Wu Wang closed his eyes, and the Grand Elder immediately acted, incinerating the corpse in front of him that was transforming into blood water.

In the cabin, you could hear a pin drop, and everyone's eyes were now fixed on Wu Wang.

Wu Wang's face was somewhat pale, but after a few breaths, he had recovered to normal.

Ling Xiaolan said, "Brother Wuwang..."

Wu Wang raised his hand, indicating that she needn't say more, and simply stood up and walked over to a map hanging on the side, standing quietly with his hands behind his back. His arms trembled slightly.

"Sect Master," said the Grand Elder, "do not blame yourself for the evil done by evildoers."

"I could have stopped this," Wu Wang said softly, his voice still calm. "Xiaolan had already mentioned before we left that the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion had found that over a hundred mortal Villages on the border had suddenly emptied... I actually had a chance to stop it."

Ji Mo said, "We all underestimated the abilities of this Evil God beforehand."

"Heaven Fire Sect... has it been destroyed just like this?" Le Yao's voice trembled slightly.

Lin Suqing suddenly spoke up from the corner, "Logically, having taken control of Heaven Fire Sect, Qiong Qi would be expected to clash with a Demonic Sect, thus igniting war between the paths of Immortals and Demons.

"For this plan, he must have also expended a great deal of effort. When such a suitable opportunity arose today to cause upheaval in the Dao hearts of all members of Heaven Fire Sect, it would then be easy to control them.

"We... actually managed to thwart his plan."

"Suqing, there's no need to comfort me. Lost is lost; there's no significant difference between losing more or less. What's damaged in the end is the strength of the Human Domain."

With a light sigh, Wu Wang closed his eyes, when suddenly a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

Two hundred ten thousand mortal souls... Border Villages... How did they abduct the mortals without a trace? And, when the experts from Ten Evils Hall took Yang Wudi to the main hall, they put Yang Wudi into a magic treasure, which seemed to be a Storage magic treasure capable of holding people. Qiong Qi's methods could not be executed on a whim; certainly, there had been lengthy preparations before. It was only an avatar of Qiong Qi that was active; this matter should have been executed by Ten Evils Hall. Yes, when Yang Wudi returned to the Fourth Main Hall, he just happened to encounter the avatar of Qiong Qi! The place where those souls were processed is likely the Fourth Main Hall! That... A few days ago, the Grand Elder constantly used the Cloud Mirror Law to scan this area, so why didn't he find even the slightest trace? At the very least, there should have been sightings of many people coming in and out. Even if a Heaven and Earth Formation is used for transportation, doesn't a Formation consume Spirit Stones? How can such a huge consumption of Spirit Stones be perfectly concealed? Suspicious points, suspicious points...

Wu Wang's gaze slid continuously over the map, his pupils suddenly narrowed, staring at the words that were distributed almost evenly across the map.

Those were... Cultivation Sects, Immortal Sects, Demonic Sects.

Suddenly, Wu Wang turned his head to look at the Grand Elder and asked, "Is it possible that the Fourth Main Hall is not located in the wild mountains, but rather underneath one of these Sects? Or could it be that the Fourth Main Hall is actually one of these Sects within the Human Domain?"

The Grand Elder was taken aback.

Wu Wang's eyes shone with excitement as he turned to look at everyone.

"Forget about Heaven Fire Sect for now, everyone, brace yourselves! Ji Mo, go and check immediately which of these Sects on the map specialize in refining, and which can create Storage magic treasures capable of containing living beings! Grand Elder, use the Cloud Mirror to lock onto these Sects and identify any suspicious points, but do not act rashly! They have a transportation Formation; if we're to make a move, we must fully seal Heaven and Earth!"

"No need to check."

Ji Mo stepped forward briskly, raising his hand to point at the upper left corner of the map, above the words 'Long Jade,' "This Long Jade Gate is adept in refining, with several well-known Masters of Refining. There are not many Sects in the Human Domain that can craft Storage magic treasures capable of housing living beings, and this Sect has made a strong impression on me."

Wu Wang asked, "What about the other Sects within this range?"

Ji Mo immediately replied, "No impression. They are all medium to small Sects, unlikely to be able to support a Refining Master."

"Someone, gather all the information on Long Jade Gate!"

"Young Master, I have some basic information here."

Lin Suqing pulled out several notebooks, flipped through them quickly, and offered the introductory section about Long Jade Gate to Wu Wang. Established ten thousand years ago, but never boasting any famous experts until three thousand years ago. Then, two Masters of Refining emerged from its ranks, propelling it to prominence as a Sect renowned for its refining skills.

"Three thousand years ago... three thousand years ago..."

"Sect Master?"

The Grand Elder called out from the side. His finger touched the Cloud Mirror, which displayed an Immortal Sect wrapped in Immortal Light, halfway up a mountainside. It was Long Jade Gate.

Wu Wang inquired, "Is there anything unusual?"

"I almost forgot that Sect Master has not cultivated the Blood Evil Path and cannot sense the Blood Evil Qi. This place has witnessed the death of numerous beings within a short span of time, culminating in some faint Blood Evil Qi."

The Grand Elder waved his large sleeve, and the Cloud Mirror suddenly turned blood red. The Immortal Sect, which at first glance looked peaceful, revealed chilling ghostly shadows against this bloody backdrop.

"Instruct the fleet to return to Benevolent Emperor Pavilion as normal and not to startle the snake in the grass. Continue bringing in more information about Long Jade Gate—no, all the Sects within this range."

Wu Wang took out a Jade Talisman, weighed it in his hand for a moment, and then crushed it.

Almost simultaneously, Lin Qi and the Lin Family guards, who were hiding near Yang Wudi's Ten Evils Hall hideout, quietly withdrew.

「It was nightfall again.」

Wu Wang, Ji Mo, Ling Xiaolan, and Lin Qi met up once more, seated inside a silver shuttle, silently rushing to the location of Long Jade Gate.

In the silver shuttle, twelve Transcendent Realm experts remained silent, with Xiao Jian Daoist's eyes brimming with a fierce murderous intent. Within hundreds of miles of Long Jade Gate, more than twenty pinnacle Heavenly Immortal Realm experts lay in wait, quietly observing.

At this moment, Wu Wang inwardly sighed.

If not for Qiong Qi's mention of 'two hundred and ten thousand mortals,' they would not have found the location of the Fourth Main Hall so smoothly. They were too dependent on Qiong Qi...

Wu Wang said, "Esteemed seniors, later on we will directly seal Heaven and Earth. If anyone resists and their identity as a criminal is confirmed, show no mercy in killing them!"

"Good."

"Agreed!"

"No problem!"

"For the blood debts of Heaven Fire Sect, let's start by having them repay!"

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