The Blood-stained Southeast Chamber; three hundred corpses displayed.

Wu Wang had returned to the Human Domain for merely three days, and within the Southeast Division of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, he had unleashed a massacre. The Southeast Division of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion was directly paralyzed. Powers from all over the Human Domain rushed to collect news.

At this time, the ones who gathered the most information were, ironically, from the Main Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.

Xiao Jian Daoist's expression right now...

Numb, completely numb.

He knew that the Southeast Division of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion was corrupt, but he had not expected it to be *this* corrupt.

He knew Wu Wang would surely not stop until he had caused a huge disturbance. However, he had not expected Wu Wang to be so ruthless, truly going so far as to chop them all down; the actual power factions within the Southeast Division had been nearly swept clean.

Even so, Wu Wang was not satisfied and was even continuing his investigation.

The corpses were suspended at the city gates, their crimes inscribed beside them without any concealment. Their 'good deeds' while alive were clearly and plainly listed, one by one, one after another.

Half of the city wall was nearly covered!

Cultivators passing by clapped their hands in approval, but many also cursed the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion as a whole.

Those from Military Families, at this moment, did not utter a single word, fearing the fire might burn them. They quickly disassociated themselves from the Southeast Division.

The Sect Masters and Elders from various sects were even more interesting.

Half of them took the initiative to report others; mostly, they were the parties whose interests had been damaged. The other half were only looking out for their own safety. As long as they were questioned by the Punishment Hall, they would bow their heads and say a few nice words, completely staying out of the internal overhaul within the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.

The name of Wu Wangzi, Vice Pavilion Master of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion and Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, was once again making waves throughout the Human Domain.

Some said he was cold-blooded and loved bloodshed; others said he was ruthless and merciless.

Still others heaped praise upon him, saying he was daring and decisive—the sharp sword that the Human Domain was missing.

Regardless, when Xiao Jian Daoist looked at Wu Wang's figure at this moment, he was filled with emotion.

Convinced. In terms of courage, he, a sword cultivator, admitted defeat.

Wu Wang had been sitting in that chair for three days and nights.

Not closing one's eyes for three days and nights was not a big deal to an Immortal, but at this moment, Wu Wang looked somewhat tired.

When you see one cockroach, there could be a thousand hidden in the dark. The Human Domain lacked a complete supervisory and feedback mechanism; in these matters, it was even inferior to some feudal dynasties in the history of Blue Star as he remembered them. Relying on the phrase 'Everything for the Human Domain,' how many could maintain their original intention? The Southeast Benevolent Emperor Pavilion was utterly rotten. To overturn and start anew by leveraging the darkness and chaos? But the vast majority of beings in the Human Domain were innocent and implicated, and the overall Human Domain was actively improving. One mouse dropping spoils the whole pot of porridge.

Wu Wang looked at the steps, still stained with blood that had not yet dried. Below, only a few of the kneeling people remained.

He had ordered the majority to be decapitated.

And even that was not enough; those who had originally escaped were also captured and hung outside the city gates.

Beside Wu Wang, Jade Talismans, parchment, and letters had piled up into a small hill, with thousands of Image Projection Beads assigned everywhere.

These things were now like a spear in the hands of the Punishment Hall. With just one push forward, they could pierce through to the very core of the Main Hall.

Those guys must be feeling uneasy at this moment. Old Vice Pavilion Master, high-ranking officials, thick as thieves, forming cliques, embezzling wealth! To stop the investigation at this point? It may not be much for a half-hearted effort, but can one really live with one's conscience? Was he executing these corrupt officials for fame? In the Great Wilderness, in this corner of the Human Domain, was that reputation of iron and blood truly important?

Wu Wang let out a cold laugh.

In this matter, from beginning to end, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

When he was at the home of Old Snow Eagle in the Southeastern Region, Wu Wang had pretty much already foreseen this scene.

"What's the matter?" Ling Xiaolan's voice came from beside him, entering Wu Wang's ears.

She used a wonderful method of the Xuan Nu Sect, which had a calming effect on the spiritual mind.

Wu Wang said with a smile, "It's nothing. I'm just thinking about whether to go directly to them or to wait for them to make a move."

"Make a move?"

"Yes," Wu Wang said. "Xiaolan, you should stay out of this for a while. This has nothing to do with you; I don't want you to get involved."

Ling Xiaolan retorted, "I am also a Human Domain cultivator. How can this have nothing to do with me?"

"Mainly because I'm afraid blood will splatter on you later on."

"Then..." Ling Xiaolan frowned tightly, her pretty face slightly pale. She cast an annoyed glance at Wu Wang before turning and drifting away.

"CHIRP?" The Blue Bird tilted its head in confusion.

"She cannot tolerate anything dirty," Wu Wang explained softly. Yet as soon as his voice fell, he saw several figures descend from the high skies and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The arrival was none other than Feng Zhizi.

Interestingly, Vice Pavilion Master Wang Jian followed behind Feng Zhizi.

Wu Wang naturally didn't have a favorable impression of this Vice Pavilion Master. After all, before the first rewind happened, Wang Jian had already represented some forces dissatisfied with the Human Domain's Little Golden Dragon and had confronted him.

For the subsequent rewinds, Wu Wang had simply not given Wang Jian an opportunity to cause trouble.

Yet he hadn't expected him to leap out again.

Feng Zhizi frowned and glanced around before quickly approaching Wu Wang.

Seeing this, Immortal Mu immediately flew out of the building ship, landing not far away and respectfully calling out, "Greetings, Master!"

"Hmm," Feng Zhizi nodded and signaled Immortal Mu to step back.

Immortal Mu pulled a face but slipped away to where Ling Xiaolan was, watching the scene from a distance.

Wu Wang rose from his seat with a somewhat languid demeanor and gave Feng Zhizi a salute with cupped hands, smiling. "I've been pondering for quite some time and never would have imagined that Pavilion Master Feng would be the one to play the mediator."

Feng Zhizi sighed, his gaze complex. He raised his hand and cast a Barrier, enveloping dozens of yards around them.

Several people were left inside: the Whistling Snake, the Grand Elder, Xiao Jian Daoist, as well as Ling Xiaolan, the Blue Bird, Immortal Mu, several Immortal Soldiers, and many from the Punishment Hall who were organizing the case files.

"Wu Wang, how could you cause such a commotion without any warning?"

"Senior, please take a seat." Wu Wang summoned a chair with a smile and placed it beside himself.

Feng Zhizi didn't stand on ceremony either and sat down calmly, followed by another heavy sigh.

Wu Wang smiled. "I had Brother Xiao Jian return two days in advance, and I myself leisurely returned by ship. Isn't that considered giving notice?"

"Xiao Jian has always been a bit stubborn. Wielding your command talisman, he mobilized troops and sealed off various locations in the Southeast. You also dispatched the Whistling Snake to accompany him; this Snake is extremely skilled in Heaven and Earth transposition, capturing and sealing people in almost one hour. In one hour, what room is there for easing tensions?"

Feng Zhizi said, "Although Xiao Jian informed Liu Baiyi of your anger, Liu Baiyi truly did not expect you to directly perform a bloody purge of the Southeast Division. Now it's his turn to have a headache."

"Does Senior think these people should or should not have been killed?"

"They should be killed, and must be killed." Feng Zhizi's eyes flashed with a trace of sharpness. "Killing them greatly satisfies the public and eliminates harm for the people."

"Then why doesn't Master Liu do it?"

"Pull one hair and the whole body is affected," Feng Zhizi sighed. "Power and authority are layered one upon the other, and Pavilion Masters cannot act impulsively. Liu Baiyi can only suppress his dissatisfaction and maintain the stability of the overall situation. You see one Mi Zhong, but Mi Zhong is embedded within a group of people. If Master Liu were to take action, it's not possible to just catch one and beat him severely; it would mean the whole group is useless and must be rooted out together. That would be a different matter."

Wu Wang fell silent for a while.

He said, "I don't blame Master Liu; he has his own difficulties and considerations."

"Hmm, it's good that you haven't lost your cool in rage," Feng Zhizi looked at Wu Wang and said softly. "What you've done so far is actually enough. Your reputation is established, and you've given the necessary deterrence. Up to this point, it is beneficial for your next steps. But if the situation escalates further, it would not be easy to conclude. Everything should have a measure."

"Benefits?" Wu Wang smiled. Does it refer to the matter of succeeding the Human Emperor?

The group from the Punishment Hall organizing the case files paused in their movements.

Feng Zhizi's relaxed brow furrowed again, and he smiled. "Let's not speak of this openly; such words, if overheard, might come off as too arrogant. After all, His Majesty hasn't spoken directly yet. However, it's almost a certainty. His Majesty has already asked us several times. We, His Majesty's trusted aides, can clearly feel that His Majesty has almost made up his mind to support you as the one in charge of the Human Domain. Even His Majesty has inadvertently expressed that perhaps with you, the third dark upheaval of the Human Domain could be avoided. Wu Wang, I can only tell you these things... You must learn something now."

The Blue Bird shifted its feet beside him, looking somewhat cheerful.

Wu Wang asked, "Learn what?"

"Endurance," Feng Zhizi said in a low voice. "You must learn to endure. All beings are imperfect, and everyone's heart has a dark side. You must learn to tolerate this aspect, to control your own emotions, and to look deeper into the future. Take the matter at hand. If you were to act against the people of the Main Hall, you would be hitting a vital point of the existing order of the Human Domain. Even if you could get rid of a few worms, you would offend a large group of elders and newcomers. What you have done thus far is enough. By winning people's hearts and applying pressure, the existing old ministers will also breathe a sigh of relief, and your path in the future will be somewhat easier. I'm not a lobbyist hired by anyone; Wang Jian actually came across me. You have helped me a lot. My visit this time was first to support you, and secondly to remind you of these matters. Being too forthright makes it hard to stand your ground. To achieve the King's Way, you must endure injustice."

Wu Wang rested his elbow on the wooden chair's armrest, his eyes filled with emotion, and he spoke slowly, "Thank you, Elder, for this. This is sincere gratitude."

Feng Zhizi shook his head with a smile.

The attendants and officers of the Punishment Hall felt somewhat disappointed, but most didn't show it and continued to focus on their own tasks.

Ling Xiaolan pursed her lips slightly, showing that she quite understood the sentiment.

After all, it is the position of the Human Emperor, the dream of all young people in the Human Domain, the aspiration of the vast majority of the proud children of heaven...

"But Elder," Wu Wang suddenly spoke, his expression still without the slightest ripple, "I have decided to stir up this hornet's nest."

Feng Zhizi's expression changed.

Everyone couldn't help but look over in unison.

Wu Wang smiled and said, "Ever since the journey back, I've been thinking about what the Human Domain will become if things continue this way. A dark upheaval is the scenario I can deduce. As soon as His Majesty's lifespan comes to an end and he can no longer extend it, and if the successor of the Dao of Fire cannot deter the strong gods of Heaven Palace, a dark upheaval will inevitably follow. I'm going to speak disrespectfully, but is it really important now to decide the successor of the Human Emperor? Whether it was Emperor Fuxi or His Majesty Shennong, they stood up single-handedly in the most dangerous times of the Human Domain, drove out Heaven Palace, and restored an era of prosperity to the Human Domain. If the Human Domain were to lose His Majesty now, what would it have to resist Heaven Palace? If we don't start now to cure these illnesses little by little, to squeeze out those abscesses, then the Human Domain will be nothing more than an old man in his dwindling years. Do you expect those whose Dao hearts have been corrupted by power to stand up and resist to the death? Impossible. Most of them will choose self-preservation, hiding in the Southeastern Region, hiding at the ends of the earth. And then, when the Human Domain revives, they'll come back posing as ministers of the former dynasty, scrambling for a minor official position. Elder, you're not looking far enough; your vision is only set on the Human Domain."

Feng Zhizi said softly, "What I'm speaking of is exactly this. Even during the dark upheaval, there must be enough people willing to follow and support you."

"That's not important," Wu Wang said calmly. "If I truly want to take on this responsibility, the first thing is to prevent the dark upheaval. If I cannot do that, I will not covet that position. Right now, I'm not thinking about much else. I am the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, in charge of internal punishment and discipline within the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. It is my duty, and there can be no shrinking back. So many are watching from the outside; they cannot hear what we say, but Elder, we cannot treat our clan as fools to be deceived. The explanations we owe them must be made clear."

Feng Zhizi closed his eyes and sighed deeply, then shook his head and chuckled lightly. "Have it your way. I'll just sit here."

Feng Zhizi flicked his finger, and the surrounding Barrier dissipated.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder," Wu Wang stood up and gave Feng Zhizi a Daoist salute. "I will not forget this favor."

After speaking, Wu Wang turned to the side and reprimanded, "What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and organize the case files, prepare the Flying Shuttle, and get ready to return to the Main Hall."

The attendants and officers of the Punishment Hall, with either complex expressions or smiles, immediately got to work with renewed vigor.

However, Wu Wang had not yet sat back down on the wooden chair…

THUMP! THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

Suddenly, a series of drumbeats came from the northern sky. A large number of Immortal Soldiers appeared, riding the clouds from the north. More than a dozen high-ranking officers stood in the air, holding a scroll.

They swept over the city walls and rushed above the main hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's branch. Wang Jian, who had been waiting for a long time, flashed into the air, leaping up to snatch the scroll away.

Wang Jian looked down at Wu Wang and shouted loudly, "Vice Pavilion Master Wu Wangzi, the Pavilion Master's edict is here! Why have you not promptly received the order?"

Wu Wang's mouth twitched.

It felt as if he had just discussed the future of the Human Domain and the fate of most of its people with a wise man, only to turn around and encounter a calculating, lowlife thug who spat on him. The contrast was quite severe.

Wu Wang asked, "Is it truly the Pavilion Master's edict?"

Wang Jian unfolded the scroll, revealing Liu Baiyi's Daoist charm, and declared loudly, "The Pavilion Master has commanded—Wu Wangzi, return first, then we'll discuss other matters."

Return? Wu Wang's face showed a cold intent as he stood up from his chair. To return like this, for what purpose? To watch some people skillfully networking, to see them punishing themselves with three token drinks?

"I've suddenly changed my mind," Wu Wang declared. "The cases of the Southeast Division will be handled right here in the Southeast Division!"

"How audacious!" Wang Jian rebuked harshly. "Completely lawless, truly reckless and irresponsible!"

"Please issue the order, Pavilion Master!" Wu Wang pressed his left hand to his chest. Beams of dazzling light burst forth, and a cluster of flames swirled around his palm, condensing into a White Jade Seal.

The next instant, the White Jade Seal gently trembled. Ripples spread out, touching the hearts of countless cultivators inside and outside the city, as well as many representatives from major powers. All of whom felt an impulse to pay homage.

The Yan Emperor's Edict!

This was the second time Wu Wang had brought out the Yan Emperor's Edict.

And this time, Wu Wang felt that he *needed* to bring out the Yan Emperor's Edict—not to suppress anyone, not to make a show, not to counter those who targeted him. He did it for a sheer sense of righteousness. For the blood-stained words 'Benevolent Emperor' behind him! So that the next time he faced those orphans and widows, he could proudly tell that child, "I, Wu Wang, am no saint, but at least I'm not a bad person!"

"Master Liu has two choices: take back this Yan Emperor's Edict, or bring people here!" The Yan Emperor's Edict, on the verge of its final transformation, hovered in front of him. Wu Wang pointed at Wang Jian, whose face had turned pale, and scolded angrily, yet not just at Wang Jian.

His voice pierced the heavens.

"I just want to ask you all, what has become of the Human Domain! Military Families hoarding private troops, Immortals and Demons secretly brewing dissent! The ruling Pavilion is riddled with corruption; the Human Emperor left with nothing but his reputation! With the Human Domain in such a state, you still think of fighting against the Heaven Palace! Ridiculous! Shameless!

"All of you dressed in finery, waving your sleeves, taking sophistication for maturity, continually compromising with greed, and then claiming it's for the 'bigger picture.' All pious in appearance, greasy-faced, harboring thoughts of power in your Dao hearts, holding others' fates in your hands and taking pride in it. What was the purpose of establishing the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion in the first place! The so-called power and authority, who gave that to us! Forming cliques for personal gain, consolidating power, and still engaging in struggles for influence. Do you deserve it?

"If it weren't for His Majesty supporting us from the outside, the Heaven Palace would have attacked long ago! Emperor Shun now dreams of His Majesty reaching his end, figuring out ways to reclaim the Dao of Fire! You here are still concerned about reputation, worried about the impact. Everyone involved in this matter, come here! If Master Liu cannot decide, then I will ask His Majesty! Today, I'm determined to get to the bottom of this.

"I, Wu Wangzi, already lack the face to meet the soldiers who died in the battle in the City Above the Clouds because of my command. I couldn't even take care of their affairs after their deaths..."

Wu Wang's speech halted. He closed his eyes and sighed lightly, the smile on his lips one of pure self-mockery.

In the distance, a streak of fiery red flashed by, quickly staining half the sky.

Xia Official Fire Plume, riding a celestial steed, raised his spear high, his voice resounding for thousands of miles!

"All forces, heed my command! Protect Vice Pavilion Master Wu Wangzi of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's Punishment Hall!"

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