Charred corpse. Lone shadow. The silent crowd. And that grey dome of the sky, as if right above their heads.

The quietness of Floating Jade City was like the bustling world had been paused. A cultivator, merely one of the Ascending Immortal Realm, had caught everyone off guard by burning himself to ash in an instant. He left behind his questions as his essence, breath, and spirit vanished into nothing, his body collapsing onto the cold ground, emitting tufts of black ash.

Then, this black ash drifted with the wind, spreading throughout the city, staining the people there.

Wu Wang stared at Liu Zonghe's remains.

He clenched his fists inexplicably and took an abrupt step forward, a sharp light bursting from his eyes.

But after just two steps, he suddenly stopped. Tendons bulged on the backs of his fists, faintly showing the outline of golden scales, which he then concealed, hiding them within his flesh and blood.

He let the slight breeze he had stirred lift his long hair over his shoulder.

Wu Wang looked down at Liu Zonghe's corpse.

Under the gaze of the surrounding cultivators who, unaware of why, had followed his movement and taken several steps forward;

Wu Wang turned and walked to the wooden chair. He leaned back slightly, his hands resting on the chair's armrests.

From then on, he remained silent.

"Wu Wang…"

Xiao Jian Daoist's eyes flickered rapidly, his voice firm as he declared, "Which Innate God from the Heaven Palace is present here! What cleverness is there in controlling the Primordial Spirit of a mere cultivator! Despicable! Shameless!"

This was the only response he could muster in such a short time.

Several more figures materialized out of thin air, all of them white-haired elders.

They rushed to Liu Zonghe's side, heedless of the drain on their immortal power or the cost of elixirs and precious materials. They even attempted to peel back the fabric of Heaven and Earth to search for any lingering trace of Liu Zonghe's spirit.

He couldn't die like this.

The only son of the Liu Family absolutely could not die like this.

However, other cultivators were constantly probing forward. Step by step, they reached the charred corpse, which was beyond any hope of revival. They slowly encircled Liu Zonghe's body, isolating the few elders, the Immortal Soldiers of the Human Emperor Pavilion, Wu Wangzi, and others outside their ring.

"Is it true?"

"Wuwang Palace Lord, can an old, distinguished military family like the Liu Family truly be used as scapegoats at will?"

"Where is human decency? Where is it!"

"Everyone!" Xiao Jian Daoist shouted, raising his arm high.

But the crowd before him remained silent, their collective gaze dimming the light of the Sword Cultivator's blade.

The cultivators were gathering, slowly pressing in on Wu Wang.

The members of the Annihilation Sect were forced to reveal themselves. A few looked bewildered, but most of them kept their backs to Wu Wang, facing the encroaching crowd.

"There must be some misunderstanding. The Sect Master would never do such a thing."

"Everyone, please halt!"

"Wu Wangzi, please, give us common cultivators an explanation."

"Wuwang Palace Lord, just say something. Everyone here still trusts you."

"Wu Wangzi!"

"Wuwang Palace Lord!"

"Wu Wang…"

The voices grew in number, questioning, clamoring. Some even held a pleading tone, begging Wu Wang to speak and offer them a perfect explanation, just as he had so often done before, just as he had always managed to cleverly resolve crises.

Behind Wu Wang, the figure of a serpentine being emerged, its eyes glinting with black light. An overwhelming pressure emanated from it, causing the entire area to tremble.

But immediately, four elderly figures appeared, positioning themselves five zhang apart, protectively surrounding Wu Wang. A dense Immortal Light radiated from their bodies, counteracting the serpent's pressure and preventing the city's cultivators from advancing further.

As these two forces clashed, the cultivators throughout the city almost simultaneously halted their advance.

But those questioning voices…

They rose and fell, endlessly.

Suddenly, Xiao Jian Daoist had a realization. His figure soared into the sky, hovered for an instant, then transformed into a sword shadow, streaking eastward like a lightning bolt, like a white rainbow.

Yet, even faster than Xiao Jian Daoist, several other elders appeared without warning high in the sky.

Each employing their unique abilities, they rushed towards the Liu Family's residence in the Southeastern Region. Among them was a tall, lean old man with entirely white hair, his pupils trembling uncontrollably.

These elders of the Human Domain, rarely seen in public, mostly wore grave expressions.

In the sky above, a star had appeared at some unknown point.

Then, from an unknown direction, great banks of dark clouds drifted in, enveloping Floating Jade City. The wind accompanying the clouds carried news of the events here to the farthest reaches of the world.

Word of Liu Zonghe's death spread throughout the Human Domain, but an even greater tempest was brewing in a corner of the Southeastern Region.

All three hundred and sixty-two members of the Liu Family had, for reasons unknown, taken their own lives.

On a wall of the Liu Family estate, eight characters were written: "My name is untainted; how could I be defiled?"

The elderly patriarch of the Liu Family, who had once followed Shen Nong in numerous campaigns, stood forlorn and bewildered amidst the eerie atmosphere of the family estate. Hands clasped behind his back, he sighed deeply, uttering not a single word.

Some elders stood behind him; others whispered amongst themselves. Still others meticulously examined the area, employing their Divine Skills, but alas, none could reverse the river of time to witness what had transpired there moments before.

They could only learn from the Human Emperor Pavilion experts, who had been covertly monitoring the location, that the Liu Family head and others had cried out "My son!" before the annihilation of over three hundred lives.

Half a day after Liu Zonghe immolated his Primordial Spirit, a large contingent of elders arrived from the Southeastern Region. They brought with them corpse after corpse, laying them out behind Liu Zonghe's remains.

The sun rose in the east and set in the west.

Night came and went.

More and more figures appeared near Floating Jade City.

Xing Tian's military tutor, carrying the unconscious Xing Tian, hid in the shadows, his brow deeply furrowed.

A thousand miles away, Ji Mo stood on the deck of a massive ship, shouting at several female Immortals before him, but they repeatedly blocked his way.

The deacons of the Punishment Hall arrived in force but were intercepted by Immortal Soldiers. Like the deacons of the Human Emperor Pavilion, they were warned not to show themselves rashly, lest they incite further trouble.

Cultivators from all over the Human Domain were converging on this location.

Renowned masters emerged from their seclusion, and ancient elders, unseen for many years, watched from the distant horizon.

[The Human Emperor Pavilion framed the Liu Family to clear Wu Wang, prompting the enraged Liu Family head to lead his entire household to suicide, proving their innocence with death.]

When this news spread, the entire Human Domain was in an uproar.

「Two days later.」

The cultivators in Floating Jade City, far from dispersing, had grown in number, engulfing the entire city like a vast ocean.

Between heaven and earth, countless eyes watched the unfolding situation within Floating Jade City.

The members of the Annihilation Sect were constantly arguing with the crowd. The voices around Wu Wang had not ceased for a moment, repeating the same accusations endlessly.

Wu Wang showed no emotion. From beginning to end, he simply sat in the wooden chair, with the cold-faced hissing serpent and the deeply worried Grand Elder standing behind him.

It seemed he had no intention whatsoever of responding to the matter.

...

'Wu Wang.'

'Wu Wangzi.'

'Wu Wangzi!'

Wu Wang sat there quietly, his eyelids shielding his somewhat vacant pupils.

He felt as if he were in the deep sea, surrounded by the deafening sound of water, or perhaps standing in a boundless, grey expanse where fires continually flared up around him.

Figures holding torches had encircled him, their faces, illuminated by the flickering flames, all appeared grey.

One figure raised a finger, pointing it directly at Wu Wang.

Wu Wang's eyelids twitched. Within his slightly opened eyes, Divine Light surged.

Dimly, he could hear the clamor around him.

And the grey world he inhabited grew even darker, the grey deepening.

...

"Can the Human Emperor Pavilion give us an explanation! To protect Wu Wangzi, can everything be sacrificed? He's still of the North Wilderness Human Race, protected by Divine Power!" a young man with a face full of anger shouted.

"You can silence the cultivators of the world, but can you suppress the hearts of the people, can you suppress the vicissitudes of the Human Dao!" a middle-aged Daoist roared, brandishing a horsetail whisk.

"The Liu Family's corpses are laid out here! Are we supposed to turn a blind eye? Are we truly expected to ignore this!" an old woman with grizzled hair exclaimed, her staff trembling.

Another white-haired elder, tears streaming down his face, looked up to the sky and lamented, "Where is justice in this world!"

"Enough!" Xiao Jian Daoist roared, breaking free from several friends who tried to restrain him. He held a gleaming Longsword, his long hair disheveled, his face contorted with anger.

"Are you all blind? Liu Zonghe just immolated himself here! How could the news have reached the Liu Family so quickly, allowing them to commit mass suicide in such a short time? How did the Liu Family head and his wife convince over three hundred people to kill themselves simultaneously? And how did they all choose the same method, burning their Primordial Spirits at the same instant? You haven't investigated any of this clearly, yet here you are, shouting and clamoring! Do you think you're right just because you're loud? Huh?!"

The uproar in Floating Jade City subsided momentarily.

But after only a few breaths…

"The Liu Family must have already known when Liu Zonghe was being tortured into a false confession by the Human Emperor Pavilion."

"Was it truly suicide? Such bizarre methods—was it really hundreds of people committing suicide at the same time?"

"Human Emperor Pavilion! They are all dead! Are you still going to protect Wu Wangzi? Are you going to disregard everything for his sake?"

"We're not the blind ones! Wu Wangzi has secretly taken control of the Human Emperor Pavilion!"

Xiao Jian Daoist's eyes blazed with fury, his fingers gripping his sword hilt so tightly his knuckles were white. He longed to soar into the sky with his sword, to howl and dance wildly in the air. The fire he had suppressed in his heart for two days now erupted like a volcano.

Why are there still so many suspicious points, so many obvious and glaring inconsistencies? Why! Why is it that even though I've explained it so clearly, the people around me still can't hear or understand!

"You!"

As Xiao Jian Daoist was about to unleash another furious tirade, a large hand landed on his shoulder, pressing him down.

Liu Baiyi's figure had appeared at some unknown moment. Not only him, the foremost official in the Human Domain, but the sky also filled with Pavilion Masters, Vice Pavilion Masters, Generals, and Commanders. On the horizon, a fiery red tide surged—the Human Emperor's Imperial Guards.

"Stand down," Liu Baiyi said gravely.

Xiao Jian Daoist, his face etched with unwillingness, turned to Liu Baiyi and then to Wu Wang, who sat motionless with downcast eyes.

"Teacher, if I step down, who else will stand up and say these things? This matter is so bizarre, riddled with so many doubts!"

"Look to your side," Liu Baiyi transmitted his voice.

Xiao Jian Daoist paused, his gaze sweeping past the cultivators around him, who were as indignant, if not more so, than himself. He saw figures in the distance with somber expressions and bewildered eyes. Further off, he saw those with calm faces and clear eyes.

The Sword Cultivator's fingers trembled slightly.

Liu Baiyi said, "To bear great responsibility, one must always maintain a true heart. You still have much to learn. Stand down."

Xiao Jian Daoist sighed softly. Cradling his sword, he bowed slightly to Liu Baiyi, made a few cursory salutes to the surroundings, then turned and walked towards Wu Wang, stopping a zhang away, as still as a clay statue.

"Everyone," Liu Baiyi began, raising his hands, his deep voice carrying throughout the city, "I am Liu Baiyi, Pavilion Master of the Human Emperor Pavilion."

The surrounding figures gradually quieted.

"I know that the Liu Family's tragedy has angered you greatly. The Liu Family was a lineage of loyalty and valor, and Senior Liu Wuren aided His Majesty in expelling the Heaven Palace and restoring glory to the Human Domain. Regarding today's events concerning the Liu Family, I assure you all, a resolution will be found in the shortest possible time. I will uncover the truth; I will find out exactly what happened. I can promise you, on my life, the Human Emperor Pavilion will not show favoritism to anyone!"

As Liu Baiyi's voice faded, the oppressive sky over Floating Jade City seemed to lift slightly.

The surrounding crowd remained silent.

Someone asked, "Pavilion Master! Has Wu Wangzi truly left the Human Emperor Pavilion?"

Another sighed, "We were indeed a bit impulsive. This matter should be thoroughly investigated."

Immediately, influential figures began to call out:

"Since Pavilion Master Liu has spoken, please, everyone, rest assured. Do not continue to gather here. Perhaps wait outside the main hall of the Human Emperor Pavilion for news!"

"The Human Emperor Pavilion will never show favoritism! Everyone, please be at ease!"

"We understand your anger, but investigating this thoroughly will take time. Are we in the Human Domain all unreasonable people?"

The cultivators' fury slowly began to subside. The figures in the air started to depart.

Suddenly, a grating voice cut through the crowd:

"Trying to sweep this under the rug again, are you? Planning to discuss behind closed doors how to appease our anger?"

"Yes! We want a resolution now!"

"Pavilion Master, does investigating this really take so long? Those eight characters on the Liu Family's wall—they were written with their family's lives, with their blood!"

The tide of anger surged anew.

The crowd, which had just begun to disperse, now pressed forward once more.

Liu Baiyi's face turned ashen.

The white-haired old man at the forefront, who had no connection to the Liu Family, leaned on his cane and shouted, "Death is a matter of utmost gravity! We implore the Human Emperor Pavilion to give a conclusion today! Do not chill the hearts of cultivators throughout the Human Domain!"

Liu Baiyi's hands, clasped behind his back, slowly tightened into fists.

"And are you not afraid of chilling the heart of our Sect Master?" the Grand Elder suddenly declared, stepping forward.

He flashed before Wu Wang, positioning himself less than half a foot in front, his back shielding Wu Wang's form. His blood-red robe fluttered, but his blood-red hair remained still.

Miao Cuijiao, Mao Aowu, Yang Wudi, and all the other members of the Annihilation Sect who had arrived, pushed their way out from the crowd. They surged forward relentlessly, breaking through the barrier set by the four masters, and surrounded Wu Wang, protecting him.

The Grand Elder looked up, sighed deeply, and said in a low voice, "Death is of grave importance; what a fine saying.

"Does death being of grave importance mean one can disregard reason? Does it mean one can ignore the truth?

"Throughout my life's cultivation, I, Miao, have never done anything to be ashamed of, never failed anyone. Since the Sect Master joined our Annihilation Sect, I have witnessed every deed he has performed, every place he has journeyed.

"Indeed, he hails from the Northern Wilderness. That is true.

"And yes, his body is tempered by Divine Power! That is also true!"

The Grand Elder's voice gradually rose, his hair and beard bristling, his eyes fierce and cold.

"It is true that he is a guest of honor at the Human Emperor Pavilion!

"But he earned all these things, one by one, step by step!

"He fought an Evil God to gain Divine Power and defied the Heaven Palace to obtain his God position!

"He has not failed the Human Domain!

"The Heaven Palace's intention to sow discord is already so blatant. Have you all forgotten? Do you pretend not to know? Look at today's events! Who can produce any evidence linking this to our Sect Master?

"With the phrase 'death is of grave importance,' the Liu Family lost over three hundred lives, and the people of the Human Domain are agitated.

"Would it be that if the thousand-plus cultivators of my Annihilation Dark Desire Wind Great Demon Sect were to commit suicide here, you would then believe that our Sect Master is innocent, that he has been wronged, that he has been framed?!"

Fury blazed in the eyes of the Annihilation Sect's demonic cultivators as they turned to face all directions, their gazes sweeping across the land and sky.

Yang Wudi, his bald head gleaming, his eyes red-rimmed, roared, "Two days! You've insulted him for two whole days! Our Sect Master could go anywhere; why should he suffer your humiliation?"

"I, Mao Aowu, Elder of the Annihilation Sect and Pavilion Master of the Floating Jade City branch of the Human Emperor Pavilion, am willing to stake my life to prove his innocence!"

"All members of Lin Feng, defend the Sect Master's reputation!"

Miao Cuijiao sneered, "Among all of you, who here is truly qualified to say such things to our Sect Master?"

"I support Wuwang Palace Lord!"

Suddenly, a cultivator leaped from the crowd. Carrying a long spear on his back, he landed on the periphery of the Annihilation Sect members, forcefully carving out a space for himself. His face was scarred, and his aura was heavy and solid. He declared loudly, "I participated in two major battles in the Southeastern Region. In the battle of Cloud City, Wuwang Palace Lord matched wits and courage against the Head Manager. In the recent great battle that severely crippled the Heaven Palace, it was Wuwang Palace Lord himself who personally orchestrated the effort, sending the Heaven Palace fleeing in disarray! I ask you! Since Wuwang Palace Lord already clarified matters, why would he harm the Liu Family?"

More cultivators stepped forward, jumping to the outer edge of the Annihilation Sect's demonic cultivators, their backs to Wu Wang, facing the human tide.

"I fought in the battle for Yun City and personally witnessed Wuwang Palace Lord covering our retreat!"

"Three of my brothers perished in the Southeastern Region! Before they died, they were all cheering, all mocking the Heaven Palace! We had never fought such a great battle before!"

Suddenly, several old men descended from the sky, silently taking their places among the Annihilation Sect members. Their auras were profound and peaceful, yet their faces were etched with exhaustion. They had been by Wu Wang's side before, protecting him as he fought his way through the Southeastern Region, shielding him as he fled from east of the East Sea.

More cultivators stepped out…

An increasing number of cultivators gathered around the Annihilation Sect.

There were neighbors of the Annihilation Sect who had escorted their great ship when the Sect Master attended the Xuan Nu Sect's inauguration ceremony.

There were young cultivators whose eyes had shone brightly as they watched Wu Wang point to the heavens and furiously denounce injustice during the Southeastern grain case.

Even more people arrived from afar. They formed rows and circles, carving out spaces for themselves, standing on the periphery of the Annihilation Sect members, their backs to Wu Wang, facing the crowd.

"I fought beside Wu Wangzi against Heavenly Gods!"

"When I served at the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, I personally saw Wu Wangzi outwit Qiong Qi!"

"I know Wu Wangzi is no villain!"

"I trust him."

…

Voice after voice, statement after statement.

More and more figures converged, like reefs in the sea, then forming islands.

Young maidens had faces flushed with anger; young men showed expressions of apprehension.

A few Golden Core and Spiritual Silence Realm elders, after immense effort, finally pushed their way through the surging crowd. Among them, an old Daoist calling himself the True Person Zuo Dong, holding a horsetail whisk, continuously shouted with his faint Mana, recounting how he had come to know Wu Wangzi.

"He is no charlatan who deceives the world, nor is he a man with treacherous intentions!"

Reefs became islands; islands coalesced into land.

The cultivators in Floating Jade City gradually split into two groups. Those who had been standing at a distance, whether speaking passionately or remaining silent, now quietly moved to stand outside the Annihilation Sect's perimeter, around Wu Wang.

The deacons of the Human Emperor's Eight Pavilions watched from high above.

Xiao Jian Daoist, who had kept his head bowed, slowly looked up, a relieved smile playing on his lips.

Yang Wudi's eyes were red as he continuously bowed to the ever-thickening wall of people before him.

A clear, circular dividing line formed between the two groups of cultivators, and this circle continued to expand…

Finally, the circle reached the place where the Liu Family's corpses lay.

The elder with entirely white hair, dressed in a grey robe, stood beside the bodies of the Liu Family head and his wife. He looked down at them, and when he looked up again, his face was filled with profound sorrow.

"Let it be," he murmured. His cultivation, which was beyond the Transcendent realm, struggled to steady the tremor in his voice. "Everyone, let it be. My Liu Family's matter was just a misunderstanding, a simple misunderstanding. It's not worth causing such a commotion."

The cultivators fell completely silent. Many felt a storm of emotions, their eyes filled with unconcealed confusion.

"Actually, it was my fault."

A soft sigh. All the cultivators jolted. Every gaze, every strand of Immortal Consciousness, converged on the source of the voice.

Because it was the eye of the storm.

Because it was the focal point of heaven and earth!

In front of the small wooden chair, Wu Wang had, at some unknown moment, stood up.

His gaze was clear, his demeanor composed. He casually smoothed the wrinkles on his robe and took half a step forward, his feet hovering half a foot above the ground.

Another step, and then another.

It was as if invisible stairs lay beneath his feet, allowing him to ascend, step by step, above the crowd, until he reached a height of ten zhang in the air.

The star above his head flickered gently, then faded from view.

Wu Wang's gaze swept across the assembly. A slight sigh echoed in his heart. In the end, he still had to do something against his conscience.

Is the opponent across the chessboard the Head Manager? The methods are very similar. The Head Manager's move is not just to slander me, but also to create new divisions within the Human Domain, damage the Human Emperor's prestige, and fundamentally undermine internal unity. Senior Shen Nong cannot appear in person; his open support would cause even greater turmoil. Wu Wang could only feel fortunate now that he had left Blue Bird, Suqing, and Fairy Immortal in the Northern Wilderness, preventing them from getting entangled in this affair. Otherwise, things would be far more complicated and much harder to control.

The specifics of the Liu Family incident were no longer important.

The most crucial thing now was to resolve the current crisis.

Wu Wang closed his eyes, took a shallow breath, and mentally reviewed the solutions he had pondered over the past two days. Where his feet had just trod in the air, small circles began to appear. Within these circles, Yin and Yang Qi chased each other.

Wu Wang sat cross-legged in mid-air, a thin layer of white cloud congealing beneath him.

Behind him, streams of black and white energy flew from all corners of the world, converging into two masses of black and white Qi. These two masses began to chase each other, swirling endlessly.

The dark clouds in the sky were torn asunder, and a beam of sunlight fell upon Wu Wang.

A faint galaxy materialized around him. The Tai Chi Diagram behind him had spread out evenly, its periphery adorned with the Eight Trigrams symbols: Heaven one, Lake two, Fire three, Thunder four, Wind five, Water six, Mountain seven, Earth eight.

An obscure yet profound Daoist charm emanated from him, rippling slowly through heaven and earth, causing the cultivators to gaze in a trance, their Dao hearts trembling.

"The Great Dao of Yin and Yang!"

"Emperor Fuxi's Great Dao of Yin and Yang!"

"It is… it is the Former Emperor's Great Dao! How can Wu Wangzi wield it?!"

Wu Wang sighed softly, his voice, imbued with Daoist charm, seeped into the cultivators' ears and hearts.

"The Former Emperor Fuxi passed down to me the Yin-Yang Dao, bestowed upon me the blood of an Innate God, and commanded me to support the Human Domain, to prolong the legacy of the human race.

"Heaven's ways may be obscure, but human principles are clear.

"Since entering this world, I have never considered myself the successor to the Human Emperor. Yet, His Majesty Shen Nong has always held high expectations for me, and this is the reason.

"Those forces within the Human Domain aspiring to the Human Emperor's position have always harbored some hostility towards me. I understand this and will not pursue the matter.

"Those who today believe I would betray the Human Domain have also misunderstood me all along. They think that for the Human Emperor's position, I would stop at nothing, even colluding with the various Pavilion Masters and scheming many things.

"But today, I simply want to tell everyone:

"I do not need to engage in intrigue; I do not need to stoop to such base dealings.

"I am Wu Wangzi!"

Behind him, a firelight suddenly blazed, and one of the symbols on the Eight Trigrams Disk ignited.

A Fire Dragon roared as a flaming Azure Dragon descended from the sky, circling Wu Wang and emitting low growls.

In the Heaven Palace, the Head Manager's face turned ashen as he swept the tabletop before him clean.

The Dao of Fire!

Directly invoked by Wu Wang's Yan Emperor Token!

Wu Wang's expression was exceedingly stern, firelight glinting in his eyes, his long hair fluttering. The eight words he uttered, though spoken softly, struck the hearts of the Human Domain cultivators like heavy hammer blows:

"Ready at any time to succeed to the Human Emperor's position."

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