Chapter 135: Talking to Me About Human Hearts? The Big Picture? I'll Chop You to Death!

Chapter 135: You Want to Lecture Me on Human Nature? On the Big Picture? I'll Cut You Down!

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

Wherever the eye could see, the blade pointed.

Under the specially improved formation by Qi Yuan, the venerables surged like a steel tide, galloping toward the Ten-Thousand-Yuan Plain.

One hundred thousand venerables, like heavenly soldiers, swept all before them with irresistible force.

After all, the current formation had been jointly created by all the great venerables of the Flowing Wind Realm, with Qi Yuan's eyes spotting its flaws and refining it.

The formation's power far surpassed that of the venerables who had once besieged Ning Tao.

Mighty and overwhelming, they advanced in a straight line.

Qi Yuan stood in the void, his crimson robe redder than blood.

A lazy expression hung on his face: "Now this... is what I call playing a game."

At last, he felt the thrill of a paying player.

A legion of underlings, pushing forward relentlessly.

He didn't need to lift a finger.

Compared to the brutal battles in the Earth Abyss, this was truly effortless.

Now, he was like a true villain, crushing the righteous with sheer force, overwhelming them with raw power.

The venerables of the Ten-Thousand-Demon Realm, facing ten times their number, dared not engage in real combat. They fled in all directions.

But alas, every direction was already encircled by the one hundred thousand crimson-robed venerables.

Hundreds of venerable camps tightened the noose, unleashing their innate divine abilities in long-range attacks.

They didn't even need to target a specific venerable—just hurling their innate powers into a designated area sufficed.

With endless torrents of divine abilities, they drowned the demon venerables alive.

The battle was one-sided. The venerables of the Ten-Thousand-Demon Realm, whom the Flowing Wind Realm had deemed a true threat, had no room to resist under Qi Yuan's relentless wave of troops.

"No!"

"How is this possible!"

"Why is this happening?"

Once lofty and proud, the venerables of the Ten-Thousand-Demon Realm now felt weak, helpless, lost, and bewildered for the first time.

Their cries were swallowed by the flood of innate divine abilities.

These venerables had no idea how to break through the defenses, nor which divine ability to block.

Too many.

Too many.

Truly too many.

On this day, one hundred thousand venerables crushed the venerables of the Ten-Thousand-Demon Realm, slaying countless.

The Ten-Thousand-Yuan Plain was blasted into an abyss.

Here, the aura of origin was so dense that even an ordinary venerable would likely fall just by entering.

Like a battlefield after a nuclear leak, no living being could set foot inside.

Qi Yuan, in his long robe, stood in the void.

Chen Huan's face was heavy with guilt: "Blood Lord, the Honored One... she has vanished."

This time, he did not call Qi Yuan "Big Brother," but "Blood Lord."

Now that the great enemy had been nearly annihilated, only the Honored One remained unaccounted for.

Under the sweeping encirclement of one hundred thousand venerables, her inexplicable disappearance was far too strange.

Qi Yuan heard this but showed no surprise. A smile flickered in his eyes: "It seems that a big boss becomes a big boss for a reason.

As for her... she should be... there!"

He had already guessed Shang Yanran's identity.

Indeed... a troublesome boss.

But only to others.

Qi Yuan's gaze pierced through an immense distance, as if crossing time itself, and landed on the last stronghold of the Flowing Wind Realm.

"Move out!"

The army of one hundred thousand blood-robed venerables marched toward the final stronghold.

The sight was magnificent, even terrifying.

The venerables in the stronghold had lived most of their lives—what hadn't they seen?

But this—they had truly never seen before!

They had thought the final battle would be the most fearsome of all.

That they might shed their last drop of blood for the Flowing Wind Realm.

Who would have guessed? The final battle had nothing to do with them.

One hundred thousand venerables descended upon the Ten-Thousand-Demon Gate, drowning the demon venerables in a sea of power.

It was utterly beyond belief.

And now, the army in crimson robes, like a blood-red cloud, was sweeping toward them.

Their hearts trembled involuntarily.

In an instant, the vast, orderly formation was at the city gates.

The army parted neatly, and a figure in blood-red emerged from within. All venerables fixed their eyes on that crimson silhouette, their gazes filled with deep reverence.

Qi Yuan's gaze fell upon the distant girl in the black dress.

His eyes softened: "I've come."

This time, unlike the first world, no accident had occurred.

He seemed to speak to the girl, and also to the others in the stronghold.

The girl, Ning Tao, looked at Qi Yuan. For the first time, her steps faltered. A thousand words swirled in her heart, finally condensing into one: "I was waiting for you."

Today, she wore light makeup and had deliberately put on black stockings.

Beneath the black skirt, her figure appeared especially petite, small and delicate. The inverted jade bowl of her chest was neither too large nor too small, exquisitely formed. Her slender, fair calves, wrapped in black silk, made her look like a yandere girl stepping out of an anime.

Her skin was very pale—the pale of cold-toned white—which seemed to match her personality.

But she seemed out of place in this world, utterly incompatible.

On her, Qi Yuan saw the shadow of a caged canary.

At that moment, a seductive voice came from within the stronghold.

"The Great Demon lives up to his name, making me waste one of my lives."

The speaker was none other than the Sovereign, who had vanished long ago.

She had appeared inside the stronghold!

"Sovereign!"

"How is she here!"

The hundreds of Supremes in the stronghold were all shaken, filled with extreme wariness toward the Sovereign.

The Sovereign had concealed herself among them, using them as shields.

The Sovereign's strength was immense, even the White Emperor was slightly inferior.

But facing the siege of a hundred thousand Supremes, she naturally could not stand alone.

Now, by mingling among the Supremes, she was making the Blood Lord hesitate to strike.

Qi Yuan looked at Shang Yanran. "Actually, I really want you dead right now, but... I'm a little reluctant."

Once Shang Yanran died, the game would end.

Every time the game reached its conclusion, Qi Yuan's heart felt a touch of melancholy.

It was like the anime he had been following had ended, the TV series he watched had finished.

Having stayed in the Flowing Wind Realm for so many years, longer than in the Canglan Realm, he had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

Shang Yanran was somewhat puzzled by Qi Yuan's words, but she still said, "For my mentor, I feel the same—I wish for you to fall, yet I also wish... that you could remain in this world."

As she spoke, she seemed especially wistful.

Ling Yayi heard this, her eyes blazing with fury. "Shang Yanran, how can you be so shameless?

Now that the situation is settled, what else do you have to say?"

Shang Yanran's expression was calm. She looked at Qi Yuan. "I have always believed that justice will triumph over evil!"

"Ha, you call yourself justice? That's the biggest joke under heaven!" Ling Yayi cursed loudly.

The Thirteen Demons of the North, though called demons and having slaughtered many pursuers, were not irredeemable villains who committed every evil.

"Everything I have done is for the Flowing Wind Realm. I have a clear conscience!" Shang Yanran's expression was open. "Ask Bai Ze—is there a single thing I have done that was not for the Flowing Wind Realm, for the sake of all living beings?"

Her voice grew impassioned and fervent.

A hint of a mocking smile flickered in Qi Yuan's eyes. "The big boss, on the verge of death, trying to whitewash herself to perfect her character?"

Shang Yanran ignored Qi Yuan's words. She turned to Bai Ze and demanded, "Was the North-South conflict not to eliminate the demonic aberrations?

Was summoning the Supremes from the Realm of Ten Thousand Demons not to suppress the demonic aberrations?"

Bai Ze was silent for a long moment before saying, "Yanran, your methods are too extreme."

"If I weren't extreme, if I didn't play the villain, the Flowing Wind Realm would have been finished long ago!

Ten thousand years ago, I sacrificed one of my lives to send away nearly three thousand aged Supremes!

And now, it is I who willingly take on the role of the sinner, to build your glorious reputation, Bai Ze!" Shang Yanran's voice was hysterical.

"Once the number of demonic aberrations in this world reaches a certain threshold, the Flowing Wind Realm... will truly collapse, and even the Heavenly Dao will be truly corrupted!

This realm will become a true paradise for demonic aberrations."

Bai Ze remained silent, saying nothing.

A pained expression appeared on Shang Yanran's face. "You, Bai Ze, were unwilling to kill, unwilling to slay Supremes, so I did the killing.

And what was the result... Bai Ze, look and see who is truly the sinner of this world.

A hundred thousand Supremes... what a grand scheme, a heaven-defying scheme!

Do you think these hundred thousand Supremes will peacefully live out their natural lifespans?

If even one-tenth of these hundred thousand Supremes... refuse to die naturally,

This realm, already a god-forsaken land, will have its Heavenly Dao polluted in an instant.

Everyone, every Supreme, including you and me, will turn into demonic aberrations."

Shang Yanran looked at everyone, her expression agitated.

"So tell me, who is the Great Demon? Who is the great villain bringing calamity to all living beings!"

As she spoke, she stared directly at Qi Yuan.

As if to say that he was the true sinner.

And she, a pitiful, misunderstood little flower of goodness, unappreciated by the world.

The Supremes present were all shaken by her words. Could it be that everything the Sovereign said was true?

Her actions were only to eliminate the demonic aberrations, to prevent the Flowing Wind Realm from truly... perishing.

Everyone looked at the White Emperor, as if seeking an answer from his lips.

A complex expression flickered in the White Emperor's eyes. "Once the number of demonic aberrations in this realm reaches a certain level... the Flowing Wind Realm will indeed truly sink into ruin.

This was a warning from the Heavenly Dao, the information I received when the Heartless Lotus was bestowed upon me."

The Supremes present all fell silent.

Even among the Thirteen Demons of the North, the Supreme who had grievances against Shang Yanran was now torn and hesitant.

"Why was this not spoken of, made known to all?" a great Supreme could not help but ask.

A cold expression crossed Shang Yanran's face. "Human nature... is selfish. Would making it public do any good?

Who wouldn't want to be the one to die naturally?

Do you think everyone is righteous and selfless, willing to sacrifice themselves for the world?

Perhaps some, upon learning this, would deliberately create a multitude of demonic aberrations.

As long as there is selfishness, this world... will ultimately head toward destruction."

As she spoke, Shang Yanran looked at Qi Yuan. "Mentor, the hundred thousand behind you... are they all righteous and selfless, willing to sacrifice themselves?"

Bai Ze also looked at the hundred thousand Supremes above the sky, his expression bewildered.

A hundred thousand Supremes... the demonic aberrations they would spawn were enough to truly annihilate the Flowing Wind Realm.

The hundred thousand Supremes behind Qi Yuan, upon hearing Shang Yanran's words, also experienced a moment of confusion and emotion.

An expression of infinite bewilderment and sorrow appeared on Shang Yanran's face. "Fortunately, the reincarnated body of the Great Demon and the reincarnated body of the Enchantress have already been found.

The demonic aberrations of the Flowing Wind Realm all began with the Great Demon and the Enchantress, and should end with them as well."

She looked at Qi Yuan and Ning Tao.

As if to say that these two were the reincarnated bodies of the Great Demon and the Enchantress.

Only when both are dead and gone can the Flowing Wind Realm know peace.

Indeed, as Shang Yanran spoke, the gazes of all present toward Qi Yuan shifted.

After all, if Qi Yuan were truly the Great Demon, then this realm’s calamity was born from him.

Only with his death could this world find peace.

All the Supremes would no longer fear whether they would die in their beds.

With a single speech, Shang Yanran stirred hearts.

And in her words lurked a hint of seduction.

Many seemed swayed by her.

Qi Yuan heard this, a smile curling at his lips: “Playing with people’s hearts—how amusing.

You lecture me on human nature, on depth, trying to morally blackmail me?”

Qi Yuan’s body radiated a tide of blood aura.

“Today I’ll show you that so-called human nature… is nothing more than this.

The mightiest thing in the world is… power!”

Qi Yuan spoke, then turned to the hundred thousand Supremes behind him: “Am I the Great Demon?”

A flicker of confusion passed through the eyes of the hundred thousand Supremes.

Yang Hun and Chen Huan quickly roared: “The Blood Lord is not the Great Demon!”

The hundred thousand Supremes behind them recalled the Blood Lord’s terror, that Origin Divine Ability that slaughtered Supremes like chickens, and hesitated no more; they shouted in unison.

“The Blood Lord is not the Great Demon!”

The sound rolled like thunder, echoing within the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

Qi Yuan stood above the void: “See that? This is true popular support!

To hell with the greater picture, to hell with the world’s people!

I am the greater picture!”

His eyes held a look of disdain.

“The many Supremes of the Blood Palace fear me, dread me, even want to kill me—so what? Now they still serve me obediently!”

At this moment, Qi Yuan was every bit the arrogant, domineering villain.

And yet, no one could do a thing about him.

“Calling a deer a horse—how amusing.” Qi Yuan raised his hand. “Shang Yanran is the Great Demon.”

Chen Huan and Yang Hun understood Qi Yuan’s intent and quickly roared: “Shang Yanran is the Great Demon!”

The hundred thousand Supremes behind them also roared in unison: “Shang Yanran is the Great Demon!”

The sound surged like mountains and seas, shaking heaven and earth.

The scene was both absurd and profoundly stirring.

“See that?” Qi Yuan pointed at the Supremes all around. “This is what I call popular will!”

For the first time, a hint of urgency stirred deep within Shang Yanran.

She had toyed with hearts, sunk into countless realms—what kind of people had she not seen?

But someone like Qi Yuan—she had never encountered before.

Still, she did not flinch: “Master, when you were the Great Demon, you once slew your most beloved enchantress for the sake of the world.

At the ends of the earth, to seal away the demonic scourge, you entered the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons alone, feeding yourself to the demons.

Today, can you not also sacrifice yourself for this world, for the countless billions of beings in the Flowing Wind Realm?”

Shang Yanran spoke with righteous fervor, her voice stirring and spreading in all directions.

Qi Yuan heard this, his smile widening: “You’re even more sickening than the Radiant Palace, trying to morally blackmail me?”

“I know these words are too selfish, but for the world, for the greater picture, I am willing to play the villain and speak them!” Shang Yanran continued.

Qi Yuan’s face twisted with even greater disgust; for the first time since arriving in this realm, he cursed.

“Damn it, still blabbering on—I’ll cut you down!”

“I’m uncouth, I’m a college student—I don’t care about the greater picture!”

Qi Yuan’s hand twitched, and the blood-colored longsword from Ning Tao’s hand returned to his own.

He gripped the sword and swung it at Shang Yanran.

By now, Qi Yuan had long reached the limit of this world.

With that single stroke, endless desires erupted in that instant.

Even Shang Yanran’s eyes showed a flicker of shock.

For this body of hers, born of this realm, could also be affected by the Heart Demon.

The sword struck, but Qi Yuan’s usually unstoppable Origin Divine Ability did not flow as smoothly as before.

It only wounded Shang Yanran, failing to draw out her Heart Demon.

Shang Yanran’s face paled; she severed her own arm to dissolve the divine ability, then cried out: “Bai Ze, why haven’t you struck? Only by killing the Great Demon can this world truly know peace!”

Within the stronghold, Bai Ze’s eyes were filled with endless hesitation and conflict.

Shang Yanran’s voice came again.

“The Buddha, for the sake of the world, once slew his most beloved enchantress.

Now, if you kill the Great Demon, the Master will not blame you.

The one before you now is not the Master—it is the Great Demon!”

“To slay the Great Demon—that too is the Master’s dying wish!”

Bai Ze stood motionless in the stronghold, his heart churning with a thousand emotions, struggling endlessly. The Heartless Lotus radiated a terrifying aura.

Even Qi Yuan sensed a hint of danger.

Qi Yuan’s gaze also fell upon the Heartless Lotus, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

[The Dust-Laden Great Sun Golden Lotus, a relic formed after the Great Sun Radiant Buddha’s nirvana, can forge a flawless crystalline golden body.

Its power is boundless; once truly manifested, it can burn away all things in the world.]

The moment he saw the Great Sun Golden Lotus, Qi Yuan suddenly understood.

His Origin Divine Ability was Forgetfulness, the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra.

He must remember all past events in his heart, then forget, then recall again.

The plot of this realm’s game had replayed in his mind countless times.

Among it were many puzzles and gaps.

Back then, on Nine Coil Mountain, he had ordered Bai Ze and Shang Yanran to investigate the matter of the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences, listening to their reports.

At that moment, he cast a glance at Baize, and what his eyes conveyed was that Baize was a monk.

He couldn't help but smile sweetly at the monk Baize.

Later, through the Destiny Slate, he finally confirmed that Shang Yanran was the spirit of the Destiny Slate.

And once a great Buddha had enlightened the Destiny Slate, which was also the Deception Slate.

Thus he determined in his heart that Shang Yanran was an enchantress, and also the Deception Slate.

And his disciple Baize was once a Buddha, once a demon.

The origin of all demonic evils.

However, Qi Yuan still had one thing he did not understand.

Why did Shang Yanran do all this?

Was it merely to make the Buddha fall and turn into a Great Demon?

If that were the case.

She only needed to spread the news that Baize was a Great Demon.

Then, would Baize not fall into depravity?

Now, at the moment he saw the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

He understood completely.

Shang Yanran's goal had always been only the Great Sun Golden Lotus.

But she dared not push too hard, dared not truly face Baize.

Once Baize awakened his memories of being a Great Demon, I fear Baize would become a Great Demon again.

At that time, the dust-covered Great Sun Golden Lotus would burn everything in the world.

The fallen Baize, like the Great Demon of old, would slay the enchantress once more.

The Flowing Wind Realm would be utterly destroyed, and even she, as the Destiny Slate, would not be spared.

So she changed her approach.

She pointed out Ning Tao as the enchantress, and the Blood Lord as the Great Demon.

She forced Baize to strike against the Blood Lord and Ning Tao.

(End of this chapter)