Chapter 1274: If I Become a Demon

"I... regret it?" Jiang Wang pondered, the question echoing within him.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a familiar wine tavern. Familiar, because he had only just departed from this very place. It was the same establishment in Zhongshan where he had been captured.

Before him stood Zhao Xuan Yang, clutching his wooden sword. Behind him, huddled in a corner, were the tavern staff and patrons. Jiang Wang faced a crisis that had erupted in an instant, while those around him were still whispering.

"Damn it, a demon race spy was right here!""Fear not, Zhao Xuan Yang is here! This dog of a thief won't escape today!""Let's see how he dies!""Speak softly, this is a demon traitor, capable of all evils. What if he takes you down with him?!""He won't be a good person, but insists on being a lackey for the demon race. He truly deserves death!"

These whispers, though muted, were starkly clear to Jiang Wang's controlled immortal-state hearing. Every word, every ounce of animosity... it all pierced his ears.

At this moment, facing Zhao Xuan Yang, he felt the crushing weight of death. Hearing these whispers, he felt the hostility of these strangers. It was like being trapped in a narrow, dark room, tormented by buzzing mosquitoes and flies. Utterly agonizing! Who could truly comprehend the sheer willpower it took to maintain his composure?

"They all think you're a demon!" that voice at the bottom of his heart goaded. "Why not show them what a demon *should* do!"

What should a demon do?

Take these people's lives as hostage, force Zhao Xuan Yang to reveal a flaw, and seize an opportunity to escape. Then he wouldn't be forced to Yu Jing Mountain, wouldn't be publicly tried as a demon race spy, and everything could still be salvaged!

"I... regret it?" Jiang Wang asked himself once more.

What *should* a demon do?

"Jiang Wang? Jiang Wang?"

When Jiang Wang opened his eyes again, he saw the particularly earnest and upright face of Dong A. In his gaze, there was a trace of concern. "What's wrong? Feeling unwell?"

This was Feng Lin City's Dao Academy, inside Dong A's solitary dwelling. The time was... not long before Feng Lin City's destruction. And he had just finished reporting the movements of the White Bone Dao to Dong A. He suspected the White Bone Dao would soon make a major move in Feng Lin City, and he himself was still considered a White Bone Dao acolyte.

"Alright. You should go back.""I'll handle this.""I'll personally communicate with Wei Qu Ji's side.""Cultivate diligently, and take good care of your sister.""...Stop bothering me so much."

He had risked being struck down by Dong A's palm, honestly revealing everything he knew, all to secure an opportunity for the Feng Lin City domain. And these were the replies Dong A gave him.

Of course, the him of now already knew what would happen next.

"No, it's nothing." Jiang Wang managed to say.

"You've had a tough time lately," Dong A said casually. "Go back and get some good rest."

"Okay." Jiang Wang stood up stiffly, offered a respectful bow, and walked towards the door. He tried to calm himself... but how could he be calm? The person sitting cross-legged behind him...

Was the teacher he once wholeheartedly trusted, and who would later be the Vice Minister of Zhuang Country, personally killed by him!

"You're truly alright?" Dong A's voice echoed from behind.

"Perhaps just a little tired..." Jiang Wang paused. "A night's rest will be enough."

"Alright, you go back first. Later, I'll have someone send you two pairs of calming spirit medicine."

"Thank you... Teacher Dong."

Dong A's voice spoke again from behind. "Right, if they reveal any more information to you, their future Saint Lord, inform me immediately."

Jiang Wang slowly walked out of the small courtyard. The winter sunlight outside the house gave him a particularly cold feeling.

"Understood." He said.

He walked alone through the city's Dao Academy in Feng Lin City. Occasionally, passing fellow students and teachers would greet him, and he would nod in response. That bluestone path, that row of red maple trees... even the sky seemed familiar. He felt as if he had never left, yet had been away for a very long time. Walking in the place where he had lived for several years, Jiang Wang felt a melancholy that no one at this moment could understand.

He didn't know why he had returned to this day. But he needed to know what he should do!

Should he go to Yu Jing Mountain or Jing Country to expose this matter? Was there enough time? With his identity as a mere ordinary disciple of a small country's city Dao Academy, and his incomparably weak cultivation. Could he even meet those figures with decisive power? Would anyone believe him?

Could he even... leave Zhuang Country? The White Bone Dao's conspiracy had already begun, and the Zhuang Court's ministers and monarch's layout had also commenced. After he reported the matters of Feng Lin City to Dong A, wouldn't he perhaps be watched by Dong A?

If he had trusted Dong A at that time, he would have buried this matter deep within his heart, until the day the disaster struck... If, from the beginning, he hadn't believed Dong A, but instead tried to warn the people of the domain himself, greatly publicizing the White Bone Dao's conspiracy? Wouldn't he... have already been eliminated? Fierce beasts, left-path demons, cultivation deviation... there were many reasons that could bury an unknown, ordinary disciple.

What should he do? Jiang Wang asked himself.

In this moment of hesitation, he heard the voice at the bottom of his heart again. It was as if another self was interrogating him: "The world considers you a demon. Do you know what a demon would do?"

What would a demon do?

A demon can be a race, or it can be an extremely selfish attitude towards life. The destruction of Feng Lin City was a disaster...

The destruction of Feng Lin City was also an opportunity! Because it was the result of the White Bone Dao's many years of planning, it birthed a White Bone True Pill! Zhuang Gao Xian swallowed this pill, his old injuries healed, and he ascended to the True Cave realm, becoming a contemporary True Person. If he could swallow this pill... why fear not soaring to the heavens?

In his original experience, he had spent over two full years, endured countless life-and-death battles, exhausted all his efforts, and yet merely achieved the Inner Mansion with four Divine Powers. Before Zhao Xuan Yang, he had no power to resist whatsoever. This time, if he could snatch food from the tiger's mouth and swallow that White Bone True Pill... who could say that Divine Arrival wasn't possible?

And at that moment, hidden within the Tong Tian Palace was Ming Candle, and coldly observing everything within Ming Candle was the Taizu of Zhuang Country, Zhuang Cheng Qian. If he could skillfully utilize the No Birth Calamity that was a trap, was there no way to simultaneously scheme against both Zhuang Cheng Qian and the White Bone Evil God?

The White Bone Evil God wanted to seize everything from Zhuang Cheng Qian, and Zhuang Cheng Qian wanted to counter-invade and swallow the White Bone Evil God's divine authority. With foresight into both sides' means, trump cards, and reactions, was it not possible to be the fisherman, to obtain everything?

If successful... then at least on the Red Dog Day of the three thousand nine hundred and nineteen year of the Dao Calendar, he could ascend to the True Cave realm, simultaneously mastering the Nether God's authority! A mere Zhao Xuan Yang, what did he even count for? He could extinguish him with a flick of his wrist. Who in the world would still dare to falsely accuse him of being a demon?! Even if he kept the Blood Puppet True Demon by his side, which one would still dare to speak ill of him?

People would only praise his power, praise his ability to actually refine a True Demon into a puppet! Li Yi was the youngest contemporary True Person in history. Yet, he could break this record, advancing to eighteen years old! He would be the true champion of the Yellow River Meeting, fully qualified to squeeze into the Great Qi Military Affairs Hall! What kind of scene would that be?

Du Ru Hui, a turtle in his palm! Zhuang Gao Xian, easily extinguished! Hai Zong Ming still dared to covet the Red Makeup Mirror? Bi Zhu Po Po still dared to harbor greedy thoughts? Ji Shao Qing still dared to provoke him? Even Gu Huai Xin would be killed! What person in the world could he not kill!

An eighteen-year-old contemporary True Person who also mastered the Nether God's authority, how long would it take him to achieve Derived Dao? Would the Great Qi Military God Jiang Meng Xiong still be so protective of his own? Could the Master of Fishing Sea Tower, Wei Xun, still be so arrogant?

The world all sees me as a demon... When I am a demon, the world should be different!