Chapter 2395: The Cauldron Meal

West Chen's Bu Gui Gu has endured wind and rain for countless years.

From the beginning, the fog has not dispersed; from the beginning, the dark clouds have not lifted.

Its terror has always permeated this world, and all stories about "punishing crime" suddenly stop outside the valley.

Yan Chunhui teaches various evil techniques and methods, either changing limbs and exchanging bodies, or stripping away fate marks, granting those Human Demons the power to act wantonly and abuse their spirits, but he doesn't seem to have any specific goal.

He indulges those Human Demons in doing any evil, and he doesn't prohibit anyone from killing them—

Only not within Bu Gui Gu.

Human Demons outside Chen Country stop at no evil, and are universally denounced and attacked, being the primary target for heroes on all roads to punish evil and promote good. They often commit evil once, then are chased for thousands of miles.

Human Demons of successive generations replace each other very quickly.

But as long as they escape to Bu Gui Gu, they are safe.

They use various cruel prices to please this forgetful old man. They use various bloody payments to conduct corresponding exchanges with the Forgetful Human Demon here.

The Forgetful Human Demon is not necessarily always fair, but he will more or less provide something, and can indeed easily change many people's lives. At least for those Human Demons except Yan Zi, in some sense, he is nearly omnipotent.

The Divine Reaching realm is already "like a god descended upon the world," reaching the limit of present-world extraordinary power, and can surpass the absolute majority of the world's fantasies.

Standing silently here is a scene of absolute peak, an echo of an old era!

Jiang Wang completely believed that when they fought their way into Bu Gui Gu, they would surely encounter a brilliant and boundless single sword. He had already prepared to welcome any kind of sharpness, pitting the sword of the present against the sword of old. The True Monarch who broke historical records in the new era against the Flying Sword True Monarch who went against the current in the old era – this seemed like a kind of destiny.

And in today's world where Dao Sword technique has completely replaced Flying Sword technique, Li Yi, as the highest achiever of Dao Sword in the present world, is also the best candidate to bury the lingering sound of Flying Sword.

But after Li Yi cleaved open the fog, the Bu Gui Gu that unfolded before them was different from any previous imagination of forest terror.

There were no torture racks, corpses, or bloodstains.

Only a wide open mountain valley, a winding clear stream, and a small house emitting the fresh fragrance of wood.

A string of copper wind chimes hung in front of the eaves, ringing gently with a puff of wind. There was also a small vegetable garden where vegetables and fruits were growing just right.

Behind the house were several clumps of wildflowers, a fishing rod on the stream, several idle clouds in the sky, and a rocking chair in front of the house bathed in warm light, making people want to sleep.

A perfect picture of a peaceful, paradise-like scroll.

This place was like the hidden residence of some scholar, like the place where some wise man, weary of worldly strife, nurtured life. So detached, natural, and idle, it simply didn't match the name "Human Demon," and didn't resemble a Human Demon's dwelling.

Where was the Human Demon Valley? It was clearly peaceful countryside.

Li Yi's eyebrows shot up.

Only... there were no human traces.

His sword could unsheathe at any time, arriving before everyone else.

But Yan Chunhui wasn't here.

Even that old yellow dog that should have been lying in front of the wooden house didn't exist—

There was still food in the dog bowl, still emitting hot steam.

Today, three True Monarchs joined forces to come here to slaughter the demon. Naturally, it was impossible to act without figuring anything out. At least, they had some confirmation about whether Yan Chunhui was home or not...

For this action, Jiang Wang made full preparations. He knew deeply the principle that matters are harmed if not kept secret. He invited Gong Sun Bu Hai, contacted Li Yi, and almost discussed it one moment and acted the next. He wasn't even willing to let Zhong Li Yan slow down, directly carrying him faraway, instantly covering ten thousand miles, moving like thunder, and with one hand sealing the entire Chen Country.

And regarding matters outside the involved people, he didn't let anyone know this news.

So why wasn't Yan Chunhui here now?

Gong Sun Bu Hai appeared in the middle of the valley, casually broke a thorny branch, used the branch to prop open the wooden door, and lifted his foot to walk inside the wooden house.

The Sky Sealing Jiang Wang also descended from the high sky, his eyes complex as he watched this valley. Fang He Ling... it was in this place that he completed his transformation and became a hate-filled Human Demon?

He gazed in all directions, suddenly sighing, "There isn't the slightest trace of blood stench here."

Originally, Human Demons also enjoyed a peaceful life.

He thought of the "boiling to death" on Qing Yun Mountain, thought of using a large cauldron to boil many living people to extract balanced blood.

Those Human Demons, did they learn the law and attain the Dao in this harmonious place?

He looked at Li Yi, who stood by the stream, very calm. The flowing water murmured, and his simple reflection was like a bright moon being washed clean.

"Yan Chunhui just left," Gong Sun Bu Hai walked out of the wooden house at this time, his face devoid of expression. "Less than a quarter of an hour ago."

He left almost at the last minute!

And he even leisurely took his dog.

Did someone send a message ahead to inform Yan Chunhui? —This is a logical deduction.

Jiang Wang didn't say anything.

He wouldn't suspect anyone.

In fact, he wasn't familiar with Gong Sun Bu Hai; the day he refined the demon on Tian Xing Cliff was their first meeting. He invited Gong Sun Bu Hai to act because he believed in the Three Punishment Palaces. Also, because Tai Xu Pavilion didn't have the authority to handle matters outside of Tai Xu, coming to Chen Country to eliminate evil must be done by someone from the Three Punishment Palaces to be considered proper and avoid criticism.

And among the Legalist Three Palaces, the Punishment Person Palace was the most suitable to handle this matter.

He and Li Yi didn't have a particularly deep friendship either, but Li Yi was a member of Tai Xu Pavilion, and his Dao heart was pure, his strength sufficient, and he was the highest achiever of Dao Sword which replaced Flying Sword technique... No matter from which aspect, he was the best candidate to join hands and slaughter the demon.

As for Zhong Li Yan, Zhong Li Yan currently didn't have the ability to take action next to him.

He invited the people himself, made his choices after careful thought, and would not follow the principle of suspecting teammates if things didn't succeed.

"Master Gong Sun," Jiang Wang slowly asked, "Is it possible to track his traces?"

Gong Sun Bu Hai shook his head. "He deliberately cut off his traces. It's impossible to track him now. And even if we catch up now, we probably won't be able to kill him. The heavens and earth are vast, and a True Monarch does not die."

The Cave True realm has seen "True Immortals," the absolute pinnacle of the extraordinary path, equivalent to the limit of power in the present world!

This is what is meant by "True Monarch."

Strong individuals at this level are extremely difficult to kill.

The absolute majority of True Monarchs in history who died and whose Dao vanished either died fighting without retreat or were surrounded and nailed down, unable to escape.

This is also why they dispatched three Venerable True Monarchs at once, and even directly used the Tai Xu Pavilion building and Thorn Basket to seal the entire Chen Country. They wanted to kill Yan Chunhui, not just defeat him or teach him a lesson...

But now that Yan Chunhui had already escaped from Bu Gui Gu, it was almost impossible to trap him again.

The heavens and earth are vast, the myriad worlds are free. Where could they go to block him?

Reality seemed to want to teach Jiang Wang a small lesson—don't think that just because you've become a True Monarch, whatever you wish for will happen, that you are omnipotent.

Where did things go wrong?

At this moment, it was impossible to know.

Jiang Wang exhaled a long breath.

There is no principle in the world that says if you prepare well, you will definitely succeed.

He faced the outcome of this moment.

"Hitting a snake and not killing it will bring harm in return. The Human Demon has left his nest, and the world will have difficulty finding peace. Today's matter did not succeed because I did not consider things thoroughly enough, and my preparations were insufficient. I should bear the responsibility. I apologize to the two of you for making a trip in vain." Jiang Wang said seriously, "For the next period of time, I will sit in the Heavenly Dao Deep Sea and patrol all worlds. Wherever Yan Chunhui appears, I will go to block him and must not let him wreak havoc."

"Things are not that serious, he is just a Human Demon. Kill him if you can, alarm him if you alarm him. Enforcing the law and punishing crime doesn't have a principle of bearing responsibility if it doesn't succeed," Gong Sun Bu Hai said. "Yan Chunhui has stayed in Bu Gui Gu for these years and has hardly stepped out, not because he is considerate or gentle, but because this is an orderly world. As long as he still wants to live, he must act with restraint. If he truly reaches the level of being chased and killed by the world, he will not survive."

He retracted the thorny branch back into the Thorn Basket and looked at Jiang Wang seriously. "It's just that True Monarch Jiang needs to be careful next. Since you have already shown your intent to kill him, he will certainly find a way to deal with you."

"I've been aware of this for a long time," Jiang Wang said. "I kill people, and people kill me. This is how it should be, and it has nothing to do with good and evil or right and wrong. I'll wait for him to come."

Gong Sun Bu Hai looked at Jiang Wang for a while, finally shifting his gaze, and once again carefully observed this valley. He was also visiting Bu Gui Gu for the first time, trying to outline a more specific Yan Chunhui from these living traces—

The image was more specific, and the terror was clearer.

Truly a very powerful opponent.

"I wonder if True Monarch Jiang will regret it?" Gong Sun Bu Hai said with emotion, "He has simply found a big trouble for himself."

"Doesn't Legalism always do such things?" Jiang Wang said. "Although I don't possess the virtues of the various masters of Legalism, nor can I compare to their learning. But I do what I think is right, and I don't regret it."

Gong Sun Bu Hai turned back, a complex smile on his face. "It seems True Monarch Jiang will only regret that his preparations were still insufficient and he let him escape."

Jiang Wang didn't dwell too much on matters of regret. Dwelling on failure would only prolong the time of failure. He turned around and walked towards the outside of the valley. "Yan Chunhui is of course a big trouble, but let this trouble target me. It's best if it only targets me—many people have no room to resist when facing Human Demons."

While speaking with Gong Sun Bu Hai, he suddenly thought of something, and immediately changed direction, crossing mountains and rivers, and already appearing high above Wan Qiu, the capital of Chen Country.

This ancient capital city, with some history, was only like a small barren hill under the feet of a True Monarch.

The imperial palace of Chen Country, with its own grandeur, was now boiling like a cauldron, people scurrying like ants.

Zhong Li Yan's sword qi still waved in the air like a flag. The sword qi of this first martial Dao true man of the Southern Territory was precisely the fierce fire roasting the Chen Country imperial palace...

Feeling the vigorous life signs of this guy, Jiang Wang relaxed. No matter what, Zhong Li Yan was brought to Chen Country by him. If something really happened to this guy, he would still feel a bit uneasy.

Human Demons have always done evil in the world, mostly abusing those in weak and small countries, and escaping back to Bu Gui Gu when encountering irresistible enemies. And Chen Country was simply their usual place to enjoy life. Here, they didn't need to be constantly on alert, and they also restrained themselves relatively here.

Of the nine great Human Demons, only three were currently in Chen Country, and they were all pulled out and killed by Zhong Li Yan, very cleanly and neatly.

At this moment, he was in the great hall, sitting on that dragon chair with a large posture, holding the emperor's crown in his hand and playing with it. He made the emperor of Chen Country stand in front of him to answer, and the civil and military officials of Chen Country were all forcibly pressed to the ground.

The big man Zhong Li squinted at the emperor in front of him. "This big man asks you, where are the remaining Human Demons? Speak!"

The emperor of Chen Country was timid. "I... I really don't know!"

There were still all sorts of scolding voices in the great hall, such as "Evil thief insults the country!", "Chu barbarian!", "Cruel abusive thief, insult my country's lord, you will suffer heavenly punishment!"

Zhong Li Yan treated it all as wind in his ears. He also didn't kill people casually, and didn't even stop those scolding voices. He just stared at the emperor of Chen Country, putting all the pressure on this fellow. "I don't like this answer. Say it again."

To suffer the humiliation of the country is to be the lord of the state and the people.

Your ministers scold me, and I will oppress you.

"True Man Zhong Li," the emperor of Chen Country said with tears, "Chen Country is just a small country. I haven't done anything harmful to heaven or reason. You are..."

The crying, scolding, and explaining voices in the hall instantly fell silent.

Zhong Li Yan followed the crowd's gaze and looked up, then saw Jiang Wang standing at the hall door, immediately startled, and subconsciously sat up straight on the dragon chair. "You've already slaughtered Yan Chunhui so quickly?"

Jiang Wang watched all of this with interest. These civil and military officials of Chen Country really didn't understand Zhong Li Yan. This fellow had been beaten and scolded since he was young, his skin was thick and his flesh tough, far exceeding steel. How could such scolding move him? Quoting classics and scolding so much was useless, it was still not as effective as one sentence—"you are not as good as Dou Zhao's one hair."

Stopping the absurd idea of imitating sounds to provoke Zhong Li Yan, Jiang Wang shook his head. "Yan Chunhui ran away."

"Ah—oh!" Zhong Li Yan leaned back again, threw the emperor's crown aside, and leisurely picked his nails with his Nan Yue sword. "I have already slaughtered three Human Demons. The remaining five are just a matter of time. Actually, eliminating harm for the people is a matter that requires patience, and even more, wisdom."

"Brother Zhong Li is indeed formidable!" Jiang Wang praised him, then turned and walked away. "Quickly return to Chu Country. Yan Chunhui is already a wild horse that has escaped its reins, a fierce tiger out of its cage. I'm worried that he will hide somewhere and set an ambush, waiting for an opportunity for revenge."

Zhong Li Yan originally wanted to say "What do I have to fear," but on second thought, he still got down from the emperor's throne of Chen Country and followed closely for a few steps. "I only fear he won't come! Where are you going? Why don't we go together and wait for him!"

That one called "Forgetful Human Demon," his memory is very poor. It's possible he won't remember to go to Offer Valley to redeem gold. It's better to be steady if you go out yourself.

Seeing the two of them, one in front and one behind, about to leave this place...

In the great hall, a loud voice suddenly rang out, "My lords, please stay!"

Zhong Li Yan turned his head in surprise and saw that the timid emperor of Chen Country in front of him had straightened his clothes, wiped away his tears, and stood straight, walking to the middle of the hall, standing in front of them.

"Have a clue about the Human Demon?" Zhong Li Yan lifted his eyes and asked.

The emperor of Chen Country only cupped his hands and bowed to Jiang Wang. "Cabinet Elder Jiang!"

Jiang Wang had no good feelings for the monarch and ministers of Chen Country who harbored Human Demons and provided a life of ease for them to do evil. But the rise and fall of dynasties involves the foundation of the era and the core of the state system. He was now establishing the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace and especially needed to maintain a detached status, so it was inconvenient to interfere.

So he simply raised his eyebrows. "Lord Chen Country, what is the matter?"

The emperor of Chen Country straightened his body, and his voice was quite loud, without the slightest timidity. "Does Cabinet Elder know the history of Chen Country? Does he know the geography of Chen Country? Does he know the culture of Chen Country?"

Jiang Wang shook his head. "This Jiang is ignorant and ill-informed, indeed not familiar. Why does Lord Chen Country teach me?"

"You are a hero of the world. Chen Country is a humble country with a small territory, how could it enter your ears!" the emperor of Chen Country said, his expression gradually becoming magnanimous. "But it is also the place where hundreds of thousands of people of Chen Country grew up, the homeland that generations of Chen Country's monarchs and ministers fought for. It is my hometown that this incompetent emperor must maintain throughout his life."

"Yes, people have their homes, and people have their countries. Everyone has things they cherish, and people and matters they treasure. And Human Demons easily despise and abuse them!" Jiang Wang said softly. "This is precisely why this cabinet wants to exterminate Human Demons."

The emperor of Chen Country didn't mention Human Demons, only Chen Country. "Chen Country faces Li in the north, Yong in the south, Wan and Luo in the west, and Jiao Country in the east. Li and Yong are all tigers and wolves, Luo and Jiao are also poisonous snakes! Chen Country has been weak for many years, but its people are good and can be self-sufficient. It cannot resist the south and north, and it is difficult to secure itself in the east and west."

Jiang Wang looked at him, waiting for his follow-up.

The emperor of Chen Country bowed deeply. "You bear the hopes of the world and are a hero respected by the world. Now you have driven away Yan Chunhui, but you haven't said a word about Chen Country. Since Bu Gui Gu has become an empty valley, the border of Chen Country has also become vulnerable. If Chen Country is destroyed not long after, how should you position yourself?"

Good question!

If it were seventeen-year-old Jiang Wang, he probably wouldn't know how to answer.

If it were twenty-year-old Marquis Jiang Wang, he might also have a headache in this moral cage.

But now Jiang Wang was nearing thirty, had already reached this position, and stood at the highest place in this world.

He just smiled. "A very... unique question!"

The great hall of the Chen Country imperial palace wasn't considered vast. He turned back at the hall door and glanced at Li Yi who had followed from afar. "True Monarch Tai Yu, how should you position yourself?"

Responding to him was only a flash of sword light that passed by. There was no trace in the distant sky. Since Yan Chunhui had already escaped and was not hiding in the Chen Country imperial palace, there were no remaining matters here. Li Yi refused to answer such a boring question.

"Ha!" Zhong Li Yan, who had originally walked to the hall door, stepped back into the middle of the hall, reversed his Nan Yue sword, and stamped it into the ground. Cracks spread. "How should I position myself? Why don't you ask me?!"

The emperor of Chen Country retreated several steps, almost back onto the jade steps.

"Speak! This old man forgives your impoliteness!" Zhong Li Yan said in dissatisfaction. "Why ask him and not me? Do I look fiercer than him?!"

The emperor of Chen Country looked at the Chu barbarian. "You can kick me off the dragon chair. You are simply not a reasonable person."

He grabbed the jade railing with both hands, propping up his body, as if borrowing strength from this, and said with a hidden edge, "Just, you in Chen territory do not respect the lord, you sit on the dragon chair in Chen Country. If the Great Chu emperor knew, I wonder what he would feel!"

"Hey! You motherf—" Zhong Li Yan angrily rolled up his sleeves on the spot.

Jiang Wang held him back with one hand, pressing the violent martial Dao true man back.

This newly promoted human race True Monarch then stepped forward, looked at the courageous emperor of Chen Country, and asked with a smile, "True Man Zhong Li is making noise in the hall, you don't speak. True Man Zhong Li's sword kills Human Demons, you don't speak. Jiang Wang comes, and you ask me how I should position myself—does Lord Chen Country feel that Jiang Wang is more reasonable, or feel that Jiang Wang is easier to be trapped and locked in a moral cage?"

Zhong Li Yan listened from the side and felt something was wrong.

How am I not easy to be trapped and locked in a moral cage? Does this big man have no morals? But he suppressed his temper and continued to listen.

The emperor of Chen Country gritted his teeth and said, "True Monarch Jiang publicly illuminates the star road, promotes the 'Tai Xu Profound Chapter,' and establishes the Chao Wen Dao Heaven Palace, selfless to the world. Eliminating harm from flood disasters, executing demons in the border wilderness, cutting down the absolute peaks in all worlds—public heart exists in the world! I just feel that a character like you who cares for the weak and loves all under heaven will not abandon and ignore such a weak country as ours that has been weak for so long, and will not abandon the people of Chen Country!"

Good fellow, one forgetful Human Demon Yan Chunhui walked away, and this one wants to tie Jiang Wang down to support him! Is the special product of Chen Country an abacus? Zhong Li Yan gritted his teeth but said nothing.

He also really wanted to see how Jiang Wang would answer.

Jiang Wang looked at the emperor of Chen Country in front of him and laughed. "You've seen me Jiang Wang wrong. I am a private person! What public heart exists in the world, what love for all under heaven—that is your boast, not my shackles."

His smile was brilliant!

"Chen Zhuo, ah Chen Zhuo," he called this emperor of Chen Country by his name, directly facing the direct bloodline of the former Chen Xuan. "You think I want to be some moral sage? You think I do those things because of the drive of moral dogma? You think the Jiang Wang standing in front of you is full of foolish kindness? Why don't you go and ask how many people Jiang Wang has killed on this path, how many irreversible things he has done? Can I be shaken by a few of your words?"

He took a step forward, directly drew the sword from the emperor of Chen Country's waist, and delivered it to this emperor's hand with one hand. "Take it!"

The emperor of Chen Country was suddenly startled and subconsciously held his emperor's waist sword.

Jiang Wang looked into his eyes and said softly, "You can now kill yourself in front of me and announce to the world that Jiang Wang forced you to die. All the civil and military officials of Chen Country can testify for you—you die with wide open eyes and see if I will even frown a little."

He held the hand of the emperor of Chen Country, helped him put his sword to his neck. "Come, this posture exerts the most force. Let's see if there will be someone in this world who will denounce me because of this matter. See if it's verbal or written denunciation, or using a knife or sword. See what I have to fear!"

He loosened his hand, his voice rising. "If you take this one sword down, your question can stand. You, such a weak person, a beast in clothes, will then truly test me!"

Clang!

The heart and guts of the emperor of Chen Country both split. His hand loosened, and the waist sword fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.

This hall once had the sound of gold and jade, and now it had the sound of metal clashing.

Jiang Wang looked at the long sword rolling on the ground and shook his head with some disappointment. "Chen Zhuo, I overestimated your courage. I thought that someone who dares to associate with Human Demons and can be cruel to others would also be a bit cruel to themselves. But why do people like you always cherish yourselves so much? Since you cherish yourselves so much, why do you never cherish what others cherish?"

"I... I, as the lord of the country, bear the responsibility for the world. How can I lightly die?" The emperor of Chen Country's eyes were full of blood, and he said in a mournful voice, "If Cabinet Elder Jiang truly feels no responsibility towards Chen Country, then please leave. Whether the people suffer after that, or the country is destroyed and the family perishes, it is all the fate of the people of Chen Country. Chen Country is poor and has no green bamboo slips to record. Chen Country is weak and has no weapons to denounce. I, this weak lord, also have no right to speak in front of you. You are free to go, and it's fine as long as your heart is at peace!"

"I want to exterminate Human Demons because Human Demons do evil. As for what will happen to Chen Country after the Human Demons leave, that is a problem you should have considered clearly when you initially associated with Human Demons. All the consequences that arise from this are all evils that you yourselves have created. It is the royal family of Chen Country, it is you, Chen Zhuo, who betrayed the people of Chen Country."

"I didn't kill you, and you died because of me? I didn't destroy Chen Country, and Chen Country perished because of me? What twisted reasoning!" Jiang Wang's gaze shifted without emotion, looking at the civil and military officials of Chen Country in the hall. "If the state of Chen Country relies on Human Demons to exist, then it originally should not exist—I say this, and you should all understand!"

Everyone in the hall was a corrupt official, all for the family in the cauldron.

Jiang Wang had repeatedly seen that giant cauldron that boiled many Qing Yun Pavilion disciples, stewing rotten human flesh inside!

This chapter is 6k words, including 2K for the great ally "Seven Li Xiang Live," (2/3)

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