Chapter 880: Hatred Cannot Surpass Interest

Changning City, the sun rising in the east, pierced through the thin mist, bringing light.

At this moment, outer-scenery experts stood on the city walls, each leading skilled martial artists to guard different positions. The forbidden techniques were half-activated, the city gates wide open, welcoming caravans returning from all directions. The caravans carried farmers and loads of rice, and although the atmosphere was tense and oppressive, there were no signs of a demonic tide approaching.

“Huh? How come? Shouldn’t the demonic tide occur simultaneously?” Qin Shuanghua gazed from afar, her tone unusually puzzled.

Seeing that Meng Qi and others were confused, Qin Shuanglian hurriedly explained: “In every previous demonic tide, evil demons have surged out from all rifts simultaneously, without exception. Now, Changning City seems to have no signs of a demonic tide because it received news that the tide had already occurred elsewhere, prompting the recall of farmers working outside and the protective teams.”

“When something deviates from the norm, there must be something strange,” Meng Qi frowned. “However, this is also good, as it saves us the trouble of dealing with the demonic tide first. We can directly go to the rift to seal it, but we must be cautious, as there may be something unusual.”

Because they feared the demonic tide might cause massive casualties, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei chose to save Changning City first. Yet the city was peaceful and orderly, not resembling the approach of a great calamity.

The Qin sisters said no more and followed Meng Qi and others toward the local rift, but they were filled with doubts, repeatedly glancing back at Changning City.

…

Inside Changning City, Qi Zhengyan wore a plain green robe. His features were ordinary, his demeanor unremarkable, except for his quiet and reserved nature, showing nothing unusual.

The Black-armored Demon General had changed his appearance. He was tall and muscular, his bulging muscles almost tearing through his tight outfit. His current face was square and stern, with thick eyebrows, exuding natural authority. If he walked in the wilderness and encountered a merchant caravan, they would surely kneel and beg for mercy, calling him the Mountain King’s emissary.

“Your Majesty, why not directly establish a martial arts school, open to all, spreading the precious manual widely? Now that the demonic tide is approaching, no one will dare to interfere!” As soon as the Black-armored Demon General spoke, his fawning and sly demeanor completely erased his previous authority.

However, his small trick of speaking without using telepathy or sealing the surroundings, so that only Qi Zhengyan could hear, was enough to prove his current strength and past accumulation.

Walking on the street, Qi Zhengyan looked left and right, showing little emotion: “My previous words were derived from observation and summary, but whether they fully apply to this world remains uncertain. Actions and conduct must not float on the surface; one must delve deeper and work solidly. Without contacting the lower and middle classes of society and understanding their problems and difficulties, it is easy to act contrary to the intended purpose or produce empty and impractical results. Only through careful, thorough, and practical contact and investigation can one prescribe the appropriate remedies and adjust one’s actions accordingly, knowing when to proceed slowly or decisively.”

“The Dao teaches that the way of change is the only constant. Those who do not flexibly adapt based on actual circumstances and the essence of principles are like decaying zombies.”

The Black-armored Demon General hurriedly pulled out a small notebook and used his finger to write words with ink, repeatedly saying: “Your Majesty’s words are indeed correct. Those rigid and inflexible people can sometimes be more harmful than our evil demons!”

At this moment, Qi Zhengyan noticed an old vegetable seller staring intently at a man dressed in brocade robes, a man of imposing presence. The old man’s gaze was complex, filled with admiration and self-doubt. Qi Zhengyan felt a stirring in his heart and walked over, squatting down opposite the old man without concern for his image, pretending to pick through the vegetables as he casually asked: “Old man, do you recognize that martial expert who just passed by?”

His tone was warm and persuasive, and the old man, shedding his wariness, smacked his dry, cracked lips: “More than thirty years ago, when Changning Sect was recruiting disciples, I and he both participated, meeting a few times. Back then, he was fickle in temperament, unwilling to work hard, far less diligent and hardworking than me. Naturally, he was no match for me.”

But now, one was dressed in fine clothes and riding in splendor, looking no older than thirty, while the other struggled for survival by the roadside, his face aged and weathered, like a man in his seventies.

“He entered the Changning Sect, while you did not?” Qi Zhengyan asked directly.

The old man’s eyes dimmed, his gaze fixed on the vegetable leaves as he softly replied: “At that time, the Changning Sect only accepted one hundred disciples, forty of whom were given to those with various connections to the sect. The remaining sixty were selected based on talent, and he was one of them. In the end, only twenty-seven spots were left for people like us, and I, I was exactly ranked twenty-eighth.”

“Later, I continued to practice the martial arts manuals I bought from the bookshop and participated in many more selections, but as I grew older, I drifted further from the Changning Sect and had to seek another livelihood. Alas, in my old age and frailty, there are fewer and fewer things I can do…”

“Do you hate the Changning Sect? Do you hate those who entered directly because of their connections with the sect? Do you hate those who had talent but were not as diligent as you? Do you hate that there were only twenty-seven spots?” Qi Zhengyan’s voice remained calm, his gaze gentle.

The old man was stunned, his expression blank: “Hate? Why should I hate? They had relatives within the Changning Sect, benefiting from the efforts of their ancestors. It was only natural, so what reason do I have to hate? As a sect, they naturally wanted to recruit talented disciples so that they could progress further and grow faster. This was a blessing from Heaven, something they were born with, something I could only envy, so why should I hate? The Changning Sect had always announced that they would only accept one hundred disciples, and I clearly understood that. Although, although I always felt regret and pain, how could I ask Heaven to increase the number from one hundred to one hundred and one just for me?”

“The twenty-seven people ranked ahead of me were all diligent and hardworking, no worse than me. There was no reason to hate them for entering the Changning Sect.”

“But why, with your consistent efforts, diligence, focus, and dedication, did you end up in such a state today?” Qi Zhengyan asked again.

The old man’s eyes turned vacant, suddenly clutching his head: “It’s me! I wasn’t diligent and hardworking enough to surpass those twenty-seven people! I lacked talent, only opening my acupoints when I was nearly fifty. It’s my fault, my own fault!”

“No, the fact that you ranked twenty-eighth among so many people and managed to cultivate ordinary martial arts to the point of opening acupoints is enough proof of your diligence and dedication. You did nothing wrong,” Qi Zhengyan shook his head.

“They did nothing wrong, and neither did I, so why did I end up like this?” The old man covered his head, his expression filled with pain. “If none of us are to blame, then whose fault is it?”

Qi Zhengyan slowly stood up, looking at him with pity.

…

In a courtyard in Changning City, Ziwei Star Master looked at the figures of Xi, Queen Mother of the West, and Beidou Star Lord before him and solemnly said: “The heir of the Demon Lord intends to use the demonic tide to instigate change. He will certainly act soon. We should first split up and search for clues to determine his whereabouts, but remember not to act recklessly. He himself or someone near him must be a powerful figure.”

The three mythological members silently nodded and quickly went their separate ways.

…

The river surged, its waters pitch black. This was the location of the Changning Nine Abyss Rift.

At this moment, the river water swirled violently, spinning wildly, and at the core, the riverbed was directly exposed. There should have been a hideous rift resembling a giant centipede, but now a black mountain stood there instead. It was tall and tower-like, its surface smooth and seemingly unscalable.

At the sight of this mountain, the Qin sisters simultaneously uttered a soft exclamation. When had the Changning Rift undergone such a transformation?

Meng Qi, however, narrowed his eyes. This mountain looked so familiar, its presence so eerily similar!

It was the same mountain he had seen in the Demon King’s secret realm, a mountain of overlapping possibilities, a mountain marked with the dying imprints of several heirs of the Demon Emperor’s claws. A mountain that had mysteriously vanished from the main world!

How had it appeared in this world?

Jiang Zhiwei had once heard her master describe it and roughly recognized it. She turned to exchange a glance with Meng Qi, seeing the confusion and concern in his eyes.

Suddenly, the high sun above radiated blinding light, as if it had directly descended nearby, dazzling the Qin sisters, Ruan Yushu, and Zhao Heng, leaving them unable to open their eyes, everything turning white.

Meng Qi’s right hand gripped the hilt of his blade, slowly turning around and looking into the distance: “Come out.”

No attack was launched, yet he announced his presence in this manner, surely with an agenda.

The white light parted, and a figure stepped forward, ancient and majestic. It was Xi, wearing the “Solar Sovereign” mask!

Jiang Zhiwei’s right hand rested on her sword hilt, flanking Meng Qi at an angle, watching Xi stop a short distance away.

“Have you come for revenge?” Meng Qi asked, his expression unchanged.

After all, he had ruined his “perfect” reincarnation plan!

Xi, wearing the mask, spoke in a dull voice: “Hatred cannot surpass interest, for hatred belongs to the past. No matter how much revenge is taken, it cannot change what has already happened. Interest lies in the future, offering the possibility of gain.”

“Get to the point.” Meng Qi’s posture seemed relaxed but was not.

This person was currently nearly a reincarnation of a great being, with far more experience and knowledge than himself, and his martial cultivation was also extraordinary. He could not be treated lightly.

Xi’s tone remained unchanged: “You used the Yin-Yang Seal last time. Before that, the seal that restrained the Flesh Mountain Demon General must have been the Void Seal. Whether it was the Primordial Heaven Venerable of the Fairyland or someone who obtained the Primordial Heaven Venerable’s inheritance, I only wish to ask one question: Where is the Infinite Seal? Is it in your possession, or elsewhere? As a return, I can answer a question of equal value.”

“I have barely activated the Solar Needle to isolate this place, so it will not be noticed by the Six Dao, who are currently weakened.”

Weakened Six Dao? Weakened? Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei simultaneously narrowed their eyes.