Chapter 961: On the Imperfect Heart

Han Linqiu, a well-educated man with deep literary cultivation, was used to nourishing his spirit through the arts. Upon hearing the cultivator's words, he couldn't help but pause slightly. He thought he had misheard. "You say... we are brutal?"

The cultivator, struggling to contain his fear, gritted his teeth and said, "If this isn't brutality, then what is it? You've slaughtered thousands of innocent people here without hesitation!"

Han Linqiu was taken aback. "We tried reasoning with you, but you insisted on turning these people into pills, and now... you're lecturing us on morality?"

Wang Yi spoke calmly. "Don't waste time arguing with him. I've practiced the sword for years and seen people like him countless times. If your fists are smaller than his, he'll argue with you using force. If your fists are bigger than his, he'll try to argue with you using his mouth."

The cultivator's expression kept shifting. His eyes landed on the crushed green-robed cultivator, causing him to gasp. After a moment, he spoke in a grim voice. "This immortal master is not ordinary. He is from the Emptiness Drifting Mountain, three hundred miles away. If they find out about what you've done here today, you may not be able to leave this place."

"He has a master? I thought he was just a rogue cultivator," Xu Peng remarked, surprised.

Ye Wenxiu cupped his hands. "Master, my junior brother and I will go to this Emptiness Drifting Mountain."

Fang Chen nodded lightly. "Go ahead."

The two immediately took a group of Qingzhou Sword Sect cultivators and captured the cultivator, forcing him to lead the way to his sect.

When the cultivator saw that Ye Wenxiu and the others could fly through the air, a chill ran down his spine.

Xu Peng walked over to Fang Chen and asked curiously, "Daoist Fang, your three disciples have killed so many mortals today. Aren't you worried they will accumulate too much karmic retribution?"

Fang Chen smiled faintly. "The Three Thousand Dao Sect doesn't fear karmic retribution."

The others were slightly stunned. "The Three Thousand Dao Sect doesn't fear karmic retribution?"

This was the first time they had heard of such a thing.

Does the Three Thousand Dao Sect have some special way of resolving karmic ties?

While the others pondered, the spirits of the dead gathered, cursing at Fang Chen with all kinds of vile words.

With a slight stamp of his foot, a phantom appeared before Fang Chen.

Li Badao was dressed neatly. He bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Lord!"

"Take these wandering souls back and throw them into the Forgotten River."

"Yes, Master."

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Immediately, chains of yin energy pierced through the bones of the thousands of souls before dragging them into the Yellow Springs Road.

Terrified, the souls stopped cursing.

"Daoist Fang..." Han Linqiu suddenly spoke, his expression complicated. "If these are the people we are trying to protect by stopping the Spirit Blood Sect... then it doesn't seem worth it."

"We judge by actions, not by hearts. No one is perfect." Fang Chen looked around at the devastation, his voice calm. "Some people might have evil in their hearts, but if they didn't live in such a wretched state, they might have never succumbed to it. They might have lived their entire lives without doing bad deeds."

Fang Chen smiled. "If any of you feel that it's not worth it, then once we return to the Central Continent Empire, just pretend none of this has ever happened. The fourth princess never forced anyone, nor did I."

"Judging by actions, not by hearts..." Han Linqiu murmured to himself.

Suddenly, his eyes cleared, and he cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Fang Chen. "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Fang. I once harbored dark thoughts too, and that had haunted me for many years. Today, I finally understand."

Xu Peng stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hearing you say that, I can't help but feel like I might be a good person."

"Daoist Fang, have you ever harbored evil thoughts?" Su Lingzhu asked curiously.

"Naturally." Fang Chen nodded. "I once witnessed all my comrades die on the battlefield. At that moment, I wished for nothing but to wash my enemies' country with blood. I wanted to kill everyone, innocent or not. Even the dogs, I would not have spared."

Xu Peng's gaze shifted. "Did you actually do that, Daoist Fang?"

Even Tiger Mountain Lord and the others were curious.

"No." Fang Chen shook his head with a smile. "It wasn't that I didn't want to, but I was powerless at that time. I was a blind, useless fool."

"And now?" Han Linqiu pondered. "With your current strength, your past enemies should be no match for you, right? Have you let go of those old grievances, or...?"

"I haven't let go," Fang Chen replied. "Plenty of Spirit Blood Sect cultivators have died at my hand since then."

"The Spirit Blood Sect?"

Everyone immediately understood. It seemed likely that the Spirit Blood Sect had been responsible for what Fang Chen had gone through, even if partially. No wonder he couldn't let go of the Spiriti Blood Sect despite his status.

Xu Peng said with schadenfreude, "Regarding Li Xiao, the Spirit Blood Sect suffered a huge loss. It's likely that Daoist Fang still holds a deep grudge."

"Those things will hardly cause them any real damage." Fang Chen shook his head. We'll see how things go from here."

The others paused, surprised.

Fang Chen's words might suggest that the Spirit Blood Sect's strength was more than meets the eye.

***

A little while later, Ye Wenxiu and Liu Mu returned to the small town. Many of the group were covered in blood, and some had sustained injuries.

Ye Wenxiu cupped his hands. "Master, there were 2 Foundation Building Realm cultivators and 43 Qi Refining Realm cultivators at the Emptiness Drifting Mountain. All of them have been slain."

Fang Chen nodded. "Let's go."

***

In the Central Continent Empire, at the Azure Dao Manor of the Three Thousand Dao Sect.

Several years ago, the Great Dao White Lotus had been planted in the Three Thousand Dao Sect, greatly improving the environment of the sect. The environment was further improving to this day, with rapid transformation happening constantly.

Once scarce with spiritual energy, this cultivation site had risen to become one of the top in the Central Continent Empire in a matter of a few years.

The rich and boundless spiritual energy would condense into dew each morning, sliding gently off the plants. Ordinary mountain springs had transformed into spiritual springs. Common farmland had turned into spiritual fields. Regular mining veins had become spiritual veins. Some of the wild beasts had even started gaining spiritual intelligence, evolving toward the demon race.

The profound spiritual energy here surpassed even the best of the Immortal Realms' cultivation places. People cultivating here would feel as if they were consuming a low-grade spirit stone every second. Not only did this environment accelerate cultivation, but it also aided in breakthroughs in a significant way.

This was just the outer Dao Palace. The changes in the inner palace were far greater.

Zhou Bufan raised his cup and gestured to the others. "Everyone, please have some tea."

After downing his drink, Zhou Bufan smacked his lips, his expression filled with appreciation. "The spiritual energy here is so abundant. Just a few years here feels like a decade of cultivation elsewhere."

"Indeed, the spiritual energy of the Purple Sun Dao Sect's spiritual mountain wasn't even one-tenth as potent as here." The cultivators of Purple Sun Dao Sect sighed. "Who would have thought that this catastrophe would turn into such an opportunity?"

Given their status, they never would have had the chance to train in such a place. Yet, by chance, they had been able to cultivate here for several years. Each of them had gained something, whether big or small.

The Beggar Daoist sneered. "Hmph, the spiritual energy is abundant here, but we have to drink this filthy concoction every day. You all seem to have gotten used to it?

"I should have been living a carefree life. If it weren't for you all, how could I have ended up in this miserable state?"

One of the disciples retorted, "We've already asked around. No one ever asked you to attack the mortals here recklessly. You angered the owner of this place yourself and are blaming us for it?"

The Beggar Daoist immediately started hurling curses again. Only when a cultivator from the Three Thousand Dao Sect passed by and scolded him did he finally shut up again.

"Master, are these elders of our sect?" one of the newcomers asked, looking at Zhou Bufan and the others, who were still seated.

Zhou Bufan and the others were slightly taken aback. More people had arrived?

They had prepared themselves for ridicule and humiliation, but when they looked up, they saw the figure they both longed to see and dreaded to see.