Volume Two: Snow over the Qin River Chapter Seventeen: Kill the Rash Intruder (Part One)

Hearing Li Jingxing's words, Feng Yang suddenly thought of the martial arts novels by Jin Yong that he used to read. He was Zhang Wuji, and Li Jingxing was that Zhou Zhiruo destined to be hurt by him.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Feng Yang hurriedly slapped both cheeks with his hands.

Feng Yang, you are truly magnificent, daring to harbor such imaginative thoughts about this lord.

Although the scenario bore a slight resemblance to *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, what manner of person was Zhou Zhiruo? And what manner of person was the one before him? In terms of strength, intelligence, and legendary stature, in what way could Zhou Zhiruo ever be his match? To put it bluntly, Zhou Zhiruo's goals and mindset were limited to a single man and a single sect, whereas the person before him treated all living beings of the world as mere pawns.

Of course, when it came to beauty, Li Jingxing certainly fell far short.

The more his thoughts wandered, the more Feng Yang hurriedly changed the subject. "Right, I have another question."

Li Jingxing smiled. "Ask away."

Feng Yang asked, "Why did the Divine Court rank you at the very top of the Life-and-Death Sign?"

Li Jingxing had not expected Feng Yang to ask this.

His ascent to the summit of the Life-and-Death Sign was not an accidental matter, much like how his elder brother had ascended to the summit of the Great Tang Dynasty's Life-and-Death Sign back in the day.

Whether it was the Great Tang or the Dugu, the underlying system was the same: the imperial court governed the lands in all directions and the ordinary common people upon them. The spiritual crystals, jades, and daily necessities such as grains produced by the people were distributed by the Divine Court to various major sects based on quotas determined by the rankings of the Daoyuan Sacrifices.

It was not as if the Divine Court lacked the means to deal with cultivators; the Tianji Bureau held the mandate of monitoring the cultivators of the world. Yet, fundamentally, matters among cultivators could only be left to the colossal giants within the cultivation world, such as Snowy Cloud or Taiyuan.

From this, two parallel lines emerged, ensuring that every single person within the territory of the Divine Court remained subject to control.

However, there were exceptions to every rule, such as Wei Sanmu, and such as himself.

One possessed strength capable of reaching the divine, while the other possessed wisdom capable of reaching the heavens. Both possessed the ability to traverse and reshape the world, and neither submitted to authority. Whether it was the Divine Court or the cultivators, neither could let them go; issuing a bounty was only natural.

Li Jingxing had no intention of explaining these matters to Feng Yang; after all, such truths could only be uncovered through a profound understanding of society.

This silence appeared to Feng Yang more like a tacit admission.

"There are many reasons, but don't you already know why both dynasties spare no effort to place a bounty on me?" Li Jingxing replied softly, "Even now, I still believe that path is the only possible way to save the Daoyuan Continent. If I were merely an eccentric scholar, it would be one thing. The problem now is that I truly have the ability and the intention to see this matter through."

Pausing briefly, he added, "However, the situation in Yanbei has little to do with me. That affair was plotted over ten thousand miles by Wanli; I merely cooperated a few times after the battle had fully erupted."

Indeed, from beginning to end, the situation in Yanbei had little to do with him. From the barbarian incursions and the northern march of Bohai to the death of the Underworld Emperor and the retreat of the Underworld, he had done only two things.

First, he had made the Master of the Weeping Blood Pavilion sink his sword into Snowy Cloud. One must know that the original route planned for the Master of the Weeping Blood Pavilion... was Wuyang. The layout crafted by Xu Hai in Xuhai was originally intended to target the Divine Emperor, which was why Bohai had been willing to rise in revolt.

First, he made the Master of the Weeping Blood Pavilion go to Snowy Cloud to sink his sword. You must know that the originally scheduled route of the Weeping Blood Pavilion Master... was Wuyang. The layout of this game by Xu Hai was originally aimed at the Divine Emperor, which was also the reason why Bohai was willing to rebel.

Second, he had had Li Shouli cooperate with Yang Wanli to hold back the Wind-Sand Grand Array. This point truly could not be washed clean, yet he had no intention of shirking responsibility for it. To reiterate, it was time for Yanyun to exit the stage of history.

Feng Yang shook his head. Compared to Feng Qi, he could take a more detached view of events that had already transpired.

He looked at Li Jingxing and said earnestly, "Everyone has the right to survive. Eight or nine out of ten things in life do not go as desired, and life is already bitter enough. If people must also lose their lives because of your speculations, that would be far too tragic."

There was no such thing as an easy life for adults. The sole glimmer of hope in an already difficult existence lay in their descendants and their posthumous affairs.

To be dragged into a world of cultivators that had nothing to do with their own lives simply because of such things... was, for them, far too cruel.

Yet Li Jingxing did not see it that way.

Speculation?

His expression turned uncommonly solemn, as though a steadfast faith of his had been insulted. "You think this is merely speculation?"

Feng Yang was slightly startled. "The destruction of the world has always been nothing more than speculation."

Much like the year 2012 of the past, when the Earth had supposedly experienced countless "world destructions," hadn't it still remained perfectly fine?

Li Jingxing smiled and said, "Your realm is currently too low and your perspective too narrow. There is little meaning in discussing this much with you. Sooner or later, you will discover that this matter is indeed worthy of and urgently needs to be brought to the table for discussion."

Feng Yang frowned.

Li Jingxing continued, "Since you mentioned that what Earth pursues is truth, you should understand the principle that even heaven and earth have their limits."

Feng Yang nodded. "There is also a more academic phrasing for it, known as the Law of Conservation of Energy."

Li Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "Conservation is a well-chosen word; I hope you will remember it firmly."

Feng Yang said, "I understand the reasoning, yet I still feel a sense of pity for the lives of those ordinary people."

Li Jingxing stated, "If you understood my theory, you would know that what I intend to kill is not merely ordinary commoners."

Feng Yang let out a scoff. "Every truth has its supporters. Do you know why your theory has no major flaws, yet very few people follow it?"

Li Jingxing replied, "Because this theory yields no vested beneficiaries in the short term."

Feng Yang was somewhat surprised by Li Jingxing's profound clarity, and said earnestly, "To the powerful and noble, the fifty-percent probability you speak of will never descend upon them. Could it be that the Divine Emperor's survival probability is also fifty-fifty? This is something the entire Divine Court will never permit, which is why your plan holds no possibility of implementation."

Li Jingxing smiled without offering an explanation.

Feng Yang said, "Therefore, I truly feel deep sympathy for those ordinary commoners."

Li Jingxing shook his head. "I remember you once said a phrase—'Are princes, generals, lords, and ministers born with a special seed?'"

Feng Yang replied, "It was not my original creation, though I indeed brought it up here first."

Li Jingxing said solemnly, "I believe you were mistaken. The truth is—princes, generals, lords, and ministers *are* indeed born with a special seed!"

Feng Yang froze, falling silent for a long time.

Li Jingxing's words were not difficult to understand, yet they were thoroughly profound.

Fate was simply fate. Whether one was a noble or an ordinary person, it was all the same; even serpents, insects, rats, ants, flowers, trees, and grasses were all forms of life. In terms of essential attributes, life possessed no distinction of high or low, noble or humble. All must experience birth, aging, illness, and death, as well as joy, anger, sorrow, and delight—even cultivators were no exception.

Yet beyond those essential attributes, life possessed another extremely important characteristic.

Most people referred to it as social standing.

Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the offspring of mice know how to dig holes.

The children of nobles were born nobles, enjoying glory, wealth, and supreme privilege throughout their lives.

The children of commoners might occasionally become nobles, yet that required an unimaginable degree of effort just to secure a minor official post through the imperial examinations.

As for slaves... they could only be oppressed until the day they died...

This disparity in social standing existed prominently across every place, every dynasty, and every system, with absolute impossibility of correction.

And one could not entirely blame servility.

Reality was simply thus.

Ah yes, there was also the path of cultivation. If one possessed celestial aptitude, it was even possible to instantly overturn the social standing of an entire family. Yet those in this world capable of becoming cultivators were one in ten thousand, and those possessing the aptitude for Dao-integration were likewise one in ten thousand among cultivators. Only after dozens of great figures at the Dao-integration realm appeared might a single true immortal emerge.

Feng Yang frowned. "Yet cultivators themselves evolve from the community of ordinary people. Your approach is far too extreme."

According to Li Jingxing's ideas, it would not only trigger a ruling crisis for the Divine Court, but it would also spark a crisis of heritage within the cultivation world.

Feng Yang said gravely, "If your plan were truly successfully executed, the Divine Court would plunge into destruction even without any foreign invasion."

Li Jingxing smiled. "It is indeed rather mad. The problem is that most people are sentimental and self-centered; they will not choose to die simply to make the world a better place."

Closely linked to sentimentality was attachment.

Closely linked to self-centeredness was selfishness.

While many people committed suicide, the fundamental reason those individuals chose such extreme methods was not because they worried the world was overburdened, but because they felt *they* themselves were overwhelmed beyond endurance.

Li Jingxing's gaze was profound. "This world is marching toward its death. If we do not act thus, the Daoyuan Continent may well become a dead wasteland."

Feng Yang remarked, "This theory sounds somewhat perverted; I need some more time to digest it."

Li Jingxing laughed. "You are still young; I will give you time to ponder it thoroughly."

...

Somewhere amidst the red earth, even the gentle breeze carried a touch of dryness and the scent of blood. Feng Yang's hair fluttered in the wind.

He had been pondering for a long time.

And it appeared he would be pondering for even longer.

Suddenly, a faint sound rang out.

It was not the sound of flowing robes.

Instead, it was another, much crisper sound.

Before Feng Yang could figure out precisely what that sound was, a middle-aged man clad in gray robes and wearing a calm expression landed upon the boat.

His gray robes were riddled with numerous tears, some small, others vast.

Fresh, crimson blood oozed from the larger tears, yet the middle-aged man acted as though entirely unaware, walking calmly and steadily toward Li Jingxing.

Several explosions suddenly erupted across the red earth, the ground splitting apart as wisps of fire became faintly visible within the fissures.

The Divine Court's territory was vast, and places with volcanic earth veins were by no means rare. Yet when combined with the red earth, the arid wind, and Li Jingxing's identity, this could only be Xuhai.

Feng Yang glanced at the newly arrived middle-aged man.

Such attire.

Such a realm.

He must undoubtedly be that figure from the White Elephant Sect.

He rose to his feet and bowed respectfully as a junior.

A trace of blood spilled from the corner of the middle-aged man's mouth, and his complexion grew slightly paler.

Although he had not exhausted his full strength, Li Jingxing had not even altered his sitting posture. Even if he were to go all out, he would likely find it difficult to escape defeat.

The man glanced at Feng Yang, shook his head, and then looked back at Li Jingxing.

"Sir, it has been a long time."

Li Jingxing smiled. "It has indeed been somewhat long. The last time I saw you, you had only recently stepped into the Void Dao. Seeing you today, you have actually consolidated the Dao fruit of Integration. Three hundred odd years have passed as though in another lifetime."

The middle-aged man replied, "Standing beneath the sun and moon, with heaven above my head and earth beneath my feet, I adapt to the changes of this world every single day, and have long since grown accustomed to it. Since you, sir, wander in concealment and walk in the dark night, it is only natural that you feel as though generations have passed."

Li Jingxing smiled. "When it comes to adapting to the changes of this world, you likely cannot match me."

The middle-aged man fell silent for a moment. "Sir manipulated the grand chess game of the world; it was rather presumptuous of this junior."

He withdrew both hands into his sleeves. "Sir, I have been entrusted by someone to bring these two children back. Might you grant us passage?"

Li Jingxing's eyelids drooped slightly. "Yet the young friend and I have not finished our chat. Even if you have business with him, as someone hundreds of years old, can it be that you do not even understand the principle of first come, first served?"

The middle-aged man said earnestly, "Why not ask for this young friend's own stance?"

Li Jingxing smiled. "I am not offering you a choice."

The middle-aged man raised his brows slightly.

Li Jingxing stated, word by word, "I am not surprised that you could see through my array, but for you to dare face me alone without notifying Mingfa... Do you wish to die?"