When Qiong Qi was summoned to the Heaven Palace by the Golden Armor Heavenly God, the following transpired in the Sect Master's secluded cave abode.

"Teacher, should we finalize the overall process of the treasure refining competition like this?"

"Yes. Next, we need to refine each part. You go ahead and explore, but remember, the principle is fairness, fairness, and still fairness."

"Disciple understands!"

Lin Qi nodded seriously in acknowledgment, truly relieved, and wrote 'fairness, fairness, and still fairness' in his record-keeping Jade Talisman. The slogan for the competition Teacher wanted... this is it, isn't it?

"Been busy these past few days, haven't you?"

Wu Wang leaned back in his wooden chair and said with a smile. Before Lin Qi could offer a polite demurral, Wu Wang added another jab, "There's still more for you to do. Managing a large-scale event is no easier than directing a major battle."

Lin Qi's smile was still full of vigor as he said earnestly, "As long as I can do something for the Human Domain, I am not afraid of hardship."

"Not bad, not bad."

Wu Wang chuckled softly, his gaze tinged with reminiscence as he thought of the 'fake wine' they had drunk half a month ago. That day, the old senior hadn't said much, just drank cup after cup. After finishing, he had simply tossed Wu Wang back. A true drinking companion indeed.

"Teacher, there is one more thing. After careful consideration, I still think I should report it to you." Lin Qi's expression showed a hint of hesitation.

Wu Wang asked with a smile, "Well, speak up. Have you taken a fancy to some Fairy Immortal? This Hall Master will help you propose!"

"It's not that kind of matter! Teacher, please... be serious."

"How is this not serious? Without men and women marrying, how would the Human Domain continue its legacy?"

Wu Wang glared. Lin Qi quickly ducked his head in submission and hurriedly steered the conversation away from the topic.

Lin Qi asked, "Teacher, how much do you know about the Southeastern Region, which borders the Human Domain?"

"Because the Third Main Hall of the Ten Evils Hall is rooted in the Southeastern Region, I've looked into it before, but not very deeply."

"That's good."

"Hmm?" Wu Wang chuckled and chided, "Are you trying to fool me?"

"How would I dare, Disciple!"

Lin Qi quickly said, "It's just that some private accounts of the Elders from the Four Seas Pavilion point towards the Southeastern Region. My family also has some influence in the Southeastern Region, so I had them investigate. We discovered that those Elders have a surprising number of operations there, established under the name of the Four Seas Pavilion in the Cloud City of the Feather Country. The Cloud City isn't controlled by Human Domain forces; it's considered within the Hundred Races' sphere of influence and is very wary of Human Domain powers."

"That's a good thing," Wu Wang said. "Then those can also be considered businesses of the Four Seas Pavilion. The Four Seas Pavilion can legitimately take them over, can't it?"

"That's precisely the problem."

Lin Qi continued, "Teacher, you might get angry when I say this. After the old Pavilion Master of the Four Seas Pavilion and his people met with their 'accident,' those shops in the Cloud City... were forcibly taken over by people from the Ten Evils Hall."

Question marks practically appeared above Wu Wang's head.

"The Ten Evils Hall?"

"Yes, the Ten Evils Hall," Lin Qi sighed. "Although, on the surface, these shops were taken over by a faction called Wanfang Pavilion, this Wanfang Pavilion is actually just a front for the Ten Evils Hall to accumulate wealth."

"Such an outrageous thing exists?"

Wu Wang stood up and paced back and forth behind his desk. He then asked incredulously, "Aren't they afraid of being wiped out by the Human Domain in one fell swoop?"

"The situation in the Southeastern Region is rather complicated. They might genuinely not be afraid."

Wu Wang cursed, "The First Main Hall of the Ten Evils Hall doesn't even dare to breathe too loudly right now, and this Third Main Hall in the Southeastern Region thinks it can reach for the heavens?"

Lin Qi nodded honestly; he knew his teacher would react this way.

"Teacher, should I send someone to curb their arrogance a little?"

"The Cloud City is a mix of various powers, and there's a non-aggression pact. The Feather Country also has some capable experts. We truly cannot act rashly."

Wu Wang stopped pacing and muttered, "This is really... Heh. With no tigers in the mountains, the monkey proclaims itself king."

"King?" Lin Qi was puzzled.

"Never mind. Just pretend you don't know about this, and don't mention it to outsiders."

Wu Wang pondered for a moment before saying, "Now is not the time to deal with regions outside our domain. The Four Seas Pavilion has just undergone a rigorous investigation. If the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion were to shift its attention to the Southeastern Region now, it would alarm all the factions operating there."

Lin Qi asked, "So, Teacher, are we just going to let them be for now?"

"This Third Main Hall of the Ten Evils Hall has become so inflated; it won't be able to act arrogantly for much longer," Wu Wang replied.

After speaking, he let out a soft breath, his composure restored.

He instructed, "Just focus on the treasure refining competition. Organize this event well, and I can then request commendation for you from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. The Ten Evils Hall must be eliminated, of course. However, removing the First Main Hall within the Human Domain is far more critical than this Third Main Hall. On the other hand, how the Ten Evils Hall managed to so quickly take control of those Elders' assets is rather suspicious..."

Lin Qi asked, "Teacher, are you suggesting that some of those Elders had long been associated with the Ten Evils Hall?"

"Those Elders... their elimination was a bit hasty."

Wu Wang sighed, and he and Lin Qi shared a moment of lament.

After Lin Qi left, Wu Wang took out two message-transmitting Jade Talismans, weighed them carefully for a moment, and then put them away.

The Southeastern Region, the Cloud City, the Feather Tribe, the Third Main Hall of the Ten Evils Hall... I never imagined this Third Main Hall would be so audacious!

However, Wu Wang weighed the pros and cons and ultimately decided to first deal with the First Main Hall of the Ten Evils Hall, to remove this last nail embedded in the Human Domain, before dealing with the Third Main Hall.

The Southeastern Region was a crossroads for the forces of the Human Domain, the Heaven Palace, and the Hundred Races; it was chaotic but also had a unique allure. Wu Wang actually felt a slight sense of anticipation for it.

The Human Domain is generally too peaceful. The conflict between Immortals and Demons has been repeatedly suppressed, giving me no chance to shout the classic line, 'Don't bully the young and poor!'

Lin Suqing brought over sweet soup and pastries. Seeing that Wu Wang wasn't busy, she asked softly, "Young Master, have you found any trace of Mumu?"

"I have. She wasn't lying; she really went to the shores of the South Sea to raise crabs," Wu Wang replied with a smile. "Don't worry, Immortal Mu is actually quite sensible at heart..."

As he said this, Wu Wang suddenly recalled Immortal Mu's previous crab-raising escapade. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he corrected himself, "Of course, she can also be quite mischievous at times."

Lin Suqing sighed, "It always feels like something is missing when she's not at home."

"Ear Mouse and Xiao Deng went with her, so Immortal Mu won't be lonely."

"Speaking of Xiao Deng, does she really only have a few years of Lifespan left?" Lin Suqing asked softly. "If she were to practice Human Domain cultivation techniques, could it extend her Lifespan?"

"No one has tried that," Wu Wang said with a laugh. "Cultivation for someone from the Small People Kingdom?"

Lin Suqing chuckled, "Well, why not?"

"It's worth a try."

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow, took a few sips from his jade bowl, and then took out a map of the Great Wilderness, studying the general terrain of the Southeastern Region.

Lin Suqing quickly took the tray and withdrew. These days, she was always engrossed in her studies, constantly reading scriptures on cultivation theory and insights. She truly practiced what she preached, balancing both her duties and her studies.

Before long, Wu Wang had a general plan. He activated the [Specialized Anti-Ten Evils Hall Humanoid Magic Treasure].

"Wudi."

Yang Wudi's figure flashed in from outside the door. He gave a solemn fist salute. "Sect Master, your orders!"

Wu Wang tossed a Jade Talisman to him and said, "Take a trip to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion and bring back your sweetheart. I'll give you a half-year leave."

Yang Wudi held the Jade Talisman, feeling... a bit bewildered.

He tentatively asked, "Sect Master, are you serious?"

Without looking up, Wu Wang said, "The person you are going to rescue was previously a victim of the Ten Evils Hall. Her identity has now been verified, and we are preparing to help them settle elsewhere."

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Yang Wudi grinned broadly, repeatedly making deep Daoist salutes to Wu Wang.

Wu Wang waved his hand. "Take care of yourself. You'll have plenty to do in half a year."

The bald, burly man asked, still a bit uneasy, "What's happening in half a year? Could you at least give me a hint?"

Wu Wang settled back into his chair and said slowly, "You'll be finding the whereabouts of the First Main Hall of the Ten Evils Hall, figuring out a way to infiltrate it, and getting back to your old line of work."

Yang Wudi's smile vanished instantly.

Wu Wang spoke softly, "If you're afraid, I can find someone else. Just bring your sweetheart back and cultivate peacefully at the Annihilation Sect.

"The Sect will not forget the contributions you've made; you've already contributed far more than many others.

"Zhang Moshan and the others also need a chance to shine."

"No! Sect Master, you're not really testing me, are you?" Yang Wudi said, his voice trembling. "Why... why are you suddenly being so good to me? First, you let me bring back my confidante, and now you're giving me a chance for a new lease on life!"

"Get out."

"Yes, sir! This subordinate will take his leave!"

Yang Wudi chuckled, gave Wu Wang a deep bow to the ground, then did a backflip towards the cave entrance. Once outside, he burst into triumphant laughter.

Wu Wang shook his head. Then, something else occurred to him. He looked at the desk before him and sighed softly.

Ah, it's that time of day again—time for my daily wish for a certain god's swift demise.

「 」

More than a year after the Four Seas Pavilion affair, Wu Wang found himself exceptionally busy.

Just half a month after his return to the Annihilation Sect from the Four Seas Pavilion incident, the number of experts sent by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion to guard him hadn't decreased; instead, it had risen. The count of Transcendent Realm experts increased from three to five. The numbers of Heavenly Immortals, True Immortals, and Immortal Soldiers had also grown.

Wu Wang was somewhat perplexed by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's decision to increase his high-level guard detail. Was this the Human Domain's upper echelons expressing their regard for him, Wu Wangzi? Or had they received some advance intelligence that the Heaven Palace was planning to move against him, the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, and so sent people to guard him preemptively?

After sending an inquiry to Liu Baiyi, Wu Wang began to feel uneasy.

Master Liu's reply stated that the Human Domain's informants within the Heaven Palace had been eliminated by the Head Manager. Recently, the Human Domain had been unable to obtain any intelligence from there. Master Liu's decision to increase Wu Wang's protection was purely to ensure his safety. Wu Wang's previous actions on the northeastern border had thoroughly earned him the Head Manager's enmity.

Fortunately, Wu Wang was resilient under pressure and didn't let this frighten him, continuing his daily routines as usual.

Ji Mo and Lin Qi were tirelessly working outside. One was diligently managing the fallout from the Four Seas Pavilion upheaval, while the other began organizing the first 'Human Domain Refining Master Competition.'

Wu Wang remained firmly established in the Annihilation Sect. Once a month, he handled essential official business for the Punishment Hall, offered suggestions for reforms to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, and diligently continued his own Cultivation.

Cultivation and comprehending the Great Dao were the true foundations for establishing oneself in the Great Wilderness.

Snatching moments of leisure amidst his busy schedule, he sent a letter to Ling Xiaolan, updating her on recent events—a greeting to his fellow cultivator and 'partner in crime.'

Ling Xiaolan's reply, however, was rather unique. She had the Annihilation Sect messenger bring back a large, flawless white pearl, along with a message that she would come as promised and would stay at the Annihilation Sect to cultivate for an extended period.

That Treasure Bead... Wu Wang couldn't quite grasp its profound meaning.

During his spare moments, Wu Wang also began to examine the increasingly tangled red threads of fate around him. However, before he could make any sense of them, a mountain of affairs surged toward him.

A series of troubles arose on Lin Qi's end.

First, the Heavenly Craft Pavilion expressed dissatisfaction with this Refining Master competition. Wu Wang personally liaised with the Heavenly Craft Pavilion, persuading them to become one of the competition's organizers.

Subsequently, the great Refining Masters from various regions began to cause a stir. They proclaimed, "Such comparisons are an insult to our refining skills and a desecration of tradition!"

Wu Wang racked his brains, constantly giving Lin Qi advice, and even personally made numerous visits, bearing substantial gifts. This finally persuaded those old-fashioned grandmasters to set aside their sectarian views and make what they considered a "decision that went against their ancestors."

During this process, Wu Wang was tempted several times to use the authority of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion to strong-arm some of the more mule-headed old men into submission. Of course, Wu Wang didn't actually resort to such measures; he managed to wear them down solely through sheer persistence and persuasion.

After three to four months of this relentless persuasion, Wu Wang's eloquence had noticeably improved...

Incidentally, he also managed to coax more than ten renowned Refining Masters in the Human Domain into serving as judges for the competition, even securing their personal promises for apprenticeship quotas. Then, leveraging the prestige of these Refining Masters, he attracted a large number of young people from the Human Domain who were either skilled in refining or hoped to make a name for themselves through it.

Seeing Wu Wang so busy, Lin Qi felt quite guilty. He lacked a certain diplomatic finesse and, despite holding the status of 'Yan Emperor's Command Token Holder,' he often struggled to manage those obstinate old men.

But fortunately, the matter was resolved successfully. Though they had endured many hardships and faced considerable obstruction, they could finally, in a moment of drunken revelry, throw their arms around each other's shoulders and shout: "Sorted!"

Unfortunately, after this matter was settled, another arose.

Just as the Annihilation Sect's Magic Treasure emporiums across various regions were registering tens of thousands of Cultivator applicants for the Refining Master competition, which was just getting underway, and Wu Wang was preparing to slack off a bit… the seven calamities and six disasters unleashed by the Heaven Palace began to wreak havoc in full force.

Floods, insect plagues, and droughts occurred one after another. Diseases ran rampant, and rat infestations were endless. Common mortals grew belligerent and prone to violence, and large groups of bandits began to appear in the hardest-hit areas. Moreover, this situation wasn't confined to a single area. Across more than half of the Human Domain, most places where mortals gathered were experiencing such conditions.

Even though the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion had begun to address the situation early on, and Wu Wang had provided many 'solution frameworks' previously unseen in the Great Wilderness, mortal casualties still occurred as the disasters erupted one after another.

Wu Wang was summoned to the main pavilion for a joint discussion, but he spent the entire time listening, offering few opinions of his own. After all, sitting with a group of white-haired 'grandpas and grandmas' inevitably brought a certain subtle pressure.

After the discussion, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion promptly issued orders, encouraging Cultivators from all sects to leave their places of Cultivation, travel the world, and help the afflicted commoners. This order wasn't mandatory, but the vast majority of Sects responded.

From the Immortal Mountains of various Immortal Sects, wreathed in Immortal Light, young men and women in ethereal dresses and robes descended to hurry east and west. From Rift Valleys and mountain gorges steeped in an aura of bloodlust, men and women, carrying sufficient Elixirs and shouldering mundane supplies hoarded for years, set out towards the north and south. Even small Sects, with only Golden Core and Nascent Soul Daoists, had Cultivators wielding horsetail whisks and wearing robes, taking care of all the mortals they could within a hundred-li radius.

The Annihilation Sect was no different; hundreds of Demonic Cultivators emerged from their cultivation grounds to combat disasters and provide relief in the eastern Human Domain.

If grain ran short, 'Grain Abstinence Pills' were used as a temporary substitute. If water sources were inexplicably polluted, 'Water Condensation Talismans' continuously gathered moisture from the air. No matter how deep the rat burrows, they couldn't escape a burst of true fire; swarms of insects that blotted out the sky couldn't evade the sweeping cold winds.

As for epidemics... The Human Domain was currently in the era of Shen Nong; half the Cultivators possessed an incomplete copy of *The Hundred Herb Manual*.

The seven calamities and six disasters came, yet it was as if they hadn't. They ravaged the lands of the Human Domain, leaving them scarred and pitted, but figures everywhere supported one another. Immortals guided mortals, helping them overcome one tribulation after another.

Wu Wang traveled the mortal world for half a year, seeking to do what he could. He witnessed and experienced these events firsthand. It would be a lie to say his heart wasn't moved. At certain moments, he felt that his decision to help the Human Domain resist the Heaven Palace was the wisest choice he had made since arriving in the Great Wilderness.

As the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion continuously issued decrees, Immortals capable of moving mountains and filling seas began to appear everywhere. They altered the very geography of the land—diverting floodwaters, moving mountains to form lakes—creating havens suitable for habitation amidst the disasters, and resettling the afflicted mortals. Thus, the harm caused by the disasters sent by the Heaven Palace was suppressed to a minimum by the Human Domain.

However, the Heaven Palace clearly had no intention of stopping. The seven calamities and six disasters continued to rage, seemingly intending to make such cataclysms a permanent fixture in the Human Domain. The resentment from all corners of the Human Domain towards the Heaven Palace accumulated, growing deeper and deeper, almost reaching a 'boiling point of hatred.'

Perhaps because he possessed Divine Power and the Star God's bloodline, Wu Wang clearly perceived the formation, accumulation, and abrupt disappearance of this resentment. He vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

Wu Wang couldn't recall where he had heard the phrase 'Divine Power mingled with the resentment of living beings'... Fighting off his fatigue, he carefully sensed the Divine Power circulating within his Star God's body several more times and finally arrived at an absurd hypothesis. Could it be that one of the Heaven Palace's aims in unleashing these calamities and disasters was to harvest the resentment of the Human Domain's living beings?

After thorough consideration, Wu Wang felt this matter was too significant to be treated lightly. He decisively... requested off-site assistance from his dear old mother.

「In the depths of the starry sky, within a silver-lit Temple.」

Cang Xue sat upon a solitary throne, facing the constellations, her back to the Star God. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke the truth to the wooden staff in her hand:

"Ba'er, you've guessed correctly. The Heaven Palace is indeed intentionally collecting the resentment of living beings. The Divine Power of an Evil God largely originates from the resentment of living beings. Just one part Divine Power from the Heaven Palace's Divine Pool mixed with nine parts of living beings' resentment is enough to ensure an Evil God doesn't lose its sanity to overwhelming hatred.

"As for the source of this power, it is of no concern to the Heaven Palace. Nor is the purity of an Evil God's Divine Power important to high-ranking gods."

Wu Wang rubbed his temples, looking at the flickering necklace on his chest. Is the Head Manager truly so ruthless? To use the resentment generated by the Human Domain to cultivate Evil Gods that will, in turn, destroy the Human Domain?

"This is a tactic the Heaven Palace has employed several times before."

Cang Xue said softly, "However, this matter cannot be made public in the Human Domain, and the Human Emperor doesn't dare let his subordinates know. Could it be that the living beings of the Human Domain are to harbor no resentment towards such calamities? That's impossible. When Divine Spirits act recklessly, living beings will inevitably harbor resentment."

No, Wu Wang calmly thought. This was an understanding his esteemed mother lacked. In his previous life, there was a peculiar country where people, perhaps from drinking too much Ganges water, would shout slogans like, 'Don't resist!' and 'Letting the invaders slaughter until their hands are sore is a great victory!' They would cry out to their gods, 'I am your most loyal follower!' Their gods were probably deeply ashamed.

"Mother, is there no way to stop this?"

"Unless a full-scale war is launched, they cannot be stopped," Cang Xue said. "This is an advantage the Heaven Palace has accumulated over countless ages of ruling the Great Wilderness, and it's a persistent disadvantage for the Human Domain. Actually, your mother greatly admires Emperor Suiren. Rising from among mortals, he single-handedly changed the order of Heaven and Earth, introducing infinite variables to the transition of divine eras."

Wu Wang remained silent for a moment, then steered the conversation towards everyday family matters. He didn't quite agree with what his mother had said.

The Northern Wilderness was peaceful and calm. Compared to the disaster-stricken Human Domain, it had become a veritable haven. The Bear Hug Tribe was free from illness and calamity, with ample food reserves and no wars near or far. The Star God Cult was also developing steadily—it had long since reached its peak saturation and become the dominant faith in the Northern Wilderness.

Unfortunately, the Northern Wilderness and the Human Domain were too far apart, one in the north and the other in the south, making it impossible to relocate the disaster victims there.

The faint glow on the necklace gradually faded.

Wu Wang sat on the riverbank, lost in thought for a while. He watched groups of people in the distance heading towards a new village under the setting sun and listened to the children's laughter carried on the wind. A faint smile touched his lips.

Although the overall situation isn't great, the important competition must proceed unaffected. The seven calamities and six disasters are now effectively under control. If the Human Domain were to grind to a halt because of this, the Head Manager would probably die laughing.

"Hall Master," an old woman asked from behind him, "this area is now secure. Wouldn't it be better to return to the Annihilation Sect or the main pavilion soon? It's somewhat inappropriate for you to always be out in the field."

Wu Wang rose, brushing the dust from his clothes. It still feels a bit strange not having the Grand Elder around. "Yes, thank you all for your trouble."

"Let's head to Floating Jade City. The Refining Master competition is only a few days away."

Behind him, a dozen or so figures flew in from various directions. An old man produced a Flying Shuttle, and everyone filed inside. The Flying Shuttle then sped towards Floating Jade City.

「 」

「Almost simultaneously, in the Guantao Tower of Floating Jade City.」

A woman wearing a wide-brimmed conical hat sat in a private room on the second floor, watching with great interest as several disciples from the Black Desire Door danced on the wooden stage below. Beneath the hat cascaded raven-black hair. Her face was delicate and lovely, and wisps of pure qi swirled around her. To any observer, she appeared to be a female True Immortal Realm cultivator, here to enjoy tea and leisure.

But within this physical shell, in the God's Mansion upon her Immortal Platform, an ethereal figure stood suspended, a golden Lotus Seal gleaming on its forehead.

Heaven Palace—Young Master.

'This is His Majesty's command. This matter indeed requires your Divine Skills.' The expression on her elder brother's face when he'd said that was truly detestable.

She huffed softly and continued to use this avatar to appreciate the Human Domain's unique dance forms.

As her interest peaked, she casually picked up the teacup before her, sniffed it, and then placed it back down.

Does the Human Domain not even possess common tea trees that can live for ten thousand years? How pitifully underdeveloped.

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