The slaughter of over a hundred thousand Blood Clan members in Blood Dao City by a mysterious individual spread throughout the entire underground cultivation world within a few days.
The various races of the underground cultivation world were thrown into an uproar.
With the entire Blood Dao City massacred, including three city lords, the high-ranking members of the Blood Clan, enraged, dispatched a large number of personnel to hunt down the mysterious killer. They declared that fifteen of their King Realm powerhouses would personally emerge to confront this individual who showed no regard for the entire Blood Clan.
However, perceptive individuals could see that the Blood Clan was likely bluffing. This matter would most probably end inconclusively.
After all, the formidable being capable of slaughtering a city of over a hundred thousand Blood Clan members would undoubtedly possess a cultivation realm no lower than that of a King Realm powerhouse.
Consider this: after a King Realm powerhouse destroyed Blood Dao City, they could simply leave. Even with the Blood Clan's vast power, where in the boundless underground world could they find the culprit?
Furthermore, once a cultivator reached the King Realm, defeating them was difficult, but truly killing them was incredibly challenging.
They had legs and could run. If they couldn't win, they could escape. It was akin to trying to capture a King Realm expert determined to flee – an almost impossible feat.
It would likely require the combined efforts of five or six King Realm powerhouses of equal strength, or the deployment of a formidable trap that coincidentally ensnared the target. Otherwise, it would be an exercise in futility.
Although the Blood Clan suffered a severe blow to their prestige this time, their high-ranking members were not fools. They would not jeopardize their existing strategic arrangements for the sake of avenging a hundred thousand clan members.
Nevertheless, the entire underground cultivation world was still shaken by this incident.
In recent years, the Blood Clan's influence had been growing, encroaching on the interests of many races and becoming increasingly arrogant. Their sudden setback naturally attracted many who reveled in their misfortune.
However, this was no longer of much concern to Wu Tao.
...
At this moment, he had arrived at Renhuang City, the most important city of the Human Race.
This time, Wu Tao did not conceal his presence. He entered the city alone, with a sword in hand.
The cultivators guarding Renhuang City, upon sensing Wu Tao's pure Human Race aura and the law-infused energy enveloping him, were greatly alarmed. They immediately escorted him to the Renhuang Hall, the seat of the Human Race's highest council.
Of course, before introducing him, they deliberately delayed Wu Tao for a while, allowing the Human Race's highest-ranking King Realm experts time to convene and discuss how to handle this matter.
Wu Tao naturally noticed this, but he was not in a hurry. Although he was here to demand an explanation, he was not here to force a coup or rebel. Thus, he did not mind.
Demanding an explanation and staging a rebellion might seem similar, but their differences were immense, as vast as heaven and earth.
Huang Hualuo, Wukong Zi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, and Lei Nuo, eight individuals, were observing Wu Tao outside the Renhuang Hall through a restrictive mirror.
When the eight saw the intense, heaven-piercing killing intent emanating from Wu Tao, their hearts sank, knowing that Wu Tao was clearly here with ill intentions.
Huang Hualuo, Wukong Zi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, Lei Nuo, and the other seven exchanged glances, offering wry smiles.
Due to Wukong Zi's connection, all eight of them were well aware of Wu Tao's background.
He was once an abandoned prodigy who not only survived but also reached their level within a mere two hundred years. Now, he had returned to demand an explanation.
Such a dramatic and ironic turn of events was truly disorienting.
It would be a great embarrassment if word got out, at the very least inviting ridicule from the King Realm experts of other major races.
At this moment, Wu Tao, standing outside, seemed to have noticed something. He fixed his gaze on a particular spot, then sighed faintly and said coldly.
"I have been here for a considerable time without anyone coming to see me. Yet, you are secretly observing me. Is this not going too far?"
Wu Tao's words were extremely impolite, clearly indicating that his anger had reached a certain level.
Huang Hualuo, Wukong Zi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, Lei Nuo, and the other seven displayed embarrassed smiles simultaneously.
To keep a guest waiting and then to spy on them was inherently impolite.
More crucially, this act had been discovered. If word spread, they would lose all face.
After this incident, Huang Hualuo, Wukong Zi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, Lei Nuo, and the other seven dared not delay any longer. They immediately sent someone to escort Wu Tao in.
...
"To be honest, facing you, a prodigy of the Human Race, and given certain past events, the eight of us were unsure how to approach you..."
"That's why we observed you without informing you first. It was a rash act, and we hope you can overlook it."
Huang Hualuo, the foremost figure of the Human Race in the underground cultivation world, spoke to Wu Tao with a remarkably courteous and roundabout tone, clearly feeling some guilt.
Hearing this, Wu Tao's brow furrowed slightly. He waved his hand, indicating he was not buying into such pleasantries.
He had no time for politeness with these people. If he possessed the ability to destroy the Blood Clan on his own, he would not have come here.
Ignoring Huang Hualuo, who clearly held authority in the Renhuang Hall, Wu Tao turned his gaze to Wukong Zi, his former master.
Under Wu Tao's gaze, Wukong Zi looked away with shame, evidently unwilling to face Wu Tao's questioning eyes.
A complex emotion, difficult to articulate, appeared on Wu Tao's face.
In these past few centuries, Wu Tao's greatest fortuitous encounter was the Origin of Time, which he received from this seemingly frivolous old man.
It could be said that Wu Tao's relatively easy progression to the Purple Mansion realm was, in part, due to the Origin of Time, in addition to his own efforts.
Moreover, Wu Tao and Wukong Zi shared a master-disciple relationship. By all rights, they should have been as close as father and son.
Yet, over two hundred years ago, when Wu Tao needed help the most, Wukong Zi had chosen not to assist him, even actively abandoning him.
All these factors contributed to the complex relationship between Wu Tao and Wukong Zi today.
...
Seeing Wukong Zi remain silent, Wu Tao sighed softly. Having not received the answer he sought, he had understood everything.
In truth, Wu Tao did not truly belong here. To be precise, he did not belong to the underground cultivation world. He was originally a minor cultivator from the Jiuzhou cultivation world who had fled here for refuge and had settled temporarily.
Everything here originally did not belong to him.
However, due to decades of settlement, he had developed attachments and emotions here. Coupled with the death of his beloved, Wu Tao had fought so desperately.
...
Subsequently, Wu Tao cut straight to the chase with Huang Hualuo, Wukong Zi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, and Lei Nuo. He, accompanied by those abandoned mortals, posed stern questions!
Huang Hualuo, Wukong Zi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, Lei Nuo, and the other seven wore wry smiles, compelled to brace themselves and deal with Wu Tao's interrogations.
Regardless of a thousand or ten thousand reasons, they were ultimately in the wrong.
However, due to their exceptionally high status and overwhelming power, no one had ever dared to stand before them and question or expose them.
It was only with Wu Tao's appearance that this facade was torn apart.
Facing Wu Tao's accusations, Huang Hualuo, Wukong Zi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, Lei Nuo, and the other seven could only frame their actions in terms of the larger picture, stating that while they might have erred in the past, they would make the same choices again to preserve the Human Race's legacy. Such were their words.
For the sake of the race, certain sacrifices were unavoidable, even if it meant sacrificing oneself – this was the so-called spirit of sacrifice!
"Regarding the events of the past, regardless of right or wrong, I have no desire to dwell on them. For what has happened cannot be changed. We can only look forward."
"Furthermore, I wish to tell you, fellow Daoist, that our lifespans are not long. If you are willing to return, this vast inheritance of the Human Race can be yours."
"The dead cannot be resurrected. Fellow Daoist, you cannot return to the past or alter what has already occurred. Why not let go?"
Huang Hualuo earnestly advised.
...
"You were not present during those events. You cannot comprehend my pain from that time. Of course, if I were in your position, I might have done the same."
"However, the current me represents not just myself, but also the countless individuals you abandoned."
"Furthermore, I believe you have misunderstood one thing. I am not here to seize power. You have perhaps consistently misunderstood certain matters."
"I have already established a vast force in other cultivation worlds. I lack neither subordinates nor wealth..."
"My purpose in coming here is not to contend for anything, nor do I covet the things you have always valued."
"I have come today to discuss matters of importance."
Wu Tao remained unmoved by Huang Hualuo's enticement, his face as cold as ice, his words carrying a subtle undertone of sarcasm.
Hearing this, Huang Hualuo's brow furrowed, his expression changing for a moment before returning to its usual composure.
"If that is the case, then fellow Daoist, what is it you wish to discuss?"
Upon hearing Wu Tao's statement, Huang Hualuo decided to dispense with any pretense and directly asked.
"It is a simple matter, and one that holds great benefit for you all."
Wu Tao's lips curled slightly, his expression of mockery deepening.