Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 468: Chapter 290: The Human Heart_2

“`

I had no intention of bothering, but upon further thought, I promptly responded, “Indeed, as a newcomer to the Taoist Domain, I am dazzled by all the novelties around me. I’m not sure who this gentleman might be…?”

“The lady flatters me—I am not worthy of being called a gentleman!”

The man was visibly pleased and quickly said, “My surname is Xu, first name Liang. I am a disciple of the Scholar’s Palace’s Martial Academy. It is my duty to welcome and guide newcomers to the Taoist Domain. If the lady doesn’t mind, allow me to show you around, how about that?”

Yun Mengyao nodded, “Then I shall thank Xu gentlemen for his kindness.”

“No need for such courtesy, my lady!”

Xu Liang smiled and then scrutinized her, “May I ask if the lady hails from the Martial Domain or the Demon Realm?”

“Hm!?”

Yun Mengyao’s gaze sharpened momentarily before returning to normal, “How did you know to ask that?”

“I didn’t really know.”

Xu Liang looked at her in surprise and explained, “I simply noticed that the lady doesn’t seem to have a Ten Thousand Dao jade token. Currently, only the Martial Domain and Demon Realm don’t have widespread use of the token. That’s why I took the liberty of asking.”

“I see!”

Yun Mengyao nodded, “You guessed correctly, gentleman. I am from the Martial Domain and indeed don’t possess such a jade token upon my first arrival here.”

“If that is the case, we should go to the Scholar’s Palace first to get you registered.”

Unconcerned, Xu Liang continued, “The Ten Thousand Dao jade token is extremely important as it serves as proof of identity. In this Taoist Domain, without it, one would be quite restricted in their movements. Not to mention others, take the Flying Boat, for instance. Without a token to prove one’s identity, flying would be impossible. Attempting to do so would trigger the Formation Restrictions and alarm the law-enforcing cultivators. Additionally, the Sky-reaching Tower, Wind and Cloud Stele, and activities such as the Ten Thousand Dao competition or contribution exchanges also require a Ten Thousand Dao jade token. If the lady intends to stay in the Taoist Domain for a long time, it is essential to obtain one.”

“Is that so?”

Yun Mengyao appeared thoughtful then said, “As a person from the Martial Domain, can I also obtain a Ten Thousand Dao jade token?”

“Why not?”

Xu Liang replied with a smile, “The Wandao School educates without discrimination. Regardless of where the lady comes from, as long as she is not a heinous criminal or one who disrupts order, she can be considered under the tutelage of our school. I’m sure the lady is not such a villain, right?”

…

At these words, Yun Mengyao fell silent for a moment before finally responding, “In that case, I’ll trouble you to lead the way, sir.”

Xu Liang nodded, “This way, my lady!”

As they walked together, Xu Liang engaged her in conversation again, “My lady, being from the Martial Domain and with such an extraordinary bearing, you must have Cultivation within you. Therefore, I must caution you about certain matters.”

“Oh?”

Yun Mengyao showed interest, “I look forward to your guidance, sir!”

“I dare not presume to instruct.”

Xu Liang shook his head, speaking gravely, “It’s just that our Wandao School strictly upholds its laws, especially towards cultivators—it’s like a forbidden zone that cannot be crossed. If one were to flaunt their Cultivation and commit acts of violence, they would surely be annihilated. So the lady must abide by our laws. You cannot engage in private fights or injure others within the city…”

“Since the lady is from the Martial Domain and not yet under the jurisdiction of our school, an initial offense may be forgivable. But once you’re recorded in the Ten Thousand Dao jade token, you would be considered a cultivator under our school’s governance. If you still engage in private fights or recklessly take a life, that would be considered a major offense subject to severe punishment.”

Xu Liang’s words were no news to Yun Mengyao, but she still cooperated and said, “Such strict laws seem even harsher for cultivators; could this be improper?”

“Why would it be improper?”

Xu Liang spoke earnestly, “It’s said that when one carries a sharp blade, the urge to kill arises. With cultivators possessing extraordinary abilities, strict laws are necessary to prevent them from acting arrogantly and without fear of consequences. If everyone were to act on their own accord, the world would be thrown into chaos, wouldn’t it?”

Yun Mengyao’s eyes flickered, then she added, “With such strict laws causing everyone to live in fear, wouldn’t that lead to chaos as well?”

“`

“That is due to the enforcers’ injustice and their excessive misuse; it is not the fault of the laws themselves!”

Xu Liang shook his head, earnestly saying, “Our Wandao School enforces the law with fairness and integrity, winning the hearts of the people. Where could such misfortunes come from?”

Having said that, he sized up Yun Mengyao again, asking, “Miss, do you truly come from the Martial Domain and not the Demon Realm?”

Yun Mengyao smiled, “What difference does it make between the Martial Domain and the Demon Realm? Doesn’t Wandao School educate without discrimination, regardless of one’s background?”

“That is indeed the case.”

Xu Liang frowned slightly, then asked, “Does the Miss know of the event three months ago, when a group of demons was captured and subjected to public execution?”

“Hmm!?”

Yun Mengyao glanced at him, pondering, yet not flustered, “I am aware of it!”

Xu Yang asked earnestly, “What is your opinion on the matter, Miss?”

Yun Mengyao’s eyes held an inexplicable look, then she said, “The people of the Demon Sect are cruel and evil, and they deserved the public execution. However, since the Martial Domain is not yet stable and there are those within the Demon Sect who have surrendered and pledged allegiance, with rumors of even a Grandmaster of Array Formation among them, to kill them indiscriminately without distinction is to incite fear among the people, which is unwise!”

“Miss, you are mistaken.”

Xu Liang shook his head, speaking earnestly, “Is the will of the people in the Martial Domain the will of the people, but under the governance of Wandao School, the will of the people from other domains is not the will of the people?”

Yun Mengyao furrowed her brows, “This…”

“When the Demon Sect, in a desperate act of self-preservation, sacrificially slaughtered most of a domain’s inhabitants, that Formation Master was the primary culprit. If we do not publicly execute him, perhaps we could win over the hearts of the people in the Martial Domain, but at the expense of losing the hearts of billions from the Forty-Seven Domains, further undermining the laws of Wandao School and planting the seeds of future disasters!”

Xu Liang looked at Yun Mengyao, “Miss, which do you think is more important?”

“This…”

“Furthermore, the will of the people in the Martial Domain may not be so hard to win over!”

Before Yun Mengyao could express her hesitation, Xu Liang continued, “In this battle against the Demon Realm, Wandao School’s might goes without saying, and the public execution of the demons shows the importance of our laws.”

“The Sacred Places of the Martial Domain pride themselves on following the Righteous Path—and are surely not made up of wicked and desperate villains. With the precedent set by the Demon Realm, if they continue to be obstinate, they will meet the same fate. This serves as a deterrence through military might!”

“On the other hand, Wandao School bases itself on the law, sparing those who are good and showing no mercy to the wicked, never breaking our legal system. So, they can lay down their arms and surrender without fear. Wandao School will not go back on its word, settle scores in the autumn, or cause undue harm. With this path to survival laid out before them, won’t it be possible to win people’s hearts?”

“Under such a balance of benevolence and authority, as long as the people of the Martial Domain are not blinded by greed or driven mad, their choice should be clear without needing to say more!”

Xu Liang’s gaze bore into Yun Mengyao, intense and piercing, “If all goes as expected, the Martial Domain will soon be peacefully integrated without a fight, leading to unity under heaven, the Four Seas as one. At that time, if all work together with a common purpose, the Age of the Ten Thousand Dao is sure to surpass that of the Divine Martial!”

“…”

With his impassioned words, Yun Mengyao fell silent for a long time before she finally spoke, “Brother Xu is truly wise; I am enlightened!”

“It’s merely picking up the wisdom of others.”

Xu Liang waved his hand dismissively, then looking up, he chuckled, “Miss, look—there’s the Scholar’s Palace!”

“…”

Yun Mengyao fell silent again, looking at Xu Liang and then at the arresting sign of the enforcement department ahead, shining with golden light and engraved with thunderous markings, and after a long while, she said, “Is this the Wandao School?”

“Yes!”

Xu Liang nodded, speaking to her in all seriousness, “