I Truly Am The Villian Chapter 2281 - 2280: Ninth Refinement True Monarch, The Power of Rules

"This kind of regulation feels like being imprisoned here, with no possibility of escape."

"Rules are rules, after all."

"Rules constitute the fundamental framework of the world; they remain immutable regardless of external factors."

"By dedicating ourselves to the Heavenly Dao, we gain access to boundless power within the confines of our mortal existence. Does this sensation not feel profoundly satisfying?"

"Everyone faces mortality eventually; why then chase after such an ephemeral concept as freedom? Only power endures eternally."

"Within the current Nine Domains World, we alone possess the capacity to endure. All who surpassed our strength have already perished on the crucible of the Heaven Challenge."

The scholar clad in white articulated these pronouncements with an air of placid certainty.

Ultimately, each individual harbors their distinct aspirations.

These profound matters represent divergent ideals for them.

To serve the Heavenly Dao is not a source of shame.

It is the embodiment of acting upon one's deeply held convictions.

And the Lord of the Dead Spirits, upon hearing these words, recognized the futility of further discourse.

Neither party could sway the other's perspective.

Both were unwavering idealists, each in their own right.

It was simply that the ideals of some necessitated liberty, while others pursued the acquisition of might.

"I wish to ascertain the identity of Ming Leng from his previous incarnation?" inquired the Lord of the Dead Spirits.

Ming Leng, his adopted son, was known to the Lord of the Dead Spirits in terms of his evident capabilities.

However, should Ming Leng diverge from his perceived identity, it implied that his true power had remained concealed.

Despite his meticulous precautions, he had not foreseen the Holy Court managing to place such a pivotal figure in proximity to him.

Fortunately, the scope of Ming Leng's awareness was limited.

Regarding the matter of Yin Qi permeating the mortal realm, he had divulged nothing to anyone.

Not even his own adopted son was privy to this information.

This represented one of the few fortunate developments thus far.

Provided that Xu Zimei could effectively safeguard that particular location.

The reason for this assurance stemmed from the Lord of the Dead Spirits' absolute confidence in Xu Zimei's formidable capabilities.

Unless a cultivator at the Hundred Million Daos realm were to emerge at this juncture, any opponent within the Ten Million Great Dao realm would find themselves unable to match Xu Zimei.

To be deemed invincible within one's own cultivation level was not a claim made lightly.

"If you find it simple enough, you may refer to him as Ming Leng.

However, our preference leans towards addressing him as the Ninth Refinement True Monarch," the scholar in white conveyed.

"With the very essence of Reincarnation Power meticulously shaping the Ninth Refinement physique, I hold no concern for any contingency plans you might have established."

"Yet, should anyone dare to impede his path, they shall be utterly annihilated."

"Ninth Refinement True Monarch," the Lord of the Dead Spirits slightly narrowed his eyes and murmured.

He then added, "You are likely to be met with disappointment."

"The contingency I put in place is not comparable to mere post-reincarnation survival."

"After all, he once stood as a representation of an entire epoch."

......

Within the swirling obsidian mist,

Although Xu Zimei's form remained obscured, his Divine Sense extended outwards, encompassing all surrounding phenomena.

Including the Lord of the Dead Spirits, who had initially been within his perceptive range, but abruptly, his aura vanished.

Naturally, Xu Zimei dismissed the notion of the Lord of the Dead Spirits having been slain.

Such an eventuality was virtually inconceivable.

It was far more probable that the Lord of the Dead Spirits had been ensnared.

Nonetheless, Xu Zimei struggled to comprehend what could possibly incapacitate a cultivator of the Lord of the Dead Spirits' caliber.

He extended his perception further, eventually detecting a distinct anomaly.

"Rules, is it..."

A novel rule had inexplicably manifested within the Netherworld Realm.

Xu Zimei was not unacquainted with the concept of rules; upon reaching the Dao Fruit stage, every cultivator had learned to harness the Force of Heavenly Rules.

During his confrontation with the True Martial Great Emperor, the realm beyond the Hundred Million Daos had been elucidated.

When a cultivator ascends beyond the Ten Million Great Dao and truly enters the Hundred Million realm, the inherent restrictions of the Great Dao render direct attainment of the Hundred Million Daos nearly impossible.

The True Martial Great Emperor had utilized the Yuan Central Continent as a supplement to his Dao, ultimately achieving Perfection with the Hundred Million Daos.

Upon truly entering the Hundred Million Daos, the Power of the Great Dao undergoes a fundamental transformation.

At this elevated stage, the Power of the Great Dao gains the ability to establish rules.

To manifest one's own dominion of regulation.

However, two critical points warrant careful consideration:

Firstly, while the creation of rules is permissible, they must secure the world's implicit endorsement.

It is akin to attempting to ignite flames within the vast expanse of the ocean; such an act is fundamentally impossible.

This is because the inherent incompatibility of water and fire represents a fundamental rule of the world.

Such a governing principle cannot be transgressed.

If the objective were merely to manifest flames that could engulf the ocean, any cultivator at the Dao Fruit stage could readily achieve it.

But to establish this as an immutable, perpetual rule, thereby ensuring that all water and fire could perpetually engage in mutual combustion in the future,

Impacting every sentient being across the world, that is an impossible feat.

The reason being, such a rule is not exclusive to the individual; it extends its influence to encompass all inhabitants of this world.

Consider a straightforward illustration:

Hypothetically, if an individual were to decree a rule whereby the sun would perpetually remain visible, never to set,

Then perpetual daylight would prevail, eradicating the very concept of night.

This alteration would not solely impact a single cultivator but would profoundly affect every mortal dwelling within the Nine Domains World.

Such a universally impactful rule would inevitably fail to garner the world's sanction.

However, if your actions align with the world's established principles.

For instance, you are in a vast plain and desire a volcano.

Then, such a creation is attainable.

This constructed volcano would be indistinguishable from any other naturally occurring volcano in existence.

This then becomes your governing principle.

Conversely, other volcanoes operate under the creator's fundamental laws.

As long as your principle does not fundamentally clash with the world's, it can endure.

The Holy Court apprehended the Lord of the Dead Spirits precisely because their established rule was sanctioned by the world itself.

......

That insight merely constituted the initial point.

To effectively wield principles, one must first commit to adhering to them.

The second crucial aspect to acknowledge is that the world's inherent principles possess limitations.

Without directly defying the heavens, escaping the confines of the Nine Domains World is an impossibility.

Consequently, any principles you devise are necessarily restricted within the boundaries of the Nine Domains.

Aspiring to formulate more potent principles is an endeavor bordering on the impossible.

The moment Xu Zimei began to perceive these principles, his focus sharpened, only to be interrupted as he suddenly knitted his brows.

This was because, within his sensory range, a distinct entity was steadily approaching.

The aura emanating from this entity was peculiar and unsettling.

While not outwardly displaying immense power, it carried an palpable sense of impending culmination, as if something monumental was brewing.

It resonated with the terrifying stillness of a nuclear arsenal, its outward appearance betraying nothing of its potential.

But once unleashed, its destructive force would command the world's undivided attention.

......

"At long last, someone has arrived," Xu Zimei voiced softly.

He had anticipated that luring the Lord of the Dead Spirits into a trap would inevitably precipitate a subsequent event.

Indeed, following the implementation of principles to ensnare the Lord of the Dead Spirits, his adversaries had arrived with palpable impatience.

Their objective was to unravel the enigmatic secrets surrounding the Lord of the Dead Spirits.

A wry smile touched Xu Zimei's lips: "Lord of the Dead Spirits, you are indebted to me for an immense favor this time!"

His form materialized gradually, stepping out into the open air.

Meanwhile, Ninth Refinement True Monarch was making his way towards the enveloping darkness.

As the adopted son of the Lord of the Dead Spirits, his familiarity with the Netherworld Realm was exceptionally profound.

His chosen disguise was exceptionally convincing.

Yet, there existed a single location within the realm that he had never dared to venture.

The Lord of the Dead Spirits had perpetually maintained a secluded presence there, forbidding any unauthorized entry.

Ninth Refinement True Monarch harbored a deep-seated fear of discovery, thus he never risked crossing that forbidden threshold.