Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 1148 - 342: Hard Times Are Over

The East Sea offered a faint smile, his voice dropping as he spoke, "Guen might be delirious, but he did voice one truth."

"And what truth is that?"

A peculiar shift in tone accompanied the East Sea’s next words as he stated plainly, "When the Old Ancestor conceived the cultivation technique and established the Ghost Race, it was never an act of benevolence."

Chen Yan’s heart gave a jolt. "What do you mean by that?"

The East Sea let out a laugh, though his eyes remained devoid of emotion. "Consider a hammer used for driving nails. When you’re intent on hammering, do you concern yourself with whether the hammer sustains nicks or scratches? If one hesitates to wield a hammer for fear of minor damage, then what purpose does its existence serve? After all, a hammer’s sole function is to strike. Should it break, simply procure another."

A chuckle escaped the East Sea as he noticed Chen Yan’s bewildered expression. "A Saint, treading the path of the Heavenly Dao, ceases to be human. If no longer human, then mercy holds no sway!"

Chen Yan recalled his discussions with Guen within the library, and suddenly, everything clicked into place! The success of the Ghost Race Chieftain was never measured by the contentment of the Ghost Race populace or the safeguarding of their collective interests. Instead, it was judged by whether the Old Ancestor was pleased. Should the Old Ancestor be displeased, regardless of how impeccably the Ghost Race was governed, it was still an offense! Conversely, if the Old Ancestor was pleased, even if the entirety of the Ghost Race were annihilated and all eighteen tribes extinguished, it would merely necessitate the replacement with a new set of 'eighteen tribes'! Such occurrences were not unprecedented in the history of the Ghost Race! Since the inception of the Ghost Race, the so-called eighteen tribes have been supplanted countless times!

If the hammer is broken, get a new one. The hammer was forged to smash nails. You cannot forgo its use merely out of concern for the hammer.

·

Beyond the Inner City, the Black Wood Tribe’s settlement presented a significantly more somber visage than prior. The previously vibrant flow of people had vanished, replaced by numerous Black Wood Tribe samurai patrolling in organized squads, exuding an aura of menacing Qi. Chen Yan even observed evidence of damage to structures within the village, and here and there, peculiar dark smudges marred the ground. Having witnessed bloodshed before, he swiftly identified the hue left by spattered blood upon the earth, subsequently dried. Its absorption into the soil meant that a simple wash with water would prove insufficient for cleansing. The sight of such bloodstains on certain village thoroughfares, coupled with the malevolent Qi emanating from the patrolling samurai, caused Chen Yan to become secretly vigilant.

The East Sea maintained an appearance of tranquility, perceiving Chen Yan’s shift in demeanor. He stated calmly, "No need for alarm. A minor disturbance occurred some days ago, but order has since been restored."

Chen Yan remained quiet for a beat before responding, his voice low, "This stability was achieved because a sufficient number were eliminated, correct?"

"Precisely. Eliminate all dissenters, and peace prevails."

Their conversation continued as they traversed the village. An oppressive silence enveloped the settlement, with doors firmly shut, lending an unexpected air of spaciousness to the narrow streets. Occasionally, a patrol of samurai would halt abruptly upon spotting the East Sea, standing at attention with solemnity, observing the pair until they had passed before resuming their rounds.

"The day following my execution of those Black Wood Tribe elders, another wave of unrest rippled through." The East Sea slowed his pace, speaking in a hushed tone to Chen Yan. "Tribal elders are also individuals, and as such, they possess personal ambitions. Those elders – did they not all have kin, families, children, or trusted confidants? Those individuals depended upon the elders for their livelihood, often forming entire households deeply entrenched within the tribe. Once the elders were struck down, it was only natural that their influence within the tribe needed eradication. People, after all, are loath to relinquish their vested interests. When cornered, they resort to desperate measures. Even with foreknowledge of certain defeat, some will still choose to fight until their final breath."

Chen Yan nodded, inquiring, "You… how many lives did you take?"

The East Sea gazed skyward. "One or two thousand."

Chen Yan’s heart constricted.

The East Sea then uttered a soft laugh. "That is actually not a substantial number. I do not harbor a particular fondness for massacres. I extended clemency to the families of those elders who demonstrated willingness to submit. The one or two thousand individuals dispatched were those who, in their desperation, attempted to instigate an uprising. Conveniently, I required a display of force to subjugate the entire tribe—whereas I personally executed nine elders within the hall, an act witnessed by few. Without witnessing it firsthand, many would remain unafraid. Therefore, since those individuals persisted in their defiance, when they presented themselves, I did not hesitate to utilize their demise as a means to assert authority and instill fear."

Chen Yan gradually slowed his pace, casting a glance back towards a recent intersection, where a significant expanse of blackened earth lay upon the ground…

Finally, Chen Yan let out a breath, a significant thought arising in his mind, and he inquired, "How much time has elapsed since I was confined within?"

"From the moment I ushered you into that structure until this present occasion, a span of twenty-four days has transpired."

Twenty-four days; it had not yet reached a full month.

Chen Yan had spent three years and four months within the confines of the library, while externally, a mere twenty-four days had elapsed.

The disparity in temporal flow was indeed immense.

"Then... the Heaven-Crashing Ceremony has already concluded?" Chen Yan murmured with a sigh.

"It has concluded," the East Sea responded, casting a glance at Chen Yan. "Why, do you find it lamentable? You did not require the ceremony to bolster your cultivation."

Chen Yan offered a negative shake of his head. "That is not the case. After all, my intention was always to partake, but ultimately, I was unable to. There exists a feeling of regret, stemming from the missed opportunity to witness the celebrated Heaven-Crashing Ceremony of the Ghost Race within this Domain Realm."