The No.1 Undercover in the Immortal World-Chapter 330 - 329 Yuxuan’s Wonderful Metaphor

"I also oppose,"

Dongfang Hongyue stood on the side of Fang Yu.

Soon, Zhang Biyu and Jiang Chenyu also voiced their opposition at the same time.

Yuxuan then looked towards the other side where the four male sect leaders had yet to state their opinions. Only after Yuxuan’s gaze turned to them did Baili Liuyun speak, "The Daoist Master proposes this to resolve the calamity, but the implementation of such a matter indeed faces obstacles. Why not discuss a feasible method?"

Compared to the straightforward opposition, the four male cultivators seemingly stood on the same side as Yuxuan.

Although Yuxuan wasn’t entirely clear, his meaning was obvious: If they didn’t act now and let some people die, the calamity would pass.

If they insisted on intervening and protected more people, the calamity would only get worse, even to the point of affecting them too.

As for what to choose, they all had an idea in their minds, but hesitated to say it out loud, especially since they were part of the Righteous Path, champions of justice—they naturally couldn’t directly voice their cold and merciless stance.

Behind closed doors, they criticized the fact that two from the Demon Sect had joined the ranks of the opposition!

Yuxuan initially thought that only Fang Yu would oppose, and after explaining the situation thoroughly to her, that would be the end of it. However, to his surprise, the opposition outstripped the supporters, who now did not dare to speak up.

Helplessly, Yuxuan looked at the discontented Fang Yu and sighed, "Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down and listen to what I have to say."

The crowd quieted down, all eyes on Yuxuan who sat at the head.

Yuxuan drew a Yin Yang Fish with a wave of his hand, explaining, "Heaven and Earth have their set patterns, the clear and turbid in the universe can be distinguished. The transformation between clarity and turbidity, the balance of Yin and Yang. Humans thrive on clear qi and perish in turbid qi—this is an established truth. Cultivators take in clear qi and expel turbid qi to achieve longevity.

In Great Zhou, there are tens of millions yearning for the path of cultivation, and the Demon Tribe also has tens of millions absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. Over the years, as clear qi diminishes and turbid qi increases, Yin and Yang fall into chaos, bringing the world to the brink of collapse. Thus, the calamity comes forth to rectify the clear and the turbid, to stabilize the cosmos."

Yuxuan fundamentally explained the origin of the calamity. Consider clear qi as food and turbid qi as waste. When people eat food, they also excrete waste, which in turn can help new food to grow; this process embodies the principle of the transformation between clarity and turbidity.

But when there are too many people, the speed of transformation cannot keep up with the rate of consumption.

Therefore, to maintain the balance of this system, the only solution is to keep the population to a certain level. Exceeding that, people need to be culled.

It’s a ruthless approach, but that’s the will of Heaven.

Every time the calamity commences, it’s a warning from this world.

In the past, Enlightened Realm Cultivators stand as guardians in their respective regions, only serving as a deterrent, maintaining balance without actually entering the fray. Even if they were to take action, it was to contain each other, with the main battlefield involving cultivators beneath the Upper Realm.

In such conflict, countless will die or be wounded.

This time, however, the death of Daoist Master Huang Long broke this convention. With the Demon Tribe killing an Enlightened Realm Cultivator first, they touched the sensitive nerves of the Central Plains people. Then, with the Great Desert stirring, the pressure on the Central Plains became immense, and the top cultivators had to intervene for they truly are the mainstays.

Once they intervened, the war ended at an unimaginably fast pace.

Previously, Yuxuan hadn’t grasped the essence of the calamity, but after the battle and observing the night sky, he realized the reason for it, weighed down by the gravity of the situation. As the highest cultivator in the Central Plains and leader of the Righteous Path, he had to step forward and guide everyone down the right path.

In Yuxuan’s demonstration, the black swirl of the Yin Yang Fish gradually expanded, soon engulfing the entire white swirl.

As for the consequences, all the cultivators present understood.

Previously, Yuxuan had said that humans thrive on clear qi and perish in the turbid. If only turbid qi remains in this world, where would there be any chance for life?

Even for cultivators like them, there were no exceptions.

At this point, even Fang Yu fell silent; she couldn’t voice opposition anymore. It was not because she feared for her own life, but rather she was bewildered for a moment: To save some, others must be killed. Was such an action truly right?

But to do otherwise would mean the death of everyone. Was it right to bring greater disaster for a moment of kindness?

Fang Yu had no answers and felt it was not right.

Yet there were only two paths before them, and both seemed wrong.

At this moment, Dongfang Hongyue suddenly remembered a question she had encountered during the trial in the Moon God Ruins.

When you need to sacrifice a portion of people to save a greater number of others, what would you do?

At the time, Dongfang Hongyue didn’t really understand why such a question suddenly arose; she had answered casually.

"Save the majority."

Then she passed the test, but later, in conversation with Zhang Biyu and Liu Ji, Zhang Biyu’s answer was, "Let nature take its course."

Not to save anyone; whoever is meant to die will naturally do so.

As for Liu Ji, his answer was even more straightforward: "What’s it got to do with me?"

Both of their answers also passed, which showed that any answer to that question was acceptable, causing Dongfang Hongyue to feel that the question was meaningless, merely there to fill the trial.

Now facing a similar predicament, Dongfang Hongyue couldn’t help but contemplate.

Had the Moon God faced the same dilemma as they did now? When taking life is to protect life, who should be killed and who should be saved?

The Peach Blossom Secret Realm Conference entered a stalemate for the first time.

Everyone present had risen to their positions not through emotion but rationality and knew what was right, but who would be the first to support such a plan?

And furthermore, if the details of this meeting were leaked in the future, the first to agree would surely be the target of public scorn.

Being accused oneself is bearable; however, the sect involved would be implicated as well.

At that time, Yuxuan came up with a good idea.

"I know that it’s very difficult for everyone to make this decision, and I know none of you are afraid to die, but we cannot act impulsively. Therefore, let’s decide by a vote. Including myself, there are nine of us. We’ll cast anonymous votes, with the minority submitting to the majority,"

With a wave of Yuxuan’s hand, a piece of white paper appeared before everyone.

Everyone wrote their agreement or disagreement on the paper and passed it on to Yuxuan. The result of the voting came out swiftly.

Seven voted in favor, one abstained, and one opposed.

No one pursued who abstained or objected. It was sufficient that most had agreed. Let the final abstention and opposition be a last gesture of honor.

At least, everyone wasn’t consistently cold-hearted and ruthless.

"Now that things have come to this point, for the upcoming battle, please restrain your subordinates. If the enemy does not send Upper Realm Cultivators, you should not take action either,"

The crowd agreed in succession, and thus the meeting came to an end.

The sect leaders left quietly, and after everyone had gone, Fang Yu suddenly spoke up, "How many people have to die before this massacre is over?"

Yuxuan shook his head, giving no answer.

"It all follows the Heavenly Mandate!"

"Even with your cultivation level reaching the sky and piercing the earth, you can’t defy the Heavenly Mandate?"

Fang Yu looked at Yuxuan intently, while Yuxuan could only give a bitter smile, "Understanding the heavens is easy, defying them is difficult; the Heavenly Mandate cannot be defied."

He looked at Fang Yu and added another sentence.

"All cultivators think they are defying the heavens and changing fate. In reality, each person is like a fish in water, wishing to defy the heavens and change their fate; they can only leap out of the pond. But being fishes, how can they leave the water?"

"Is the Heavenly Mandate truly inviolable?"

Fang Yu’s Dao heart began to waver.

If from the start people progress along a predetermined destiny, then what meaning is there in everything she’s doing now?

"Perhaps it is possible, as long as what’s in this pond from the beginning is not a fish at all."

After Yuxuan finished speaking, he left the Peach Blossom Secret Realm. Not long after, Fang Yu was also sent out of the Secret Realm.

She was still pondering Yuxuan’s mysterious analogy, momentarily without an answer.

And thinking about how the Heavenly Mandate cannot be defied, what about the love trial between her and Lin Yun...

Alas...

Fang Yu sighed deeply.

When she had first heard of Lin Yun’s disappearance, she had quietly been annoyed and saddened for a long time. Later, when she heard that Lin Yun was safe, she finally felt relieved.

Upon hearing from Lin Yu that Lin Yun had voluntarily gone undercover to protect those he loved in the Grassland, Fang Yu felt both distressed and sweet.

Lin Yun must have been worried about her getting hurt in battle.

With all these back-and-forths, Lin Yun had truly taken root in her heart.

Indeed, one couldn’t escape the love trial.

So, would she hurt Lin Yun in the future?

Fang Yu’s feelings became complicated once again.

Many times, she nearly gave up struggling and wanted to let things take their course and simply fall in love with Lin Yun.

But thinking she might kill Lin Yun, she kept restraining herself from thinking about him.

Yet the more she restrained herself, the deeper she fell into the trap.

Today’s vote made Fang Yu realize that she might face such a choice in the future.

Kill Lin Yun to save the world, or for Lin Yun’s sake, disregard everyone else.

This time, she chose to abstain.

She didn’t know which choice was correct.

And after making her choice, she felt she had let down Lin Yun.

If she truly loved him, she should have firmly opposed it.

In any case, Fang Yu’s mood was extremely heavy now.

Just then, a messenger came to report, "The Grassland Divine Child is challenging us outside the city!"

All alone in her room, Fang Yu soon heard Dongfang Hongyue’s voice, "I will go to battle."

"There’s no need for overkill—to kill a chicken, one does not use a butcher’s cleaver. I can handle it."

This was the Flower Fairy.

"You all need not argue. Let me go and meet him!"

This was Lin Yu.

Fang Yu was puzzled, how could each one of you be so eager for battle?

Originally, Lin Yu had only told her that Lin Yun had established a tribe in the Grassland and caught the eye of the Snow Maiden, which is why he went there to go undercover. At that time, Lin Yun didn’t have the identity of a Divine Child yet.

This time, they knew Lin Yun was a Divine Child but didn’t explain it to Fang Yu.

It was because Fang Yu hadn’t found an opportunity to ask. If she had asked Lin Yu, of course, Lin Yu would not have kept it a secret. Yet Fang Yu was still entangled within her own heart. Although she cared deeply about Lin Yun’s safety, she didn’t dare let others know she was particularly concerned about him.

Little did she know, three people had already set their sights on her.

"There’s no need for you to fight over this, let me do it!"

Fang Yu stepped out of her room, volunteering herself. She was so frustrated and couldn’t wait to have a fight with someone, to release the pent-up emotions in her heart.

"No!"x3

The uniform trio of objections left Fang Yu dumbfounded.

"???"

What, am I not fit to fight now?