587 A restless heart

He was a practitioner who upheld Taoist principles and took it upon himself to save all living beings, but the white jade crown and Taoist robe before him were so ironic, which shocked and confused him.

Huo Lieyang smiled slightly, inwardly lamenting that time waits for no one, and that martial kings emerge one after another. First, there was that young man He, whose single blade caused turmoil in the hearts of the people of the dynasty, revealing to many the fragility of the dynasty.

He thought to himself, "It's all thanks to that kid He Chen who tested the waters for us and found out that the royal city is really weakening."

That's why I was able to so recklessly devour several remote villages nearby.

The responses to the sacrifices are now far greater than before; such power is truly immense, almost divine! My time has come!

After carefully observing the surroundings and finding no one with backup plans, a hint of caution flickered in his eyes. He smiled inwardly, deciding to stall for a moment and wait for Yan Fei, the person secretly left behind by the Fire Spirit Sect, to join forces.

If the two of them work together, they might be able to take this person down.

I've just been rejuvenated; it's not worth risking my life.

Even if he were to kill this person, he could not guarantee that he would emerge unscathed.

Huo Lieyang smiled gently, then said with a hint of sharpness, "Since ancient times, Taoism has taken it upon itself to save all living beings, adhering to the principles of non-action and following nature."

As Taoist disciples, the Fire Spirit Sect's outward disciples naturally uphold benevolence.

For the sake of all living beings, and for the greater good of all the people of Yansha Prefecture.

He paused for a moment, staring into the distance, but his words revealed a sense of composure and confidence, while his eyes gleamed with cunning.

He continued, "Look at my appearance, how could I be haunted by evil spirits?"

Seeing how I have promoted the Taoist philosophy of saving the world and transformed this barren and desolate land of Yansha Prefecture into such a prosperous place.

The ancestors of Taoism will also feel that their expectations for you have finally been fulfilled and carried forward.

Ren Pingsheng secretly hoped that Huo Laozu (Fire Ancestor) Huo Lieyang might have some hidden tricks up his sleeve. He couldn't help but find Huo Lieyang's shameless sophistry laughable, and continued...

'What utter nonsense! Trying to rejuvenate yourself? I wonder what the price you'll pay for it.'

Have you really broken through?

The moment he finished speaking, an uncontrollable killing intent surged within him.

His eyes flashed coldly, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on his sword, as if to say, 'Do you have another trick up your sleeve? If not, then we'll settle this with a sword.'

Ren Ping's blood surged like fire, and his true energy circulated openly, causing the air within a ten-zhang radius to slowly solidify.

Huo Lieyang, wielding a dazzling red three-foot-long, palm-width longsword, slightly changed his expression and said in a low voice, "Sophistry is nothing more than a weak person's way of escaping reality."

A true strong person is brave enough to face their mistakes and dare to bear all the consequences.

Moreover, what is wrong with making a few sacrifices for the future of Yansha Prefecture?

The Holy Emperor also slaughtered countless people back then; rivers of blood flowed and mountains of corpses piled up.

'Fire Spirit Sect, Yan Feilai is here. What kind of petty thief dares to cause trouble in Yansha Prefecture!'

A shout, as loud as thunder, echoed across the desolate and cold night of Yansha Prefecture, making the sand and stones within a ten-mile radius seem to tremble slightly.

The townspeople, who had already been awakened, hid in their cellar rice bins in fear, lest they be caught in the crossfire.

Many others were secretly watching and praying.

Upon hearing the voice, Huo Lieyang's face lit up with joy. He thought to himself, 'He really came after all. It wasn't for nothing that I've treated him well, with beautiful women serving him.'

They even taught us the secrets to immortality; their arrival was truly timely.

His slightly tense nerves relaxed a little, and a hint of relief and anticipation flashed in his eyes.

Yan Feilai was also a master in the Fire Spirit Sect, with unfathomable strength, no less than his own.

However, since he was getting a bit older than me and breakthroughs seemed a long way off, he volunteered to be sent out to have some fun.

With him there, the two of them working together should be able to deal with this man in black without harming themselves.

It would be best to kill this person to eliminate any future troubles.

His eyes were chilling and piercing; he thought to himself, 'If I find out who this person is connected to in the city, I will meticulously count their relatives and relatives within nine generations, leaving no one alive.'

Looking out from the direction of the mines outside the city, a figure could be seen flying rapidly from afar, appearing as a red flame descending from the sky, as fast as a shooting star.

Huo Lieyang chuckled inwardly, thinking, 'As expected of Brother Yan, he always seems to favor a long red robe.'

The man who arrived quickly, riding a flying sword, wearing a fiery red robe, with a handsome face and a murderous aura in his eyes, was none other than Yan Feilai.

In the city of Yansha, the Huo family's residence was surrounded by carved beams and painted rafters, a sight to behold. But now, chaotic sounds filled the air, and with the attack of the Demon Slayer Division, flames suddenly soared into the sky.

Outside the city of Yansha, low and chaotic buildings reek of a mixture of rotting vegetables, moldy grains, and long-unwashed bodies, with thatched huts standing in the background.

People huddled together for warmth, wearing tattered clothes, their faces etched with anger and helplessness.

With increasingly severe exploitation, life seems to have been reduced to the most basic needs: food, shelter, and safety.

But none of this is enough; they struggle to survive, battling poverty and hardship every day.

There is no safety to speak of. Adults and young people who have grown a little taller are their targets, regardless of gender.

The Huo family wanted them to work in the mines, and other business activities were monopolized by the Huo family and its affiliated families.

You have to pay taxes for cutting firewood, fishing, and irrigating, unless a few members of your family are willing to work in the mines, in which case you can be exempted from some of the taxes.

Those who were strong and young were forced to go to the mines to reduce their families' taxes.

But these people never returned; they were never seen coming back.

The remaining elderly and young, helpless people, can only desperately try to survive.

Hearing the sounds of swords and spears coming from the direction of the Huo family in the distance, along with the cries of the dead and wounded, many people were filled with fear.

A dark-skinned man of about seventeen or eighteen, as thin as a bamboo pole, cautiously peered out through the crack in the door.

The light outside was dim, so I picked up a stool, stood on tiptoe, and peered through the gaps at the distant flames soaring into the sky.

Looking at his younger brother, who was still fast asleep at home, he hesitated for a moment.

At this moment, an old man in the room was also awakened.

Seeing her eldest grandson's thin frame standing on the stool, she quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Come down quickly, don't look, you'll cause trouble."

He carefully took a few steps forward to his eldest grandson, grabbed his arm, and prepared to gently help him down.

The eldest grandson, unable to contain his impulse, clenched his fist.

He said in a low, excited voice, "Grandpa, it seems someone is causing trouble at the Huo family's place, and it's even worse than before. I want to go and see."