Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

Sure enough, Lin Yao gritted her teeth and said, "Our ancestors generously took in those demon cultivators and demon beasts, even going so far as to designate sparsely populated areas for them to live.

Child, you've slain demon beasts, right?

You should know that most of those creatures possess a demon core from birth, allowing them to absorb spiritual power and unleash great strength. Even a newborn demon beast can slaughter an entire town of ordinary people overnight!

Back then, the immortal sects were divided into two factions. One believed that strictly limiting the number of demon beasts and cooperating with demon cultivators to control their beastly nature would allow humans and demons to coexist peacefully. The other, including the Black Tortoise Pavilion, believed that since they were not of our race, their hearts must differ, and that demon beasts, being bloodthirsty, should be eradicated for peace and stability."

"The Wilderness World is left with only demon beasts, and no human race, could it be…" Jiang Yuanxin's heart sank.

The other party nodded and said, "That's right, humans ultimately lost. Those demon cultivators outwardly complied with the demands of the major sects, but secretly formed some ludicrous Demon Realm Alliance, initially restraining demon beasts to lull us into a false sense of security while covertly breeding and recruiting more demon beasts into this world.

When the time was ripe, the demon cultivators united against the sects; the demon beasts took the opportunity to massacre ordinary people.

The sect disciples all had parents and families; when they wished to protect the towns of ordinary people, they faced enemies on both sides. When united against demon cultivators, they could only helplessly watch their loved ones be slaughtered.

Ultimately, that war ended in a tragic defeat for the human race, and the Demon Realm Alliance proposed terms to seize this world. Humans admitted defeat and ceased the fighting, agreeing to bring the surviving ordinary people to other worlds to live, or else be slaughtered to the end."

Though brief, the words skimmed over countless tragedies. Jiang Yuan's hands trembled slightly as he asked, "And what about the ascended immortals? Isn't there justice, aren't there deities to intervene?"

"The human race has ascended immortals, and naturally, so does the demon race," Lin Yao sighed and said, "According to sect records, when the struggle for this world occurred, a battle also erupted in the celestial realm. Perhaps it's because each side wanted to help their own race gain better living space, but since it happened in the celestial realm, who can truly know what transpired?

In any case, the Heavenly Dao is merciless. To preserve our last lineage, we ultimately signed a ceasefire agreement, escorting the surviving ordinary people to other worlds, leaving this place entirely to the demon beasts.

That's why the sect's rule is—only save humans, all else are left to fend for themselves!

If it weren't for the fact that we cultivators need to rely on the power of heaven and earth born from this world, we would have left long ago. We can't leave, nor can we kill them all, so what can we do but hide away and keep our peace?"

The garden fell silent, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

Jiang Yuan spoke softly, "But, senior, Senior Zhou is a creature born of heaven and earth, not a demon cultivator. He is a spirit of this world and should not be entangled in the grievances between the two races, right?"

Lin Yao glanced at him and snorted lightly, "If he had honestly confessed back then, I naturally wouldn't be biased. Firstly, Zhou Jian shouldn't have deceived me; secondly, the one who poisoned him was Xuanyuan Yangguang, and if he did that, there must have been a reason."

Jiang Yuan: ???

"Senior, you know Xuanyuan Yangguang?" He thought, that guy poisoned the old dragon and sealed the stone tiger—sounds like a ruthless character, yet you seem to appreciate him?

The jade pendant given to the old dragon was a token of affection! What's going on between you two?

"I met him once," she nodded slowly, lost in reminiscence with a faint smile, "Xuanyuan Yangguang was born in the wrong era. He was born in a very remote mountain village, so remote that when the humans were relocated, they failed to find and move them.

In a demon-beast-threatening environment, a young human without a master's guidance relied on a tattered secret technique manual to step by step reach the peak. He simply explained his journey of attainment, within which countless hardships must be hidden.

If he were born in an age before the demon beasts invaded, Xuanyuan Yangguang would certainly have ascended to immortality!

At that time, he visited the Black Tortoise Pavilion to ponder the Dao and cultivate.

We talked through the night, and he once predicted that if this world couldn't be rectified, it would surely collapse. Now, his prophecy has come true, but I don't know where Xuanyuan Yangguang is.

Though not explicitly stated, I could tell he wanted our invaded homeland to regain its glory. To drive out those demon beasts and demon cultivators, to bring back the human bloodline and create a prosperous era for the human race again!"

Saying this, she fixed her bright eyes on Jiang Yuan, speaking solemnly, "Since Zhou Jian was born as a spirit of heaven and earth, he should bear the responsibility for the rise and fall of this world! If he had been utilized by Xuanyuan Yangguang, perhaps none of this would have happened, and the human race would have returned to set things right, preventing the wilderness from losing balance and falling."

Seeing he hadn't responded, Lin Yao's emotions stirred as she spoke excitedly, "Child, do you know what a world falling means?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head, expressionless.

"It means that heaven and earth can no longer support us; our world is on the brink of collapse and extinction! Those insatiable demon beasts and demon cultivators have absorbed far too much of the heaven and earth spiritual energy; they are the ones who have destroyed our world!"

She gestured a large circle, "At the beginning of the world's creation, the spiritual power of heaven and earth was just this much. When humans were dominant, most were ordinary people; only a minority were cultivators, who could offer various conveniences to ordinary people. Even ascension to immortality did not demand excessive appropriation.

But when this world became filled with demon beasts, they immediately absorbed massive amounts of spiritual power upon birth, then mindlessly destroyed without understanding how to give back to the world! Xuanyuan Yangguang was right! We must set things right if we are to protect the world from collapse!"

Clearly foreseeing the future but unable to change it, Jiang Yuan suddenly understood why Xuanyuan Yangguang was ruthless and why he admonished Stone Tiger. If you want to turn the tide and save the world, you must have thunderous means.

"Since the surviving humans have already been migrated to other worlds, only human cultivators remain." He pondered for a moment and said, "Since there are no worries left, why not unleash destruction?

Ancestors of the demon race can bear the blood debt for their descendants' quest for a pure land. Though later-born demon race did not stain themselves with blood, they are still descendants of invaders, benefiting from their ancestors' ignoble gains and thus should bear the responsibility! Why can't the human cultivator ancestors emulate this, using a generation to end the war and let the descendants return to the homeland?"

Lin Yao's eyes brightened upon hearing this, her face filled with admiration for him. "Good! This is a man of true character! Child, if you had come a few years earlier, I would certainly have taken you as a closed-door disciple and taught you well. It's just a pity... my lifespan is nearing its end; we are fated but not destined.

Xuanyuan Yangguang thought the same way. But this Slaughter Dao, unless his mind is exceptionally steadfast, can affect one's cultivation journey, potentially never touching upon their true Dao.

It's important to know that orthodox cultivators do not advocate slaughter, especially for those of our generation born when demon beasts had already occupied the Wilderness World many years ago, with the general trend beyond recovery and no choice but to live in seclusion. Only Xuanyuan Yangguang, who fought his way through, did not ally with any cultivator and was willing to bear repeated blood debts in hopes of overturning the heavens and earth, slaughtering demon beasts and reviving a human prosperity."

Sadly, now the Wilderness World is falling with demon beasts and demon cultivators rampant, yet Xuanyuan Yangguang has disappeared without a trace, likely dying before his mission was completed.

After listening to the human and demon races' disputes, the side quest still wasn't completed. Jiang Yuan thought for a moment and took out two "Immortal Peaches" from his storage bag, "Senior, these are Nine Netherworld Peaches I acquired by chance; eating one can extend life by a hundred years.

However, there's an incorrect method of cultivating these peaches, so while obtaining lifespan, it comes with some vague karmic consequences. I figured Senior Xuanyuan is still unaccounted for; he might still need Senior Zhou's assistance. Could you please consider the benefit of him being alive for his purpose and help detox him?"