"Put aside the Fierce Beasts for now."
"Those ancient creatures have been growing more active lately — their movements have become increasingly frequent."
"If this continues, they'll break through to the surface world sooner or later. It seems the power that's been keeping them bound is about to vanish."
"It would be far too much of a burden for Master to deal with them alone."
"If someone were to appear now — a top-tier expert on par with Master — to keep those ancient Fierce Beasts in check, that would actually be a good thing."
After a brief moment of shock, Yuan Shu began speaking in an earnest, flattering tone.
His own Master had said that this person was very likely above him in strength, yet Yuan Shu had described him as merely "on par" with his Master — naturally a bit of flattery.
Of course, beyond the flattery, Yuan Shu had voiced his genuine concerns as well.
The matter of the ancient creatures had always been a thorn in his Master's side, and his own abilities were far too limited to be of any help.
So the emergence of an expert on par with his Master — one who was also willing to deal with the ancient creatures — naturally made him happy.
Yet his words drew no response from Master Tang Chen, who simply let out a sigh.
"Master, why do you sigh?" Yuan Shu asked, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"This person's methods are ruthless. Though he targets Fierce Beasts, it also speaks to a cold and merciless nature. And given his formidable strength, it's impossible to say whether his arrival is fortune or misfortune."
Master Tang Chen spoke calmly.
"Master, this person did annihilate all the Fierce Beasts, but he doesn't seem to have slaughtered innocents indiscriminately. He doesn't really strike me as a villain," Yuan Shu ventured.
"We've only seen his first move, so we don't yet know his true intentions. Given his temperament, if anyone were to provoke him, they'd most likely not survive."
"Still, I believe he won't go around slaughtering innocents without reason. What concerns me is that he may view the survivors of the ancient era as abominations — and wage war against all of them."
"Those ancient Fierce Beasts are inherently savage and pose a great threat. If he kills them, so be it."
"But forces like the Gale Hunt Clan and other ancient factions — they have their own civilizations."
"Heaven allowed these races to survive from the ancient era. That was their fate. If cultivators of this age were to forcibly exterminate them, it would go against the will of Heaven."
"Moreover, relentless slaughter would only breed resentment among the ancient creatures. They already harbor distrust toward us. If we were to drive them to genuine fury — truly, there's no telling whether that would bring blessing or calamity."
When Master Tang Chen finished, Yuan Shu finally understood what his Master had meant by "fortune or misfortune."
Though his Master often taught him not to meddle in others' affairs — that other people's lives were their own destiny — the truth was that his Master cared deeply about the world.
Otherwise, why would he have expended so much effort erecting barrier formations to prevent the ancient creatures from returning to this world?
"Master, ancient creatures don't exist only in the Upper Realm of Reincarnation. Other worlds must have them too — other star domains, other Heavenly Rivers. They're bound to be everywhere."
"You yourself said that these ancient creatures can't be stopped."
"The only thing that has been keeping them sealed is some mysterious power hidden within the fabric of Heaven and Earth. If that power fades, they will inevitably return."
"You feared that the ancient creatures would slaughter the people of this age, so you exhausted every means to keep them sealed."
"But now you're worried that the people of this age will slaughter the ancient creatures in turn."
"So your true wish, Master, is for the cultivators of this age and the survivors of the ancient era to coexist — to live in peace?"
"Coexistence would naturally be the best outcome," Master Tang Chen said.
"Master, I have a question. If the survivors of the ancient era truly went to war against the cultivators of this age — which side would you choose? Or would you simply stay out of it?"
"A foolish question. I belong to this age, and so I naturally stand on this age's side. If the ancient survivors cannot coexist with us, then I will fight them to the bitter end — even if it costs me my life."
"Master is truly righteous," Yuan Shu said.