Chapter 1107: Chapter 322: Feng Zhaoyang Arc (5)
Many passersby are just like them, fleeing from the Sixth State.
Usually, the mountain pass strictly denies such movements. There are clear barriers between the states, primarily to ensure each state’s development without indiscriminate movement.
Otherwise, everyone would know the First State is the most developed and would flock there, leaving the other states stunted.
Especially the relatively backward Sixth State.
If the passage between states was completely open, over time the Sixth State would become desolate, reducing the Six Great States of mortals to five, allowing demons to overtake the Sixth State.
This might seem trivial, but actually, it’s not. The states provide strategic depth. It’s impossible for everyone to crowd together. Without absolute defense, if disaster strikes, all eggs in one basket would break.
But this situation is different. Now the flames of brutal war are burning in the Sixth State, forcing the mountain pass to open, allowing refugees to flee. Now it’s filled with people escaping, but ordinary people can’t escape without someone like Lu Qingyin and a Cultivator leading them.
An industry has emerged: helping refugees escape.
Cultivators take money to help various people leave the Sixth State, with fees vastly exorbitant—far beyond most people’s reach, starting at a hundred silver per person. More if they’re wealthy commoners from a large family—a chance to make a fortune.
"I’m already very fortunate; at least I can leave the Sixth State, but most people there must endure the ravages of war, including Sister Qin Xiu. She helped me, but she herself remains trapped in the Sixth State’s war, which is a kind of torment."
"So why must there be war?"
"Why can’t there be peace?"
Lu Qingyin couldn’t understand why mortals always wage war. Her eyes, whether from the rain’s barrier failing or sheer tears, were veiled in a quiet mist as she sat motionless in the carriage, clutching books, deeply sorrowful.
"Why is there war?"
The female Cultivator seemed to hear Lu Qingyin’s thoughts, "The root of war is the rulers’ injustice and folly. You can’t expect every generation of rulers to care for the populace. Founding emperors are usually formidable, but later generations rarely match the first emperor’s stature, and each subsequent emperor fares worse."
"If any emperor is foolish, it all falls apart. Human lives are squandered, taxes become oppressive, and how could things not fall into disarray?"
"The people abhor war, but it repeatedly comes, essentially due to a small group. Their cowardice and folly shape this result; they think they can escape unscathed, yet they’re the most miserable, even having their ancestral graves excavated."
The female Cultivator spoke plainly. To them, as Cultivators, such scenarios were countless; the deaths never varied. The first time might shock, but eventually, it’s just that.
Mortals are merely mortals, laws are just laws, and Cultivators are simply Cultivators. Although seemingly independent, once any side decays, everything rots.
The female Cultivator had no interest in further elaboration.
Ultimately if chaos reigns, her training merely slows; death is unlikely, unless like other reckless Cultivators, she mismanages things.
"Will this war ever calm?"
Lu Qingyin couldn’t help but ask. She saw many turned away at the pass, disheartened, dejected returning figures, drifting in the rain, helpless like drowning fish.
"Wars will conclude; once deaths mount, they naturally cease. But don’t ask me when this will end—I’m uninterested."
"As a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, my greatest mercy is refraining from further chaos in this all-encompassing war,"
The female Cultivator stated calmly.
Just as Lu Qingyin prepared to ask more, her attention sharpened:
"Enough, someone’s coming."
"Remember what I told you, you’re headed to the Third State, you’re local to the Third State."
"Pick any place in the Third State for specifics, what you need to say, I’ve told you beforehand. Don’t fail now. Avoid conflict with the mountain pass Cultivators; they’ve relented. And without them, you’d have no escape route. Speak gratefully, kindly!"
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