"You’re so strong—why didn’t you help Ji Xuan? Why wait until I killed him to show yourself?"
Shen Mo, while sensing the will of Heaven, suddenly asked.
Throughout the course of destiny, the will of Heaven had never appeared.
The voice of the will of Heaven was completely devoid of emotion. "From the moment I was born, I have always been incomplete."
"Ji Xuan slew the Undying Demon Emperor and naturally became the Child of Heaven. This is the rule."
"But when he joined the demons for his own gain and harbored killing intent toward all living beings of this world, he naturally lost the protection of this realm. This, too, is the rule."
Only then did Shen Mo nod. After a brief pause, he asked again, "That place I sensed earlier—was it the Greater Heaven and Earth?"
The will of Heaven replied, "Indeed. I can barely sense the existence of the Greater Heaven and Earth."
Shen Mo nodded. "It’s time to return."
In the blink of an eye, he returned to the Xuanwu Fortress.
One day later, upon learning the whole story, all the Dharma Manifestation cultivators from the various Demon Suppression Fortresses rushed over in unison.
A grand celebration banquet was held in the martial arena of Xuanwu Fortress.
Zhang Longxiang and Zhu Xuanji, being the closest to Shen Mo, sat on either side of him.
The other Dharma Manifestation cultivators were seated in order based on their relationships and strength.
But with Shen Mo silent, no one else dared speak either.
Zhang Longxiang was the first to rise. "Everyone, let us offer a toast to General Shen!"
"If not for General Shen, we would have all perished due to Ji Xuan’s schemes, and this world might have fallen into his demonic clutches."
Seeing this, the others quickly stood and offered their toasts to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo smiled and nodded.
"The demon race has now been eradicated from this world."
"From today onward, there is no more need for the Demon Suppression Fortresses."
"You may all leave the Sea of Demon Suppression and return to your own lives."
At his words, everyone froze.
Some were joyful, some worried, and others filled with melancholy.
Some truly did come from the Jing Kingdom, from the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, or from the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas.
But after thousands of years, those places had changed beyond recognition.
Even if they returned, it would be to a land both familiar and unfamiliar.
And many more had been born and raised in the Sea of Demon Suppression.
To them, the Jing Kingdom, the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, and the Four Seas were distant, unknown places.
They had only heard tales of those distant lands from the Demon Suppression Guards who had once recruited them.
To be sent there now instead of returning home only filled them with fear.
Moreover, the sudden appearance of unfamiliar cultivators in other lands would inevitably cause problems.
After all, resources were limited.
With more cultivators, more conflicts were bound to arise.
Shen Mo looked around, taking in everyone’s expressions and emotions.
He smiled. "The Sea of Demon Suppression will remain, but there’s no more need to resist the demons."
"Those born and raised here may continue to live, grow, and rise here."
"What I’m giving you is the freedom to choose."
"Four Sea Eyes have appeared within the Sea of Demon Suppression. Through them, you can reach the Four Seas and from there head to the Jing Kingdom or the Ten Thousand Demon Nation."
"Whether you choose to leave or stay, all are welcome."
"All these years, you’ve worked hard guarding the Sea of Demon Suppression!"
With that, Shen Mo drained his cup in one go.
"Thank you, General Shen!"
Suddenly, a Demon Suppression Guard cried out, eyes brimming with tears. "Damn it, I can finally go home!"
Shen Mo looked closely—it was Shi Dingyue, the very man who had guided him when he first arrived at the fortress.
He couldn’t help but smile.
Shi Dingyue was also a conscripted Demon Suppression Guard.
His words seemed to light a signal.
All the Demon Suppression Guards roared in unison, "Thank you, General Shen!"
In an instant, their voices surged like a tidal wave.
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