"To be born naturally and to die of old age is the natural Law of heaven and earth, while Cultivators walking the Slaughter Dao are violating this rule. The more people they kill, the stronger the resentment they carry."
"But don't we also take the lives of others in our struggles?"
Yue Bai looked somewhat perplexed; could it be that they too would suffer retaliation?
"As Cultivators, a small amount of resentment is naturally nothing to worry about. Even if we don't learn specific Cultivation Techniques to erode the resentment, it will automatically dissipate after a certain period of time. Some sects can discern their disciples' killers from thousands of miles away, mostly relying on this method."
Su Youyi shook her head and continued explaining to Yue Bai.
"However, those who walk the Slaughter Dao use killing as their source of strength and not only do they not disperse the resentment, but they also let it expand continuously. The consequence of this is that one day, once it surpasses a critical threshold, it results in backlash."
"Quantitative changes cause qualitative changes."
Liang Yi interjected from the side.
"Mhm, Senior Brother is right."
Su Youyi felt that the Senior Brother's words were very concise and to the point.
"Furthermore, this backlash, as the Realm increases and the resentment grows, only becomes stronger. At the very least, cultivation will regress, and at worst, one could be consumed by resentment, either transforming into a mere monster of slaughter or directly having their Divine Soul annihilated!"
Su Youyi's expression was serious. In the Mystical Mechanism Continent, where there is no strict adherence to forms of power, the Slaughter Dao is truly a forbidden path and is rejected by all Cultivators.
"So that's how it is..." Official source is novel-fire.net
Yue Bai had a sudden realization; her time spent in cultivation was still short, and most of her time was used to improve her cultivation. She knew even less about the common knowledge of the Cultivation World than Liang Yi did back in the day.
"Miss Su is right. The current White Tiger Envoy is suffering backlash from resentment and murderous aura while recklessly trying to break through to the Ninth Realm, and this time, he did not make it through."
Wan Tinggui commented with a smile after taking a sip of the tea Yue Bai had brewed.
"Among the Four Spirits Envoys, the Azure Dragon Envoy died at the Complete Heaven Sect, the Black Tortoise Envoy chose to follow me, and the Vermilion Bird has regained its memory. Now the Devouring Spirit Sect has only the White Tiger Envoy leading the scene."
"Can't the power of the Four Spirits find other Cultivators to bear them?"
Liang Yi had always been puzzled by this. If it could be borne once, it could naturally be borne a second time, right?
But since they killed the Azure Dragon Envoy at the Complete Heaven Sect, they had never seen a second Azure Dragon Envoy.
And even after Zhou Yuqing awoke her memories and defected from the Devouring Spirit Sect, the Vermilion Bird's spirit within her was still there, not having dissipated or been consumed by backlash or the like.
"Um... this question is somewhat complicated..."
Wan Tinggui stroked her temple hair and let her hair twist around her fingertip unconsciously, as if considering how to explain to Liang Yi and Su Youyi.
Both Liang Yi and Su Youyi were holding their teacups in perfect synchrony, revealing a similarly curious expression as they watched Wan Tinggui.
"They really look like an old married couple..."
Wan Tinggui, looking at the two of them staring at her in unison, couldn't help but have this thought emerge in her mind.
"The Four Spirits symbolize the authority of the four Innate Divine Beasts. You might have a misconception in thinking that these Four Spirits Envoys are people from Devouring Spirit Sect and that these four authorities are controlled by the Devouring Spirit Sect."
"Is that not the case?"
Su Youyi tilted her head, although she was also curious as to how the Four Spirits, always a symbol of auspiciousness among mortals, could appear in the Devouring Spirit Sect, she had never considered the reason behind it.
"Naturally, it isn't..."
Wan Tinggui shook her head and began to clarify the reasons for Liang Yi and Su Youyi.