The upheaval in Vermilion Bird City was like a massive rock thrown into a lake, its ripples spreading rapidly. The public exposure of City Lord Yan Lie's crimes, his complete loss of cultivation, and his reduction to a prisoner sent shockwaves through the cultivation world of the Southern Region. Whispers of the "Blue-robed Arbiter" began circulating in the underworld currents.
Lin Mo remained indifferent to it all. He had already left Vermilion Bird City far behind with Zhao Yan, arriving at the peak of a mist-shrouded mountain. This wasn't their destination; someone was waiting for them here.
An elderly man in daoist robes embroidered with star patterns, with white hair and beard, stood quietly. His aura was profound, actually at the Mid Nascent Soul stage. Upon seeing Lin Mo, a flash of unconcealable astonishment and gravity passed through his eyes, and he promptly cupped his hands in a salute, his posture remarkably humble.
"This old man is Xuan Jizi, an inner elder of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. I pay my respects to you, Daoist." His gaze swept over Zhao Yan behind Lin Mo, giving a slight nod, an acknowledgment of his disciple's recent "fortune."
Zhao Yan hurriedly bowed in return, his heart surging with excitement. Elder Xuan Jizi held a revered position within the Pavilion. For him to come in person showed the immense importance placed on the Elder.
Lin Mo gave a slight nod in return, waiting silently for the elder to state his purpose.
Xuan Jizi did not beat around the bush. "Daoist, your successive actions in cleansing filth and upholding righteousness are admirable. However, are you aware that some are already linking your deeds to the 'Heaven's Executioners' mentioned in ancient texts?"
"Heaven's Executioners?" Zhao Yan blurted out in confusion.
Xuan Jizi's expression turned solemn. "According to fragmented ancient records, the 'Heaven's Executioners' mete out heaven's punishment, wielding edicts and laws, invincible wherever they go. However, their very existence is an 'Anomaly,' intolerable to Heaven and Earth. Each use of power that transcends boundaries invokes the backlash of the Laws. Accumulated to a certain degree, I fear it can bring about the calamity of... Heaven's Wrath descending upon the individual."
He looked at Lin Mo, his tone carrying a warning. "Your methods, Daoist, are unfathomable, no longer bound by the conventional principles of this realm. Recently, through my observations of celestial phenomena and deductions of heavenly secrets, I have detected slight disturbances in the heavenly Dao's trajectory, harbingers of gathering thunder. I fear this is related to your actions. I implore you, Daoist... to proceed with utmost caution."
This was the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's warning. They, who spied on the secrets of heaven, had seen the disturbances Lin Mo caused in the Law and the looming threat accumulating in the unseen currents.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan's face turned pale with worry as he looked at Lin Mo.
Lin Mo's expression remained placid, as if he'd merely been told the next day's weather. "Law backlash. One of the costs. Already factored in."
Having created the Lex Universae and wielded the laws of myriad worlds, how could he be unaware of the "rejection of anomalies"? This world's Heavenly Dao's reaction was within his expectations, even slower and weaker than he had anticipated. The so-called "Heaven's Wrath" was merely the world's instinctual self-defense, like a body rejecting a foreign object. As long as the Lex Universae could continue to analyze and adapt to this world's rules, this rejection would eventually be suppressed, or even... overwritten by the "Order" he himself dictated.
Seeing Lin Mo's reaction, Xuan Jizi felt even more apprehensive. Not only did the other party know, but he also seemed utterly unconcerned. This level of profundity far exceeded his imagination.
"Since you are aware, Daoist, this old man will say no more on the matter." Xuan Jizi sighed, then changed the subject. "There is another matter, possibly related to the 'Sin' you pursue. One hundred thousand li north of here lies the 'Dark Abyss Cave.' The demonic cultivators entrenched there commit acts likely more brutal than those in the Black Mire Swamp. Rumors suggest they are attempting a blood sacrifice of myriad spirit essences to summon some ancient evil."
He offered a jade slip. "This contains relevant intelligence I have compiled. It may be of use to you."
Lin Mo took the jade slip. His spiritual sense swept over it, instantly absorbing its contents. Dark Abyss Cave, suspected presence of a Late Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator, large-scale blood sacrifices, towering sin.
"Acceptable." Lin Mo stored the jade slip.
Xuan Jizi cupped his hands. "In that case, I take my leave. I wish you... caution in all things, Daoist." With that, his figure gradually faded, as if merging into the mist, and vanished.
Only Lin Mo and Zhao Yan remained on the peak.
"Elder, the Heaven's Wrath..." Zhao Yan was still deeply concerned.
"It is of no consequence." Lin Mo cut him off, his gaze turning northward, towards the direction of the Dark Abyss Cave. "Judgment does not halt for the clamor of ants."
He felt the phantom of the Lex Universae within him. After receiving the information provided by Xuan Jizi, which contained the secrets and rules of this world, its parsing speed seemed to have increased by a hair's breadth. The world's rejection was a cost, while information and the judgment of sin were the nourishment that fed the Lex Universae and consolidated his own Order.
"Let us go." Lin Mo stepped forward, walking upon the clouds. "To the Dark Abyss Cave."
Zhao Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and worry in his heart, and hurried to follow. He faintly sensed that the path the Elder walked was stirring the winds and clouds of the entire world. And the Dark Abyss Cave ahead would likely face a judgment even more thorough than that delivered upon the Black Mire Swamp and Vermilion Bird City.