The so-called ‘pseudo-Grandmaster’.
To put it bluntly, it refers to an existence that possesses Grandmaster-level physical strength, bodily resilience, and reaction speed, but lacks the ability to project force from a distance.
In other words.
The Dao Ge Four, these upgraded Demon Slayer warriors, might still be easily defeated when facing a true Grandmaster.
However, when facing anyone below a Grandmaster, they are absolutely invincible.
Therefore, after a major transformation, the Dao Ge Four can barely be considered worthy of supporting Li Hai.
Just as all this was completed, Li Hai, who was seated in the Young Military Supervisor’s mansion, happened to receive a flying talisman message from the Zhan Mo Si Headquarters.
It stated that a Yellow Springs Domain had inexplicably appeared in the vast mountains about 7,500 li away from Central Capital.
The sudden appearance of this ghostly realm had swallowed a mountain-side city named Taohua.
At the same time, two members of the Demon Slayer Division happened to be in the swallowed Taohua City.
Upon receiving this information, a question involuntarily arose in Li Hai's mind:
“I’ve clearly cleared all the evil and ominous places in the world; without evil ghost lands as a foundation, where did this Yellow Springs Domain even come from?
Could it be—is it the Xuan Dynasty Remnants causing trouble again?”
Zhan Mo Si Headquarters.
Li Hai and Feng Heyue sat facing each other.
“Feng Nainai (Grandma Feng).”
Li Hai asked, “Is this newly appeared Yellow Springs Domain the work of the Xuan Dynasty Remnants?”
“No,” Feng Heyue slowly shook her head, “That Yellow Springs Domain was naturally born.”
“Then that’s strange.” Li Hai frowned in confusion, “I’ve clearly cleared all the evil places in the world.
Where did this Yellow Springs Domain come from?”
“Your confusion, ah—.”
Old Lady Feng leisurely said, “Actually, it shares the same answer as to why ghosts are born into the world.”
“Is that so? Hmm~ Speaking of which, Feng Nainai (Grandma Feng), there’s one thing I’ve always been unclear about.”
Li Hai pondered, “You said, why are the many ghosts in this world born? Is it due to immense grievances, resentments, hatred, or some even more sinister power?”
“These are all superficial reasons.”
Feng Heyue slowly said, “The true origin of countless ghosts, evil and ominous places, and Yellow Springs Domains in the human world is malice.”
“Malice?”
Li Hai asked in confusion, “Why would it be malice?”
“Hmm~” Feng Heyue sighed, “How about this, I’ll tell you a story.”
“Okay.” Li Hai nodded, “I’m all ears.
2
1
Immediately, Old Lady Feng slowly began to tell a story that took place on a distant ocean fishing boat.
In the story, on that large fishing boat, there had been a phenomenon for generations where old sailors bullied new sailors.
Regardless of whether a new sailor worked clumsily or efficiently, the old sailors could freely beat and insult him.
Even all new sailors would have an unpleasant derogatory term: ‘Rotten Fish Fry’.
But even when subjected to such bullying, the new sailors called ‘Rotten Fish Fry’ were not allowed to resist in any way.
Otherwise, they would be collectively attacked by the old sailors, and in the end, would only receive harsher beatings and more unpleasant insults.
Furthermore, if any new sailor dared to resist, and resisted very fiercely.
Then the old sailors would even kill this new sailor and throw him into the sea.
Thus, the new sailors, powerless to resist the oppression of the old sailors, could only endure, enduring until they shed the derogatory term ‘Rotten Fish Fry’, enduring until they themselves became old sailors.
And when these new sailors became old sailors, they would pour all the malice they had accumulated over the years onto the new generation of ‘Rotten Fish Fry’.
In this way, this malice was passed down from generation to generation along with the unpleasant derogatory term ‘Rotten Fish Fry’, accumulating thicker and denser with each generation.
Finally, after many years, the entire fishing boat became completely permeated with overwhelming malice.
It only waited until the accumulated blood and lives on this ship reached a certain level, then it would explode at an opportune moment.
Turning the entire fishing boat and even the surrounding sea into an evil and ominous ghost land.
And this is the origin of most evil places in the world.
At the same time, the evil domain at sea in the story is also a real place.
It’s just that the ghost ship directly transformed into a Yellow Springs Domain and moved autonomously into the deep sea, never to be seen again.
“I, I think I understand.”
After listening to the story, or rather, the case, recounted by Feng Heyue, Li Hai pondered, “Directed or undirected malice, as long as it continuously accumulates and ferments.
Eventually, under the influence of a certain negative event, it will pollute and mutate the place where that malice originated.
Turning it into an evil place or a Yellow Springs Domain, and there is no strict progressive relationship between these two different Ranks of ghost lands.
So, whether a sufficiently dense amount of malice ultimately gives rise to an evil place or a Yellow Springs Domain depends entirely on the Old Heaven, is that right?”
“Yes.”
Feng Heyue slowly nodded, “It’s just that the probability of a Yellow Springs Domain being born is still much, much smaller than that of an evil place, so in most cases, what appears between heaven and earth are mostly evil places, not Yellow Springs Domains.”
“Understood.”
Li Hai nodded slightly, “Then, I’ll go clear out that newly appeared Yellow Springs Domain.”
“Hmm.”
Feng Heyue nodded and sighed, “Child, everything depends on you.”
Currently, only Li Hai and Feng Heyue are Martial Dao Grandmasters in the entire Demon Slayer Division.
As the Commander of the Army and being so old, Old Lady Feng certainly cannot be dispatched casually, otherwise, it would simply make people laugh.
Other departments and units would definitely say:
“Such a large Demon Slayer Division, and its highest leader, who should be stationed with the army, actually needs to personally charge into battle?
Oh, so all the funds and resources consumed haven't managed to cultivate a capable general, have they?
If that’s the case, then it’s better to just disband the entire organization.
Just hand over the original duties and affairs, as well as the funds and resources allocated to the Demon Slayer Division, to other departments and units.
There’s no doubt that the Special Operations Division, Divine Armory, and Military Intelligence Division, these Jing Dynasty departments, will spread such rumors everywhere, and their highest leaders will also collectively petition during Wu (Martial) Hall meetings, demanding that the Demon Slayer Division be completely abolished.
Although the Ge Zai will certainly not issue such a rash order to abolish it, they will definitely be greatly disappointed with the Demon Slayer Division, and consequently, will reduce funding and resource investment in the Demon Slayer Division in the coming year.
Therefore, Li Hai, for the entire Demon Slayer Division, is an indispensable stabilizing force.
Without him, the Demon Slayer Division would simply not be able to withstand too much turmoil.
“It won’t take long.”
Li Hai stood up straight and calmly said to Feng Heyue, “I’ll be back soon.”
“Heh heh heh, I was going to say ‘be careful’.”
Feng Heyue said with a smile, “But when I thought of your great ability, I felt there was no need to say it.”
Upon hearing this, Li Hai chuckled silently, then his figure flickered, and he vanished into thin air from the hall of the Demon Slayer Division.
