"Indeed, fighting through three thousand miles, wielding a sword that could face a million troops."

In a certain dark, narrow, and secretive room at the Special Affairs Bureau headquarters, Scholar Zhu leaned against the wall, and sighed deeply with complex emotions.

In front of him, a round mirror constructed by the Water Mirror Technique floated in the air.

Inside the mirror, a clear image projected Li Ang suspended in mid-air above the Steel Jungle, bound by the Sky Lock and Rouge Red Lotus.

"What?"

From a corner, a young voice emerged,

Ju Tianfu, a fellow disciple from the Heterodox Academy with Scholar Zhu, stood inside an elliptical cylinder, revealing only his head and appeared puzzled.

The elliptical cylinder he occupied was crafted from semi-transparent cold ice crystals,

Through the murky ice, one could see that Ju Tianfu's body surface lacked skin, instead covered with frost resembling dragon scales.

Since escaping the Lost World last time, Ju Tianfu, left only with his head, had been slowly nurturing and recovering from injuries,

Over time, he had advanced the ancient Heterodox Academy's

to the third level,

Completing the bone cleansing and marrow expelling, refining essence into energy,

his strength had returned to his state during the Lost World, and even progressed further, with a promising future.

"Look at the scene,"

With a sidelong glance at his fellow apprentice, Scholar Zhu gestured casually towards the chaotic cityscape in the Water Mirror Technique, "It's quite spectacular, isn't it.

Our friend has crossed five passes and defeated six enemies, advancing triumphantly with unstoppable momentum,

before him, armored floods are like clay chickens and pottery dogs, transcendent powerhouses are akin to heads for sale,

the cities fall silent for him,

even the Special Affairs Bureau had to publicly bow their heads and concede."

"..."

Lying in the ice crystal coffin, Ju Tianfu furrowed his brow and said slowly, "He is indeed strong.

Just in the human's normal state, he can crush Mu Qingshuang, Xing Hechou, and others.

While his body expanded — I estimate it's the activation of the Divine Power mode, lifting bodily restraints,

even the strongest visible forces of the Special Affairs Bureau, Wang Buliuxing and Zhongli Mieming, would have to cooperate to restrain him.

Though Wang Buliuxing and Zhongli Mieming are just back from the frontline, not in peak state,

the opponent also broke through layer upon layer of obstacles, equally not in perfect condition.

No matter the result of this occasion,

whether Li Rising accepts the conditions and agrees to oversight,

or he refuses, seeking refuge with outside organizations like European Heavy Industry Group,

it's an exceedingly bad news for us.

Besides losing face,

we also lose a potential ally, gaining a powerful potential adversary."

Scholar Zhu smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly, "Heh."

"Why are you laughing, brother?"

Ju Tianfu was puzzled for a moment before quickly realizing, "Did I say something wrong?"

Scholar Zhu nodded slowly, "Yes."

"This..."

Ju Tianfu furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and said slowly, "Along the way, Li Rising hasn't killed any Mobile Detachment operatives,

intentionally being mindful, showing mercy.

Considering his previous friendly actions under the guise of Li Rising, and the fact that he values friends who are affiliated with the Special Affairs Bureau,

he likely leans towards the Order Faction, otherwise, he wouldn't have reprimanded European Heavy Industry Group's Francis earlier.

So, hasn't the situation deteriorated that severely?

Director Jien Rushuang's current proposition that Li Rising spends four months in a Virtual Prison is merely for outside forces and players?

Once outsiders' attention is diverted, everyone behind closed doors can simply fine him with three drinks, act as if nothing happened, and Li Rising won't have to serve any time in the Virtual Prison.

We save face, Li Rising preserves dignity,

everyone is delighted."

"Heh."

Listening to Ju Tianfu's words, Scholar Zhu's bitter smile deepened, shaking his head, "You still read too much, staying too long in the conservatory.

Unfamiliar with the workings of the real-world regulations.

The four-month virtual imprisonment proposed by Jien Rushuang isn't deceitful nor mere rhetoric,

but truly meant for Li Rising to spend the full duration in the Virtual Prison."

"What?!"

Ju Tianfu exclaimed in disbelief, "Is this... necessary?

Li Rising already leans towards our Special Affairs Bureau and has been helpful for a long time,

doing this now forces him to feel disgusted and aggrieved, does it not?

It will also cause the other Lone Wolves to be concerned, feeling endangered, highlighting mutual misery, and increasing distrust towards the Special Affairs Bureau.

There is absolutely no benefit in this."

"It's not a matter of benefit,"

Scholar Zhu took a deep breath and said in a heavy tone, "You must understand, our Heterodox Academy and Special Affairs Bureau, although they are deeply intertwined,

they fundamentally differ in nature.

You cannot view the actions of the Special Affairs Bureau through the lens of the Heterodox Academy.

From the perspective of the Special Affairs Bureau,

while Lone Wolf Players and external forces may perceive it as detached from humanity, unreasonable, even stubbornly rigid,

many things make sense when viewed from their angle."

Ju Tianfu furrowed his brow, "From the Special Affairs Bureau's perspective?"

"Exactly."

Scholar Zhu nodded, "If initially, the operation to capture Li Ang was merely the authorities operating within their rights, executing plans under their duties,

then now,

with Li Rising revealing his true identity and demonstrating great power,

the nature of the event has dramatically shifted.

No longer a matter of simple appeasement by three fine drinks,

but transformed into a symbol determining future direction."

"Symbol?"

Ju Tianfu clenched his teeth, chewing over this term.

Scholar Zhu sighed and spoke quietly, "You've been with our Heterodox Academy since the beginning, progressing smoothly as a player, focusing on cultivation.

Even when assigned to work for the Global Occult Coalition, you mainly encountered Transcendents, or at least, regular people collaborating alongside Transcendents.

You haven't truly sensed the societal changes,

and the shift in human moods during this period.

Transcendent, transcending the mundane,

exceeding ordinary limits, detaching from worldly norms.

Transcendent isn't merely a simple term,

but signifies the collapse and reconstruction of all human rules accumulated over thousands of years, within a decade or even fewer years."

With deep eyes, Scholar Zhu said seriously, "Former killing games and the burst of Spiritual Energy appeared sporadic, brief, fleeting like bubbles upon water.

The nurtured Transcendents were akin to meteors, hard to sustain over time.

But this time is different, all records, prophecies, herald this Spiritual Energy resurgence lasting longer than ever, possibly endless within our lifetime.

For centuries, human societies were led by;

whether under slavery or feudal rule,

it was collectively human.

The King of the Slave City State and the Feudal Monarch are essentially no different from the common people,

Dynastic changes, shifts in hegemony, rising and falling,

Humans as an equal collective can actively reform, such as overthrowing slavery.

However,

The Transcendent,

In the long era of Spiritual Energy revival, the Transcendent who won't easily vanish or fall,

Can push individual strength to an unimaginable extreme,

Possessing unprecedented power,

Can ignore or even crush the current order,

Acting on one's own will for all humanity.

This is too terrifying."

Scholar Zhu took a deep breath and slowly said, "Sword Qi sweeps across thirty thousand miles, one sword shines cold on nineteen provinces.

This is not a poetic description, but the terrifying future we are about to face!

You must have read those novels about immortals, right?

In the books, Cultivators like us follow the pure law of the jungle,

Fighting and killing for limited resources,

Establishing sects not to preach and teach, but to better form cliques,

Protecting the people not to uphold justice, but to treat common people and Spiritual Roots as resources for calculation and harvesting.

Hatred grows rampant, decisive in killing,

Kindness will be seen as weakness,

Surviving in chaos requires ruthless means."

Scholar Zhu paused, then said solemnly: "In such a world, it's indeed thrilling for the protagonist in the novels, Gods block they kill Gods, Buddha block they kill Buddha, carefree in the world, singing high with the sword.

But ordinary people in such a world are no longer human,

Instead, they become resources that can be measured, calculated, even discarded, trampled, and traded.

No matter how pleasant words sound, based on the intelligence we currently gathered,

As the killing game progresses,

The gap between the Transcendent and ordinary people will become greater, the conflicts deeper.

The evolution speed of the Transcendent is so fast that ordinary people have no means to limit, restrain, or control them."

"Isn't this a very normal thing."

Ju Tianfu said instinctively: "Any individual life cannot accept being arbitrarily bridled and shackled,

Let alone the proud players who roam the edge of life and death every day."

"Yes, so here's where the contradiction lies."

Scholar Zhu smiled bitterly: "You've seen Li Ang's destructive power, he hasn't even exerted full force yet he's turned the earth into scorched land, the Steel Jungle to ruin.

The power is too overwhelming, beyond common control.

Imagine,

In the later stages of the killing game, a few individuals, or even one person, can suppress all dissent with their own power,

Dominating the world of seven billion humans with their own will.

A true scenario of an Immortal's rage, millions pile up."

"..."

Ju Tianfu opened his mouth, wanting to speak yet stopping, he could vaguely sense the subtle change happening in this world, but his emotional side deliberately ignored or didn't think along those lines.

Scholar Zhu took a deep breath and said quietly: "Human society's current stability is built on the foundation that no one can harm anyone else,

Ordinary people's individual power is limited, thus collective will arises, forming the order we're familiar with.

Even the decision-makers at the Pyramid's top need to consider all aspects,

Compromise, negotiate, yield, mediate, pacify, exchange benefits, reach consensus,

These 'unpleasant' things are the foundation on which the human race hasn't self-destructed so far.

But the Transcendent doesn't need this.

He doesn't need society to provide life's essentials— can live well even dining on wind and dew;

Nor does he need to gain stable social status and relations through others' approval— the Transcendent's fist is his proof;

The only thing the Transcendent cares about is profit,

Pure profits that allow him to keep getting stronger.

To meet this end, the Transcendent will resort to any means, lowering and even destroying the bottom line,

Just like numerous real-world instances have proven,

The more shameless, the less moral, the better you can live."

Scholar Zhu smiled bitterly: "The current problem is,

The Transcendents essentially have become a different species from ordinary humans,

With inherent differences, one side easily crushing the other.

Moreover, there's no class mobility— all rights belong to the killing game, ordinary people will quickly lose even the power to resist.

This is the internal conflict of civilization, as well as the silent war within a species.

The victor will have everything, and the defeated..."

"..."

Ju Tianfu opened his mouth, finally understanding what Scholar Zhu meant by "terror."

He wasn't someone to forget roots and be ungrateful, never considered himself as one who transcends commoners, despising the mundane cold-heartedly; his personal stance firmly stands with the broadest populace.

"What I'm telling you now, ordinary people might not think as deeply, but many have some vague premonition."

Scholar Zhu said solemnly: "The era is undergoing irreversible change,

And the pains of change are what we cannot bear and must think of ways to alleviate.

No one knows what the future holds, only able to prevent as best as we can.

The Special Affairs Bureau's current stubbornness, inconsistency, even incompetence all stem from this.

Li Ang is not just Li Ang.

He further represents the Special Affairs Bureau's future attitude.

In the big picture,

The Special Affairs Bureau is a powerful and elite institution with vast resources and authority, decisive and uncompromising,

Can guard the Demon Prison, patrol Kyushu, suppress demons above,

And maintain order, protect the people, innovate production and lifestyle, opening doors as new worlds below,

Yet on this matter, the Special Affairs Bureau is equally powerless, sluggish, and dull— an institution is ultimately composed of many people with different stances and attributes,

Even the Special Affairs Bureau cannot be exempted, similarly experiencing internal confusion, doubts, and disagreements.

In a non-personified view,

All decisions and measures adhere to a unified collective will."

Ju Tianfu heard, pursed his lips, thoughtful.

"This is what's called, the onlooker sees clearly while the insider is confused."

Scholar Zhu gazed at the Steel Jungle scenery in the Water Mirror,

Softly said: "The best future scenario is everyone as a dragon, all possessing transcendent powers, collectively achieving the transformation of life level,

Attaining another kind of individual balance.

But that future is too distant, too much like a fairy tale,

Even in the most optimistic estimate, it can't be realized in our generation, nor the next few.

Returning to now,

If the Special Affairs Bureau internally truly wants to end Li Ang, it's time to bring out their ultimate destructive weapon— and they do have it,

Or summon us, the Heterodox Academy.

For now, it's still up for discussion."