Through the resonance of his life-bound bamboo tablet, even while trapped within the formation, he sensed the arrival of Feng Zikang. Slowly, a head rose from the center of the formation, stopping at chest height—it was Mo Li, a disciple of the Mohist school, who had sworn a grand oath to overturn the order of the Southern Barbarians.

His complexion was ashen, a stark black fissure marred his forehead, still weeping faintly with blood, his eyes vacant, a bitter smile lingering at the corner of his lips.

"Ah Li!"

Mo Fenghuang’s heart shattered; she lunged forward, only to be thrown back by the formation’s barrier, letting out a piercing, heartbreaking cry.

"Fenghuang'er..."

Mo Li's gaze softened, almost misty with unshed tears. "Why did you have to return? And drag Brother Zikang along? Never mind me. As long as my martial uncles and elders arrive soon enough to destroy this Thirty-Six Connected Rings of Mangcang Mountain that feeds on mortal souls, I can rest easy..."

His expression grew solemn, his tone heavy with sorrow, as if he were dictating his last will.

"Brother Mo, you must not lose heart!" Feng Zikang knew this was his moment to step in. "Martial Sister Mo already told me before we left: as long as we use this life-bound tablet to subdue your integrated mechanical beast and bring you back to the Mohist House in Linzi, our seniors will surely find a solution. Don't worry!"

He took out the life-bound bamboo tablet from his storage pouch, only to see Mo Li shake his head with a wry smile.

"It's too late... far too late! Brother Zikang, you only know one part of the truth, not the whole story. Even Fenghuang couldn't see clearly that day. Do you know what kind of mechanical beast I have integrated with?"

Mo Fenghuang’s heart plummeted. When she entered the cave and saw this secret Mohist formation, something felt inherently wrong. Even if Mo Li had merged with some kind of spirit-channeling mechanical beast in this cavern, why would it be suppressed by the highest secret arts of the Mohist school? She had a faint premonition that this integrated beast was far from ordinary!

"It is... what is it?"

Mo Fenghuang's face was etched with panic. If it were an ordinary spirit-channeling mechanical beast, even if recovery took time, Mo Li’s life would at least be preserved after the merger. If it were a high-tier spirit-channeling beast, one that absorbed consciousness with greater power, then perhaps he...

"Is it the beast’s original form?"

Mo Li shook his head.

"Is it... is it one of the Five Element Primal Beasts?"

Mo Li still shook his head. Mo Fenghuang was on the verge of tears, afraid to imagine further. If... if it were a higher tier, a Four Symbols or a Three Talents strange beast, then Mo Li’s mere Qi Induction cultivation level had allowed him to cling to life for this long—it was already a miracle. His life was like a candle flame about to extinguish.

Mo Fenghuang’s chest tightened, the words catching in her throat, unable to utter a sound.

"I painstakingly suppressed my own mind to return to this cave, lest the world suffer a great calamity. I imagine the White Bone Demon Lord must be searching everywhere for me now..."

"I never expected you, Fenghuang'er, to bring Brother Zikang along... You are being reckless!"

"I..." Mo Fenghuang wanted to argue, but seeing his haggard state, a wave of heartache washed over her, leaving her speechless.

Mo Li sighed and nodded toward Feng Zikang. "Brother Zikang, I truly apologize for this wasted trip... But I never thought that at the moment of my death, I would see both a dear friend and my beloved wife. Perhaps Heaven has not forsaken me after all!"

When he finally uttered the word 'death,' Mo Fenghuang could hold back no longer, her pearly tears streaming down.

"Brother Mo, why speak such words? Let me use the life-bound tablet..."

"It’s no use."

Mo Li shook his head calmly; his speech had returned to tranquility, as if life and death held no sway over him.

"Ah Li!" Mo Fenghuang cried out miserably, reaching out to stroke the outer wall of the formation, her face deathly pale.

Among the three present, only Feng Zikang remained utterly bewildered. Mo Fenghuang had said bringing the life-bound tablet could save Mo Li, yet he claimed it was useless, and Mo Fenghuang offered no rebuttal. Was there some hidden truth behind this?

"Fenghuang'er, this journey to Mangcang Mountain, I always presumed would be fatal. However, it will take time for the elders of the school to arrive. If no one goes to demand justice from the demons of the Thirty-Six Connected Rings for the fallen mortals in Mangcang Mountain, I fear hundreds, even thousands, of mortals will die from soul-draining in these few days..."

Mo Fenghuang knew his intentions. Feng Zikang had also vaguely guessed some of it, but hearing it firsthand now, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Mo Li knew he was no match for the swarm of demons in the Thirty-Six Connected Rings, and he had already notified his martial elders. As an ordinary person, he had absolutely no need to be in Mangcang Mountain.

But he was a Mohist.

The greatest difference between a Mohist and an ordinary person was that they regarded their own life as equal to the life of any other person in the world—be it family, stranger, or even an enemy, it was all the same. For them, this was selflessness, this was universal love (Jian Ai).

Thus, Mo Li came to Mangcang Mountain because he intended to use his life to buy a few days for the mortals in the four southwestern prefectures. If his disruption managed to halt the soul-harvesting activities of Mangcang Mountain for a few days, countless lives could be saved!

The Mohists felt this trade-off was worthwhile.

It was precisely because of this that they were often unwelcome; no one could bear to see their own kin viewed with the same measure as a beggar on the roadside. It was for this reason that Mencius had accused the Mohists of lacking filial piety and loyalty to their sovereign—Confucianism prioritized the hierarchy of heaven, earth, ruler, parent, and teacher, taking benevolence and filial piety as its foundation. In other words, dying to save a father or a lord was proper, but dying for an unrelated roadside beggar was seen as a disservice to one’s parents!

The various schools of thought held vastly different views. Although Buddhism preached the equality of all sentient beings, it still categorized them into Six Realms and Eight Divisions, maintaining a strict hierarchy. Furthermore, they would only counsel those who had not entered the Three Jewels; they would not offer their lives to protect them, adhering to the principle that the Buddha does not save those without affinity.

As for the School of the Military, they preached the path of impartiality. On the battlefield, everyone had attachments, but once war began, there were only two sides: friend and foe. Allies were comrades to be guarded unto death; enemies were met with ruthless resolve.

Therefore, the practice of righteous chivalry (Renxia) was most frequently undertaken by the Mohists; the other schools differed greatly.

And the Demonic Path...

Feng Zikang was shaken by Mo Li's words, his mind momentarily dazed, as if reaching a sudden realization.

The Demonic Path speaks of the self. Between life and death, the self is most precious.

In moments of life-and-death trial, Mohists unhesitatingly sacrifice themselves to save others, seeking no reward—much like how Confucians, when aligned with their lord or father, would naturally sacrifice themselves to protect them; and how Buddhist monks might burn their own bodies to demonstrate the path for their followers.

The practitioners of the Demonic Path, however, would unhesitatingly kill ten thousand to ensure their own survival!

Ordinary people often hesitate in such moments, which is why it is said that all mortals possess a demonic nature. But equally, mortals possess a benevolent heart, and when truly facing life and death, those who sacrifice themselves for parents and loved ones are ultimately the majority.

The Mohists push this benevolence to its extreme: every person is treated as their own parent or kin.

The Demonic Path, however, pushes the demonic nature to its extreme!

Outside of the self, there is nothing else!