Without giving Zhang Yiyi a chance to choose, the black mist immediately released one of the people hanging upside down from the tree. In no time, that individual was sent out of Liulin Slope, leaving the area entirely.

Zhang Yiyi observed this with surprise. Although she didn't understand how it was done, she unexpectedly realized that her divine sense could clearly perceive through the inexplicable force surrounding the area and see that the person had indeed been freed in an instant. However, the first person to be released by the black mist was neither He Jie nor He Ze but one of the members who had been injured during the previous expedition and hadn't gone to sea with the team.

Considering the situation, Zhang Yiyi recalled He Jie's voice calling out to her before it was cut off, clearly leaving her words unfinished. This led Zhang Yiyi to a much clearer suspicion. The voice within the black mist had repeatedly declared itself to be a god, the sole deity of this domain—a claim that might not merely be arrogant madness.

Within the Three Thousand Dao Paths, there exists a path called the Domain Dao. Those who master this path gain absolute control over everything within their domain—giving life or taking it, commanding all things to obey and serve them. Within such a domain, being deemed the sole deity is no exaggeration.

Now, Zhang Yiyi deeply realized the power of her opponent. Achieving the Dao of the Domain requires reaching the Transformation stage, and the strongest individuals in Lanyu Small World were known to be at this stage. The Tang family publicly showcased two Transformation stage practitioners as their guardians, but these individuals could neither freely leave the family nor had they achieved the Domain Dao.

This meant that someone within the Tang family's hidden forces must have already mastered the Dao of the Domain. Zhang Yiyi shuddered as she connected this realization to her past encounters. She thought of Tang Jin, whom she had seen during the preliminary competition for mid-sized family qualifications, and the peculiarities she and Luo Qiheng had noticed back then.

Cold sweat broke out across her back. Tang Jin had concealed his true cultivation. This would explain the subtle but unsettling feeling she'd noticed around him at the time. Though his age and the general pace of cultivation in Lanyu Small World made it seem improbable for Tang Jin to have reached such heights, the last, most unlikely possibility often turned out to be the truth.

A cascade of thoughts flooded Zhang Yiyi's mind—the relationship between Tang Xi and Tang Jin, Tang Jin's peculiarities, his particular interest in her and Luo Qiheng, and the so-called calamity that befell the Tang family millennia ago. The more she thought, the more she sensed an intricate web of connections and an alarming hidden truth. It seemed she had long since been caught in a conspiracy, her involvement likely tied to the opponent's ultimate goals.

As her speculations deepened, her expression darkened, and her tightly furrowed brows deepened.

"Tut-tut. Why does your face look worse and worse? Shouldn't you be happy, having just saved one person?" The voice within the black mist seemed amused, its interest piqued by Zhang Yiyi's lack of joy.

"What are you worried about? What are you afraid of? Or have you suddenly realized that these people aren't worth the risk to your life?"

The voice paused momentarily before continuing, "If you've figured that out, I can give you an opportunity. Just kill these people with your own hands, and your chance to live will naturally be secured."

"No need. Please continue with your questions," Zhang Yiyi forced down her anger. The opponent was clearly trying to corrupt her, to destroy her Dao Heart. She wasn't afraid of killing, nor was she some saintly figure willing to sacrifice herself for others. But she refused to lose her moral compass and basic humanity.

He Jie and the others were in this predicament because of her. Failing to save them was one thing, but killing them to ensure her own survival was another matter entirely.

Whether in the modern world or the cultivation realm, Zhang Yiyi adhered to her own principles and bottom line. If she truly acted as the black mist suggested, it would lead to an irreparable heart demon, dooming her future cultivation.

"Sigh. Such a foolish child. Going to such lengths for a few irrelevant people—what's the point?" the black mist lamented mockingly."

The black mist, unimpressed, responded disapprovingly, "Should I call you naive or foolish? Such a promising seedling, yet your elders clearly didn't teach you well. A heart too kind harms both yourself and others."

"There's no need for your useless persuasion," Zhang Yiyi replied, disregarding the mist's attempts to influence her. "I'm not as kind as you think, but I have my own principles and convictions. They are caught up in this because of me. If I can save them, I must try. If not, I'll have no regrets. Some karmic debts are predestined; they cannot be forced, but neither should they be resolved without a bottom line."

Her words reached not only Tang Jin and Tang Sha but also He Jie and the others. Severely injured, He Jie, knowing her voice was muffled, still struggled to mouth words with unwilling tears streaming down her face.

The black mist laughed mockingly, clearly disdainful of Zhang Yiyi's so-called principles. "That's because you've never truly witnessed the darkness and filth of this world. You've never felt the despair and sorrow of being weak. When you do, all your so-called principles, bottom lines, and convictions will amount to nothing but nonsense."

It continued in a tone of derision, "Of the Three Thousand Dao Paths, whether righteous or demonic, good or evil, none hold any distinction in the eyes of the Dao. Only strength and weakness are absolute truths. Throughout history, which ascended immortal hasn't shed the blood of the innocent? Even the so-called demonic cultivators have their own paths to enlightenment."

The black mist seemed to revel in exposing Zhang Yiyi's thoughts. "You think I'm luring you down the demonic path, corrupting your Dao Heart, but your foolish notions are the true shackles of your soul. To achieve greatness, one must overlook petty details. Sacrificing a few insignificant lives to pave your way—what of it? Besides, weren't their lives yours to save in the first place? Taking them now wouldn't be unjust. Furthermore, consider how they lured you into this dangerous situation with false information, just to save their own skins. You're too young, too naive, and too bound by unnecessary concerns. The path to the Dao requires unwavering determination, unencumbered by such burdens."

If Zhang Yiyi hadn't forged a solid moral compass in her modern-day past life, she might have wavered under the mist's twisted logic.

"Paths diverge for those with differing beliefs. Continue with your questions," Zhang Yiyi said firmly, refusing to be drawn into further debate. Whatever karma existed between her and He Jie's group, there was no point dwelling on it now. Saving them was saving herself, and she would do her utmost. Whatever the outcome, she would have no regrets.

Tang Jin, seeing that Zhang Yiyi didn't fall for the mist's provocations, noted her resolve and refrained from further persuasion. "A fine 'paths diverge for those with differing beliefs.' Listen well to my second question, then. If your answer doesn't satisfy me, someone will die for it."

He chuckled lightly before asking, "Who are you?"

"I'm Han Lin!" Zhang Yiyi responded without hesitation. It was true—in her past life, she had been Han Lin. In this life, she was merely the remnant soul inhabiting the identity of Zhang Yiyi.

"I already know you're called Han Lin, so that answer doesn't satisfy me!" The voice from the mist declared coldly.

As soon as it finished, one of the five people hanging upside down from the tree exploded without warning. Blood and flesh scattered everywhere, and a life was snuffed out in the blink of an eye, without even a scream escaping.

Zhang Yiyi froze, her eyes fixed on the lingering blood mist. Her entire being felt suffocated and crushed under the weight of death.

"I didn't lie! What gives you the right to be dissatisfied?" she demanded, her voice trembling with fury and defiance as she glared at the black mist.