“That goes without saying.” Wu Fan said and drink his tea.

Cheng Sheng can’t help but secretly grimace as he watched Wu Fan and Luo Shi drink the tea. “Yes, sect leader Wu.” He answered and bowed.

Li Tian and Feng Mo felt like they were turned speechless lately by Cheng Sheng. Cheng-shidi is highly motivated lately. His peace is really threatened. They thought and sighed. Their peace is also threatened by Cheng Sheng. They secretly shook their head, pitying their self.

“Something was created. But, its use will be decided upon its user.” Wu Fan said, his face is serious. “Just like the demonic qi. We don’t know its purpose for existing. We only know that it is harmful to one’s being.” He told them.

“Sect leader Wu means…” Li Tian said, confused.

“Something can be good if the one using it has good intentions. Something becomes bad if it was used with ill intent.” Wu Fan said.

“So demonic qi can be good, too?” Feng Mo asked, surprised.

Wu Fan and Luo Shi fell silent. They looked at each other. “I remembered that shifu and founder said – ” Cheng Sheng said. He looked at Wu Fan and Luo Shi. “That we find our own dao. Even if it’s to become a demonic cultivator.” He said. “It is our dao. It is what we have found during our journey in this lifetime. Good or bad, it depends on our conscience.”

Feng Mo and Li Tian looked at Cheng Sheng. “Cheng-shidi…” they said, touched. “We don’t remember the latter part of what you said as what have shifu and founder said.” They said.

“Pft – ” Sun Yi covered his mouth and he looked away. His shoulders are shaking. Wu Yuan’s face remained emotionless, but his eyes flickered. Wu Fan and Luo Shi were at a loss as they looked at the lively Xinfaxian sect disciples.

Cheng Sheng frowned and glared at Feng Mo and Li Tian who finally avenged themselves after being made feel at a loss by Cheng Sheng. Fei Yin coughed and straightened his back. The corner of his lips were raised. “What Cheng-shidi said is right.” He said and looked at Wu Fan and Luo Shi, who were keeping a straight face to not make Cheng Sheng lose his face more than he did just now. “Learning the demonic qi doesn’t mean we are a demonic cultivator.” He said.

“Da shixiong. You won’t comment about the latter half of what Cheng-shidi said?” Feng Mo asked.

Fei Yin blinked. “Conscience determines if the action is right or wrong.” He answered.

They all stared at him and didn’t speak. Obviously, Fei Yin dotes on Cheng Sheng. Luo Shi coughed to break this atmosphere. “Well, as I’ve said earlier, I will tell you all I know about the demonic qi.” He said. “500,000 years since the continent was discovered, the demonic qi already exists along with the qi – what we call now as the positive qi. This land is abundant in qi, and also of the demonic qi.” He started. “There are countless of creatures roamed on this vast land. The humans, being weaker than the other creatures, they perished. It was only after a cultivator appeared and the humans were saved.” He said.

“The first cultivator…” they said. They already have heard of this history.

Luo Shi nodded. “No one knows of his name.” he continued. “He helped people realized the importance of the qi and taught them how to use it. Thus, the humans fought back against the other creatures.” He said.

“The other creatures – ” Feng Mo said.

“This is what the demonic qi’s doing.” Luo Shi said. “It wasn’t only the humans that were affected, but also the other beasts.” He said.

The humans that were affected… “It’s like what’s happening now?!” Li Tian exclaimed. He rose from his seat in shock. The others also widened their eyes, looking at Luo Shi. They only heard about the first cultivator’s story and of the qi.

“Shifu…?” Sun Yi called and looked at Wu Fan.

Luo Shi sighed. He turned to Wu Fan whose face is serious. “As I have said earlier – ” Wu Fan said. ” – in order not to produce demonic cultivators, the cultivation world made the demonic qi a taboo.” He said. “Thus… we also hid this fact in order not to raise alarm to the public – ” he said.

“Then, you knew all along about these strange corpses?” Wu Yuan asked. He only speaks rare but his words carry weight.

Wu Fan turned to him. He closed his eyes. “No.” he honestly answered. “We really do not know about the strange corpses.” He said.

“Then, what do you know?” Fei Yin asked, then paused. “Shifu and founder… do they – ” he said. He didn’t continue speaking anymore. The Xinfaxian sect disciples fell silent. They knew, Fan Wen and Xie Lan must also know of this.

“Don’t blame your shifu and founder.” Ming Ye spoke from behind. They turned and saw him walking towards them together with Chen Han who was hanging his head low.

“Elder Ming.” They greeted and bowed.

Ming Ye nodded and sat beside Luo Shi while Chen Han joined Sun Yi and Wu Yuan’s side. “It’s not as if we’re going to hide this fact forever.” Ming Ye started, his voice unhurried. “We will tell you.” He told them.

“When?” Sun Yi asked.

“When we’re going to succeed them.” Chen Han answered for Ming Ye. He raised his head. “When we’ve become elders of the sect and sworn our loyalty to the sect.” he explained.

“It’s not as if we’re going to – ” Feng Mo said, then paused. He shut up. He turned to Cheng Sheng when he remembered Cheng Sheng’s words.

Ming Ye sighed. “This rule of swearing your pledge to the sect was made decades ago.” He said. They looked at him. “Yes – ” he said. “It was proposed by Xie-shidi.” He smiled and looked at the Xinfaxian sect disciples.

They were shocked. “Founder?!” they said.

Sun Yi scratched his cheek. “So that’s why we still haven’t sworn to the sect…” he said and smiled.

Ming Ye nodded. “We nurture our disciples. But, we don’t force them.” He said. “We can, but the unwillingness in their heart will just develop into a heart demon. This way, both sides will just suffer. That is why only when you’ve decided to become an elder, which is a vital role to the sect, can we speak of this hidden fact.” He explained. Then, his face went serious. “About this demonic qi – ” he said.

They all took a deep breath and gulped, waiting for Ming Ye.

Ming Ye didn’t disappoint them. “Indeed, the strange corpses already appeared in the past.” He said. “However, not only the strange corpses. Like now, the humans were affected by the demonic qi. No matter how they purify themselves with the qi, it wasn’t enough.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “The animals and the trees, the mountains and the rivers… living and non-living beings… they were all corroded by the demonic qi.”

“‘corroded’?” Cheng Sheng said.

Ming Ye turned to him and nodded. “Everything was bleak.” He continued. “The day turned into night, and the night became darker.” He said. “The first cultivator could only lead the remaining humans away and into a safe land. Then, he began their civilization. However – ” his face went serious. ” – he couldn’t stop the demonic qi from spreading.” He said. “The land, air and water were contaminated. The people were poisoned by the demonic qi faster.” He sighed.

At this time, Li Tian spoke. “I remembered that the first cultivator, in the history, died because of…” he looked at Ming Ye. “In the history recorded, he died of old age. But – ” he said. Now that the truth is out, they can’t help but question everything that they have learned.

Ming Ye looked at him sympathetically. Then, the others. “Indeed. The first cultivator didn’t die of old age.” He said. “He died protecting the people.” He told them.

Feng Mo’s brows knit. “He is a hero, then.” He said. “Why wasn’t this told in the history, instead?” he asked.

Luo Shi spoke. “Because it wasn’t an honorable death.” He said and looked at them. “The first cultivator died, it was because he took in the demonic qi.” He said. Their eyes went wide in shock. “He took the demonic qi inside his body and into his golden core, then self-destructed.” He added.

A long silence fell upon them. “So, you mean – ” Sun Yi said.

Luo Shi looked at his disciple. “In a sense, the first cultivator also became a demonic cultivator.” He told him. They shut up. “This is why this wasn’t written in the history.” He said and poured himself tea. “The humans he taught to become cultivators saw the power of the demonic qi. Later, they learned to become a demonic cultivator. Then, they split into two groups – ” he said and looked at them.

“The righteous cultivators, and the demonic cultivators.” Wu Fan said. Their group was covered in a heavy atmosphere.

“Wait.” Feng Mo said and raised his hand. He turned to the thee elders before them. “If there’s only a qi and demonic qi, where did the third type came from?” Feng Mo asked. Even if he’s not good at his studies, but at least he can remember some things. “And… the demonic qi isn’t the third type?” he added.

“We never said that the demonic qi is the third type.” Luo Shi spoke. “It was the classification of the qi. It can go in any order.” He explained. “The negative qi existed during the later years, after the Righteous Faction and the Demonic Faction were established.” He said. “The demonic cultivators’ acts were still not excessive that time. But, the humans began to get sick.” He looked at them. “As cultivators, we can cure ourselves. However, there were incurable diseases.” He sighed. “Later, they associated this with demonic cultivation.” He explained.

“This is – ” Wu Yuan said.

” – the First War.” Fei Yin said.