The downhill path stretches endlessly.
Old Master Huang Leji was indeed not lying. The road ahead was unmistakably one that did not allow any turning back as far as the eye could see.
However, the team he led undoubtedly had all sustained new injuries.
Not to mention that everyone knew of the taboo against turning back, the narrowness of this downhill path meant that if someone foolishly tried to fight their way upwards, they’d likely be easily stopped.
So from a rational perspective, Old Master Huang’s accusations were evidently highly credible.
Though it sounded a bit terrifying.
Would there be severe punishment for even continuing downward? Had they unknowingly defied the Heavenly Gang?
"Don’t be afraid, you can try according to your own thoughts."
At this moment, Sha Ming, who had caught up, still maintained his unrestrained stance.
Before the others could speak, he indicated to Old Master Huang, who was facing him, that he could try moving against the flow.
...
The overly blunt tone of Sha Ming from before had obviously cast a shadow in everyone’s hearts.
So at this moment, facing his suggestion, Old Master Huang’s heart had turned ashen, just like his face.
But as an old hand in the worldly society who had held power for many years, as long as there was a shred of hope in a desperate situation, he couldn’t easily extinguish it because of someone else’s words.
"Do not move no matter what changes arise."
Glancing around, he quickly gave his orders coldly.
After saying this, Huang Leji fell silent, just taking a deep breath and staring dead ahead at Sha Ming who was striding upward.
One step, two steps...
Ugh—
Just as he was about to brush past Sha Ming, the breath Huang Leji inhaled turned into a painful cry.
"Why..."
Looking down at the crimson marks that had suddenly appeared on his body, when Huang Leji looked at Sha Ming again, his eyes were filled with unrestrained hatred.
"Why deliberately deceive us here?"
It turned out to be the worst situation after all, where severe punishment would be triggered no matter moving up or down.
It almost meant being thoroughly trapped there.
"Deceive? I think I said that once you arrive here, you don’t have to go any further, didn’t I?"
The furious Huang Leji was close, but Sha Ming didn’t seem worried about his sudden attack, only defending himself with a low laugh.
"The meaning of an endpoint is a place where one must stop; it doesn’t necessarily have to be a particular spot... The essence of the world is beyond your imagination."
"Am I correct, Lord Cycle Enforcer?"
In the next moment, he even looked to Fu Qian for affirmation.
"No problem, after all, you only said there’s no need to move forward, not that you would meet Huang Zhixun."
Fu Qian was outspoken too, providing a meticulous analysis.
However, at the same time, seeing Old Master Huang’s posture nearly leading to a stroke, with even a withered face unable to hide it, Fu Qian displayed a little human compassion, casually comforting him.
"Think positively, isn’t your situation fundamentally not very different from before?"
...
To the Sha Ming who led them into such desperation, Huang Leji naturally harbored deep hatred, but it didn’t mean he had a favorable impression of Fu Qian.
He clearly remembered that the latter also gave a positive opinion on continuing forward to this point earlier.
Yet despite the emotions, hearing Fu Qian’s words in his ears now still left Huang Leji stunned with confusion.
"Neither dare to go up nor down, only staying put, the difference merely being a smaller range for action."
Fu Qian continued to speak eloquently.
"I know that you all could likely estimate where the boundary of the rule prohibiting descent takes effect."
"But before taking any action, I recommend you thoroughly consider whether it’s meaningful after paying a price to leave this area?"
"Not to mention what Lord Sha Ming previously mentioned, ’the essence of the world is far beyond imagination,’ the boundary derived from conventional logic may not be valid."
Maintaining the demeanor of a swindler, Fu Qian, in an emotionless voice, was genuinely helping Huang Leji and his people analyze the situation, clarifying their fate.
"...Just hoping not to drag you all into danger by wandering around, isn’t it? I can see clearly; that special bond still exists."
Yet, struggling continuously, leading to worsening results, even Old Master Huang could no longer maintain emotional stability, merely sneering at Fu Qian’s remarks.
"No, it only represents my own opinion, of course. Lord Sha Ming, you can verify it with him again."
Handling failed predictions is pretty common in the swindler trade, hence Fu Qian wasn’t mindful of a few sarcastic comments.
"Feel free."
And Lord Sha Ming, as another party, unexpectedly responded almost instantly.