Above the vast sea, waves rise and fall.

Su Mo picked up his wine cup, drained it in one go, and laughed saying:

"Senior coming here to forcefully snatch the Martial God Key from me is also intending to re-enter the Martial God Temple?"

Shi Shengtian shook his head repeatedly:

"That place, I would never want to go there a second time in my entire life."

"Oh?"

Su Mo raised his eyebrows:

"Is it truly so dangerous?"

"Extremely perilous."

Shi Shengtian furrowed his brows tightly; despite his martial arts prowess today, recalling the events of the past still left him with lingering fears.

It’s not necessarily the mechanisms of the Martial God Temple that even the current Shi Shengtian struggles to cope with.

It could only be said that it left too profound an impression on him back then.

Su Mo gently nodded:

"Then if senior obtains the Martial God Key from my hands, how would you face these fierce Jianghu Martial Artists?"

Fierce?

Though Su Mo is not wrong to say that.

But no matter how you hear it, it feels somewhat peculiar.

Gentle shaking of the head:

"I’ve roamed Nanhai for years, the prominence of Nanhai Martial Elder alone is enough to make most of them give up completely.

"If others insist persistently, then I will take the Martial God Key, head to Nanhai Peak, and throw the key into the chaos of currents to thoroughly end their hopes."

Upon hearing this, Shi Cheng frowned.

To him, this seemed truly unwise.

The reputation of Nanhai Martial Elder has suppressed countless people in Jianghu from raising their heads.

Ultimately, everyone knows that Shi Shengtian’s martial prowess owes its accomplishments to what he reaped in the Martial God Temple.

Now, with the opportunity ahead, Shi Shengtian aims to block their path.

Isn’t this allowing only the government official to set fires but not the common folk to light lamps?

The Martial God Temple that Shi Shengtian could enter, why can’t we?

What kind of reasoning is this?

Even if he truly succeeds, retaliation later will surely follow.

If someone stirs the pot, inciting people’s hearts.

Even for the Nanhai Martial Elder, fear he might be ruined under collective pressure.

Su Mo also cast a slightly surprised glance at Shi Shengtian and finally shook his head lightly:

"This is indeed a method, but unfortunately, the method still contains endless troubles. Senior isn’t afraid of trouble, occasionally it’s fine, but I cannot use it."

"Then what would you do?"

Shi Shengtian looked at Su Mo.

"Just kill."

Su Mo raised his hand to pour wine:

"It’s merely the word ’kill’."

"Isn’t there too much killing intent?"

Shi Shengtian looked up at Su Mo.

Su Mo laughed speechlessly:

"Has senior become the clay bodhisattva of Jingang Temple through enlightenment?

"Talking nonsense here?

"The Martial God Key was gifted by my friend.

"The Martial God Temple map is on my companion’s family heirloom.

"I obtained these without killing anyone.

"Others come to seize my possessions, but instead of saying their greed runs deep, you say my killing intent is too great?

"Senior, dare I ask, where does this statement come from?"

Shi Shengtian was left speechless by this retort.

Su Mo’s words make too much sense no matter how they are heard.

Instinctively stroking his beard, he nodded lightly:

"Your argument leaves me speechless, it truly is sound logic.

"But...you should also know that they are merely others’ tools.

"Killing them may be gratifying.

"But creating too many enemies may be disadvantageous to oneself. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"The Nanhai Alliance and Dragon King Hall are undoubtedly giant entities, not something ordinary forces can resist.

"But if public opinion leans heavily...

"Even setting aside the Nanhai Alliance and Dragon King Hall, what about the Da Xuan Dynasty in the past?

"Didn’t it vanish overnight?"

"Senior’s words are mistaken again."

Su Mo shook his head:

"How could the Da Xuan Dynasty be destroyed by mere human effort?

"Up to now, nobody knows what exactly eradicated the Da Xuan Dynasty overnight.

"Senior, do not treat me like a three-year-old child attempting to deceive me."

"..."

Shi Shengtian raised his wine cup, sipping lightly.

He was considering how to further persuade Su Mo.

A sense of helplessness welled in his heart.

These matters were not premeditated.

Originally, he intended to find Su Mo here, forcefully seize the item, and leave.

Then, he would announce the matter widely, leaving Su Mo uninvolved.

He had thought through this series of consequences.

But he never anticipated Su Mo’s martial skills being so advanced.

Even if he wanted to seize the item by force, it might not be possible.

Furthermore, his son remained by Su Mo’s side, further complicating matters.

Resolving it with physical confrontation was already a poor strategy.

So persuading Su Mo to give those people a chance to live is the best option, also leaving a retreat for Su Mo.

If the persuasion continued, he feared he wouldn’t succeed in persuading Su Mo.

Rather, it would be Su Mo who persuaded him...

It truly seemed that logic prevailed universally, while irrationality couldn’t take a step forward.

After all, no matter how it was sugar-coated, it was still those who wanted to snatch the Martial God Key that were wrong.

With no new excuses emerging after a drink, he heard Su Mo laugh:

"But there is some truth in what senior says as well.

"These people, regardless of their minds filled with nonsense or eyes blinded by greed, unable to see the forest for the trees.

"But ultimately, they are incited by others, turning into someone else’s tools.

"If I encounter a few who are not utterly hopeless, I’m willing to raise my hand lightly, offering them a path to live."

"Do you mean it?"

Shi Shengtian’s eyes lit up.

Su Mo smiled:

"Under the circumstances now, why would I toy with senior?"

"That would be good."

Shi Shengtian sighed and then turned towards the waves of Nanhai:

"Beneath the sea waves, undercurrents surge."