When Hu Ma resolutely uttered his refusal, the Old Madam Li also let out a low sigh.

On Hu Ma's face, there was an expression of absurdity and weariness, while a hint of disappointment lingered on the Old Madam Li's face.

After a long pause, she sighed softly, lacking the solemnity from her earlier speech about the Eight Sceneries of Netherworld, and slowly said: "Offering you all of our twenty years of accumulated wealth to aid the New Heaven is already a great concession from the Ten Families Sect..."

Hu Ma merely sneered, not even bothering to respond.

And then Old Madam Li's gaze turned slightly cold, as she looked up at Hu Ma.

At this moment, her identity seemed to shift from the old friend of the Hu Family to the ancestor of the Impermanence Li Family, shaking her head slowly, she said:

"The descendants of Zhen Sui Hu Family are capable, skilled in gathering the physical realm with the law of another world, achieving such accomplishments that even the State Preceptor of Shangjing City couldn't yield on that day; indeed, you are the foremost within the Ten Families Sect..."

"But you are too overconfident."

"I know your confidence stems from those people of another world; they are indeed capable and have indeed crossed the bridge, but you must know, they were too late crossing the bridge."

"..."

Looking at Hu Ma, it seemed as though she was giving guidance to a junior in Magic: "Crossing the bridge means transcendence."

"The path of transcendence is simply to trace back to the origin, thus everyone has the ability to return home, and after crossing the bridge, they naturally head toward their origin."

"People of this world, after crossing the bridge, would be closer to the Eight Sceneries of Netherworld, for the Eight Sceneries of Netherworld is indeed our origin."

"But people from the other world come from Tai Sui, their crossing the bridge instinctively brings them closer to Tai Sui, which makes it all the more dangerous, so they may be far less capable on the path of returning home..."

"You hope they will help you win..."

Pausing slightly, she said: "Difficult!"

"To put it bluntly, if really forced to decide between winning or losing, should the duel escalate, none of us might be able to control the extent, and this world might be destroyed..."

As she reached this point, her tone was light, but the meaning of her words was heavy.

Hu Ma suddenly looked up at her, the laziness on his face wiped away, his gaze cold and clear: "Is the Old Madam threatening me?"

Those who once agreed to a Magic duel for safeguarding a bit more, now say it might destroy this world with the duel, isn't it just a threat?

Old Madam Li just coldly gazed at Hu Ma, not asserting or explaining, naturally representing non-denial.

And Hu Ma met her gaze, and his eyes suddenly carried a cold smile, slowly nodding, he said: "You said you were an old acquaintance of my Granny, then you must know her well."

"Back then, when she returned to the ancestral hall, she once told me, sensible children always suffer more."

"In one sentence she expressed all her concerns for me, and the bitterness in the Hu Family's heart, yes, sensible people always seem more unfortunate; suffering is still fine, but what's dreadful is exerting effort without any reward."

"My Hu Family saw the world's suffering and made plans early, thus ending up with a ruined household, leaving me alone, while you enjoyed twenty years of wealth and still want to be living gods..."

As he spoke, his expression also turned cold: "Owed to you?"

Hearing his gradually harsh words, Old Madam Li's expression showed a hint of surprise, her coldness slightly reduced, just staring fixedly at his face.

"I want to gather destiny and drive away Tai Sui, I want everything you previously mentioned, but..."

And the mockery in Hu Ma's expression reached its peak at this moment, he sneered, raising his voice: "If it truly comes to a point where a group fights desperately in the front and another group pulls back in the rear..."

"...then damn it, let it be destroyed!"

"..."

Suddenly hearing these words, Old Madam Li's entire expression seemed somewhat out of control.

Having grown old and wise, she naturally knew how to read faces and atmosphere, actually feeling that Hu Ma was not speaking falsely at this moment.

Inexplicably, she suddenly regretted coming to meet him, to say these words; how could someone hold the intent to save the world while constantly being ready to destroy it?

"You're old, so you don't understand."

Hu Ma saw the astonishment on Old Madam Li's face, speaking while standing up.

Looking down from above, with an indifferent expression, ridiculing face: "You still think of using the threat of breaking this world against me?"

"You fundamentally don't understand, a duel is giving you a chance, not a bargaining chip for negotiation!"

"I'm walking the path of Shousui, just a rough man, only familiar with simple methods, so compared to this literary Magic duel to determine victory, I'd rather fight until you are convinced, fight you into oblivion, leaving what remains naturally in my hands."

"Whether the Ten Families exist or not, whether nobles exist or not, as long as the living people of the outer world remain, the Luotian Festival can still be initiated."

"It's just a pity, because we all know where this world's vulnerabilities lie, we all know how to destroy this world faster, I therefore must adhere to the rules and duel against you properly..."

"But if any day, someone truly breaks these rules, and we lose hope for victory, I will be the first to come to your door!"

"..."

Outside at this moment, the eerie wind swirled, candlelight swayed, casting on his face, his features deep, eyes fierce: "Old Madam, go back and tell your Li Family descendants, and also inform others."