As Clinton knelt on the ground, Jonathan’s gaze narrowed, but he remained silent.
Based on the reactions of the Mountain Village villagers and the envoy’s description of Yannopolis, Jonathan had a general understanding of the structure of this small world.
Yannopolis stood at the center, with one hundred and eight villages forming the periphery. In the middle, the two Outer Cities were divided into the north and south regions.
The city layout, especially the arrangement of the thirty-six intermediate villages and seventy-two lower-level villages, was incredibly effective. It was even comparable to modern corporate management models.
Whether it was the exchange of cultivators between the north and south regions or the layout of the intermediate villages, everything seemed to be a way for Yannopolis to redirect the animosity.
The exchange of cultivators between the north and south regions caused pressure on the villages below them, and the “collective punishment” system caused the intermediate villages to bear the consequences of the mistakes made by lower-level villages. This, in turn, caused the intermediate villages to put a constant source of pressure on the seventy-two lower-level villages, ensuring they wouldn’t dare to act out of line.
The lower-level villages resented the intermediate villages, the intermediate villages feared the envoys from the Outer Cities, and all the envoys from the Outer Cities were nothing more than lackeys raised to follow instructions from the Inner City.
This seemingly simple system was actually a tightly woven web of control.
As the outermost village, Mountain Village had no hope of breaking free from this oppressive system, even if they rebelled.
They had no hope—absolutely none!
Noticing Jonathan’s silence, Seboxia clasped his hands together and respectfully addressed Clinton.
“Mr. Yorksland, I am curious,” he began. “I observed earlier that within a fifty-meter radius from here, there are over thirty Grandmaster Realm experts in absolute phase among you. With such a foundation, it should be a breeze for you guys to break through to God Realm.”
While speaking, Seboxia extended his right hand and made a flipping motion.
“What I’m curious about is why all of you don’t choose to collectively break through to God Realm. Is Yannopolis so terrifying that even with the collaboration of the dozens of villages around here, there is no hope of resistance?”
Upon hearing Seboxia’s question, Clinton, his eyes brimming with tears, quickly stood up. “Sir, it’s not that we lack the courage to resist! It’s just that we have no way to break through to God Realm!”
“How is that possible?” Jonathan exclaimed in surprise, looking at Clinton. “Your cultivation has already reached a critical threshold. As long as you have a cultivation method, you should be able to—”
At this point, Jonathan froze, and then he suddenly realized what was happening. He nodded his head in understanding.
“I understand now. Yannopolis’ control is so strict that they would have definitely cut off your access to cultivation methods. You don’t have any cultivation methods above Grandmaster Realm, do you?”
Clinton clenched his fists and reluctantly nodded as he turned to Jonathan.
“Several hundred years ago, every village around here had God Realm cultivators. However, after the wave of beast attacks three hundred years ago, the God Realm cultivators in the one hundred and eight villages were all either killed or severely injured. Those who survived were taken away by Yannopolis under the pretense of getting rewarded, and there have been no God Realm cultivators since then.”
Jonathan felt a heavy weight on his chest upon hearing this. “If I’m guessing correctly, those from Yannopolis will continue to remove and get rid of your newly emerged God Realm cultivators along with their cultivation methods, won’t they?”
“That’s right!” Clinton’s expression turned grim as he looked at Jonathan. “In less than fifty years, all the villages have lost the inheritance of God Realm cultivation. Even if some villages managed to keep something hidden, they realized it too late and couldn’t make a difference. We have no way to turn the tide!”
Seboxia walked forward and waved his hand, sending out a stream of spiritual energy. He gently lifted Clinton off the ground.
“You’ve all suffered greatly. All beings are born equal and shouldn’t be enslaved,” Seboxia said.
Jonathan couldn’t help but feel puzzled as he took in Seboxia’s compassionate expression.
If any other follower of Seboxia had spoken such words of compassion, he would have dismissed them as brainwashed.
However, this was coming from Seboxia, so it seemed somewhat ridiculous.
Who was Seboxia exactly?
He was a great cultivator possessing the Pryncyp of Life, but he had never healed or saved anyone other than Jonathan.
Instead, he had used Jonathan’s Pryncyp of Slaughter to absorb the life force of those on the brink of death for his own use.
Seboxia was a ruthless creature capable of killing. He had deceived even the Heavenly Way with his schemes. Yet here he was, speaking of equality for all sentient beings in such a sanctimonious manner.
Anyone would find it absurd.
What is Seboxia up to?
The look Jonathan shot Seboxia became increasingly dark.
Nevertheless, he couldn’t figure out a clue however much he racked his brains.
Just then, Seboxia unexpectedly beckoned to Jonathan.
In an instant, Jonathan felt a fluctuation of spiritual energy within his elixir field.
With his inner vision, he saw that a corner of the large coffin within his elixir field had lifted by itself.
Within the darkness of the coffin, a shadow flickered. Before Jonathan could react, the object had already flown out of his elixir field and landed in Seboxia’s hand.
It was the conversion of illusion into reality!
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