Instead, he prepared to leave to see how things were developing in the outside world.
Of course, there were still things to do before that.
He found a few of the Hell Humans he had grown close to over the years and said, "I’m preparing to leave Hell. Does anyone want to go see the outside world?"
The men looked at each other. After a long while, one of them asked hesitantly, "Can we... really leave? Won’t we be hunted down and killed by the Celestial Realm the moment we step outside?"
Li Chang’an shook his head. "To be honest, I don’t know what the situation in the outside world is like right now either. But isn’t that all the more reason to go and find out?"
Hearing this, the men looked at each other again.
Having spent their entire lives in Hell, it was impossible that they didn’t yearn to see the outside world.
Li Chang’an had painted the outside world as a wonderful place, which, to people living in such an extreme environment, sounded like a legendary paradise.
However, the fixed mindset that had shackled them since childhood was not so easy to change or overcome.
The long isolation had caused the Hell Humans to grow complacent, too afraid to take a step forward.
Li Chang’an didn’t try to persuade them.
Forcing the issue would only lead to a bitter outcome. Li Chang’an wasn’t so desperate that he had to resort to trickery. In the end, the decision to leave had to be their own.
After the men thought in silence for a long time, one of them, who was as tall as a three-story building and had six arms, spoke up. "I am willing to leave with you. But before that, I must go and explain the situation to the clan leader. If the clan leader agrees, I will go with you to see the outside world!"
This tall fellow’s name was Kuimu. His enormous body and six arms, as thick as concrete pillars, gave him a very imposing presence.
For years, he had been the most enthusiastic of the Hell Humans to learn the Martial Dao from Li Chang’an. His power was terrifying; he had already achieved an Extraordinary level.
With him taking the lead, the other Hell People who were close to Li Chang’an also expressed their willingness to follow him and leave.
When this news reached the Human Emperor Sacred Mountain, the clan leader, Su Ma, was clearly not surprised.
Though his body was old and frail, his mind was far from rusty. It was self-evident what Li Chang’an had been aiming for, spending all these years in Hell spreading tales of the beautiful world outside.
And the fact that he had never stopped him was, in a way, an implicit statement of his own attitude.
When a group of Hell Humans appeared behind Li Chang’an in the giant cavern, Su Ma sighed and said, "You can take them with you, but I have a few requests. I ask that you do your utmost to abide by them!"
Li Chang’an replied calmly, "What requests? Name them."
The Hell Humans were already physically formidable, and cultivating the Martial Dao made them even more powerful.
If he could unite them into a single force, they would be a terrifying power. Even if they couldn’t compare to the Celestial Realm, they could at least make it wary and cause it some trouble.
But achieving this was no simple matter.
Taking this group outside was the first step toward changing his people, and Li Chang’an had no intention of giving up on the opportunity.
"My requests are simple. There’s no need to be so tense." Su Ma shook his head. "First, please do everything in your power to ensure my people’s safety. Second, if any of my people wish to return to Hell, you must not stop them. And third, those who leave must return periodically to report what they’ve seen and heard. If you can truly withstand the attacks of the Divine Spirits, then we, the descendants of the Human Emperor, are willing to shed our last drop of blood for the cause!"
These requests were indeed simple.
One could even say they were barely requests at all.
It seemed Li Chang’an’s actions in Hell over the years hadn’t been completely in vain. At the very least, they had established a basic level of trust between both sides.
Thus, Li Chang’an nodded without any hesitation. "I can agree to all these requests. You can rest assured, Clan Leader. Even if something unexpected happens, I will do everything I can to ensure they survive!"
Hearing this, Su Ma nodded.
His gaze shifted to the few Hell Humans, his old, cloudy eyes suddenly turning sharp. "Since you are willing to follow our honored guest and leave, you must guarantee your unconditional loyalty... At the same time, you bear the responsibility of acting as the eyes and ears of our people!"
"You must remember everything you see in the outside world and report it back truthfully. These are very important matters, concerning the safety of our entire race. Do you understand?"
The group’s expressions were a bit unnatural at first.
But when they saw that the clan leader didn’t seem to blame them, they immediately grew excited. Kuimu, at the head of the group, puffed out his chest and boomed, "Don’t worry, Clan Leader! We will remember our mission!"
Su Ma sighed, and after a moment of thought, he suddenly said, "There must be others in the clan who want to go, right? Tell them not to hide it. As long as our honored guest is willing to have them, let them all go. Kuimu, from now on, you are the next clan leader. The well-being of our people in the outside world is in your hands!"
Hearing this, Li Chang’an wasn’t the only one who was stunned; even Kuimu was taken aback.
To be honest, many among the Hell Race had indeed thought of going to see the outside world, but due to long-standing tradition, few dared to bring it up.
In the end, they never expected that Su Ma, the clan leader, would be the first to put the topic on the table.
Kuimu took a step forward, his tone somewhat panicked. "Clan Leader, perhaps we should first scout out the situation outside? Then you can discuss with the other clan members and decide whether to send more people!"
Hearing his suggestion, Su Ma slowly shook his head.
...