Original and most updated translations are from volare. Please don't read elsewhere and stop supporting theft.

　　TL: Zhao

　　Editing: Krisaia

　　"I don't know what you mean." Liu Meng was unnerved by the revelation, refusing to believe what Stargaze was hinting at.

　　"None of us are without fault. If you thought you could escape the wrath of Heaven's Laws by completing a high-level domain, then you are much too naive. You still don't understand the rules enough." Stargaze looked up again.

　　"We've all made mistakes. But how many deserve to die for their sins? That I cannot say, but there is only one way to kill all those who deserve to die in this prefecture." Stargaze said calmly.

　　"You need to kill all of them. This is the punishment for Tianshan."

　　"But those who kill the innocent…"

　　"Then choose one person to carry out these deeds…" Stargaze stood up and strolled away not minding Liu Meng one bit.

　　'Choose one to carry out the deeds…' Liu Meng's hands shook as she clamped her fingers around her s.h.i.+rt.

　　This was the choice that the domain had offered: to choose someone to slaughter the entire prefecture, and then to pay the ultimate price for such a horrendous act. Those who survived would be forever ridden with the guilt of having chosen one of their comrades to die.

　　* * *

　　In an apocalyptic-looking valley, Li Yiming and his allies were still continuing to struggle to fend off their enemies. Fang Shui'er paused her shooting to look at her glove, which had been ruptured after pulling back the bowstring so often. Her fingers had become numb a long time ago.

　　"We need to retreat." Yu Runkai threw another cask of wine, exploding it in midair and clearing out a path for them to reach for their tower.

　　"The enemy has destroyed a tower."

　　Fang Shui'er finally grew anxious as their fourth tower crumbled. Even if they adjusted their tactics accordingly, the onslaught of the monkeys was nearly impossible to stop. Aside from the middle lane which Li Yiming was guarding, they had lost all of their outer towers on the side lanes.

　　"There's no way we can hold this." Yu Runkai looked at the enemy minions. Although their numbers had not changed, the enemy minions were much stronger than before. Even the material from which the dolls were made had gone from simple wood to a metal-like alloy.

　　"We'll need to buy more time with the towers in our base." Fang Shui'er ran back after shooting another volley.

　　Compared to his friends, Li Yiming was doing rather well for himself. After all, being able to afford the best items did prove to be a significant advantage. Even after the enemy minions gained more power, Li Yiming was still able to fend off wave after wave of enemies.

　　Li Yiming dove through the enemy minions like a spinning top, rejuvenated by the minions he stroke down every second. He could feel the restoring energy coming from his sword, allowing him to use the vitality of his enemies for himself. As he looked at the monkey, who was still waiting outside of the range of the tower, an idea surfaced in his mind. 'Shao Xian was right about only the techniques of the monkey being stronger. That means that if I attack aggressively, while I still have an edge with my items, I should…'

　　The monkey suddenly made a move. It lowered its staff and made ready to strike.