At a certain nameless desolate mountain in the Northern Border. 

This nameless mountain was not as cold as the Heavenly Snow Mountain, but it was still covered in snow. Every now and then, snowflakes would fall from the sky, glistering in the sun as though they were stars, presenting a stunning sight that could pull anyone into a reverie. 

When the gravekeeper elder brought Xiang Shaoyun here, he easily melted off the ice around Xiang Shaoyun, who then regained his freedom.

However, due to his ruined body, Xiang Shaoyoun couldn't even stand on his feet. He could only lean against the wall. "Thank you for saving my life, master."

Despite being frozen, he was fully aware of his surroundings. He knew that Purple Lightning Marquis had attempted to save him. To his surprise, even his master had appeared. That pumped his heart full of emotions.

Xiang Shaoyun knew just how strong his master was. Even in his previous life, he had not reached such a level of cultivation. He thought inwardly, Looks like I'm quite important to master, after all.

The gravekeeper elder did not say anything and handed Xiang Shaoyun a drop of god-grade spring water. After consuming the spring water, Xiang Shaoyun's damaged body started healing rapidly. However, his ruined stars did not reappear. Only with astral grass would he be able to regrow his stars and regain his previous physique.

The god-grade spring water contained a rich amount of godly energy, but Xiang Shaoyun was unable to refine the energy by circulating it in his body. Thus, he decided to nourish his devil pearl with the godly energy and enhance his devil cultivation instead.

In any case, his identity as a devil had been exposed. He was not afraid that his master would find out as well. As the spring water nourished his devil cultivation, a layer of devilish energy wrapped his entire body, and the rune on his forehead surfaced, giving him a fiendish appearance.

The gravekeeper elder only glanced at Xiang Shaoyun once before looking away, seemingly not bothered. 

After Xiang Shaoyun fully digested the drop of spring water, Xiang Shaoyun's devil cultivation reached peak first-stage Devil Saint Realm. He had grown rapidly, and his entire body felt much better than before. Despite not having his stars, his devil pearl was powering his entire body, making him a true Devil Saint. Even without astral energy cultivation, he was still a powerful cultivator.

Xiang Shaoyun stood up, knelt before the gravekeeper elder, and said, "Thank you, master."

"Stand up," said the gravekeeper elder calmly. "I refused to believe it when everyone claimed that you were a devil. Now, I have no choice but to believe it."

Xiang Shaoyun's heart skipped a beat as he answered honestly, "That's right. I have devil blood in me. My mother is an Imperial Nether Clan member. However, my father is a full human. Furthermore, I grew up among humans."

"Do you know what a devil is?" asked the gravekeeper elder.

Xiang Shaoyun gave the question some thought and said, "The races cultivating devilish energy are all devils."

"Wrong," said the gravekeeper elder. "With evil in the heart, one is a devil."

"With evil in the heart, one is a devil?" Xiang Shaoyun contemplated those words in a somewhat dazed manner.

"The Buddhist teachings say that all living things are born equal; all living things are with their own wisdom. Humans, devils, demons, and all other races are born equal. However, the differences among the many races gave rise to discrimination. That was why the hostility between humans and devils never stopped. Nobody has considered that the many races can actually coexist in harmony," said the gravekeeper elder with a sigh.

Xiang Shaoyun was stunned. He had not imagined that the gravekeeper elder would have such an opinion. That was a very liberal way of thinking that would be considered a taboo for many. How could the discrimination between races be erased? How could the numerous races coexist in peace?

"This disciple seeks your guidance," said Xiang Shaoyun with a humble attitude.

Perhaps his master could give him an idea of what he should do after this. He wouldn't know how he could continue staying among the humans otherwise. The humans hated the devils, and his name had been spread all over the dominion. The moment he showed himself, he would be akin to a rat scurrying across the street, hated by all. He did not wish to live in such an environment. He wasn't afraid of making more enemies, but he was afraid of being forced to become a devil after being rejected by the humans.

"Like I said, if you have evil in your heart, you're a devil. If you don't have evil in your heart, you're not a devil. So long as you maintain a pure heart, who would see you as a devil?" asked the gravekeeper elder.

"This disciple is still confused," said Xiang Shaoyun.

"You're a devil because some people want to kill you. Thus, they claim that you're a devil. If they stop wanting to kill you, even if you're a devil and are standing before their eyes, they will still turn a blind eye for you."

"Master, do you mean that others are the ones to decide if I'm a devil?"

"Wrong. It's up to you alone. As long as you live as a human, even if you are to use devilish abilities before their eyes, you are still the same person regardless of what they say. Devil or human, it all depends on your heart. How should you make others accept you? By becoming stronger than them. Become so strong that they can only look up to you. At that time, they will say that you're a god among humans instead of claiming that you're a devil."

"So strength is crucial. But they won't give me any chance to survive. How can I grow to the point where they have to look up to me?"

"My very presence is your chance of survival. With me, nobody will dare to call you a devil anymore. However, you have to walk your path alone. I won't be able to protect you forever."

…

From the conversation with his master, Xiang Shaoyun finally understood what he should do from now on. With his master making an appearance, his master had the final say as to whether he was a devil or a human. That would only change if someone brave enough to challenge his master were to appear. Of course, his master could only serve as a warning to the masses. He still had to rely on himself to confront the world.

"If there is evil in my heart, I'm a devil. If I don't have evil in my heart, I'm not a devil. Nobody can force a label upon me," muttered Xiang Shaoyun to himself.

He looked at his master and said, "Master, my nine stars have been destroyed. Do you have any astral grass I can use?"

He was not used to not having any astral energy. He had painstakingly comprehended the various profundities and aimed to create the strongest physique. He was not resigned to giving up on everything he had worked for. He was filled with hatred toward the old man who had crippled him. Given the chance, he would personally end that old man.

"I do have some astral grass, but I won't give it to you," said the gravekeeper elder, ruining Xiang Shaoyun's enthusiasm.

"Why?" Xiang Shaoyun asked.

"Because you're destined to walk a path nobody has walked before. The destruction of your stars might be something good for you, after all. Contemplate more on the Desolation mantra. That's it for now," said the gravekeeper elder before vanishing before Xiang Shaoyun's eyes.