by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
Just as Li Qi and Song Mingyuan killed their targets, a spatial channel appeared. The remaining Empyrean stepped into it.
Long Chen just looked on without stopping him. Just as the latter stepped through, a ray of light flew over.
“Hey, don’t be in such a rush to leave. This is a small present for your sect. I’ll trouble you to give it to your sect leader. It’s just a small token of my respect for you!” called out Guo Ran.
It was a fist-sized ball and vanished along with the Empyrean.
The Empyrean came out of the spatial channel and saw that he had returned to his sect. Thinking he had escaped death, he rejoiced.
“What is this?”
That Empyrean had just sighed with relief when he suddenly saw that a ball had appeared beside him. That ball’s runes were rapidly changing color.
BOOM!
The ball exploded like a blazing sun. Its immense power devoured the entire sect, destroying it.
…
“Brat, you are really evil.” Long Chen gave Guo Ran a thumbs-up.
He had known that Guo Ran wouldn’t give up such a chance to show off. He would definitely take one of the five targets.
However, Long Chen hadn’t expected that this little fellow would have learned how to be low-key in order to show off even more effectively. Guo Ran had waited silently to con that Empyrean. He had timed everything perfectly.
That ball’s power was definitely terrifying. It wouldn’t just kill that Empyrean; it would probably bring down his sect with him. That move was definitely vicious, so Long Chen gave Guo Ran a thumbs-up.
“Boss, I was just learning from you. I still have much to learn. I will strive to reach the same height as you one day,” said Guo Ran devoutly.
Meng Qi, Chu Yao, and the others were speechless. As expected, a subordinate learned from their leader. These two fellows were both evil. In the future, they would take wickedness to new heights.
In less than an incense stick’s worth of time, the battlefield was empty. The opponents were all slain. However, the Xuantian Dao Sect’s experts were still filled with shock.
Even Hua Shiyu, Zhao Ziyan, Wang Zhen, and the others were stunned. Without even realizing it, the Dragonblood Legion’s power had erupted to a shocking level once more.
Even Empyreans with divine items protecting themselves weren’t able to flee in front of them.
Most shocking of all, only Gu Yang had used his manifestation. The others hadn’t even used their full power.
Moreover, Li Qi, Song Mingyuan, and Guo Ran hadn’t used any martial weapons, while Gu Yang and Yue Zifeng didn’t have divine items. Yue Zifeng might have been too fast for them to see his sword, but those fluctuations weren’t of a divine item. His sword didn’t even have the fluctuations of an Ancestral item.
They killed five Empyreans with casual waves of their hands. How could the others not be shocked? How could they not revere such power?
“I’m still lacking compared to Zifeng. I had to sacrifice my weapon,” said Gu Yang despondently.
“You’re a power-type fighter. Having a good heavy weapon would increase your combat power by at least thirty percent. However, Guo Ran still can’t forge divine items, so it’ll be up to luck. I’ll try to get you one decent weapon later,” consoled Long Chen.
Long Chen was also a power-type fighter, and he personally knew how irritating it was not to have a good weapon. Despite having immense power, you would be unable to use it to fight. That was too stifling.
“Alright, since the fight’s done, we’re done for the day. Next time, if there’s anyone annoying, there’s no need to be courteous. Just kill them.” Long Chen clapped his hands, about to leave.
“Long Chen, have we fallen into their trap by doing this?” asked Chu Yao worriedly.
“The old man often teaches that in front of absolute power, all schemes are useless. Plus, this isn’t a trap to us. I’ve already dealt with it, so don’t worry,” said Long Chen. He turned to the Xuantian Dao Sect’s disciples.
“Brothers, sisters, you’ve now seen that our Xuantian Dao Sect is surrounded by enemies. You’ve also seen their expressions toward us. No one wishes for our Xuantian Dao Sect to soar. So if we want to reach the peak of the Martial Heaven Continent, we’ll have to face countless obstacles. There will be different kinds of obstacles. Some will be clear and aboveboard, while some will be hidden pitfalls. There will also be some that, knowing they can’t stop you, will still wipe their snot on you just to irritate you.
“This is the path of cultivation, one of no return, one where there is no right or wrong, a completely heartless path. If we want to rise, we have to climb over the corpses of our enemies. If your heart holds mercy, it will only result in you being the one whose corpse is climbed over. That is why I never care about my opponent’s point of view or other people’s slander, because anyone who has stepped onto the cultivation path is no longer completely innocent or pure. What I do care about are my brothers, my sisters, my parents, my family. For them, I cannot pause in front of obstacles, nor can I retreat.
“The current Xuantian Dao Sect looks grand and majestic, but I will tell you that this is just a start. As long as we don’t fall, the Xuantian Dao Sect will definitely become one of the overlords of the Martial Heaven Continent. Sometimes fate is just like this. Only when you are willing to share honor and disgrace are you true life and death brothers, just like my Dragonblood Legion. The reason you cannot join the Dragonblood Legion isn’t because you aren’t outstanding or righteous enough. It’s the opposite. I see many among you who are worthy of being my life and death brothers. However, that time has already passed. The Dragonblood Legion is no longer accepting new members. That is because our memories of walking from the Eastern Wasteland to the Central Plains will forever be engraved in our minds. Those years cannot be relived, and those emotions cannot be replaced. The current Xuantian Dao Sect is similar.
“This is a special time, where danger and opportunity exist together. If you wish to stay in the Xuantian Dao Sect, you might prosper with it and leave your names in history. You also might be destroyed along with the Xuantian Dao Sect and become an unremarkable ripple in the river of time. This is a gamble where you bet your life.
“I ask you, do you have the bravery to follow my Xuantian Dao Sect? Do you dare to make a grand gamble with me against our powerful enemies that surround us on the Martial Heaven Continent?”
“We dare!”
All the experts felt their blood boiling with a grand, heroic feeling. Their excitement from killing the enemy invaders had yet to fade before Long Chen’s words further stimulated them.
Life itself was a series of gambles. You won some, you lost some. Each choice was a gamble, and before you reached the end, no one could say whether you won or lost. However, they all trusted Long Chen because Long Chen was a legend, a miracle. They firmly believed that whether he won or lost, this gamble would be exceptionally brilliant.
“Good. Then everyone, prepare yourself. The Devil Abyss’s eruption is nearing, and we will first use that battle to signify the rise of our Xuantian Dao Sect! Let us fight shoulder to shoulder, slaughtering our enemies!”
All the Xuantian Dao Sect’s disciples cheered. They finally had a chance to fight alongside Long Chen. To them, this was a glory that they had been waiting for.
“He really knows how to raise morale!”
In the Xuantain Tower, Li Tianxuan couldn’t help sighing emotionally.
Chapter 1683 One Move to Reverse the Tides
“Haha, good! Long Chen finally couldn’t endure it any longer. Now we can justify the destruction of the Xuantian Dao Sect!”
“Even if Qu Jianying wanted to protect him, it would be useless this time. Long Chen and the Xuantian Dao Sect are doomed.
“Immediately gather all our troops! Everyone is to move out. This time, we’re going to completely eliminate this scourge.”
When news that Long Chen had killed the experts from various
forces sent to blockade the Xuantian Dao Sect spread throughout the continent, Pill Valley, the ancient family alliance, the ancient races, the Xuan Beasts, and other top tier powers began to gather their forces. This blockade’s true purpose had been to antagonize Long Chen and provoke him into killing them. It was a shameless move that had no possible counter. Being shameless made it exceptionally effective.
They knew that Long Chen’s temper was explosive and he killed people decisively. He definitely wouldn’t permit others to insult his people, especially his women. If that happened, his anger would be fully provoked.
However, the Dragonblood Legion had been in seclusion during this time. It was only when Long Chen came out that the opportunity came. However, they didn’t even have to antagonize him for him to kill them.
The only thing that surprised them was that the experts that they had sent to fan the flames of the crowd had all been killed.
Only one returned to his sect alive, and as a result, he ended up bringing along a mysterious sphere that exploded, killing him and destroying his sect. A first-rate sect was damaged to its core just like that.
However, five Empyreans weren’t a big deal to them. That was because the Empyreans came from sects that were subordinate to them. All they needed to do was crush the Xuantian Dao Sect as revenge for them and then give them a bit of compensation. That way, their enemies would be eliminated, their reputation would grow, and they would get richer.
This was a shameless move, so shameless that there was no way to neutralize it. If they endured, the Xuantian Dao Sect would become the laughingstock of the continent. If they didn’t endure, they would give their opponents a reason to join together to destroy them.
Unfortunately for them, this shameless move was so shameless that Long Chen had no choice but to be even more shameless. He had directly flipped the board, refusing to play this game with them.
Just as they were gathering their forces and a rising storm brewed over the continent, a piece of news struck the continent like lightning, blowing apart those storm clouds.
This news was transmitted through two photographic jades. The day after Long Chen had exterminated those experts, the news spread like a contagious virus.
“The Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s Shen Bijun was actually so shameless! Heavens, I can barely believe it!”
“Who cares about that?! The head of the ancient family alliance was slapped by Long Chen, and his clone was destroyed! I don’t dare to believe it!”
“Those photographic jades are too clear to be fake. In other words… everything is actually true! Who would have thought that Shen Bijun was trying to kill Long Chen from the start? She was just feigning love to make it so others wouldn’t punish her too hard for her actions. Her acting was so good that even the Illusive Music Immortal Palace blamed Long Chen. For one of the protectors of the continent to do such a thing… how disappointing.”
“The disappointing one isn’t just the Illusive Music Immortal Palace. Di Long abused his position to avenge a personal enmity. He actually made up a sanctimonious reason to target Long Chen and the Xuantian Dao Sect. Furthermore, Pill Valley, the ancient races, the Xuan Beasts, and others all supported them. Could they really not have known the truth? That’s thought-provoking.”
Ever since those two photographic jades spread throughout the Martial Heaven Continent, countless experts were discussing them.
Anywhere there were people, there were also the Huayun Sect’s businessmen. These two photographic jades were quickly spread.
Everyone quickly learned the truth. This was Long Chen’s silent strike back. Originally, all the Central Plains’ forces were denouncing the Xuantian Dao Sect and Qu Jianying, but now their mouths were shut.
People realized that they had been used. They had been used as a public opinion weapon.
The only thing worth celebrating for them was that they hadn’t been like those people who had charged over to the Xuantian Dao Sect to curse them. Otherwise, they also would have been unable to ever return.
These two photographic jades startled everyone awake. Some people even furiously demanded an explanation from the Illusive Music Immortal Palace and the ancient family alliance. They cursed the latter for being shameless, for using other people’s emotions. They were a bunch of cheats.
Those powers that had been gathering forces and filled with excitement immediately turned cold from head to toe once those photographic jades appeared.
The Illusive Music Immortal palace, ancient family alliance, and Pill Valley in particular were struck dumb, not knowing what to do.
Within the Illusive Music Immortal Palace, the palace master’s expression was heavy. In front of her was the Seven String Sea Suppressing Zither. There was a thumb-sized black scar on it now.
That was the result of when Long Chen had used divine lightning to send it flying. The Seven String Sea Suppressing Zither had been unable to protect Shen Bijun, so it had returned to the Illusive Music Immortal Palace once Shen Bijun was killed.
However, even after all this time, the black mark on it had yet to fully recover. The power of that thunderforce had harmed its core.
“I never expected Long Chen to have such a strange ability. He recorded everything that happened back then,” sighed the palace master.
Back when the palace master had faced Qu Jianying’s confrontation, she had refused to admit that she had sent Shen Bijun to kill Long Chen. She clung to her story that Long Chen had scorned Shen Bijun’s feelings, resulting in Shen Bijun going crazy.
However, now that lie was useless. In fact, it had even transformed into a kind of insult. Even the words Long Chen and Shen Bijun had exchanged spiritually were recorded. The story of love transforming into hatred was a huge joke.
The reason she had refused to admit to this at first was because there was no proof to be found. Shen Bijun was dead, and by saying that Long Chen’s testimony was completely biased, it was easy to make his story baseless.
Now though, Long Chen had brought out his iron-clad proof. She was no longer able to continue with this lie. Furthermore, the reason all these powers were targeting Long Chen was because the Illusive Music Immortal Palace had taken the lead. Now the palace master had a splitting headache.
“Shen Bijun’s heart was too narrow. She was fierce but lacked any nobility. It was fated that she couldn’t hold an important position. As for Zi Yan, she fulfills all the other requirements, but she doesn’t have a killing heart. Only by killing the person she loves the most can her eyes be opened to her true nature. However, the heavens toy with people. That Long Chen is too powerful and has many factors that make me uneasy. Even I was injured. As for that saber he has, it’s a powerful killing weapon. You have to be careful.” The Seven String Sea Suppressing Zither’s voice was gentle like immortal music. It was like a woman was speaking while playing the zither.
“I can’t think that far into the future at the moment. This matter has implicated the state of the entire continent. If I handle this badly, the Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s name will be ruined. Furthermore, those seniors will definitely punish me.” The palace master rubbed her head as she muttered.
“You can’t rush this matter. It would be better to temporarily take a step back. Although you are doing this all for Zi Yan, you should remember that Zi Yan’s devil star cannot be meddled with. When you first sent Shen Bijun to kill Long Chen, I felt like it was a bad idea. Now reality proves me right. If this matter gets any bigger and startles those ancestors, ignoring your position as palace master, even Zi Yan will be implicated. You know those ancestors’ decisive characters. They definitely won’t give Zi Yan any breathing room. Either Long Chen dies, or Zi Yan dies. That will obviously push Zi Yan toward death,” said the Seven String Sea Suppressing Zither.
The palace master nodded. “Then I can only do this. For Zi Yan, I’ll bear all the responsibility.”
“You’re planning on…?!”
“No matter what, I have to giv
e an explanation or it’ll be difficult to handle everyone’s criticism.”
Just at this moment, a disciple ran in and bowed toward the palace master. “Reporting to the palace master, Pill Valley, the ancient races, the ancient family alliance, and a dozen other powers have sent emissaries asking to see you.”
The palace master smiled bitterly. “What do they want from me? Could it be they really want me to stubbornly insist that those photographic jades are fake? Am I supposed to thicken my skin and let them drag me down into their depravity and go destroy the Xuantian Dao Sect? Tell them to go back to wherever they came from. I will take responsibility for my own actions.”
…
The second day after the photographic jades appeared, another shocking piece of news spread. The Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s master announced that she had made a grievous mistake and wrongly accused a good person. She could not run from her sins. She went onto the Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s punishment stage and punished herself with forty-nine strikes of heavenly lightning as an apology to the world.
When that news spread, the continent was shaken. The position of palace master of the Illusive Music Immortal Palace was a grand and noble one, but even she was capable of admitting her own mistakes and punishing herself. That made countless people feel respect. This was a real expert, someone who dared to face their own mistakes.
In comparison to the palace master, Di Long was looked down upon even more. One dared to own up to her mistakes, while the other one refused to admit that he had made any mistakes at all.
This self-punishment from the palace master was the final nail in the coffin for the powers gathering their forces. They disbanded like smoke in the wind, no longer having the slightest reason to target the Xuantian Dao Sect.
Di Long was absolutely infuriated. Long Chen’s photographic jades were another slap in his face, while the palace master’s self-punishment was an even more resounding slap. He definitely refused to admit that he was wrong. He wished to tear Long Chen to pieces, but regretfully, he had no way to do so.