Volume 10, Chapter 708 – The Day of Blood Descends (Part 1)

The rightful leader of the Immortal Alliance was named Lu Lin. Though he appeared as a refined gentleman with a pale, clean-shaven face, looking more like a wealthy master accustomed to comfort than a warrior, his cultivation had already reached the sixth layer of the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. He was recognized as the number one expert of the cultivation world and the only one who had managed to obtain the Heaven-Deceiving Water!

“Yes, these people must have eaten the hearts of bears and leopards to dare openly slander the Immortal Alliance. We, as the government office of the cultivation world, have always walked righteously and sat with integrity. How could we possibly commit such shameless deeds?”

“It seems we’ve been far too merciful all these years. Otherwise, who would dare strike at the head of Taisui?” ¹ 太岁头上动 (Tàisuì tóu shàng dòng tǔ), a Chinese idiom that is the equivalent to “to recklessly provoke someone powerful” or “to kick the hornet’s nest” .

“Their actions are no different from rebellious traitors in the mortal world. Do they mean to overthrow our Immortal Alliance and rule the cultivation world themselves?”

“Hah, with their pitiful strength? They couldn’t even overturn one of our branch halls.”

Most of the elders below, unaware of the truth, were indignant and began to curse loudly. Some even complained of injustice.

“The matter of the Immortal Alliance secretly abducting bait is true.”

Standing to Lu Lin’s lower left, Cao Hong spoke impatiently. Now that the matter had already been exposed, hiding it from their own people served no purpose.

“What?”

The grand hall instantly fell into dead silence.

“But why would we do such a thing?”

One elder asked cautiously.

“Then tell this Alliance Leader what should be done. As of now, the evils at Kapok Valley’s treasure land grow more numerous. Each time we send people to search for Golden Fate Blossom seeds as bait, the casualties are severe. In recent years, few are willing to voluntarily offer their daughters anymore.”

Lu Lin narrowed his eyes and pressed the question.

The elder opened his mouth but eventually found himself at a loss for words.

The hall fell into a long silence, awkward expressions showing on every face.

“What? Do you feel guilty now?”

Lu Lin sneered, then barked harshly: “The cultivation world reveres strength. Since when have we ever needed to reason?”

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At these words, the elders below flinched. The guilt on their faces gradually faded.

“Indeed, the cultivation world has always been survival of the fittest. So what if they are victims? If they want to live, they should swallow their bitterness in silence. That way, perhaps they might cling to a thread of survival. If they dare to resist, they are only seeking death.”

A rough-looking elder shouted.

“Yes, I suggest we immediately send men to eliminate those rebels, to set an example for the rest.”

A tall and burly elder chimed in.

“No! The matter has already stirred too much commotion. If they were to suddenly ‘meet misfortune’, then everyone would mark us as prime suspects. That would tarnish the reputation of the Immortal Alliance.”

Elder Kang, who had narrowly survived the last trip to Kapok Valley, quickly intervened.

“So by your meaning, we should just let it go? Then who would fear the Immortal Alliance in the future?”

“Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it’? Though strength rules the cultivation world, the reason the Immortal Alliance has grown this far is not just because of strength, but also because of its upright conduct. Only then can hearts submit willingly!”

“You mean we should grovel in apology?”

“That’s not what I mean. But if you only know how to intimidate, others may submit outwardly but not inwardly. Once they find an opportunity, they will surely rebel. You had better pray the Immortal Alliance always remains strong!”

Thus, the elders split into two factions, engaging in heated debate.

“Heh, Alliance Leader Cao, watching them argue so fiercely, I finally understand why those baits spread this matter so widely.”

Lu Lin sneered.

“Yes, it’s obvious they mean to stake everything on one last chance. They do have some cunning.”

Cao Hong realized as well.

“Do not underestimate mortals. They may be weaker, but that does not make them fools.”

Lu Lin muttered in reflection, then roared at the crowd: “Enough! Silence!”

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The red-faced, quarreling elders shivered and quickly closed their mouths.

“Alliance Leader Cao, what wise counsel do you have?”

Lu Lin turned to ask.

“Alliance Leader, words once spoken can be taken back, so long as you have the strength to enforce it.”

Cao Hong said cryptically.

“That is exactly what I was thinking.”

Lu Lin smiled in satisfaction, then commanded his subordinates: “Elder Zhang, Elder Li, Elder Wang… the few of you will represent the Immortal Alliance and visit the homes of those baits. Tell them to retract their words and issue statements clearing our name. Otherwise, they will bear the consequences.”

“Alliance Leader, what if they refuse to obey?”

One elder asked uneasily.

“Then order every sect within their nation to relocate to another. I want to see how long they can last under the endless tide of evils without us.”

Lu Lin sneered coldly.

“Brilliant, Alliance Leader!”

Excited expressions spread among the elders.

“As for the sects those baits belong to, if they refuse to comply, find a reason to expel them from under the Immortal Alliance. Without our resources, I want to see how they sustain their legacy.”

Lu Lin continued his commands, his expression growing ever more sinister. “Hmph! To defy the Immortal Alliance, this leader has ten thousand ways to make them die!”

“Marvelous! Even fools will understand that they must bow to the greater good!”

The elders’ eyes now brimmed with admiration.

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Lu Lin pressed his hand down to silence them and shifted the subject: “Elder You, has that Wenren Qing spoken yet?”

“Reporting to Alliance Leader: no. That fellow’s mouth is stubborn. I’ve ordered every torture imaginable, yet he refuses to speak. Perhaps he truly doesn’t know the killer’s identity.”

The rough-looking elder reported.

“No matter! Invite the Grand Elder of the Aoshi Sect. Let him see if it’s true. The three ethereal souls and seven corporeal souls in his Sea of Consciousness will reveal all.”

Lu Lin ordered decisively.

“Yes! The Yin-Yang Eyes can pierce the Sea of Consciousness. Even if his lips are sealed, his souls are unguarded. He cannot possibly keep silent.”

Elder You rejoiced.

“Hmph! Three of our Immortal Alliance elders will not have died in vain. Whoever the killer is, they must pay!”

Lu Lin sneered repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang had just purchased several Golden Fate Blossom seeds at a high price in the Central Continent, and hurried back to the Honghua Sect.

The very next day, she discovered that one of the four seeds she had planted had sprouted. She was so overjoyed that she ate several extra bowls of rice, for it meant the people of Huangtian County could soon shed their stigma.

Although she was thrilled, Qi Huang did not spread the news. She only told her main body and her family, better fewer troubles than more.

That evening, as always, Qi Huang took her sleeping medicine and went to bed. This time she held little expectation, for only days ago she had just seen Cheng Ling’s memories.

Yet fortune smiled upon her. When she regained awareness, she once again saw Cheng Ling’s memories!

‘Could it be that Heaven truly never cuts off all paths?’

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Qi Huang’s joy overflowed. She immediately calmed her mind, hoping to once again glimpse Lu Yao’s past, knowing this might be her last chance.

This time Qi Huang did not “return empty-handed”. Cheng Ling quickly entered the “dream” and again witnessed Lu Yao’s memories!

Across the vast cosmos, Lu Yao sped forward with her young maid An Xuan, searching not only for Ghost Tomatoes but also for remnants of the foreign Heavenly Dao.

“Master, we’ve been searching for a long time. This aimless wandering isn’t working.”

An Xuan spoke cautiously.

“Do you have another way, then?”

Lu Yao countered.

An Xuan opened her mouth, but finally fell into awkward silence.

Not long after, the two passed a star where a few immortals’ conversation caught Lu Yao’s attention.

“Brother Liao, we must hurry. If we don’t find that foreign Heavenly Dao’s remnant or leftover power soon, I fear the Immortal Alliance will cancel the bounty.”

A short, thin cultivator said to his companion.

“What happened, Brother Lu?”

The man addressed as Brother Liao asked in confusion.

“I just received word from my sect: the Immortal Alliance has found a piece of that foreign Heavenly Dao’s remnant. They plan to capture a powerful zombie to drain its blood and read the remnant’s memory, so they can locate all other pieces of that foreign Heavenly Dao, and then destroy them!”

The thin cultivator explained.

“What?”

Lu Yao and An Xuan exchanged startled glances, their faces filled with shock.