A massive amphitheater stretched all around them. Cultivators from all over the realm crowded into the seats, all facing the stage below. Demonic cultivators, righteous cultivators, beast cultivators and plant cultivators, demons and exorcists, all of them crowded into the huge space, all focused on the small stage. A single beam of light poured down, illuminating a podium.
Standing in the shadows, Hui licked his lips. What if I just play dead? Yes, yes. Im sure soone else will take over if I
Bai Xue gave him a good thump at the small of the back. Go on.
Hui staggered forward into the light. He caught himself on the podium and clung on for dear life, looking around wide-eyed like a deer in the headlights. No one? Theres really no one else here to take the lead role? No, no, no! I
He took a deep breath. Its alright. I can handle this. Its just like giving an enemy a heart demon! Its just Im not giving anyone a heart demon, and they arent enemies. Most of them arent enemies, anyways.
Standing up straight, he swept his eyes over the crowd. Familiar faces lood out at him. Starbound Sects Sect Master Li, and the sect masters of the forest, beast, and rchant sect whod co to the sect tournant, all those years ago. Fang Hua, smiling faintly, surrounded by pale-skinned ghouls and jiangshi. Bai Bing, Bai Xues mother and the Clan Leader of the Bai Clan, with her husband by her side. Gui Yutong, with Bai Jingwen squinting murderously from beside her and a child about Li Weiqi and Bai Xingxues age along with them.
It's people I know. People who know . They arent going to think Im so great hero. They understand. Im just the man who knows things, not soone special.
Hui nodded, resolute at last. He stood up straight, releasing the podium, and turned slowly, gazing the watchers back, right in their eyes. Right. This is my chance. My one chance to inform everyone of the impending danger. If I want to survive, if I want the entire region to survive this is the one chance I have to keep as many people alive as possible.
To survive to not die yes. This is my goal. My ultimate goal! And if I can share it with others, then all the better!
Recently, the Eastern Alliancethat is, the Eight Tiers Palaceattempted to kidnap my children, with the sole goal of oppressing this region, Hui said severely. Search your mories. Is there a day, recently, when you suddenly forgot about Bai Xue and Li Xiang, despite their renown? A day when you couldnt recall their existence at all?
Muttering filled the sect hall. A few cultivators muttered to themselves.
That was the doing of Eight Tiers Palace. They pose a threat to this region greater than any threat that has co before. A single tier holds more power than the entirety of the Southern Sect Conference. They have myriad experts beyond our comprehension. We are but an ant before their might.
Why havent they attacked us outright already? If theyre so powerful, a voice called from sowhere among the sects.
Hui turned, nodding. Indeed. For many years, we have been protected by a barrier. A barrier created by the Patriarch of All-Heavens Sect himself, Fen Long. However, the barrier wanes. Before long, nothing will protect us from the Eight Tiers Palace.
If they consider Li Xiang and Bai Xue enough of a threat to attempt to kidnap their children, what will they do to all of our Sect Masters, Patriarchs, leaders? Eight Tiers Palace is a threat not to , not to you, but to all of us together. All of the Southern Sect Conference faces grave danger. Danger that we must face together, if we are to survive.
Across the hall, a man stood. Older, with long white hair and an equally long beard, he looked down on Hui. His brows furrowed in disbelief. Where is your proof? Youve offered us a great number of wild claims, but no proof. We all forgot about Bai Xue and Li Xiang? Who are they? Ive never heard of them in the first place.
The barrier remains, as strong as ever. No one has been attacked by this Eight Tiers Palace of yours. Even these children of yours are still safe, here in All-Heavens Sect. Aside from your own evidence, do you have any proof?
Hui bowed. Im afraid I do not, Senior.
Hmph! Then why are we here? the man asked, tossing his beard.
You are free to go. But anyone who leaves today when the ti cos, and Eight Tiers Palace lays siege to your sect and kidnaps your disciples for its own nefarious ends, rember that I warned you. Rember my words and when you find yourself wishing you had prepared, rember that it is far too late for any of us to help you, Hui said, finishing quietly, so quietly that his words almost faded into the silence. He stared down the man, his eyes shining from the challenge. Ha! You test ? On a duel of words, you test ? One of my diocre and lowly skills is sowing heart-demons. Senior, I understand that my skills are not great but Senior, everyone in this world is so terribly weak to heart-demons. Are you any different?
The man laughed. Who are you, to threaten ?
Hui tipped his head. Threatening you? Senior, Im rely trying to warn you.
And Im asking you, who are you? Ive never seen your face before, the man challenged him.
Hui took a deep breath. He bowed. Lowly cultivator is Weiheng Hui.
Weiheng? Ah, I heard Weiheng Wu took a disciple. A disciple who died ten years ago, the man scoffed. A liar and a charlatan. Im not listening to another word.
Senior, I am Weiheng Hui.
Then, are you dead? the man asked, chuckling.
Mmm. I was. I ca back to life, Hui said.
Across the room, another man stood up. Impossible. His soul dissipated, and he knew no reincarnation techniques.
Ah, yes. My soul was unstable and no, I didnt know any reincarnation techniques. I, er, ca up with one after I died, Hui said, scratching the back of his head.
This is ridiculous, the first man scoffed.
Hui waved his hand. It does not matter who I am. If you dont want to listen, then you are free to leave. But as I said, Seniors we will not co to your aid, and we will not listen to your cries, when you face danger later.
Crossing his arms and looking down on Hui, the first heckler released his pressure. All across the room, cultivators winced or dropped from their seats, while the higher-realm cultivators exerted their pressure to assist those around them.
The pressure reached Hui. The first heckler smirked slightly. Drop to your knees. A low-realm cultivator like yourself might quaver, but this threat is nothing before my might!
The wave washed over him. Unperturbed, he continued to stand there without twitching an inch, as if he hadnt even noticed.
Eh? The heckler frowned. He exerted more pressure.
Around him, cultivators slumped. One or two of the ones who had dropped passed out directly. The heckler grinned. Take this. The full force of my cultivation!
Hui twitched. He glanced around, then frowned and made a short gesture.
All across the room, everyone whod crumpled sat up again, taking deep breaths. The heckler had enough ti to sense a wave of overwhelming force flying his direction before it slamd into him. His vision flickered. His back bent. He dropped to his knees, then to all fours.
Ah, its him. Hui nodded to himself. Phew. I thought it was an attack of so kind. I didnt expect to suddenly get hit by soones pressure while I was rely giving a speech!
How bold, Hui, forcing the Grand Elder of the Fire Heart Sect to kowtow on his knees at your first eting, Bai Xue said loudly, smirking.
Eh? My apologies, Senior! Hui quickly retracted his pressure from the man and bowed as respectfully as he could. I didnt know Senior was so important! Ah, Hui, youve done it now! Never pressure soone you dont know! Oh no, oh dear. To think, Ive offended an entire sect without aning to!
The heckler took a short breath. Face pale, he stared at Hui in horror. Snatching up his gear, he turned and fled. A small group of cultivators in similar robes to him glanced around, then jumped up and ran after him, escaping through the window.
Hui tilted his head, confused. Eh? Why did they run away from ? Lost, he looked at Bai Xue.
Bai Xue spread his hands, grinning. Teasingly, he said, Weiheng Hui, you tyrant.
Im not a tyrant, Hui protested, still lost.
Eh? Exerting your pressure like that? Using your strength to one-sidedly silence your opposition? What part of that isnt tyrannical? Bai Xue asked, shrugging.
Hui opened his mouth, then shut it. He pursed his lips. When you put it like that er hopefully everyone hasnt misunderstood small cultivator? Quickly, he scanned the room.
All the attendees sat up, neat and prim. The other hecklers stood silently, arms crossed, no longer the slightest hint of dissent on their faces.
Er, Seniors, please! I didnt an it like that!
Reviews
All reviews (0)