Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 662: Give Me Some Face (Merit Protection Version)_1
"Damn it, this is outright bullying! We, the Yanhua Sect, have already backed down, so how dare they do this? Have they abandoned all pretense of being righteous?" Jia You coughed up blood; he was seriously injured.
The sects that came to besiege them this time, large and small, numbered more than a dozen. The ferocity of their attack was far beyond his imagination. He had initially thought it was merely a plundering battle, not expecting it to be a war of sect extermination.
Furthermore, in terms of public opinion, they had lost miserably and were on the brink of being labeled as a Demon Path Sect.
This couldn’t be internal strife among the Righteous Path. The Yanhua Sect must have been painted as spies for the Demon Path—how else could the attackers preserve their righteous facade?
"Sect Leader, it’s terrible! The Mountain Gate Formation has been broken, and they’ve already invaded!!!" A True Disciple, covered in blood, burst into the main hall.
Others could surrender, but the True Disciples and he, the Sect Leader, would not be accepted by the other sects even if they wished to, as their fates were too deeply intertwined with the Yanhua Sect.
Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples might be accepted, as they weren’t involved in the sect’s core affairs.
"Old Ghost Jia, long time no see."
Before that True Disciple could even enter the main hall, a flash of sword light struck him down.
"You..." Jia You stared at the newcomer, his expression filled with hatred.
The next moment, several figures at the Divinity Transformation Stage appeared. These were the Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators from the various sects besieging the Yanhua Sect.
To avoid criticism for their actions, each of the leading major sects had dispatched one Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator. The smaller sects, which had been coerced into joining, did not contribute such high-level experts.
"Very well, very well." Jia You looked at the Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators. They were clearly determined to exterminate his Yanhua Sect, and he was powerless to resist.
The leading sects were major powers with Cultivating Void Stage experts overseeing them. They had been on equal footing with the Yanhua Sect before. However, now that the Yanhua Sect had lost its power, they naturally held the upper hand.
"Apart from the True Disciples, we will make proper arrangements for the remaining Disciples. You may go in peace," the leading Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator said.
On the Demon Path, Disciples are resources, and naturally, it is the same on the Righteous Path; only the methods of utilizing them differ.
Most Disciples selected by a sect usually possess excellent aptitude; absorbing them was equivalent to acquiring high-quality resources.
They dared not accept the True Disciples because most were either part of the sect’s leadership or Disciples of that leadership.
The leadership of the Yanhua Sect certainly couldn’t be allowed to remain, barring special circumstances.
"Fine!" Jia You was at the end of his rope; he had no other choice.
"Hold on, I haven’t agreed to this," a voice suddenly interjected.
This made everyone frown. Upon seeing the newcomer, they all laughed.
"Oh, it’s Deng Chong, a Disciple of the Virtue Sect. Instead of staying in your Virtue Sect, you dare to come here with your mere Qi Cultivation Stage cultivation? Aren’t you afraid of being caught in the Spell aftershocks?" the leading Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator mocked sarcastically.
"What are you doing here? You’re not from the Yanhua Sect. Get lost!" Jia You hadn’t expected Deng Chong to come. He’s courting death!
"It’s like this," Deng Chong began, ignoring Jia You’s words. He knew Jia You just wanted him to live. "I was cultivating in the Virtue Sect when, quite unfortunately, Disciples from your sect inexplicably attacked our Virtue Sect. So, I’ve come to ask for an explanation."
After all, what could a mere Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator possibly do?
But everyone had overlooked one thing: how could he, a mere Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator, have passed through the main battlefield to reach the Yanhua Sect’s main hall?
It was easy for them to overlook this, perhaps because he had once been at the Divinity Transformation Stage.
"You want an explanation too?" the leading Cultivator sneered.
"Is that a problem?" Deng Chong countered with a smile.
"You can have one. It’s just that you might not be able to bear this explanation." As he spoke, the leading Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator, intending to cow Deng Chong, released his spiritual pressure.
"I can bear it. I have Merit to protect me," Deng Chong replied, as specks of golden light emanated from his body. This was Merit-golden Light.
The appearance of the Merit-golden Light silenced everyone present, their expressions turning varied and complex.
So the Virtue Sect truly cultivated Merit?
"Yes, we at the Virtue Sect truly cultivate Merit. It’s not just a nice-sounding name," Deng Chong said with a beaming smile.
Upon hearing this, the Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators present were rendered speechless.
"So, give me some face. Since you’ve already won, just head back. Take what you should, and leave behind what you shouldn’t."
"There’s no need to tear things apart completely."
Deng Chong spoke, seeing that his display had achieved the desired deterrent effect. Retreating now would indeed be best for everyone.
"If you were still a Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator, I could give you face. However, you’re merely at the Qi Cultivation Stage. If I give you face, I’ll have no way to answer to our Old Ancestor," the leading Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator stated calmly.
If he himself were the strongest in his sect, he could indeed order a retreat. Unfortunately, he had a Cultivating Void Stage Supreme Elder above him in his sect, and failing this mission would result in punishment.
"Moreover, you are no longer the Sect Leader of the Yanhua Sect, just a Disciple of the Virtue Sect. Even if your Merit protects you, it cannot provide Blessings to the Yanhua Sect; it can only bless the Virtue Sect."
"We have many ways to destroy the Yanhua Sect without harming you." The implication was that Deng Chong should leave.
However, since Deng Chong had come, he had no intention of leaving until he had resolved the matter.
"Since discussion is fruitless, then let’s settle this with our strength." Deng Chong didn’t continue that line of discussion. Instead, he changed the subject: "You should know that, aside from sword arts, the Yanhua Sect also cultivates fire Spells."
"I, too, am quite proficient in fire Spells, particularly the Burning Flame Technique."
When Deng Chong said this, Jia You couldn’t help but recall something: when Deng Chong had left the sect, he once mentioned that he had almost been killed by Xia Houqing’s Burning Flame Technique.
The Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators also sensed something was amiss. Could a mere Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator, using a minor Qi Cultivation Stage Spell, actually defeat them?
"If this Spell fails, will you leave on your own?" one of them asked.
"I will make only one move. If you don’t retreat after that, then I will." Deng Chong wasn’t about to follow their lead. He had come today to protect the Yanhua Sect. Even if their sects’ Cultivating Void Stage Old Ancestors were to come, they’d still have to face a couple of my moves.
"Please!" the leading Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator said immediately.
Although they all felt something was off, they didn’t dwell on it. He’s only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, after all. They assumed Deng Chong had come, relying on his Merit, to repay the Yanhua Sect for their kindness in nurturing him and recognizing his potential, essentially offering everyone a way to back down gracefully.
However, when Deng Chong unleashed the Burning Flame Technique, everyone understood one thing: he wasn’t there to offer a graceful way out; he truly intended to fight them to the death.
Boundless flames transformed into a giant beast, the unbearable heat it radiated continuously searing their physical bodies and their Mana.
"Damn it! What in the world is this?!"
"Retreat! Quickly get out of the range of the flames!"
"We can’t extinguish it! This isn’t mundane fire!"
"Quick..."
The miserable shrieks of the Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators rose and fell. Before the flame giant beast unleashed by the Burning Flame Technique, their Spells and Magical Artifacts were utterly useless.
Jia You watched this scene, stunned. He never imagined things would take such a dramatic turn.
Moments later, the group of Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators struggled free from the range of the Burning Flame Technique, each one looking wretched and having suffered considerable injuries.
This was only because Deng Chong had shown mercy. Otherwise, if he had unleashed the Spell’s full power, they would have all been reduced to ashes by now.
"Everyone, are you willing to retreat now?"
"If you don’t, my Martial Brother Xia Houqing’s Burning Flame Technique is even more formidable than mine." Deng Chong only spoke after retracting his Spell.
"This Burning Flame Technique of yours is truly extraordinary," the leading Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator said, his expression complex and filled with trepidation. "Very well. Since you’ve shown mercy, we concede."
This person could annihilate their entire group single-handedly. Unless they could summon their own Cultivating Void Stage Supreme Elders, they had no chance of victory.
Besides, they had already looted what they could by now, so retreating wasn’t a loss.
They had arrived quickly, and they departed just as swiftly. The battle within the Yanhua Sect subsided, though it had been exceptionally brutal.
"What, don’t you recognize me anymore?" Deng Chong looked at Jia You, who indeed seemed somewhat bewildered. After all, the way things had unfolded was beyond anyone’s expectations. Everyone had assumed the Yanhua Sect was doomed, never imagining such a turn of events.
"No, it’s not that. I just never expected we would meet again under these circumstances," Jia You replied.
"I told you before, cultivating as an Immortal has no future. How about it? Want to cultivate Merit with me?" Deng Chong extended his invitation once more.
