Nine Star Hegemon Body Art c1-2048
Page 646
“Each year, we have to invest a huge amount of manpower and resources. Of course, there are constantly experts that end up being sacrificed in the battles against the Devil World.
“As for your trial, what you faced was nothing more than the most commonly seen, most inferior creatures invading from the Devil World.”
The disciples were practically unable to believe their ears. Such terrifying creatures were nothing more than the weakest devil monsters? Then just how terrifying did the high-level devil monsters have to be?
“That’s why you have to be full of reverence and gratitude to this world. Everything you have right now was not won by you, but by countless experts who sacrificed their lives.
“Each one of you has reached the Sea Expansion realm, and you’ve started to come into contact with some of this world’s secrets. Just like how children who grow up into adults need to know their responsibilities and duties, as the inner sect disciples, you have a duty. Although the sect will go all-out to raise you, there’s no free lunch in this world.
“The resources you enjoy were only obtained through the countless lives of heroes. So at the same time as you enjoy the privilege of using those resources, you have a responsibility. When the Dao Sect needs you, you need to stand up and face your fierce opponents.”
Long Chen now finally understood why the Eastern Wasteland’s branch sect didn’t engage in any business and merely relied on the Central Plains’ head sect. In the beginning, he hadn’t understood why the sect would simply continuously take a loss by throwing resources at disciples for free. Even if the sect was built over a mountain of gold, it would eventually be used up like that.
But now, Long Chen understood that it was an investment for now.
“If there are people who feel like the pressure is too great, or that it is too dangerous, you can give up your status as inner sect disciples and become outer sect disciples. The sect will definitely not mistreat you, and will still give you your due as outer sect disciples.
“If you choose to stay as inner sect disciples, then you have to understand your duty. You’ve all grown up now, and need to take up your responsibilities. So before the ceremony, make your decision. If anyone has any objections, you can raise them right now. After the ceremony, there won’t be any time for objections, and violators will be harshly punished according to the sect’s rules,” said the Xuan Master.
The disciples didn’t know what to say. The Xuan Master’s meaning was clear: being an inner sect disciple had its own conditions. Once you entered, it was like signing a contract. You couldn’t selfishly leave the Xuantian Dao Sect, or you would be viewed as a traitor of the sect.
But now that everyone had just survived that deadly inner sect trial, they were unwilling to just give up the status they had won.
Long Chen was indifferent. Having eaten the food of the Xuantian Dao Sect, did these people want to just pat their butts and leave without working for it? There was no such thing in this world.
The Xuantian Dao Sect’s rules were very fair. Better treatment required greater danger. And greater danger naturally resulted in higher rewards. Furthermore, the Xuan Master had stated it very clearly and openly.
“Oh?” Long Chen suddenly saw a strange thing. The Law Enforcement Hall Master had cast a special look at a certain person.
Just at this moment, Que Xinyan took a step forward. “Xuan Master, disciple has one thing he doesn’t understand. The inner sect trial is a survival of the fittest, a trial so that the Dao Sect can choose the best people to spend its resources on. But there’s someone who broke the rules and pulled a group of trash in as well. Having them associated with elites like us is an insult, and a blasphemy to the Dao Sect.”
Que Xinyan’s words immediately caused the disciples behind the Dragonblood Legion to become furious. Calling them trash was the greatest insult.
“Correct, it really is going too far. It has affected the impartiality of the trial. Some people, in order to seem like a hero, ignored the Dao Sect’s rules and need to be punished.” Unexpectedly, Hu Guishan also walked forward.
“They should be stripped of their right to be inner sect disciples, or it would be an insult to the other inner sect disciples.” Fan Song also walked forward.
Of the five great heavenly geniuses, other than Hua Shiyu and Wang Zhen, the others had all walked forward to criticize Long Chen.
“Correct, Long Chen intentionally disturbed the impartiality of the Dao Sect and should be heavily punished. Such a person shouldn’t even be an inner sect disciple and should be expelled from the Dao Sect!” cried Han Yunshan, Wei Changhai, and Yan Mochen.
Following them, the three factions’ experts all began to shout, demanding that Long Chen be punished.
The millions of disciples looked oddly at these passionately shouting disciples, not knowing what was happening.
The Law Enforcement Hall Master smiled faintly. He looked toward the Elder Hall Master, but he was disappointed to see that his expression was still indifferent.
As for the person with the highest authority in the Xuantian Dao Sect, the Xuan Master, he didn’t say a word. He just watched with interest, a slight smile on his lips. It was like he was just a spectator watching a show.
“Xuan Master, we are willing to give up our spots as inner sect disciples. But please don’t make things hard on senior apprentice-brother Long Chen!” shouted one of the disciples behind the Dragonblood Legion.
“Yes, I also don’t want my inner sect disciple position. All I ask is that the sect does not punish senior apprentice-brother Long Chen.”
Following one person’s lead, the others also began to shout. Over thirteen thousand disciples chose to give up their inner sect disciple positions.
This action caused all the Elders to be moved. In order to not implicate Long Chen, these people had all taken the initiative to give up their spots.
“Don’t you dare!” raged Long Chen. “Do you realize your current actions are a betrayal?”
“Senior apprentice-brother Long Chen...?” They were startled.
“If you give up your spots, what about your efforts? What about those brothers who died in the battle in order to protect you? Your lives are no longer your own, and you have to accomplish the dreams they weren’t able to accomplish. You are a continuation of their lives and wills. Is this kind of little setback enough for you to give up on everything? Do you think your brothers’ lives were sacrificed for this? Is this worthy of their sacrifice?”
“But-”
“What is there to argue about? It’s just a bunch of hopping clowns. If you can be unafraid of death, why be afraid of a few idiots? Don’t make me look down on you,” said Long Chen.
“Alright, we’ll do as you say. Even if you want us to fight to the death against them, we won’t hesitate!” shouted the disciples. Some of them were already holding their weapons.
“How brazen! Are you trying to rebel!?” shouted the Law Enforcement Hall Master.
Long Chen waved his hand, and only then did they quiet down. As for the Law Enforcement Hall Master’s shout, they had treated it like a fart, ignoring it completely.
Long Chen looked from the cold and sanctimonious Law Enforcement Hall Master to the Xuan Master who was watching with interest. He was unable to comprehend what this middle-aged man was doing. Was he really the leader of this sect? He had no arrogance or awe-inspiring aura to him. He didn’t even seem to care the slightest about the Law Enforcement Hall Master’s shouting.
Long Chen didn’t understand what the Xuan Master was thinking. He had no choice but to stand out, but he was comforted to see the Elder Hall Master almost imperceptibly nod toward him.
If Long Chen still didn’t understand, then he wouldn’t be Long Chen.
The Elder Hall Master’s meaning was clear: go against them as brazenly as you want. The Elder Hall will be your solid support.
“As the leader of the Law Enforcement Hall, you label people criminals and rebels so
easily? Is this the style of the Law Enforcement Hall? Is everyone you talk to a criminal?” said Long Chen.
All the Elders’ expressions became odd. That was because his words were entirely correct: when the Law Enforcement Hall’s Elders spoke to others, they spoke as if they were interrogating them, irritating them.
“Long Chen, you’re too brazen! You dare to contradict the master of the Law Enforcement Hall? Now that you’ve offended your superior, you need a slap!” shouted Que Xinyan.
Pow!
Que Xinyan had only just spoken when a large hand immediately helped him out and viciously struck his face.
Chapter 1028 Weapons Raised, Neither Willing to Back Down
A crisp slapping sound caused everyone to go deathly silent. The disciples were dumbfounded and the Elders were shocked. They couldn’t believe their eyes.
No one had expected that Long Chen would attack someone in this kind of situation. The two of them hadn’t been far, and as a result, Que Xinyan was directly struck. Long Chen’s divine face slapping art had yet to miss.
As for Que Xinyan, he had never imagined that Long Chen would dare to attack him in front of the Xuan Master. With no defenses up, he almost fainted.
“This move’s not bad.”
The Xuan Master had been watching with slight interest this entire time, but he finally had a reaction upon seeing Long Chen’s face-slap. He was clearly impressed with the move.
“Long Chen, you dare to strike me?!” It took a full two breaths before Que Xinyan recovered from his shock.
“No, you misunderstand. I wasn’t striking anyone, but acting according to what you said. You said that when someone offends their superior, they should be slapped. Well, look, I’m standing closer to the front than you, which is the superior position, while you interrupting me is an offense. You’re the one who brought up that you should be slapped, so I helped you out. What, do you have an opinion about it?” asked Long Chen.
“You…!” Que Xinyan’s teeth creaked from being clenched so hard. His whole body was trembling in fury, but he didn’t know how to retort.
“How brazen Long Chen! You dare to disturb the welcoming ceremony? The punishment is the thorned whip-” shouted the Law Enforcement Hall Master.
“Can you let it rest already? This place is not the Law Enforcement Hall, and you are unable to hide the truth from the masses. You are unable to punish me. Someone called my brothers trash, and I’m taking their place to speak. However, some people want to thwart me in a hundred ways, so why can’t I slap those obstructions?
“Do you think your word is law? And that whatever you say must happen? If you say we’re criminals, we’re criminals? If you say we have to be killed, we’ll be killed? Do you think you’re a god? If you are, then please prove it to me. If you aren’t, then what right do you have to prevent us from defending ourselves?” demanded Long Chen.
It was all too clear to him that this Law Enforcement Hall Master was a prejudicial egomaniac who was tyrannical and obstinate. He was clearly using him to embarrass the Elder Hall in front of the Xuan Master. Most likely, it was to win back the face lost by Lu Minghan previously.
Long Chen had always thought that experts should have an expert’s mannerisms, and an expert’s self-restraint. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to reach that height.
Now he realized he was wrong, and very wrong at that. Now that he had arrived in the Central Plains, he finally learned the truth: idiots always exist regardless of location, and idiocy was not dependent on age.
This Law Enforcement Hall Master was clearly an expert even above a King, but he was so lacking in restraint and kept on using such low-level methods.
Although he had kept his actions well hidden, Long Chen had seen such tricks countless times. Just looking at him sticking out his butt, it was clear he was crapping.
Clearly, Que Xinyan, Fan Song, and Hu Guishan all had some kind of relationship with the Law Enforcement Hall. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to directly target Long Chen in front of the Xuan Master.
This would definitely leave behind a bad impression on the Xuan Master. So for them to still act like this, it was all too obvious.
And it wasn’t just Long Chen who found it obvious. There were plenty of sharp-eyed Elders who seemed to have expected such a situation.
The only thing they didn’t understand was how the Law Enforcement Hall had been so skillful as to draw in the new disciples.
Quite a few people were waiting to see just how vicious the Law Enforcement Hall’s slap would be in the Elder Hall’s face. Because of Long Chen’s matter, Li Changfeng had suppressed Lu Minghan, and that had caused quite a bit of trouble. The Elder Hall and Law Enforcement Hall had to have the situation mediated by the higher-ups, or a huge fight might have erupted.
But that was just a stop-gap. The Law Enforcement Hall was not about to just swallow their anger over the matter.
Originally, the disciples should have been looked after by the Elder Hall. But the Law Enforcement Hall also had the authority to recruit disciples into joining the Law Enforcement Hall.
If it was just ordinary inner disciples, it would have been one thing. But now, Que Xinyan, Fan Song, and Hu Guishan were all core disciples with their own factions. If they joined the Law Enforcement Hall, it would truly be a resounding slap in the Elder Hall’s face.
To put it frankly, they would be enjoying the resources provided by the Elder Hall so that they could work for the Law Enforcement Hall.
As for the Xuan Master, he seemed to be unconcerned. As long as they didn’t violate the sect’s rules, he would just watch. The harshest punishment he had let out so far was forcing the Law Enforcement Hall Master to go into seclusion for three days.
Everyone had to feel reverence toward this Xuan Master’s cultivation base. But he also seemed lazy to the bone, giving them a headache.
This was an excellent example. The Xuantian Dao Sect was famed even within the Central Plains, and even in ordinary sects, no one would dare to so openly provoke others in front of the sect leader.
But the Xuan Master was just watching as if this was an interesting show.
“Fine, then let’s hear your quibbling,” said the Law Enforcement Hall Master coldly.
Long Chen looked at Que Xinyan, Fan Song, and Hu Guishan. “You said that the inner sect trial was a survival of the fittest. Then let me ask, who is the fittest?”
“Hmph, do you even need to ask something like that? Are you an idiot? Of course the fittest people are those with the greatest talent and comprehension,” sneered Que Xinyan.
Long Chen smiled and said, “Then according to what you said, why is there a need for a trial? Why not just directly pass or fail disciples based on their data?”
“Numbers are just a reference. Without experiencing the true battle, how are they supposed to see a person’s true potential?” replied Que Xinyan.
“Aren’t you just slapping yourself in the face? You just said that the fittest people are those with talent and comprehension skills. But now you say that without undergoing true battle, it’s impossible to see who is fitter.
“They received the protection of the Dragonblood Legion, but the Dragonblood warriors were only able to give them some small opportunity to adjust themselves. Toward the end, they still needed to rely on themselves to survive. Their talent might not be high, but their unswerving determination supported them. For them to survive that cruel battlefield, do you know what price they have paid?
“Their talent was inferior, their cultivation base was lower, and their combat power was weaker. They had to put in ten times the effort to win their current glory. Compared to you, they are the true warriors, but you call them trash? You’re the biggest trash,” sneered Long Chen.
Long Chen’s words caused countless people to look at those disciples behind the Dragonblood Legion.
Even the strongest amongst them were only rank three Celestials, and there was even a small portion of rank two Celestials. Fo
r them to have survived such a cruel trial was truly worthy of praise.
Thinking of how Que Xinyan had repeatedly called them trash, quite a few people cast disdainful glances at him. Even some Elders had to nod. Talent only gave people a better starting point for cultivation. But hard work was the most important factor.
Que Xinyan didn’t know what to say. Looking at those distant disciples pointing at him and whispering, he had no way to retort.
“But no matter what, you’ve pulled in a group of unfit disciples into the inner sect, affecting the fairness of the trial,” said the Law Enforcement Hall Master.
Quite a few Elders shook their heads inside. Had this Hall Master’s head been jammed in a door when he was a child? How could he actually say such a thing?
As expected, Long Chen said, “Fair? Are you joking with me? Was there ever anything fair in this world? Furthermore, what do you mean unfit? Just because they’re less talented than others, they’re unfit? If talent meant everything, what would be the point of cultivating? What would be the point of comprehension? Do you think if your talent was good, you could just sleep all day and still become a god?
“Each disciple is a seed, and before the seed germinates, you won’t be able to tell what breed they are. You see some disciples who have bloomed already, so you feel they are talented and will have greater accomplishments. But are the disciples who haven’t bloomed yet unfit? What idiot logic. Just because you don’t bloom or bear fruit, why can’t you be a sapling that grows into a heaven-reaching tree?
“Get back to your job and do it properly. When it comes to teaching and raising people, the Elder Hall are the professionals. Don’t embarrass yourself here.”
“What nonsense! Do you think I’m blind? You think they can grow into heaven-reaching trees? For them to only be rank three Celestials at the Sea Expansion realm, the Foundation Forging realm will be their limit! Not even one in ten thousand of them will condense a Jade Core! What sophistry to call such people heaven-reaching trees!” raged the Law Enforcement Hall Master.