Free Web NovelChapter 163: Chapter 155: Wait, Are the Demonic Sect’s Nascent Souls Like Dumplings? Why Do They Come One After Another?
Disciple C, who had been left reeling from the Spiritual Qi shockwave, finally caught his breath. But his face was pale, his eyes filled with regret.
Disciple C: "I... I failed... I was so close..."
Dong Changsheng: "Don’t be discouraged! Though you failed, you scouted out the dangerous path for the rest of us! Failure is the mother of success!"
Bitterness filled Disciple C’s heart. ’The first-strike honor is gone, and I wasted a precious opportunity.’
Dong Changsheng: "What’s with the panic?! Look at you lot, so pathetic! Heads up! The heavens’ eyes are all-seeing! The last fiend who dared to defy the natural order has already been struck down and turned to ash! This one will absolutely not escape the judgment of the Celestial Dao!"
As if to prove his declaration, the moment his voice fell, the crowd saw the pillar of Spiritual Qi, which had been soaring toward the heavens, begin to shake violently after reaching its zenith.
Everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats.
It was happening!
BANG—!
The pillar of light shattered, transforming into another violent shockwave of Spiritual Qi that swept over the crowd.
’It... it failed again?!’
After a deathly silence, the group of undercover disciples who had just stepped out of the thatched huts erupted in the ecstatic joy of having survived a disaster.
The way they looked at Dong Changsheng instantly shifted from conviction to fanatical worship.
"Mr. Dong! You’re a god!"
"Holy shit! Mr. Dong! You’re... you must have been sent by the Celestial Dao to keep an eye on them, right?!"
"Wicked men may be feared by other men, but not by the heavens! Mr. Dong! I get it now! I finally get it!"
The undercover disciples all bowed in admiration.
The bizarre reality before them, coupled with the subtle influence of the True Words of Universal Salvation Heart Sutra, led them to develop an almost blind faith in Dong Changsheng’s words.
Listening to her fellow disciples’ remarks, Su Ling’er felt a chill run through her.
’Heavenly retribution?’
’No... you don’t understand at all!’
’If it happens once, it’s heavenly retribution. But what about twice? Or three times?’
’This isn’t heavenly retribution, this is a plan!’
’A series of sacrifices, all arranged in advance!’
’Something is definitely very wrong here!’
Li Chunfeng said nothing, merely continuing to draw his sword over and over.
...
Meanwhile, back in the cluster of thatched huts.
Aside from Li Chunfeng, who was still trembling on the straw while clutching his Wooden Sword, only Disciple D remained inside.
’But now... the second one has failed!’
’No matter how insane this demonic sect is, they have to stop now, right?’
’There can’t possibly be a third prospective Nascent Soul cultivator lined up to die, can there?’
’The honor of first strike... who else could it be but me!’
He once again focused his mind and spirit, slowly pouring his Spiritual Power into the lens as a beautiful dream began to play out in his mind...
However, just as his spiritual sense was about to complete the imprint, at the very moment the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl upward—
BOOM—!!!!
A third pillar of Spiritual Qi shot toward the heavens. In the dead silence, it seemed so abrupt, so illogical, as it erupted from another direction!
This time, all the undercover disciples were left completely stunned.
Su Ling’er was also watching it all unfold.
’It’s happening again! It’s happening again! I knew there was a conspiracy! This must be some kind of evil sacrificial ritual!’
Dong Changsheng stared at the third pillar of light, his pupils constricting.
A tempest of shock raged in his heart as well.
’Is this demonic sect really that powerful?’
Then, after struggling for a few moments, the third pillar of Spiritual Qi also shattered.
Dong Changsheng let out a long sigh of relief. ’As expected, I was right!’
Dong Changsheng: "What did I tell you?! The Celestial Dao’s will is manifest; its net is vast and misses nothing! For every one that comes, the heavens will take one! For every pair that comes, the heavens will take them both! These fiends who attempt to defy the natural order will inevitably suffer heavenly retribution! Just watch, this one will also be reduced to ash!"
Disciple A: "Are Nascent Soul cultivators in this sect really as cheap as cabbage?"
Disciple B: "Is this a demonic sect or a training camp for failing at Nascent Soul formation?!"
Seeing the increasingly fanatical worship in his junior brothers’ eyes, Dong Changsheng slowly puffed out his chest.
’I truly am the chosen one, destined for success!’
’My Dao is the correct one!’
At this moment, even he began to firmly believe that he was no mere mortal, but an existence favored by "Success" and the "Celestial Dao."
However, this was only the beginning.
BOOM—!!!!
The fourth pillar of light... shattered.
BOOM—!!!!
The fifth... shattered.
...
That night, the undercover disciples watched the sky above the Guixi Sect as if they were watching fireworks. They stared as one pillar of Spiritual Qi after another lit up the heavens, only to be extinguished moments later.
They went from initial shock and fear to a later stage of numbness, and finally, they even felt a little like laughing.
"I mean..."
Wang Xiedi yawned and said listlessly,
"Is there something wrong with this bunch of fiends?!
If you’re not confident, then just don’t try to break through, okay?! Do you really have to line up to throw your lives away?!
Failing at Nascent Soul formation one after another... what’s the goddamn point?! Does the sect have so many resources they’re just burning them for fun?!"
Su Ling’er, on the other hand, saw it as confirmation of her theory. "I knew it... I knew it...
They’re using these destined-to-fail sacrifices to break down the mental defenses of the demonic sect’s disciples!
No wonder the people of this demonic sect are so numb to death, so willing to face it without a single thought of resistance! This is the root of it all!"
None of the undercover disciples slept well that night.
Whenever they started to feel a little drowsy, they would be jolted awake by a world-shaking blast of Spiritual Qi. They would then crawl out of bed, glance outside with sleepy eyes, and sure enough, someone else was attempting their breakthrough, and someone else had failed.
A single, unified thought couldn’t help but rise in their minds:
’It really is an evil, demonic sect. Even the heavens are against them, making Nascent Soul formation as difficult as ascending to the sky.’
...
「Meanwhile, in the forbidden grounds behind Qingxu Temple.」
CRACK...
Another sharp snap!
On the main mirror.
The second spiritual light imprint shattered in response!
The third spiritual light imprint shattered in response!
?!!!!!
Xuanyuan’s face instantly turned ashen.
’Are you all really this useless?’
’Using [One Thought to Question the Mysteries] repeatedly under unstable conditions?’
’And what in the world is happening over at the Guixi Sect...’
...
「Meanwhile, back at the Guixi Sect.」
The next day, when the group of undercover disciples, all sporting dark circles under their eyes, prepared to continue with their sect missions, they were shocked to find the sect completely at peace.
’What’s going on?’
’Do they really not care?’
It was as if the earth-shattering "Nascent Soul mass suicide event" from last night had never happened.
The disciples went about their business—those with missions did their missions, those who wanted to chat chatted, and those who wanted to climb walls climbed walls. There wasn’t the slightest trace of sadness or panic on their faces.
Their numbness in the face of so many would-be Nascent Soul cultivators perishing under the demonic sect’s restrictions sent a chill down Su Ling’er’s spine.
Just then, Lin Qingfeng sauntered over to check if his "little junior sister" was properly supervising the new junior brothers’ work.
Su Ling’er looked into his eyes, the doubt and fear in her heart finally becoming unbearable. She mustered her courage and asked:
"F-First Senior Brother... last night... what exactly happened in the sect last night?"
