C1426 Submitting to Canglan
C1426 Submitting to Canglan
Lin Xuan appeared serene, seemingly unbothered by anger. But it was he who had initiated the devastating campaign against the Devil Cloud Sect. The sect's hundreds of thousands of members had perished, including tens of thousands with little or no cultivation—a testament to his ruthlessness. He did not appear to be someone who would spare his adversaries.
They were stalling, searching for a plausible excuse, or hoping someone else might intercede. None of them wanted to attract Lin Xuan's scrutiny. But Lin Xuan was not one to afford them the luxury of time. Minutes later, his voice, still even-tempered, broke the silence.
"Still undecided? Perhaps you'd prefer to join the Devil Cloud Sect in their fate?" His tone remained measured, but to the sect leaders, it struck like a thunderbolt, sending shivers down their spines and leaving them with a chilling sense of dread. The implication was clear: to join the Devil Cloud Sect in destruction was to meet their own end, and possibly witness the fall of their own sects.
Lin Xuan's patience was clearly wearing thin. Without further delay, they spoke up.
"Senior, I am not the sole peak Emperor Level practitioner in the East Saint Sect, nor am I the most powerful. This issue is of great significance, and I am not in a position to decide. Please, Senior, forgive my inability to comply," Wei Zhengzhen was the first to break the silence.
He was not only the most formidable among the peak Emperor Level cultivators of the four sects, but he also had the quickest mind.
Once again, he concocted an excuse.
"The situation is the same for my sect. I hope the elder will forgive me!"
Upon witnessing this, the peak Emperor Level cultivators from Thunder Yang Pavilion and Purple Cauldron Sect quickly echoed the sentiment.
Though reluctant to pledge allegiance, they were not prepared to sacrifice their lives over it.
They passed the responsibility to the strongest individual within their sect.
They weren't lying; they truly weren't the most powerful in the sect, nor the ones who called the shots.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been assigned to such perilous tasks.
The sect's most powerful figure always remained within, ready for any emergency.
Only by controlling the grand protective formation could the sect's safety be assured.
Likewise, they offered no resistance.
It's likely that Lin Xuan wouldn't find a reason to be upset.
And so, they shifted the greatest blame onto the decision-maker.
The idea of the sect surrendering was a grave offense, and they were not eager to shoulder that burden.
This strategy served a dual purpose and was arguably the most appropriate course of action at the moment.
However, what they failed to anticipate was that Canglan Sect, another of the four, would not follow suit.
The Grand Elder of Canglan Sect, Cang Shuiyue, bowed and spoke,
"I am the sole remaining peak Emperor Level cultivator in Canglan Sect, and I am empowered to make decisions on its behalf.
If the elder can assure that after Canglan Sect submits to Tianyuan Palace, we will maintain our dignity, not be coerced into intermarriage, and our status will remain intact, then my sect is ready to sincerely submit.
As the only sect among the six that is led by women, this request is made out of necessity. I trust the elder will understand!"
Cang Shuiyue's decision to submit caught Wei Zhengzhen and the other sects off guard, leaving them somewhat disoriented.
Hadn't they agreed to stick together through thick and thin?
Why had she capitulated first?
Regardless, Cang Shuiyue was undeterred, awaiting Lin Xuan's response with a grave countenance.
Among the elite warriors of the Canglan Sect, over 99% were women, many of whom possessed both stunning figures and beautiful faces. They themselves were a breathtaking sight. At this moment, the disciples of the Canglan Sect wore expressions of humiliation, with tears glistening in their lovely eyes. They longed to speak out, yet found themselves at a loss for words. They understood that the Grand Elder was valiantly fighting for their status and dignity.
The Canglan Sect stood unique among the six major powers as the only one led predominantly by women. It had long been the object of desire for countless other forces and martial cultivators. Despite the continent's reverence for strength and the presence of numerous Emperor Level Martial Cultivators within the Canglan Sect, they still fell short when compared to the might of the entire continent. Historically, the Canglan Sect had often ranked at the lower end among the six great forces.
If the Canglan Sect could ensure a continuous lineage of peak Emperor Level Martial Cultivators, bolstered by the protective ancestral formation passed down through generations, and maintain marital alliances with other major forces, they would have long since been devoured. The world of martial cultivators was never short of those driven by lust. Furthermore, the martial arts world was rife with techniques for dual cultivation and the absorption of Yin to replenish Yang. The Canglan Sect, known for its abundance of exceptionally beautiful and skilled female warriors, faced a precarious situation.
Now, with the emergence of Lin Xuan, a formidable force who had disrupted the entire balance of the Dongyuan Continent, the situation had become dire. Lin Xuan had compelled the Elemental Spirit Sect to capitulate and effortlessly annihilated the Devil Cloud Sect, reducing the six great forces by two. This was a force beyond their comprehension and resistance.
Should they refuse to comply, the consequences were unimaginable. Cang Shuiyue believed that while the legacy of the sect was important, the survival of the entire sect and the well-being of its countless disciples and sister practitioners were paramount. Without them, the so-called legacy would amount to nothing but hollow words. Thus, Cang Shuiyue broke away from the previous tacit agreement with the three sects and proactively chose to surrender, seeking a favorable end for all.
In the future, both he and his fellow martial artists would remain unharmed, and his status would remain intact.
"Indeed."
Lin Xuan gave a slight nod in approval.
A smile graced his face.
With this new breakthrough, the path ahead would be much smoother.
Lin Xuan had a good idea of what the Canglan Sect was planning.
It didn't bother him.
He had no intention of staying on the Dongyuan Continent indefinitely.
To advance to the Half-level Emperor, or perhaps even the fabled Emperor Level, he would need to return to the Central Essence Continent.
His return to the Dongyuan Continent was merely to tie up loose ends and to collect resources.
In comparison to these objectives, everything else was trivial.
"Agreed."
Lin Xuan responded.
"I hereby promise that once the Canglan Sect pledges allegiance and is reestablished as the Canglan Hall under the Tianyuan Palace, it will retain its right to self-governance.
Apart from myself, no one will be permitted to meddle with its internal affairs.
The Canglan Sect may continue their cultivation at their original location, and no martial artist or power may coerce the warriors of Canglan Hall!
Aside from myself, no one is qualified to command the Canglan Sect!"
Without a second thought, Lin Xuan accepted all of Cang Shuiyue's terms.