Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 541: Chapter 327: The Plan (First Update)

In the Palace of Ten Thousand Dao, the atmosphere was heavy, seething with anger and violence.

Several Deity Transformation cultivators lay pale and limp like mud, most already unconscious and the rest trembling, wracked with extreme pain, the result of a soul-searching investigation led by the Dean of Mysterious Heaven Academy and other Return to Void powers.

By comparison, Xiao Qingyun fared somewhat better, as he had been soul-searched by only a dozen or so Integration cultivators, whose methods were relatively sophisticated and thus had caused less damage to his Primordial Spirit, preserving some measure of his ability to act.

Feeling the turbulent rage and the biting chill of murderous intent from those around him, he knew if he did not do something, there would be only one outcome awaiting him, complete annihilation, both body and spirit, death without a whole corpse!

Therefore…

“You are all gravely mistaken!”

With a harsh cry, Xiao Qingyun forced himself up, paying no heed to Xu Yang behind him, and addressed the cultivators in the hall, particularly the few leading Integration ones: “I am a Celestial Angel of the Upper Realm, representing the face of the Heavenly Court. You all know too well the might of the Heavenly Court. To block it is to seek your own destruction!”

Upon hearing his words, the crowd remained cold and unmoved, silently watching his bluster.

This reaction only intensified Xiao Qingyun’s panic, but with no way out, he had no choice but to bluster on: “The actions of the Heavenly Court, though somewhat improper, were taken for the greater good of our Human Clan, a necessary evil. Now there have been changes, and the remaining Academy Monks are being…”

“The greater good of the Human Clan?”

Before he could finish, a person stepped forward, turning out to be a gorgeous woman dressed in a multicolored robe: “How dare you narrow-minded beings claim to represent the Heavenly Court, thinking yourselves the masters of the Upper Realm. You hold your position undeservedly and without virtue!”

“This… this is bad!”

Seeing her, Xiao Qingyun first froze, then his face changed drastically.

In the chaos, he had forgotten a crucial point: the Wandao School pursued the philosophy of “education without distinction and the unity of all under heaven,” not the supremacy of the Human Clan, nor could it support such a belief.

For in the Wandao School, besides human cultivators, there were a great number of members of the Demon Race, and the Xin Family Fox Clan even held the revered status of “royal relations,” with their honored position and formidable strength always maintaining a seat in the hall of the Kylin Palace within Mingxiao Hall.

This stunning woman, although not a Xin family member, was of the Demon Race by birth, a descendant of Fairy Qingluan from Fengwu Mountain, her bloodline reverting closer to the original, embodying the Phoenix Song, and one of the few Integration Great Powers present in the hall.

Not just her, the Wandao School had always maintained a significant number of demon cultivators since its history could be traced back to the era of the North City Academy with the Kind Spirit Monsters as founding elders, from the Dragon’s subjects.

Additionally, with the approach of “Spirit Plant Beast Mastering” and “Enlightening Transmutation,” they massively cultivated spirit beasts to undergo Rebirth and become demons, further swelling their numbers, though still not as large as the vast Human Clan, but they were still a good third to a quarter of the total population.

Thus, within the Wandao School, there was no principle of the supremacy of the Human Clan, only the concept of universal unity.

Both human cultivators and demon spirit monsters did not differentiate based on lineage or species; they were all monks of the Scholar’s Palace, children of the Taoist Masters. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In such a case, hadn’t his words just poked a hornet’s nest?

Xiao Qingyun’s face was etched with horror as he tried to explain in panic: “The situation in the Upper Realm differs from the Lower Realm. Demons of the Upper Realm commit evils, and we human cultivators secure our own safety by resorting to such unfortunate necessities, it’s not that…”

His frantic explanations only made things worse. Seeing the Phoenix Song Fairy’s expression growing even more unfriendly, he hurriedly changed the subject: “No matter what, you all still aspire to ascend to the Upper Realm, and since ancient times, no Immortal has arisen from the Lower Realm. Those of you who have reached Integration are beings of immense power, with unparalleled talents. Would you really languish in the Lower Realm until death, or blindly follow this man, rebelling and setting yourselves against the Heavenly Court?”

In his speech, he shifted the blame toward Xu Yang, who stood behind him.

“Impudent!”

Xu Yang made no reaction; it was the crowd that erupted in rage, a red-haired, red-bearded Integration cultivator stormed forward, ready to take Xiao Qingyun down.

This caused Xiao Qingyun’s expression to change, and he started shouting, “Do not be mistaken, you’re different from him! He possesses supreme treasures and opportunities to decipher Heavenly Secrets, and though we might not speak of his cultivation, without ascending, he could still enjoy a thousand autumns free from age, immortality within this mortal world!”

“Blindly following him, are you willing to forsake your own paths and die with him? The Heavenly Court welcomes the wise and capable. With your Integration strength, even in the Upper Realm, you would hold positions of esteem. Then, with the Court’s support and the guidance of an Emperor, the prospect of Mahayana is within reach, and not only that, but you would also be able to glimpse the path of the Immortal and achieve the Longevity Dao Fruit!”

“Please reconsider, reconsider!”

Xiao Qingyun pleaded continuously, trying desperately to persuade them.

Even he knew that there was little hope; those Academy Monks who ascended to the Upper Realm were merely at the Nascent Soul Cultivation Level, as stubborn as rocks in a pit, let alone these steadfast and resolute cultivators of the Return to Void Union.

Shaking their resolve was nearly impossible!

But what choice did he have now, but to try his utmost, a desperate final gamble?

However…

“Do you think everyone is like you, not knowing what shame is?”

The fiery Crimson Eyebrow True Monarch, raging with anger, came forward, ready to strike Xiao Qingyun dead right there in Mingxiao Hall.

“That’s enough!”

Just then, a gentle voice arose, and a flash of Void Spirit Light whisked Xiao Qingyun and the others out of sight.

“Taoist Master!”

Seeing this, Crimson Eyebrow True Monarch stopped in his tracks, and Phoenix Song Fairy and the others likewise turned their gaze towards the figure on the celestial couch, waiting for Xu Yang’s judgement.