Chapter 750: An Attractive Man |
Out of 30 sect leaders, it turns out 12 people wrote Niu You Dao's name?
Out of the 30 sects that are part of the Palace of Mystery, 12 wish Niu You Dao's death?
Gong Ling Ze was at a loss for words. It was clear that Niu You Dao was chosen not for his talent in cultivation, but for his sphere of influence. Twelve people wished to eradicate Niu You Dao's influence.
Gong Ling Ze hadn't thought it would come to this, that Niu You Dao could be included on this list. Could Niu You Dao truly be considered an exceptionally powerful cultivator?
However, upon careful reflection, such a situation wasn't hard to comprehend. Niu You Dao had achieved much in this time. And his successes definitely didn't please everyone.
Yet he hadn't thought that more than 12 people would choose him. Had Niu You Dao truly offended so many sects?
Why so many?
Gong Ling Ze tallied it up silently.
The three sects of the Song Kingdom had received a good thrashing from Meng Shan Min. Thus, they would want to remove the man who stood behind Meng Shan Min: Niu You Dao. That made three.
The Han Kingdom had attacked the Yan Kingdom, and they could be counted too.
That made 9 sects in total. And three more? Currently, in the battle with the Zhao Kingdom, the Palace of Bliss and the Spiritual Sword Mountain wouldn't create internal chaos.
The Heavenly Fire Sect from the Qi Kingdom? Niu You Dao had crippled their disciple, causing the Heavenly Fire Sect to lose face. They could be counted. Most likely, Sect Head Yu Wen Yan of the Heavenly Fire Sect had put his name down.
That's 10 already, who are the other 2?
Gong Ling Ze pondered, unable to calculate further. He didn't know whom else Niu You Dao had offended. Perhaps the three sects of the Jin Kingdom, because of Shao Ping Bo?
Niu You Dao had also influenced the Thousand Beast Sect from the Song Kingdom. Could it be the Thousand Beast Sect?
Gong Ling Ze understood that many had listed Niu You Dao not out of personal hatred, but simply because of Niu You Dao's sphere of influence. It was merely a calculation.
While it was impossible to pinpoint everyone precisely, it was difficult now to definitively identify them and their motives.
But that wasn't important; what mattered was that Niu You Dao was already on the list. And this would affect the Black Gold Cave's benefits.
The Black Gold Cave relied on Niu You Dao to seize control of the Southern Domain. So many sect leaders wished for Niu You Dao's death, so once Niu You Dao entered the Secret Realm of Tian Du, he would be in danger.
Niu You Dao, oh Niu You Dao. I told you to join my sect faster. Wouldn't it have been better now? Gong Ling Ze smiled bitterly. He hadn't joined his sect to avoid entering the Secret Realm of Tian Du, and precisely because of that, he had ended up in it. This was truly a case of 'bitterness from intelligence'.
However, he understood that back then, no one could have predicted that the Nine Supremes would act this way. And even then, relations between the three sects of the Yan Kingdom had worsened.
Gong Ling Ze shifted his gaze from Niu You Dao's name and saw another name. His eyes immediately lit up. For it was the name of Zhao Xiong Ge!
Niu You Dao's name wasn't the most popular on this list. But Zhao Xiong Ge's name had been chosen by all 30 sect leaders.
He knew that Zhao Xiong Ge had protected Niu You Dao during the attack on the thatched hut. And their relationship was very good. Zhao Xiong Ge would definitely protect Niu You Dao. With the help of Zhao Xiong Ge and the Black Gold Cave cultivators, Niu You Dao could very well survive!
Thirty people had chosen 40 cultivators each. In total, that came to 1,200 people. But due to duplicate names, there were still 200 people short.
Gazing at the completed list, Sha Ru Lai stepped down from the platform and approached the list in front of the board of sect leaders.
Sha Ru Lai walked past the finished list, then took up a brush and dipped it in ink. Then he crossed out one name. Specifically, Zhao Xiong Ge's name.
Everyone was surprised and didn't know what was happening.
Sha Ru Lai tossed aside the brush and calmly said, "Zhao Xiong Ge is excluded from the list!"
He simply stated it, without any explanation.
Since this was the Hall of the Utmost Limit, their territory, he didn't need to explain himself to them. Even if his actions didn't conform to the rules!
However, some might have guessed that Zhao Xiong Ge was connected to the Devil's Cult, and one of the Nine Supremes was, in fact, an alumnus of that Devil's Cult.
Gong Ling Ze froze. He couldn't imagine what unfortunate fate awaited Niu You Dao. He had thought Zhao Xiong Ge would at least protect Niu You Dao, but now Niu You Dao had lost even that protection.
He felt uneasy. Since he had a right to speak here, he tried to argue for Niu You Dao. He immediately said, "Lord Sha. As far as I know, Niu You Dao is only a Zhuji realm cultivator. How can he be considered a gifted cultivator? I think he should be excluded from the list."
"Niu You Dao, 12 people chose him. Quite an attractive person."
Sha Ru Lai looked at the list and whispered. This name was not unfamiliar to him. He had known this name for a long time. After all, this Niu You Dao had drawn his daughter's portrait. Upon hearing that his daughter liked Niu You Dao's portrait, he had begun gathering information about him. He had even considered taking him under his wing. Who knew that Niu You Dao would get involved in the struggle for profit? Thus, he discarded that idea. Though he had initially already considered Niu You Dao a person of the Palace of Mystery.
But seeing that so many people had written down Niu You Dao's name, he was surprised.
Gong Ling Ze muttered to himself. Attractive? They just want to kill him.
At the single word: *Attractive*, many smiled. Everyone understood it was sarcasm.
Sha Ru Lai looked at Gong Ling Ze, and then at everyone. He clearly wanted to know others' opinions.
Guang Qi Tai of the Ascension Palace said, "Sect Head Gong, you shouldn't speak like that. Are there truly no gifted individuals among Zhuji realm cultivators? This Niu You Dao possesses decent abilities. I believe he is suitable for the Secret Realm of Tian Du."
Gong Ling Ze cast a cold glance at him. This fellow had 100% put Niu You Dao's name down. So he immediately retorted, "Are abilities and cultivation skills truly interconnected? Everyone knows what happens in the Secret Realm of Tian Du. It's not about abilities or cultivation there. That's what defines giftedness." Saying this, he winked at Long Xiu and Meng Xuan.
Long Xiu and Meng Xuan understood him. He didn't want anything to shift in the confrontation with the Zhao Kingdom. After all, once the truce ended, the Zhao Kingdom would begin attacking the Southern Domain again.
"Sect Head Gong, cultivation level does not equate to full power. I heard that in the Zhao Kingdom, among the Yan Kingdom's envoy's bodyguards, Niu You Dao easily killed the envoy. Are those not skills?"
"Indeed. He even defeated a disciple of the Heavenly Fire Sect. It's clear his skills are not simple. He's a gifted cultivator."
"Since emerging from the Thatched Hut, this Niu You Dao has never lost to anyone. It truly seems he possesses powerful forces."
"True, Niu You Dao is indeed a gifted rogue cultivator."
Long Xiu and Meng Xuan's help was in vain. More than 12 people approved of Niu You Dao's skills. Gong Ling Ze was stunned; over 15 people had already recommended Niu You Dao. And it seemed that if a second selection were made, it wouldn't be 12 people choosing Niu You Dao, but even more.
In the Hall of the Utmost Limit, the minority yields to the majority. In the end, more than 12 people recommended Niu You Dao; some others merely kept silent and observed. And only a few people supported Niu You Dao. The outcome was obvious.
Sha Ru Lai listened to everyone, then said, "Very well, 20 people are still missing. Gentlemen, you must add more cultivators to reach 1,000 people."
From his words, Gong Ling Ze understood that Niu You Dao was definitely in trouble.
Gong Ling Ze desperately wanted to say that Niu You Dao was already a person of the Black Gold Cave, but glancing at Sha Ru Lai, Long Xiu, and Meng Xuan, he held his tongue.
After the rogue cultivators were added, Sha Ru Lai immediately ordered the list to be sent to Zhaixing City and other locations. It was to be announced that all rogue cultivators must arrive at the Secret Realm of Tian Du at the designated time. Anyone who failed to appear would be executed!
"I ask all sects to resubmit the list of cultivators. You have 5 days for everything. I need the list!"
Sha Ru Lai said this and departed.
Time was short, so all the sect leaders also didn't linger and left on their birds for their own domains.
...
At the Song Kingdom Chancellor's Residence. The Song Kingdom's Chancellor quickly ran to a courtyard.
Gu Wu Chun was pale, lying sickly under a tree. He watched the falling leaves.
"My Lord, the wars have stopped! The wars have stopped! The Palace of Mystery has issued a decree to cease all wars..." Zi Ping Xu leaned in and whispered the joyful news to Gu Wu Chun.
Gu Wu Chun came to his senses, and with Zi Ping Xu's help, sat up on a couch.
Gu Wu Chun picked up a brush and wrote on a sheet of paper: *It seems I didn't go to the Palace in vain. Now the Song Kingdom has a respite!*
"Mhm!" Zi Ping Xu nodded, tears streaming down his face as he looked at Gu Wu Chun. The man had completely changed.
Gu Wu Chun said nothing more. For the Palace of Mystery had torn out his tongue.
Because he had gone to persuade the Palace of Mystery.
He hadn't gone to the Palace of Mystery without reason. Before this, he had learned that the three sects of the Song Kingdom had sent an incomplete list of cultivators to the Palace of Mystery. Thus, he guessed that other kingdoms might also send incomplete lists. That's why he went to persuade the Palace of Mystery.
However, the Palace of Mystery was not a place where just anyone could come and dictate what to do. A mere commoner had dared to lecture them on their actions. Could the Palace of Mystery truly be used in one's own interests like that? That's how they deprived him of his tongue. As a lesson!
They had still shown him leniency, because of the people backing him. The Palace of Mystery did not wish to meddle in the affairs of the kingdoms. If it were to constantly interfere, it would create many problems for itself!
So, they cut out his tongue and threw it to their pets to devour.