Chapter 467: Childish Threat
With a cold gaze fixed on Lin Yun, Tang Wushuang said flatly to Song Tianyang and his companion, "I only want Lin Yun. The rest are all yours."
It had to be said that after consuming the Black Heaven Blood Pill, Tang Wushuang was no longer the man he once was. ’Perhaps this is the price one pays for power.’
Compared to before, Tang Wushuang’s personality had changed drastically. He became withdrawn, cold, and vicious. Sometimes, even Tang Wushuang felt as if he wasn’t himself anymore.
Sensing a cold gaze upon him, Lin Yun finally looked over at Tang Wushuang. As their eyes met, Lin Yun immediately perceived the change in him. The Tang Wushuang before him now felt like a stranger.
If Lin Yun knew that Tang Wushuang had consumed a Black Heaven Blood Pill to gain power, he would believe that from this day forward, Tang Wushuang was no longer even qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as him. Lin Yun held nothing but contempt for strength and Cultivation gained in such a way, because that power was never truly one’s own.
The matter was settled. The two factions moved to the center of the square, standing ten meters apart. Just as arranged, Lin Jianhong faced Wei Yunhang, Song Tianyang faced Xi Zijin, and Tang Wushuang faced Lin Yun.
The three leaders stood at the front while their disciples behind them were already prepared. Although it was the Flawless Palace disciples’ first time directly participating in a struggle among the Four Great Forces, standing behind Lin Yun, they showed not a hint of nervousness. On the contrary, each one of them was filled with soaring Battle Intent as they glared at the disciples of Celestial Eagle Valley and the Wuji Sect.
Looking at Tang Wushuang, Lin Yun immediately sensed the aura of his Celestial Spirit Realm Minor Achievement. He frowned slightly and said flatly, "You’re not the person you used to be."
Hearing Lin Yun’s words, Tang Wushuang revealed an extremely cold smile and replied in an equally frigid voice, "That’s right. I am indeed not the man I was. I’m very powerful now—so powerful I could crush you with a single finger."
Shaking his head, Lin Yun continued, "When you forcibly borrow and wield power that doesn’t belong to you, the only one who gets destroyed in the end is you."
"Haha! Lin Yun, you don’t need to lecture me. You’re just envious that I’m stronger than you are now." Tang Wushuang didn’t understand Lin Yun’s words at all; he thought Lin Yun was simply jealous of his Cultivation and strength.
’He’s beyond saving.’ Lin Yun felt that Tang Wushuang had changed completely, likely abandoning even the last shred of pride in his heart. Otherwise, no true genius, no Demon Fiend, would ever use such methods to raise their Cultivation.
Song Tianyang wouldn’t do it. Lin Jianhong wouldn’t. Xi Zijin wouldn’t. And Wei Yunhang certainly wouldn’t. They disdained it. In the heart of a true Demon Fiend, such power was something they would scorn to possess.
Yet Tang Wushuang didn’t feel that way. Perhaps it was his hatred for Lin Yun, or perhaps he had been manipulated by someone. In any case, the current Tang Wushuang had changed to the point that Lin Yun no longer recognized him.
"In that case, there’s no point in saying anything more." Since Tang Wushuang had already given up on himself, Lin Yun didn’t want to waste any more words.
The battle between the Five Great Forces was on the verge of breaking out. However, at that very moment, a group of more than ten people walked into the square. Looking from afar, the members of Flawless Palace soon saw that the person in the lead was none other than Gong Lingqi.
Seeing Gong Lingqi approach, some Flawless Palace disciples called out to him. Gong Lingqi was baffled when he discovered that the Flawless Palace disciples actually dared to participate directly in the struggle among the Four Great Forces.
As usual, Gong Lingqi had been searching the periphery for the Flawless Palace disciples. But to his surprise, he couldn’t find them after searching for several days. Puzzled, Gong Lingqi finally led the dozen or so people with him to the square. Who could have imagined that the people of Flawless Palace were actually here?
"You all actually dared to come here? Do you have a death wish?" Leading his group over to a Core Disciple, Gong Lingqi barked irritably.
Upon hearing Gong Lingqi’s words, the disciples of Taiqing Academy, the Wuji Sect, Celestial Eagle Valley, and the Spiritual Light Pavilion all wore expressions of contempt. ’Looks like these people from Flawless Palace haven’t changed at all. They’re cowering before the fight even begins.’
Being stared at like that by the members of the other Four Great Forces, especially by Taiqing Academy and the Spiritual Light Pavilion, the Flawless Palace disciples felt they were losing face. A Direct Disciple said to Gong Lingqi.
"Senior Brother Gong, with our First Senior Brother here, of course we’re going to fight! Or should we just pick up the scraps left behind by the Four Great Forces every time?"
Hearing this disciple’s words, Gong Lingqi looked at him, confused. ’First Senior Brother? What First Senior Brother?’
He scanned the Flawless Palace disciples and found all their gazes fixed on the back of a golden-robed figure at the front. Gong Lingqi was all too familiar with that silhouette—who else could it be but Lin Yun?
Striding over to Lin Yun’s side in two steps, Gong Lingqi snapped, "Lin Yun, you actually dare to call yourself the First Senior Brother of Flawless Palace? Who do you think you are?"
Lin Yun looked at Gong Lingqi calmly. Before he could speak, the eight Core Disciples behind him were the first to speak out.
"Gong Lingqi, Senior Brother Lin didn’t give himself the title of First Senior Brother. We acknowledge him out of genuine admiration and respect," one Core Disciple said.
"That’s right. He is more than worthy of being our First Senior Brother."
Hearing the words of these eight Core Disciples, Gong Lingqi’s face turned ugly. ’What happened? In just a few short days, how did Lin Yun gain so much prestige that even the other Core Disciples are submitting to him?’
"Lin Yun, I don’t care what trick you used, but I absolutely will not allow you to lead the Flawless Palace disciples to their doom. Fall back at once! Flawless Palace is not participating in the struggle between the Four Great Forces!" Gong Lingqi bellowed.
How could Gong Lingqi possibly accept that Lin Yun had inexplicably become the First Senior Brother? So, he didn’t just shout at Lin Yun; he shouted at all the Flawless Palace disciples.
Watching Gong Lingqi bark orders, Xi Zijin remained impassive, while Wei Yunhang wore a slight smile. They clearly had no intention of interfering in Flawless Palace’s affairs. In fact, they were rather keen to see just how much prestige Lin Yun held in the hearts of the Flawless Palace disciples.
Calmly looking at Gong Lingqi, Lin Yun spoke. His voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of every single Flawless Palace disciple.
"Our Flawless Palace is one of the Six Great Forces of the Eastern Domain, yet every time, we can only pick up the scraps left by the Four Great Forces. Are you all content with that? Gong Lingqi, is this how a Core Disciple of Flawless Palace is supposed to act?"
Hearing Lin Yun’s words, Gong Lingqi’s face grew dark. He roared, "Lin Yun, if you want to die, then stay here! The rest of you, anyone who doesn’t want to die, follow me! Anyone who wants to die can stay behind!"
After he spoke, to Gong Lingqi’s astonishment, not a single one of the Flawless Palace disciples showed any intention of leaving. Even the disciples from the vassal forces stayed put.
No one listened to him at all. Gong Lingqi felt as if he had just been slapped hard across the face twice. He looked at Lin Yun and said through gritted teeth, "Fine, fine. Lin Yun, I’ll just wait and see how you die."
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