After waiting for a while longer, the head of Chang Xian Sect finally arrived with his group.
Not only did Sect Head Huo come in person, he was also followed by several Yuan Ying cultivators and two orderly and solemn columns of Golden Core cultivators in finely equipped armor. With one look, it was clear these Golden Core cultivators had gone through training and were skilled at coordinated combat. Their true combat power when fully deployed was hard to estimate. Just like back then, when Gu Yao's group of four coordinated the Four Symbols Killing Formation, even a demonic beast at the early Yuan Ying stage could be worn down to death.
Sect Head Huo's expression was extremely ugly. "Have all of you come today wanting to join hands and force my Chang Xian Sect to its death? Otherwise, how could you allow the demonic path to invade my Chang Xian Sect and falsely kill my sect disciples? It is I, Huo, who has misjudged everyone present. If any mishap befalls my Chang Xian Sect, everyone present will be the sinners of my countless Chang Xian Sect disciples' vengeful spirits!"
His voice echoed in the air above, and it seemed thunder rumbled in the horizon. Many cultivators' expressions sank. This Huo wanted to drag all the righteous path cultivators down with him, pushing this scapegoating onto them. If this matter was not resolved properly, wouldn't it leave a shadow in many righteous cultivators' hearts and impact their future cultivation?
Was this old thing being forced into desperation and wanted to make the first move?
"Clap clap clap..." Sounds of clapping came from afar, getting closer and closer. Everyone looked up in unison, the other protagonist of today's gathering was about to make his entrance.
Sure enough, Demon Spider descended from the horizon, stepping on a giant spider. His movements seemed slow, yet they had the effect of traversing a great distance in an instant, quickly shortening the distance between them. His dark red robes matched the color of the spider's back, and also contrasted with the paleness of his face to give it some color. The wind billowed his wide sleeves, making a fluttering sound, the hem of the robes danced freely in the wind, setting off its master's unconstrained air.
The atmosphere Sect Head Huo had just created was shattered instantly by this person's entrance. Sect Head Huo looked at Demon Spider with eyes as if dipped in poison, wishing he could hack him into thousands of pieces.
"Hahaha... As expected of the head of Chang Xian Sect, well said, perfectly phrased. Do you know what I, old demon, most admire about you righteous path people? It's your skills with words—making black into white, turning death into life. You, Sect Head Huo, are an innocent good person, Huo, aren't you ashamed to say such things? Do you dare say to all these righteous path cultivators that everything you, Huo, has done is righteous?"
By the time he finished speaking, he was already close at hand. Many demonic cultivators also came with him, though they were far less orderly compared to Chang Xian Sect's group. One had his upper body bare, his physique twice the size of others'. Those muscles were clearly full of explosive power. Just standing there gave off an oppressive feeling. Another was as thin as a bamboo pole, but he had a beast by his side that spewed clouds and mists, its eyes flashing with ferocity.
There was also one with a smiling face, grinning like Maitreya Buddha. Yet he was surrounded by a circle of corpse puppets, each corpse puppet not weaker than the Yuan Ying stage. If not for these corpse puppets, it was likely no one would have thought this guy was a ruthless demonic leader. But today was to bolster the might of the demonic path, so they were all brought out.
There was still another one completely wrapped in churning black clouds, even his face flickering in and out of view. Gu Yao saw that even the one smiling like Maitreya kept some distance from this cultivator wrapped in black fog, clearly somewhat wary of him.
It had to be admitted, the style of demonic cultivators differed too greatly from those of the righteous path, making them rather uncomfortable to look at. No wonder the reputation of the demonic path had always been extremely bad, with everyone shouting to eliminate demons and protect the Dao. Even Gu Yao felt his eyes go sore looking at them.
In comparison, Demon Spider's style was actually more proper, without revealing anything too jarringly eccentric. His looks weren't bad either, and he had an air of evil charm. Add some unrestrained swagger, perhaps he could attract the gazes of some cultivators, especially female cultivators.
This was Gu Yao's first time seeing Demon Spider. He had heard a lot about Demon Spider's exploits from his uncle, so even though his current style seemed more normal compared to the other demon leaders, Gu Yao did not dare underestimate him. Just the fact that those eccentrically styled demon leaders were obediently following him showed enough.
Demon Spider's words made many cultivators look at Sect Head Huo strangely. The various rumors from outside now made Chang Xian Sect seem not so innocent. Just the sole fact that the poison master was Chang Xian Sect's pill master—could Chang Xian Sect and Sect Head Huo wash themselves clean of this?
"Humph!" Sect Head Huo snorted coldly. "What need is there for the demonic path to meddle in righteous matters? My fellow cultivators, can our righteous matters really be interfered in by demonic thieves? What position does this put us righteous cultivators in?"
An elder from Tai Luo Sect sighed. "Sect Head Huo, is the news of that pill master's death genuine? Was that poison master who harmed many cultivators the same as that pill master?"
Another Yuan Ying cultivator asked, "Where exactly did those demons appearing on the mainland come from? What connections do they have with your Chang Xian Sect? Some say those demons themselves were once loose cultivators of the mainland, but were captured by certain powers and subjected to inhuman experiments that caused them to lose their minds and become monsters that are neither human nor ghost. Is there any truth to this?"
"Such slanderous fabrication from nowhere! These are all the demonic path's schemes. Has it not always been the demonic path's method to first divide the righteous path internally before conquering us individually? My Chang Xian Sect is their first breakthrough point to target. This Huo fears not death, I only fear the righteous path will never know peace again from now on!" Sect Head Huo said indignantly.
Seeing Sect Head Huo rebut each question, Gu Yao glanced at Demon Spider. He saw Demon Spider leisurely folding his sleeves, watching the show. It was as if he was saying:
See, just as expected. No one can compare when it comes to skills with words. So please quietly appreciate Sect Head Huo's performance.
Gu Yao felt that Demon Spider must have made thorough preparations before convening this gathering, so he was in no hurry now. He let Sect Head Huo display his eloquent debating skills. However high the stage he set up, with one fatal blow, no matter how tall, it would instantly collapse.
Gu Yao turned to look at Sect Head Huo again. He had to admit, this Sect Head's ability to keep up appearances was definitely not lacking. He looked like a gentleman with lofty righteousness. But thinking of all the shady dealings Chang Xian Sect was involved in, Gu Yao deeply understood the true meaning behind the idiom "looking proper but actually corrupt."
"What do you think Demon Spider has prepared?" Gu Yao asked Chi Changye in a low voice.
Chi Changye stroked his chin and glanced at Demon Spider. "The way things are today makes me feel it's not normal. Demon Spider must be holding that Huo fellow's life in his hands. That Huo can't possibly be unaware, so his performance now...hmm, it's a bit exaggerated."
Hearing Chi Changye's words, Gu Yao couldn't help but look back at Sect Head Huo's side again. Putting aside the other sect leaders and Yuan Ying cultivators present for now, the emotions of Chang Xian Sect's disciples had been stirred up. Each of them revealed looks of indignation, appearing ready to vow a life-and-death battle against the demonic path with just one order from their Sect Head.
Perhaps in their eyes, their Sect Head had shortcomings, but their zeal to uphold the righteous path's standing had never been wrong. They absolutely could not let these rampant demons have their way.
They even looked at the other righteous alliance members with anger in their eyes, feeling they had betrayed the alliance and left Chang Xian Sect in isolated desperation, with only themselves left to fight alone.
There were others who shared Chi Changye's doubts, like Tang Xu and his group. They too carefully observed Sect Head Huo, wondering how he would get through this hurdle.
In their perspective, the best method would have been to abandon the pawn to protect the chariot—if the other elders of the sect had the confidence, they should have pushed Sect Head Huo out to take the fall, pinning everything on his faction, while they guarded the larger portion of the disciples. That way, they could at least preserve over half the sect's disciples.
But the current developments were completely different from what they expected. So just what game was Sect Head Huo playing? And what were Chang Xian Sect's elders doing? Could it be they truly did not know what Huo had done? Were they just letting him lead Chang Xian Sect down the road to destruction?
Yin Hua was also carefully assessing Sect Head Huo, a look of interest flashing through his eyes. He wondered—he guessed what was going on.
"Clap clap clap..." Demon Spider had probably gotten tired of listening. He clapped again. "Not bad, very well said. After all, you're the sect head. Look how you've stirred up your disciples to the point they seem ready to tear me apart. Unfortunately, if all your disciples attacked together, what could they do to me?"
Such arrogance, his words made people grind their teeth in anger.
"The more you all look at me like this, the more excited I get. Mister Huo, you and I are far too familiar with each other. After all, we cooperated for so long. You say I'm falsely accusing you with fabricated slander? Then let me show you some evidence—it's the big gift your precious son sent you. Oh?"
Demon Spider signaled behind him, and immediately a demonic cultivator flew up. With a wave of his hand, a sky curtain appeared in midair. With another wave, an image emerged on the curtain. Many cultivators gasped when they saw the scene—a person was hanging inside. It was Sect Head Huo's son, Huo Ming.
"Demon Spider, you...if you have the guts, come at me instead. Why did you take my Ming'er? You're just trying to threaten me!" Sect Head Huo's entire body trembled.
"The demon goes too far with his bullying!" Chang Xian Sect's disciples also cried out angrily. No matter how undeserving Huo Ming was, they couldn't let him fall into the demon's hands.
But Demon Spider completely ignored them. The image in the sky curtain did not remain still. That Huo Ming seemed to see something frightening. He screamed, "Let me go! My father is Sect Head Huo. Have you forgotten my father is the sect head of Chang Xian Sect? Aren't you afraid my father will come for me? Don't you demons rely on my father for many things? As long as you let me go, I guarantee my father will agree to more of your requests. Anything you want."
Chang Xian Sect's disciples buzzed loudly in shock. What did he mean? What did he mean the demons relied on his father Sect Head Huo? And that he'd get his father to agree to more requests, anything they wanted?
"Anything we want?" Another voice transmitted from the curtain. It was none other than Demon Spider.
"Yes, yes!" Huo Ming nodded eagerly. "Ancestor, haven't my father and the warlock helped you with a lot? If my father didn't get people to release those monsters, would your demonic path enjoy its current success? When my father becomes the number one in this continent, Ancestor, you can have anything you wish."
"Monsters? Who created those monsters?"
Huo Ming answered every question. "It was the warlock and others. Ancestor, don't you know everything already? Those rogue cultivators had no future anyway, what does it matter if a few of them die?"
"Only rogue cultivators?"
"Oh right, I remember now. That annoying Lu fellow who always suppressed me, I also secretly sent him over. I really want to see what kind of ghost he's become now. Haha, he thought he was amazing just because he had a Yuan Ying ancestor? As if this Chang Xian Sect isn't my territory? With just him, does he think he can fight me, Huo Ming?"
At this point, Demon Spider waved his sleeve, and the sky curtain disappeared. He smiled at Sect Head Huo, "Sect Head Huo, what do you think? I've brought your precious son over completely unharmed."
Demon Spider patted the spider on his shoulder. The spider spat out a ball of silk which writhed around. The silk loosened in parts, revealing a head. A frightened scream rang out, "Father, save me! Father, you must save me! It was Demon Spider who captured me. Father, I don't want to be swallowed by the spider!"
"It really is Huo Ming!"
"Were those words from earlier true? Was Senior Brother Lu really sabotaged by him? What has Senior Brother Lu become now?"
"So the warlock is actually a poison warlock. Just what are the sect head and the demons doing together?"
The rogue cultivators who had gathered to watch the spectacle exploded even more furiously. What did he mean "what does it matter if a few rogue cultivators die"? Thinking of all those demons, each one possibly representing the life of a rogue cultivator, they wished they could tear this Huo fellow apart. Is this what Chang Xian Sect and the so-called righteous path were up to? Were they that much better than the demonic path? They were just wearing an outer coat, making them even more detestable!
They shouted for Chang Xian Sect to give the rogue cultivators an explanation. Where exactly did those missing rogue cultivators go?
Without Tang Xiu Shi's direction, several Yuan Ying cultivators took up positions, surrounding Sect Head Huo in the middle. The reason they didn't immediately attack was because they still wanted to see how he would defend himself. If there was anything questionable, don't blame them for getting rid of him first.
After hearing Huo Ming's words, these cultivators couldn't help but think further—just what was this Huo fellow trying to do? Become the number one in the Thousand Vast Continent? What would be the outcome for them cultivators and the other sects then? Would it be prosper if you obey me, perish if you defy me?
An elder from Tai Luo Sect coldly questioned, "Sect Head Huo, do you still have anything to say in your defense? I was wondering back then where that scoundrel Di Feng learned those crooked, evil methods. Now should I be asking Sect Head Huo, just how many people have you planted into the sects across the continent?"
Gu Yao immediately recalled something. After Di Feng died, there was news that Di Feng had been too arrogant, even killing a junior fellow sect member of this Tai Luo Sect elder. They searched everywhere for the killer without success. It wasn't exposed until after Di Feng's death. Could this elder be that senior sect member?
"Sect Head Huo, do you still have anything to say? I didn't expect the person shouting the loudest about fighting and killing the demons would actually have the deepest ties with them."
"How is this possible? How could the sect head be this kind of person? Is it that the demon forced Huo Ming to testify like this?" Some Chang Xian Sect disciples shouted in disbelief. They knew exactly what kind of trash Huo Ming was. There was no way he could withstand torture.