I Will Fight You All on My Own! . . .
"This honorable and upright man, you've taken his life!"
"You resorted to such a deceitful tactic! He wasn't permitted to defend against your attack; he had to accept the blow!"
"Now, he's dead because of your underhanded trick, and you have the audacity to pretend to praise him..."
"Do you have no sense of shame?"
"For a deceased man... No matter how lavishly you praise him, even if you sing his praises to the heavens, he remains a lifeless body!"
"Even if you try to turn him into a legend, a myth, a miracle, it won't bring him back!"
"It's utterly meaningless!"
Feng Monarch spoke with a sigh, infused with emotion. "Elder Bu kept his word. You all were witnesses; you know what he pledged. I'm truly sorry for what transpired, but it was a challenge we all agreed upon. He made a promise and kept it. I trust you wouldn't want to dishonor that, would you?"
He blinked and continued, "I believe that the superior cultivators of the two great sects would never sully the memory of our late Elder Bu..."
"I think there has never been any significant disagreement between Ling-Bao Hall and the two great sects. What's done is done... Let's move on. The mountains are still towering, and the rivers are still flowing. We all have long journeys ahead in the martial world, and we have many miles to tread in our lives... Personally, I genuinely desire to forge friendships with all of you. It's a wonderful idea. From now on, let's share our joys and sorrows and stand united in our battles."
As he spoke with emotion, his eyes reddened, conveying a deep sincerity.
However, the superior cultivators surrounding Bu Jingtian's lifeless form reacted with fury after hearing Feng Monarch's speech. Flames of anger ignited in their hearts.
"What is this?"
"What in the world is this?"
"You just killed our leader with a single blow, and now you want us to share our happiness and sorrow and stand side by side with you?"
"Do you think we're foolish, or are you simply dense?"
"What on earth is going on?"
"Are you out of your mind?"
"You are a remarkable man, the Monarch of Ling-Bao Hall, that's undeniable... But do you think we're all gullible fools?"
"Feng Zhiling, aren't you acting despicable and dishonorable?" An elder from the Sunlight Sect, while gazing at Bu Jingtian's lifeless body, could no longer contain his anger and sorrow.
Bu Jingtian might have been a cruel individual, but for the Sunlight Sect, he was a guardian deity. His death was a devastating blow to their sect. This elder, who had spent his days cursing Bu Jingtian, couldn't come to terms with his death.
"I'm despicable? Dishonorable? Well, I don't feel that way at all. Why should I?" Cha Eun Xiao responded with a cold smile. "But take a look at yourselves. You twist the truth and manipulate facts to suit your agenda. You resort to any means to achieve your goals."
Cha Eun Xiao furrowed his brows and added, "Self-awareness is a form of progress. The two great sects, do you not understand how to honor a bet?"
The sixty-three superior cultivators from the two great sects displayed their wrathful expressions but remained silent.
It was an undeniable fact that Bu Jingtian had accepted the challenge, and everyone had witnessed it. Feng Monarch had indeed executed only one strike, and he had publicly declared his intention to kill Bu Jingtian. Bu Jingtian had not escaped this fate because he had willingly accepted the challenge. His death was a result of that agreed-upon strike, and there were no signs of foul play.
All those present had observed it in its entirety, and there had been no treacherous tricks at play.
Perhaps it was too much to brand Feng Monarch as despicable or dishonorable.
"Feng Monarch, this enmity will never be forgotten. We, the Sunlight Sect, will forever be the adversaries of Ling-Bao Hall!" A Sunlight Sect elder fixed his gaze on Cha Eun Xiao and spoke slowly.
With no legitimate grounds for objection, they were compelled to take a confrontational stance.
"So, are we to be eternal enemies now? Were we ever that close to begin with? Is this how you define your relations with others?"
Cha Eun Xiao placed his hands behind his back and half-closed his eyes. "You just can't accept defeat, can you, Sunlight Sect? Do you perceive Ling-Bao Hall as weak, thinking you can bully us as you please? Is that why you spew such shameless words?"
He grinned and continued, "Words are as fleeting as the wind. Since you've made your declaration, why don't we resolve this here and now? I'm perfectly fine with it. Really, I am. You don't have to stand there and endure my attack. Let's engage in a fair battle. If you doubt your capabilities, it's perfectly acceptable for you to take me on by yourself. Come on!"
He shook his sleeves and extended his two pale hands. Suddenly, the golden glow reappeared.
The sixty-three individuals witnessed the golden hand and instinctively stepped back in fear.
This golden hand had taken the life of the No. 1 Cultivator, Bu Jingtian, with a single strike!
"What is his true cultivation level?"
"Bu Jingtian couldn't withstand his palm strike; could I?"
These thoughts filled their minds. They believed that approaching Feng Monarch would be akin to signing their own death warrants.
Cha Eun Xiao spoke with a menacing tone, "Come on. Let me face you all alone. I promise I won't feel oppressed. Step forward, you scoundrels over there! I was worried I wouldn't have a reason to take more lives today. Now I do. You've declared yourselves my eternal enemies, haven't you?"
He suddenly widened his eyes, radiating a fierce killing intent. He took a step closer to them.
As he advanced, the cultivators' hearts filled with dread. Cha Eun Xiao's killing intent felt as real as qi.
A chilling aura, akin to something from the depths of hell, enveloped them, causing them to shiver in fear. Even those who had reached the master levels of the Sky Origin Stage couldn't help but tremble in the face of this icy qi.
Their fearful gazes were fixed upon Feng Monarch.
In that moment, they all realized something profound. "So... Feng Monarch has been concealing his true abilities all this time!"