Chapter 222: Chapter 223: I'll Fight Until You Submit
The fierce battle on the mountain continued, but the ones fighting now were all powerful elders. Lin Yun was far more formidable than many had imagined. This time, no one in the entire sect had anticipated that things would turn out this way. Even Gu Xiande still believed he could easily control the entire situation.
"Heh, it's just one insignificant Lin Yun. Is he really enough to make you all so fearful?" Gu Xiande snorted, looking at the elders below him. He hadn't expected that Lin Yun would actually dare to come here alone.
"Sect Master, the entire cultivation world has a very poor opinion of us right now. I think perhaps we should make a statement on this matter?"
Hu Miaodong was a man of great seniority in the Flowing Cloud Sect. He had not concerned himself with worldly affairs for many years. There were quite a few elders like him in the sect. But this time, the disturbance Lin Yun had caused was simply too great; they couldn't just ignore the entire affair. That was why Hu Miaodong had stepped forward to make such a suggestion. At a time like this, everyone needed to be on the same page.
"We all know what this is about. So what if the entire cultivation world makes an enemy of us?" Gu Xiande said dismissively. "After we eliminate Lin Yun this time, won't we still have the final say?"
He knew how many people were watching this event, but so what? The key to the problem still lay with his own strength. Those people were powerless to do anything to him. The Flowing Cloud Sect would not be dealt with so easily. And with Lin Yun acting alone, it was impossible for him to exert much pressure on them. At the very least, the Flowing Cloud Sect had not yet begun to go all out.
"Liao Changping is already dead. More people will die," Hu Miaodong said with some concern. "The Flowing Cloud Sect has not suffered such losses in many, many years."
This affair was vastly different from what they had imagined. They were once the most powerful sect in the entire cultivation world, but their losses in the Spirit Realm this time had been far too great. In the past, they wouldn't have had to worry about such things, but now was completely different. Their power was no longer what it once was. They had to consider: what if they lost this battle? What would they do then? Those they had coerced in the past would not forget the injustices they had suffered. On this matter, they had to think carefully about their next steps.
"We all know this is not an easy situation," Gu Xiande conceded, realizing he had surely made them worry. After all, all previous problems could be easily resolved. But after the great battle in the Spirit Realm, their strength was indeed not as great as they had thought. If they were truly besieged, the current Flowing Cloud Sect would gain no advantage.
But now was not the time to be thinking about such things.
Just as the others were about to say more, Hong Xiu walked in from outside.
"That wretched boy, Lin Yun! We wasted so many years cultivating him in our Flowing Cloud Sect, and now he dares to betray us!" She looked furiously at the crowd in the hall. "No matter what, he must be beaten to death with a staff here today! Otherwise, where will the honor of our Flowing Cloud Sect be?"
If the others had held any doubts about the matter before, upon hearing Hong Xiu's words, their thoughts began to align. It was just as she said. The elders looked at each other, but they all knew there was nothing more to be said.
On the mountain path, Lin Yun soon arrived halfway up the slope of the Flowing Cloud Sect. There, a figure appeared before him.
Xu Ruoqing frowned. Looking at Lin Yun, whose strength and cultivation were now far beyond his own, it would be a lie to say he wasn't impressed. But he had to be here.
"Brother Lin, if you still remember our friendship of former days, you should stop now. How can the Flowing Cloud Sect tolerate such humiliation?"
Lin Yun laughed. "Humiliation? When Gu Xiande was plotting to frame me, no one said he was humiliating me. When they all claimed I had betrayed the sect and called for my public denunciation, no one stopped them! And Gu Xiande even used the lives of my friends to force me to come here. Very well. Since that is what he wants, I am here to satisfy his request. Is there a problem?"
As he spoke these words, he stood with his head held high and his chest out, his entire aura exploding outwards. The few disciples standing nearby felt a terrifying pressure wash over them, as if a great mountain had been slammed down upon their bodies. They swayed on the verge of collapse. Soon, a portion of them crumpled to their knees, unable to move, while those who remained standing were all relatively powerful inner disciples.
Now, the way they looked at Lin Yun was completely different. No wonder this man had the guts to swagger up to a place like this. Who would truly challenge the Flowing Cloud Sect without some real ability?
Fine beads of sweat also broke out on Xu Ruoqing's forehead. Facing Lin Yun, he too was under immense pressure. But at this moment, he still forced himself to stand firm.
"It is impossible for you to fight the entire Flowing Cloud Sect with your power alone. I just hope you won't do something foolish."
This time, Lin Yun had no intention of replying. He simply continued to walk forward without a hint of doubt.
Xu Ruoqing's hand went to the hilt of his sword.
Lin Yun didn't even glance at him, replying only with an icy voice. "Your strength is no match for mine. I advise you not to do that. Otherwise, I will kill you very quickly."
His killing intent had completely locked onto Xu Ruoqing. If he made the slightest unusual move, Lin Yun would strike.
Xu Ruoqing's knuckles turned white. It was clear he was trying with all his might to draw his sword, but that terrifying aura made his body refuse to obey. He could only watch, helpless, as Lin Yun walked past him.
Then, his entire body went limp, and he crumpled to the ground. Beads of sweat the size of beans dripped from his forehead, and his voice trembled.
"Is this… the gap between me and the Sky-Soaring Realm? Even when facing Senior Brother Xiao, I never felt anything like this."
He turned his head to look at Lin Yun's back, his heart filled with shock. Although he was only at the Sky-Soaring Realm, the strength he displayed was simply beyond words. It was far more powerful than even the Spirit Cauldron Realm.
By now, Lin Yun had already arrived within the main gates of the sect.
In an instant, in the sky and on the ground, countless cultivators swarmed and surrounded him completely. The scene was incomparably grand and shocking.
The previous chapters were not provided. Based on the context of this chapter, the following events are inferred to have happened:
Deng Pengzu, a powerful reclusive elder, returned even stronger, crediting Lin Yun's earlier advice for his survival and power-up. Lin Yun accused the Flowing Cloud Sect of using puppet techniques on Bai Zhuqing. Bai Zhuqing then denounced Lin Yun, who used the opportunity to search for the hidden puppeteer. Hong Xiu, the sect's ancestor, arrived and attacked Lin Yun, who survived the blow. Deng Pengzu then confronted Hong Xiu.
(Chapter 223 Continuation)
...Deng Pengzu roared, "Hong Xiu, you still dare to show your face? If it weren't for you, Gu Xiande would never have sat in his current position. But look at what the Flowing Cloud Sect has done over the years! Besides expanding its own power and making enemies everywhere, it has contributed almost nothing to the cultivation world. And now you want to persecute a junior with exceptional talent, for no other reason than to prevent others from becoming strong?"
Hong Xiu looked slowly at Deng Pengzu. "So what? The one who attacked our Flowing Cloud Sect's mountain gate today was Lin Yun. The one who killed our disciples in the Spirit Realm was also Lin Yun."
Seeing that Hong Xiu was completely disregarding reason and sentiment, Lin Yun laughed. "I came to your mountain gate today to save my friend. The reason I fought in the Spirit Realm was because I gave them a chance to leave, but they not only refused, they tried to kill me and my friends. Xiao Pingtian was incompetent; he deserved to die! But since the entire Flowing Cloud Sect is now so unreasonable, there is nothing more to be said."
"Come, let's fight!"
Lin Yun released all the restraints on his body. A towering killing intent surged forth. At the same time, two streams of sword Qi shot out and struck Bai Zhuqing, sealing his heart meridians.
"Old Bai, don't worry," Lin Yun vowed. "I won't let you die like this. No matter who that puppeteer is, he will die!"