Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 305 - 223: Conspiracy Exposed!

Chapter 305: Chapter 223: Conspiracy Exposed!

"Therefore, I, Sect Master Zhuge Junchen, ask my fellow Taoists to lend a hand. Later, when I, in my humble capacity, avenge Pei Yuanjing on behalf of my sect and retrieve the Immortal Slaying Sword, I implore you all to prevent Li Ping’an from escaping at all costs if he attempts to flee. I beg of you!"

"This..."

With these words, the other cultivators naturally feigned ignorance; they could fully support Sect Master Zhuge Junchen of the Flame Cloud Sect in spirit, but when it came to taking action, that was highly unlikely. After all, the Flame Cloud Sect was one of the top three Taoist sects in the world. Why should they exert themselves on its behalf?

Moreover, they had all seen how powerful Li Ping’an was. Should Li Ping’an go berserk with the might of the Immortal Slaying Sword, who among them could stop him?

They were even more aware that the first to confront him would be the first to die; the second, the second to die. Especially those cultivators with lower levels of cultivation did not wish to seek death for no reason. Therefore, without any exchange of benefits, they were absolutely not willing to stick their necks out.

Hence, after exchanging glances with each other, they responded in a low voice:

"Sect Master Zhuge, although Li Ping’an is a scoundrel and has committed shameless acts, this matter is ultimately your own problem. As outsiders, it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to interfere!"

"Sect Master Zhuge, we have the will but not the power. You know how strong Li Ping’an is—we certainly do not wish to die!"

"Sect Master Zhuge, you are the leader of one of The Four Great Noble Paths. Surely the Flame Cloud Sect can’t be incapable of stopping a mere Li Ping’an?"

"Sect Master Zhuge, if your Flame Cloud Sect can’t stop him, then we are even less capable!"

"Sect Master Zhuge, we’re willing to make an effort, but there has to be a price to pay, doesn’t there?"

"Exactly, Sect Master Zhuge! When asking someone for a favor, you should at least show some sincerity, right?"

"We can’t be expected to exert ourselves for nothing, can we?"

"Sect Master Zhuge, shouldn’t you offer us some sort of incentive? After all, your Flame Cloud Sect is the foremost among The Four Great Noble Paths!"

Faced with the cultivators’ questions and demands, Sect Master Zhuge Junchen of the Flame Cloud Sect had anticipated this and was, of course, unwilling to cede any offerings from the Imperial Court. However, he had earlier agreed to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Cen Wenjin’s request—to help kill Li Ping’an for a benefit of five million taels of silver.

In his determination to recapture the Immortal Slaying Sword, Sect Master Zhuge Junchen immediately deceived everyone present, saying:

"What you all say is reasonable. My Flame Cloud Sect will naturally not let you make an effort in vain!"

"I, Zhuge Junchen, hereby promise that today, any sect that helps my Flame Cloud Sect stop Li Ping’an, will be given a portion of the Imperial Court Offering by my sect, at least one hundred thousand taels of silver!"

"I wonder, what do my fellow leaders and Taoists think?"

"This..."

The leaders and cultivators of various sects and sects needed resources to develop their power and strength, but what is essential for the development of power and strength?

Money!

The Four Great Noble Paths grow stronger every year because they receive offerings from the Imperial Court. With these offerings, they can cultivate in peace, recruit talented disciples, and purchase many resources for cultivation.

Confronted with such a temptation, the leaders and cultivators of these sects immediately had their hearts swayed, and those who had been unwilling to act unsheathed their swords and, making Li Ping’an the center, immediately encircled him within a fifty-meter radius!

They also shouted at Li Ping’an:

"Li Ping’an from Mount Longhu, don’t blame us for this! The fault lies with you!"

"Li Ping’an! You scum of the Taoist path. You forced our hand in doing this!"

"Li Ping’an! As if it wasn’t enough that you killed a disciple of the Flame Cloud Sect and stole their treasure. Even if you casually killed someone else, we wouldn’t let you go!"

"Li Ping’an! You are a disgrace to the Taoist path! How dare you commit such evil acts and have the audacity to attend the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master? Did you think we righteous cultivators are so easy to bully?"

"Li Ping’an! We advise you to surrender to Sect Master Zhuge and admit your wrongs! That way, you might be left with a whole corpse!"

"Li Ping’an! We know you are formidable, but we won’t let you trample on us! It’s best if you surrender now!"

"Li Ping’an! Don’t blame us! If someone had killed a disciple of Mount Longhu and stolen your treasures, we would do the same!"

"Li Ping’an! For the sake of justice and fairness! Today you shall not leave this place!"

Facing the accusations and threats of the cultivators, Li Ping’an finally saw their most real faces clearly!

Li Ping’an, who had come merely to seek Zixia, now found himself engulfed by the hostile encirclement of all the Taoist cultivators and was completely put on the defensive.

He had wanted to explain, but facing these hypocritical and self-serving scoundrels, Li Ping’an became utterly disinclined to explain!

After all, he couldn’t offer them the benefits that Sect Master Zhuge Junchen of the Flame Cloud Sect could!

So, Li Ping’an, who was encircled in the middle, decided to challenge the entire Taoist world.

"How pathetic! All I wanted was to see Zixia!"

"Yet I’ve been relentlessly pursued by these scoundrels! I only intended to kill Xie Wenren, that despicable rat!"

"But now, I’ve encountered so many hypocrites!"

"Enough! It seems this is my fate!"

With this in mind and recalling the words of Supreme Tathagata Dragon Tree Monk, Li Ping’an let out a wry smile. Finally, standing on his Hundred Plays Steel Rod and wielding the Immortal Slaying Sword, he swept it towards everyone and declared mightily: