Eight Hundred Elite Loyalists
Bie Wenxuan’s visage resembled Shi Dengtian as disciples took a stand, questioning in a deep voice, “Senior Brother, why are you standing over there?”
Despite his attempt to avoid Bie Wenxuan and Daoist Yun Dan’s line of sight, Lian Tianyou’s hesitant expression soon caught their attention. Though he was privy to what was going on, Lian Tianyou, the twenty-eight year old, senior disciple of Daoist Yun Dan, did not have the same testicle fortitude his junior.
“I have my plans,” Lian Tianyou replied, obviously unhappy Bie Wenxuan dragged him along when he preferred to kick back in the cavern at Reflection Cliff and wait for the fiasco to blow over.
Shi Dengtian, of course, waved at Lian Tianyou. “How about you explicate your allegiance?”
“Sorry, Shifu, but I don’t feel like dying. I would rather support Uncle Shi.” Lian Tianyou walked over to Shi Dengtian and kissed the floor with a knee. “I am at your command, Uncle.”
“Hahaha, Yun Dan, your disciple has remarkable judgement compared to you,” jibed Shi Dengtian.
Since the disciple hailed as the top disciple of Pill Cauldron Sect and was guaranteed patriarch status next took Shi Dengtian’s side, every other disciple had someone to blame and justify their decision to ally with Shi Dengtian.
“Anyone else? I’m dying to judge the fools.”
Shi Dengtian sneered, sweeping his eyes across the determined visages on over eight hundred members standing behind Daoist Yun Dan. It ground his gears to see them looking down on him because he felt he should’ve been the one in their shoes.
In contrast, Daoist Yun Dan regained hope and spirit once he had so much support. At the same time, it crushed him to think they would have to lose their lives due his own inability to stop Shi Dengtian. Nonetheless, he guffawed heartily. “Shi Dengtian, has it finally dawned on you that you can’t force people to respect you?”
“Why are you bragging when you have a woeful eight hundred supporters? We have over six thousand members. Even if we don’t account for those not here – let’s say five thousand are present – that’s still pitiful. Are you trying to be a joke?”
“Pill Cauldron Sect’s growth was a product of elite alchemy and the people behind me who have been contributing to the sect, not numbers and not despicable tactics you worship. Tell me what you’re leading without them.”
Shi Dengtian could not argue the fact that the true elites stood behind Daoist Yun Dan. In spite of all the praise heaped onto Lian Tianyou, if he was going to betray his mentor once, who was to say he would not betray Shi Dengtian? Others were new disciples who could not quite tell who the villain was, while others were merely those who caved in to Shi Dengtian’s intimidation. More cowards did not make more elites. More cowards only equated to more cowards. Pill Cauldron Sect’s forces would not be the same if Daoist Yun Dan’s group fell.
“Are we going to tell them all?” inquired Qian Shange.
“Tch! Yes!”
Hong Yuan reminded, “Shi Dengtian, have you considered the scale of our losses if you kill them? How do you think other sects will perceive us?”
“Our alchemists have always been the cream of the crop. Nobody will challenge us. I refuse to believe we need them to thrive!” responded Shi Dengtian.
Hong Yuan and Hong Yi had nothing left to say.
“Eight hundred alchemists’ soul energy, not bad.”
Qian Shange stealthily extended his fingers, moulding soul energy to his hand.
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