Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 707: Chapter 449: March_2

As a Righteous Daoist cultivator, no other Blessed Land Ancient Sect would associate with those worldly families controlled by the Demonic Blessed Lands, nor would they stop their behavior, but instead would stand by as mere spectators, allowing things to unfold.

One side causes chaos, the other tacitly consents. With the Federation’s higher-ups distributing assignments in such a manner, it’s apparent how the situation will develop.

Nie Hailong felt helpless as well, because he was a part of it too, equally bound and enveloped within this scope, otherwise, he wouldn’t have received such an assignment.

The cooperation that was difficult to rebuild, was it going to fall apart once again?

Nie Hailong furrowed his brows tightly and said nothing.

The assistant also stopped talking, waiting for him to take a stand.

After a long silence, Nie Hailong finally lifted his gaze and looked towards Ning Qing, whose expression remained calm.

This capable subordinate had changed a lot over the years, not only in terms of position but also…

Nie Hailong’s heart sank, he cut off his thoughts and spoke, “Ning Qing, what do you think?”

“It’s an unreasonable demand!”

Hearing this, Ning Qing was also straightforward, “I believe that the current urgent matter is not to accept such senseless and malicious orders from superiors, but to control the situation, maintain stability, and prevent the condition from deteriorating further, causing more unnecessary and irrational damage.”

“…”

Such words left Nie Hailong in silence for a long while before he finally spoke, “Is this his idea?”

“Yes!”

Ning Qing nodded without any attempt to hide it, “But this is also my view, Director. What our responsibilities and mission as the Federation’s security organ are, you should know better than me!”

“…”

Nie Hailong looked at her, again in a long silence, before eventually saying, “Give me some time to think.”

“There’s no time left, Director!”

Ning Qing shook her head, pressing forward with her words, “We must act quickly; with every minute we delay, the situation worsens. The main forces of the upper echelons have already been swept away by him, we only need our people to control the situation at the middle and lower levels to suppress further deterioration.”

“…”

These words plunged Nie Hailong into another lengthy silence before he finally spoke, “You all had this plan in mind?”

Ning Qing nodded frankly, “Indeed!”

Nie Hailong lowered his eyes, his expression complex, “Actually, you don’t need me.”

“No, we do!”

Ning Qing shook her head, her voice calm, “Director, there are things that you should see more clearly than I do. We are now on the same boat, and those people are on another. If our boat breaks, sinks, where will we stand? Will those people let so many of us on their boat?”

“…”

Hearing these words, Nie Hailong fell silent again.

Without any regard for the silence, Ning Qing continued, “I have a family, I have friends, as do others. All that we have, all that we own, is on this boat. If we do not maintain it, we will lose everything, left with nothing!”

After speaking, she took a step forward, meeting Nie Hailong’s gaze and said word by word, “This is a betrayal, but it’s not us who are betraying them, it’s them who have betrayed us, betrayed this world!”

The words were suddenly heavy, but then returned to calmness. Ning Qing looked at Nie Hailong, “As a member of the Security Bureau, I earnestly hope you can make the right decision, Director!”

“…”

In the midst of this pain, a revolution fiercely unfolded.

And on the other side…

A solitary peak pierced the clouds, where immortals were nowhere to be seen!

A Cave Heaven Blessed Land, like an ink-washed splash of smoke.

It was none other than the Ancient Sect of Lingyun Mountain!

Above Lingyun Mountain, with pavilions and terraces, and a hall of ancient charm, stood solemnly at the center.

Within the hall, cultivators gathered together, actually observing images.

The image projection showed sharp beams streaking across the sky, a sword piercing through a body, causing a Demon Dragon to weep blood.

The scene shifted to show a cave, with jade discs glowing blood red, filled with alluring runes; sword light swept across, shattering trails of blood shadows.

There were the Wuji Sect’s madmen, Heavenly Girls of Mysterious Desire, extreme landscapes of Heaven Extinguishing Peak, and various scenes, presenting one by one in rapid succession…

“Demon Dragon Ridge!”

“Blood Cloud Cave!”

“Wuji Sect!”

“Mysterious Desire Mountain!”

“Heaven Extinguishing Peak!”

“`

“Three months have passed, five Sects have been annihilated!”

“It’s the calamity, the calamity!”

“White Jade Capital—Li Xuanyuan!”

Murmured words, even more shocking to the heart.

A moment later, the projection shut off, and everyone fell silent.

Within the Ancestral Master Hall, there was dead silence, the atmosphere extremely oppressive.

A white-haired elder sat in the center, looking at the crowd: “Three months have passed, the deadline has arrived, make your decisions.”

“This…”

The crowd looked at each other, yet it was a bout of silence.

After a long silence, someone finally spoke to break the deadlock.

“To face the Mundane Tribulation, although it’s a nine in ten chance of death, it’s extremely dangerous, but it’s still only that much of a risk!”

“That Mingxiao Tao, with its Ritual Laws, can reach the heavens. Its incantations can draw thunder, increasing the force of the Heavenly Tribulation; then, it won’t just be a nine in ten chance of death!”

“Not to mention the man-made calamity, Li Xuanyuan’s swordplay shakes heaven and earth, his Cultivation has reached an unfathomable realm. Deity Transformation cannot contend against him, Immortal Artifacts cannot withstand him, his sword leaves no path of return, completely extinguishing the life force, utterly ruthless.”

“Demon Dragon Ridge, as the Orthodox Demon Path, of True Dragon lineage, their physique peerless and combat power unparalleled, still could not block the edge of his sword!”

“Blood Cloud Cave, also of the Orthodox Demon Path, delved into the wonderful skills of Array Formation. The Blood Cloud Great Array had the power to shroud skies and cover the sun, but it was still pierced by his sword, Deity Transformation dead, Nascent Soul obliterated, even the Blessed Land could not be preserved!”

“Wuji Sect of the Orthodox Demon Path is even more top-tier, with ancestors who were True Demons of the Tribulation Realm. The Wuji Great Law could cause Ghost Gods to weep, but it still fell to the sword’s might!”

“Mysterious Desire Mountain, the Mysterious Desire Heavenly Girl can ensnare the soul and snatch the spirit, specializing in the way of the Primordial Spirit, but still was helpless against him, unable to beg for mercy, dying tragically under the sword!”

“Heaven Extinguishing Peak, not only of the Orthodox Demon Path but also a stronghold of Sword Cultivators, the peerless prestige of the Heaven Severing Absolute Sword, yet in the end, was defeated by a single move, the sword shattered, life lost!”

“White Jade Capital, Li Xuanyuan!”

“This man’s actions are too extreme, too ruthless!”

“Below the Great Return to Void, there’s simply no one who can oppose him!”

“After hearing about the destruction of Demon Dragon Ridge, the news reached Beiming Cave Heaven and alarmed the Demon Monarch Long Yuan, who sent out a Great Return to Void Demon to take revenge in the mundane world, but as soon as he left Beiming Cave Heaven, he was struck by heavenly lightning, reduced to ashes, completely annihilated.”

“Demon Dragon Ridge, Wuji Sect, Heaven Extinguishing Peak, they’re all top Demon Sects, first-class Blessed Lands, Blood Cloud Cave, and Mysterious Desire Mountain not far behind, yet with such strength, such potentiality, to end up like this.”

The cultivators’ discussion was purely analytical and did not represent taking a stance, it was obvious none dared to step forward to take on the consequences and responsibilities.

The five great Blessed Lands that have been destroyed in these three months, they are all top-tier Demonic sects, their strength above that of Lingyun Mountain.

If those never spared themselves, then Lingyun Mountain, being far less powerful than them, what other choices could there possibly be?

Between risking certain death and a slim chance of survival, everyone knows which to choose.

But knowing is one thing, saying it is another.

Because the consequences, the responsibilities, are too great, too heavy; they lack the courage to choose, let alone the right to choose.

In the end, they could only lift their eyes toward the white-haired elder at the center.

The white-haired elder, too, was silent.

Truth be told, even he didn’t want to bear this responsibility; after all, one choice could potentially decimate the sect, maybe even lead to its total annihilation. Even though he was the Sect’s Grand Elder, a Great Return to Void Grand Cultivator, he could not bear the burden alone.

But if he didn’t bear it, who would?

“Master!”

Seeing the look of helplessness on the elder’s face, a young man finally clenched his teeth and stood up: “There’s no other way out. Your disciple boldly requests, please, Master and all Elders, release the Blessed Land of our Lingyun Mountain!”

“Sect Master!”

“Elder Brother!”

Seeing the young man speaking up, taking initiative, others also felt a kindred wistfulness, and began to voice their agreement.

“What the Sect Master said is true, we have no other choice now, we can only risk it!”

“Heaven has the virtue to nurture all beings. Now that it is a chaotic time of the Demon Catastrophe, us taking the initiative to release our Blessed Land is also an act in accordance with Heavenly Dao and human wishes. The Heavenly Dao being moved will certainly grant us a chance to live!”

“We implore the Grand Elder to make a clear decision!”

Everyone spoke fervently, persuading with all their might.

The elder seeing this, felt gratified and was about to follow through with the momentum.

But unexpectedly…

“Report!!!”

A person rushed into the hall in panic, speaking with great alarm: “To, to inform the Grand Elder, that, that person… has come!”

“`