Chapter 2434 - The Rage of a Billion
"It's probably because we used Yin Chen's abilities a little too freely in the Oldgod Domain and ancestral world, thus tipping our hands. They've been really careful to clear out the entire area whenever they hold any secret talks," Tianming said.
Yin Chen's spying capabilities weren't impervious to disruption attempts. Others could use the cosmoforce in their bodies to vaporize everything in their surroundings, ensuring nobody could listen in. However, it was clear what was going on when the astral gods of the third, fifth, and seventh branches headed toward the council hall.
"Are they actually going to split the clan before our ancestors by killing one of our own in front of the ancestral tablets?" Lin Chongyao asked, shaking with rage. Never had something so disappointing happened in the entire history of the clan.
"They’re taking action now," Tianming said, voice low. The six seniors before him reacted in different ways, some frustrated, some angry.
"Those bastards have been led astray! They’ve let down the clan and our ancestors and are incontrovertibly mistaken!" Lin Xiong roared.
"The council hall is the place of slumber of the old ancestors and cornerstone of our clan's spirit. How dare they plan to usher violence here? Lin Jie's the Lord of Discipline, as well! Doesn't he know that this goes against the highest of the house rules?" said another elder from the fourth branch.
"It's pointless to talk about it at this point. We need to make sure all the members of the clan know what they’re doing. We have to make the first move and win the public over to our side. We can still make it," Tianming said.
"We’re still trying to think of a way to protect you," Lin Xiong said.
"No, Uncle Xiong! Defending me is important, and I definitely want to live, but that can only come after we let everyone know how evil and insane they are. Only then can we root out the traitorous scum from the clan! Otherwise, we won't be able to deal with Lin Jie and the rest for good if everyone else is in the dark!" Tianming was used to thinking of things from the perspective of the masses. While most people trusted in the power of elites, he trusted in the power of the masses. While the might of a billion members wouldn't be able to protect him in the short term, it was still more important to secure the core of the Lin Clan in the long term. Lin Xiao had only managed to return to the council thanks to their support, after all.
"Alright, I'll arrange for people to expose their dastardly deeds. I'd like to see how many people support them trying to kill our own clan's genius disciple for the sake of our enemies. Not even the members of their own branches might support that!"
The Lin Clan's members had a strong sense of loyalty and belonging, with solidarity one of their core values. Just because Lin Jie and the rest had gone mad didn't mean that their supporters were equally insane. Tianming would make sure that everyone could see what they planned to do and learn of their true intentions.
If they kill me first and then announce it, it's over for us. There wouldn't be any time for rage to build in the masses, and any voices of dissent would be quickly crushed. We have to build resentment while they’re taking the action itself. As long as I'm alive, the rage of a billion clan members will ensure that Lin Jie won't have anywhere to go within the Infinitum Swordsea! The reformist movement will be completely crushed! Without getting rid of its cancer, the Lin Clan can never properly unite!
Tianming would go all out, since his enemies weren't showing any mercy either. The six elders mobilized everyone they could and announced what was about to happen just as Lin Jie gathered ten thousand loyal astral gods to his side, shaping the narrative to Tianming's defense. "Since they’re planning to drop all pretenses, they’d better be ready for everyone in the clan to know what they’re planning to do." With Yin Chen around, Lin Jie and the rest wouldn't be able to take preemptive action without Tianming's side noticing.
Once the news got out, chaos broke out across the Infinitum Swordsea. Word of it spread like wildfire.
"I know! The ebons hired the Star Hunters to target Lin Lingxiao to draw Lin Changkong away! Then they framed Dongshen Zhuojun as a pretense to attack the Dongshen Clan and lead the second patriarch and Dongshen Yue away, weakening Lin Feng's defenses!"
"What kind of imagination do you have? Why would they need to go so far to kill a mere youth like Lin Feng?"
"Haven't you heard? Back at the Oldgod Domain, Lin Feng transformed into the star from the ancestral world! The ebons will do anything to get it! Why else would there be rumors that the ninth rex mundi, Tianxi, is in our midst? Obviously, they want what Lin Feng has!"
"Lin Jie and the others have already taken action. There's solid proof! They've betrayed the clan and colluded with outside forces! If you don't believe it, go and watch it happening at the council hall!"
"Lin Feng hid within the council hall to avoid the monster from the ancestral world and Tianxi. Nobody but Lin Jie and the rest would be able to enter it to kill him and steal his treasures!"
"But that's the sacred place of our clan, where the souls of our ancestors rest! Blood has never been spilled within the council hall! Even when there was internal conflict in our clan, nobody ever went so far as to divide us so completely! There can be nothing worse than tainting the sacred council hall! These crooks are sinners like never before!"
It was no doubt a most disappointing development for the members of the clan. Most of them could scarcely believe it was happening.
Tianming saw their outrage and sadness. If he really died from the upcoming assault, Lin Jie and the rest would no doubt be heavily bashed for what happened, making it much harder for them to retain control of the clan.
"Lin Feng hasn't died yet! Let's pray for his safety!"
"Praying? How would that help?! Head to the council hall and stop those bastards! At this point, anyone that's on their side are traitors, too!"
At that moment, pandemonium had been completely unleashed. Loud commotions broke out across all the mountains in the Infinitum Swordsea. Many people immediately rushed to the council hall, among whom many were from the third, fifth, and seventh branches.
"Has our branch master gone mad? Is he really going to kill the top genius of our own clan?"
"Word is that they're trying to kill Lin Feng as a tribute to the ebons while Lin Xiao and Lin Changkong are away!"
"How... how could they even think of doing something like that.... And at the council hall, no less! Are they trying to destroy our foundation, history, and legacy?"
Many older members of those branches almost cried from the sheer insanity of it all. They ignored everything and brought their children and grandchildren to the council hall.
"Stop him!"
"We can't let them get away with this! Otherwise, our clan will lose all credibility in the Infinitum Bodhimanda and the ancestors' achievements will forever be sullied!"
"Insanity! Even Lin Jie’s gone mad!"
"I'm starting to think that the entire attempt to side with the ebons is nothing but a way for these crooks to get rid of dissenting voices in the clan! All they want is to make sure the second patriarch and the rest die."
"Yeah! Not to mention, if the ebons were really going to be our allies, they wouldn't have ganged up on us time and again, like they did in the ranking event!"
Little did Lin Jie and his gang know that their credibility had been completely undermined before they’d even reached the council hall; even members of their branches were heavily criticizing them. As they neared the council hall, the ten thousand astral gods saw all the other astral gods that stood guard near it.
"Branch Leader, what’ll we do at the council hall?" some of them asked.
"Protect Lin Feng," Lin Jie said.
"But my dad said that you're trying to enter the council hall to kill him, and that we're here to help you pave a way into it." Many people cast doubtful looks at Lin Jie.
"Nonsense! Who dares slander me like that? How could you believe that? Who’s your dad?!" Lin Yun angrily jumped around, knowing that their plans had been exposed.
"Everyone in the clan says that now. Some of my good friends also told me that."
"Me too!"
"Yeah!"
Many astral gods stopped and glared at Lin Jie and the rest.
"If your target really is Lin Feng, forgive me for not going along with this crazy charade."
"I'm not joining either!"
That wasn't just a trivial disagreement. Even some of their most loyal astral gods, numbering up to four thousand, stopped in mid-air. Others were watching closely and quietly.
"Council members, give us an adequate explanation! Are you really going to protect Lin Feng?"
"Nothing will clear the suspicion better than turning back now!"
"This isn't a small matter. If the rumors are false, we’ll root them out and heavily punish them for ruining your reputations."
The members of the Lin Clan were a stubborn sort. Even the astral gods from the third, fifth, and seventh branches dared to speak so firmly. Their seriousness regarding the matter was out of Lin Jie's expectations. They had thought that they could forcefully quell dissent after weeding out Lin Changkong, Lin Xiao, and Lin Feng, but now, even members of their own branches seemed so willing to go against their orders. But they couldn't just turn back, for that would just make things look even worse. Now that word of their plan had gotten out, there would be no other chances for them to kill Tianming whether or not Lin Xiao survived to return.
Lin Jie, Lin Yun, Lin Ziqing, and the rest gathered together and exchanged glances. Turning back would immediately clear their name, but they didn't want to. Yet if they didn't, it meant turning against the whole clan.
Lin Jie turned to face the masses and said, "This is the result of the clan changing in the past hundred years since we lost the Ancestral Swordheart! It's our only chance to rise up again and take back our place in the top five of the Infinitum Mundus, yet, all of you chose silence and mediocrity. How disappointing. What we require is a revolution that’ll weed out old cancers for fresh, new blood to revitalize the clan!" He took a deep breath and continued, "I won’t say more about the rest. Those who desire glory and riches, follow me! Those who wish to stand against me, go ahead! It’s certain that we and the ebons will be the victors today. Brothers and sisters, the choice between life and death is in your hands!"
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