Chapter 84: Acknowledgement
Yao Shens return to All-Havens construction site was met with a coalition of Elders from the three Divisions, including the three Patriarchs of the respective divisions. It did not take Yao Shen long to understand the rationale behind moving the bulk of their fighting forces onto an uninhabited, neutral ground.
In the event that Yao Shen was defeated in combat, there would be no one capable of stopping the Demons onslaught if he chose to charge into the Azlak Plains. By deliberately gathering their forces in the middle of the three sects, where All-Haven was situated, they painted a tempting target on their backs.
A single Nascent Soul Cultivator was worth more than dozens of Core Formation Cultivators when it came to combat ability. If Gavrils intentions were to devastate the combat potential of the Azlak Plains, then he would first choose to attack the gathering at All-Haven. But even if the enemy, who to the best of their knowledge, was a single Soul Emperor on his lonesome, was to pick one of the three divisions as a target, the odds of mounting a successful defense were far higher when dozens of Nascent Soul Cultivators worked in unison.
Ideally, the defenses that guarded the respective divisions should have been resilient enough to withstand siege warfare and indeed, they were, to an extent. Had the threat been multiple demonic path Nascent Soul Elders, there would have been no need to give up the safety of the sects defensive formations.
However, none of the hegemons of the Azlak Plains were equipped to deal with a Soul Emperor level threat. Yao Shen considered himself a capable leader, but it was not his leadership or even the now shared secret of the Lumenite Mine that had brought the three divisions together at a time where he might have been injured or dead.
The Righteous Path was far from perfect, but even bitter rivals would come together in the face of a Demonic Path incursion if the situation called for it. They had chosen to make the bold decision to lead the demon away from their own divisions to protect their own disciples and children, for they understood the futility of trying to run away from a Soul Emperor.
This was the site of their final stand and the fact that Yao Shen had seemingly survived his own encounter with the demon did not take away from the resolve the Elders had shown in daring to face the threat of a Soul Emperor out in the open, without any formation or cover to assist them.
Of course, Yao Shen was certain that the Elders had already sent missives to the Eastern Righteous Path and the aim of the battle at All-Haven, if the situation called for it, was to stall for reinforcements until their last breath. Even if they could not survive, if the sects were preserved then their legacies would live on.
Thankfully, today was not a day where their sacrifice would be required.
Patriarch Shen, It was Zhou Hui who had chosen to break away from the battle arrangement, his expression incredibly tense as he addressed him. What became of the demon? He asked, even as the Elders behind him exchanged worried looks.
Yao Shen had been almost certain that the coalition of Elders had not caught on to Wujing Yangs presence in the Azlak Plains and Zhou Huis question confirmed it for him.
The enemy, Yao Shen began, his voice echoing forth with an imposing might. Gavril Arkael of the Demonic Path organization, The Ancient Codex is how he introduced himself.
His confirmation sent a ripple of worried chatter and perhaps even more confused glances that were directed his way. There was open speculation and a clear breach of etiquette, but none present were in any mood to care about sounding improper when a Demon had broken the pact and essentially waged a one-sided war on the Azlak Plains.
He was a Soul Emperor like me, Yao Shen continued, knowing that the Elders were clinging on to his words with an almost zealous fervor. Except that was where the similarities between us ended. As you all are well aware, I have been a Soul Emperor for less than a year. The Demon, on the other hand, was an experienced Soul Emperor with over two centuries of experience.
He let his words hang in the air, taking in the reactions of the elders.
Shock that bordered on disbelief. A feigned anger that sought to mask the terror they felt. Gritted teeth and clenched hands that tried to keep the growing dismay in their hearts at bay.
How the Azlak Plains have fallen, Yao Shen lamented. A single demon was brazen enough to waltz into our lands and threaten our disciples, for he believed that there was not a single soul in these lands capable of threatening him.
Doubt.
The Elders were doubtful.
Yao Shen stood before them, uninjured and clearly not expecting an attack.
But he was also the one who had described in vivid detail the strength his enemy was capable of exhibiting. Could an early stage Nascent Soul Cultivator defeat a peak-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator? Preposterous.
The differences between Cultivation stages only got wider as one ascended, too.
Had Yao Shen allied with the Demons?
It was a natural assumption to make, if the life of a powerful cultivator was at stake. Many in the righteous path had capitulated to the Demons in the past and many would continue to do so in the future.
When confronted with a choice between honor and life, not all had the courage to choose the former.
However, fear not, Elders and Patriarchs of the Modern Sect. As long as I, the Grand Patriarch, am still standing, these lands shall not fall, Yao Shens gaze swept past every Elder in attendance. Gavril Arkael made the mistake of threatening my disciples. In return, I tore away every last soul that he had incorporated into his domain with his taboo methods. The Demon had strode in these lands believing himself to be invincible and in return, I left him grievously injured a husk of his former self, at that! Yao Shen pronounced his victory with aplomb, his stern expression indicating that he meant every last word that he had just said.
Silence.
A deafening, absolute silence.
It was as if the crowd of the most powerful cultivators in the Azlak Plains had heard his words, but simply could not bring themselves to truly comprehend.
All except the three Patriarchs, who were used to Yao Shens ability to defy what they considered to be common sense.
How? Patriarch Kang Long asked the question that all present were wrestling with.
My methods are not something I can disclose at this stage, Yao Shen replied. However, a cultivator from the Tower of Radiance- Soul Emperor Wujing Yang- shall be visiting in a months time to both confirm my statement and reward the Modern Sect for its contribution in this matter.
In a sea of disbelieving faces, there was one whose gaze carried an opportunistic gleam.
Congratulations on your exceptional victory, Grand Patriarch! Elder Han of the Sky Division had pressed his hands together in a reverent fashion before offering him a deep bow the greatest mark of respect a cultivator could offer a warrior that they acknowledged.
There was a brief hesitation as the other cultivators, especially those from the Earth and Flame Divisions, looked to their own Patriarchs. But ultimately, in their eyes, Yao Shen was someone who had fought against a Demonic Path Soul Emperor when even Nascent Soul Cultivators of the taboo path were a frightening set of combatants that no sane cultivator wished to encounter.
In their eyes, Yao Shen was no longer on the same level as them the gulf had widened far too much for them to avert their eyes to it.
And it was because of him, that they still drew breath.
So they clasped their hands together.
And bowed.
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