Chapter 249: Chapter 248: Forced to Stay
Celestial Extreme Mansion now faced a huge dilemma: if they joined, they would essentially become slaves. Their Profound Celestial Divine Technique would be stripped from them, their authority usurped, and they would be no different from puppets.
Although it hadn’t happened yet, they knew exactly what the Netherworld Empire would do. Yi Tianyun had already learned as much from Cheng Fen. If it weren’t for the Profound Celestial Divine Technique, the Celestial Extreme Mansion would have been destroyed long ago.
It was easy to guess what the first order of business would be upon joining: they would be forced to hand over the Profound Celestial Divine Technique. Refusing was a death sentence. Handing it over was also a death sentence. After all, once they gave up the Divine Technique, they would have no value left. The end result was the same.
Yi Tianyun’s answer made many people exchange odd glances. Clashing with the Divine Rune Mansion was one thing, but now he was refusing to even give the Netherworld Empire face. ’Isn’t he just courting death?’
"Can you speak for the Celestial Extreme Mansion?" Lin Hao’s expression darkened, and the icy aura around him began to flare up again.
He could tolerate a top-tier third-grade faction refusing to join, but for a declining sect like Celestial Extreme Mansion to also refuse... that was a slap in the face.
"I can. I am the Mansion Master," Yi Tianyun said calmly.
"Such a young Mansion Master?" Lin Hao was stunned for a moment before saying gravely, "Very well. The Netherworld Empire will not force the issue!"
His words were spoken with force, but whether he meant them was anyone’s guess. In front of so many factions, he didn’t reveal his true intentions. No one knew what he was really planning.
Yi Tianyun walked back to his seat, his expression calm. He knew what kind of trouble he was about to face, but for him, it was a matter of dealing with problems as they arose. It was as simple as that. He would never humiliate himself by joining the Netherworld Empire.
’Besides, if both paths led to death, why not choose to die on your feet?’
"Those who choose to join our Netherworld Empire will stay. Those who do not may leave now." Lin Hao was as cold as ever. He offered no hospitality; they were just that domineering.
Those who joined would surely be well-entertained, but those who refused were told to get lost. They had made the trip for nothing, not even getting a sip of warm soup. From the initial banquet to this moment, they had received no real hospitality—only arrogance, and not a single shred of warmth.
The members of White Lotus Prefecture said nothing, simply turning to leave. Yi Tianyun’s group also chose to depart, not wanting to linger for a moment longer.
But just as Yi Tianyun and his group were about to leave, Lin Hao’s voice rang out again. "Celestial Extreme Mansion, did I say you could leave?"
Yi Tianyun frowned. ’Didn’t he just say that those who didn’t join the Netherworld Empire could leave?’
The members of White Lotus Prefecture glanced back, shook their heads, and departed without hesitation. Star Pavilion did the same. They also hadn’t joined the Netherworld Empire; their status was high enough that they didn’t need to.
"What a pity. If this young friend weren’t a Mansion Master, I could have protected him..." Li Tianlong sighed deeply. A Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master at such a young age—he had even considered taking him on as a disciple.
But that was something to be handled one step at a time, perhaps by first making him an Honored Guest Elder to see how things went, and then eventually accepting him as a disciple. He never expected the young man to be the Mansion Master of Celestial Extreme Mansion. It was a complete surprise, and it made protecting Yi Tianyun nearly impossible. If he were to step in now, it would mean openly opposing the Netherworld Empire.
"Sigh, it truly is a pity. Who could have predicted this?" Elder Yun and the others shook their heads. They had been completely sincere in their attempt to recruit Yi Tianyun. Who would have thought it would turn out this way?
As Yu Shiqian was leaving, she couldn’t help but glance back one last time. It wasn’t that she had developed feelings for Yi Tianyun, but she felt he looked somewhat familiar, and even his voice sounded familiar. Yet, there were noticeable differences.
’It must be my imagination...’ Yu Shiqian shook her head, figuring that Celestial Extreme Mansion was about to be completely erased from the Celestial Realm Continent.
Soon, the other sects had all departed. Two factions remained: one that had joined the Netherworld Empire, and one that had not. The latter was in a pathetic state, consisting of only the Celestial Extreme Mansion. The disparity between the two groups was immense.
"Grandpa..." Mu Xian’Er clutched the Great Elder’s sleeve, her eyes filled with worry.
She knew things wouldn’t end this easily. Faced with such a behemoth, they all trembled inwardly, including the Great Elder. They had never imagined they would have to confront such a colossal power, but now it was their reality.
If Yi Tianyun hadn’t come, they wouldn’t be in this situation; Celestial Extreme Mansion would have simply become a puppet of the Netherworld Empire, and this confrontation would never have occurred. But things had changed, and a conflict with the Netherworld Empire was now inevitable. This was all within expectations.
"It’s okay. I’m here." Yi Tianyun turned back and smiled at her, his voice firm and full of confidence.
Mu Xian’Er gazed at Yi Tianyun, and for the first time, she felt he was no longer the scoundrel she once thought him to be. He was a true Mansion Master—one willing to shoulder the burden of the Celestial Extreme Mansion!
"Celestial Extreme Mansion, do you know why I’ve kept you here?" Lin Hao asked, his gaze like ice.
"You’ve kept us here for one of two reasons: either to force us to submit, or to make us hand over the Profound Celestial Divine Technique," Yi Tianyun stated plainly.
There was no point in hiding it, no reason to beat around the bush. He laid it all out in the open.
"The Profound Celestial Divine Technique!?"
The factions that had remained were inwardly shocked. The Profound Celestial Divine Technique was known as one of Celestial Extreme Mansion’s greatest Absolute Skills. It was rumored to have reached the level of a Heaven-rank Martial Art. How could the Netherworld Empire not be tempted by such a prize?
"Worthy of the new Mansion Master. At least you have a brain," Lin Hao sneered. "Enough nonsense. Hand over the Profound Celestial Divine Technique, and I will spare the lives of everyone in Celestial Extreme Mansion and allow you to keep your foundation!"
"And you think I’d believe that?" Yi Tianyun scoffed. "If we hand over the Profound Celestial Divine Technique, won’t we just die even faster?"
A glint flashed in Lin Hao’s eyes. He sneered, "If you don’t hand it over right now, then you’ll die right now!"
At his command, several black figures materialized from thin air. Three Shadow Guards dressed in black appeared beside them. The total number of Shadow Guards in the Empire wasn’t large—fewer than ten in all—as a vast amount of resources had been spent to cultivate each one.
Each Shadow Guard had to be absolutely loyal, and their cultivation couldn’t be low—every one of them was at the Spirit Pill Stage or higher, which was why the resources required were so immense. They excelled at assassination, making them impossible for most factions to guard against.
Yi Tianyun glanced at the surrounding Shadow Guards. The highest among them was only at the Third Level of the Spirit Pill Stage. ’To me,’ he thought, ’they’re no different from trash.’
"The problem is, we don’t have the Profound Celestial Divine Technique. How are we supposed to hand it over?" Yi Tianyun said calmly.
"Don’t worry. I’ll just capture all of you and use the Soul-Searching Technique on you one by one!" Lin Hao’s eyes were brimming with killing intent.
