Chapter 477: Chapter 474: Denial
Based on Mo Qi’s Realm and strength, even if he had used a Secret Technique to temporarily gain Immortal Level Combat Power, entering the Void Gate was still a death sentence. There was no possibility of survival.
"He... How did he get into the Void Gate?!"
Once the shock wore off, the Immortals were all utterly bewildered.
’They couldn’t understand why Mo Qi would do something so impulsive. Surely he wasn’t tired of living?’
The ten members of the Palace Guard Army were too late to stop him. By the time they tore through the blockade set up by the Wolf Demon and steadied themselves, they only saw Mo Qi’s retreating figure as the Void Gate vanished.
"Dammit! We were a step too late. We let that wretch from the Demon Race get away!" one of the Palace Guard Army soldiers exclaimed, striking his fist into his palm with a bitter tone.
"Enough. That member of the Demon Race was no simple foe. It was difficult enough for the ten of us to break the blockade it set up. If we had truly fought it, most of us would have died just to stop it. It wouldn’t have been worth it."
The speaker was a middle-aged man with a goatee. He was Sun Nan, the leader of these ten members of the Palace Guard Army.
He stared for a long time at the spot where the Void Gate had vanished before finally looking away. Turning to the Immortals from the Hall of Envoys, he asked, "The young man who just jumped into the Void Gate... that was the Mo Qi you were talking about?"
"Reporting to you, Sir, yes. That was Mo Qi," the Vice Palace Master of the Five Elements Sub-Palace said, stepping forward and cupping his fist respectfully.
Sun Nan frowned. From the Immortals’ descriptions, it was clear that Mo Qi was an extraordinary young man. Even to Sun Nan, the abilities he possessed were nothing short of incredible.
’If their descriptions weren’t exaggerated, then with the potential Mo Qi has shown, he would be on par with even the most famous monstrous talents in the Immortal Realm.’
’Once he matured, he was destined to become a great pillar of the Human Race.’
’Discovering him would have been a great contribution on the part of the Palace Guard Army as well.’
But now, such a promising talent had entered the Void Gate, a place from which no one returns alive!
This infuriated Sun Nan.
"Why did he follow it into the Void Gate?" Sun Nan asked, his voice grave.
The Immortals looked blank. ’We have no idea either.’
’Could it have been because of the Wolf Demon’s final warning?’
’But that doesn’t make sense!’
’Even if we did intend to uncover Mo Qi’s secrets later, there was no reason for him to choose a path of certain death.’
"Reporting, Sir. We do not know." The Immortals exchanged glances, unable to offer any explanation.
Just then, Liu Ruyan let out a cold laugh. "You don’t know? Hmph! My Brother Mo fought a gauntlet against those five Demon Beasts. He was physically and mentally exhausted, but he won every single battle, saving you all from being slaughtered by the Wolf Demon. And what did you do? You coveted Brother Mo’s power and techniques, plotting to kill him afterward to steal his fortune!"
"Utter nonsense!"
"Young lady of the Liu Family, watch your words! Mo Qi did us a great service. Why would we ever repay kindness with malice?"
"You can’t just falsely accuse us based on the divisive words of that demon!"
The Immortals vehemently denied it. In front of the Palace Guard Army, they didn’t dare admit to this.
The Palace Guard Army was famous for being selfless and impartial. If the Guard Army knew they had plotted against Mo Qi for selfish reasons, driving a future pillar of the Human Race to his death, it would be a grave crime. If investigated, they would be stripped of their Immortal Bones, their Cultivation crippled, and cast down to the mortal realm.
That would be a fate worse than death!
"Hah, a false accusation? Do you dare to deny what you’ve done?" Liu Ruyan sneered.
The others didn’t know the reason for Mo Qi’s departure, but she and Niu Kexin did.
Mo Qi had warned them not to talk about it. Without proof, nothing would come of it, and it would likely only provoke the Immortals’ resentment and retaliation. It simply wasn’t worth it.
But Liu Ruyan couldn’t hold back. She felt this was too unfair to Mo Qi.
"Liu Family! Aren’t you going to control this little brat?"
"This is malicious slander! Remember that a careless tongue can bring disaster!"
The Liu Family’s ancestor quickly restrained Liu Ruyan, pulling her to his side. He offered an apologetic smile to the others. "She is but a child and speaks without thinking. Please, pay her no mind."
Faced with the veiled threats from the experts of the various Sub-Palaces, the Liu Family’s ancestor had no choice but to back down and apologize.
Liu Ruyan was defiant, but with her movements restricted, all she could do was glare in frustration.
In the crowd, Liu Hui and the others’ expressions didn’t change, but a cold glint flashed deep in their eyes.
One after another, they sent voice transmissions to Niu Kexin, asking if what Liu Ruyan said was true.
After receiving Niu Kexin’s confirmation, they all lowered their heads and silently retreated to the groups from their respective Sub-Palaces.
’Master, just leave these Sub-Palaces to us. Rest assured, when we meet on the Demon Spirit Battlefield, I will deliver a result that satisfies you!’
’Brother Mo, these Sub-Palaces are full of bad guys! San Pang will rob them, steal from them, and dig up all their wealth. I guarantee I won’t leave a single thing behind for them, and then I’ll give it all to you!’
’Brother, you’re destined for great things. You gave me this life, and I, Qian Duoduo, have no way to repay you. So let me start with these Sub-Palaces. I will become your greatest source of resources when you contend for mastery over the world!’
’Uncle, from this day forward, Cold Cicada Valley answers to the name Mo!’
The Immortals had no idea that their actions had crossed a line with a "terrifying" group of people. They were even more oblivious to the future consequences of their actions this day.
"Enough!" Sun Nan raised a hand, stopping the escalating conflict between the Immortals and the Liu Family.
He gave the assembled Immortals a long, hard look.
Every Immortal who met Sun Nan’s gaze immediately lowered their head, daring not to meet his eyes.
"Hmph!"
Sun Nan snorted. He knew what was going on.
That glance was no ordinary stare; it was laced with the spiritual pressure of his Venerable Level cultivation.
’If their consciences were clear, the Immortals would never have reacted this way.’
’In the past, he would have suppressed them all with an iron fist, reported them to the Immortal Realm, and awaited their judgment.’
’But things were different now. The Immortal Realm had issued a decree: tempering oneself on the Demon Spirit Battlefield was the top priority. Everything else had to take a backseat.’
’Without these Immortals, the selection process among the Sub-Palaces would grind to a halt. For that reason, Sun Nan could only turn a blind eye.’
’As for Mo Qi... is a dead genius still a genius?’
’Besides, he hadn’t seen any of it with his own eyes. It was all just hearsay.’
"All of you, get back to preparing for the selection! There can be no failures when it comes to the Demon Spirit Battlefield!" Sun Nan barked.
The Immortals, however, breathed a collective sigh of relief. Not being held accountable was the best possible outcome.
And so, the various Sub-Palaces led away the "geniuses" they had poached from Mo Qi, departing in high spirits.
...
Beyond the Void Gate lay a raging spatial turbulence. Here, there was no life, no direction, no Spiritual Energy, no light. There was only the utterly chaotic Power of Space and the uncontrollable, untamable Power of Heaven and Earth.
In the darkness, a figure in a golden cape stood firm amidst the spatial turbulence. Perched on the figure’s shoulder was a palm-sized piglet.
