Preparing for the end?
Huang Yuan's words sent a chill of fear and trembling through all the Chixiao People present.
This was especially true for those led by Ma Hai who had consistently supported Zhou Taihe. Their faces turned extremely unnatural, and Ma Hai's was the worst of all. He stared at Huang Yuan and sneered, "Old Huang, aren't you being a bit alarmist?
There are so many frauds in the world who impersonate the Monarch. How can you be sure this one is real?"
"This old man doesn't know, and cannot be certain," Huang Yuan's voice, like the man himself, sounded somewhat aged and weary. He then shifted his tone, adding, "There may be many in the world who impersonate the Monarch, but which one among them could command the reverence and submission of the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant?"
Huang Yuan's words struck directly at the deepest fears in the hearts of all the Chixiao People present.
The reason they were so terrified today was precisely because of the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant's display of reverence.
As Chixiao People, they knew better than anyone that under heaven, only the Chixiao Monarch alone could make the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant submit.
Those frauds impersonating the Monarch across the world might each possess vast supernatural powers, but as for making the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant submit in reverence, to this day, not a single one had achieved it.
Now, one had appeared. How could they not be afraid?
"Perhaps only the Monarch under heaven can make the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant submit in reverence," Ma Hai argued, "but something that makes the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant submit in reverence does not necessarily represent the Monarch himself. As far as I know, nine years ago in the Great Northwest, there appeared a Young Master Chiyan. He claimed to be the Monarch's successor, having fused with a remnant wisp of the Monarch's consciousness. Legends say the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant also submitted to him in reverence.
However, he died nine years ago. Now another has appeared. It's not necessarily the Monarch himself. It must be someone who, like that Young Master Chiyan, accidentally obtained some legacy from the Monarch's person!"
Huang Yuan shook his head slightly, looking at Ma Hai and the others, his expression filled with disappointment. "Ma Hai, oh Ma Hai, how can you remain so stubbornly deluded even now? If that person truly is the Monarch, given His Majesty's character, he might spare your lives out of consideration for past affections. But if he is not the Monarch, and is merely acting on the Monarch's behalf... with what face will you beg for mercy?"
"How do you know his existence represents acting on the Monarch's behalf?" Ma Hai's repeated doubts suddenly made Huang Yuan laugh.
"That person first stripped Tan Tong and the others of their Bloodsha Dragon-Elephants. Now he has taken Shi Lingkai's Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant. He even ordered you all to go to the mausoleum to die during the temple fair. If he were not the Monarch, nor acting on the Monarch's behalf, why would he do such things?"
The Chixiao People in the hall grew increasingly panicked. Thinking it over carefully, they all felt Senior Huang Yuan's words held some truth.
There were many in the world who claimed to be the Chixiao Monarch. The true and the false were impossible to distinguish.
They each likely had their own motives.
As for what those motives were, no one knew.
But one thing was certain: those impersonating the Monarch sought neither fame nor profit. If they sought fame or profit, there was no need to impersonate the Monarch at all.
At the same time, impersonating the Monarch would not mean making an enemy of the Chixiao Sect, much less the Immortal Court.
If they made an enemy of the Chixiao Sect, what would be the point of impersonating the Monarch?
If they made an enemy of the Immortal Court, impersonating the Monarch would be even more meaningless, because the Monarch himself was a sinner against the Immortal Dao.
At the very least,
whether it was the person in the Yanluo Kingdom who previously claimed to be the Monarch, or those few in the Southern Sea who claimed to be the Monarch, they were all like this.
Each possessed vast supernatural powers, appearing and disappearing like dragons, and acted with extreme low profile. Never had any impersonator behaved like this newly emerged Monarch, who not only publicly stripped Chixiao People of their Bloodsha Dragon-Elephants but also annihilated a scion of the Immortal Court.
Could it truly be as Senior Huang Yuan said? This person was either the Monarch himself, or he was acting on the Monarch's behalf. And whether the former or the latter, it was no good news for the Chixiao People in this hall.
Because even if he were merely acting on the Monarch's behalf, given that a single shout from him could shatter thousands, their strength was likely no match for him at all.
And if he truly were the Monarch... then Senior Huang Yuan's words would indeed come true: they could only prepare for the end.
Just as their hearts were filled with anxiety and fear, a sharp shout suddenly rang out.
"Enough!"
The shout came from Zhou Taihe's second son, Zhou Wansheng. He pointed at Huang Yuan and berated him angrily, "I warn you, you old old undying wretch! If you dare spout such nonsense again, don't blame me for being impolite!"
The Zhou family had always disliked Huang Yuan and never held him in any regard. However, due to Huang Yuan's extremely high prestige within the Chixiao Sect, and his status as both teacher and friend to Zhou Taihe—having personally promoted many of the banner masters, incense masters, and hall masters in his day—they usually kept their dislike to themselves and said nothing.
But today,
Zhou Ting's Lesser Mandate had been taken, he was severely injured, his life hanging by a thread. The Zhou family was furious. They never expected Huang Yuan to be here spreading alarmist talk. This was something the Zhou family simply could not tolerate.
"Second Young Master, whether you are polite to this old man or not, I have never cared," Huang Yuan said calmly.
"You old old undying wretch! I think you're looking for death!" Zhou Wansheng, beside himself with rage and unable to endure it any longer, was about to make a move when he was stopped by Zhou Taihe's eldest son, Zhou Wanqian.
Zhou Wanqian understood clearly. Although Huang Yuan's cultivation and strength were not what they once were, his prestige remained. It was only with a senior like Huang Yuan present that so many Chixiao People were willing to pledge loyalty to his father.
Huang Yuan could not be killed.
If he could have been, his father would not have kept him alive until now.
More importantly, most of the Chixiao People in this hall had been personally promoted by Huang Yuan. They might not heed Huang Yuan's advice, but if anyone dared lay a hand on him, they would absolutely not stand by idly—not even if it were someone from the Zhou family.
And indeed, that was the case.
The moment Zhou Wansheng made to move, more than half of the Chixiao People in the hall stepped forward, forming a protective circle around Huang Yuan. They glared fiercely at Zhou Wansheng and the other Zhou clansmen, shouting, "Second Young Master, what are you trying to do? Trying to kill Old Huang?"
"Second Young Master, you grow more and more insolent! In the past, Old Huang not only had the grace of teaching your father but also saved his life. As a junior, how can you be so disrespectful to Old Huang?"
Many Chixiao People stepped forward to defend Old Huang, reprimanding Zhou Wansheng.
Zhou Wanqian quickly stepped forward to apologize. "Old Huang, please don't take Wansheng's words to heart. With Ting'er's life hanging in the balance, Wansheng is simply blinded by anger and spoke disrespectfully to you."
Old Huang just shook his head and sighed, saying nothing.
"Everyone, there's no need to be overly fearful. It's merely a fake Monarch," Compared to the humiliated and furious Zhou Wansheng, Zhou Taihe's eldest son, Zhou Wanqian, appeared much steadier. His words also carried more weight within the Chixiao Sect. "Do not forget, behind us stands the Third Prince of the Immortal Court. With the Third Prince backing us, who would dare touch us?"