How long must we endure this humiliation?
This question was one that the other Chixiao People did not know the answer to, and Elder Fengxu was equally in the dark.
"Everyone, don't worry. We've been following Old Master Buddha for so long; when have we ever suffered a loss? He has always been shrewd and cunning. He doesn't act often, but when he does, it's always earth-shattering, and he never stops until his opponent is dead. This time, perhaps he has gone to invite the old masters from our Chixiao Sect of the past. When they arrive, we'll make Zhou Taihe regret ever crossing us."
Another Chixiao Person stepped forward, trying to lighten the mood and comfort the others.
However, his comfort did little to ease their worries, for everyone knew that the Crimson-Letter Sect within the Yanluo Kingdom was not only facing internal strife and external threats, but the Crimson-Letter Sect branches in other countries, and indeed across the entire Divine Land, were all facing similar situations. Some were even in a more dire state than they were.
Since the end of the Ancient Era and the dawn of the Modern Era, the Chixiao People of old had either gone into seclusion or retreated into closed-door cultivation, with most withdrawing from worldly affairs. The branch halls of the Crimson-Letter Sect were now managed by so-called 'Crimson-Letter People' who were not true Chixiao People. Their character had never been sterling to begin with, so how could one expect them to remain law-abiding after taking control of the branches?
Compounding this, the Immortal Dynasty was secretly employing tactics, both coercion and enticement. While the Crimson-Letter Sect appeared calm on the surface, many branch masters were already restless, waiting for the right moment to make their move.
Originally, the Chixiao Sect had its nine towering Patriarchs who held up the heavens, its eighteen awe-inspiring Marquises who shook the world, its thirty-six Heavenly Champions who swept across all directions, and its seventy-two Earth Fiends who guarded the borders. Moreover, every Crimson-Letter Sect branch hall had veteran Chixiao People like the various Banner Masters and Incense Masters overseeing them. Those with restless ambitions dared not act too openly.
However, since that Heaven's Mandate event nine years ago, not only had the world's power structure changed, but so had the Crimson-Letter Sect. Some branch halls clamored for independence, some openly curried favor with the Immortal Dynasty, and some had even accepted titles and appointments from the Immortal Dynasty.
This situation had grown increasingly severe since the descent of the Heaven's Mandate. Those leading the charge were not only the so-called Crimson-Letter People but also some of the former Chixiao People themselves.
Under such circumstances, how could Old Master Black Buddha possibly go and invite other brothers from the Chixiao Sect? Even they were barely keeping their own heads above water; how could they spare the effort to come here?
Furthermore, if the Crimson-Letter Sect branches across the world were not all facing internal and external troubles, Zhou Taihe would never dare to act so brazenly and tyrannically within the Yanluo Kingdom. It was precisely because he knew that Crimson-Letter Sect branches everywhere were in turmoil that he dared to be so unrestrained.
"Alas! When I recall how majestic and carefree our Chixiao Sect was under the leadership of the Monarch in the old days, I truly don't understand how we... how we could have fallen to such a state. Those Crimson-Letter People defecting to the Immortal Dynasty or declaring independence is one thing, but even some of the Chixiao brothers who once fought side by side with us to conquer the world have also... Truly... Time reveals a person's heart!"
"With no news of the Monarch's reincarnation and the Immortal Dynasty growing ever stronger, many brothers of the Chixiao Sect fear the Immortal Dynasty will settle that old score with them... That's why they've started currying favor with the Immortal Dynasty."
"Cowards afraid of death! They disgrace the name of Chixiao People."
"Hmph! If the Immortal Dynasty really wants to settle that old account, are we afraid of them?"
"We weren't afraid back then, and we have nothing to fear in this Modern Era either. We all have one head on our shoulders; who's afraid of whom! The fact that we've lived to this day is already a profit. Dying wouldn't be a loss."
"What really pisses me off is that the damned Immortal Dynasty hasn't even said they're coming for us yet, and already some cowardly bastards are rushing to join them. Have they no conscience? Have they forgotten the brothers who died at the hands of the Immortal Dynasty back then?!"
"Exactly! Moreover, if the Immortal Dynasty really intended to deal with us, they wouldn't have waited until now."
"We don't know if the Monarch has reincarnated or not, and neither does the Immortal Dynasty."
"Before the Monarch vanished, he issued a warning to the Nine Heavens, swore a heavenly oath, and formed a Blood Curse. If the Nine Heavens broke their promise and dared to move against the Chixiao People, the Blood Curse would activate. Then, the Chixiao winds would stir, blood-aura would fill the skies, the wrath of the endless Dragon and Elephant would be unleashed, and heaven and earth would face judgment."
"I really don't know what those traitors who joined the Immortal Dynasty are thinking. Have they been kicked in the head by a donkey? The Immortal Dynasty hasn't even made a move, and they've already lost their nerve! A bunch of spineless cowards, unworthy of being called Chixiao People!"
In the great hall, the Chixiao People indignantly denounced those who had defected to the Immortal Dynasty. Whenever this topic came up, their anger flared uncontrollably; it was the same every time.
"If the Monarch were still here, even if you gave Zhou Taihe and those other traitors ten thousand times the courage, they wouldn't dare cause trouble. The mere thought would scare them to death!"
Mention of the Monarch caused the previously furious Chixiao People in the hall to fall silent one by one, their expressions turning somber.
They all knew that if the Monarch were still here, he could indeed scare Zhou Taihe to death.
No! To be precise, if the Monarch were still here, the Crimson-Letter Sect would not be facing internal strife and external threats. Forget the Crimson-Letter Sect; in today's world, who would dare act recklessly, not even the Immortal Dynasty?
Unfortunately.
They knew even better that there were no 'ifs' in this world.
Although many 'Chixiao Monarchs' had appeared in this world, they were just that—appearances. Real or fake? Who could tell?
Perhaps all those Chixiao Monarchs, including the one lurking within the Yanluo Kingdom, were all impostors.
If it were the true Monarch, how could he tolerate traitors like Zhou Taihe who had joined the Immortal Dynasty? How could he tolerate the Immortal Dynasty's step-by-step, repeated attempts to eradicate the Crimson-Letter Sect?
"We have truly failed the Monarch..." "Yes, back then, the Monarch buried the Chixiao Sect and shouldered all the blame alone, just so we could live peaceful lives. And yet, we've been so useless. We've disgraced him and have no face to see him again!"
Sitting at the head of the great hall, Elder Fengxu looked at the dejected Chixiao People below and shouted sternly, "Enough! Pull yourselves together! If you feel you've failed the Monarch, then conduct yourselves with integrity! Back then, the Monarch bore all the blame so we could live in peace. We absolutely must not betray his sacrifice. Do you all remember what the Monarch told us?!"
The Chixiao People in the hall immediately stood up and shouted in unison, "We would rather live standing than die kneeling!"
"Correct! We would rather live standing than die kneeling! As long as one acts with integrity and a clear conscience, that's enough. We are Chixiao People. We were in the past, we are now, and we will be in the future. We are in life, and we will be in death. Chixiao People have never had cowards among them!"
Elder Fengxu also stood up, took a deep breath, and said with fighting spirit, "Tomorrow, we'll first see what tricks the people from the Mingyu Branch Hall are trying to pull. We'll stall if we can. If we can't, and if they really want to play hardball, then we'll have no choice but to fight them to the death!"