CHAPTER 401: CHAPTER 400 AWAKENING_1

"Nonsense!"

A loud outcry startled everyone. It came from Zi Yun True Immortal. "If he was as you say, why didn’t he flee with Liu Xiling and directly join the Demon Cult? Instead, he chose to stay and return to the sect for punishment."

"Moreover, if Ling Chen truly wanted to join the Demon Cult, he could have done it ages ago. Why wait until now? Let’s not forget, who was it that activated the Dragon Vein Power at the Martial Arts Conference, repelling the Demon Way elites? If not for that, the Martial Arts Monument might have already fallen into the Demon Way’s hands, plunging the world into chaos. Would you all still be sitting here comfortably?"

His words gained the approval of many Elders.

"Zi Yun True Immortal has a point. We watched Ling Chen grow. If he really harbored treacherous intentions, wouldn’t we have noticed something?"

"Yes, we must tread carefully in this matter. The punishment shouldn’t be too harsh."

Seeing the tide of opinion starting to sway in Ling Chen’s favor, Ye Nantian’s face darkened. He sternly announced, "Regardless, the fact remains that Ling Chen has betrayed the sect. According to our rules, his martial arts should be abolished, and he should be expelled from the sect! Are we to change our rules for a mere disciple?"

"Filial piety is a heavenly principle, a fundamental moral law."

Elder Xie Chan, who had been silent until now, spoke. "Think for a moment: if you were in Ling Chen’s shoes, might you not make the same mistake?"

"The sect’s rules are rigid, but people are flexible. So what if we make an exception this one time? It’s not as though it hasn’t happened before in our sect’s history."

"That’s unacceptable! If such treachery can be so easily forgiven, wouldn’t more disciples start harboring improper thoughts?"

"Exactly! The seeds of evil must be nipped in the bud. They cannot be allowed to take root and sprout!"

Both sides stuck to their arguments, and the dispute continued heatedly.

"Enough arguing!"

Just then, a majestic and elderly voice suddenly came from outside the main hall.

This voice was filled with immense True Qi, instantly silencing everyone in the hall.

All eyes turned to see a raggedly dressed old man standing at the entrance of the hall.

Ling Chen also turned his head to look. The old man was dressed in shabby, worn-out clothes and looked extremely slovenly, like a beggar. However, the aura he emanated was terrifying.

"The Great Elder!"

Gasps of surprise echoed through the main hall. Everyone was instantly filled with shock. Their faces became solemn as they bowed in greeting.

Ling Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had heard of the Divine Intent Sect having a Great Elder but had never seen him, so he had always thought it was just a rumor. He hadn’t expected the Great Elder to actually exist. This Great Elder’s strength is probably far greater than that of Sect Leader Shentu Yan.

"What instructions does the Great Elder have for us?"

Shentu Yan rose from the Sect Leader’s seat, walked down the steps, and approached the Great Elder, respectfully asking with a cupped fist salute.

"This Ling Chen is Ling Tianyu’s son, correct?"

The Great Elder looked at Ling Chen and asked calmly.

"That is correct."

Shentu Yan glanced sideways at Ling Chen and nodded.

"I didn’t expect this child would commit such a grave error."

The Great Elder’s face was expressionless, showing no discernible emotion. "This matter is quite complicated. Since your arguments haven’t led to a conclusion, I suggest you postpone the discussion until tomorrow."

"Postpone until tomorrow?"

Shentu Yan and Ye Nantian exchanged a glance, a hint of hesitation in their eyes.

"What, can you not even wait one day?"

The Great Elder seemed to frown slightly.

"Of course not. Since the Great Elder has spoken, then we shall postpone it until tomorrow."

A smile appeared on Shentu Yan’s face as he said this.

"Take Ling Chen to the dungeon."

After saying this, Shentu Yan waved his hand towards two law-enforcement disciples. The two disciples nodded and then led Ling Chen away.

He finally escaped that ordeal.

Seeing Ling Chen being led away, Shangguan Hong, Zi Yun True Immortal, and others secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If Shentu Yan and Ye Nantian had insisted on invoking the sect rules to put Ling Chen to death, they might have had no choice but to intervene.

That was an outcome they did not wish to see. After all, they were all members of the same sect. Currently, the Divine Intent Sect was not powerful and had already fallen far behind the top-tier sects in the Martial World. If they were to engage in internal strife, the sect’s strength would only diminish further. Furthermore, with Shentu Yan’s cultivation at the Sky Apex Realm, if a real fight broke out, they would likely not gain any advantage.

I didn’t expect the Great Elder, who usually doesn’t concern himself with sect affairs, to actually intervene in this matter.

Elder Xie Chan felt somewhat surprised. She hadn’t seen the Great Elder for many years. He had been in seclusion all these years and had never shown his face. She hadn’t expected to see the Great Elder emerge at such a critical juncture.

"Sect Leader Ling (Ling Tianyu) and the Great Elder had a relationship like that of both teacher and friend. He must have intervened on Ling Tianyu’s behalf this time."

"If that’s the case, we have one more day. Tonight will be crucial."

Zi Yun True Immortal suddenly raised his head and looked at the others.

A glint flashed in Elder Bai Kui’s eyes. Considering Ye Nantian’s usual methods, he probably won’t let Ling Chen live until tomorrow. Back when Ling Chen was still a disciple of the Divine Intent Sect, Ye Nantian tried to have him killed multiple times. Now that Ling Chen is a prisoner, he’s undoubtedly in even greater danger.

「At midnight, in the dark and damp dungeon.」

Ling Chen was imprisoned here. His gaze was somewhat unfocused, tinged with weariness.

Over the past two days, he had reflected on many things: being framed by Shentu Yan, being misunderstood and even hated by Xu Ruoyan, and then being scorned by a group of Divine Intent Sect Elders. This series of events had caused the conviction in Ling Chen’s heart, held for so long, to waver.

What is righteous? What is demonic?

Previously, he believed the righteous and the demonic were absolute, that righteousness meant justice and the demonic meant evil, two diametrically opposed concepts. He believed that being on the Righteous Path meant he had to eliminate all evil spirits and unorthodox cultivators in the world, to rid the Martial World of harm.

But is that truly the case?

How many vile individuals are hidden within the so-called Righteous Path?

Clad in the guise of righteousness, how many filthy deeds have they committed?

How many more like Shentu Yan are there? If he continues to stay in the Divine Intent Sect, it seems endless framing and sabotage await him.

"Little fellow, the distinction between the righteous and demonic has never been so clear-cut."

The Human Emperor’s voice resonated in Ling Chen’s mind. "Among the renowned Righteous Sects, not all are noble gentlemen. And within the Demon Path Sects, not all are savage beasts. The human heart is what truly matters."

"All dharmas are the Dao. Every martial art, if cultivated to its apex, can reach the supreme realm of the Shattered Void—that is the true path. It is only in a small place like the Cloud Outland that people rigidly adhere to sectarian divisions; it’s far too narrow-minded. The cultivation techniques and martial arts of the Demon Way also have many commendable aspects. You will come to understand this in the future."

"I understand now."

After contemplating for a long time, Ling Chen suddenly seemed to awaken to a realization and stood up. The dejected aura that had enveloped him completely vanished.