novelhk #659 - Who will be the leader?
#659 - Who will be the leader?
… … In today's world, the Nine Provinces are in turmoil, with constant wars and rampant bandits. The more this is the case, the more active those demonic heretics become. According to the information gathered by our Chang Le Gang, the Heavenly Fragrance Sect in Qi Province, the Vajra Gate in Qing Province, and the Moon Worship Cult in the Northwest… their recent activities have become more frequent.
After the crowd in the restaurant quieted down, Li Bufan took the lead in speaking.
“In addition to this, the Myriad Demons Palace, known as the leader of the demonic path, also has successors who have begun to roam the martial world. It is said that this young man is also a martial arts prodigy, one in a million. He is only just twenty years old, yet he is already a first-rate expert. He cultivates the Whale Absorption Art from the final scroll of the Heavenly Demon Codex.
“Everyone should still remember the calamity of the martial world forty years ago, right? Back then, that demonic fiend named Wan relied on this demonic art as well.”
The younger generation of disciples were still somewhat at a loss, but when the older generation of sect leaders and elders heard that name, they couldn't help but change color.
Li Bufan continued, “Those demonic heretics have been lurking for thirty or forty years. During these thirty or forty years, they have been secretly recuperating, licking their wounds, and accumulating strength. This time, when they make a comeback, their plans must be significant.
“Moreover, all indications suggest that this time they are no longer fighting alone, but have joined forces with each other.”
As soon as Li Bufan finished speaking, someone interjected, “But after the battle between good and evil forty years ago, that demonic fiend named Wan was already dead, and the Myriad Demons Palace behind him was also jointly destroyed by everyone. Even if some remnants are still alive, coupled with that exceptionally talented successor, rebuilding the Myriad Demons Palace might be easy, but restoring the prestige of the number one demonic sect of that time is probably no longer possible, right?
“In comparison, the Heavenly Fragrance Sect and the Vajra Gate also suffered a lot of vitality in that battle, but they are still much better off than the Myriad Demons Palace. The Moon Worship Cult, located in the Northwest, hardly participated in this great battle. These years, relying on being far away from the Central Plains martial world, it has been silently developing its own power.
“Demonic heretics are inherently cold-blooded and unruly. Now, sects like the Heavenly Fragrance Sect and the Vajra Gate are probably unwilling to submit to a Myriad Demons Palace that exists in name only.”
The speaker was an elder from the Heavenly Saber Gate. He had personally experienced the great battle back then and fought against those demonic figures, so he knew them particularly well.
And his words immediately received the approval of many people.
Li Bufan also nodded and said, “That’s right, we also suspect that it is not the Myriad Demons Palace that is directing and dispatching the various demonic sects behind the scenes this time. This matter still needs further investigation, but no matter what, the trend of demonic alliance has now been formed, and we also need to respond accordingly.”
“That's how it should be.” Qiu Moli of the Yunshui Tranquil Compassion Pavilion was the first to express her stance.
Subsequently, the leaders of the other sects also expressed their agreement.
But at this moment, Han Shi of the Sword Washing Pavilion suddenly spoke, “Since the demonic path has a mastermind, shouldn't we also choose a righteous leader here?”
Zhuangzhu Lu Qinghou of the Xiaoyao Villa frowned upon hearing this, "Isn't our alliance in the capital this time to discuss how to deal with the resurgence of the demonic path? Everyone brainstorms together to set the rules. As long as we act according to the agreement in the future, and watch out for each other, we can naturally overcome this crisis."
Han Shi shook his head, “Rules, of course, are necessary, but no matter how meticulous the rules are, they cannot keep up with changes. If there is no one to coordinate the overall situation and dispatch from the center, I am afraid that we will not be able to exert even ten percent of the power in our hands. In the end, we will still be fighting on our own, a disorganized mess.
“Everyone, do not repeat the mistakes of the battle forty years ago.”
Although Han Shi's last sentence was unpleasant, it was the truth. The righteous path is certainly above the demonic path in terms of strength, but the relationship between the major sects is very complicated. They are both companions and competitors.
No one is convinced by anyone, so although they form an alliance, they act independently. They suffered a lot in this regard in the battle that year.
The others present were not unaware of this truth, but the election of a leader was a major event. People like Han Shi, who were strong enough in martial arts and vaguely known as the number one person in the world, and whose Sword Washing Pavilion had also developed very prosperously in recent years, were naturally eager to try.
But there were also people whose martial arts were slightly inferior, and whose sects were in a low ebb. They did not want to find an ancestor to worship. Moreover, it is easy to invite a god, but difficult to send him away. Who knows whether, after solving the threat of the demonic path, that leader would just take it for granted and officially take charge of the martial world.
Therefore, some people supported Han Shi's statement, while others opposed it. The two sides argued with each other and quarreled like this.
Of course, those who could interject at this time were either the sect leaders and pavilion masters of the various factions, or the famous elders in the sect. Ordinary disciples could only listen obediently.
Lu Jing was not interested in who would be the leader. He was still trying to find the demonic heretics who had mixed into the crowd, or those who were possessed by strange objects.
At this moment, a Buddhist chant suddenly came from everyone's ears.
“Amitabha.”
It was Abbot Huitong, who had been silent since entering the Zhuangyuan Tower, who suddenly spoke.
As a recognized eminent monk in the world and the abbot of the Xuankong Temple, the number one Buddhist temple, since Huitong had something to say, everyone would definitely give him this face.
Therefore, whether it was Han Shi or Lu Qinghou and others, they all closed their mouths.
Huitong put his hands together and said slowly, “This poor monk believes that since the demonic path is coming so fiercely this time, it is indeed necessary to establish this position of leader.”
His words changed the expressions of many people.
As the two most ancient righteous sects, Xuankong Temple and Yunshui Tranquil Compassion Pavilion may not be the strongest in strength, but their prestige in the martial world is unmatched by other sects, and the acting styles of the past leaders of these two sects have also been quite stable.
They often do not speak easily. Xuankong Temple's early expression of support for the election of a leader was beyond many people's expectations.
It also made many sects that opposed the establishment of a leader secretly complain.
Moreover, everyone in the world knows that Abbot Huitong and Qiu Moli have a close personal relationship. At this time, many people's eyes turned to Qiu Moli on the other side, seemingly wanting to read something from her face.
However, Qiu Moli remained calm.
“This poor monk will not be this leader. Tonight, I am only here to be a judge for the future leader.”
Lu Jing and Yan Jun exchanged a glance. They both noticed something wrong with Abbot Huitong. The latter's words at this moment were like reciting a book, as if he had already memorized the previous passage.