Chapter 85: Life and Death Choice
Duan Tianlang lifted his foot and stepped down from the viewing platform.
Beside him, Chu Qing and the others followed closely, stepping forward together, heading straight toward the central Life and Death Platform.
This group was all extremely powerful. Each step they took seemed slow but covered over ten meters. In just a few breaths, they had ascended the highest Life and Death Platform, strolling as leisurely as if wandering through a garden.
"All disciples of Cloud Sea Sect, listen up."
Duan Tianlang's domineering gaze swept across the crowd as he declared loudly, "I, Duan Tianlang, on behalf of His Majesty, am selecting outstanding disciples to go to the Imperial City and enter the strongest academy personally established by His Majesty—the Snow Moon Holy Academy. However, your Sect Master rejected my request, defying His Majesty's command. Now, His Majesty is enraged and has ordered that Cloud Sea Sect be erased from the Snow Moon Kingdom from this day forward."
Duan Tianlang's voice trembled in the hearts of the crowd. Erase Cloud Sea Sect from the Snow Moon Kingdom?
There was only one way to erase such a large sect—annihilation.
These people intended to destroy Cloud Sea Sect!!!
The crowd's panic grew even stronger. No, they had come to Cloud Sea Sect to pursue martial arts and become strong. How could they die so senselessly, so unjustly?
"However, His Majesty is merciful and offers you a chance. Core disciples, inner disciples, and outer disciples whose names are carved on the Ranking Stone Wall—if you are willing to betray Cloud Sea Sect and join the Snow Moon Holy Academy or other sects, you will be spared from death."
Duan Tianlang spoke again, causing a thunderous roar in the crowd's minds, numbing them.
They wanted them to betray Cloud Sea Sect? And only the talented disciples ranked high enough to have their names on the Ranking Stone Wall were qualified for this betrayal?
Those whose names were not on the stone wall instantly felt ice-cold all over. Even the choice to live had been stripped from them.
On the viewing platform, Nan Gong Ling and the others wore expressions of extreme ugliness. Annihilation—these people had come together to destroy his Cloud Sea Sect.
For a thousand years, Cloud Sea Sect had existed for a millennium. Although the various powers had constant friction, they had never crossed the line or engaged in large-scale conflicts. But this time, it was earth-shattering.
Hao Yue Sect, Ice and Snow Mountain Villa, Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and the Celestial Wolf King had come together to erase Cloud Sea Sect.
Clearly, it was the intervention of the Imperial Family and the meddling of the Celestial Wolf King that had completely shattered the balance among the various sect powers. Cloud Sea Sect had become the sacrifice.
"Why choose our Cloud Sea Sect?"
Nan Gong Ling's expression was icy cold as he stared intently at Duan Tianlang, wishing he could devour his flesh. Could it be that a thousand-year-old sect would be destroyed in his, Nan Gong Ling's, hands?
"Nan Gong Ling, don't you understand yourself?" Duan Tianlang sneered.
"If you say it's because I refused your son, not only would I not believe it, I doubt even you would believe it. Because Hao Yue Sect, Ice and Snow Mountain Villa, and the others would all definitely refuse that absurd request."
Nan Gong Ling glanced at Chu Qing and Han Xuetian.
"Heh, you're right. Sect Master Chu and the others initially refused too. But when I told them I would use the entire Cloud Sea Sect as compensation, they immediately agreed."
Duan Tianlang's indifferent voice made the crowd's hearts tremble. The entire Cloud Sea Sect, divided among the other sects.
"I guessed as much." Nan Gong Ling smiled bitterly. After learning the purpose of Duan Tianlang's visit, he had already speculated why Chu Qing and the others were also present.
"As for the reason, it's simple. Because your Cloud Sea Sect is the weakest and easiest to deal with. As long as the various sect masters send their sect's strong ones to assist me in this operation, Cloud Sea Sect will be wiped out in an instant."
"You're lying."
A voice suddenly rang out. From the crowd, a graceful figure slowly walked onto the Life and Death Platform, her cold gaze filled with deep hatred.
"Duan Tianlang, you're lying."
Liu Fei's beautiful face was now exceptionally pale, her body trembling slightly from anger.
"The reason you chose Cloud Sea Sect is because of my father, Duan Tianlang. You envy my father—envy his strength, envy his talent. That's why you targeted Cloud Sea Sect. And you used underhanded schemes to trick the Crimson Blood Iron Cavalry into coming. You want to frame my father for disloyalty, you want to make him suffer unbearably."
Liu Fei's eyes were filled with hatred as she said coldly, "Duan Tianlang, what a venomous heart, what ruthless methods."
Hearing Liu Fei's words, many were shocked. Within Cloud Sea Sect, only a few knew Liu Fei's identity and who her father was. From her words, her father seemed to be an extraordinary figure, someone even the famous Celestial Wolf King Duan Tianlang of the Snow Moon Kingdom envied.
Also, the Crimson Blood Iron Cavalry was her father's army?
"Divine Archer, Liu Canglan."
A voice suddenly echoed in many minds. In the Snow Moon Kingdom, if there was one person whose brilliance outshone the Celestial Wolf King, one person whose glory spread across the land, it was undoubtedly the Divine Archer Liu Canglan.
The Divine Archer Liu Canglan had once led a few thousand men to defend a lone city for ten days, killing tens of thousands of enemies and saving an entire city.
The Divine Archer Liu Canglan had once carried an ancient bow, riding alone, charging into a thousand-man army, pursuing an enemy general for a thousand miles, and finally taking his life with a single arrow. When he returned, drenched in blood, he collapsed unconscious.
The Divine Archer was the guardian of Snow Moon, his name shaking mountains and rivers. The name of the Crimson Blood Iron Cavalry made enemies tremble in fear.
What made the people of Cloud Sea Sect even prouder was that the Divine Archer Liu Canglan was one of them. Even though he served the Imperial Family, he had always been the pride of Cloud Sea Sect.
Liu Fei—she also bore the surname Liu. Her father was undoubtedly that figure admired by countless people.
"Fei Fei, how could you think of your Uncle Duan like that? Your father and I are close friends, brothers. He achieved eternal glory, and I am happy for him. How could I possibly envy him?"
Duan Tianlang shook his head with a smile, looking at Liu Fei with a kind expression. His depth of scheming was terrifying.
He and Liu Fei's father were close friends? Then he had just told Nan Gong Ling to blame Liu Canglan if he wanted. Hypocrisy—hypocrisy so vile it made one sick.
"You and my father are brothers, close friends? Then you want to destroy Cloud Sea Sect, the sect where my father and I belong?"
Liu Fei looked at Duan Tianlang's hypocritical face with disgust.
"Fei Fei, this is His Majesty's will. My destruction of Cloud Sea Sect is entirely for the sake of Snow Moon, with no selfish motives. Besides, Cloud Sea Sect is declining day by day, only wasting people's talents. Those with true potential are better off being taken away by us and given better conditions."
"Moreover, I believe they will all be very willing. If you don't believe me, just watch."
Duan Tianlang's fake smile never left his lips. He turned around, and when his gaze faced the crowd, his expression instantly turned cold.
"What I said earlier still stands. Those whose names are carved on your sect's Ranking Stone Wall and are willing to leave Cloud Sea Sect, abandon the darkness and embrace the light—go now to the Crimson Blood Legion's side. Remember, your time to choose is limited."
As Duan Tianlang's words fell, the atmosphere in the space became extremely heavy. Everyone had their own thoughts.
Many also turned their eyes to the viewing platform, looking at the Sect Master and the sect elders.
"Those who wish to go, go ahead. Cloud Sea Sect will not keep you."
Old Man Bei suddenly spoke, waving his hand, causing many eyes to freeze.
"Old Man Bei."
Even Nan Gong Ling's eyes showed a hint of confusion.
"Sect Master, respect their choice."
Old Man Bei's voice carried a note of sorrow. This was also a helpless move. Those whose names were on the stone wall had good talent. It hadn't been easy for them to achieve their current level, and they might go even further in the future. Dying like this would be a pity.
"Alright." Nan Gong Ling understood Old Man Bei's kind heart and didn't argue, nodding faintly.
"Thank you, Sect Master and Elders."
Seeing Nan Gong Ling nod, someone immediately spoke up, then with a flicker of their body, rushed toward the Crimson Blood Legion.
With someone taking the lead, many began to move. In just a short time, several hundred people had rushed toward the Crimson Blood Iron Cavalry, and the number was still increasing, even exceeding the total number of names on the outer, inner, and core stone walls. Clearly, many were just trying to pass themselves off to save their lives.
"Stop. That's enough." Duan Tianlang waved his hand, a hint of a peculiar smile flashing in his eyes, full of satisfaction.
"Fei Fei, do you see? This is human nature. I give them better opportunities, and they cherish them, willing to betray Cloud Sea Sect."
Nan Gong Ling's expression was the exact opposite, exuding an air of desolation.
"Lin Feng, you were right. When the sect's disciples were weak, the sect didn't give them enough respect. Once they gained some strength, how could they respect the sect and serve it?"
Nan Gong Ling's gaze fell on Lin Feng, who was on the Life and Death Platform, his voice tinged with sorrow. Although he had given his consent, seeing so many people betray without any sense of loyalty, without even a moment's hesitation, still pained him deeply.
In times of life and death, the true nature of people is revealed. These sect disciples had no feelings for Cloud Sea Sect at all.
"It's a pity you appeared too late. If you had been born a few decades earlier, perhaps this position of Sect Master would be yours, or perhaps you would have already achieved eternal glory like Canglan."
At this moment, Lin Feng was expressionless. He hadn't expected this situation either.
He also had some respect for Nan Gong Ling. Regardless of how he treated him personally, at least Nan Gong Ling had a clear conscience toward the sect. Everything he considered was for the sect.