Chapter 1478 (Raw 1458):
Only five days remained until the deadline the Blood Clad Sect announced half a month ago. However, the Azure Dragon King Xiao Chen still did not show himself. All sorts of rumors about him spread.
Some said that Xiao Chen was already dead. Naturally, he could not appear.
Some said that Xiao Chen was crippled. Now, he was just an ordinary person. Going there would be akin to suicide.
Over the past five years, the world had already forgotten about Xiao Chen's existence, especially when new outstanding talents appeared every day in this golden age.
Who would remember a has-been talent?
However, due to the storm half a month ago, in addition to the Blood Clad Sect's announcement, the focus of the entire Heavenly Starry Ocean's discussion returned to Xiao Chen.
Now, this forgotten outstanding talent that no one bothered to remember became the topic of discussion of every cultivator.
There were even some people who opened betting pools on whether Xiao Chen would appear or not.
The number of people placing bets far surpassed imagination. On the day the betting pools appeared, the largest casino of the Heavenly Starry Ocean, the Rosy Clouds Villa, formally took over.
It organized the wagers professionally. There were all sorts of odds on specific details: Would Xiao Chen appear or not? If he appeared, would he be able to save the Dragon's Gate's Elders? Would he be able to leave safely?
There were only five days left. However, there was still no news on Xiao Chen. There was not even a clue as to where he was. Hence, speculation that Xiao Chen would not appear spread far and wide.
The payout on Xiao Chen appearing soared immediately, reaching a payout ratio of one to one hundred. Even with such a large payout, few made that bet, not believing that Xiao Chen would come.
As for bets that Xiao Chen would successfully rescue the Dragon's Gate's Elders, those were even rarer. Saying that such people were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns was no exaggeration.
No one expected that a has-been Azure Dragon King would kick up such a storm five years later.
As for information about Xiao Chen, there was none at all. However, there was another gathering of people that was very eye-catching and related to this matter.
Previously, the Lunar Palace's Holy Daughter issued a Hero's Invitation, gathering the outstanding talents of the Heavenly Starry Ocean together to save the Dragon's Gate's Elders.
Since then, outstanding talents continuously answered this invitation.
There was the Cyclic Astral Palace's Holy Son Chu Yang, the Myriad Fiend Island's Di Xinhan, Yinyang Paradise's Yin Susu, and the Northern Sea Alliance's Young Alliance Chief Ye Chen. Even the Human-Demon Sea's Dugu Ao managed to rush over in the last few days.
In the long list of names, many of these people who answered the call were outstanding talents whose names resounded throughout the Heavenly Starry Ocean.
It was clear that even without the Lunar Palace, Yue Bingyun's influence was still something that people respected.
When people spoke of the Holy Daughter Yue Bingyun, everyone lavishly praised her personality. The phrase "loyal to her friends" was one of the best evaluations of her.
Some meticulous people noticed that in the long list of names, many of these people had Immortal Holy Lands or factions that were under Holy Lands supporting them.
This brought out even deeper guesses of the matter.
Could it be that these Holy Lands did not dare to formally open hostilities with the Blood Clad Sect, so they could only use this method to express their stance?
Of course, it was possible that these people were just overthinking.
—
Five days later, in the Western Sea, a huge crowd went to Western Dragon City, the headquarters of the Blood Clad Sect, to watch.
People could be seen in every street in the city, both large and small. They were all cultivators that came from all over the Heavenly Starry Ocean. There were both famous outstanding talents and cultivators who were here just to watch the excitement.
With so many cultivators rushing to Western Dragon City, there was only one reason.
This was the day when the Blood Clad Sect would kill the Dragon's Gate's Elders. All the Dragon's Gate's Elders were already restrained at Fresh Blood Plaza.
It was said that when the time came, the Blood Clad Sect's Young Sect Master, Ao Yu, would draw lots to decide whom to kill first.
After that, they would publicly execute a Dragon's Gate Elder every day until Xiao Chen appeared. If Xiao Chen did not appear, they would kill everyone.
Such a method was extremely cruel and rarely happened even in history.
This way of doing things was also very brash, something rarely seen in recent years. Who could have expected that a newly risen faction would dare to be so brazen?
Probably, aside from forcing Xiao Chen to show himself, the Blood Clad Sect also intended to use this to establish their might.
After this was over, even if Xiao Chen did not appear, the Blood Clad Sect's position in the Heavenly Starry Ocean would be firmly cemented.
As the saying went, "Two birds with one stone." The insidiousness of this plan was extraordinary.
—
At the tallest pavilion in Western Dragon City, the Blood Clad Sect's Sect Master, Ao Lang, looked down at the crowd. The ruthless air that he exuded became increasingly apparent.
Even Can Minghuo, the Vice Sect Master standing behind Ao Lang, felt pressured.
With his back to Can Minghuo, Ao Lang stood with his hands behind his back and asked indifferently, "Is there still no news of Xiao Chen?"
"No. That fellow seems to have truly disappeared. There are no traces of him at all. Could he really be dead already? If so, then our grand actions seem unnecessary," Can Minghuo replied carefully.
Ao Lang's lips curled up slightly in an unfathomable smile. "Unnecessary? Whether he shows up or not is no longer important. If he does show up, it will be a pleasant surprise. If not, then my purpose is already nearly accomplished.
"From this day on, the Blood Clad Sect can truly be considered as established in the Heavenly Starry Ocean. Only by doing this will I be qualified to sit alongside the many Holy Masters as a peer."
Can Minghuo performed a cupped-fist salute and said, "Congratulations, Sect Master, on obtaining your wish. We look forward to the day you rule the entire Heavenly Starry Ocean."
When Ao Lang heard this, he felt very happy. He could not resist laughing, "Who said that this golden age is only for the outstanding youths? Everyone has the opportunity to rise up in this age, gaining accomplishments for themselves!"
"Sect Master, there is another matter. Yue Bingyun's group of people scattered after entering the city."
Ao Lang laughed in contempt. "They are just a group of dancing clowns. What age is this already? To think they still cling to their heroics and loyalty! They think they are very stealthy. Do they think they can hide from my Blood Clad Sect?"
"Sect Master is wise. We have been keeping these people under strict surveillance. It would be fine for them if they do not do anything. However, once they do, we will definitely teach them a lesson," Can Minghuo said softly with a faint smile on his face.
Ao Lang nodded in satisfaction. "There is no need for you to monitor that situation personally. It would be thinking too highly of them. Go and manage Fresh Blood Plaza. I have a feeling that Xiao Chen will still appear."
"I obey!"
As Ao Lang stood upright with hands behind his back and looked down on the entire city, he felt like the crowd was like ants.
Xiao Chen, I said before, one day, I will make you kneel before me. Those are not merely words spoken!
Thinking back to his past humiliation, Ao Lang clenched his right fist tightly. A heavy, murderous intent flashed in his eyes, giving it a strange red tinge.
Due to his terrifying killing Qi, strong winds blew in the sky above, making it feel cold and bleak.
Fresh Blood Plaza was previously Western Dragon Plaza. However, after the Western Sea Divine Dragon Palace became the Blood Clad Sect, they redecorated it. Now, it was a startling scarlet.
Hence, the name of the plaza naturally changed as well.
The Dragon's Gate's Elders were all restrained, with their cultivation restricted, on the tallest platform in the center. Chains bound their bodies as they knelt on the platform.
Mo Chen, Xuanyuan Zhantian, Lan Shaobai, and the other members of the Dragon's Gate's upper echelon were all people on close terms with Xiao Chen. Not a single one of them was missing, all of them present.
Their clothes were still relatively intact. However, their complexions did not look very good as they knelt, appearing to be in sorry states.
"How miserable! Half a month ago, they were the upper echelon of the Dragon's Gate. Unexpectedly, half a month later, they all became prisoners."
"Why has Xiao Chen not appeared yet? Could it be that he does not feel responsible when he sees so many of his companions suffering like that?"
"So what if he appears? Now, he is a cripple. What can he do? Send himself to death?"
"That's true. Most likely, his friends do not want him to appear, either."
The crowd discussed all sorts of things as they looked at the Dragon's Gate's Elders on the tall platform.
Mo Chen's eyes seemed to be scanning the crowd for something. When she could not find Xiao Chen's figure, she heaved a sigh of relief.
The defense of the plaza's surroundings appeared lax. However, the experts of the Blood Clad Sect were already hidden in various locations.
If Xiao Chen really came, he would fall for the Blood Clad Sect's plan.
Behind them, Young Sect Master Ao Yu sat on a chair, playing with dice in his hand. These dice would decide the fate of the Dragon's Gate's Elders, to see who would be the first to be executed.
"Azure Dragon King Xiao Chen, listen carefully. I have not touched a single one of these Dragon's Gate's Elders. As long as you appear in front of me right now, I can immediately let all of the Dragon's Gate's Elders go."
Ao Yu leaned back lazily in his chair. He drove his Primordial Energy and made his voice reach every corner of the city.
His arrogant voice contained a tone of mockery as it echoed throughout the city.
Clearly, Ao Yu did not think that Xiao Chen would really appear. If Xiao Chen wanted to, he would have appeared long ago. There was no need to wait until now.
Such an attitude was truly infuriating. Unfortunately, this was the Blood Clad Sect's territory. Even if one got angry, one could only endure.
Ao Yu yawned, appearing bored. While he toyed with the dice, his echoing voice faded away. Just as he was about to say more, a cold voice suddenly resounded in Fresh Blood Plaza.
"As you wish."
This voice sounded much less imposing than Ao Yu's arrogant voice.
However, at these simple and clear words, the noisy city immediately fell silent.
Everyone held their breath, their heart pounding. For some reason, they started to feel nervous.
The entire city stopped breathing because of Xiao Chen!
Ao Yu's expression turned startled. His lazy smile disappeared. As he suddenly stood up, the chair fell over. "Crash!" Then, he looked around, searching for the owner of that voice.
"Pa!"
Just as Ao Yu stood up, the sky suddenly turned dark.
Before Ao Yu could react, a colossal foot ruthlessly stomped down. All his bones promptly shattered, his entire body turned to mush.
