Chapter 152: Moral Blackmail?

Crack!

The Tongtian Conch shattered.

The two conches were a pair—if one broke, the other followed.

"He actually told me to wait for death! He hasn't even ascended to the Second Heaven yet—who does he think he is? What gives him the right?"

Boom!

A terrifying aura erupted. In an instant, the grand hall crumbled. A woman in a black dress, skin as pale as snow, and with a strange, profound divine sigil on her brow, burst out from within.

"Notify the Eternal Teachings Sect—their forces in the First Heaven have all been annihilated. The enemy is expected to ascend to the Second Heaven within three years. Tell them to prepare for an all-out ambush!"

"Yes!"

"Pass down my command: all ancestors of the Jiang Clan are to emerge from seclusion, enter battle-ready status, and prepare to face a powerful foe!"

"Yes!"

"Pass down my command: issue the Jiang Clan’s Void Command—summon cultivators from across the land to convene and discuss the matter of exterminating this demon!"

"Yes!"

...

Order after order was passed down.

Jiang Die felt a chill in her heart. Lu Ye’s rate of growth was simply too fast. His cultivation realm was advancing at a terrifying pace.

He absolutely must not be allowed to begin cultivating in the Second Heaven.

He had to be strangled the moment he ascended.

For that, she didn’t mind mobilizing everything she had.

What grudge did she and Lu Ye have, exactly?

That was something only Jiang Die herself knew. No matter how hard Lu Ye wracked his brain, he couldn’t figure out what he’d done to offend her.

He had met Jiang Die in the Second Heaven.

They fought, then became acquainted. Jiang Die was shockingly talented, born with the Primordial Saint Womb, the same physique as her ancestors in the Jiang Clan.

Lu Ye helped a few of his close female companions ascend and entered the Third Heaven alongside Jiang Die. In the Illusion of Floating Life within the Third Heaven, she had even deliberately guided Lu Ye into the Rosy Fantasy Realm, thus becoming one of the women in Lu Ye’s harem.

Everything had seemed perfectly normal!

Lu Ye now sat cross-legged, carefully recalling how he and Jiang Die had come to know each other. If one had to say there was some kind of enmity between them...

Could it be because he killed one of her ancestors?

No—that couldn’t be it. Her clan’s ancestor had already fallen into the demonic path, and didn’t even know Jiang Die. There was no reason to go so far over something like that.

It didn’t matter—Lu Ye didn’t care to know anymore.

He could already picture it: countless powerful cultivators of the Second Heaven were just waiting for him to ascend.

When the time came, it would be like a pack of starving wolves. The moment he stepped through, they would pounce and tear chunks of flesh from his body.

With a single wave—

All the formations in the sealed chamber, painstakingly constructed over who knew how long, shattered into pieces.

Lu Ye walked out of the chamber.

With all the resources now in his possession, he had to begin resolving the issue of the Second Heaven’s restrictions on his ascension.

And he would resolve it right now!

"Using the Heaven-Hiding Technique as the foundation, simulate the Path-Hiding Technique!"

Lu Ye gave the system a command.

Ding. Simulating...

The Heaven-Hiding Technique could, under certain conditions, deceive the Heavenly Dao. Reaching a certain realm meant one had to ascend—this was a law jointly set by the Nine Saints of the Heavens and the Heavenly Dao itself.

So the Heaven-Hiding Technique alone wasn’t enough—he also had to conceal himself from the Dao of the Nine Saints.

The Eternal Teachings Sect was handled.

Lu Ye packed all the treasures he needed into his storage space.

"Many thanks to all of you for coming to assist. As for what remains of the Eternal Teachings Sect, handle it as you see fit."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave now."

"Lu Ye!"

Liu Changfeng called out.

Lu Ye?

"Are you heading to...?"

"Oh, there are still the Yin-Yang Law Sect, and also Netherworld and Heaven Pavilion. I’ll be paying them all a visit," Lu Ye said with a smile.

"Mn... Be careful above all else."

Lu Ye cupped his hands in farewell. Liu Changfeng spoke again.

"The Tribulation Sect also supported us during the last invasion by foreign races. If you could perhaps..."

"It has nothing to do with the Tribulation Sect. Let them rest easy."

Lu Ye was no longer the Lu Ye of his /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ past life. His mind was now clear and perceptive. He saw through everything.

Good and evil, right and wrong—he had a scale in his heart.

The chaos of his past life—he would never allow it to repeat.

"Alright. Be safe."

Lu Ye nodded. This time, his figure vanished on the spot.

The Yin-Yang Law Sect wasn’t far from the Eternal Teachings Sect—barely half an hour on foot, and he arrived.

Lu Ye was already prepared for battle.

Who would have thought—there was no sign of the sect-protecting formation from the Yin-Yang Law Sect. Everyone in the sect stood neatly outside the gates, awaiting Lu Ye’s arrival.

The moment he appeared, the Yin-Yang Law Sect’s Sect Master, Master Qingxue, quickly stepped forward to greet him.

She was stunning beyond compare. Though quite advanced in age, her grace and charm were enough to mesmerize the world.

Young girls had their beauty, but mature women had their allure.

And Master Qingxue—her figure alone brought that allure to its peak. Yet her expression was cool and distant, creating a stark and striking contrast.

She resembled Bai Qiulan somewhat.

But Bai Qiulan was more reserved—the contrast was not as intense, nor as stirring, as this Master Qingxue.

"We submit. Everyone in the Yin-Yang Law Sect has recognized their wrongs. We submit sincerely, and beg Fellow Daoist Lu Ye to show mercy and spare our sect."

"From now on, we shall be careful with our words and actions, and we will distinguish right from wrong. The entire Yin-Yang Law Sect has been waiting, not one person absent—we await your judgment."

"If it is as slaves or servants, we are all willing—so long as we can preserve our lives and pursue the Great Dao."

All members of the Yin-Yang Law Sect bowed in unison to Lu Ye.

This whole act... left Lu Ye momentarily speechless.

Surrender?

Wait—how could they surrender?

What kind of situation was this?

Lu Ye looked at all the bowed heads, those necks bared, as if offering themselves up for him to chop at will.

The sect’s clothing was split into black and white—white for males, black for females.

Regardless of gender, all of them were exceptionally good-looking.

This sect was strict about appearances.

But in the blink of an eye, Lu Ye understood—they didn’t confess because they recognized their faults. They did it because they knew they were going to die. That’s why they put on this facade of submission.

Those who truly knew they were wrong would’ve already chosen to end themselves. They wouldn’t have left such a difficult decision to someone else.

If he killed them, he was cold-blooded and cruel.

If he didn’t, he was a saintly fool.

What a dilemma!

Lu Ye chuckled softly.

He swung his sword—straight at the Yin-Yang Law Sect’s sect master.

Master Qingxue’s expression changed instantly. "Fellow Daoist Lu Ye, we truly have repented—"

"And yet you leave such a difficult decision to me? You deserve to die."

When faced with a choice between saintly mercy and cold-bloodedness, whoever forces you to make that choice—kill them.

Kill without hesitation, and you won’t go wrong!

"You fiend! You’re nothing but a devil! All disciples, heed my command—Yin-Yang Demon Purge!"

Master Qingxue, sensing Lu Ye’s killing intent, paled and shouted in fury.

Black and white surged in rapid succession.

Clearly, this move had been drilled countless times.

Lu Ye’s face twisted into a mocking sneer. Had Master Qingxue remained still and let him strike, Lu Ye might’ve respected her as a responsible sect leader.

Might’ve even truly spared the Yin-Yang Law Sect.

But clearly, not everyone was Liu Changfeng.

If the Grand Dao Sect had fallen to such a state, Liu Changfeng, unwilling to let its legacy perish, would surely choose death himself to declare the sect’s submission.

Kill!