Chapter 42: This is the so-called righteous path?
Hiss!
Everyone was shocked when they heard this.
This is going to be a tough decision!
Li Ran said indifferently, “Will you choose or should I choose for you?”
Yue Jianli slightly frowned upon hearing this.
This person is too overbearing!
Everyone looked at each other. As expected of a demon from the Devil Sect. It was clear that he would not reason with them.
Then what should they do now… should they make a move?
With the secret realm’s opening, who was willing to use all their trump cards to fight this Devil Sect Sheng Zi?
And even if they joined forces, would they be able to beat him?
That was someone who could kill even a Scarlet Flame Tiger with a kick!
The best option was to choose a sacrificial victim so that they could protect everyone’s interests.
If they really waited for Li Ran to pick randomly, everyone would be at risk.
The atmosphere quieted down. Everyone’s eyes probed each other, and in the end, they all locked onto one person.
Cao Yue.
Yan Yue Sect.
A second-rate sect’s direct disciple. He was the weakest one here.
“What are you all looking at me for?” Cao Yue was flustered. “You want me to leave? I’m the first one who arrived here. I also told you everything I know, right?”
Everyone seemed as if they hadn’t heard his words.
Cao Yue looked helplessly at Song Qingsong. “Senior Brother Song, you have to decide for me! Didn’t you just say that we’re all righteous path’s disciples and that we need to advance and retreat together?”
Cough cough.
Song Qingsong was a bit embarrassed. He cleared his throat and said, “We are all righteous path’s disciples. It’s just that your cultivation is shallow, and entering the secret realm might be dangerous… it’s better for you to go back and cultivate properly first. There will still be many opportunities in the future.”
He sounded like he was really concerned about the other party’s wellbeing.
Everyone was convinced by his words.
“That’s right. Cao Yue, your cultivation base is indeed very shallow.”
“Go back and train properly!”
“Senior Brother Song is doing this for your own good!”
“There’s no need to risk your life for the secret realm.”
Cao Yue looked at their faces and knew that he had been abandoned. He gritted his teeth and said, “Good, very good. I will remember everyone’s face here! The mountains and rivers shall meet*. We will definitely meet again!”
[TLN: Idiom to remind powerful people to not go overboard and think of possible payback in the future.]
He shouted out his threat and turned around, disappearing into the forest.
Pa pa pa pa!
Li Ran raised his hand and clapped. “Brilliant, too brilliant! It seems that I really have no potential to be on the righteous path. There’s nothing I can do about it. You’re all hypocrites.”
Everyone’s face became red and they turned their heads away in shame.
Song Qingsong was rather calm. “Destiny is perpetual, and only the virtuous resides*. It can only be said that Cao Yue’s fortuitous encounter has yet to arrive.”
[TLN: In this context, I think Song Qingsong is trying to say that Cao Yue hasn’t accumulated enough virtue(strength) so his opinion is indispensable.]
“……” Li Ran shook his head.
This person’s skin was really thick.
“Alright, there shouldn’t be any problem now…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Li Ran interrupted, “Wait a minute, I’m taking two spots. There’s still one spot left.”
“Huh?” Song Qingsong frowned. “If I’m not mistaken, the person you brought should be a mortal, right”
“A mere mortal is worthy of entering the Immortal Emperor Secret Realm?”
Xiao Qingge immediately became nervous. What he said was correct. They were all cultivators, and she was the only mortal.
If Li Ran really left her…
“Are you telling me what to do?” Li Ran laughed coldly. “If I say she’s worthy, then she’s worthy! Do you have an opinion?”
“Should I choose those myself, or would you all rather choose?”
Song Qingsong became extremely furious.
This Li Ran was too unbridled. But since he didn’t make a move at first, there was no need to make a move now…
“Murong Chuan, you can withdraw,” he said.
“Senior Brother Song!” Murong Chuan exclaimed.
“If you withdraw yourself, you’ll still be able to retreat completely. Don’t force me to personally send you off!” Song Qingsong’s voice was cold.
This was a straight-up threat.
Yue Jianli, who had been watching coldly from a distance, had a trace of disdain in her eyes.
“Supreme Dao Palace… so they’re all like this?” Murong Chuan’s face turned pale as he left dejectedly. His body disappeared into the dense forest.
“I really didn’t expect Senior Brother Song to be so shameless…” Xiao Qingge secretly shook her head.
Looking at the ‘hero’ she once thought of as, and then at the ‘devil’ standing in front of her, her thin line separating righteousness and evil became increasingly blurred.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“No need. I’m just fulfilling my promise,” Li Ran said casually.
Xiao Qingge thought of something and said with a red face, “I hope that you can continue to fulfill that other promise…”
“Another promise?” She was talking about engagement.
However, Li Ran did not understand that.
After leaving the two unlucky ones, there were still ten people left. All of them could enter the secret realm.
Those who got to stay became relieved.
However, the atmosphere was no longer as harmonious as before.
Li Ran’s presence had destroyed their ‘alliance’. Now, everyone was suspicious and worried that they would be backstabbed by others.
After the time for an incense stick to burn, the stone door lit up with clear divine light.
Following a wave of rumbling sounds, the entire mountain began to tremble, and countless small pieces of gravel fell on the ground.
Boom!
The stone door slowly opened, and divine light shone out. As the crack grew larger and larger, the white light became dazzling until it was impossible to look at.
Everyone watched with fervent expressions.
The secret realm had finally opened. This was their fate, their fortuitous opportunity.
Even Xiao Qingge trembled with excitement. Whether she could return to the Immortal Path was up to her.
Li Ran only had one thought.
“The mission was finally about to be completed…”
