"I've actually heard of this Soul Infant Sect before. I didn't expect it to truly exist." At this moment, several elderly figures voiced their thoughts.
"How despicable! How can such a terrifying faction exist in this world, using the souls of newborn infants to enhance their own cultivation?"
"You lot are absolutely unforgivable!!!" Upon learning the origins of the Soul Infant Sect, those who had not knelt began to mercilessly condemn Ghost-Face Old Demon.
After all, they had already steeled themselves for death. When you no longer feared dying, there was nothing left to fear—so naturally, they said whatever they wanted.
Even some of those who had knelt began to waver. Using the souls of newborn infants to boost one's cultivation was, after all, an act so revolting that it was hard to stomach.
"Hahaha! The world of martial cultivators has always been one where the strong prey upon the weak. Cruelty? What nonsense. Haven't any of you killed someone weaker than yourselves?"
"If what we do is called cruel, then which among you isn't?" Ghost-Face Old Demon said coldly.
"Exactly. Lord Ghost-Face speaks the truth." Kou Kang fawned, and at the same time, quite a few others began chiming in, flattering Ghost-Face Old Demon and agreeing that everything he said was correct.
"Kou Kang, I can't believe that just to save your own life, you'd speak for this kind of irredeemable scum. You're utterly unworthy of being a disciple of Three Star Hall."
"I'm ashamed to call you my fellow disciple," Song Biyu rebuked icily.
"Junior Sister, I believe Lord Ghost-Face isn't wrong. Every person present here has killed someone, and the people they killed were inevitably weaker than them. And those weaker than them—those are the so-called weak."
"The strong prey upon the weak. That is the ironclad rule of the martial world. But someone like Chu Feng insists on distinguishing justice from evil. Now that's true hypocrisy!" Kou Kang declared loudly.
His words caused a fair number of people to waver as well. After all, as Kou Kang had pointed out, almost everyone present had killed before, and the ones they killed were indeed weaker. That did seem to confirm the principle of the strong devouring the weak.
"Haha, this young man—your name is Kou Kang, a disciple of Three Star Hall?" Ghost-Face Old Demon asked.
"Replying to Lord Ghost-Face, this junior is indeed Kou Kang, and I am a disciple of Three Star Hall. However, I do not agree with Three Star Hall's so-called debate over justice and evil."
"This time, when Three Star Hall allied with Falling Cloud Valley to back Chu Feng, I was strongly opposed," Kou Kang said, his tone full of reverence and his attitude supremely amiable—entirely unlike someone speaking to a villain of the worst sort, and more like an obedient junior addressing a respected elder.
"Then tell me, why did you oppose it?" Ghost-Face Old Demon said.
"Because I believe that killing demands retribution and debts demand repayment. That is simply the way of things."
"Since Chu Feng killed a member of the Ying Heavenly Clan, it is only right that the Ying Heavenly Clan seeks revenge."
"But Three Star Hall and Falling Cloud Valley insist on claiming that Ying Liangchen of the Ying Heavenly Clan deserved to die, and that Chu Feng was carrying out justice. I find that extremely disagreeable. In my view, that is the real case of twisting logic to suit one's own ends," Kou Kang continued.
"Very good. I appreciate your thinking. Let me ask you—if I were to say that the Soul Infant Sect welcomes you, would you be willing to give up your status as a Three Star Hall disciple and join my Soul Infant Sect?" Ghost-Face Old Demon said.
"Lord Ghost-Face, to be perfectly honest, this junior has long been disgusted by the conduct of Three Star Hall. If Lord Ghost-Face is truly willing to take me in, this junior could not ask for more." Kou Kang was practically beside himself with joy.
He knew full well that there was no way he could remain in Three Star Hall after all this. If Ghost-Face Old Demon was willing to shelter him, that was absolutely the best path forward.
"Very well. From this moment on, you are a disciple of my Soul Infant Sect," Ghost-Face Old Demon declared.
"To think he'd wag his tail and beg for mercy from a demonic sect, all just to cling to his miserable life. For Three Star Hall to have produced such a disciple—how truly pathetic." At this, the elderly man shook his head and sighed.
"Pathetic? Three Star Hall should consider it an honor to have produced a disciple like me."
"Tell me, everyone—am I wrong? What is justice? What is evil? What is right? What is—"