"City Lord Ying, we've all seen the power of this formation. This old monk cannot think of any reason why the Soul Infant Sect would go to such great lengths to lure us here and deceive us. In my humble opinion, what the Sect Master of the Soul Infant Sect said carries a measure of truth."
"Abbot, you—" Upon hearing the words of the Abbot of the Buddha Light Heavenly Temple, Ying Mingchao was not the only one who was stunned. Many others present were equally shocked.
If one were to speak of righteous sects, the Buddha Light Heavenly Temple was universally regarded as the foremost representative of the Hundred Refinements Mortal World. And the Abbot of the Buddha Light Heavenly Temple was considered a paragon of righteousness.
Yet now, faced with the temptation of a breakthrough in cultivation, this very Abbot had not only wavered — he had actually taken the side of the Soul Infant Sect, speaking on their behalf. It was truly difficult to accept.
"City Lord Ying, even the Abbot says so. Why don't we give the Soul Infant Sect a chance to make amends?" The Sect Master of the Sword-bearing Immortal Sect chimed in.
"Heh…"
At that moment, Chu Feng let out a cold laugh.
But that was all it was — a single cold laugh. He said no more by way of persuasion, for his heart had already gone cold.
The Soul Infant Sect's crime of slaughtering innocent infants was common knowledge. Even the Soul Infant Sect themselves had never denied it — they had openly admitted to it.
Such evil was beyond forgiveness.
Yet when faced with the temptation of strengthening their cultivation, so many people had simply forgotten about those murdered babies. They were ready to let the Soul Infant Sect go, just like that.
How utterly selfish could they be?
"Good. Very well. Since that's the case, I won't waste any more words. I, Ying Mingchao, ask only one thing — who among you is still willing to stand beside me and fight the Soul Infant Sect?"
Ying Mingchao raised the Ancestral Weapon high and bellowed.
"I am!"
"I am!"
"I am!"
…………
When those words left Ying Mingchao's lips, a number of people did step forward. The majority of them were from Hero City.
And among the people of Hero City, most were his old subordinates.
Although nearly ten thousand people now stood behind Ying Mingchao, compared to the original size of the alliance army, it was a mere fraction — less than a tenth of what it had been.
It was worth noting that both the Buddha Light Heavenly Temple and the Sword-bearing Immortal Sect had sent some of their members to stand behind Ying Mingchao. Among them were notable figures such as True Master Three Swords and Master Pocket.
But in the end, they were merely members of their respective sects. Though they had chosen to remain enemies of the Soul Infant Sect, their own Sect Master and their own Abbot had chosen to believe the Soul Infant Sect.
It was a sight that could only draw sighs.
"Ying Mingchao, are you truly determined to go down this path?"
"What if the Soul Infant Sect is telling the truth? What if they haven't deceived us? What if that formation can genuinely improve our cultivation?"
"Can you not calm yourself and investigate this matter thoroughly before making a decision?" the Abbot of the Buddha Light Heavenly Temple said.
"Investigate? The Soul Infant Sect slaughtered innocent infants. What is there to investigate?"