"If you're willing, Senior, then on behalf of my Azure Dragon Sect, I'll sign an alliance agreement with you right now. From this day forward, our Azure Dragon Sect and your Void Sect shall share glory and hardship, advance and retreat together." As Chu Feng spoke, he produced a document.
It was an alliance agreement, detailing the terms of the alliance between the Azure Dragon Sect and the Void Sect. Upon seeing it, the overjoyed Sect Master of the Void Sect didn't even bother reading it — he hurriedly scrawled the words "Void Sect" in large characters and pressed his handprint onto the paper.
In that moment, every single person in the Void Sect was beside themselves with excitement. They all knew that starting today, their sect was going to rise to prominence. With the Azure Dragon Sect watching over them, forget this little Qingzhou — even across the entire Nine Provinces Continent, no one would dare provoke the Void Sect.
But some rejoiced while others grieved. While the Void Sect's people were celebrating, the hundreds of thousands who had just been Void Sect elders and disciples but had now chosen to join the Lotus Sect were drowning in sorrow, their faces streaked with regret.
Right now, they truly wished they could turn back time — they were so full of regret they could die. They regretted being so cowardly, regretted betraying the Void Sect, regretted falling for the temptations offered by the Lotus Elder.
It was precisely because their resolve had wavered that they had missed a chance to ascend to the heavens. A single moment's lapse in judgment, and they had squandered an earth-shaking opportunity.
But while the world held many things, it did not hold the medicine of regret. They would have to pay the price for their decisions.
"That must be the Sect Master of the Lotus Sect?" After the alliance agreement was signed, Chu Feng turned with a smile, directing his gaze toward the Lotus Elder.
"This humble one is indeed Zhao Lianhua, Sect Master of the Lotus Sect." The Lotus Elder hurriedly answered. He was truly terrified — terrified beyond measure.
"Stand up when you speak." Chu Feng's tone was quite gentle.
Hearing this, the Lotus Elder secretly rejoiced, letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed to him that Chu Feng had no intention of making things difficult for him, so he quickly rose to his feet and bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Lord Chu Feng! Thank you, Lord Chu Feng!"
"You've got quite the nerve — occupying the Void Sect's territory, forcibly recruiting their elders and disciples." But in an instant, Chu Feng's expression turned cold. He pointed at the Lotus Elder and unleashed a furious rebuke, then turned his finger toward the hundreds of thousands who had betrayed the Void Sect: "You really like these spineless ingrates who abandon loyalty and betray their sect the moment their lives are on the line, don't you?"
"Fine. Take them all with you today. Take them back to your Lotus Sect. From this day forward, they belong to your Lotus Sect — branded with your name for the rest of their lives."
"But remember this: from now on, your Lotus Sect's people had better stay within your own little territory. If any of you dare step one foot outside, I will kill without mercy."
"Lord, spare us! Lord, spare us! I was ignorant, I deserve death, I was too greedy."
"But please, Lord Chu Feng, grant the Lotus Sect a way to survive. I truly didn't know that the Void Sect had any connection to you. Had I known, I would never have dared oppose them." At this moment, the Lotus Elder thudded to his knees, kowtowing and begging Chu Feng for mercy.
"Me not killing you today is already leaving you a way out. Get lost! Don't waste my breath. If you don't leave right now, I'll slaughter you all."
Chu Feng's voice boomed like thunder, rumbling across the area. At the same time, a vast, oppressive aura faintly radiated from him, along with a chilling killing intent.
"As you command. We'll leave at once, right away." This time the Lotus Elder was thoroughly panicked. He scrambled to his feet and led the entire Lotus Sect contingent to depart, knowing that leaving now might still give them a sliver of survival. If they didn't leave, death was certain.
"Halt." But they had only taken a few steps before Chu Feng shouted again, pointing at them. "Who said you could walk? I told you to get lost! Crawl down this mountain for me!"
"Chu Feng, don't push people too far! You're nothing but a greenhorn — how dare you speak to us like this?" At that moment, one of the Lotus Sect's elders pointed at Chu Feng and cursed.
*Boom.* But before the words had even left his mouth, the man exploded into a mist of blood. The whole thing happened so fast that no one could tell who had struck, but the Lotus Sect's people were utterly terrified.