r18novel 99. An Unexpected Choice
99. An Unexpected Choice
Upon hearing this, Yang Yue asked, "Since it's a unified leadership, I wonder who Sect Leader Lu thinks is suitable to be the leader?"
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward after these words were spoken. Lu Huangtian looked at Yang Yue and said calmly, "My Xuanwen Sect ranks first in strength in the Northwest Region, so naturally it should be my Xuanwen Sect that ranks first."
"Of course, the seven major powers have formed a common alliance, and I am only temporarily leading you all. If there is a more suitable candidate, I can step down and give way."
Although Lu Huangtian spoke with great conviction, it was clear that the leaders of the major forces did not take his words to heart. After all, they were nominally an alliance, but once they became vassals of others, the next step would be assimilation and annexation.
It won't take long; within ten years, the Northwest Region will belong to the Lu.
"I agree with Sect Leader Lu's proposal. The Northwest Region does indeed need to unite," Shi Ye's voice rang out.
However, the others looked at him with disdain. Clearly, Xiangxi Mountain and Xuanwen Sect had reached some agreement, and now one was playing the good cop and the other the bad cop. In Yang Yue and the others' eyes, Shi Ye's opinion was practically worthless.
Just as Yang Yue was about to speak, Wan Baishan spoke first: "Sect Leader Lu, the Alliance of Heroes is not just mine alone. The brothers in the alliance are all willing to come together because of me. I have no right to agree on behalf of the brothers. Therefore, the Alliance of Heroes is not fortunate enough to participate in the alliance."
Lu Huangtian looked at Wan Baishan with unwavering composure and said, "Alliance Leader Wan, are you really not going to reconsider?"
The threat was palpable, and the experts from the Xuanwen Sect and Xiangxi Mountain were on high alert, clearly prepared for battle.
Yang Yue could no longer contain himself and angrily retorted, "Lu Huangtian, do you really think that with the manpower of Xiangxi Mountain and Xuanwen Sect, you can stop us all?"
Several other factions also expressed their willingness to respond, since no one would really agree to Lu Huangtian's proposal.
"Hehehe..." Lu Huangtian chuckled dryly, "Yang Yue, do you really think that only Xiangxi Mountain agrees to the alliance?"
"Let me introduce our alliance's third member." As he spoke, he pointed, and the next moment everyone was filled with utter horror.
Because the person pointed to by Lu Huangtian was none other than Xu Chengze of the Echo Sect.
Xu Chengze sighed after being pointed out by Lu Huangtian, and finally said, "Everyone, what Sect Master Lu has proposed may not be a bad path. We might as well give it a try."
The most perplexing figure was Xu Yingwu, who stood behind Xu Chengze. Looking at Xu Chengze with disbelief, Xu Yingwu asked, "Father, why?"
He simply couldn't understand how he had already secured second place in the Beast Gathering. The Echo Sect had also benefited greatly from this Beast Gathering. Even though it couldn't compare to the Heavenly Serpent Palace, it was still the undisputed second most powerful force in the Northwest Region.
But at this moment, completely unaware of what was happening, how could her father suddenly announce that he was joining the Xuanwen Sect, an alliance that clearly harbored malicious intentions?
Su Zhang, his face grim, looked at Xu Chengze and asked, "Sect Master, are you serious about your decision?"
Seeing that there was no longer a moment's hesitation in the entire audience, Xu Chengze declared, "The Echo Sect joins the alliance!"
Although the people behind Xu Chengze hesitated for a moment, they stood firmly behind him after he spoke.
"Father! I can't understand! Why is this happening?" Xu Yingwu shouted for the first time, unable to comprehend Xu Chengze's choice.
"Hehehe, Little Sect Master Xu, you still don't know how your father became the sect master, do you?" Lu Huangtian's cold voice rang out.
"It feels like only yesterday that two of the three geniuses of the Echo Sect perished at the Beast Gathering, leaving only Xu Chengze to survive..."
Upon hearing Lu Huangtian's words, Xu Chengze's expression changed: "Sect Master Lu, I agreed to cooperate with you, not so you could spout nonsense!"
Lu Huangtian looked at the slightly flustered Xu Chengze and mocked, "Back when you asked me for help to kill your fellow disciples, you weren't like this today. You're too indecisive, unable to let go!"
Lu Huangtian's words were clearly a bombshell for everyone. They never expected that there would be some truth to those absurd rumors about the Beast Guild!
And the most explosive one of them is that Xu Chengze relied on assassinating his fellow disciples to get to where he is today, and even cooperated with Lu Huangtian.
Back then, the Echo Sect had three geniuses, but two of them were lost in a single Beast Gathering, which caused quite a stir. However, the Beast Space was incredibly profound, and the Echo Sect could only grit their teeth and accept the bitter pill.
Upon hearing Lu Huangtian's words, Xu Yingwu's steps faltered, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Father, is what he said true?"
Xu Chengze nodded in response to Xu Yingwu's question. Xu Yingwu was on the verge of collapse. He even wished that Xu Chengze was lying to him, but he knew in his heart that Lu Huangtian had no reason to lie under the current circumstances.
The gentle and strong father in his heart no longer existed, and he felt that all his efforts had been in vain and meaningless.
Su Zhang was merely a recruit of the Echo Sect. Upon learning all this, he bowed to Xu Chengze and said, "Su Zhang thanks the Sect Master for his care all this time. I truly cannot understand the Sect Master's actions. Please forgive me for leaving the Echo Sect from today onwards."
Xu Chengze looked at Su Zhang with a complicated expression, but the next moment, something unexpected happened!
"Since we're going to leave, there's no need to go!"
A bolt of dark purple lightning instantly appeared before Su Zhang, engulfing both Su Zhang and Xu Yingwu. The terrifying purple lightning caught everyone off guard, but as the thunder roared, a figure stepped in front of Su Zhang and Xu Yingwu.
Black flames silently appeared, slowly rising as if alive. The devouring power enveloped the entire black lightning; it was Xiao Yan!
The purple-black lightning was unleashed by Lu Huangtian to kill Su Zhang and Xu Yingwu. Xiao Yan had sensed something was wrong beforehand, but the good news was that Yao Lao also sensed the aura of a Dou Zun and woke up from his stabilizing state after absorbing the Star Spirit Nurturing Orchid. He then possessed Xiao Yan in time to save Su Zhang and Xu Yingwu.
Relying on his full power of devouring, Xiao Yan barely managed to block Lu Huangtian's attack, but the enormous energy was constantly impacting his body, causing an abnormal flush to appear on Xiao Yan's face.
Lu Huangtian looked at Xiao Yan with some curiosity after his attack failed to achieve its goal. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to be able to block his attack, which was a strike from a Dou Zun expert!
"Why did you lay a hand on my son?" Xu Chengze glared angrily at Lu Huangtian.
Lu Huangtian sneered, "Sect Leader Xu, your son is clearly not on my side. Great men don't concern themselves with trifles!"
"If you can kill my own son so easily, I don't see any reason for us to cooperate."
Lu Huangtian waved his hand casually and said, "As long as he doesn't affect our plans, I won't care."
Lu Huangtian then led the way, with Xu Chengze and Shi Ye standing behind him; the meaning was quite clear.
On the other side, Yang Yue and Liang Mengying immediately rushed to Xiao Yan's side, and Wan Baishan and Shi Tian also joined them without hesitation. If they didn't stick together now, they'd be at the mercy of others.
They were all unwilling to join the alliance envisioned by Lu Huangtian.
"Since you're all unwilling to join the alliance, how about you all die together?"