Chapter 134: Hua Qiangu Joins the Heavenly Court

The various Elders of Shushan watched Bai Zihua with vigilance; they had all sensed that Bai Zihua did not harbor good intentions.

With Bai Zihua's status, what kind of disciple could he not recruit?

With Bai Zihua's strength, since he had already been refused, under normal circumstances, he should have left immediately.

Yet now, not only had Bai Zihua not left, but his face was actually gloomy.

This Bai Zihua certainly does not harbor good intentions.

Once the Shushan Great Elder spoke, the other Elders also realized it.

"Indeed, Immortal, my Sect Leader and you have no master-disciple affinity; shouldn't you leave?"

"What does the Immortal mean by this? Why has the Immortal not left yet?"

Seeing the Shushan Elders being so presumptuous, Bai Zihua could no longer restrain himself.

He had decided: today, he would definitely take Hua Qiangu as his disciple.

Bai Zihua spoke in anger, his voice echoing like thunder at the peak of Shushan: "Presumptuous! An Immortal cannot be insulted! As the number one Immortal of the Immortal World, am I to be treated with such contempt by the likes of you?"

His voice was cold and majestic, every word like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone present.

As his anger erupted, an invisible force surged out from Bai Zihua's body, sweeping across the entire Shushan like a violent storm.

This aura was vast, filled with tyranny and majesty, as if it wanted to shroud all of Shushan under his control.

The Shushan Elders' expressions were grave; they felt an unprecedented pressure.

This power felt like an invisible mountain, pressing down so hard they could barely breathe. The Disciples bore the brunt of it; many had their knees go weak under this pressure and collapsed directly to the ground.

A cold light flickered in Bai Zihua's eyes as he scanned everyone present, as if he wanted to pierce through their very souls.

His voice sounded once more, filled with unquestionable majesty: "Today, I am determined to take Hua Qiangu as my disciple. If anyone dares to obstruct me again, do not blame me for being heartless!"

As his words fell, all of Shushan seemed to fall into a deathly silence.

Bai Zihua's aura had reached its peak; he had transformed into a truly high-and-mighty Immortal of the Immortal World, looking down upon all living beings.

Before this powerful aura, the Shushan Elders and Disciples dared not make another move.

This was the gap—the gap between heaven and earth.

Although Shushan was renowned as a prominent sect of the Immortal Cultivation World, with a long history and unique sword techniques, before this Immortal of the Immortal World, Bai Zihua, it still appeared so insignificant.

With the might of just one person, he could force the entire Shushan into silence and oppression, as if the power of the entire heaven and earth had condensed upon him.

However, facing such a powerful Bai Zihua, the Shushan Elders did not retreat.

Although they knew deep down that Bai Zihua's strength was unfathomable, they understood even more that the responsibility of protecting Shushan and their Disciples was heavier than Mount Tai. They could not easily abandon their stance and principles just because the opponent was powerful.

Hua Qiangu was their Shushan Sect Leader, and Bai Zihua's current actions were trampling the face of the entire Shushan underfoot.

Bai Zihua's decision to forcibly recruit a disciple made the Shushan Elders feel even more that he did not harbor good intentions.

They knew that since this Immortal had decided to take Hua Qiangu as his disciple, he must have some ulterior motive.

They could not imagine what kind of Fate and challenges Hua Qiangu would face once she was taken away by Bai Zihua.

This was too abnormal.

Even if the Shushan Elders did not know what Bai Zihua's true purpose was?

They knew that they must stop Bai Zihua.

Therefore, despite facing the pressure of an Immortal, they still stood firmly together, guarding Shushan and Hua Qiangu.

This was the backbone of Shushan, passed down for a thousand years.

Under Bai Zihua's mountain-like heavy pressure, the Shushan Great Elder finally raised his head; his expression was resolute, and an unyielding light flickered in his eyes.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, he said in a deep voice: "Hua Qiangu is the Sect Leader of our Shushan; her Fate should be controlled by herself. While an Immortal may not be insulted, my Shushan is also not a group to be easily bullied."

As soon as the Great Elder's words fell, the Shushan Second Elder also spoke indifferently, his voice revealing firm determination: "If the Changliu Immortal disregards the wishes of our Shushan Sect Leader and forcibly takes her as a disciple, then our Shushan Disciples will fear no challenge and will defend the dignity of our Shushan to the death."

At this moment, the entire Shushan seemed to be unified by an invisible force; the swords behind three thousand Disciples were drawn from their sheaths one after another, the sound of sword-ringing rumbling and soaring straight into the clouds.

They were Shushan Disciples, they were Shushan Sword Immortals, and they had their own pride and beliefs.

The way of Sword Cultivation: better to break straight than to bend.

They would not retreat because of the opponent's strength, nor would they abandon their principles out of fear.

Even when facing a titan of the Immortal World like the Changliu Immortal, they would stand tall and face him squarely.

At this moment, looking at these Shushan Disciples, Bai Zihua could not help but feel a sense of absurdity.

Although these Shushan Disciples were shallow in cultivation, their beliefs and courage were awe-inspiring.

In Bai Zihua's eyes, Shushan's resistance and backbone appeared so insignificant. As the head of the Five Great Immortals of the Immortal World and the strongest in the Six Realms, his dignity and authority could not be challenged by anyone.

In his view, Shushan's resistance was like a group of ants provoking a giant elephant; this provocation naturally made him angry to the extreme.

Bai Zihua was angry; his anger had transcended the boundaries of reason.

At this moment, he no longer considered any long-term schemes, nor did he care whether Hua Qiangu was willing; he was determined to make Shushan pay the price, to let these ants who dared to challenge his authority know how ridiculous and powerless their resistance was.

"Hahahaha!" Bai Zihua laughed out of extreme anger, his voice filled with mockery and coldness, "Good! Good! Good! Since you are seeking death, then I shall grant your wish!"

As his words fell, an even more powerful aura erupted from his body, as if he wanted to shroud all of Shushan under his fury.

At this moment, Bai Zihua had made his decision; he would make Shushan pay the price and let these ants who dared to provoke him know that a true powerhouse cannot be offended.

"You will pay the price for your ignorance."

Bai Zihua's voice was cold and heartless, like a cold wind from the Nine Nether, making one shudder.

As soon as his words fell, he had already struck out directly at the Shushan Disciples.

A terrifying force surged from his palm, instantly transforming into a sharp sword Qi that tore through the sky, heading straight for the Shushan Disciples.

Wherever the sword Qi passed, the air seemed to be torn apart, emitting a piercing screech.

Seeing this, the Shushan Great Elder and Second Elder had grave expressions; they knew that with their combined strength alone, they could not contend with Bai Zihua.

But they still did not give up; they stepped forward.

"As cultivators, why should we fear a battle?"

The various Elders of Shushan let out a long whistle, their voices impassioned and firm, echoing across the peak of Shushan.

Fearless courage and firm conviction were revealed on their faces, as if they wished to pass this strength to every Disciple present.

"Shushan Disciples, raise your swords!"

Following the command of the Elders, the three thousand Disciples of Shushan responded in unison, one after another drawing their swords from their sheaths.

For a moment, sword light flickered and sword Qi crisscrossed; the entire Shushan seemed to be shrouded by an invisible force, filled with a solemn and murderous aura.

Although these Disciples were still shallow in their cultivation, their eyes revealed firmness and resolution.

They knew that today they would face an unprecedented challenge, but they also understood that as Shushan Sword Cultivation practitioners, they possessed their own pride and conviction.

They would rather fall in battle than shrink back in fear.

Even if their opponent was the First Immortal of the Six Realms.

Bai Zihua said mockingly once again: "Ants shaking the heavens, unable to withstand a single blow."

His words carried deep disdain and contempt, as if he viewed the resistance of the Shushan crowd as nothing more than a trivial farce.

He did not make any unnecessary movements; the powerful force of the attack just now seemed to be merely the aftermath of a casual wave of his hand, yet it had already leveled all the attacks from the Shushan crowd.

The sword Qi dissipated, and the Shushan Disciples were shaken back one after another; their Sword Array was as fragile as paper before Bai Zihua, unable to withstand a single blow.

Their sword Qi appeared so fragile and unable to withstand a blow before Bai Zihua's attack, collapsing at the slightest touch.

Bai Zihua's casual strike swept over like a violent storm, forcing the Shushan Disciples to retreat step by step, with people constantly being injured and falling to the ground.

Bai Zihua's strength was truly too powerful; even if the various Elders of Shushan joined forces, they could not withstand his attack.

Under Bai Zihua's attack, the Shushan Disciples and Elders were injured one after another, and the entire Shushan was shrouded in a bloody storm.

Regardless of how one puts it, the current Bai Zihua could be called the number one person in the Six Realms today.

This was still the result of Bai Zihua deliberately holding back; he wanted to take Hua Qiangu as his disciple and did not want to forge an irreconcilable hatred with her.

That was why Bai Zihua held back.

Bai Zihua suddenly looked at Hua Qiangu, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

He walked over slowly, every step seeming to tread upon the hearts of the crowd, making it impossible for them to breathe.

Bai Zihua's voice was cold and ruthless; he looked down at the Shushan crowd, his gaze finally landing on Hua Qiangu, and he spoke slowly: "Hua Qiangu, this Venerable asks you one last time, are you willing to become this Venerable's disciple?"

His voice echoed over Shushan, accompanied by a powerful aura that pressed down on the crowd, leaving them unable to catch their breath.

His eyes flashed with unquestionable majesty, as if everything would be settled once Hua Qiangu nodded.

Yet Bai Zihua's words carried a deep threat: "You had better think your answer through."

His meaning was very clear: if Hua Qiangu was willing to take him as her master, then the Shushan Disciples might have a glimmer of survival; if not, then today, no one in Shushan would be spared.

Hua Qiangu stood before the crowd, facing Bai Zihua's powerful pressure; her face was pale, but her eyes were exceptionally firm.

By now, Hua Qiangu could also see that this Changliu Immortal in the plot definitely did not have good intentions in taking her as a disciple.

This Changliu Immortal appeared to be for the sake of all living things in the world on the surface, but what he wanted in secret was still unknown.

If not for the Heavens Chat Group, Hua Qiangu would likely have had no choice but to take Bai Zihua as her master at this moment in order to protect the Shushan Disciples.

Gradually accepting the Fate arranged for her by Bai Zihua.

But now, Hua Qiangu was not afraid; at the very least, she could still join the Heavenly Court.

She took a deep breath and straightened her back; although her voice was faint, it was exceptionally firm: "Bai Zihua, I respect you as an Immortal of the Immortal World, but I am the Sect Leader of Shushan, and my Shushan cannot be lightly insulted."

As soon as her words fell, Bai Zihua's face darkened.

He had not expected that Hua Qiangu would refuse so decisively. He laughed out of extreme anger, his voice filled with killing intent: "Since that is the case, then do not blame this Venerable for being ruthless!"

With a wave of Bai Zihua's hand, an aura capable of destroying the heavens and extinguishing the earth surged out like a torrent, instantly shrouding the entire Shushan.

This aura was so powerful that it was suffocating, as if even the air had been compressed to the point where it could not flow.

Everyone on Shushan, whether Disciple or Elder, felt the terror of this aura.

Their faces were pale, and their eyes were filled with panic and despair.

They knew that this time, Bai Zihua truly had the intent to kill and wanted to directly wipe out everyone on Shushan, not giving them a shred of hope for survival.

"Bai Zihua, you are unworthy of being an Immortal of the Immortal World, to be so ruthless as to want to exterminate my entire Shushan sect!"

Hua Qiangu's voice trembled as she looked at Bai Zihua with anger.

Bai Zihua looked at her coldly, as if looking at an insignificant ant.

He smiled contemptuously: "Hua Qiangu, do you think you can change anything? Today, Shushan will surely be destroyed; you refused a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, and the destruction of everyone in Shushan is all because of your single thought, Hua Qiangu—they were killed by you."

Bai Zihua was very skilled at twisting concepts to suppress Hua Qiangu.

Hua Qiangu said coldly, "Bai Zihua, you cannot touch my Shushan."

Hua Qiangu did not have any hesitation and directly proclaimed to the heavens and earth.

"The Great Dao is above, the Thick Earth is below; I, Hua Qiangu, the eighteenth-generation Sect Leader of Shushan, am willing to lead the Shushan Disciples to join the Heavenly Court; I ask the Heavenly Emperor for his grace and permission."

Her voice was clear and firm, as if possessing the power to penetrate everything.

As Hua Qiangu's firm and resolute proclamation sounded, the entire Shushan seemed to be shrouded by a sacred and solemn aura.

Subsequently, a vast and majestic voice descended from the endless Honghuang World; it penetrated layers of Space and finally landed upon Shushan.

That voice was filled with majesty and solemnity, as if it came from the supreme ruler between heaven and earth.

"Granted." A simple word, yet it seemed to contain endless will and power.

With the falling of this word, the entire Shushan seemed to be shrouded by a mysterious force; it was a protection and blessing from the Heavenly Court.

Under this majestic and supreme voice, the attack Bai Zihua had just launched was instantly smoothed away by an invisible hand, disappearing without a trace.

His brows were tightly locked, and his face revealed unprecedented vigilance.

"Heavenly Court, what is that?"

Bai Zihua muttered to himself, his gaze like a torch as he looked toward Hua Qiangu, attempting to find an answer from her face.

A foreboding premonition surged in his heart.

"Could it be that Hua Qiangu has contacted the God Race?" The doubts in Bai Zihua's heart grew heavier and heavier.

Who else could Hua Qiangu possibly seek help from now?

Could it be the God Race?

But hasn't the God Race all perished?

(End of chapter)