Chapter 586: Stepping Stone

"You are the most hypocritical people I have ever met, bar none!"

At this moment, it seemed that even Shen Yu's face began to turn blue and purple, and there was even a tendency for it to turn completely black.

It was foreseeable that Shen Yu was already at the end of his rope; seeing such a scene, Du Zhangqing also set his mind at ease. After all, the pressure this young man before him brought was truly too great.

Waving to the people around him, Du Zhangqing took two steps back, watching Shen Yu, who was surrounded by the Great Array, with a cautious expression.

"Alright, enough nonsense has been spoken; surely Lord Shen should understand how great we are by now. We have never acted for ourselves; we act for the world!"

"Therefore, for the sake of the world, I must ask Lord Shen to go to your death!"

The men who followed Du Zhangqing stood at the four cardinal directions, frantically pouring their cultivation power into the Great Array; as their power continued to be injected, the Great Array before them became increasingly terrifying.

At the same time, suddenly, the Great Array began to tremble violently, as if it had absorbed enough energy and become saturated. Subsequently, a terrifying suction force suddenly appeared, as if it were going to swallow everything like a whale.

When this power descended, even Shen Yu, who was at the very center of the Great Array, felt it, and his expression changed slightly at once.

He could clearly feel a suction force forcibly tearing at his power, devouring his essence, Qi, and spirit.

However, even though he was extremely weak now, his body remained seamless, and he naturally had no fear of this suction force.

But the fact that it had no effect on him did not mean it had no effect on others. According to his estimation, those below the Transcendence Realm would likely have no ability to resist at all when facing this suction force.

Even experts of the Transcendence Realm would likely find it difficult to hold on for long.

"What are you trying to do?"

"What am I doing?" Reaching out to feel the energy about to converge, Du Zhangqing also revealed a rare relaxed expression on his face; in his heart, having reached this step, everything was already foolproof.

"Shen Yu, didn't I already tell you just now? Besides being able to borrow the power of the Anzhou earth veins, this Array can also absorb the essence and energy of all the common people in Anzhou as fuel."

"Why do you think we wasted our breath on you? Aside from waiting for your poison to take effect, it was also to wait for this fully activated Great Array."

"The Great Array you see now is the true Great Array; you will feel its power immediately!"

A massive amount of energy was about to converge, and this energy was what Du Zhangqing was truly proud of. This massive energy would be like a flood, washing away everything.

Since Shen Yu wanted to protect these lowly people, let him die by the power of these very people.

"We have no choice, Shen Yu; you are simply too strong. To ensure there are no mishaps, I can only borrow their power."

"But rest assured, people like us are determined to protect the world; how could we harm their lives for no reason?"

"After all, we still have to keep them alive to eventually use their lives to break open the Forbidden Land and usher in the Spiritual Qi Surge. That is when they will pay with their lives, and only then will their deaths be meaningful."

"This time, it will at most cost them some lifespan and leave them weak for a period!"

Speaking of this, Du Zhangqing couldn't help but shake his head, his face full of compassion for the world, "Sigh, I really am a kind person!"

"However, their sacrifices are all meaningful. In order for more people to live, someone must die. They are all nameless heroes, worthy of my, Du Zhangqing's, respect!"

"Bastard, you really are hypocritical enough!"

"You flatter me; I am just being realistic. After all, they are truly dying for the world!"

Smiling at Shen Yu once more, Du Zhangqing had become much more relaxed by this time, no longer as wary even when facing Shen Yu.

He had wasted so much breath on Shen Yu and dragged things out for so long, and now he had finally waited for the Great Array to be truly activated.

He only waited for the power and essence of the millions of people in Anzhou City, countless commoners, and experts of all sizes to be plundered and devoured by the Array.

And then, this terrifying power, carrying the majestic force condensed from the Anzhou earth veins, would certainly be able to swallow the weak and exhausted Shen Yu completely.

Before the power of the world's great trend, individual power is insignificant. Whether it is Shen Yu or Mu Zishan, they are both vulnerable before this power.

Once he kills a threat like Shen Yu, he will be the undisputed top contributor. When the Spiritual Qi Surge comes one day, those old seniors who have awakened and returned will certainly reward him well.

By then, perhaps he could rise several levels higher during the Spiritual Qi Surge; once his realm is high, he can live for several hundred more years.

No, perhaps he might even have the chance to become one of them.

A trace of greed flashed in his eyes, and Du Zhangqing licked his lips, revealing a meaningful smile.

Why would they even discard their dignity to grovel before those cold-blooded old monsters? Whether to the outside world or to those below, they would always say it was for the sake of the world, to protect more people.

For so many years, far too many people have been completely fooled by this line of theirs.

For the sake of so-called protecting more people, there were actually fools willing to dedicate everything they had, and they even believed these words of theirs without a doubt.

These people were the most suitable cannon fodder; they were fanatical and passionate, and a single phrase "for the world" could make them generously go to their deaths.

As expected, the leader was right; what they do still requires brains. Fooling more people—no, no, attracting and recruiting more like-minded people to work together—is the fundamental reason why they have remained standing through all the twists and turns.

But then again, those in the middle and lower levels were fooled into a daze, truly believing that their choice to compromise was merely to endure humiliation for a greater cause, to save more people.

But he knew very well that they did this for nothing but profit; using a fig leaf was merely out of fear of becoming a target for everyone.

Besides, the philosophy they have always followed is not wrong. Over so many years and so many generations, when has resistance during a Spiritual Qi Surge ever succeeded?

The result of resistance in every era only brought about more cruel suppression and slaughter. The old seniors were provoked and naturally felt unhappy, so wouldn't they kill wantonly to vent their hatred?

Therefore, their choice was not wrong. Since they couldn't win, why not choose to join, even if it meant being a dog?

Only by staying alive does one have the qualifications to talk about the future!

Moreover, in this way, they could protect a portion of ordinary people and spare them from slaughter. They could also improve themselves and seek more benefits and advantages for themselves; with such a win-win situation, why not?

Over so many years, countless forces have risen and fallen, yet only they have remained standing; isn't it because of the benefits obtained during the Spiritual Qi Surge generation after generation?

Even as one of the higher-ups, he did not know exactly how many trump cards their organization had. Just like the Great Array before him, it was something they could bring out whenever they pleased.

But to say they are the World's Number One Force is absolutely well-deserved; that accumulation generation after generation is their greatest confidence.

Furthermore, during every Spiritual Qi Surge in history, a portion of people successfully joined the ranks of those old seniors, becoming truly high and mighty.

These were their role models, their pride, and their motivation.

The middle and lower levels were thinking about how to endure humiliation and save more people during the Spiritual Qi Surge. But they, the higher-ups, were thinking about how to exchange for more benefits.

Not only joining them and becoming their dogs, but they also hoped to one day become one of them. By then, they would naturally be able to roam the world freely.

It was the same when they ambushed Mu Zishan back then, and it is the same now with the ambush on Shen Yu. Only by eliminating these unstable factors can they earn merit and receive rewards.

Therefore, Shen Yu must die today; he will use Shen Yu as his stepping stone!