Chapter 693: Human Hearts are Unfathomable, Fighting Alone

Early the next morning, even more shocking news arrived.

The Green Lotus Sword Sect, Purple Haze Daoist Temple, and Heavenly Sound Gate—three small cultivation sects in the Southern Region—were wiped out overnight.

Hundreds of cultivators died miserably, and the sects' buildings were all reduced to ruins.

The evil aura left at the scene was so thick it was nauseating, and not a blade of grass grew within a ten-mile radius.

Most terrifying of all, the blood of every victim had been drained, leaving only shriveled corpses behind.

This method was identical to the evil arts of the former Blood Demon Sect.

The messenger knelt in the center of the council hall, reporting the horrific scene with a trembling voice.

"Reporting to the Alliance Leader, the scene... the scene is too ghastly to look upon."

"The Sect Leader of the Green Lotus Sword Sect, Green Lotus Child, was stabbed through the heart by a sword and nailed to the sect's main gate."

"The Daoist Master of the Purple Haze Daoist Temple, Daoist Purple Haze, was skinned and had his tendons pulled out, then hung from the pillars inside the temple."

"The Sect Master of the Heavenly Sound Gate had his limbs severed, with only his torso left still breathing faintly."

Hearing these descriptions, everyone present gasped.

Such cruel methods could never have been the work of ordinary bandits.

This was clearly an organized and premeditated act of evil.

Lin Xuan's expression was as gloomy as water, his fists clenched so tightly they made a cracking sound.

"Does anyone still think this is just ordinary banditry?"

He scanned all the Sect Leaders present, his tone suppressing anger.

"Hundreds of lives from three sects—is this not enough to prove the existence of evil forces?"

However, unexpectedly, Jian Wentian did not change his stance.

He stood up and said coldly, "Alliance Leader Lin, this is indeed a vicious incident."

"But this does not prove it was the work of the Demon God Xintu; it could also have been done by other evil cultivators."

"More importantly, I suspect whether this is a conspiracy directed and acted by you yourself."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone looked at Jian Wentian in shock, unable to believe he would actually say such venomous words.

Even Nezha and Zhang Wuji were stunned, never expecting anyone to be so shameless.

"What did you say?" Lin Xuan's voice was terrifyingly low.

His Genesis Bloodline was stimulated by his emotions, and a faint white-gold light began to radiate from his body.

A powerful pressure enveloped the entire hall, making everyone feel it difficult to breathe.

But Jian Wentian seemed to have cast caution to the wind and continued, "I am speaking the truth."

"Your strength is so great that you are fully capable of faking such a scene."

"The goal is to create a tense atmosphere so that everyone is forced to rely on your power."

"This way, you can continue to maintain the authority of the Alliance Leader and even further expand your power."

"Are there few such examples in history?"

Wucaizi also chimed in, "Sect Leader Jian makes sense."

"Alliance Leader Lin's strength is indeed hard to believe."

"If you really wanted to kill a few hundred small sect disciples, it would not be a difficult task for you."

The Sect Leaders of several other small and medium-sized sects also began to whisper.

Although they dared not say it openly, their eyes already revealed suspicion.

Although Master Faming did not directly agree, he did not refute it either, which in itself was an attitude.

Nezha could no longer hold back and rushed forward directly.

"You bunch of ungrateful things!"

He pointed at Jian Wentian's nose and cursed angrily, "If it weren't for Lin Xuan, you would have long since become food for the Demon God!"

"Now you actually turn around and slander him; do you have any conscience left?"

Zhang Wuji also stood up indignantly, "I have never seen such a thick-skinned and shameless person!"

"Lin Xuan almost died to save the cultivation world, yet you slander him like this!"

But Jian Wentian remained unmoved, "We are merely protecting the interests of the cultivation world."

"When one person's power is too great, it will inevitably bring threats."

"Even if they look like a good person now, who can guarantee they will never change?"

"We must take precautions before it is too late."

At this moment, Lin Xuan suddenly laughed, but the laughter was worse to hear than crying.

"Fine, since you think I am a threat, then we shall do as you wish."

He looked around at everyone, his tone turning icy, "Let us put it to a vote."

"Whether to believe my words and immediately send troops to the Southern Region, or to continue doubting my motives."

"Democratic decision-making; I respect the result."

A flash of triumph crossed Jian Wentian's eyes; he knew this vote was a guaranteed victory.

Of the fifteen Sect Leaders present, at most five or six supported Lin Xuan.

Most people were either afraid of offending him or truly fearful of Lin Xuan's power.

The vote ended quickly, and the result was exactly as Jian Wentian had expected.

Only four sects supported immediately sending large-scale troops to the Southern Region.

The remaining eleven sects chose a conservative strategy, sending only a small number of personnel to investigate.

Lin Xuan looked at the voting results, a disappointment he had never felt before surging in his heart.

He had saved these people's lives, yet he received such treatment in return.

"Very well, since this is everyone's decision, I respect it."

Lin Xuan's voice was terrifyingly calm, with no emotion detectable.

"Then send ten people to the Southern Region to investigate; I believe this number is sufficient."

After saying this, he turned and left the council hall.

Nezha and Zhang Wuji hurriedly followed him out, while the others looked at each other in dismay.

Although they had achieved their goal, for some reason, many people felt an inexplicable sense of unease in their hearts.

At night, on the summit of Guardian Peak.

Lin Xuan stood alone at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the distant mountains.

The moonlight spilled onto him, stretching his silhouette long and thin.

Nezha and Zhang Wuji walked silently to his side, and the three of them just stood there quietly.

After a long while, Lin Xuan finally spoke: "I saved their lives, yet I have become a threat in their eyes."

"Is the human heart truly this complex?"

Nezha said indignantly: "They are simply ungrateful, a bunch of ingrates!"

"When the evil demons truly descend, let's see how they regret it then!"

Zhang Wuji also said: "Lin Xuan, you don't need to pay attention to what these people think."

"We all know your character, and that is enough."

Lin Xuan shook his head: "No, I am reflecting on whether I did something wrong."

"Perhaps I was too overbearing, making them feel oppressed?"

"Or is it that having great strength is in itself an original sin?"

The voice of his master, Hunyuanzi, sounded in his heart: "Xuan'er, the true test has never been external enemies."

"It is the complexity of the human heart and the temptation of power."

"Those who question you, some are indeed out of fear, but others are out of jealousy."

"They cannot stand to see others stronger than themselves, so they want to pull you down."

"But there are also some who are genuinely worried about the dangers of concentrated power."

"You must learn to distinguish which are well-intentioned reminders and which are malicious slanders."

Lin Xuan nodded thoughtfully: "Master is right."

"I should indeed pay more attention to my methods."

"But the danger in the Southern Region is real, and I cannot watch innocent people die."

"Since they are unwilling to send a large army, then I will go myself."

Nezha immediately said: "Then we will go with you!"