Chapter 237: Exposing the False Mask of the Qingyun Alliance

However, the Second Elder had indeed abandoned them and fled; this was an undeniable fact.

Liu Ruyan was not naturally eloquent, and for a moment, she did not know how to explain it.

After thinking for a long time, she could only say dryly: "The most urgent matter now is for you all to tend to your injuries."

But that sect disciple was exceptionally stubborn, looking at Liu Ruyan with eager eyes, seemingly unable to accept this situation.

Although the others did not say anything, their gazes also landed secretly on Liu Ruyan, waiting for her to respond.

Looking at the hopeful eyes of so many people, Liu Ruyan thought of the horrific, inhumane acts of the Qingyun Alliance she had seen in the Illusion Realm, and for a moment, she did not know what to say.

She had long since been utterly disappointed in the Qingyun Alliance, but she could not bear to chill the hearts of these Qingyun Alliance disciples.

"There is nothing that cannot be said."

Just as Liu Ruyan was struggling, Su Chen's voice came from behind.

As he spoke, everyone's gaze fell upon him.

Su Chen's heroic stance in challenging the Purple Qilin just moments ago was still imprinted in everyone's minds, so seeing him walk over, they subconsciously regarded him as a hero-like figure.

Many people's gazes were mixed with envy and admiration.

If not for Su Chen stalling for time, they would have surely died just now.

"The Second Elder of your sect did indeed abandon you and leave on his own."

After Su Chen finished saying this, everyone gasped.

Although this was a fact, clear as day, they had lived in the Qingyun Alliance for so long that everyone had long since considered it their home.

So when Su Chen stated these words so directly, they all had the feeling of being abandoned, like orphans with nowhere to go.

A few people in the crowd had their brows tightly knitted together, with a hint of sorrow in their eyes.

Although this was the truth, and the Second Elder was indeed a hypocritical person, Liu Ruyan still felt that Su Chen saying it so directly was a bit too cruel to the others.

Perhaps it could have been more tactful.

But one cannot live in falsehoods for a lifetime; what must be faced still has to be faced.

"I know that each of you treats the Qingyun Alliance like your own home, so you are very sad after being abandoned."

Su Chen smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

A few people were at a loss under his gaze, not knowing what medicine he was selling in his gourd.

"But I would like to ask everyone here: in a true home, how many people would abandon their own family and leave? Most of you here have lived for decades, so naturally, you cannot fail to understand this principle."

Once these words were spoken, a few of the more intelligent ones were already enlightened, while most were still immersed in the past, failing to grasp it.

Seeing that his words had an effect, Su Chen continued: "Since they didn't treat you as family, why must you secretly grieve for unnecessary people?"

These words were correct; if others don't care about you, yet you care about them to the point of death, in the end, the only one who gets hurt is yourself.

However, there were still those in the crowd who were unconvinced, and they retorted in a low voice: "You say it simply; you are not a member of the Qingyun Alliance, so how would you know how we live here?"

"Only the Second Elder is like this, not everyone is like this; you cannot generalize."

"If it weren't for you saving us, we wouldn't be listening to your meaningless words here. My feelings for the sect cannot be negated by your few words, and I believe the sect feels the same about us."

These rebuttals were naturally within Su Chen's expectations.

After all, they had lived in the Qingyun Alliance for so long, and in their hearts, they were still leaning toward the Qingyun Alliance.

But just now, Su Chen had suddenly realized that if he wanted to conquer the Qingyun Alliance, he couldn't slaughter everyone in it; how would that be any different from destroying the sect?

Although Su Chen himself didn't have much of a moral compass, such horrific and inhumane acts were no different from those of an evil cultivator, and he himself couldn't bring himself to do it.

Moreover, if he acted with such fanfare, he would likely face resistance from all the righteous sects, and since his own influence was currently only just beginning to grow, it was not a profitable deal in any case.

"Since you believe in your sect so much, then take a look at this."

As Su Chen spoke, he took out an Image Recording Bead from his Storage Ring.

This Image Recording Bead had been specially processed by him earlier; information involving himself had been shielded, and only information related to the Qingyun Alliance could be vaguely heard.

Once the Image Recording Bead appeared, everyone's complexion became uglier than if they had eaten excrement.

Just that dried corpse alone was enough for those who knew to understand what a vicious handiwork it was.

To increase credibility, Su Chen took out that Jade Letter, again erasing information about himself, with the seal belonging to the Qingyun Alliance clearly imprinted on it.

This kind of seal could not be forged by other sects, and even if Su Chen could defeat the Purple Qilin, he would not be able to do that.

Therefore, what Su Chen said was all true.

"I will not comment on the filthy things a sect does behind the scenes for now, but do you really think a sect capable of such things deserves to be called a 'home'? When you have no more utility, will you not be treated the same way?"

The things the Qingyun Alliance had done were too vicious, something that couldn't even be done to a stranger.

At this very moment, the few who had just been speaking up for the Qingyun Alliance fell silent.

After all, if they could be abandoned at a time like this, they could certainly be abandoned in the future; if they had no more utility, would they also be drained of their last bit of value like those dried corpses?

"Actually, we had already obtained the Purple Thunder Immortal Grass just now and had absolutely no need to come back to save you. For us, saving you was a completely unprofitable deal. After all, you all witnessed the cultivation of that Purple Qilin; we could have left safely, so why risk our lives to fight it?"

Su Chen's voice reached everyone's ears; he did not deliberately raise his volume, yet at this moment, it was exceptionally clear and powerful, like a thousand-pound weight crashing heavily into everyone's hearts.

Everyone remained silent, their expressions serious, all carefully ruminating on Su Chen's words.

"I am willing to follow by your side, for no other reason than your spirit of not abandoning anyone in such a moment of crisis."

Liu Ruyan was the first to express her stance.

She had been standing silently on the side just now, not saying a word, but now that she had made the first move, it immediately drew a response from those around her.

"The Saintess is right. The sect has become like this, and the things they have done are simply against the laws of heaven. If I have no utility to them, this will be my fate in the future."

(End of chapter)