Stirring, resounding words!
Nothing could describe the shock that Nathan Ye's declaration brought to those present.
Could he really say such things?
Everyone, from the highest officials to Six Kings and Emperor Zhou himself, stood in stunned silence.
Nathan Ye said, "The Immortal Sect is heartless, treating mortals as mere animals."
It was true. The officials, nobles, and ministers all shared a strong sense of agreement deep within.
They might have enjoyed high status, but they were still firmly grounded in the mortal realm. Their supposed nobility was trivial in the eyes of an Immortal.
They were fully aware that to the Immortal Sect, the common people—whether farmers, merchants, or scholars—were nothing but ants, hardly worthy of being considered as lives.
Nathan Ye then continued, "If immortals do not perish, then thieves will never cease!"
Six Kings felt a mix of bitterness and helplessness. Though they relied on the Immortal Sect, vying for power, they too were merely pawns in a greater game.
How much of what they had done, how many conflicts they had caused, stemmed from their own will versus orders from the Immortal Sect?
If there were no Immortal Sect, the vast divide between people would not exist, and mortals could manage their own matters without being treated as game pieces by the powerful.
Nathan Ye's final statement hit the hardest: "The Immortal Sect is the root of all chaos in this world."
On this, Emperor Zhou's heart resonated the deepest.
As ruler of Da Zhou, he knew his history well. In the era of Emperor Zhou's founder, peace and prosperity reigned, and Immortal law could not trample on mortal lives. Philosophies flourished, and harmony spread through the land.
Once the Immortal Sect rose again, however, chaos took hold. Citizens suffered, Immortals ran rampant, and the laws of the state were mere paper.
Even the Immortal Sect collected its own exorbitant taxes, placing the burden squarely on the shoulders of the common folk.
Nathan Ye's words laid bare the true rot beneath the surface.
"This man has loyalty and righteousness, fears nothing, and sees clearly the very core of society's ills. Were he born in a different time, he would surely stand alongside the great scholars of old,"
some of the ministers thought to themselves.
"Yet, he was born in the wrong era."
They shook their heads in silent admiration.
They admired Nathan Ye, even envied him, and knew the truth of what he said but dared not express it.
In this world, there had to be a lighthouse in the mist and a firefly in the dark, someone to shine with whatever little light they had.
These people often met tragic ends.
"Such insolence!"
Gavin Tsai seethed, his anger warping his very presence.
The officials and ministers, Emperor Zhou, and Six Kings were all struck silent by Nathan Ye's words.
Yet Gavin Tsai He, master of the Yuhua Sect, felt only rage.
Nathan Ye's remarks echoed the hearts of many, but they were blasphemy to an Immortal.
In Gavin Tsai He's mind, the lives of ordinary people were of no consequence, no more than stepping on ants. An Immortal Sect's prestige meant everything, and if the Immortals thrived, the world was in balance.
"Ridiculous lies and heresy! Die!"
He gathered energy with a fierce glint in his eyes, raising his hand in Nathan Ye's direction.
A burst of green light shot forth, carrying a chilling coldness as it hurtled towards Nathan Ye's throat.
It was a strike meant to kill.
In Gavin Tsai He's eyes, Nathan Ye's blood would cement the authority of the Immortal Sect.
"It's here! I'm finally about to die!"
Nathan Ye trembled with excitement.
Finally! After all this trouble, the Immortals were coming through. They were decisive and didn't hold back.
When he became a celestial emperor, he'd surely remember Gavin Tsai He's role in all this.
"Master He, I won't let you harm Nathan Ye!"
Just as Nathan Ye was preparing for his demise, a stern voice rang out.
Emperor Zhou stepped forward, holding an oil lamp in his hand.
The lamp was lit without a wick, its flame a strange, ghostly white.
He gently blew on the flame, and as if in response, it shattered like fireworks.
Then, it appeared beside Nathan Ye and snuffed out Gavin Tsai He's deadly green light.
"What's this? An imperial artifact?"
The hall was abuzz.
An imperial artifact, or Emperor Zhou's tools from his founder's time, was rumored to contain some mysterious power. Over the years, however, these had mostly vanished, some even taken by the Immortals themselves.
To everyone's surprise, Emperor Zhou had saved this one, using it now to shield Nathan Ye.
"This day, I stand alongside Nathan Ye. If you want to take his life, you must first take mine!"
Emperor Zhou declared with resolve.
As a true sovereign, he could not stand by while a loyal man gave his life for him.
For anyone else, this would have been a stirring scene of loyalty and duty.
But Nathan Ye nearly lost his composure.
His eyes widened as he stared at Emperor Zhou, feeling utterly betrayed.
He could hardly contain his frustration.
"I was trying to help you, and you just ruined my chance to die!"
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