Chapter 1248 I’ll Allow
For years now, the Golden Crow Sect had been weeding out talents from the Flaming Lily Sect, preventing them from raising any great geniuses. It wasn't until Madeleine came along with enough backing to protect herself that the Flaming Lily Sect finally received a ray of hope. If they wanted to squander it, Dyon would happily oblige!
"Let's make a bet." Dyon suddenly said, cutting through the tension with his abrupt leisurely attitude.
The Vice Master's expression darkened even further.
"You can be angered if you'd like, or you can grasp this opportunity." Dyon shrugged. "I've already done you a service by not explaining to your disciples the reason behind my anger. I'll even allow them to believe I'm an unreasonable young master if you so wish it. It can't be that the Vice Master of the Flaming Lily Sect doesn't dare to bet with an air-headed and impulsive young man, right?"
The Vice Master's features remained calm. All her life, she had been touted as a heavenly genius. It had been so long since then that no one remembered, but she had an elder sister that was far more talented than she was.
Her big sister… Philomena. Back then, they were almost certain that had they controlled the Key, they would have birthed a True God. However, one day, her sister just abruptly disappeared. Her soul jade never shattered so they had no idea who took her away, but the Vice Master never saw her big sister again.
Then, one day almost three hundred thousand years ago, Philomena's soul jade crumbled to dust. The cause of death? Age…
The Vice Master remembered crying her eyes out for years, completely unable to stop. A heavenly genius like her sister dying of old age before her? Who would ever believe that there was no foul play?
She remembered having so much rage built up, so much anger and hatred she had nowhere to place.
Eventually, she raised to the rank of Vice Master. By now, she even had enough Sect merits to be laid to rest with the ancestors of their Flaming Lily Sect… But what had she done for those ancestors? Hadn't she just sat back and watched as disciple after disciple was ruined just like her elder sister?
The Vice Master closed her eyes, a deep sadness causing her shoulders to tremble. The name her mother gave her was Melisende, yet she hadn't even dared to use it for as long as she could remember. Maybe if she ignored her past, when she passed away, she wouldn't have to face her elder sister's disappointed gaze.
Dyon shook his head. "Aren't you still alive now?"
He didn't know Melisende's back story, nor did he know exactly what she was thinking about, but he could make his own guesses. That was why he said those words… As long as you're alive, don't you still have a chance?
Vice Master Melisende's eyelashes quivered at Dyon's words. "What bet would you like to make?" She said finally.
Dyon smiled. "I'll allow you to test me one more time. In exchange, I want to thoroughly cleanse the Flaming Lily Sect!"
Melisende looked toward Dyon. She couldn't understand this young man's purpose. If he wanted to speak about something so taboo, why would he do so before all of these disciples? Even if the other sects couldn't hear him, if he was so certain that their sect needed to be cleansed, how could he be sure that these disciples weren't also traitors? What was he doing?
"You trust me?" Still, even with all of those doubts, this was the first thing she asked Dyon.
"No."
This response cause Melisende to laugh bitterly. What did she expect? Did she deserve such trust? But, if he didn't trust her, why was he speaking to her now?
"But, my wife does." Dyon smiled. "And since she does, that's enough for me."
Several eyes fell on Madeleine. Although many of the disciples didn't know what was happening, weren't they all geniuses if they were chosen for this trial? They could easily understand the gravity of the situation.
To think that a True God listened to the words of his wife and trusted her so wholly. Something like this was incomparably rare… Even Yandevere's heart strings were pulled at.
Madeleine smiled a beautiful smile, reassuring the Vice Master. Ever since she had cut ties with her former master, Madeleine had never taken another one, but that didn't mean she didn't remember the kindness shown to her by her seniors. While others wanted to take her as a disciple for the sake of fame and glory, Melisende always looked out for her the right way.
Maybe it was because of the guilt she had piled up for so long, but that didn't change her sincerity. For someone who had such a high affinity for purity like Madeleine, she was very sensitive to those with good and bad intentions… And Melisende happened to be among the former.
Taking a deep breath, the Vice Master calmed her emotions. "What is it that you want to do?"
"Kill." A baleful aura erupted from Dyon's body, causing those around him to shiver. "The Golden Crow Sect's Christian III Goldeen will not walk out alive."
Melisende intook a sharp and cold breath. To speak of killing the God of a sect or clan… It was absolutely taboo!
"Such a thing is far too risky! They might not dare retaliate against you or Madeleine, but they would most certainly retaliate against our disciples!" Melisende immediately rejected.
"This lack of backbone is why the Flaming Lily Sect has fallen to this state." Dyon's eyes remained deadpan, latching onto the Vice Master's gaze with an apathetic pressure. "How many so-called Gods and True Gods has the Golden Crow Sect taken from you?"
Waving his hand, Dyon didn't need an answer. "My killing him has nothing to do with you. He's simply crossed my bottom line and as such, he will die. It's that simple.
"The bet I'll have with you is entirely different. During the span of this expedition, not only will not a single member of the Flaming Lily Sect die, I'll ensure everyone of them has a breakthrough of some form. If I can accomplish this, you already know the reward I would like."
"You…" Melisende almost felt like fainting. How could one young man be so arrogant? Ensuring that no one would die? Even if he was a dao formation expert such a feat would be impossible… Because teleportation into the realm was random! How could he even guarantee that he'd find everyone? Even if he had all the time in the world to do so, how could he guarantee they wouldn't die before he reached them?
Dyon smiled, taking out several dozen silver plaques. It was obvious to everyone in an instant that these were actually grandmaster grade array plates!
"Simply crush these the moment you enter."
"Spendthrift!" Melisende was slowly losing her demeanor as a Vice Master. This young man really was too much. Who would waste array plates worth several dozen celestial stones each on such a task?
Dyon could have just had all of them enter his inner world, but he didn't want news of his cultivation method to become public knowledge. After all, it was the number one cultivation method to ever be created, whether there was a powerful and imaginary clan behind him or not, it would elicit too many greedy eyes.
"Do you accept?"
"I …" Melisende didn't know what to do. Although she had power, she was still a Vice Master. There were still several ancestors and the Master ranked above her. Not to mention the Grand Elder who was equal to her in influence. If there were power rankings for the sect, she'd just squeak into the top 15-20 or so. She couldn't unilaterally decide such a thing.
"You don't need to do anything but get me an audience with the sect's upper echelon. As for the rest? I'll handle it."
"This… Okay."
"Oh, one more thing." Dyon said with a grin. "After I kill him, I'll be giving the Key to Madeleine. So, the Flaming Lily Sect will have no choice but to prepare."
"You…" Is this was fainting of anger felt like? Melisende couldn't help but think this as her vision fogged.
"The good news is that since it's Madeleine who'll receive it, they won't dare to act openly. But I'd say that it won't be more than a few months before they start launching their assaults."
"How could you say this so nonchalantly?! Even non-traitors of the sect would be against your actions! Are you stupid?!" Melisende was slowly losing her demeanor as a Vice Master, even Madeleine couldn't help but giggle. This husband of hers had a way of angering people to no end.
Dyon shook his head. "Don't you know that the Key Wielder has the ability to change the gate threshold of all universes they control? If Madeleine is Key Wielder, she'll simply lower all gate requirements to the celestial realm. I'd really like to see who can defeat me with such restrictions!"
A valiant pressure bellowed from Dyon's body.
In the distance, Titus, who had been ignoring everything until now couldn't help but look up with his ruby red eyes. A flash of battle intent appeared before slowly fading. A creepy smile revealed his jagged and sharp teeth as he stroked the two blood red sabers to his side. He didn't regret coming even one bit… It seemed he had found a worthy opponent.
Suddenly, Dyon's brow twitched. He didn't look over to Titus because he had no need to. However, it was something else that caught his attention.
"It's opening."