Li Chengfeng stared at Grand Senior Brother and said slowly, "Grand Senior Brother, I thank you for saving me during the trial.
But … please forgive me for not being able to do so! "
Grand Senior Brother raged, "Why are you so stubborn?!"
"Grand Senior Sister brought me to the Marrow Cleansing Pond, a forbidden area in Spiritual Mountain. If I'm lucky enough, my powers will increase by leaps and bounds!
Although she has ulterior motives for using me, this is my last chance, and Hidden Sword Court's last chance! "
Grand Senior Brother raged, "Have you ever thought about it?
Why would she bring you there?!
Because the stronger you are, the more intense the civil war will be!
The deeper we will be dragged into it! "
Li Chengfeng took a step back, a clear indication of his stance. Although he and Grand Senior Brother had always had conflicts and disagreements, they could still be salvaged.
But at this moment, both of them were very clear that there was no way to salvage the relationship between them. They had completely broken off their relationship.
Grand Senior Brother wanted Hidden Sword Court to stay out of the civil war. But if Li Chengfeng joined the war, that would mean Hidden Sword Court would join too. Because he was a disciple of Hidden Sword Court!
At that time, the flames of war would definitely spread to the other disciples of Hidden Sword Court. At that time, everything that Grand Senior Brother had painstakingly built up would be for naught. From Grand Senior Brother's point of view, that would be the end of Hidden Sword Court!
Grand Senior Brother looked at Li Chengfeng in pain. "You … don't you understand that if Hidden Sword Court is dragged into the civil war, we will all die. Hidden Sword Court will not survive!"
Li Chengfeng took a deep breath. "Grand Senior Brother!
Do you still naively think that Hidden Brocade Court will let us go just because you announced that you will stay out of this?
No, now that things have come to this, there must be a winner between us and Hidden Brocade Court!
Either I kill Shanxue and destroy Hidden Brocade Court!
Or … Shanxue kills me, then kills everyone in Hidden Sword Court and completely destroys Hidden Sword Court!
There is no third option, Grand Senior Brother!
It's hard to look back on the path of Yin Yang, there is no choice between life and death!
Grand Senior Brother, wake up! "
Grand Senior Brother's gaze did not waver. He stared at Li Chengfeng and nodded slowly. "Then … don't blame me!
I will kick you out of Hidden Sword Court! "
Li Chengfeng smiled disdainfully. "Grand Senior Brother, forgive me for being blunt, but you're only the acting Court Master, you have no right to kick me out of Hidden Sword Court!
Only Uncle Kong has the right and authority to kick me out of Hidden Sword Court! "
The Eldest Senior Brother sneered, "He will agree!" After saying that, the Eldest Senior Brother angrily flicked his sleeves and left.
Li Chengfeng looked at Grand Senior Brother's silhouette with a sad expression. He was grateful for Grand Senior Brother's bravery in standing up for him during the trial. No matter what his motive was, he would always remember it.
Just as Grand Senior Brother's figure was about to disappear, he suddenly yelled, "Grand Senior Brother, please allow me to repay you after I kill Shanxue!"
Grand Senior Brother paused and turned to look at Li Chengfeng, smirking. "Stop daydreaming!
Even if you survive the Universe Marrow Cleansing Pool, you're still far from being Shanxue's match! "
Li Chengfeng nodded. "I know!
But even so, I still had to draw my sword and fight!
I want him to know that when an ordinary man is angry, blood will spill five steps away!
I want to let him know what it feels like when the ant he tramples on bites him in the back! "
The rage in the Eldest Senior Brother's eyes intensified. "So, we can all be sacrificed, right?!"
Li Chengfeng said bluntly, "In Grand Senior Brother's eyes, we can all be sacrificed too!"
Grand Senior Brother did not say another word. He turned and disappeared into the shadows of the Discipline Hall. Soon, even the sound of his footsteps could not be heard.
Li Chengfeng sighed softly. He stood quietly in the Discipline Hall for a while, looking at the statues around him, then at the statue of Chao Tianque. He said in a low, bitter voice, "Court Master, if you were alive, if you were me … what would you do?"
Li Chengfeng's gaze fell on the stone Heaven Splitter Sword in Chao Tianque's hand. "Yes, you would swing the Heaven Splitter Sword in your hand and cut through all obstacles, cut through all darkness!
Really?
But … I don't have a Heaven Splitter Sword like yours!
And … even if you had the Heaven Splitter Sword … didn't you disappear when Hidden Sword Court needed you the most?
You … where did you go? "
Li Chengfeng sighed again and walked out of the Discipline Hall with mixed feelings. The moment he walked out, Ouyang Nan and the rest surrounded him. The Seven Swords who went to Tong 'an together had already formed a brotherhood of life and death. They naturally would not leave.
"Junior Brother Chengfeng, how are you?
That … stubborn old man, did he do anything to you? "
Ouyang Nan said jokingly, "Grand Senior Brother is not a bad person, just a little stubborn. Don't take it to heart."
Li Chengfeng forced a smile. "I understand that Grand Senior Brother has put in so much effort for Hidden Sword Court.
But … our paths are different, so we cannot work together. "
The others fell silent. Hidden Sword Court's biggest problem was not only the threat of Hidden Brocade Court, but also the internal strife within Hidden Sword Court.
Tianjun's expression was solemn. He sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Junior Brother Chengfeng … is there really no way … to reconcile with Grand Senior Brother?"
Li Chengfeng said bitterly, "It's not that I don't want to reconcile with Grand Senior Brother, it's just that … there's no other way.
Eldest Senior Brother forced me to sever my relationship with Eldest Senior Sister, but … Eldest Senior Sister is currently bringing me to be cleansed in the Universe Marrow Cleansing Pool, and I've just endured the first round of cleansing. If I were to give up now … I truly can't think of any other way to swiftly become stronger and make it in time for the test ceremony! "
Su You was shocked. "The Marrow Cleansing Pool?
Grand Senior Sister brought you to the forbidden grounds?
You … you actually survived the Marrow Cleansing Pool? "
Tianjun said, "But Junior Brother Chengfeng, Grand Senior Brother has always done things in a specific way. Since he dared to wait for the assessment, he must have made preparations to protect Hidden Sword Court …"
Li Chengfeng said bitterly, "Yes … but how many people will he sacrifice to protect Hidden Sword Court this time?
Have you thought about it?
Are we included in this group of people?
Shanxue will definitely use this opportunity to kill us. Do you think … we can escape? "
This sentence made everyone look at each other in dismay. They were all silent.
Li Chengfeng said, "I don't want to die, I want to become stronger, I want to protect my family, I want to protect Hidden Sword Court in my own way!"
Tianjun sighed. After a moment of silence, he pressed Li Chengfeng's shoulder hard. "We … will help you."
Ouyang Nan let out a long sigh. "Although I feel sorry for Grand Senior Brother … I really think he made a mistake this time." He looked at Li Chengfeng and patted his shoulder. "I will help you too."
Su You nodded. "Me too …"
Blockhead said in a low, muffled voice, "Me too!"
Han Tianxing interjected, "Tianxing will follow Senior Brother's lead!"
Ouyang Nan rolled his eyes. "You're just a weakling!
What can you do to help? "
Su You snickered. "I'll help. Even if I don't help, I'll still be helping!"
Both of them burst out in laughter. Han Tianxing's face flushed red from embarrassment and anger.
"Grand Senior Sister told me that the Cosmic Marrow Cleansing Pool can hold many people at the same time. It's faster and better. Do you want to do it together?"
Tianjun, Ouyang Nan, Su You and the rest looked at each other without a word. Only He Zhu said, "Alright, I want to go too!"
Su You kicked his butt in annoyance. "Shut up, idiot!"
Tianjun smiled bitterly. "We appreciate your kindness, Junior Brother Chengfeng!
But … first, only disciples who have yet to build their foundation can enter the Cosmic Marrow Cleansing Pool. If they do … it'll be twice the effort for half the result. Not only will it not be effective, it's also very risky, they might explode and die. "
Su You smiled bitterly too. "Second, the pain of the Cosmic Marrow Cleansing Pool … I'm not confident I can endure it.
Forget the Cosmic Marrow Cleansing Pool, I can't even withstand ten whips of lightning. If I enter the pool, I'm afraid … I won't be able to return! "
Ouyang Nan patted his shoulder. "Junior Brother Chengfeng, you … you're not an ordinary person. You might be able to endure it but we … can't."