Chapter 5544: One Horn Wind Garuda
The Wind God Sea Pavilion’s army advanced steadily. They had ample time and saw no reason to rush. In any case, because the laws of heaven and earth had changed and the heavenly fate energy of the world was unstable, they needed more time to get accustomed to everything.
“Master, why didn’t we kill them?” After half an hour of holding back, Tang Wan-er couldn’t resist repeating her question.
Earlier, both Long Chen and Feng Xinyue had merely smiled at her without answering, leaving her increasingly frustrated. She had mulled it over but couldn’t arrive at a satisfying conclusion.
Feng Xinyue smiled warmly, patting Tang Wan-er’s head. “Still not fond of thinking, are you?”
“It’s not like that’s new! Just tell me already!” Tang Wan-er retorted with a pout, her tone playful rather than annoyed.
“Alright, but I think Long Chen should explain,” Feng Xinyue replied.
Clearing his throat, Long Chen said, “Listen closely, everyone. I’ll answer, but I won’t repeat myself.”
Immediately, the disciples strained their ears, eager to hear the answer to the burning question that had been gnawing at them for the past hour. However, the distance between them and the instability of the world’s laws made it difficult to catch every word without using their Spiritual Strength. But using Spiritual Strength would be considered eavesdropping—a taboo that left those in the rear envious of the fortunate few closer to the front.
When Long Chen raised his voice, the crowd came alive and listened closely.
“To put it bluntly, our relationship with the Invisible Sword Sect is terrible,” Long Chen explained. “The feud between us never truly ended, even after our last battle. That monkey-faced fellow provoked us the instant he saw us, clearly trying to probe our strength. So, rather than wasting words, I slapped him outright.“In truth, I could feel his hostility. If he had dared to retaliate, Senior Xinyue would have taken care of him. Had we truly started a fight, not a single one of them would have escaped alive. That old fogey knew it too, which is why, even after being slapped twice, all he could do was let out a fart and scuttle away like a beaten dog.”
Pausing to clear his throat, Long Chen’s sharp gaze swept across the group. “I know many of you, like Wan-er, are wondering why we let them walk away. If they harbor ill intentions, why not eliminate them on the spot? I want to hear everyone’s opinions on this matter. Luo Feng, what do you think?”
Luo Feng was a man with sideburns on his face. While he looked a bit unkempt and wild, in truth, he was someone who possessed both guts and brains.
Luo Feng answered, “My thought is about the same as Fairy Wan-er’s. We should not show mercy to our enemies. If we are confident in beating them, we should rip them out by the roots.”
Hearing this, the majority nodded as they held a similar opinion.
Long Chen remarked, “Rip them out by the roots. Well said. But after killing them halfway, what if the rest suddenly knelt and begged for mercy? What if they said they were only listening to orders and didn’t know anything? Would you be able to kill them if they kowtowed toward you?”
“I… maybe not? If they’ve given up, I don’t mind sparing their lives and giving them a chance to turn over a new leaf,” admitted Luo Feng, hesitating.
“And there lies the problem,” Long Chen said, his voice turning steely. “Remember, if you are to fight, you must not show mercy. If you have that kind of thought, if your hearts soften the minute your enemies kneel and beg for mercy, you will be harming everyone around you. We are one collective group now—one person’s mistake implicates all of us and can cause the entire group to be annihilated. The death of a single person raises the odds of death of the next.
“Although you are all heavenly geniuses, most of you grew up sheltered, nurtured by someone else’s protection. That’s why your resolve is still lacking. You’ve yet to become true warriors. When the time comes to fight, you must strike without hesitation, without mercy.
“That’s precisely why we held back this time—not because we couldn’t win, but because you weren’t ready. The Wind God Sea Pavilion’s first battle will define its legacy, and I refuse to waste such a moment on them.”
The group fell silent, unsure that they fully understood Long Chen’s meaning.
Seeing this, Xiao Yue explained, “Big brother Long Chen means that the moment you recognize someone as an enemy, then you either don’t fight… or fight to the death. There is no third option. Attacking with hesitation in your heart would harm your comrades.”
“Well said,” Long Chen remarked, giving her a thumbs-up. “I didn’t want to spell it out, but I’m glad you understand. Soon enough, you’ll face such a test yourselves.”
BOOM!
Just then, the ground suddenly shook beneath their feet. Space rippled violently, and massive figures emerged from the void. Due to the immense distance, they could only see that it was a large group moving through space like boats in a strong wind.
“Demon race!” someone exclaimed.
The powerful Blood Qi radiating from the figures left no doubt about their origins.
“The One Horn Wind Garuda has also appeared. It seems they also want a piece of the Heaven Vein Mystic Realm,” said Feng Xinyue.
“The One-Horned Wind Garuda? That primal chaos-era species capable of controlling the wind?” Long Chen was visibly startled.
“Yes,” Feng Xinyue confirmed. “Their unique bloodline allows them to navigate the void with the wind, even when spatial laws are in chaos.”
“Then are they our main competitor in the Heaven Vein Mystic Realm?” asked Tang Wan-er.
“No, they are seeking the legacy of their ancestors. Our goals don’t conflict. However, the Wind God lineage has longstanding tension with them. However, be cautious—their horns are innate divine weapons capable of focusing their entire power into a devastating attack. By sacrificing their lives, they can unleash a force dozens of times their usual strength. Never let them get close,” warned Feng Xinyue.
“They can suddenly unleash a force dozens of times their usual strength?!” exclaimed someone.
Hearing that, everyone gasped. Who could block such a terrifying suicidal attack?
As they pressed on, the rumblings in the distance grew louder. Though the sources of the disturbances remained unseen, their auras were unmistakably powerful.
Occasionally, some lifeforms glanced in their direction before retreating. They either had no hostility toward the human race or were wary of Feng Xinyue’s indomitable presence.
Three days later, the air grew heavy with the scent of blood. Explosive sounds echoed from up ahead.
“There’s a fight! Let’s take a look!” Long Chen’s eyes lit up as he surged forward, and the others followed closely behind.