Chapter 6941 Open Scheme
Everyone sat together on the floor of the ancient palace hall.
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone else, Ye Wensheng smiled at Long Chen and said, “I’ve long since heard from Chenggang that Dean Long Chen is a dragon amongst men, an unmatched heavenly genius. Today, I find that all his praise didn’t do you justice!”
“Sect Master Wensheng, you overpraise me. I have been stuck at a bottleneck for a long time. I cannot accept your praise,” Long Chen replied with a bitter smile.
It had been a long time since Long Chen made real progress. This left him feeling uneasy.
Li Wujiu’s appearance was a major wake-up call for him. Now, he knew that not everyone would patiently wait around for the great era to come.
Furthermore, when Li Wujiu summoned his heaven-earth law manifestation, Long Chen sensed that beating him would cost him a lot.
If there was only a single Li Wujiu, perhaps it wouldn’t be so frightening. But what if there were two? Or ten?
Furthermore, Li Wujiu was just an incomplete pawn. When the great era descended, a pawn like him would instantly become a Divine Sovereign.
At that point, Long Chen would still be at the first Heavenstage of the Sovereign Lord realm. How could he stop someone like Li Wujiu then?
At first glance, it appeared that the Painting Sect had lost one of their top geniuses. But in truth, Li Wujiu’s death spared Long Chen, Li Chenggang, and possibly all other heavenly geniuses who hadn’t reached the Divine Sovereign realm.
Thus, Long Chen could not accept Ye Wensheng’s praise. The lack of substantial progress lately left him with a sense of impending doom.
“Dean Long Chen is too humble. For a genius like you to appear in the human race is a blessing, not just for the human race but for all the nine heavens and ten lands. When the heavens entrust a great duty to someone, they must first train them. They would push your mind and body to the extreme. Dean Long Chen’s path must have been filled with troubles and obstacles. It must have been painful,” Ye Wensheng said.
He couldn’t help but sigh before continuing, “Unfortunately, no one in this world can share that pain with you. Dean Long Chen must endure it alone. What I admire most, though, is that your Dao-heart remains as firm as a boulder in the face of the world’s distortions, abuse, and slander. Can I ask how Dean Long Chen manages this?”
Long Chen smiled bitterly.
“There’s nothing to do but endure it. Honestly, it was wearing me down. I was never sure if I was truly right. Luckily, a senior lit the way for me when I was lost, helping me find my own path.”
Long Chen thought of Aunt Gong, her noble and kind figure. Her smile could drive away all the shadows in his heart.
After a brief pause, Long Chen continued, “Other people’s distortions, abuse, and slander are their own business. If they dislike me, it doesn’t matter. I’m still myself. I keep kindness in my heart and a blade in my hand. I don’t bully the weak, and I’m not afraid of the strong.
“I act with a clear conscience, and that’s what counts. I’ve lost a lot along the way, but I’ve also started to see my future path. This is my journey to the Dao. Anything in my way will be swept aside.”
Chi Yutong and Xin Yu were both moved. Long Chen made his losses sound small, but behind his words was pain and suffering no one could imagine.
Now they understood why Long Chen was so strong. He had no other choice. If he wasn’t strong enough, he would lose everything.
People only noticed Long Chen’s strength, not the price he had paid to get there.
“Sect Master Wensheng, what do you think about the Painting Sect’s actions this time?” Long Chen asked.
Ye Wensheng smiled faintly and replied, “Actually, it’s no secret that the Painting Sect is colluding with Lord Brahma. He must have ordered them to provoke us. He wanted to know whether we had any sacrificial pawns and, if possible, he would force us to sacrifice them. Li Wujiu might have been able to hide his power from others, but not from me. Lord Brahma was essentially telling me that the other sects are preparing sacrificial pawns as well. I think he wants to see my reaction.”
Hearing this, Long Chen sank into thought.
After a brief pause, Long Chen said, “So it’s an open scheme! He used Li Wujiu to sow seeds of chaos, forcing major factions to join him. When a sect joins his side, their enemies will never find peace. This sect will use a ‘Forerunner’ like Li Wujiu to ruin their enemies when the great era arrives. But then, joining Lord Brahma will set off a chain reaction, forcing their enemies to follow suit. As this progresses, the entire world will fall into panic.”
Li Chenggang and the others drew in a sharp breath at this realization. Lord Brahma’s move was truly vicious!
Ye Wensheng sighed.
He said, “‘Forerunner’ is a fitting name for them. Lord Brahma has made his move, revealing the pawns known as Forerunners to force us to respond. As an ancient sect, we also have the means to create our own Forerunners, but it’s not that easy. A Forerunner must be someone of immense talent, aptitude, and potential. Creating a Forerunner is to sacrifice a peak heavenly genius. If you make too few, you won’t be able to stop your enemies’ Forerunners. But if you make too many, your sect will no longer have a future. As the great era approaches, this move forces all factions of the nine heavens and ten lands to make sacrifices! It’s a very obvious scheme with no solution!”
Long Chen nodded and said, “There really is no solution. The factions forced to join Lord Brahma will get Forerunners. Lord Brahma’s move might be enough to sweep through the nine heavens and ten lands.”
Ye Wensheng said, “We can rely on our foundation to protect ourselves in this chaos. But other factions don’t have that privilege. Basically, Lord Brahma used the Painting Sect to provoke us and reveal this scheme. From Ling Yan and others’ reactions, it seems they are only following orders and are unaware of the full details. Lord Brahma is pushing the divine capital to react in this manner. Essentially, this is a challenge sent to the entire Heavenly Magnificence Divine Prefecture.
Long Chen replied, “If one of the four immemorial sects has allied with Lord Brahma, it would be a serious blow to the Heavenly Magnificence Divine Prefecture. From what I know of Lord Brahma, he will not act unless he's confident of success. This suggests that he has many followers under his influence. When the moment is right, they will incite chaos within the Heavenly Magnificence Divine Prefecture.”
Chi Yutong and Xin Yu’s expressions changed. The Wine God Palace, Tea Saint Dao Temple, and Calligraphy Sect were all major factions, but even they could barely protect themselves. In that case, wouldn’t the likes of the Flame God Sect and Spirit Heart Sect be crushed?
Thinking of Li Wujiu’s terrifying power, they couldn’t imagine how the Flame God Sect or Spirit Heart Sect could stop him. And back then, Li Wujiu wasn’t even a Divine Sovereign. Who knew how strong a Forerunner at that level would be?
“Dean Long Chen, when the great era arrives, these Forerunners will surely target you. Lord Brahma will definitely use others to eliminate you. Do you have any ideas on how to respond?" Ye Wensheng asked seriously.
Everyone felt a jolt in their hearts and turned to look at Long Chen.