Ascension of The Unholy Immortal-Chapter 289: Liang’s Confidence

Around an hour had slipped by since Dong Tian Shu had entered the secret realm.

By now, all the half-divine experts had ventured inside. The excited murmurs from the audience had dwindled to silence, as most onlookers had made their exit, leaving only the participants behind.

It was now Dong Rui’s turn to step forward. She paused for a moment, her eyes finding Liang in the sparse crowd. With a composed nod in his direction, she gathered her resolve and stepped through the shimmering gate.

Five minutes later, the gate rippled once more as Dong Zi Long crossed the threshold, followed by Dong Wan’er. The air seemed to thicken with anticipation; each new entrant raised the stakes.

Now, it was Liang’s turn. Outwardly composed, he couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion gnawing at him. This was it—the critical juncture when the Dong Clan might spring any hidden traps or schemes they had been concealing.

"Elder Tian Di, I don’t think it’s right for an outsider to enter before me!"

Suddenly an arrogant voice echoed through. the heavy silence.

All eyes turned to the speaker—it was none other than Dong Tian Zi.

The remaining experts exchanged surprised glances upon hearing this revelation.

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Initially, most of them felt it was indeed inappropriate for an outsider to join the competition for the secret realm. However, Liang’s unexpected generosity quickly changed their minds. Liang was a man who understood the intricacies of the world and knew how to navigate them skillfully.

In the cultivation world, there is no clear distinction between good and evil; cultivators, whether righteous or malevolent, adhere to the principles of gratitude and grudges. By accepting Liang’s money, the experts were inherently bound by an unspoken rule to repay him.

Liang had strategically bought the favor of everyone, from the elders to the participants. Not objecting to his participation or entry into the secret realm became the natural way to reciprocate his generosity. Some even went so far as to praise and defend him.

Despite these efforts, it seemed Liang was unable to buy the silence of Dong Tian Zi.

This, however, was not entirely his fault. Dong Tian Zi had been on a secret mission, and Liang had not even considered his involvement.

The unforeseen presence of Dong Tian Zi posed an unforeseen complication.

Meanwhile, Dong Tian Di and Dong Tian Mu exchanged knowing glances. A slight, almost imperceptible smile appeared on each of their faces.

Dong Tian Di’s eyes shifted to Dong Tian Zi, his expression grave and contemplative. "Indeed, Tian Zi, what you’ve said makes sense," he acknowledged with a firm nod.

Then, turning his attention to another elder, he addressed Dong Tian Mu. "Elder Mu, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Dong Tian Mu closed his eyes, seeming to delve deep into thought. Moments later, he reopened them, his gaze stern yet empty. "Indeed, since young friend Liang is an outsider, he needs to prove his worth."

His voice was devoid of emotion as he turned his piercing gaze to Liang. "Young hero Liang, for you to gain the right to enter, you must first defeat Tian Zi."

The mere suggestion sent a ripple through the gathered experts, their eyes widening in shock. Defeat Tian Zi?

Though Liang was evidently strong, Tian Zi held the status of a half-divine expert—a considerable leap above an enlightened individual. Those present couldn’t help but recall Lin Xue’s fate, a grim reminder of the vast chasm between enlightenment and divinity

It became clear that both the Clan Head and Elder Mu harbored reservations about allowing Liang to enter the secret realm.

Their attention flicked back to Tian Zi, who had already assumed a meditative posture, exuding an aura of serenity.

Surprise flickered across their faces. Contrary to their expectations, Liang stood there with an air of calmness, showing no signs of intimidation or anger.

Liang’s lips curled into a sneer as he observed the unfolding events. From the moment Tian Zi stepped forward to challenge Lin Xue, Liang had foreseen every detail, his mind playing out the scenario like a well-rehearsed script.

"Senior Tian Di," his voice boomed through the air, heavy with accusation, "is this how the Dong Clan handles their affairs?"

Dong Tian Di’s eyes narrowed at the pointed question, but he remained silent, his stoic expression betraying no emotion.

"Since the Dong Clan cannot uphold their promises, why was I allowed to participate from the very beginning?" Liang’s voice echoed, filled with scorn and bitterness.

Gasps rippled through the assembly of experts, their faces contorting with discomfort. Their collective gazes turned towards Dong Tian Di, searching for a reaction from the clan head.

Why isn’t he responding? Their eyes seemed to silently accuse.

Truthfully, Dong Tian Di found himself in an impossible situation. For one of the rare times in his life, he felt utterly powerless to defend against the accusations being hurled at him. This predicament was his own doing, a trap of his own making.

After all, it was Dong Tian Di who had initially granted Liang’s request. At the time, he never imagined Liang would go to such lengths, using bribes and spending a considerable fortune to secure his place within the secret realm.

In his mind, even if Liang succeeded in the competition, he believed the clan members would simply protest and reject the idea of allowing an outsider like Liang to join them. He had underestimated the cunning and determination of his opponent, a costly miscalculation that now left him grasping for a response he couldn’t find.

Each second of silence eroded the clan’s reputation, and with every passing moment, the truth of Liang’s words became harder to refute.

"Insolent!" A cold, imperious voice suddenly pierced the tense atmosphere. It belonged to none other than Dong Tian Mu.

"How dare an outsider like you comment on how the Dong Clan handles their matters?" Dong Tian Mu’s lifeless eyes bore into Liang with an icy, unyielding glare.

A strange smile curled upon Liang’s lips as he heard this. "Elder Mu, I am no outsider. Dong Rui, the current clan Saintess, and I are engaged, in case you’ve conveniently forgotten."

The mention of Dong Rui caused Dong Tian Mu’s face to darken, his stern expression becoming even more foreboding. "Engaged? And what of it? Inside or outside, my words, I, Tian Mu, are the clan rules."

Without warning, Dong Tian Mu’s aura erupted, sending tremors through the entire realm. The very air seemed to quiver under the vast pressure of his presence, causing every individual within the vicinity to feel an unnerving shiver run down their spines.

The sheer might of Dong Tian Mu left an indelible impression on all who felt it. Too powerful, they all thought.

Then, defying all expectations, Liang began to laugh. It wasn’t a nervous chuckle or a subdued snicker, but a loud, unrestrained laughter that echoed against the very walls of the realm. The unexpected sound startled everyone, even catching Dong Tian Mu off guard, his cold eyes widening slightly at the audacity.

The realm fell into a hushed silence, all eyes now fixated on Liang. Even the arrogant Tian Zi, opened his eyes in disbelief, staring at Liang as if he had indeed lost his mind.

Liang suddenly waved his hands, and a pair of jade pendants shimmered into existence, one in each palm. The air thickened as he channeled his formidable power into the pendants, drawing them closer to each other.

An astonishing, almost divine aura exploded forth, dwarfing even the mighty presence of Dong Tian Mu. The atmosphere quivered under the immense pressure, and countless void cracks appeared as if reality itself couldn’t withstand the force. The entire realm trembled violently, as if on the verge of collapse.

"Junior, stop!" shouted Dong Tian Mu, his voice laced with panic. His eyes reflected genuine fear as his hands moved frantically, etching void runes in the air to stabilize the crumbling realm.

Liang’s hands halted abruptly, but the pendants remained poised to unleash further chaos. "Elder Mu, do you truly believe that preventing me from entering the secret realm is more critical than the realm itself and the lives within it?"

Liang’s meaning was crystal clear, casting a heavy shadow over everyone present.

"Brother Liang, there’s no need to act so rashly!" Dong Tian Di intervened, desperation evident in his tone.

The display of power had unnerved him deeply. The jade pendants clearly housed extreme essences of opposing natures, and they were far from ordinary.

If these two forces collide, the entrance to the Primordial Rune Secret Realm could collapse permanently.

His son and daughter are still inside that realm. He can’t afford to take such a risk.

Liang’s lips curled into a sneer. "Senior Tian Di, weren’t you just opposed to my entry a moment ago?"

Dong Tian Di’s expression became strained, a bitter smile playing on his lips. It was evident that Liang was no simple man; he had probably discerned their plans and devised a countermeasure already.

Dong Tian Mu was lost in thought, Suddenly flicker of surprise crossing his face. With a reluctant sigh, he finally uttered, "Fine, you can enter."

Everyone, including Dong Tian Zi, stood in stunned silence. Had Elder Mu just conceded?