Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest-Chapter 401 - 97: One Man Holds the Pass

Chapter 401: Chapter 97: One Man Holds the Pass

The Onmyoji, Asou Yuuto, who just retrieved the treasure, claimed he didn’t receive any reward from the Departure Palace. Is what he said true or false?

Shenyuan Simie tends to think he’s lying, as he has always been inclined to suspect the worst of everyone around him.

Xiandao Jingyin felt he wasn’t lying. However, whatever the actual situation, she had to proceed as if “Asou had lied.”

The reason was simple: if the Departure Palace transferred the Taoism Method’s knowledge directly into the recipient’s mind instead of giving out scrolls, then only the recipient would know whether the reward had been received or not.

If they chose to believe Asou’s statement and did not administer a severe punishment, then the subordinates who retrieved the treasures afterward might be tempted to follow suit, claiming adamantly that “there’s a problem with the Departure Palace mechanism” or “I did not receive the reward”… In such a case, things would become completely unmanageable.

This loophole cannot be allowed!

...

Therefore, regardless of whether Asou was lying, from the moment he said “I did not receive the reward,” he was doomed to face severe punishment.

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Xiandao Jingyin simply waved her hand, and two ninjas lifted the limp Asou Yuuto from the ground, planning to drag him to a corner for a harsh interrogation.

Asou Yuuto’s face turned pale, and suddenly he clenched his teeth, turning into a beam of white light and disappearing.

Disappeared?

Xiandao Jingyin and Shenyuan Simie were slightly taken aback, then their expressions changed drastically.

That bastard! He’s teleported out of the Mysterious Realm!

According to the Departure Palace’s female voice just now, it is known that any Transcendent who has taken a treasure can choose to be teleported out of the Mysterious Realm at any time.

The principle is the same, whether Asou Yuuto has fled with the treasure intending to keep it all for himself, or if he indeed did not receive any treasure and did not want to be tortured to death… In any case, once he teleported out of the Mysterious Realm without permission, he committed an unquestionable act of treason.

“Asou Yuuto has fled with the treasure,” Xiandao Jingyin said indifferently. “This is treason. After leaving here, we shall proceed to a military tribunal for trial and he shall be severely punished without mercy.”

Shenyuan Simie let out a slight smile, looking around at everyone, and reminded:

“Kill his entire family.”

Though the phrase ‘kill the entire family’ may be a bit exaggerated, it is imaginable that as long as Asou Yuuto remains hidden outside for one day, his family will suffer indescribable torture until he can no longer endure the torment of his conscience and chooses to show himself.

The other Onmyoji were as pale as death, silent as cicadas in winter, only to hear Xiandao Jingyin speak again:

“Matsushima Kouhei, it’s your turn to retrieve the treasure.”

Although he was the second among them to receive a reward, the ninja named Matsushima Kouhei had a look of utter despair and dared not defy Xiandao Jingyin’s command, silently kneeling on the cushion to pray.

The female voice of the Departure Palace sounded again, offering a choice between three forms of the Taoism Method.

Matsushima Kouhei, following Xiandao Jingyin’s command, selected one of the Qi Refinement techniques. Then he waited with an ashen face for a long time before carefully shaking his head.

This made Xiandao Jingyin about eighty percent sure that there actually was a problem with the Departure Palace mechanism… because Matsushima Kouhei was a reliable confidant arranged for her by her family, with very little chance of betrayal.

Of course, this possibility could not be completely ruled out, so she waved her hand, commanding her subordinates to take Matsushima Kouhei away for interrogation.

“Furuta Yancun, you retrieve the treasure,” said Shenyuan Simie coldly.

The samurai Furuta, with an expression of resigned determination, knelt on the cushion and bowed three times, praying for the treasure.

Again the choice between three forms of the Taoism Method was given, and again after the selection was made, the claim “the reward has been issued” was pronounced, but Furuta Yancun just silently checked himself all over before stating:

“I have not received anything, nor have I heard any sound.”

The onmyoji present exchanged glances, feeling in their hearts that they believed about eighty percent of what was said and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Since the samurai from Gu Tian were acknowledged by Lord Iwai Ichiro and known for their obstinate integrity and meticulous attention, it was highly improbable that they would lie about a Taoism Method—what use did a samurai have for spells? It’s not like they could switch professions to become an onmyoji!

Xiandao Jingyin once again waved her hand, signaling her subordinates to bring Matsushima Kouhei back. Just as she was about to speak, the voice of Shenyuan Simie cut in:

“Even if we consider Matsushima and Gu Tian to have not lied for now, it doesn’t mean Aisou is without issue.”

Upon hearing this, the onmyoji who had just let down their guard tensed up again: Damn Aisou! Why did he teleport away without permission?!

“Let everyone else try in order as well,” Xiandao Jingyin ordered, “Asai, make the arrangements.”

Handing over the task of organizing the treasure search to her deputy, Xiandao Jingyin and Shenyuan Simie moved to a corner of the hall, their expressions darkening simultaneously.

“We’ve been played,” said Xiandao Jingyin with a grim face.

“No matter how the cultivators from Lu Country managed to lock down the mechanism of Li Palace so it wouldn’t release the treasures,” Shenyuan Simie also said somberly, “the top priority is to have everyone take their turn quickly. If we confirm that there truly are no treasures, we must hasten to teleport out of The Secret Realm of Li Palace.”

“We can’t leave,” Xiandao Jingyin said after a moment of silence, suddenly speaking up, “If we leave now, we will lose all chance of explaining ourselves.”

“And can we explain if we stay?” Shenyuan Simie sneered mockingly, “If you were Stevenson or Park Changmin, and I told you we got no treasures, so the original agreement to submit and redistribute cannot be carried out, would you believe me?”

“I would be skeptical,” answered Xiandao Jingyin, “and then I would have my people enter Li Palace to check as well.”

“But the cultivators from Lu Country must have foreseen this,” said Shenyuan Simie, narrowing his eyes, “If this is a trap they’ve set up, why would they leave us any room to explain?”

“But if we teleport away now, that will only confirm the accusations of us stealing the treasures and fleeing, and then we’ll never be able to clear things up,” insisted Xiandao Jingyin, “If we go out and explain ourselves now, even if we can’t convince them and avoid a conflict, at least we’ve shown our stance. There might still be room to turn things around.”

“So what if it’s confirmed?” Shenyuan Simie said viciously, “The Westerners and the mixed breeds never intended to ally with us to begin with. This so-called tripartite alliance, from the moment we entered The Secret Realm of Li Palace, has proven that everyone harbors their own schemes. Can’t you see that?”

“We’ve already fallen into the big pit the cultivators from Lu Country have dug for us. Instead of thinking about climbing out quickly, you want to fight them to the death in this pit. Isn’t that exactly what the cultivators from Lu Country want?”

“Now, if we break off ties with the other two factions, causing the tripartite alliance to completely collapse and lose any chance of coming together to resist Lu Country in the future, that’s precisely what the cultivators from Lu Country are hoping for,” said Xiandao Jingyin coldly, “Success on a tactical level must not overshadow a failure on a strategic level!”

“I’ve made up my mind. Immediately invite the representatives from Superhero Alliance and Pear Blossom Courtyard to try for the treasures and let them verify that the mechanism is malfunctioning. There’s no need to discuss it further.”

“Hmph,” Shenyuan Simie sneered, seeing that she didn’t take his advice, “Xiandao, you will regret this.”

“Don’t forget,” Xiandao Jingyin retorted coldly, “I am the leader of this expedition.”

Shenyuan Simie walked to the side, folding his arms and watching the onmyoji line up to kneel on the cushions, only to show expressions of disappointment one by one.

Xiandao Jingyin meanwhile, approached the gates of Li Palace and peered stealthily outside.

The cultivators from Lu Country were still bombarding the main entrance of Li Palace, thwarting the group of onmyoji that had yet to enter—the onmyoji attempted to storm the high ground of Li Palace from the left staircase, trying to push towards the main entrance, the progress proving to be arduous.

Beneath the right staircase were the swordsmen from Pear Blossom Courtyard, conducting raids up to the high ground with Flying Swords. The cultivators from Lu Country dispatched Guo Feiyun, Ai Lu, and Ye Jun, who engaged in a swordsmanship dismantle across the staircase with them—not quite a deadlock, as it was clear that the swordsmen from Pear Blossom Courtyard were not putting in their full effort.

And the superheroes?

Xiandao Jingyin looked again to see all the superheroes gathered at the main staircase, frantically charging the formation above.

But they couldn’t break through!

Because Yan Yu, the Longcheng Flying General, stood alone with his sword, firmly guarding the main staircase and ensuring not a single superhero could advance!

One man holds the pass, ten thousand cannot break through!