1327 Thin Sword
Of course, God Goldeen was there along with his four protectors. Then there was True God Tatsuya, although Falkor was nowhere to be seen. Additionally, there were the three Princes of the Fiery Lotus Sect and the two sisters of the Flame Rebirth Sect.
Aside from these individuals who Dyon saw as the highest threat, there was Blythe and the now healed Wilder. It wasn’t too shocking that Wilder was in full health now, after all, it had been more than a year now since that incident. But, he no longer had his two protectors considering they died under Dyon’s schemes. However, Blythe did have her own two peak celestial protectors with her.
Finally, there were three talents of the Golden Crow Sect who had just recently broken into the celestial realms. Louis – who inexplicably saw Dyon as a rival – Meaghan and the scantily golden armor clad Angelica who wanted nothing more than to pay Madeleine back for the embarrassment she suffered that day.
All in all, there were 18 individuals who made it to this point. Dyon had to reward their tenacity, but he didn’t take many of them seriously. Other than keeping an eye out for the oddities of the Golden Crow Sect, he really only had to worry about the Gods and the peak celestials.
Just when the group of Geniuses were about to start sneering about Dyon’s lack of presence, the Demon Sage Tower exploded in size, Towering even taller than the sky castle behind them.
It exuded an ancient aura, filled with absolute mastery. Many realized immediately that they couldn’t pin the exact grade of this treasure at all…
Dyon walked out slowly. Other than the best babies who competed for spots on his shoulders and in his arms, Madeleine stood directly to his right side. To his left, there was Yandevere. As for the final Flaming Lily Sect Peak Celestial, Kali, aligning with Dyon’s expectations and wants, she refused to participate in this battle.
A smile coated Dyon’s handsome features, scanning the crowd of geniuses with an incomparably calm expression.
Wilder’s calm expression, however, was nowhere to be seen. He had sunken into his true depravity without reserve. He looked no different from a beast waiting to be released from its leash.
‘He’s infused too many runic veins his body cannot handle into himself.’ Little Yang mumbled. ‘There’s always a price to pay for going against the Heavens… This is his…’
It was at this moment that God Goldeen stepped forward, a light smile on his face.
“True God Sacharro, is there a need to fight? Even if you had all of the Flaming Lily Sect disciples with you, our side has the most Peak Celestials. You’re well aware of who would win. I only ask that you distribute the keys to the third phase fairly. Don’t you think you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?”
“Oh? And how do you suggest I distribute them fairly?” Dyon asked out of curiosity.
“Simple. There are eleven Peak Celestials here, twelve if we count Empress Yandevere. We’ll distribute the keys to them and the rest of us can fight over the one remaining key.”
Dyon’s smiled brightened. “How magnanimous of you, not even counting yourself. Indeed, the bearing of a true leader.”
How could Dyon not understand the purpose behind this? God Goldeen was worried about the Fiery Lotus and Flame Rebirth Peak Celestials turning against him. So, instead, he proposed this plan to directly take them out of the battle. This also crippled Dyon’s plan to make use of the favor he gave the five of them during the first initial trial. It was clever.
However, God Goldeen’s smile was bound to freeze.
“Unfortunately, I have no intention of coughing up the things that I’ve earned. I have the keys because your skills weren’t up to par.” Dyon took a step forward, his valiant aura oppressing those below.
A look of slight graveness colored the faces of those who stood before the 13-keyed door. Which of them weren’t highly valued by their Sect and Clan? So how was it that Dyon’s Presence leaked through their defenses and impacted them?
Dyon’s momentum was at its strongest. He really intended to take them all on and he had the confidence to do so. This wasn’t a fake confidence, it was as though he had absolute certainty in the future!
They couldn’t help but wonder… How did he get more arrogant than he already was?
It was at this moment that the eyes of Yandevere flashed. A sword barely half a finger width wide appeared in her dainty hands and immediately became coated in grey flames the likes of which forcibly made any who saw it take a step back.
Dyon didn’t even had a chance to turn around before the sword pierced through his heart, flooding his body with these tyrannical flames.
Madeleine’s eyes widened in shock. The beast babies who were roughhousing with one another didn’t even notice what happened until the thin sword appeared on the other side of Dyon’s body.
Down below, God Goldeen’s eyes narrowed with a sinister light, the smile of a man who stood atop of the world gracing those around him.
Their Goldeen and Crow Families were the True Inheritors of this world, even if Dyon’s Clan was powerful, so what? How would they ever know who killed him here if his soul jade couldn’t send its message?
The scene was silent.
In truth, the death of a True God was tragic for most. These were geniuses that were practically guaranteed to become Higher Existences in the future. For one to die so young wasn’t just a tragedy for them, but a tragedy for the Martial World as a whole.
Although it was unspoken, the upper echelon of the martial world was well aware of the danger that loomed over them all. In the midst of fighting for benefits and superiority, a small seed at the back of their minds told them that their efforts were meaningless. The Mortal Plane was on the verge of collapse and the kind of individuals that could save it were the very geniuses the so unceremoniously snuffed out, one after another, for their so-called “benefits”.
The human mind was greedy and treacherous, but such blatant actions of terrible self-harm crossed a line, and they knew it. Yet, they did so anyway.
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Aside from Wilder and God Goldeen who took great pleasure in what they were seeing, the faces of everyone else darkened at their shamelessness.
Even if they were here to fight Dyon and to take advantage of their numbers, this was within what was acceptable in the martial the martial world. Even if they won, they had no plans to humiliate or kill Dyon in the least. Yet, these people had actually schemed to do so.
Within the Demon Sage Tower, the fifty or so disciples within looked on his horror. Wasn’t that their First Senior Sister? The woman they all looked up to? What was she doing?
Even Kali who had formed a complicated relationship with Dyon felt that this was too much.
“In your next life, do understand who you can and cannot offend.” God Goldeen said lightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your wife well in your absence.”
Of course, Christian III had no intention of bringing Madeleine out. However, he was still very interested in her flames. If he received them, he’d be able to mitigate the losses of gaining the Sovereign Flame after breaking through to the celestial realm. In that case, he’d raise himself to the level of a True God and maybe even beyond to stand toe to toe with those Outer Quadrant geniuses born with diamond spoons in their mouths.
Dyon’s body withered. He didn’t seem to react as he looked down toward the thin sword in his chest. Madeleine’s eyes glistened with tears, standing unmoving.
“I wonder,” Dyon muttered almost to himself, “Did it feel good to sell out your fellow disciples?”
Yandevere didn’t say a word, only continuing your poor her grey flames into Dyon’s body.
“This is good though.” Dyon said with a slight smile. “I half expected that the traitor among you would be some lesser ranked disciple. Since it’s you, not only will I greatly enjoy wringing you dry of whatever information you have, there should be a lot of it too.”
It was at this moment that Yandevere suddenly felt that something was wrong.