Chapter 481: Chapter 480: Indecision in a Crisis, Duel for Judgment
"How dare you threaten us?" Ouyang He’s piercing gaze locked onto Qin Yanyang as he shouted loudly.
"You scoundrel, still daring to threaten us while trapped in a cage, it’s truly presumptuous!"
"Don’t even consider whether you still have the chance to leave here alive."
"With those common people from the outside world, you wish to threaten us?"
"It’s utterly ridiculous!"
To the vast majority of Hidden Sect Practitioners, the so-called threats from Qin Yanyang were a joke.
They didn’t believe that the outside world had the capability to threaten the existence of the Hidden Sect Plane, considering Qin Yanyang’s words mere bluster.
Even though the two Divine Travel Realm experts, Mo Li and Chen Liangzhong, had confirmed and verified that the Military Department’s experts were guarding the outside, blocking the roads out from the Hidden Sect and even taking nineteen young talents from various Hidden Sect forces as hostages, the vast majority of Hidden Sect Practitioners still felt that they couldn’t be blackmailed by Qin Yanyang.
Those who had cultivated for thousands of years, high and mighty, how could they be threatened by mere mortals?
Qin Yanyang and Yang Fei felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
The situation wasn’t looking good.
Yang Fei said loudly, "Well then, if you are not afraid of dying and have no intention of letting my wife and I leave, I will let the Taoist Cultivation Technique secret manuals disappear from this world along with me. Also, you better be right in your gamble, betting that modern weapons from the outside pose no threat to you. Otherwise, if my wife and I don’t leave this place, and the outside world bombards the Hidden Sect, then you can wait to be buried with us."
At these words, there was an outcry from the other side, some saying they were not afraid of the external threat, some assuring to spare Yang Fei’s life if he handed over the secret manuals immediately, and others promising him a quick death when the time came.
In short, the people of the Hidden Sect couldn’t reach a consensus.
But it wasn’t hard to tell from their behavior that they truly wouldn’t compromise and didn’t believe the threats Qin Yanyang mentioned would endanger their lives.
According to their understanding, the Hidden Sect Plane World had existed for over a thousand years; how could such a world be so easily destroyed by the outside?
However, a few Divine Travel Realm powerhouses didn’t express their stances lightly.
Especially Mo Li and Chen Liangzhong, who after personally witnessing the terrifying power of the outside world’s special weapons, subconsciously felt fearful in their hearts.
Moreover, Divine Travel Realm powerhouses were more sensitive to the Heaven and Earth Power of the Hidden Sect Plane; they had already noticed that the plane was not as stable as before. While a plane collapse might not happen in the short term, the Hidden Sect World had to consider the future, which is why more and more people had started discussing the idea of ’entering the world’ in recent years.
"Brother Wang, Mo Li and I personally broke out before. Despite being prepared, we only lasted barely three breaths of time in the outside world before we were forced to retreat. The weapons controlled by the outside world already possess a great lethal threat to us, not to be underestimated," said Chen Liangzhong suddenly to Wang Chunyang.
He came from a declining family, and after getting to know Wang Chunyang in his early years and being taken care of by him, he later joined the Langya Wang Family with Wang Chunyang, becoming an enforcer of the Wang Family.
Hearing this, Mo Li also nodded in agreement, "Brother Chen is not exaggerating. We haven’t fully recovered from our injuries yet, which is proof of that."
Wang Chunyang nodded silently, then turned to Ouyang He and asked, "Senior Ouyang, how do you think we should deal with this matter?"
Ouyang He was the oldest among them all, and as one of the top five combatants in the Hidden Sect World, Wang Chunyang had great respect for him.
Before Ouyang He could answer, Wang Changchun said, "I believe this matter cannot be taken lightly. We must not undermine the dignity of our Hidden Sect, nor can we ignore the threat from the outside world to the Hidden Sect; we must treat it with caution."
Ouyang He frowned upon hearing this; he was quite stubborn in his thinking. He believed that the face of the Hidden Sect could not be lost. The Divine Continent Country had always been a subordinate to the Hidden Sect, and now they were threatening the Hidden Sect World, pulling down those who were high above; this was something he couldn’t tolerate.
Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly came to his ears, "Master, just let him go."
Ouyang He was slightly taken aback, as if he sensed something, and glanced in a certain direction, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he said to Wang Chunyang, "This matter is of great importance, and it is not for me alone to reach a hasty conclusion. Since you are asking me, you must have an answer in mind. Let’s hear it."
Wang Changchun also nodded and said, "Indeed, Wang Chunyang, let us hear your Wang Family’s stance."
The rest looked towards Wang Chunyang.
Although the majority of loose cultivators and members from smaller sects wished to let Yang Fei go, as long as he shared the secret manuals with the public.
But they were well aware that such a significant matter couldn’t be decided by their clamor alone; it would require the consultation of the Eight Great Forces.
Seeing everyone’s eyes on him, Wang Chunyang pondered for a moment and said, "What Senior Ouyang has said makes sense. Now, out of the Eight Great Forces, only representatives from the Wang Family, Poison Sect, and Giant Sword Manor who can make decisions are present. Five Great Forces still lack decision-makers; thus we cannot hastily conclude."
Ouyang He and others couldn’t help but show a hint of disappointment.
They thought Wang Chunyang would take a stand, yet he hesitated to make a rash judgment just like everyone else.
Just then, Wang Chunyang continued, "However, I can make clear the stance of the Wang Family."
At these words, everyone looked at him again with anticipation.
Wang Chunyang said, "Mo Li and Chen Liangzhong have personally tested the power of external weapons, indicating that our understanding of the outside world is insufficient. Now, it is not just the girl in our hands who has disciples of various powers as hostages, but also the lives of millions of beings from the Hidden Sect depend on our thoughts. Therefore, we cannot hastily harm this girl. But the face of our Hidden Sect cannot be trampled by juniors from the outside world so casually. Hence, we need to find a middle ground that won’t damage the harmony between the two realms."
Wang Changchun frowned and asked, "What kind of middle ground?"
Wang Chunyang replied, "Combat."
Ouyang He heard this and smiled, nodding, "This is an excellent method. Let’s follow the thousand-year-old rule of our Hidden Sect World, to resolve uncertainties through combat!"
Wang Changchun’s eyes lit up, and he nodded, "Indeed, it’s a solution."
The rest nodded silently.
For such a significant issue, if the representatives of the Eight Great Forces had an idea, it was up to them to watch.
Moreover, since ancient times, the Hidden Sect World had the custom to settle disputes through combat.
"Very well, let’s decide by combat."
Qin Yanyang, seeing Wang Chunyang propose this method, found it precisely what he desired and immediately said, "As far as I know, the rules of combat in the Hidden Sect are always fair and just, so I trust that the seniors here won’t let my wife and I suffer from unfair treatment, right?"
Wang Changchun snorted coldly, "Stop provoking with words. Following Mr. Wang’s suggestion, we’ve already given you a chance, so don’t think about proposing any more excessive demands."
Qin Yanyang smiled and shook his head, "Don’t worry, senior, the demands I plan to propose won’t be excessive."
Wang Chunyang smiled faintly and said, "It seems my proposal is exactly what you wanted?"
Qin Yanyang didn’t hide it, nodding, "Yes. I knew this journey would be perilous, and you wouldn’t let my wife and I leave easily. There was bound to be a confrontation."
Wang Chunyang said, "Since it’s combat, there will be a wager."
Qin Yanyang replied, "Of course. If my wife and I lose, I swear on my honor that Yang Fei will indeed share his Cultivation Technique with the public."
Wang Chunyang smiled and shook his head, "You’re mistaken. I proposed giving you and your wife the opportunity for combat precisely because Yang Fei will share the Cultivation Technique with the public. Hence, this cannot count as your wager."
Qin Yanyang and Yang Fei frowned.
From what Wang Chunyang suggested, it seemed that sharing the Taoist Cultivation Technique with the public was mandatory. On this basis alone, they gained the opportunity to fight. Otherwise, they would be left with no choice but to fight to the bitter end, with no chance of being allowed to leave.
"Then what do you want for a wager?" Qin Yanyang asked gravely.