Published: March 3, 2025
Chapter 451: The Return Journey and Assassination
At the last moment, he still recited the teachings of the Holy Flame Sect with full vigor, though there was inevitably a hint of regret in his tone.
The goal he had struggled for all his life remained unfulfilled until death!
Through his disheveled hair, Shirenjie’s murky eyes shone brightly as he meticulously scanned the square, as if searching for someone to firmly imprint this final scene in his heart.
He knew that among the bustling crowd, there might be cultivators of the Holy Flame Sect lurking in the square.
As long as he gave the order, someone would charge forward to rescue him, but he had no intention of calling for help.
With the presence of Yellow Sand Master, any rescue attempt would be futile.
To this day, the sect's strength had dramatically weakened, and he couldn't allow them to send themselves to their deaths for his sake, making a pointless sacrifice.
"I hope that after I die, the sect quickly gives birth to the next golden core cultivator, so that the radicals and the moderates do not head towards division and ultimately extinction," Shirenjie silently thought in his final moments, unable to let this concern go.
Below, there was silence; the square was eerily quiet.
To the Divine Sand Sect, the Holy Flame Sect was no different from a demonic cultivator gang, posing an even greater threat than the latter.
After all, the former represented an organized "remnant of the old dynasty," intent on toppling the sect’s rule, while the latter only engaged in minor disturbances, incapable of causing any real upheaval.
But for ordinary cultivators, it was not necessarily the same.
Since the Divine Sand Sect took over the West Sand Kingdoms, order had become increasingly chaotic, and ordinary cultivators had long suffered in silence.
In contrast, during the reign of the Holy Flame Sect, at least there was some semblance of stability, making ordinary cultivators somewhat nostalgic.
Moreover, now was the era when the Holy Flame Sect had vanished without a trace; ordinary cultivators had only heard of it and thus had no real impression.
The different positions led to different perspectives; while ordinary cultivators might not openly oppose Yellow Sand Master’s label of “evil demon,” they did not truly believe it in their hearts.
Looking at the golden core master on the execution platform, Liu Yu felt an indescribable sentiment.
Could even a golden core cultivator end up as a prisoner awaiting execution?
"Indeed, this path of cultivating immortality is not suited for those who bear too much."
"When the burdens become too many, one loses the true essence of freedom, making it difficult to act."
"Perhaps this cultivation path is a gradual process of letting go of some things and gradually picking others back up."
Liu Yu thought silently in the square.
He noticed that Tang Tianbao was terrifyingly calm, like a truly indifferent bystander.
As for the cultivator known as Uncle Yang, he was indeed worldly-wise, still able to engage in lighthearted banter at this moment.
Even Zhou Ziwen seemed to have calmed down on the surface, although a strange light still flickered in his eyes.
Looking at Shirenjie, who was chained by iron shackles and could only kneel before the execution platform, pain flashed in the eyes of this individual, seemingly related to Shirenjie.
Liu Yu silently observed the expressions of the three.
On the platform, Shirenjie withdrew his gaze and recited the teachings of the Holy Flame Sect, but his voice grew increasingly calm.
Yellow Sand Master’s gaze swept across the crowd with authority, and he coldly smiled at Shirenjie, showing no intention of allowing him to finish his recitation.
With a glance, a strongman understood and stepped forward, raising a decapitating magical artifact high and bringing it down heavily.
"Thud~"
In an instant, the cold blade flashed, and Shirenjie was severed at the neck, blood spurting from the wound, and his body fell to the ground like an ordinary person.