Chapter 105: Foolish God
The moment the colossal existence acknowledged its connection to the Silent Sword Sect, the entire atmosphere changed.
The Azure Cloud cultivators no longer looked arrogant.
They no longer looked confident.
They no longer looked like powerful experts who had crossed continents while treating every obstacle as insignificant.
Instead, they resembled children who had accidentally wandered into the territory of an ancient beast.
The difference was immediate.
The difference was obvious.
The difference was humiliating.
Every single one of them could feel the unfathomable pressure descending from above.
The strange thing was that the pressure itself did not seem hostile.
It was not actively crushing them.
It was not attacking them.
It was not targeting them.
Yet merely standing beneath the gaze of that faceless giant caused their souls to tremble.
It was as though every instinct they possessed was screaming at them.
Do not offend it.
Do not anger it.
Do not challenge it.
Several Azure Cloud disciples immediately lowered their heads.
Others cupped their fists.
A few even stepped backward unconsciously.
The confidence they displayed moments earlier had completely disappeared.
Liang Feng swallowed.
His throat felt dry.
Very dry.
For the first time in many years, he found himself unable to think clearly.
The giant before him did not resemble any cultivator he had ever heard of.
The ancient records of the Azure Cloud Sect contained countless descriptions of legendary beings.
Ancient dragons.
Immortal sovereigns.
World-ending beasts.
Forgotten gods.
Yet none resembled this.
None.
The stars moving beneath the giant’s body alone were enough to shatter everything Liang Feng believed about cultivation.
Finally, he forced himself to step forward.
His hands trembled slightly.
He immediately cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
"This junior is Liang Feng of the Azure Cloud Sect. Earlier, I spoke carelessly because I was ignorant of Senior’s presence. If any disrespect was shown, then I sincerely ask Senior to forgive the ignorance of this junior."
The moment he spoke, the others quickly followed.
One by one.
Without hesitation.
Without pride.
Without dignity.
The woman named Yue Lin immediately lowered her head.
"This junior Yue Lin greets Senior. We traveled here after sensing unusual spiritual disturbances and did not know this territory already belonged to such an exalted existence. If our words offended Senior, then this junior sincerely apologizes."
The body cultivator Han Mo stepped forward as well.
His towering frame appeared insignificant beneath the shadow of the giant.
"This junior Han Mo asks Senior for forgiveness. We merely wished to investigate the recent changes occurring in this region. We had absolutely no intention of provoking Senior."
Soon more voices followed.
One after another.
The Azure Cloud cultivators hurriedly introduced themselves.
Each became more respectful than the last.
Several even bowed deeply enough that their foreheads nearly touched their flying swords.
The disciples of the Silent Sword Sect watched everything with widening eyes.
Many of them struggled to believe what they were seeing.
These people had arrived with overwhelming confidence.
These same people had spoken as though the Silent Sword Sect were ants beneath their feet.
Now they looked terrified.
The sight alone filled many disciples with pride.
Above them, Clayne watched everything.
To him, the scene looked somewhat amusing.
Naturally, he had absolutely no idea what these people were imagining.
In his eyes, they were simply tiny people standing on floating islands.
However, after observing their reactions, he suddenly remembered something.
A promise.
The thought immediately made him look toward Liang Feng.
Then his voice descended from the heavens.
The sound rolled through mountains.
It crossed rivers.
It shook clouds.
Every cultivator present felt their hearts skip a beat.
"I remember that one of you made a promise."
The words immediately froze Liang Feng.
The giant continued.
"You said that if I could prove myself stronger than you, then you would abandon your sect and willingly become a disciple beneath those standing before you."
The moment those words descended, countless eyes turned toward Liang Feng.
The Azure Cloud cultivator immediately felt cold sweat appear on his forehead.
The disciples of Silent Sword Sect also remembered.
Zi Yue remembered.
Every disciple remembered.
Liang Feng had indeed said that.
His face immediately became pale.
Above him, the giant continued speaking.
"The disciples of the Silent Sword Sect possess fate with me. Their survival is tied to my existence. Their future concerns me. Therefore, when someone makes a promise involving them, I naturally pay attention."
The voice remained calm.
Yet every word felt heavier than a mountain.
"The relationship between cultivators is built upon cause and effect. Promises carry weight. Words carry weight. A declaration made before countless witnesses carries even greater weight."
The giant’s gaze slowly settled upon Liang Feng.
The Azure Cloud cultivator felt as though his soul had frozen.
"If your promise remains valid, then I shall gladly accept another disciple."
Liang Feng’s heart nearly stopped.
His entire body trembled.
The confidence from earlier had completely vanished.
He hurriedly raised both hands.
"No, no, Senior misunderstands. Earlier, this junior was merely speaking casually. It was only a joke. This junior absolutely did not intend to challenge Senior."
The moment he finished speaking, the temperature seemed to drop.
The giant remained silent.
That silence became more terrifying than any roar.
Then the voice descended once more.
"A joke?"
The simple question made Liang Feng’s legs weaken.
Cold sweat poured down his back.
The giant continued.
"So you casually offer your future as a joke."
The pressure in the surroundings increased slightly.
"So you casually involve the disciples of this sect in your joke."
The floating islands trembled.
"So you casually make promises before hundreds of witnesses."
The clouds themselves began shaking.
Then came the final question.
"So you are making a fool out of me?"
Liang Feng nearly collapsed.
Every Azure Cloud cultivator became horrified.
The giant did not sound angry.
That was the problem.
The calmness was far more terrifying.
Liang Feng immediately shook his head so violently that his hair became disheveled.
"No, Senior, absolutely not. This junior would never dare. Even if this junior possessed ten thousand lives, I still would not dare make a fool out of Senior."
His mind worked desperately.
Excuses.
He needed excuses.
Any excuse.
Every survival instinct in his body screamed at him.
Finally, inspiration struck.
His eyes widened.
Then he immediately spoke.
"Senior, the reason this junior made that statement was because I was moved by the extraordinary talent displayed by the disciples of this sect. Upon seeing their determination and potential, I genuinely felt that such talents should not remain hidden. However, decisions involving sect membership cannot be made by this junior alone. Matters involving inheritance, loyalty, and future cultivation paths require discussion with my teachers and elders."
Liang Feng swallowed.
Obviously, he’s lying.
So he hurriedly continued.
"If Senior truly desires it, then this junior is willing to return and report everything personally. I will inform my elders about the magnificence of the Silent Sword Sect. I will explain the greatness of Senior. I will discuss possible cooperation. Therefore, this junior merely requests a little time."
The Azure Cloud cultivators immediately nodded.
Several secretly praised Liang Feng.
It was a decent excuse.
A very decent excuse.
At least it sounded reasonable.
Unfortunately, before anyone could relax, a voice suddenly erupted from the crowd.
A young cultivator suddenly flew upward.
His face was red.
His eyes burned with indignation.
Unlike the others, fear had not completely consumed him.
Perhaps he was too young.
Perhaps he was too proud.
Perhaps he simply lacked common sense.
Whatever the reason, he suddenly pointed toward the heavens.
"Why are all of you wasting words with this thing?"
The surroundings instantly became silent.
Every Azure Cloud cultivator froze.
Several stared at him in horror.
The young man continued.
His voice grew louder.
More emotional.
More reckless.
"All of you are acting as though this being is invincible, but what proof do we actually have? We have not seen it attack. We have not seen it fight. We have only seen a large appearance and a strange aura."
His finger remained pointed toward the giant.
A gesture that caused many cultivators to nearly faint.
Then he shouted.
"That thing is probably weaker than us! If that is the case, why don’t we simply attack and find out?"