The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 478: I Don’t Want to Kill!

I Don't Want to Kill! . . .

With Cha Monarch's relentless taunting of Bu Jingtian's lifeless body, the collective fury of the assembly reached its zenith. They cast aside their remaining caution regarding the poison, utterly incensed by his provocations. Their initial trepidation was replaced with unbridled anger.

In the midst of their gathering, poised to confront their adversary, the insidious poison fog resurfaced once more. The shockwave it generated was palpable, and none were prepared for its reappearance. The toxic shroud blanketed both factions, envenoming all who came into contact with it.

Their entire ranks were now poisoned, and the unthinkable had become a horrifying reality. This unforeseen turn of events brought them closer to the precipice of death than they could have ever imagined.

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The members of the two great sects, as well as the Ling-Bao Hall assassins and Wan Zhenghao's followers, stood in dumbfounded disbelief. It was now clear that Cha Monarch had never intended to release his adversaries. All his prior actions, the bluffs, ruses, enigmatic speeches, and the eviction of unwanted onlookers—all had been part of a carefully orchestrated scheme. His true objective had been to employ the poison to eliminate all sixty-three formidable cultivators.

The lethal plan unfolded without hesitation. The last remaining poison bead, out of the five Cha Monarch had initially prepared, had become the catalyst for this fateful act. Although he had already expended four beads to combat the massive assassin force, the fifth bead would prove to be the most impactful. It was a deadly crescendo, a culmination of his efforts.

He had now expended all his poison beads, leaving him without any. Yet, despite his protests to the contrary, those who had witnessed the horrific potency of the poison and the devastating outcome of its use were left incredulous. They found it impossible to accept that he no longer possessed any of these deadly artifacts. It was as if Cha Monarch had an inexhaustible supply of poison dan beads in his possession. He could extract as many as he pleased, and those who had glimpsed the venom's true nature now held no doubt about his capabilities. They could not believe, and dared not believe, that he had run out.

It was a chilling realization: anyone who had placed their faith in Cha Monarch's supposed lack of additional poison beads was now lifeless.

As the dark veil of smoke dissipated, Cha Monarch stood tall, his hands resting on his back. His eyes bore into them with a frigid detachment that knew no cruelty or mercy, only an icy indifference.

He delivered his words with the somber finality of a judge passing sentence. "I told you to leave or die. Did you truly believe it was a jest?"

"I issued a warning, but none of you heeded it," he continued with a cold smile. "Did you truly think I lacked the resolve to kill you merely because you belong to the two great sects?"

"Did you genuinely believe that the names of your sects, tainted by centuries of decay, could grant you unchecked dominion in the martial world?"

In his eyes, a potent blend of scorn and pity was unmistakable. "You were wrong. Now, bear the consequences of your errors with your lives."

The cultivators, trapped in this nightmarish ordeal, looked upon Cha Monarch with expressions of despair. Their desperation had reached a point where words held no meaning, and they were left in a state of bewildered paralysis.

An intolerable itch, like a thousand crawling insects, consumed their bodies from head to toe. It assaulted their eyes, noses, ears, mouths, necks, chests, and even their toes. Each inch of their skin was a battleground for maddening discomfort, yet they dared not give in to the urge to scratch, for they had witnessed the fate of the Ling-Bao Hall assassins and the ruthless poison's consequences.

Remaining as still as statues, they locked their desperate gazes onto Cha Monarch, their eyes burning with fury and resolve.

In their hearts, a collective determination had arisen: if this night were to mark their end, Cha Monarch would accompany them in the journey to the underworld. They could no longer suppress the relentless itching, but they possessed the power for one final act.

The significance of this final act was undeniable. Whether they succeeded or perished in the attempt, the relief from the itching torment would soon be beyond their grasp.

With a fierce determination, they steeled themselves for this ultimate struggle, ready to face the consequences of their defiance.

Cha Monarch, however, had different plans. He blinked and spoke with an air of mercy, "Nevertheless, a man should show compassion. I am not one to relish taking lives. There have been enough deaths in this place, and I wish to spare more. You are mere individuals following orders, and though you came with arrogance, you have not harmed any of my people. I have no intention of inflicting further death upon you. I can offer you a reprieve, on one condition."

Pausing for effect, he continued, "Whoever pledges that their enmity will cease after today may step forward and claim a dan bead for detoxification. Afterward, we will part ways and continue with our lives."

These words were a lifeline in the shadow of impending doom, and hope flickered in the eyes of the afflicted. None desired death if there was an opportunity for life. The chance to be freed from the poison's grasp was alluring.

While it was true that no one but Cha Monarch could detoxify the poison beads, not only due to his expertise in their creation but also his unparalleled alchemical skills, the prospect of survival seemed more attainable with each passing moment.

Some among the group contemplated, "If I survive this night, I will make that pledge. What's the harm in it? Even if I never have to make that promise, I will abstain from opposing him in the future. Confronting him is too perilous."

Yet, many more harbored a stark bitterness in their gazes. They nodded in apparent agreement with Cha Monarch's proposal, yet their eyes betrayed a different intention. Once they departed this cursed place alive, they would gather the collective strength of their sects to take vengeance upon Cha Monarch. Even if they could not reach him, the members of Ling-Bao Hall would bear the brunt of their wrath.

Vengeance was a promise they intended to keep.