Chapter 1750: The First to Ascend the Tower

The disciples of the Illusory Sect fell silent. Despite the clamor in their minds, no one dared to voice a rebuttal this time.

"Isn't the Immortal Venerable the Wind God? Yet these Heavenly Palace members claim he only arrived in the Inverse Ocean 150 years ago?" However, no one in their sect, except for the Sect Master and a few elders, had lived for over 150 years. Therefore, they genuinely had no knowledge of events from a century and a half ago.

Which side spoke the truth, and which lied? Whom should they trust, and whom should they doubt? Their minds were in complete disarray.

"You fools, alive you're a joke, dead you're fuel." Having vented his frustrations, Bai Shiqi finally turned and made a "completion" gesture towards the top of the lighthouse.

The conversation between the two sides had just been amplified by spiritual power, spreading across the entire battlefield! Every Illusory Sect disciple fighting within the lighthouse's barrier heard Bai Shiqi's exposition clearly. As for whether they considered it slander or the truth—

Bai Ziqi, standing atop the lighthouse, gazed down at the battlefield with a faint smile. He had long observed that the Illusory Sect disciples on the battlefield were generally young, inferring that most were natives of Silver Pearl Island. It was impossible for Qian Huan to have brought tens of thousands of followers when he came here for secluded cultivation; these disciples must have been recruited locally by the Illusory Sect.

Heh, he had effortlessly struck a critical weakness of the Illusory Sect. Who told Qian Huan to be so lazy when he took control of the Inverse Ocean, usurping the name of the Wind God for his own gain? From the True Immortals down to the Illusory Sect, none of them cared to expend any effort on the common people.

As for what he had Bai Shiqi say, it was merely his personal inference, a single perspective. How much of it was true and how much was false... did it truly matter? Once this crucial battle concluded today, neither the Heavenly Palace nor the Illusory Sect would spare Silver Pearl Island another thought. What concern were the lives and deaths of these commoners, or even these Illusory Sect disciples, to them?

Elder Xu let out a thunderous roar, also amplified by spiritual power across the battlefield: "Disciples of the Illusory Sect, heed my command! The Heavenly Palace harbors deep murderous intent and spreads deceitful lies. We must steadfastly guard our dao hearts, eliminate them entirely, and never be swayed by these karmic impediments!"

He was not foolish; he immediately seized upon another crucial point: The Heavenly Devils and the Illusory Sect were now irreconcilable; only one side would leave the Inverse Ocean alive today. If their resolve faltered, every Illusory Sect disciple here would perish with them!

Bai Ziqi smiled faintly and responded, raising his voice: "Listen closely, disciples of the Illusory Sect: The Heavenly Palace's sole target is Qian Huan. Those who do not wish to sacrifice their lives for these old deceivers need only withdraw from the battlefield immediately, and we will not pursue you!"

Earlier, most of the Illusory Sect disciples had been thrown into disarray by Bai Shiqi's words. The Heavenly Palace was their enemy, so naturally, they spread deceitful lies. But could the conversation emanating from the lighthouse be entirely baseless? These so-called "deceitful lies" seemed to contain a few points that corroborated existing doubts about the Inverse Ocean from past years. Once the seed of doubt was planted, it was impossible to uproot.

Seeing his objective achieved, Bai Ziqi raised a hand and deactivated the amplification spiritual power.

At the base of the lighthouse, Bai Shiqi addressed the Illusory Sect captives: "I'm offering you one last chance: surrender to the Heavenly Palace. There are two ways to enter the tower: either walk up yourselves, or—" He raised his chin and nodded towards the small door at the tower's base: "—be thrown inside." The corpses earlier had also been thrown in. Naturally, these words were not amplified; only those few present could hear them.

The captives' expressions shifted, all of them caught in indecision. These wicked people from the Heavenly Palace would certainly make good on their threat, but they had, after all, been members of the sect for many years, and this...

Bai Shiqi showed no impatience, allowing them time to consider. After roughly seven or eight breaths, a disciple finally spoke up, stammering, "I... I..."

The gazes of his fellow disciples collectively swiveled towards him. He could only steel himself and declare, "I'll go up the tower!" He was the first to surrender.

"Uncle Wu?" a nearby fellow disciple faintly called out, seemingly surprised.

The man named Wu looked straight ahead, not daring to meet the gaze of his fellow disciples.

"Name?"

"I... My name is Wu Shidao!"

Bai Shiqi asked him, "How long have you been a disciple?"

"Thi-thirty-nine years!" Since Wu Shidao had made up his mind to surrender, he divulged everything. "I came to the mountain when I was five, and I've already experienced..."

Bai Shiqi interrupted, "What position do you hold in the Illusory Sect?"

"All the departments, halls, and workshops—I've worked in them all!" Wu Shidao nervously licked his lips. "My aptitude is ordinary; after fifteen years, I could hardly advance my cultivation, so I was assigned to manage secular assets. After I turned twenty-five, I returned to the mountain and served three elders. Finally, Elder Xu took me under his peak, and I ranked forty-seventh. I've done every kind of odd job in the sect, and now I'm specifically in charge of welcoming new disciples."

He was a jack-of-all-trades, excellent. They had finally found him. Bai Shiqi understood that his master did not want someone who was oblivious to everything outside the sect. "So, you're very familiar with the Illusory Sect?"

"Com-completely familiar."

"What about the Haoyuan Golden Mirror?"

"I'm also familiar with it; I've been in charge of the Wenhua Pavilion for over ten years. Usually..." He swallowed, "Usually, I'm quite close to the Sect Master and the elders!"

"Excellent," Bai Shiqi said with a smile, pointing upwards at the tower. "Go on up."

Someone came to untie Wu Shidao. He strode swiftly, heading up the tower without a backward glance. But he hadn't even climbed halfway when he suddenly heard Bai Shiqi's voice from below: "Throw them all in."

Wu Shidao looked down in horror, seeing the soldiers seizing his fellow disciples from the ground and dragging them towards the lighthouse. The Illusory Sect disciples were aghast. Some cursed, some wailed, and some pleaded for mercy. They couldn't break free from the Immortal Binding Ropes the Heavenly Palace had produced.

But Bai Shiqi's heart was like iron. "I gave you a chance earlier," he stated, "but you were useless." Commander Bai frequently taught them that opportunities came only once and must be seized firmly. What did these Illusory Sect disciples think war was? A children's game where they could change their minds? Failing to save themselves when death loomed and begging for mercy only at the last second was simply too late.

Some people cried out indiscriminately, "Uncle Wu, save me!"

"Uncle Wu, don't abandon us!"

"Uncle Wu, I surrender too, I surrender, please take me up!"

The one who cried "Uncle Wu" was the eldest son of Wu Shidao's close friend, whom he had held since childhood and regarded as his own kin. Wu Shidao could not bear to watch or listen, his hands and feet trembling. A guard beside him barked, "Keep moving, what are you staring at!" He could barely save himself; how could he possibly have the energy to rescue others? Wu Shidao closed his eyes and continued his ascent.

The area below the lighthouse was chaotic, but before Wu Shidao had even reached the top, all sounds ceased. All thirty-odd of his fellow disciples had been thrown into the lighthouse as fuel, without exception. The Eye of Truth at the tower's spire appeared even brighter.

Wu Shidao had long possessed the ability to withstand cold and heat, yet this short climb up the tower left his back drenched and his face ashen. Upon reaching the top of the tower, he saw Bai Ziqi. The Heavenly Palace's Commander Bai, whom his sect had described as the most evil, turned and gave him a smile. "Excellent," he said, "only the wise adapt to circumstances." Wu Shidao dared not raise his head; the man's plain face seemed more terrifying than a Yaksha.