Chapter 792: Instead of Asking About the Bell, Better Ask About the Sword

"Since heaven and earth possess spirits and all things harbor gods, and the gods' arrival is now a reality, having integrated with Wanggu over vast ages to become part of the Wanggu Continent's power system, we should adapt. All beings and elements in heaven and earth that have been permeated by divine influence should be regarded as 'divine materials.'

Just like elixirs, these divine materials should be incorporated into one's body, actively replacing various parts to form a divine physique. This body will be attuned to the era and environment. From now on, foreign substances will no longer be toxic, but rather nourishment for cultivation, akin to spiritual energy. We in the God Integration school call this 'divine energy.'

Through this method of cultivation, our human race will undoubtedly become extraordinarily powerful. At that time, even if the immortal path is severed, why would we need to forcibly reconnect it? We will have forged our own Great Dao! The core philosophy and objective of our God Integration school is for every human to become a god!"

The God Integration Head's voice was not impassioned, yet the meaning of his words unleashed a storm, reverberating thunderously within the hearts of the Grand Academy students.

The God Integration Head's final declaration, "for every human to become a god," was particularly stirring, exciting the God Integration students and forging a powerful sense of identity among them.

This was indeed the core principle of the God Integration school, and the very reason for its considerable growth.

Uttered now by the God Integration Head, the words resonated with immense conviction.

"Absurd!"

The Heretic Immortal Head sneered, his voice echoing in all directions.

"From ancient times to the present, our human race has known both glory and decline, brilliant civilizations and near-fatal catastrophes. Yet, through it all, we have endured. We remain the human race, preserving our vibrant bloodline.

And you, who claim to act for humanity, have chosen a path that abandons the human body and discards human dignity, ultimately transforming into an unrecognizable monstrosity. Rather than everyone becoming a god, it is more akin to becoming a subordinate to the deities.

Your method is a path to racial annihilation. 'Everyone becoming a god' means everyone ceases to be human."

The Heretic Immortal Head showed no fear in this ideological debate; it was, after all, his core philosophy. His words now ascended to new heights, equally persuasive, causing the neutral students of the Grand Academy to waver.

Even Xu Qing cast a few extra glances at the Heretic Immortal Head, surprised by the sharpness of his rhetoric.

Even some God Integration students fell silent, turning their gazes toward the God Integration Head.

The God Integration Head remained silent, turning instead to the Seventh Prince beside him.

The Seventh Prince raised an eyebrow and spoke calmly.

"Your Heretic Immortal school's methods are overly traditional, stubbornly conservative, and resistant to change. You cling to past glories, unwilling to let go, and exhibit hostility towards all new developments, particularly prejudice against my God Integration school. In truth, the students of the Grand Academy possess clear minds; they are capable of their own discernment.

This is why I chose the God Integration school, and why all God Integration students have chosen it."

As his words spread, the God Integration students within the Grand Academy found themselves in agreement. As the new generation, while they held reverence for the ancient and traditional, they identified more strongly with change.

Even the other neutral students felt a pang of emotion, and the Seventh Prince's status imbued his words with power. Consequently, the radiant rainbow light of God Integration once again flared brilliantly.

The God Integration Head gazed at the Heretic Immortal Head and spoke calmly.

"Do you see? This is the reason for your Heretic Immortal school's decline; times have changed."

The Heretic Immortal Head sighed softly, rendered silent.

On the first topic of the Falsehood Debate, the Heretic Immortal school failed to gain any advantage.

After a considerable silence, the Grand Academy Head, suspended in mid-air, announced the second topic.

"What constitutes the Dao of a race?"

This time, the God Integration faction spoke first, represented by their school's Chief Disciple.

"On the Wanggu Continent, countless races thrive, with trillions of beings. Our human race must possess a spirit that embraces all races, extending our gaze across the entirety of Wanggu. We should integrate the paths of all races to forge the unique Dao of our own human race, drawing widely from diverse strengths, refining ourselves, leveraging advantages, and addressing weaknesses, to accomplish an unparalleled legacy.

Times have changed; we cannot remain mired in the past. If we are to transform, we must do so completely. Only then can we truly build upon what came before, embrace the future, and innovate.

And what harm is there in every person becoming a god? We will be the foremost race of Wanggu. We shall embrace all, integrate all. By that time, it might even be possible for us to declare ourselves the Divine Race and reunify Wanggu. Furthermore, the Sky Remnant, which has brought us disaster, will no longer be a calamity but a profound blessing!

Have you ever considered that while the arrival of the Remnant altered everything, living beings still persist on the Wanggu Continent? Is it possible that this is, in fact, a profound opportunity? Once we grasp it, the Remnant itself will become our weapon."

The propagation of these words was like thunder striking across heaven and earth, profoundly shaking the minds of all students.

It must be acknowledged that, while somewhat unorthodox, the arguments presented seemed logical and reasonable. For a time, the Grand Academy students were lost in contemplation.

Among the various factions, some scoffed, while others deliberated.

The Human Emperor, observing the God Integration school, wore a look of deep meaning.

The God Integration Head looked up, meeting the gaze of the Human Emperor in the sky. It appeared that the words spoken by the God Integration Chief Disciple during this debate were, from the God Integration Head's perspective, not truly intended for the students or the Heretic Immortal school, but rather for the very person he was now looking at.

Observing this, Xu Qing appeared to be in deep thought.

The Heretic Immortal Head, upon hearing this, let out an angry laugh.

"Ignorant child, do you truly believe the Dao of a race is simply the path of a single lineage?

Absolutely not!

The so-called Dao of a race is formed by the fusion of its soul, its heritage, its philosophy, its civilization, and its collective will."

At this point, the Heretic Immortal Head utterly cast aside caution. He stood, pointed a hand toward the Human Emperor in the sky, fixed his gaze on the students below, and roared.

"Tell me, why is Emperor Xuanzhan referred to as the Human Emperor?

In ancient times, Emperor Xuanyou was the Emperor of Myriad Races, yet why did his esteemed title also include the term 'Human Emperor'?

Because we are human!

Whether in antiquity or the future, we remain human. This is our soul, our heritage, our philosophy, our civilization, our will, and our tradition.

And the Sky Remnant, which has brought our human race endless suffering, is our sworn enemy for life. If we were to compromise, how could we face the countless kin who have perished from mutation over the years?

This is not the righteous path; this is a deviant one!"

His tone was filled with profound sorrow and indignation. His voice resonated throughout the Grand Academy, stirring the students, particularly the two questions about the Human Emperor, which compelled them to reflect deeply.

The entire Grand Academy grew significantly quieter.

The Human Emperor closed his eyes.

The God Integration Head's brows furrowed beneath his mask, his gaze falling upon the Heretic Immortal Head. He once again sensed the troublesome nature of this seemingly minor figure he had initially underestimated.

After a considerable pause, the Grand Academy Head, still suspended in mid-air, posed the third question.

"What is the righteous path?"

This time, just as someone from the God Integration side was about to speak, the God Integration Head raised his hand. He looked at the Heretic Immortal Head and spoke in a calm voice.

"The righteous path is the orthodox path, and also the path of justice.

My God Integration school is worthy of both heaven and earth, and of the human race. Though we integrate divine materials, we steadfastly adhere to the righteous path. Your Heretic Immortal school, however, is cruel and malevolent, poisoning your own kin and cultivating by absorbing souls—a fact known to all.

You spoke eloquently before, every sentence about the human race, every word about human souls. Looking at it now, it is nothing but sheer hypocrisy.

The Heretic Immortal school is unworthy of the righteous path."

These words, delivered in a calm tone and linked to the earlier incidents involving the Heretic Immortal school, inflicted immense damage, instantly weakening the Heretic Immortal Head's previously profound statements.

"Can the words of an unrighteous person ever be righteous?"

Finally, the God Integration Head spoke calmly, his words striking at the very core of the matter.

The students of the Grand Academy each raised their heads, looking toward the Heretic Immortal Head. The various external forces also sighed in succession.

The matter of the Heretic Immortal Dao Seeds was utterly heinous, transforming the God Integration Head's words into a sharp blade.

The Heretic Immortal Head opened his mouth, but found himself at a loss for words.

He wished to refute, but ultimately could only remain silent. Even he had no defense for the massacre caused by the Heretic Immortal Dao Seeds; his own resolve had wavered during that period of isolation.

Although this debate had only progressed through two topics, by this point, anything the Heretic Immortal school might say seemed to lack conviction.

The Grand Academy Head, filled with emotion, swept his gaze across the surroundings and was about to speak, when a cold voice suddenly emerged from the crowd.

"The words of an unrighteous person are inherently unrighteous, just as an unrighteous method renders a school unrighteous."

Xu Qing's voice reverberated in all directions. Under the attentive and astonished gazes of the surrounding students, he stepped forward into mid-air.

His sudden appearance instantly drew the gaze of every Grand Academy student present, and similarly, all external factions. The Human Emperor, who had closed his eyes, now opened them.

With countless divine senses locking onto him and numerous gazes fixed in contemplation, Xu Qing, step by step, under the intense scrutiny of the multitude, ascended the Heretic Immortal school's Dao platform, becoming the second Heretic Immortal cultivator to stand there.

The Heretic Immortal Head's breathing quickened. He abruptly turned to Xu Qing, a mix of astonishment and bewilderment on his face. He certainly recognized this disciple, yet precisely because he did, the unfamiliar aura about him now felt even more pronounced.

He had never anticipated that this disciple, Xuan Leizi, would step forward at this moment and utter such words. This turn of events left him somewhat disoriented.

Ultimately, this disorientation transformed into profound expectation and speculation.

As for Xu Qing, standing on the Heretic Immortal school's Dao platform, his gaze was calm. He looked towards the God Integration school's black Dao platform, his eyes sweeping over every individual before finally settling on the Seventh Prince.

The God Integration Head's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at Xu Qing, a sense of familiarity emerging in his heart.

Meanwhile, the Seventh Prince beside him, though not experiencing that sense of familiarity, felt an intense, inexplicable sense of crisis erupt within him as Xu Qing's gaze swept over him, unsettling his very soul.

Then, a cold voice resonated from Xu Qing's lips.

"Regarding the matter of the Heretic Immortal Dao Seeds, I ask all students and Your Majesty to bear witness here today."

Xu Qing spoke slowly, raising his right hand and gently squeezing the jade slip he held.

Instantly, brilliant light emanated from the jade slip, weaving together in mid-air to vividly display a scene.

The scene depicted a cultivation chamber where a person was engrossed in practice.

The person was the Seventh Prince.

Around him, a vast multitude of human souls, numbering in the millions, were clearly visible, floating.

Among them were old and young, men and women, the vast majority being mortals. They wailed, cried out in anguish, and pleaded for mercy, yet the Seventh Prince's face remained placid, utterly devoid of pity. With every breath, he inhaled the souls of these fellow humans into his mouth.

As he slowly consumed them, the God Integration techniques emanated from him, using the human souls to dissolve his own divine integration bottlenecks, allowing him to assimilate more divine materials at a faster pace.

This process clearly brought him immense benefits, as a hint of perverse satisfaction even flickered across his expression.

Compared to the wailing and despair of the human souls surrounding him, this scene was utterly horrifying and outrageous!

This jade slip was no ordinary item; it not only imprinted the visuals but also preserved the aura, allowing for verification by any means. This was precisely why the depravity of the scene was so undeniably clear.

The minds of all the Grand Academy students roared. Their eyes instantly became bloodshot, and a furious anger surged, causing the heavens and earth to change color and winds to gather.

The various external factions instantly erupted in an uproar; this matter, in fact, had been carried out by a prince.

The atrociousness of the act escalated even further.

The Human Emperor's expression also turned grim. A chilling aura emanated from him, enveloping the entire imperial capital. For a moment, the sky outside grew dark, and bolts of thunder rumbled across the world.

The Seventh Prince's body trembled, but he strenuously maintained his composure, stood up, and spoke calmly.

"Imperial Father, this footage is fake; someone has framed me!

I can go to the Immortal Inquiring Bell to prove my innocence; the person in that footage is not me!"

The Seventh Prince appeared calm on the surface, but his heart trembled. No matter how freely he had acted in Fenghai Commandery, upon returning to the imperial capital and facing the Human Emperor, fear and panic still completely consumed him.

However, since Xu Qing had appeared at this moment, he naturally wouldn't afford the prince any opportunity to overturn the situation. With a wave of his hand, the student who had been parasitized by the shadow materialized.

The moment he materialized, before he could utter a word, Xu Qing raised a hand and patted his forehead. Instantly, images from the student's memory rapidly coalesced in mid-air.

Everything that occurred in that civilian residence on that day was displayed for all to see.

The storm surged anew.

A cold glint appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. Amidst the roaring storm, he looked toward the God Integration Head, who was gazing intently at him.

"Who is poisoning their own kin?

Who is devouring human souls?

Who is speaking so eloquently now?"

Xu Qing's voice was deep and resonant. His three questions shook heaven and earth.

Behind him, the Heretic Immortal Head was immensely agitated, while the God Integration Head gave Xu Qing a deep, prolonged look and then fell silent.

As for the Seventh Prince, he stared intensely at Xu Qing, then swayed, flew into mid-air, and knelt towards the Human Emperor in the sky, speaking loudly.

"Imperial Father, this footage is a malicious plot against me! Please grant me an opportunity to prove myself; under the Immortal Inquiring Bell, I can prove everything!"

Within the projected image of the imperial palace in the sky, the Human Emperor gazed coldly at the Seventh Prince and spoke in a deep voice.

"Granted."

His voice was an imperial decree, his words always absolute. But today... was different!

Xu Qing stepped forward, his voice echoing.

"There's no need.

Rather than consulting the bell, consult the sword!"

As he spoke, Xu Qing raised his right hand and pointed to the sky.

"Imperial Sword!"