Chapter 644: Chapter 397 Total Victory_2

“We clashed with Saint Sky Sect, and you, Blood Drinking Sect, just up and leave?” Over a hundred Sect Leaders were stunned, finding themselves in a dilemma. After all, if even the Blood Drinking Sect would act like this, could they dare to fight against Aurelius Azure by themselves?

Had they known Blood Drinking Sect would do this, they wouldn’t have dared to turn against Saint Sky Sect. Now, they were all trapped in regret. If they hadn’t coveted the resources of the Central Region and had stayed true to their hearts, they wouldn’t be in this unfortunate situation, despised by both sides. Over a hundred Sect Leaders were in agony.

“I’m leaving, you all continue,” said Elliott Reynolds with a grand wave of his hand as he left, utilizing Spatial Divine Power. No one at the scene had time to react.

If anyone at the scene was delighted, it was undoubtedly the people from Saint Sky Sect. Aurelius Azure took a sip of tea and said, “This Elliott Reynolds is truly a coward. How could he even aspire to plot for control of the Central Region?”

“We’re leaving too!” More than a hundred Sect Leaders were embarrassed and also wanted to leave Saint Sky Sect, having truly lost face.

However, at the next moment, powerhouses from the Five Great Sects, led by Saint Sky Sect, blocked the entrance, “How do you think you can just leave? Weren’t you all very arrogant before? You hundred and more Sects have escalated the situation to this stage; do you think you can just leave and pretend nothing happened?”

“What does Saint Sky Sect intend to do?” asked the hundred and more Sect Leaders with stern faces. If today the sect wanted to forcibly hold them, they would fight to the death. Even if they couldn’t prevail against Aurelius Azure in the end, they would still cause complete chaos in Saint Sky Sect, as long as that substitute driver could bear the consequences.

“With Blood Drinking Sect gone, your momentum is lost. What’s your next move? Do you still want to oppose Saint Sky Sect?”

Aurelius Azure stood up and walked over step by step, “I just broke through to the Holy See recently and need a great battle to establish my power. Why not with you all!”

“Sect Leader Aurelius, we were wrong about the past. ‘To err is human, to forgive divine.’ We will not offend Saint Sky Sect anymore, let alone mention resources,” the leaders implored.

A few leading Sect Leaders bowed their heads, expressing helplessly, “We were all misled by Blood Drinking Sect. We, the Sects of the Central Region, shouldn’t be slaughtering each other. We hope for your mercy.”

“If Saint Sky Sect didn’t have the Holy See, would you still be able to say ‘To err is human, to forgive divine’?” Aurelius Azure sneered. It was only because he had the upper hand today that these Sect Leaders were forced to admit their mistakes. Otherwise, if he were at a disadvantage, perhaps Saint Sky Sect itself might not continue to exist.

The Northern Sacred Gate Leader nodded and asked, “Have we ever mistreated you? All this time, we, the Five Great Sects, have been guarding the peace of the Central Region, yet you secretly allied with Blood Drinking Sect. Reflect on this—do you truly feel no shame.. no guilt?”

“You Five Great Sects have enjoyed too many resources, while our Sects are vastly different, with our resources being tens of times less than yours. Don’t you think this is unfair? Indeed, today, the victor is king, and we accept that, but it was all just for the sake of fairness in resources,” argued the Sect Leaders.

Over a hundred Sect Leaders remained silent, but it was clear they were dissatisfied with the words of the Northern Sacred Gate Leader. Eventually, some stood up to retort.

If the Five Great Sects were truly fair, they should divide all the resources equally. Only then would they be just and eliminate everyone’s dissatisfaction.

“So this is what you all think!” The Northern Sacred Gate Leader felt a cold laugh of bitterness in his heart, “The resources you enjoy are a hundred times better than any in the Western Wilderness. Have you never considered why you have these resources? Is it not because of us, the Five Great Sects? It is we who have ensured the prosperity of the Central Region.”

“Ten years ago, when thirty thousand people from the Demon Sect attempted to wreak havoc in the Central Region, our Five Great Sects lost tens of thousands of men to quell everything. Have you myriad sects all forgotten this? Similar events are too numerous to count, yet you still feel dissatisfied with the resources,”

Indignant and bitter, Aurelius Azure said, “While it is true that we possess abundant resources, we fought with our fists to obtain them. Most of these resources were wrested from the hands of the Demonic Path, and we have always supported the smaller sects of Central Region, allowing your younger generations to come and train at our sects.”

“If we had robbed resources from your sects, you would have the right to be unhappy, but we have never done that.” The Eastern Sacred Gate Sect Leader clenched his fists, recalling when over a hundred sects united against their five mighty sects. It was nearly impossible for them to believe that the sects of Central Region housed gratitude in their hearts; however, the truth was ridiculously contrary.

“Previously, the Sanctuary Powerhouses from our Five Great Sects presided over this land. If we truly wished to oppress others, would your sects still stand tall and proud today? Take a moment for introspection. Are not a majority of the Quasi-Saint Powerhouses present here today taught by the Holy See Strong Ones from our Great Sects?”

The richness and power of the Central Region stem not only from having more Spirit Stones but largely because most of the cultivators here have been taught by the Holy See. Naturally, this makes them stronger than the forces of the Western Wilderness. Otherwise, no matter how many resources were piled up, without the way of cultivation, it would all be for naught.

More than a hundred Sect Leaders bowed their heads in silence, knowing their words made sense. The previous discontent over resources truly was laughable. Perhaps they had grown too complacent for too long and had forgotten all this. It was common for cultivators facing cultivation resources to act irrationally.

They admitted their mistakes, but if given a chance to do it all over again, it’s likely they would still clash over resources. After all, with the Sanctuary Powerhouses from the Five Great Sects gone to the Ancient Secret Realm, this was their sole opportunity to reshuffle the resource distribution of Central Region.

“Fellow Sect Leaders, it’s useless to say more. What exactly do you propose to resolve this?” After a long time, a few leaders amongst the hundred-plus Sect Leaders asked Aurelius Azure and the others.

If the Saint Sky Sect thought that with the protection of a Holy See they could leave them with no way out, then their only choice was to fight to the death. On the other hand, if Aurelius Azure saw fit to show great mercy, everything was negotiable, even if it meant kowtowing to the Saint Sky Sect.

The people from the Five Great Sects didn’t take a stand but instead turned their gaze towards Aurelius Azure. How the hundred-plus sects would be dealt with was entirely up to Aurelius Azure. At this moment, he was caught in a dilemma, as aside from the hundred-plus sects, the Blood Drinking Sect was another trouble altogether.

Aurelius Azure smirked playfully and then said, “You all saw Elliott Reynolds’s true colors just now. As soon as negotiations with me fell through, he immediately betrayed you all. Don’t you hold a grudge? I can be merciful and offer you a way out, provided you eradicate the Blood Drinking Sect.”

The moment these words were spoken, the brows of the hundred-plus Sect Leaders furrowed, clearly feeling that Aurelius Azure was making things difficult. What difference did it make whether they confronted the Blood Drinking Sect or the Saint Sky Sect? Both forces possessed Sanctuary Powerhouses, and they couldn’t defeat either. Obviously, Aurelius Azure wanted to use them as pawns.

Indeed, they loathed the Blood Drinking Sect for having brought harm to so many sects, but they were aware of their limitations. Even if Elliott Reynolds was treacherous, he was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend. They had hoped to benefit from the clash between the Saint Sky Sect and the Blood Drinking Sect.

“What’s the matter… got cold feet?” Aurelius Azure arched an eyebrow, teasing, “Weren’t you very formidable before? Fully aware that I had broken through to the Holy See, you still followed Elliott Reynolds here today. And now, when asked to confront the Blood Drinking Sect, you all suddenly become fearful?”

“That demand is too difficult to meet; suggest another. Our hundred-plus sects can offer Spirit Stones as compensation. Each sect can provide several million Spirit Stones, which amounts to several billion in total. This sum would be sufficient for the Saint Sky Sect to have hundreds of years’ worth of cultivation resources, which is far preferable to fighting and killing.”

The hundred-plus Sect Leaders looked embarrassed but didn’t dare to lose their temper with Aurelius Azure. All they could do was agree to offer Spirit Stones, which was the greatest bargaining chip they could provide.

Several billion Spirit Stones were indeed a staggering sum, enough to alarm even Logan. After all, his own possessions totaled at most a few tens of millions of Spirit Stones. However, it was obvious that Aurelius Azure wouldn’t care for it, considering the expansive foundations of the Saint Sky Sect could equally match the offer.