Once branded as a “demon race spy” by the golden-robed cultivator, the cultivators’ gazes towards Chen Ping instantly filled with hostility, as if Chen Ping were their sworn enemy.
“Who are you? Why are you ruining our good fortune!” A burly man with a full beard stepped forward, his giant axe slamming heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
That giant axe gleamed with cold light, as if it could cleave Chen Ping in two at any moment.
“I think he is just jealous that we can receive guidance from the divine hall!”
Another cultivator in a green robe chimed in, his hand already pressed on the sword at his waist; as soon as Chen Ping made the slightest move, he would draw the sword immediately.
Chen Ping’s brows furrowed tightly, and he sighed inwardly at these people’s ignorance.
He stepped forward, attempting to explain: “Everyone, do not be deceived by him! The jade ruyi in his hand is releasing hypnotic aura, the runes below the high platform form a soul-gathering array, your soul threads are being drawn into the soul jar in the groove; if you wait any longer, your souls will all be taken!”
However, his words were barely finished before they were drowned out by a wave of angry curses.
“Nonsense! The divine hall is the orthodox of the divine race, how could it do such a thing?” An old man with white hair glared furiously, shouting loudly in rebuke.
“I think you are afraid that we will surpass you after breaking through, so you are deliberately fabricating lies!” Another young cultivator said with utter disdain.
“Brothers, no need to waste words with him, take him down first and hand him over to the divine hall for disposal!”
Someone in the crowd shouted, and in an instant, over a dozen cultivators lunged towards Chen Ping.
The magical artifacts in their hands gleamed with cold light, their spiritual qi fluctuations chaotic yet carrying a force that could not be underestimated.
These people were mostly itinerant cultivators stuck at their bottlenecks for a long time; for the sake of this “breakthrough opportunity,” they had long lost their reason and would not listen to any advice.
In their eyes, Chen Ping was the culprit who had destroyed their bright future and must be brought to justice.
Seeing this, Hu Mazi hurriedly pulled out several defensive talismans and stuck them to his body, saying urgently: “Chen Ping, you cannot reason with them! These people have lost their minds!”
He knew well that these cultivators were now completely overwhelmed by their obsession with “breakthrough,” no matter how Chen Ping explained, they would not believe him.
Chen Ping looked at the charging cultivators, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
He could easily defeat them, but these people were not evil; they were just pitiful souls who had been deceived.
They had spared no effort in pursuing higher cultivation, unaware that they had fallen into a massive conspiracy.
He sidestepped to dodge a cultivator’s blade strike; the blade edge grazed past his robe corner, stirring up a gust of wind.
He then used spiritual qi to repel another person’s magical artifact; that artifact was shaken loose from their hand and flew off into the distance.
Chen Ping shouted again: “Feel your brow centre! Is there a faint stinging sensation? That is the sign of your soul threads being pulled away!”
But what met him was even more frenzied attacks.
The white-haired old man summoned a compass; the compass shot out several golden beams of light, piercing straight towards Chen Ping’s vital points.
Those beams contained immense power; wherever they passed, the air was scorched and distorted.
The old man cursed as he acted: “Spreading demonic words to confuse the masses! Today, I shall act on heaven’s behalf!”
The last trace of hesitation in Chen Ping’s eyes faded away.
He knew that these people had been completely ensnared by their obsession with “breakthrough”; even if he saved them now, they would likely return to the divine hall to “listen to the Dao” later.
They were already deeply trapped, unable to extricate themselves.
He no longer dodged; the black and white flames around him suddenly expanded outward, forming an invisible barrier.
That barrier appeared thin yet contained tremendous power; it repelled all the lunging cultivators several steps back without harming them in the slightest.
Though Chen Ping felt anger in his heart towards these cultivators’ foolishness, he ultimately could not bear to hurt them.
“Since you do not believe me, then go your own way.”
Chen Ping’s voice turned cold, devoid of any further ripples.
