Qi Zhongdao, the leader of all the Cultivators, and Wan Mingzhu, the leader of the peasant uprising, had both chosen to join the Imperium. Was there any need to say anything about the rest of them?
As it turned out, hardly had Wan Mingzhu sat down when 'Heaven Battering King' Qi Changsheng, another 'leader of the peasant uprising' but who seemed even more blatant and lawless, chuckled and said, "Mother White Lotus is not wrong. Since 'autonomy' is part of the system of the Imperium of True Human Beings, whatever system is implemented in other places of the Imperium and how their people are treated has nothing to do with us! All we need to do is to make sure that we call the shots in the Ancient Sages Sector!
"Nowadays, whoever has soldiers and food is the king of the grass. As long as our fists are big enough, even if we join the Imperium, other people will not necessarily be able to interfere with our internal affairs! On the other hand, if our strength is insignificant compared to the Empire, then all our struggles will be superfluous! "
"Therefore, I agree that we should surrender to the Imperium first. We can always rebel next time. That's not a big deal at all. We are already familiar with the business! Of course, the terms must be agreed upon. We cannot sell so many Yuanying and Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators casually! You want to hire us to fight? Fine. Pay us the real money! "
The leader of the refugees did not change his personality at all. He tapped the table in delight. After he was done talking, he scratched the stubble on his chin and looked at Yan Liren next to him with a smile. "Fellow Cultivator Yan, I'm done. What do you have in mind, brother?"
"I don't care."
Yan Liren scratched his big bald head and said casually, "Since the Imperium of True Human Beings is a super force where two superpowers compete for supremacy in the sea of stars, I believe that there must be … the most powerful sword arts and secret arts in the modern civilization of Immortal Cultivators. I would like to see how sharp the sword moves of the Immortal Cultivators are. The Imperium is a good choice! "
Everybody's speech made Li Yao's heart colder and colder. A pale shell of ice was almost condensed on his body. Of the few expectant eyes, one of them fell on Ba Xiaoyu.
Ba Xiaoyu the Beggar was a warm-hearted, chivalrous, and abhorrent hero!
He would not agree with the Imperium of True Human Beings' approach of considering the ordinary people as "hominoids", would he?
As he expected, hesitation, struggle, and even pain appeared on Ba Xiaoyu the Beggar's face, as if he were mired in an invisible swamp. Even breathing was difficult for him.
He struggled to catch his breath for a moment, his dry lips shivering nonstop. He was speechless for a long time under the gazes of everyone. It was not until Meng Chixin urged him that he finally said in a hoarse voice, "Beggar, can — can I forfeit?"
Meng Chixin raised his eyebrow and asked, "Fellow Cultivator Ba, what do you mean by 'abstaining'?"
Ba Xiaoyu closed his eyes and said in frustration, "I can't accept the ideology of the Imperium of True Human Beings. A beggar can never be associated with such a country that regards ordinary people as pigs and dogs!"
"However, I know the formidability of the Imperium of True Human Beings, too. If we are really against it, the Ancient Sages Sector is destined to embrace a catastrophe!"
"Countless people will die, countless people will lose their homes, and countless people will scream in the burning flames. Even if we resist and fight hard at such a gory price, I'm afraid that the lives of both the ordinary people and the Cultivators will not change the situation at all. We will not be able to stop the Imperium of True Human Beings from marching forward!"
"A beggar cannot be so selfish. I — I cannot drag so many people in the Ancient Sages Sector to die with me just because of my own preferences!"
"Your — your analysis is correct. Perhaps, surrendering to the Imperium of True Human Beings right now is the best way out for the Ancient Sages Sector.
"I do not want to surrender to the Imperium of True Human Beings, but I do not want to stop you from finding a way out for the Ancient Sages Sector, either. Therefore, I choose to 'abstain'!"
"That explains a lot."
Deep in thought, Meng Chixin nodded and said, "Then, after we do surrender to the Imperium and the Ancient Sages Sector becomes the Imperium's territory, what are you going to do, Fellow Cultivator Ba?"
Ba Xiaoyu's face could not have been gloomier. After a long silence, he said gloomily, "If I can't do it, I'll float in the ocean on a boat. This beggar thinks to himself that even in the so-called 'modern civilization of Immortal Cultivators', there are still unaffiliated Cultivators, right? This beggar will not stay in the Ancient Sages Sector and cause trouble for you. The universe is too vast a place. There must be a place that can accommodate an … insignificant beggar! "
His gloominess and desolation were obvious in his words. He no longer had the hot-bloodedness and heroism that he used to have in Roaring Tiger City!
Ba Xiaoyu's choice cast everybody into silence for a long time.
Qi Changsheng, Wan Mingzhu, and the others looked rather unnatural. Their eyes were flashing, and they did not dare look at Ba Xiaoyu's ugly face.
Han Baling, on the other hand, sneered in disdain, as if he did not think much of Ba Xiaoyu's behavior of 'running away'.
Qi Zhongdao sighed softly with mixed feelings. His eyes were somewhat in a trance.
There was no telling if he had recalled the night in Roaring Tiger City when everybody worked together to unveil the scheme of the 'Black Devil Cult'!
Li Yao heaved a long sigh in his heart. The beggar, who was most likely to resist the Imperium, had chosen to yield, too!
"Amitabha!"
In the end, it was Master Bitter Cicada who broke the awkward silence. He said softly, "I choose the Imperium of True Human Beings."
"What!"
Li Yao shrieked in his heart. He could not help but bulge his eyes.
"Monk, you —"
Ba Xiaoyu and the other Yuanying Cultivators in the Divinity Transformation Stage were all slightly dazed.
Regardless of their stance, they had thought that Master Bitter Cicada would be the most difficult person to persuade. How could it be?
"It's true that the ideology of the Imperium of True Human Beings does not match my ambitions. I'm afraid that it is the opposite of the Stupa Temple's motto of 'mercy and salvation'. By logic, I should've chosen to run away and become an unaffiliated Cultivator in the depths of the sea of stars like Fellow Cultivator Ba."
Emotionlessly, Master Bitter Cicada said, one word after another, "However, Fellow Cultivator Ba, as you said yourself, for the safety of the billions of sentient beings in the Ancient Sages Sector, we have to surrender to the Imperium of True Human Beings.
"After we surrender to the Imperium of True Human Beings, the affairs of the Ancient Sages Sector will probably be decided by the twelve of us!
"We don't like the ideology of the Imperium of True Human Beings. Naturally, we can just walk away and pretend that we don't see it. However, as a result, the future of the Ancient Sages Sector and the safety and happiness of the people will all fall into the hands of … the other Fellow Cultivators.
"I am not prejudiced against any of the Fellow Cultivators. However, Fellow Cultivator Ba, do you really want to see the Fellow Cultivators here … monopolize the power?"
Master Bitter Cicada's eyes suddenly turned sharp. He did not disguise his distrust for Wan Mingzhu, Qi Changsheng, and the rest of them at all!
Sensing the unfriendliness in the monk's eyes, Wan Mingzhu sneered and said, "Master Bitter Cicada, there's no need to beat around the bush. You just don't trust the bandits like us, do you?"
"Amitabha. A monk does not lie. It's true that I do not trust Fellow Cultivator Wan, Fellow Cultivator Qi, Fellow Cultivator Han Baling, and Fellow Cultivator Wang Xi!
"You are the famous' Four Rapscallions'. I can't choose to run away. Therefore, I am entrusting the future of the Ancient Sages Sector and the lives of millions of people to you!"
"What a good monk!"
Wan Mingzhu burst into fury. "I knew that you were just a puppet that the court and the major sects threw out to confuse the public and corrupt our will to resist! What's wrong with the 'Four Rapscallions'? Before the 'Four Rapscallions' came into existence, was the world at peace, and the people could live and work in peace and contentment? Damn it! Wasn't there still a lot of natural disasters and man-made disasters in the end?
"Open your dog eyes and see clearly. It is the court and the sects behind you that have caused the natural disasters and man-made disasters. It is the natural disasters and man-made disasters that have created the 'Four Rapscallions', not the natural disasters and man-made disasters caused by the 'Four Rapscallions'!
"Hehe. You don't trust me, but I don't trust a monk like you! As the saying goes, if you are not bald, you are not venomous, and if you are not venomous, you are not bald. The worst people in the world are the dog monks who do not work but sell their butts! "
Wan Mingzhu had been born as a refugee in the first place. It was only after absorbing the resentment and anger of the poor people that she had gradually grasped the ghostly techniques. She could pretend to be a righteous Taoist in normal times, but right now, she burst into fury and cursed aloud. Everybody was frowning.
"Enough!"
Meng Chixin was enshrouded in a layer of black flames, which turned into thousands of wolf heads that opened their bloody mouths and bared their fangs at Wan Mingzhu. "Fellow Cultivator Wan, just now, we all agreed that everybody should speak freely and discuss whatever is on the table! This is the time for sincere solidarity. Why do you have to be so hurtful? "
Narrowing her eyes, Wan Mingzhu stared at the raging wolves of spiritual energy behind Meng Chixin for a long time. Invisible tides were flowing between the two spectral Cultivators, too!
In the end, under Meng Chixin's covetous eyes, Wan Mingzhu was the first to give in. She turned around and smiled at Master Bitter Cicada. "Master Bitter Cicada, I have always been outspoken. I will say whatever is on my mind. You are a great monk. Please don't lower yourself to my level!
"Speaking of which, according to your words, you've made up your mind to join the bandits and rebels and surrender to the Imperium, haven't you?"
"Amitabha."
There was no expression on Master Bitter Cicada's face. He said casually, "Wherever the civilians of the Ancient Sages Sector stand on, I will stand on their side. I will not abandon them."
"Oh?"
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