To die to atone for one's sins

Aji saw Wu Hai was so resolute, and in his haste, he picked up the sword from the waist of a nearby guard and placed it against his own neck.

"Sect Leader, if you do not agree, I can only prove my resolve with death today!"

"I, Aji, have followed the Sect Leader my whole life, dedicating myself completely to the Ming Cult. Now that the great undertaking is about to succeed, how can it fail at the last step? If the Sect Leader insists on this, I can only force your hand with my death!"

Wu Hai detested being threatened the most. Seeing this scene, his face instantly turned ashen.

A flash of anger flickered in his eyes, and he suddenly reached out, knocking away the sword Aji had placed against his neck.

With a sharp "crack," the blade fell to the ground, scraping an ear-piercing sound across the floor of the Great Hall.

Wu Hai stood up, emanating a formidable aura from head to toe, and shouted loudly, "Presumptuous! Are you threatening this Sect Leader?"

His voice was like thunder, shaking the entire Great Hall.

Wu Hai's gaze was like lightning, looking directly at Aji: "How can the decision of this Sect Leader be influenced by a mere confidant like you?"

Inside the Great Hall, everyone was intimidated by Wu Hai's rage.

The guards lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe heavily.

Even the usually proud Su Xueqing couldn't help but take half a step back at this moment.

Aji said no more, gritted his teeth, and turned to leave.

Looking at Aji's appearance, Wu Hai sighed inwardly. It seemed necessary to gather all these Disciples together and tell them that some things might have to change.

Half an hour later.

All the Disciples of the Ming Cult gathered in the Great Hall.

Wu Hai stood tall in a high position, slowly sweeping his gaze over the multitude of Ming Cult Disciples below.

Wu Hai spoke with a firm expression: "From now on, my Ming Cult will no longer actively attack the Immortal Sect. Years of conflict have caused countless lives to be lost; to achieve peace, we must make changes."

His voice was steady, echoing within the Great Hall.

As soon as he said this, there was an immediate uproar below.

The expressions on the Disciples' faces changed rapidly like turning pages, from shock to confusion, and then to anger.

Some widened their eyes, some furrowed their brows, and others clenched their fists.

A burly Disciple suddenly stood up and shouted loudly, "Sect Leader, our Ming Cult was meant to unify the Immortal Sect. How can we give up now? This has always been our goal!"

"We have sacrificed so much, are we just going to give up like this? Is the Ming Cult's dream of unifying the world just going to be shattered like this?"

As soon as these words were spoken, many Disciples followed suit, echoing his sentiments.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, the High Priest slowly stepped forward.

He had a solemn expression, his sharp gaze sweeping over the opposing Disciples.

"Everyone, you only see the glory of unifying the Immortal Sect, but have you ever considered how many casualties there would be along the way? Peace is the long-term path. Sect Leader Wu Hai's action is for the future of our Ming Cult and for the tranquility of this world."

"Think about the people who lost their loved ones in the war, think about the homes destroyed by conflict. What we pursue, shouldn't it be for everyone to live in peace and work happily?"

Under the High Priest's persuasion, the opposing Disciples gradually quieted down.

Although their faces still held reluctance, the anger in their eyes had begun to extinguish.

Just as the internal dispute within the Ming Cult temporarily came to an end, a Ming Cult Disciple suddenly burst into the Great Hall, his face pale.

He knelt on the ground, panting, and reported with a trembling voice, "Sect Leader, this is bad! Hua Yun Sect has brought their immortal disciples, and they are currently shouting at the entrance. Leading them is Hua Yun Sect's Ninth Elder!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Hai's face instantly became solemn.

Hua Yun Sect?

Everyone rushed to the entrance, only to see Xiao Feng already standing in front of the Hua Yun Sect crowd, his arms spread wide, trying his best to block them.

"Ninth Elder, my Foster Father Wu Hai has returned to normal. The previous attack on the Immortal Sect was caused by being possessed by the Tiaotie. Please think twice and do not provoke further conflict!" Xiao Feng pleaded.

However, the Ninth Elder snorted coldly, his face so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it.

He said coldly, "Times have changed. Regardless of whether he was possessed or not, since he did it, he must bear the consequences. Now that the people of the Immortal Sect are gathered, with Hua Yun Sect in the lead, we will definitely eliminate the Demon Sect today!"

Xiao Feng knew that regardless of whether the decision to attack the Ming Cult before was made by his Foster Father, with so many Immortal Sects destroyed, the culprit in their eyes was the Ming Cult!

Between the Ming Cult and the Immortal Sect, Xiao Feng decisively chose the Immortal Sect!

He declared loudly, "As long as the Immortal Sect exists, I exist! I will never let you harm the Ming Cult."

Seeing this, the Ninth Elder revealed a cold smile on his face, then waved his hand.

Several immortal disciples were seen carrying a stretcher forward. On the stretcher lay a dying woman.

It was Zhao Yuwei.

Gan Feng held Zhao Yuwei, looked directly at Xiao Feng, and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Feng, Zhao Yuwei's life is currently hanging by a thread, and only Hua Yun Sect's Ninth Elder can save her. If you insist on helping the Ming Cult, Zhao Yuwei can only die."

The atmosphere on the scene instantly became tense, and Xiao Feng fell into a desperate dilemma.

His gaze shifted back and forth between Zhao Yuwei and the Ming Cult members, his heart filled with immense pain.

"How should I choose? Save Zhao Yuwei, or protect the Ming Cult?"

Xiao Feng clenched his fists, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain.

Just at this moment of intense tension, Wu Hai slowly walked forward.

His gaze swept over the Immortal Sect crowd, finally resting on the Ninth Elder.

"Ninth Elder, I understand your anger. But please listen to me, war will only bring more casualties and hatred. Why don't we put aside our prejudices and work together for the peace of this continent?"

The Ninth Elder let out a cold laugh, just about to speak, when he saw Wu Hai suddenly drop to one knee, cup his hands, and bow deeply to the Immortal Sect crowd.

"Today, I, Wu Hai, solemnly apologize here to all victims of the Immortal Sect and their families. I am willing to bear all responsibility as the Sect Leader of the Ming Cult, only asking for peace between the two sects, so that no innocent person is harmed again."

This single kneel shocked everyone present.

The Ming Cult Disciples gasped in surprise, and the Immortal Sect crowd also showed expressions of disbelief.

Xiao Feng was even more dumbfounded. He hadn't expected his Foster Father to make such a move.

After that, Wu Hai said another incredibly shocking sentence.

"May I exchange my life for the well-being of the Ming Cult members?"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a heavy bomb, instantly causing a huge stir among the crowd.

The immortal disciples looked at each other, discussing among themselves.

Meanwhile, the Ming Cult Disciples all changed their expressions.

"Sect Leader, no!" a young Disciple rushed to Wu Hai, knelt down, and kowtowed: "You are the backbone of our Ming Cult, we cannot be without you!"

"Sect Leader, if you sacrifice yourself, what meaning would our Ming Cult still have?" another older Disciple pleaded tearfully.

In the blink of an eye, Wu Hai was surrounded by Ming Cult Disciples.