Chapter 490: Chapter 305 Cooperation_1
The look on Celica Shingo’s face was troubled. It was not that he didn’t want to save his son. He worried about implicating the entire Shingo Sect, and he simply didn’t trust Logan and his two companions. Did they really think they could take on those major sects?
After some long hesitation, he shook his head sorrowfully: “I apologize. I am a Sect Leader; I must consider our entire Sect. I don’t want my son’s situation to endanger the Sect.”
“You are indeed responsible,” Logan fixed him with a piercing gaze. “But, I have to ask, while you have devoted your entire heart towards the sect, has the sect ever considered you? The elders only care about their own interests.”
Logan continued, with stern clarity, “If they had truly considered you, they would not have handed over Lowen Shingo for the sake of vague benefits. Nobody can say for sure that the Beast King and the Heavenly Saint Daoist left something behind. Did the two Sanctuary Powerhouses have the time at the end?”
“The logic here is simple. Although six major sects came for this opportunity, everyone knew that the odds of getting it were one in ten thousand at best. Most of them are here just to keep up appearances. It’s only because the elders of your sect betrayed or sold out Lowen Shingo that they lit a spark of hope.”
Logan’s words struck a sore spot in Celica Shingo. Even after several days have passed, he still felt uneasy about why, even when he had disagreed, the elders of the sect went behind his back to negotiate with the other major sects. They secretly sent Lowen Shingo away just for a share of the proceeds.
Even after all was said and done, it was only then he learned about everything. Afterwards, the order of elders convinced him about the future of the sect, causing him, the Sect Leader, to remain silent in disagreement. He could do nothing but watch Lowen Shingo be taken away – and now he has to watch his son executed tomorrow. The pain in his heart was unbearable.
Celica Shingo chuckled bitterly at Logan, “And even if you were to agree, what of it? You three are far too weak. I am not trying to undermine your confidence, but you truly have no idea how horrifying it is to be a Half-step Saint Seat. This time, there are seven. Together, they are the equivalent of a true Saint.”
“If you’re clever, you should see that the Beast King and the Heavenly Saint Daoist fell, with us somehow involved. They were two real Saints, weren’t they? Even stronger than you Half-step Saints? If they can safely survive in the hands of the Saints, there must be many others under their protection.”
Logan smiled slightly and continued, “Anyway, take some time to think about this. Consider whether you want to save your son or embrace the role of a coward for some vague sense of duty. The power of choice is in your hands. What if one day, for their own interests, the sect elders turn against you, as with Lowen Shingo?”
“Suddenly, I remember a hundred years ago, when the last Sect Leader handed the sect over to me. I took an oath from that moment on to keep the Shingo Clan safe. I thought that would be my mission forever, but now everything feels so unclear.”
Celica Shingo heaved a long sigh, apparently reminiscing about the past. Despite being a Half-step Saint Seat, many things in the world remain beyond his control. He couldn’t even save his own son now. The world seemed to be so unfair towards him. Why couldn’t he have things his way for once?
Then, all at once, it was as if he understood everything. If he couldn’t protect his own son, if he stood by and watched his son be executed by the leading sects, what face would he have to live further? He would probably be a laughingstock amongst his Sect disciples. He decided to place his trust in Logan this one time.
“I can get your message to the major sects, but I won’t participate in the detailed planning. Better think it through on how to hold off those powerful figures. Otherwise, you’ll only be stuck in a dilemma, dragged into the vortex. The sects are not fools, especially when there are so many strong competitors.”
Deep within his eyes, Celica Shingo was well aware more than anyone else. For the chance to seize what the Saints had left behind, the six major sects had brought all their forces here. In his view, the only hope of turning this around would be the intervention of a true Saint.
Moreover, when compared to the other sects, there was one called the Heavenly Saint Sect, established single-handedly by the Heavenly Saint Daoist. Now that the Heavenly Saint Daoist had fallen so mysteriously, they vowed to avenge their ancestor, and while they did chase after the opportunity, they were willing to hunt down the murderers at all costs.
Logan let out a long sigh of relief, and nodded, “We guarantee that we won’t put you in any danger. As long as we can attract the major forces there, I have my own ways to delay them. By then, we can rescue Lowen Shingo during the chaos. You don’t need to worry about implicating the Shingo Sect. No one will suspect.”
If Celica Shingo didn’t agree, Logan’s entire scheme would fail. Celica Shingo was the most crucial piece in his plan. Only he could bring out all the sect’s forces, instead of just sending a small reconnaissance force.
After all, in the eyes of those major forces, Celica Shingo had sent his own child into the fray, clearly showing that he genuinely wanted a share of the spoils. There was no need for any deceptions.
After hearing Logan’s plan, Celica Shingo couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. One had to admit that it was daring, but since he had already agreed to it, he followed Logan’s instructions. Whether they succeed or not, he will have tried at least once. The fate of Lowen Shingo would then be left in the hands of Heaven.
Watching Celica Shingo’s retreating figure, Bart Cloud looked contemplative. “Can he be trusted? If he betrays us as soon as he leaves and informs the major sects to capture us, won’t we fall into their trap? I always feel like this guy is unreliable, a father who doesn’t seem to have any heart to save his child?”
The Shingo Butcher dismissed Bart’s concerns, “I think you’re worrying too much. After all, he is a bona fide Half-step Saint Seat. If he really had ulterior motives, he wouldn’t have been putting on this act with us for so long. He would have simply captured us three long ago. Currently, it’s like trying to use a dead horse as a living one. If we can’t trust Celica Shingo, who can we trust?”
Seeing these reactions, Logan decided to take things one step at a time. If Celica Shingo indeed had ulterior motives, they would have no choice but to use extreme measures to escape.
Bart Cloud spread out his hands and gave an awkward laugh. “I’m just being cautious. After all, the enemies this time, though not comparable to the Heavenly Saint Daoist and the Beast King, their intellects are just as formidable. This isn’t just a showdown of strength but a test of wits.”
Time was running short, so Logan didn’t waste any more time. He left Bart Cloud as a guard and went with the Shingo Butcher to set up an array. To be sure everything would go smoothly, Logan used up one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, recreating the array that had trapped a Half-step Saint Seat Demon Beast.
An array of ten thousand Spirit Stones could trap a Half-step Saint Seat. Now, the amount of Spirit Stones had increased tenfold, which should trap six or seven beings without issue. The only uncertainty was how many from the Dominator Realm came. As long as the number did not exceed fifty, Logan was confident his array could stop them.