"What's going on? Why is the elder from Crimson Sky Sect apprehending Brother Ashen like that? And why is the sect leader apprehended like that?" Veli was confused and panicked.
"Look, the exit has been closed off and the arena has been surrounded by the elders from the top six sects" Ling Yun pointed towards the elders wearing different colored sect uniforms.
Meanwhile, the Eternal Blossom Sect Leader asked Chen Lao: "Chen Lao, what is your motive in doing this? What do you want from us? At least tell us how we can save our lives?"
Chen Lao nodded as he explained with a smile: "You see, there have always been top ten sects but now we want to change them to only six. You just need to hand over your sects and we will let you leave with your lives!"
At his wordings, Feng Xue's frown turned even deeper as a question soon flashed in her mind: "Huh? But if you let us leave, don't you think we can come and take our sects back from you? How do you plan to control us?"
Chen Lao laughed at her question as he praised: "Hahaha, Feng Xue, as expected of you. Even now you can think rationally. To control all of you, I have come across a treasure. It was only because of this treasure that I formed this plan. Do you wanna take a look?"
He asked with raised eyebrows, however, without waiting for her answer gestured to an elder from his sect.
The elder nodded as he took out something from his ring and displayed it in his hands.
It was a crimson-red insect with a pentagon-shaped body, multiple long tentacles, and a thin but long tail. It was coiled around into a small ball right now, approximately the size of a marble.
Chen Lao smiled as he explained: "Witness, it is the treasure that is capable of controlling you. It's called Scarlet Mind Schine. It has been refined by me and I can control it with just one thought."
"Once ingested, It would go and coil itself around your core, cutting off your connection to qi and making you unable to fend for yourselves. It will be according to my wishes. If I want, I can give you your ability to control qi back, otherwise, I can also make you a lowly Nascent Soul realm cultivator."
"As for your thoughts of betraying me, It's also taken care of by this godly treasure. Its long tail will go and connect itself to your brain and read your thoughts. If you have any thought of betraying me, it will make you experience extreme amounts of pain and the pain will not stop until you let go of your intentions of betraying me."
"With this, you all will be in the palms of my hands."
"What??" The four Sect Leaders and everyone who heard his explanation had their eyes widened in disbelief and horror.
"Y-You are lying! Why haven't we heard anything about this insect? You are making things up" Liu Nutong wasn't ready to believe his words.
Wasn't this insect just too terrifying?
"Why would I lie about this? Now, just be a good guy and open your mouth." Chen Lao said menacingly.
"On the other hand, he will be satisfied by controlling me with that insect. At least, I would be able to live and who knows, maybe in the future, I will be able to find a way to become free of his control."
"Also, he would not kill my disciples since he would like to integrate them into his own sect. I can also hope that they will grow powerful and save me in the future."
After weighing the pros and cons, he came to his final answer and replied: "Yes Yes, I accept your offer. I'll let that insect enter my body. Now, please let them go!"
Hearing him agree, most of them were shocked while Chen Lao revealed a satisfied smile: "Hahaha, Liu Nutong, I knew you were a smart man. Let's not delay, You ingest the treasure and I'll let your disciples go!"
Liu Nutong believed him because he couldn't figure out why would Chen Lao want to kill his disciples.
Chen Lao was a man who cherished talents and hence would remain true to his word.
Liu Nutong nodded as the elder who held the Scarlet Mind Schine came and stood close to Liu Nutong.
"Open your mouth!" Chen Lao instructed as Liu Nutong hesitantly opened his mouth.
The elder took the Scarlet Mind Schine and made it enter Liu Nutong's mouth and soon it was ingested by Liu Nutong.
As soon as he gulped, Liu Nutong's eyes widened as he let out a scream filled with pain: "Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr!"
However, this shriek of pain only lasted a few seconds before coming to a stop.
"Don't worry, This pain is the result of the treasure coiling around your core. It is momentary!"
Chen Lao explained with a smile, before gesturing the elders to let go of Lu Xian and Zhu Long.
The Elders adhered to his command, letting go of the protagonists before disappearing and appearing before two protagonists of the Eternal Blossom Sect.
It was now their turn.
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(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)