Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Factions Within the Descending Sect, Arrival at the Sect's Treasure Vault
The Shadow Protector obviously had high hopes for Su Xing, so he patiently explained:
"Our Descending Sect has been established for nearly a thousand years. Through the millennia, three factions have formed within the sect: the Nature Faction, the Zealot Faction, and the Coexistence Faction!"
Pausing for a moment, the Shadow Protector continued:
"Those in the Zealot Faction are a bunch of lunatics and also the most numerous and powerful faction within our sect. They worship the Supreme Lord and wish to sacrifice themselves to allow the Sovereign Race to descend upon Blue Star and feast upon all humans there, including themselves!"
Su Xing frowned slightly after hearing this. The Zealot Faction was clearly the radical element within the Descending Sect, willing to sacrifice even themselves to bring in those Demonic Beasts from the Foreign Race, a concept beyond comprehension.
"As for the Coexistence Faction, they pin their hopes on the great Sovereign Race's pity for our Human Race, hoping that after the invasion of the real world, the Sovereign Race will spare most of the Human Race in consideration of the Descending Sect's efforts... Of course, in my opinion, those of the Coexistence Faction have also been kicked in the head by a donkey.
We ants, why should we coexist with the great Sovereign Race? We're not worthy!"
Su Xing showed a hint of bemusement on his face upon hearing the words of the Shadow Protector.
The Coexistence Faction within the Descending Sect seemed to retain some humanity, believing that the strength of the Foreign Demonic Beasts far exceeded that of the Human Race and thus wished to surrender to ensure the survival of humankind.
But Su Xing knew in his heart that such a thing was utterly impossible.
Once the Foreign Race descended upon the real world, they would consume the entire world, and there would be no talk of coexistence then.
In Su Xing's view, the war between the Foreign Race and the Human Race was clearly a war of annihilation, and it was ridiculous for the Coexistence Faction to pin their hopes on the pity of the Foreign Race.
So Su Xing asked:
"Shadow Protector, what then is the goal of our Nature Faction?"
Filled with longing, the Shadow Protector said:
"We of the Nature Faction strive to be close to the world's most original and natural side... In this materially corrupt world, we believe that nature is the closest to truth!"
Su Xing nodded slightly upon hearing this, thinking to himself that if the goal was only to cherish nature, the Nature Faction seemed rather sane.
Unexpectedly, what the Shadow Protector said next left Su Xing utterly speechless.
The Shadow Protector spoke with some zeal:
"And humans are naturally the lowest race! They have nothing to do with nature! Only the great Sovereign Race is the species that is closest to truth and nature on this world!"
"Therefore, we must look up to nature and become part of the Sovereign Race, even if it is only as a lower member of the Sovereign Race, it would suffice to grant us the right to be close to nature!"
Upon saying this, the Shadow Protector slightly lifted his black robe to reveal his abdomen.
Su Xing was stunned, as he saw a large area of black substance resembling octopus suckers and organs writhing wildly on the Shadow Protector's belly.
Is... is this even a human organ anymore?
Su Xing immediately felt nauseous. The Shadow Protector's skin didn't seem to retain any trace of human form.
Yet, the Shadow Protector was still proud, saying:
"This is the great Sovereign Race's gift to me. We in the Nature Faction hope to transform from the Human Race gradually into the Sovereign Race through modification, to become part of the Sovereign Race! I have modified nearly one-fifth of my whole body and have even received the organs of a great Shadow Beast, which is why I possess such immense power!"
Watching the Shadow Protector's fervent demeanor, Su Xing was at a loss for words.
So the so-called Nature Faction involves implanting organs of the Foreign Race into human bodies?
Eventually turning into beasts that are neither human nor animal!
From this perspective, the Nature Faction, the Zealot Faction, or even the Coexistence Faction, none are the thoughts of someone of sound mind!
Su Xing unconsciously stepped half a pace away from the Shadow Protector, this guy was really disgusting!
But the Shadow Protector didn't seem to feel anything and continued to say to himself:
"Elder Yao! Our Nature Faction's strength is definitely one of the top two among the three factions, and the faction leader even possesses half of the main race's bodies! As long as you are willing to join our Nature Faction, I will certainly report to the organization and find you a perfect main race body!"
After hearing this, Su Xing's smile froze on his face, what? Becoming a monster that's neither human nor beast, who would want that?
So, Su Xing forced a smile and said:
"Ahem, Shadow Protector, let's discuss this matter another time! I am still a newly-appointed Elder in the sect, not yet worthy of such regard!"
The Shadow Protector seemed to think there was nothing wrong with what Su Xing said, so he nodded and said no more.
Soon, the group entered deep into the mountains, where the mountain range stretched on and on, and the Shadow Protector led everyone to a huge rock outside a cliff.
This giant rock was more than thirty feet high and looked no different from an ordinary stone.
But the Shadow Protector took out a token and placed it into a slot on the giant rock, then he spoke to the rock:
"Dragon Protector! We have come to have a look at the sect's treasury!"
Before long, a transparent light screen appeared on the giant rock, and the Shadow Protector waved to Su Xing, then took the lead and walked in.
Su Xing followed closely behind, his heart in turmoil.
"Formation! This is definitely a Formation from the Cultivation World! And this method is very similar to the Sect Protection Array used by Cultivation sects! It looks no different from an ordinary rock on the outside, but it contains a unique hidden realm within!"
Su Xing's heart was pounding as he entered the Formation.
Once inside the Formation, it was a completely different world.
An old man with an aged face was dozing off at the entrance to the vault, not even bothering to flicker his eyelids.
However, the Shadow Protector seemed to have great respect for him, taking out two jars of fine wine and placing them beside the old man, then activating a mechanism to open the treasury.
Su Xing followed closely behind, and as soon as he walked into the treasury, he was shocked by the mountainous hoard of treasures.
The treasury was dozens of feet high, and the interior space was as vast as a plaza. Although there was no sunlight penetrating inside, the treasury was brightly lit because rows of Luminous Pearls were embedded in the mountain, illuminating the interior like daylight.
Even more exaggerated was the countless gold and silver treasures, piled up on the ground of the treasury like garbage, their value beyond measure.
Su Xing had no doubt that if these treasures were to be taken to the real world, they could probably buy an entire country!
Billions, trillions?
No, perhaps the unit of 'billion' was no longer sufficient to describe the wealth before his eyes...
But oddly enough, such a large number of treasures were actually the least valuable things in the treasury, casually scattered on the ground as if they were worthless.
The Shadow Elder took Su Xing across a floor paved with gold and pearls, walking dozens of meters further into the treasury before starting to introduce:
"Elder Yao, without any exaggeration, our Descending Sect's treasury can even rival the national treasury of the Great Xia... Apart from these worthless things under our feet, the treasury is divided into several areas, including: artifact area, equipment area, book area, heavenly materials and earthly treasures area...
You have half an hour to freely select treasures, but the items in the treasury cannot be taken out at will, they require a certain amount of points to be paid..."
After hearing this, Su Xing felt a wave of embarrassment.
The tons of gold and jewels under your feet... are the least valuable things in your eyes?
But when he saw the true treasures in the treasury, Su Xing chose to keep his mouth shut...