The Scum Is A ***

They nodded. They couldn't agree more to Yu Sheng's words. The demonic cultivators, especially Wu Ran, are very bold to show to them the entrance to Heilong, their home. However, this shows that they are mocking them, the righteous cultivators. Because they know the righteous cultivators can't enter the Heilong, no one would dare to, thus, they boldly show the entrance to Heilong as the righteous cultivators can't do anything about this. 

This is a slap to the face of the righteous cultivators. And this is obviously what the demonic cultivators wanted to do: humiliate the righteous cultivators. 

"They really couldn't wait to tear our faces." Xi Ling said through his gritted teeth. His fists on his side are clenched while suppressing his anger. He still didn't forget there are the disciples around that are levels lower than him, so they'll bear the brunt of the pressure he'll be releasing if he'd get mad. 

"Saving face isn't important right now." Yu Sheng said. "We have to seal the Ni Lai Gates remaining." He told them. 

"Yes." They nodded. 

"Zhe." Yu Sheng called. 

"En." Zuo Zhe nodded as he walked beside Yu Sheng and pointed the Ni Lai Gate. "In sealing the Ni Lai Gate, you have to take note of the four main directions, and the four sub ones." He said as he moved his finger. "The four main directions are north, south, east and west. The four sub-directions are the northeast, northwest, the south east and the southwest." Then, the turned to them. "However, this isn't enough." He frowned. "Because the Ni Lai Gates we are going to seal are closer to the main source of the demonic qi, we have to add more layers to the seal." He said as he turned to Yu Sheng and nodded. 

Yu Sheng nodded and the condensed qi forming the Ni Lai Gate moved. The Ni Lai Gate's figure disappeared and was replaced by a diamond figure. 

"North, South East and West." Zuo Zhe pointed the four corners of the diamond. Then, a square overlayed the diamond. "Northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest." He said as he pointed the four corners of the square. "We only made two layers of the seal we placed upon the Ni Lai Gate. They'll be enough since they are far from the Southmost Region. However, the Ni Lai gates in the Southmost region naturally will be stronger." He turned to them. "And so, we had to add more layers for security." He said and looked at Yu Sheng. 

Yu Sheng nodded again and another square made of condensed qi overlayed the first square and the diamond, and another square overlayed the second square. 

"North-north-east. North-east-east. South-east-east. South-south-east. South-south-west. South-west-west. North-west-west, and north-north-west." Zuo Zhe said as he pointed the new eight directions before he turned to them. "We have to make these seals." He told them. 

Their expression turned grave. "This is…" Li Tian muttered. 

"A Seal Over A Layer of Seal Upon A Seal." Zuo Zhe answered. 

They felt dizzy just looking at the stacks of seals and hearing the name of the seal. 

"In short, it is a series of seals." Zuo Zhe said. "The first seal is the four main directions. The second seal is the four sub-directions. The third seal will be the north-north-east, north-north-west, south-south-east and south-south-west or the double north-and-south directions. And the fourth layer of seal will be the north-east-east, north-west-west, south-east-east and south-west-west or the double east-and-west directions." He explained. 

They all nodded in understanding as they silently studied the seals hovering above Yu Sheng's palm formed by the condensed qi of Yu Sheng. 

Jing Rui has been silently listening when he suddenly thought of something. "There's no Central?" he asked. 

Everyone looked at him. It's not that they think that Jing Rui is seeking attention for his home region. But that, they also realized it, too. Each region has its own place on the seal, except the Central Region. The Southmost Region, naturally, belongs to the South. 

"It's not my intention of excluding the central part." Zuo Zhe said. "Instead, it's the most crucial part, which is I'm about to say." He explained. 

Jing Rui's brows raised while the others looked at Zuo Zhe in confusion. 

"The Central Regions acts as the heart of the continent. However, in the seal, it will be serving as the key – which is the most important." Zuo Zhe said. 

"What do you mean?" Fan Wen asked. 

"In each seal finished, we have to inject our power to its central point." Zuo Zhe said. "This central point will serve as the key to the seal. If the key is destroyed, then the seal will be vulnerable." He made a pause. "In short, this key serves as the protection of the seals. Thus, the key, or the central point, should be injected with more power than the other points." He explained. 

Everyone fell silent as they digested Zuo Zhe's words. "You said, 'in each seal finished'." Xie Lan spoke. "There are four seals, so, we also have to make four 'keys'?" he asked. 

Zuo Zhe nodded. "That's right." He answered. "You can compare it when you're opening a gift. You open the gift from the middle, right? After the middle was torn off, the other sides can be opened." He explained. "Just that… the Ni Lai Gate is a 'present' from the demonic cultivators. But, an extremely terrible 'present'." He said. 

He wanted to compare the Ni Lai Gate as a present, to Pandora's box. However, since no one knows who is Pandora and what is her box, then he left it be. But, who knows the righteous cultivators would react strongly? 

Their face immediately became dark. Not because of Zuo Zhe's cold joke, but because of the severity of the situation. The Ni Lai Gate has already behaving like this, how much more if it gets worse? That if the demonic qi it releases becomes stronger, and more abundant? Where will the mortals live, then, after they robbed them of their land by destroying it through corruption using the demonic qi? What about the lives that were lost in the process, when the demonic qi corroded their body and they can't stand the pain and corruption, losing themselves to insanity? 

Zuo Zhe also knows he has spoken too much and he lowered his head. "This is why I said that sealing the Ni Lai Gate is very taxing. It is also more dangerous than being the one guarding." He said. "Not only does it burn the qi faster than you could, you have to expend more qi for the seals so the Ni Lai Gate couldn't release the demonic qi from the Heilong to Huilong. 

"We understand." They said. 

Zuo Zhe's eyes widened he shook his head and waved his hands. "I – I'm not preaching you or anything!" he said. "I'm just… just concerned…" he said in a low voice it could barely be heard. 

Li Tian, the one closest to Zuo Zhe and Yu Sheng since he's the first to meet them, smiled. He also has a good temper, and so he mediated for everyone to ease the tension that rose. "We also aren't mad at young master Zuo." He said. "Our anger is directed to the demonic cultivators that are harming everyone… everything." He explained. "In fact, we are very thankful for young master Zuo." He told him. 

"Huh?" Zuo Zhe was startled. He looked at Li Tian. 

Li Tian smiled. "Many people are taking advantage of this situation to escape from their responsibilities." He said. "They have the ability to protect, not only their self, but also other people. Yet, they instead become cowards. Fear is one thing, but from power comes the responsibility. You were given the power to protect the people, and not to seek the protection of others." He clenched his fists. "Meanwhile, those who are weaker than them instead are the ones braving the danger in order to help the others. They are bolder than those hypocrites!" he gnashed his teeth. 

"Li Tian…" 

"Xiao Tian…!" 

"Li-shixiong…?" they all stared at Li Tian in shock. Li Tian's face is red from anger. 

Xie Lan and Fan Wen looked at each other. After Li Tian and the others came out from the Feng Hua Palace and returned, Li Tian has volunteered to help the Zhongyang together with Feng Mo and the others. After settling down the matters in Zhongyang, where Qi Ling died, Li Tian and the others came back and then helped his fellow disciples settling down the refugees in the Xinfaxian. 

Li Tian must have seen something during this time. Because they were too busy with some other matters, they didn't have time to supervise the refugees in Xinfaxian and thus left this matter in the hands of the disciples. 

Xie Lan and Fan Wen looked at each other, worry flashing in their eyes. "Xiao Tian." He called. 

"I'm alright, founder." Li Tian answered as he took a deep breath. 

"Xiao Tian… are you really alright?" Fan Wen asked. 

Li Tian turned and nodded at them. "Founder, shifu." He called. "Before, I only acted as my fellow disciples' support. This time, I want to become bolder, and act as the vanguard." He told them. "I can't fall, and I want to be worthy of Chen Han!"