Chapter 1003 - 1003 – Leadership (1/2)

”I don't want him to die,” Stella said.

Liam and Gravis both looked at her.

”Are you sure?” Liam asked. ”Even though he has never directly acted against us, he was still complicit in our suppression.”

”I know,” Stella said. ”However, it was all thanks to him that I have been able to hold out for so long. He was the one that advocated for the fights to be fair.”

”Without his protests, Nira might have forced me to consume some kind of poison that weakens my Battle-Strength to get this entire issue over and done with as fast as possible. So, while he has not gone explicitly against everything, he has still helped me by allowing me to fight with my full power,” Stella said.

Liam furrowed his brows as he looked at the Nine Elements Sect.

Yes, Herius had helped them, but he had also not gone against all of this.

”No right choice, huh?” Gravis commented.

Stella nodded.

”He only had two choices. Either he protected you and risked his own life, or he went against you and his conscience,” Gravis said. ”In the end, he didn't want to betray his conscience, but he also didn't want to die. So, he chose a third path. He didn't go against the Sect Master, but he wanted for everything to happen aboveboard, at least. Is that about right?”

”Yes,” Stella answered.

When Gravis thought about Herius' situation, he had to sigh.

Wasn't this too similar to his own situation?

Gravis wanted to claim his own freedom and ignore the highest Heaven's will.

Yet, if he did that, he would never achieve his goal.

So, in the end, Gravis was forced to reluctantly follow the highest Heaven's will, even if he didn't want to.

'How can I judge someone when I'm doing the same thing?' Gravis thought.

”It's your decision anyway,” Liam said. ”If you don't want him to die, it's fine.”

Stella smiled. ”Thanks, Liam.”

Liam only nodded.

”Let's go down,” Gravis said as he slowly flew towards the Nine Elements Sect.

”Just like that?” Liam asked with surprise.

”I'm using the Law of Emotions and the Law of Perceived Reality to keep us hidden and isolated. No living being nor Formation Array has the ability to feel our presence,” Gravis explained.

Stella and Liam looked at each other for a bit and also landed in the Nine Elements Sect.

The three of them landed close to the central palace. This meant that they were already in an area where only members of the Nine Elements Sect in the Immortal Realm or stronger could stay.

Yet, no one paid any attention to them.

This wasn't any different than when a powerful Cultivator visited a mortal village.

It was like the three of them didn't even exist.

Stella and Liam looked at their surroundings with complex expressions.

Memories associated with mixed emotions flooded their minds.

They had felt so powerful and great back when they had first been allowed to enter this area.

Yet, a lot of the memories were also filled with blood and slaughter.

Being a disciple in a Peak Sect was very dangerous and pressuring.

Stella took the lead as the other two followed her. First, she led them into the central palace, a place only Immortal Emperors or people with special status could visit without an invitation.

As soon as they entered the central palace, the memories became mostly negative.

Stella had only been allowed to stay in the palace when she had become the Holy Maiden in the Immortal King Realm. A Holy Maiden in the Immortal Realm wasn't allowed in here.

One had to remember that there were multiple Holy Sons and Holy Daughters in Peak Sects. In general, there were three. The lowest one was in the Law Comprehension Realm. The middle one was in the Immortal Realm, and the highest one was in the Immortal King Realm.

The Immortal Emperor Realm didn't have Holy Sons or Holy Daughters.

Stella led them through the hallway, but she stopped for a couple of seconds in the middle of it.

A picture of her dead teacher was hung on the wall.

Stella and Liam both looked at the picture for a bit with forlorn expressions.