Chapter 146: Prelude to Rebellion!

Originally, BASHAN MO had promised BASHAN HUA to let his wife enter the tenth grade to prolong her life. However, just as Bashan Hua’s wife was on the verge of her breakthrough, Bashan Mo—who was supposed to be guarding alongside Bashan Hua—suddenly launched a strike, disrupting her breakthrough. Due to the failed breakthrough, a depleted vital energy, and Bashan Mo’s attack, she perished on the spot!

Bashan Hua instantly went mad with grief and fury, and immediately engaged Bashan Mo in battle!

Yet, Bashan Mo was already at the peak of the tenth grade at that time. Because of his brother’s suspicious nature, Bashan Hua had ceased cultivating ever since entering the tenth grade, and his cultivation had remained at the early stage of the tenth grade for many years!

Before long, Bashan Hua was beaten down from the clouds by Bashan Mo.

Although Bashan Mo was petty-minded back then, he still retained a shred of benevolence toward his younger brother, sparing Bashan Hua’s life. However, he imprisoned him within the estate, forbidding him to ever step out again or practice cultivation.

To keep a tight watch on his younger brother, Bashan Mo sealed the estate and dispatched Bashan Hong and three others to guard it day and night.

Yet, the more Bashan Hong and the others interacted with Bashan Hua, the more a sense of unwillingness grew within them!

Bashan Hua’s mindset gradually influenced the four of them, who had long been lingering at the peak of the ninth grade, never daring to attempt a breakthrough.

Practitioners all harbor aspirations; having reached higher peaks, who would not wish to climb higher, especially while they still possessed abundant physical vigor?

Gradually, a rebellious intent took root within Bashan Hong and his companions.

On a dark and windy night, Bashan Hong and the others quietly unsealed the barrier and released Bashan Hua.

The five of them had originally agreed to deal with Bashan Mo together, but at the critical juncture, an unexpected turn of events occurred, plunging them all into the abyss.

With thunderous momentum, Bashan Mo struck, casting Bashan Hua deep into the underground depths, forbidden to ever emerge.

As for the four of them, though pardoned from death, they still had to endure the torment of flesh and bone.

At the mere thought of that decade of suffering, a sense of terror gripped Bashan Hong’s heart! Bashan Mo weighed down upon them like a massive mountain, suffocating them—or rather, suffocating the entire Bashan clan!

...

After pondering alone in his manor for a while, Bashan Hong finally decided to summon the other three to discuss the matter together!

He felt that they truly needed to make a plan.

He had originally thought Bashan Mo did not have many days left to live, leaving them a chance, but now it seemed that this opportunity was about to vanish as well! If so, they could no longer sit idly by and wait for death.

Bashan Hua was right: the disaster back then was brought about by their own hands, and looking back now, the regret was immeasurable. Since that was the case, they must never again do anything that would bring them regret!

...

Before long, Bashan Cangmang, Bashan Gui, and Bashan Wujiang arrived!

Upon entering the estate, Bashan Hong projected his spiritual sense outward, beginning to seal off the room. Seeing this, the other three immediately understood that what Bashan Hong was about to say was of utmost importance.

Otherwise, there would be no need to shroud the surroundings with spiritual sense.

The other three also released their spiritual senses, joining forces to seal the chamber!

When everything was secured, Bashan Hong began to speak: "Today, when I accompanied that outsider to the treasury, I met Elder Hua. Elder Hua said some words to me that I feel resonate deeply with our current situation!"

Bashan Cangmang quickly asked, "What did Elder Hua say?"

Seeing Bashan Cangmang’s present eagerness, Bashan Hong said nothing in rebuke! After all, it was Bashan Cangmang who had taken the lead back then, pushing them all to break through the psychological defenses in their hearts.

Over the years, Bashan Hua had been imprisoned by Bashan Mo in the subterranean depths, assigned to a treasury passageway devoid of even a shred of spiritual energy, where he was allowed to see no one. They could only catch a glimpse of him whenever they went down to fetch items from the treasury! Moreover, such occasions were rare, and not every one of the four Great Elders even had the chance to go down there!

Bashan Mo’s imprisonment of Bashan Hua was strict in some ways, yet lax in others.

"Elder Hua analyzed the current situation: with the external passage now open, our previous opportunities are rendered useless. Once Bashan Mo ventures to the outside world and breaks through to the eleventh grade, we will never have a day of redemption. According to the ancient records of our ancestors, an eleventh-grade Martial Sage truly transcends the limits of lifespan, achieving an existence co-eval with heaven and earth, shining as long as the sun and moon. I also believe that once Bashan Mo reaches the outside world, given his innate talent, the likelihood of him breaking through to the eleventh grade is extremely high!

"Elder Hua’s meaning is that before the fierce beasts of the Azure Plain are cleared and while the passage cannot yet be traversed, we must go all out to eliminate Bashan Mo. This is our last chance; once we miss it again, we will never have another opportunity to raise our heads!" Having said this, Bashan Hong looked toward the other three, his eyes filled with yearning. At this moment, Bashan Hong was also drumming with anxiety; he desperately hoped someone could reach a consensus with him!

Only thus could the turmoil in Bashan Hong’s heart settle, freeing him from such lingering terror!

Bashan Cangmang was the first to speak: "I feel Elder Hua is right. If we do not strike now, we will never have another chance. Last time, because the four of us lacked mutual trust and failed to carry it through to the very end, the undertaking failed, and Elder Hua was cast into the depths of the earth. This matter has caused me pain and regret for a hundred years. Now that Elder Hua is willing to try again, I believe this is our chance."

Bashan Gui glanced at the agitated Bashan Cangmang and said, "Don’t think of it too simply. Not to mention that Bashan Mo’s cultivation has grown even stronger over the past two years, his Bashan Demonic King Art must have reached the pinnacle of perfection by now. Leaving Elder Hua aside, even if the four of us were added to the mix, I doubt we would be a match for him!"

Bashan Wujiang said nothing, merely nodding to indicate his agreement with Bashan Gui’s view!

"Then what do you mean? You don’t want to do it? Bashan Gui, after all these years, have you turned into a spineless coward as well? Bashan Mo has suppressed our Bashan clan to such an extent—don’t you want the world to change? Even though we do this partly so we can advance further ourselves, it is even more for the sake of our younger generations in the Bashan clan. They need us to forge a path for them, a path where they can see hope!" Bashan Cangmang roared with agitation.

Both of his eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Bashan Gui, as if he would strike at the slightest hint of an improper word from him!

Bashan Hong waved his hand, patted Bashan Cangmang, and said, "Cangmang, don’t be so impulsive. The four of us share a common destiny, like grasshoppers tied to the same rope—none of us can escape. As long as Bashan Mo lives for a single day, we will never be able to raise our heads. However, Gui also makes a sensible point; this matter requires careful deliberation. We need a plan, and at the very least, we must thoroughly study how to rescue Elder Hua!"

Bashan Wujiang, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke up: "I think there is a method that might work..." As soon as these words fell, the other three instantly focused their gazes on Bashan Wujiang.

Bashan Wujiang gathered his thoughts, and then a surging wave of spiritual sense burst forth, permeating the entire space!

The other three followed suit; the greater the stakes, the more cautious they had to be.

If Bashan Hong dared to discuss rebellion with Bashan Hua deep underground, it was only because down there, Bashan Hua was able to shield them from Bashan Mo’s detection. Otherwise, who would ever dare to discuss how to kill Bashan Mo right within his earshot?