Chapter 19: Can a billion of yours, match one of mine?

An Shan always hated slander.

Now that he heard this person stated such a thing about his late wife… That she was involved in this nonsense, he felt a sudden urge to run rampant. Eyes turning sharp, he still did not turn to rudeness, but people around felt stinging sensation in the air. After hearing what he said just now, quite a few rich disciples with spatial rings, checked their books. Not long after, murmurs kept growing in groups here and there.

Like he said, that particular person, reportedly hearing such news from Supreme Ancestor’s wife, was indeed a nobody! In history, his name was not even recorded. Only in stories, which were not regarded as factual history, did such a person exist!

“T-this person, truly had no historical importance,”

“How can that be—”

“B-but the Divine Scholar said…”

“Could he be mistaken? Impossible right,”

Rizhi could hear the discussion among the disciples. While the Core Disciples here were quite young, they had the tendency to be involved in discussion. Thus, they were different than his ordinary audience… Hearing voices of disbelief in the air, all his hatred came to be directed to An Shan. While he had hated people before, never did he imagine… That he would hate someone so much right now! If there was no one around, he would have ripped him to shreds!

“This, you dare…”

Rizhi realized the wave was turning against him, thus his face paled. Seeing it had desirable effect, An Shan went on to the next focus;

“Since you’ve nothing else to say, let’s move on… My second refute. About the tale that you're doomed to hell if you did not acknowledge him, isn’t that outright lie?”

“You, why would that be a lie! You’re clearly misguiding everyone!”

“…Go to the Extreme North across the mountains, or the Far East continent across the ocean, how many of them have ever heard of Ancestor An Shan’s name? Especially so for normal people living in secluded villages and mountains. If they don’t, could the Heaven be so blind as to judge them to be at fault, for not knowing our exalted An Shan?”

“That’s… They’re at fault, being ignorant…”

“Grand Elder, why do you still propagate such lie? How is it so important for people to know our ancestor’s name, and acknowledge him? Would that constitute a felony? So much so that those who did not know, you condemn to hell?”

“He is the Light of Creation! The reason we— Enough with you, I’m bringing you to the Disciplinary Hall—”

Seeing Rizhi was about to use force, An Shan flashed out his Core Disciple’s token! Seeing it, the Grand Elder stopped. For him to have it out, it was a clear message; that should he use force against him, he would activate the token, bringing in the Judgement of Ancestors in place. While the eight Ancestors were currently isolated in Soul Severing, Rizhi would still think twice before involving them into this mess. In Absolute Aegis sect, the Ancestors were akin to Kings. Given that this youngster seemed to have relation with the founding clan, they would no doubt pay attention to the matter. Should he activate the token, the disciplinary hall’s jurisdiction would be restricted.

Any punishment would have to be delayed, until any one of the Ancestors could make the judgement. And when the Ancestors woke up five years down the road, Rizhi would have to answer to them directly! Even with his prestige, facing the Ancestors was not something he could take lightly.

“Y-you, you think I’m afraid—”

“Our debate’s not over yet, be patient,”

The hall became quiet. This lad An Shan seemed to handle the Grand Elder very well. They were not blind, so they could deduce clearly that he was threatening him.

…

Threatening!

A Grand Elder!

A senior one at that, moreover, one with the prestige of a Divine Scholar! He seemed to have no fear of him, and while his statement was short, it was delivered with full confidence.

“Brother An, you…”

Beside him, Ling Shuren stepped backward, stumbling upon another disciple. Awhile ago, she thought of him as her peer… perhaps a little eccentric, maybe. But among geniuses, being a bit eccentric was the norm, so she put it aside. Yet currently, she realized she was sorely mistaken! Around An Shan, the nearby disciples distanced themselves, thus forming a clear circle isolating him.

“You can’t deal with my second refute. So let’s just move on to my third refute, Grand Elder. You said our esteemed Ancestor had the right to overturn Heaven's judgment, taking one out from hell. You claimed that he is Heaven's exclusive lover, one who stands on par with the One governing Heaven?”

“That’s right! I dare you refute this, hmph. If you do, you’ll be making all Divine Scholars in the continent your enemies!”

“All the Divine Scholars, as enemies? Ha, not only I dare, I would even bring all of you into attention of one critical fact,”

“…What,”

“The right to overturn Heaven’s judgement meant that he is already beyond Heaven. Does that make sense? Also, it contradicted the saying that he stands on par with the One governing Heaven. Let’s say we’ll just ignore this contradiction, I still have to ask all of you… Does it make sense for the One in the Heaven to raise one’s standing to be on par with Him?”

Does it make sense?

Does it make sense?

Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to think.

“If you could not relate, then allow me to advise,”

Turning to the Grand Elder, he asked;

“Tell me Grand Elder, if you have a servant, serving you for a long time… Not only loyal to you, he is hardworking and dedicated, and you in return, loved him so. But I dare ask you, would you raise his standing to be on par with you, sharing your domain, sharing your power? Then having the same right as you to your followers and treasures, and having the right to refute you for every decision you make, even cancelling it?”

Rizhi’s eyes widened. The question need not an answer, for it was made for one to think, for the answer was obvious. Those who answered yes, would no doubt were either pretentious, or stupid beyond measure.

“Would you give him your rank, and share your decision-making power? And allow him to disrespect you? Even save someone you already condemn?”

Rizhi trembled, and the disciples there could see it. Thinking about it, what An Shan said was true. No matter how much one loved their servant, one would not be so insane as to raise him as his equal. At most, one would raise him to be a friend.

Yet to share every power, rights and treasure one had? That would not be called generous, it would be called preposterous. In addition, if that friend saved the enemy you condemned to die, would you still consider that friend loyal to you? Right now, Grand Elder Rizhi was nothing short of a worm being fried in the frying pan. He finally felt stifled by the atmosphere, and his body turned hot.

"Y-you, what you refute, everyone accepts it! You dare say everyone is mistaken?!"

“Oh, what do you mean everyone? Everyone here, or everyone in our sect’s domain? Perhaps everyone in the continent, or perhaps the whole world?”

“Y-you, lacking manners! Just in this continent, more than a billion people believe it, that’s the proof!"

"I'm not the one shouting right now. One billion? Sure, that’s a lot of people, but what about the rest of nineteen billions in the continent? Are they air now? However, let me clarify this; even if everyone in the world think so, I don’t care. What I care was the truth— The truth, and nothing but the truth."

“What truth?! You're a disciple, and I'm a Grand Elder, who knows better?! You youngster should be thankful for my guidance! But instead, you're acting like this? Do you think you're so smart, so eloquent? Observe the manner of a disciple, just follow!"

He flung his sleeve, as if cutting off the whole debate, as if saying it’s over.

Yet An Shan did not care.

"Not so fast. Tell me, if an elder acted shamefully, should the disciple follow? If an elder broke the law, should the disciple not refute him? Where's your sense, Grand Elder? Such a point cannot be used in an academic debate. It fits the outside world, the dog eats dog world. If you so desire to be a dog, be my guest. I'd rather stay a human, a civilized one,"

"D-dog?! Presumptuous, you dare lecture me? All Divine Scholars agreed to what I’ve lectured! Who are you to compare to a Divine Scholar, huh? We’re the successors to the Supreme Ancestor!"

We’re the successors!

Successors to the Supreme Ancestor!

Rizhi held out his chest wide.

That’s right. As a Divine Scholar, why should he be afraid? His status made him more noble than anyone in the continent, anyone in the world. He was holy, holier than anyone here. Paradise was made for him, and he would be crowned in the Heavens by the Supreme Ancestor himself!

Hearing him styled himself as the successor of Supreme Ancestor, An Shan had a sudden urge; to slap this fatty to kingdom come. It took him all his willpower to resist the urge, for this confrontation should be settled with logic.

“Divine Scholar? That is not a rank in our sect. Even taking into consideration your official rank, it still not suffice. If what comes out of Grand Elder’s mouth was to become a Law, can you imagine the chaos? Tell me, between you, and the Law set in our Sect, which is higher? Can you bend the Law to your will? Which is higher, you or the Law?”

"Ha, you’ve just uttered something unrelated. What ‘s this have to do with law?”

Rizhi waved his hand at him with his opened palm. It was an act of belittling someone. Turning to the crowd, he regained his confidence, believing An Shan had made a mistake.

“See? He’s just a greenhorn, knowing nothing. What I've just lectured was too profound. These are from Sages, chosen ones of the past. If you can't understand it, be silent. If you hate it, then scram! Such a rude disciple, I'll bring this matter up to his master soon!"

“Unrelated you say? Coming back, what is the source of your claim? Sages are just claims, how could you prove it? Are they free of faults? You said all of these Divine Scholars agreed, but on what basis? A hunch? If you're in court, would it be accepted?”

Rizhi’s face twitched, yet he did not answer, as if refusing to get involve anymore.

“You said this had no relation with the law? Actually, this has everything to do with it! Our Sect has laws, thus anything you claim, you ought to be able to prove it. If not, it should be treated as conjecture. And how much value conjectures have in our Sect's Law?”

How much value?

An Shan’s question allowed everyone to think, yet none dared answer…

“…Zero! Nada, nothing, none!”

Standing up, An Shan waved his sleeve while saying so.

“If a conjecture has value, then rumors have value. If rumors have value, then why do we bother setting up the court? Just punish people based on rumors! Based on how many people believe it!”

Punishing people based on rumors…?

That’s… That analogy, fit this situation?

After some time, they finally able to connect the dots. That analogy and the lecture… Meaning, everything Rizhi had lectured, was nothing short of conjectures, which cannot be accepted until proven! If conjectures were accepted as true before being proven, then using the same logic, the court would have to operate in the same way.

…

To actually punish people based on rumors, that…

How could that be possible!

Then, if you wished to condemn someone, all you have to do was to spread rumors. If that really was the case, wouldn’t the society fall to the lowest of the low? With those who possessed the mean of spreading rumors, be the one in power?

Unacceptable! Utter foolishness!

The young core disciples could finally see this, clearly. But this… How did this not cross their mind before? It was such an obvious thing too!

"Now do all of you realize, how chaotic that would be?"

All of them had their eyes opened wide. Noticing this, Rizhi had a cold sweat. He thought that if he were to ignore An Shan, the latter would not be able to attack him anymore. Yet… rather than attacking him, he was attacking the foundation of his influence! The stories of the Supreme Ancestor, Him of whom he derived prestige and popularity from! He realized, if they accepted his idea, then… The claims from Divine Scholars about An Shan, would be reconsidered. All the stories, all the narration, all the rules set…

When these were taken into serious scrutiny, what would happen then? Before, they only had to ridicule such people, and the public went along with it. Thus, such people who merely urge others to think about it carefully, were socially persecuted. Some, were even assassinated by their fanatical followers.

But this youngster... He sensed trouble!

For his reasoning fit the mind of these young disciples. While not every one of them accepted it, he could already foresee the spark of realization within many of them… This very spark, could very well burn the dry grass, later the logs which stood atop it.

Rizhi's eyes trembled…

‘T-this is bad… This guy, cannot be left alone—'

“You, you’re just a youngster, a naïve one! Standing up and uttering your words as if you could match us Divine Scholars? We have over a billion followers! Who do you think you are? All of you, tell me, who would you trust? A youngster you know nothing of, or a Divine Scholar acknowledged by so many?”

“This…”

Everyone turned to each other...

That’s right, he was just a youngster. The young core disciples were still doubtful. While his reasoning sounded so solid, so alright in their ears, they still could not ignore the prestige of Divine Scholars. Even if he was from the Founding Clan, or a genius superior to them, he could not have been wiser than all the Divine Scholars… They were afterall, old people with standings as high as clouds.

...Or could he?

“Haa,”

Shaking his head, An Shan made a rather bitter laugh. He straightened his back.

“Grand Elder, you're standing on conjectures, while I'm standing on one truth. Your reasoning, you said just believe. More than a billion believe it…"

Hearing his acknowledgement, Rizhi stood straight. His chin up, clearly announcing his pride.

“Yes, one billion! What conjectures! More than a thousand million, who are you to refute such numbers? Are they fake, do they not exist?!”

“…They are not fake, but do not divert from the topic. It’s your reasoning that is fake. Let me tell you my one truth – Prove it first,”

“Prove? One billion people acknowledged it, that’s the proof! Do you think everyone here blind? Who would believe you!”

Who would believe you!

Who, would believe you?!

His voice echoed in the hall. Somehow, he used his cultivation to do so, such that the young core disciples could feel his conviction. Such confidence drew upon it confidence, from those who could not make up their mind. From this, many disciples end up leaning towards the Grand Elder’s position. Again gaining their confidence, Rizhi heaved out a sigh of relief.

Looking around, An Shan could see it as well. He had stated so many reasons already, such that he was already feeling lethargic upon doing so. Yet, these youngsters… How weak-minded are you youngsters? You still could not tell apart truth from falsehood?

...

While he was disappointed, he noticed some of them… Though minority, their eyes were clear. Their eyes met, silently acknowledging each other. These disciples, somehow, already made up their mind. Given time, they would think this matter over.

‘…Time, changes need time. Saying anymore would not add much value to them,’

There were many more things he could refute, yet too much at one time might not be desirable. Slightly satisfied with the result, he nodded. Perhaps, his effort was not in vain… Time to end this;

“Then I'll ask, Grand Elder,”

“What…?”

His tone became so much friendlier, so much so it took Rizhi by surprise. The hell? You were so rebellious before, yet now… Do you think I’ll let you be, just because you give up now?

Hmph!

Seeing Rizhi all comfortable, An Shan smiled. With sleepy eyes, he asked in a calm, steady voice;

“…Can a billion of yours, match one of mine?”

…

=== Chapter 19 End ===