After evaluating their contributions and strength, Kennen naturally remained in place. The three new guardians were Tianshu, Haishi, and a woman named Li.
Kennen also acknowledged the strength of these people, especially Li. She was Alanta's disciple, had grown up alongside her, and inherited her teachings. In her heart, she had long regarded Alanta as her mother.
When Shen had just announced Alanta's death, Li, as a top-tier Ninja, had already discarded many of her emotions through harsh training. Yet her body still trembled uncontrollably. Each time she blinked, it took a long while for her eyes to open again. Clearly, the blow had been enormous.
"Balance exists within all things! In the name of balance, I swear that I will devote my entire life to protecting balance and eliminate all enemies who violate its principles." After saying this, she added, "Starting with Zed!"
After everyone had finished swearing their oaths and was about to leave the stage, Shen suddenly called out to Li. "Wait a moment. Tianshu and Haishi have already received my baptism, but you haven't. I will cleanse you of your impurities now."
After Shen finished speaking, he drew a sword from the Illusion Stone and suddenly plunged it into Li's chest!
Li had clearly been caught off guard. Her eyes widened as she stared in utter disbelief at what was happening before her.
Kennen shouted angrily, "What are you doing?! Why are you harming one of our own, especially a guardian who was just chosen?!"
"Senior Brother, don't worry. This isn't a weapon, but a 'Soul Blade' extracted from the Illusion Stone. It is an ultimate principle I comprehended during my recent cultivation. Inserting it into a member's body can cleanse their soul and purge all evil thoughts, allowing them to understand the true teachings of the Kinkou Order."
Still half-convinced, Kennen went to Li's side. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. There was indeed pain just now, but it quickly disappeared when the sword left my body. I don't feel anything unusual now. On the contrary, I feel very comfortable. It's probably just as the abbot said—my soul has been purified."
Hearing this, Kennen calmed down and returned to his position, waiting for Akali's initiation ceremony.
Many members of the Kinkou Order had joined the sect as children. Akali was not the youngest, but she attracted the most attention because she had inherited Alanta's bloodline.
I had not expected Akali to undergo the Soul Blade's baptism at such a young age. The process was extremely painful for her, and the little girl was on the verge of tears.
Kennen's heart, which had just relaxed, tensed again. His eyes flashed like lightning as he scrutinized the ceremony. I was also deeply conflicted. I badly wanted to go over and carry her away. I would gladly have endured the pain in her place.
Li's concern was no less than ours. To her, Akali was like a younger sister. Although the two had never met, the love they had inherited from Alanta tightly bound them together.
She kept encouraging Akali. "Hold on a little longer. It'll be over soon. Once you officially join the Order, I'll teach you Master's techniques!"
Before long, the ceremony finally ended. Li hurried over to help Akali up, but the little girl was a stranger to her and struggled over to my side.
I thought the day's ceremony had ended there, but Shen's next words shattered that assumption. "Senior Brother, please come up and receive my baptism."
"You want me to receive your baptism? To cleanse my evil soul?"
Kennen had never expected to undergo Shen's baptism as the founder of the Kinkou Order, much less through a method he had never heard of. After all, the two were brothers in name, but in reality, one was the other's master.
"I have never doubted your loyalty to the Order, nor have I ever suspected that your soul was tainted. But right now, we need greater unity to face the challenges from outside. Just as you said, I am the abbot now."
"You've changed, Shen. You've changed so much that I barely recognize you."
"Watch your tone! The abbot stands before you. Everyone should obey his commands. Only then will the Kinkou Order grow stronger!" The people around them erupted, seemingly deeply dissatisfied with Kennen's behavior.
Kennen stared at them with a grim expression, unable to understand why those who had once respected him so deeply had become so fanatical. He released his power, startling the people beside him into retreating again and again.
"You are the abbot, so I should obey your orders. But don't forget that you are my disciple. Even your father never dared treat me this way! If you want to cleanse my soul, then let strength do the talking!"
Kennen chose to confront nearly everyone head-on, and I was equally shocked. Not long ago, Shen had still been a mild-mannered man. How had his attitude changed so quickly?
"Zhao Xin, Poppy, protect Xiao Li. Today, I'm going to put the Kinkou Order back on the right path!"
As soon as Kennen finished speaking, he attacked. His speed exceeded my imagination. One moment he was still standing there; the next, only afterimages remained.
The mighty Power of Heavenly Thunder swept through everything in its path. People fell one after another wherever it passed!
Of course, Kennen did not intend to kill them. He used only enough power to knock them unconscious.
I had stayed on guard for nothing, because no one had any time to bother with us. By the time Kennen stopped, only a dozen or so people were still standing, including Shen.
"Senior Brother, you're truly too powerful. You're every bit as impressive as you were back then. Sometimes I really envy the Yordles' vitality and combat prowess. Even with all these people, they still mean nothing to you."
"It's not too late to turn back. As long as you're willing to lead the Kinkou Order back to the right path, everything can still be salvaged. And besides... tell me what's troubling you. Perhaps I can help."
"There's no need. It's already too late."
"Why do you say that?"
"Father never guided me. From childhood until now, I have always cultivated under your tutelage, and my feelings for you are far deeper than those I have for Father. That's why I held back just now."
"I saw that. That's why I gave you a chance to explain what was troubling you."
"You and Father are both hypocrites. On the surface, you show equal love to everyone, but in reality, you both favor Zed. I'm no weaker than he is, and I work harder at cultivation than he does. Why is this happening?"
"Your father did favor Zed. He wanted to groom Zed as his successor. But my feelings for all of you are the same. I have never favored anyone. As far as cultivation is concerned, there's no doubt that I favored you more."
"So when you learned that Zed had defected, you didn't blame him? When you learned that he had killed Senior Sister Alanta, you weren't anxious to take revenge? Instead, you suspected there was more to it? That's why you told me nothing and insisted on investigating the mastermind?"
"So you've been watching me all this time. It seems your obsession has grown too deep, just as it was when you were young."
Kennen shook his head. In an instant, he unleashed an astonishing burst of power and rushed to Shen's side, gripping him tightly by the throat. He then ordered the others to leave the temple.