The Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace's mighty cultivator felt killing intent rise at the nine Dao Children's reluctance to fight.
"For the good of the sect, cowards must die."
He spoke coldly and looked to the other seven, searching their faces.
The Great Sun Sword Heir had to be dealt with.
Mighty cultivators were vital to their sects and could not be sacrificed lightly. That meant the Dao Children had to be sacrificed instead. It was the price of receiving the full resources of their sects. Nothing came without a cost.
Perhaps there were darker motives that could not be spoken aloud. Perhaps there were not.
This generation of Dao Children was, on the whole, far stronger than the last. Once they reached Dao Integration, or even the peak of Void Refining, they might threaten the mighty cultivators' lives and standing.
This was especially apparent in demonic sects such as the Shadow Demon Abyss and the Black Tortoise Heavenly Palace, which enforced brutal internal rules.
The heavens could not have two masters!
Such demonic sects could never have two top experts of comparable strength at the same time. The entire sect would be thrown into turmoil.
"There's still a twenty or thirty percent chance..."
Many of the mighty cultivators were tempted.
This generation's Great Sun Sword Heir had grown too quickly. In a mere two thousand years, his combat strength had entered the same broad realm as theirs. What came next could be dangerous.
Perhaps the Dao Children's sacrifice was necessary.
"No."
The Five Elements Heaven Sect's mighty cultivator frowned and refused.
He gave no reason, nor did he need to. A strong cultivator had his own convictions. He needed only to stand firm in his heart, without answering to anyone else.
"Hmph!"
"Such feeble affection between master and disciple. Laughable!"