I Can Gain One Skill Point Per Second Chapter 1096: Tearing Off the Mask!

As the leader, Lingming Ancient Buddha naturally understands the behavior of his subordinates.

At first, Lingming Ancient Buddha thought about restraining his subordinates.

But then he reconsidered, deciding he could play dumb.

For some things, turning a blind eye and a deaf ear works, as long as there isn’t a clear answer. When the scandal erupts, feign ignorance.

Sure enough, within a few days, the Immortal King brought up this matter.

"What you say, Lord Immortal King, is like an imperial decree to us. Regarding loyalty, the Spirit Crossing Mountain sect must implement it."

Implement?

Ha.

Lingming Ancient Buddha sneered coldly in his heart.

Reclaiming the Desire Realm from the Dark Rising Organization relied not only on the Immortal King’s intelligence and control over Luo Bingxin, but also on the contributions of Lingming Ancient Buddha leading the Spirit Crossing Mountain sect.

However, monks from the Spirit Crossing Mountain sect felt no respect from the Immortal King’s faction during missions. Both sides were of equal status, yet the Immortal King’s people always postured themselves superior, ordering them around.

At first, Lingming Ancient Buddha didn’t think much of it.

But later, upon reflection, it clearly was a test of obedience.

With the Three Realms and Six Paths undecided, they presented such a posture; after the stability of the Three Realms and Six Paths, returning to the order of All Heavens from ten thousand years ago, would the Immortal King’s people still take them seriously?

This, Lingming Ancient Buddha also contemplated. As the leader of the Spirit Crossing Mountain sect, he can accept working for the Immortal King, but he can’t allow the Immortal King to trample on his dignity.

Nor can he permit his subordinates to be treated as servants.

Though this is his inner thought, the words he speaks cannot be so audacious; presenting a low profile is fully understandable.

The Immortal King wasn’t in a hurry to respond.

Instead, he placed a few more pieces on the board.

Originally, the Immortal King seemed to be offering him a favor, implying benefits through chess.

Unexpectedly, as the game progressed, Lingming Ancient Buddha sensed something was amiss.

At some point, he fell into the Immortal King’s rhythm, being led by the nose.

"Sometimes sacrifices are necessary; some sacrifice more, paying with their lives, others sacrifice less, just their dignity."

Pa!

After speaking, the Immortal King placed another piece, a crucial one, directly capturing nearly ten pieces of Lingming Ancient Buddha.

Those surrounded pieces, naturally, were directly crushed under Lingming Ancient Buddha’s reluctant gaze.

"The ruler of the Three Realms and Six Paths is me. My people need to do as I command."

"Do you agree?"

When the Immortal King asked this, the battle on the chessboard had shifted due to Lingming Ancient Buddha’s greed.

Lingming Ancient Buddha regretted those seemingly gifted pieces dearly.

He was somewhat stunned, even forgetting to answer the Immortal King’s question, staring in shock at the reversing situation.

"Success requires sacrifice, significant sacrifice. The unity of the Upper Plane is long gone; to maintain my rule, I must use any means necessary."

The Immortal King continued.

"Some people’s sacrifices are very necessary; their deaths can bring great victory. Do you think it’s worth it? So I hope that any followers of mine can be like the pieces on this board, subject to my command."

"No matter how many pieces, as long as they’re on this board, they must heed my orders. What do you think?"

Gazing at the dwindling pieces remaining on the board, Lingming Ancient Buddha’s heart is filled with a measure of shock.

He once believed that he held considerable status in the Ten Thousand Realms; the Spirit Crossing Mountain sect he leads had considerable voice among the Upper Plane’s All Celestial Divine Beings.

Who would have thought that all this was still under the Immortal King’s control?

The chessboard reflects life.

The resurrection on the board distinctly highlights the Immortal King’s intentions at the moment.

Accountability? Seizing control of the Spirit Crossing Mountain sect from Lingming Ancient Buddha? The Immortal King wouldn’t do that.

After mulling it over, Lingming Ancient Buddha remains puzzled.

He really can’t understand what the Immortal King is plotting.

"Immortal King, my Spirit Crossing Mountain faction has never wronged you. Back when the All Gods from other factions targeted you, it was our Spirit Crossing Mountain sect that stood firmly behind you. Without us, the All Gods’ camp would have already fallen into chaos; you wouldn’t have regained your prestige today."

Lingming Ancient Buddha felt from the slaughter in the chess game.

Today, things would not end simply.

Even if Lingming Ancient Buddha presented a submissive posture to please the Immortal King, it wouldn’t change anything.

The Immortal King undoubtedly still intended for him to stake his life.

Given that, he might as well ask the Immortal King’s intentions.

"Today, I am very curious what task you’ll assign us, in what way you’ll have us go to die."

After saying this, Lingming Ancient Buddha slammed a palm heavily onto the board in front of him.

Just as the chess game presented, Lingming Ancient Buddha now has no way out.

As the cracks slowly spread across the table, the Immortal King’s emotions showed not a hint of fluctuation.

He merely glanced at the shattered table, halting further shattering.

"Ling Ming, I never thought that after such a long time, I would still see you lose your temper. Tearing a face with me truly caught me off guard."

Surprised? I don’t think so.

Lingming Ancient Buddha glowed with golden light, Buddhist beads emitting a golden glow quietly appeared in his hand.

This seems to mean tearing faces and fighting the Immortal King to the end.

The powerful divine power at Level A exploded at this moment.

That ripple-like visible surge of divine power signals Lingming Ancient Buddha’s strength.

Lingming Ancient Buddha’s stance, flaunting it in front of the Immortal King, daring to aim divine power at him—for the first time in thousands of years.

The Immortal King didn’t mind Lingming Ancient Buddha’s impertinence much.

The eyes he met with contained deep disappointment.

"Ah, Ling Ming, it seems you didn’t take my words to heart. This Three Realms and Six Paths, the leader of Dark Rising is the chess player. I, the Immortal King, am the chess player. Are you?"

"Didn’t I say, as a piece, wherever I point, it should land. Such defiance of me, is it?"

Lingming Ancient Buddha gritted his teeth, his words squeezed aggressively from his mouth.

"Ha, Immortal King, though I am not the strongest in this Three Realms and Six Paths, as the leader of Spirit Crossing Mountain, my strength is not weak, right? You, expecting me to risk my life to pave the way for you? Ha, you really are interesting; when we collaborated initially, we were on equal footing."

"But what now? Ever since you gained dominion over All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds, you’ve increasingly belittled me, ordering me around. But even further, you plan to sacrifice me? Saying more is pointless!"