Chapter 1877: Chapter 923: Loyalty (Part 3) At the thought of this, Li San couldn’t help but feel regretful. His attitude towards this matter gradually changed from the initial alertness of "how could there be such a good thing as a pie falling from the sky" to the regret of "why didn’t I seize this opportunity?" Just at this moment, the token trembled. Li San’s excitement soared, and he hurriedly looked down, only to feel like he had fallen into an ice cave. "Idiot, forget it." The simple four words from "Elder You" instantly drained the color from Li San’s face. He was convinced at that moment that "Elder You" initially wanted to give him a chance to elevate his position. But his hesitation disappointed Elder You. That’s why Elder You called him an "idiot" and said "forget it". The opportunity was gone... Li San’s heart was in turmoil, his hands trembling, he quickly sent a message: "Elder! You are generous and magnanimous!" "It was this disciple’s foolishness, this disciple’s ignorance, I plead with you to give me one more chance. I will go through fire and water at your command, regardless of my life! Please, I beg you for this opportunity!" Li San’s sincerity was earnest, but there was no longer a response from the other side. An opportunity comes only once, and sometimes just a sentence, a response, can change a lifetime, but his moment of hesitation, an act of faux wisdom, made him miss it. Li San’s regret gnawed at his heart. But he refused to give up. "Elder! I beg you, please give this disciple another chance!" "Elder! I am willing to do anything." "Elder! I am utterly loyal to you without any second thought!" "Elder! Please trust me; I am absolutely loyal to you!" Henceforth, every morning, noon, and night, he would send messages to "Mo Hua" to express his "loyal" attitude. After three days of effort, he finally received a response. He got a reply from "Elder You": "Hmm." Li San was overjoyed, but at the same time, he felt a bit confused. The word "hmm"... what does it mean? Does it mean Elder You acknowledged his loyalty, forgave his foolishness, or was willing to give him another chance? Li San pondered the "deep meaning" of Mo Hua’s word. But he didn’t know that it was just Mo Hua casually responding with a mouthful of chicken leg, without any special implication. Thus, he spent a whole day in anxiety over that "hmm". In the evening, when Li San was still "pondering the holy intentions," anxious and uncertain, he finally received another message from "Elder You": "Have you made up your mind?" Made up his mind? Li San was stunned, then instantly recalled Elder You’s first question to him: Do you want to become an elder? This time, he did not hesitate at all, "Yes!" Mo Hua asked again: "Do you understand what I mean?" Li San hesitated for a moment, a bit unsure, but through previous interactions, he guessed that Elder You appreciated decisiveness, ruthlessness, determination, and ambition. Most importantly, one must have ambition. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖 Li San said: "Elder, you mean... to nominate me as a new ’elder’ of the Demon Sect?" Mo Hua asked back: "Why would I do that?" Li San was dumbfounded by the question. A moment later, he understood. No one in the world gives benefits to others for free, let alone someone of "Elder You’s" elder-level status. If Elder You was willing to promote him, he must provide corresponding value. Li San steeled himself, gritted his teeth, and said: "From now on, I am willing to be your most loyal ’hyena’, following your orders unconditionally. One day, if I am graced by your favor and become an elder, I will ensure that this life has no second thoughts!" "Elder You" seemed somewhat satisfied, and after a while, he said: "Now, do one thing for me." Li San immediately replied: "Yes." Mo Hua asked him: "Do you understand what I mean?" Li San contemplated briefly, then quickly said: "I understand, this is Elder You’s test for me. Only by passing the test do I have the qualification to serve you loyally." Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "Nicely said." "Please instruct me, Elder You." Mo Hua sent a name to Li San, "Kill this person." Li San looked at it and was instantly stunned. "Elder You, this..." "What? Don’t dare?" "No, it’s..." Li San hesitated, "This person is a skill transmission disciple of our Demon Sect, and has a bit of friendship with me. He has worked tirelessly for our Demon Sect and made quite a few contributions..." "If you’re unwilling to kill, then forget it." Mo Hua said lightly. Li San’s heart tightened, and he immediately sensed the displeasure of "Elder You" and understood at once. What Elder You needed was absolute "loyalty." His orders were everything; anyone he wanted dead, no matter who, had to face the blade, with no need for explanation, no need for reason. Only in this way could he show his loyalty. Only then would he possibly truly trust and genuinely promote him to become an elder of the Demon Sect. If he couldn’t be ruthless, couldn’t bring himself to lay a hand on a fellow from the Demon Path, how could he become Elder You’s right-hand man in the future? Besides, where in the Demon Sect could one find "comrades"? Once there was a conflict of interest, anyone could be killed, as long as you could do the killing. Li San said, "Rest assured, Elder You, I will certainly follow your orders and kill this person." "Follow my orders?" "No, it’s because I want to kill him, it has nothing to do with Elder You!" Li San said. Mo Hua nodded slightly, and said again, "Don’t force yourself." Li San said, "This is something the disciple has longed for, it’s no force at all." Mo Hua was very satisfied, "I’ll wait for your results." "I won’t disappoint Elder You!" Then Li San went off to commit the murder. The person he killed was a skill transmission disciple in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage of the Demon Sect. This person and he had some friendship, had killed people together, drank blood together, and even shared a blood slave, but in the face of future prospects, in the face of the position of elder, these things were insignificant. Li San was at the Foundation Establishment Peak, and this disciple was only at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. With calculated malice and during an outing, Li San caught him off guard, killed him, drained his blood, and threw his corpse into the mountains to feed monster beasts. After doing all this, Li San returned to the sect and sent a message to "Elder You": "I have fortunately fulfilled the mission, the person has been killed." "Elder You" said with gratification, "Very good, this is your reward." "Reward?" Li San was stunned, and then he noticed the Demon Points in his Demon Sect Token rise rapidly, soon increasing by a full two thousand points. Li San took a sharp breath. Two thousand points! For a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple of the Demon Sect, this was undoubtedly a huge sum of money. Enough for him to exchange for a hundred Blood Lotus Fruits. Even ten-year-old Blood Lotus Fruits could be exchanged for twenty! And he, had merely killed a fellow disciple in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage... Amidst his excitement, Li San did not lose his composure and said: "Elder, this is too valuable. Serving you is my duty as a disciple, I am undeserving of such merit." "Take it," Mo Hua transmitted, "This is a reward for your loyalty. The more loyal you are, the more generous the reward." Li San was immensely grateful, and his admiration for "Elder You" overflowed like a river breaking its banks, unstoppable. "Yes!" Mo Hua continued, "Remember, all contact between us must be through this Disciple Token. Outside, I don’t recognize you, nor do I know who you are." Li San felt a chill in his heart at these words. He understood! Elder You’s actions were for the sake of secrecy, indicating that his ambitions were vast, and Li San was his "hidden hand." As long as he followed him, success was within reach! "The disciple heedfully follows Elder’s teachings, and I will not reveal a word!" Li San said. "Very good." After that, "Elder You" would have Li San kill a fellow disciple every few days to "test" his loyalty. Li San, killing a fellow every few days, would receive a generous sum of merit, thus becoming increasingly "loyal" to "Elder You." During this time, within the Demon Sect, Li San also encountered Elder You in person. As they brushed past each other, Li San saluted with folded hands. Elder You, however, appeared "oblivious," not acknowledging him at all. As if he didn’t see Li San at all, not even giving him a glance. Li San’s eyes narrowed, his heart filled with admiration: "Truly worthy of Elder You, pretending not to know me, handling it without a flaw, without the slightest break." "In this way, in the entire Demon Sect, no one will know the nature of our relationship..." ... Thus, after several more rounds of loyalty cultivation, seeing the time was ripe, Mo Hua finally revealed his true intentions. He ordered Li San: "Go to the Merit Vault, exchange for this Formation, and take it to the place I mentioned last time..."