Chen Feng's previous revelation about "Manifestation of Words" was clearly just to conceal his true ability, and at the same time, not expose his identity as the true owner of the Death Note, so as to let them lower their guard and willingly contribute all their power.
What weighed most heavily on the Adepti's minds was that even Zhongli had fallen for the trick, contributing no small amount of power at the time.
If it were the era of the Archon War, or if the Gnosis were still on his person, Zhongli might not have minded this expenditure. But now, things were different from before. This would absolutely have a significant impact on Zhongli's strength.
The Adepti guessed that Zhongli's delay in taking action until now might be for this reason.
Zhongli did not have the confidence to suppress Chen Feng directly, so he was waiting for an opportunity in secret.
Chen Feng was also definitely guarding against Zhongli's action, which was why he had maintained the giant phantom behind him from the start to protect himself. It would constantly drain most of his energy, even though he clearly didn't need to display such formidable power to deal with them.
After solving Xiao's problem, the transparent arm retracted from Xiao's body. Immediately after, Chen Feng casually threw Xiao toward the crowd. Madame Ping quickly sent out a burst of Adeptal Energy to catch Xiao.
"How is the Conqueror of Demons?"
Facing the anxious inquiries of the other Adepti, Madame Ping first performed a simple check on Xiao's body, then nodded to them.
"The Conqueror of Demons is no longer in any danger. All the evil power has been expelled from his body."
Hearing Madame Ping's words, the Adepti were once again shocked. The god's curse that had plagued Xiao, the Adepti, the gods, and even all living beings on the entire Teyvat continent, had been resolved just like that??!
If Chen Feng were on their side, it would be a great blessing for all living beings on the Teyvat continent. However, he stood on the opposite side, and everyone felt a wave of regret over this.
"Do you still want to try and suppress me?"
At this moment, the Guardian Yaksha and Skybracer had already stopped fighting and were standing silently not far from Chen Feng, watching everyone.
"The Conqueror of Demons should be the strongest among you, right?"
Hearing Chen Feng's words, the crowd felt a surge of anger, but they had to admit that what Chen Feng said was the truth. After Xiao lost consciousness, they indeed had absolutely no chance of victory.
"What exactly do you want?"
Since the hidden trouble that had plagued Xiao for over a thousand years had been resolved and he had been returned intact, Cloud Retainer's tone was noticeably less forceful when she questioned Chen Feng.
"I am simply curious about the choice you will make."
Chen Feng sighed, then continued speaking.
"In truth, the outcome of the battle is not what matters. My only goal was to let you confirm the identities of the people before you."
"By now, you must have reached a conclusion. My previous promise still stands, but this time, you do not need to defeat them. You only need to make a choice."
Chen Feng paused, then spoke each word with deliberate clarity.
"Will you let them live another life, or will you send them back to the world of the dead, allowing a few irredeemable scum of society to survive?"
"Now, please make your choice."
As soon as Chen Feng finished speaking, the crowd fell into a deathly silence.
If they had harbored doubts about Chen Feng's words before, they would no longer dismiss them after he had effortlessly resolved the nearly incurable evil corruption on Xiao's body.
The temptation was simply too great: the lives of a few guilty individuals could bring back their friends, who would bless countless people in Liyue.
No, it was not the lives of ordinary people being exchanged, but rather the resurrected friends sacrificing themselves once again to save a mere handful of people.
"Fellow Adepti, we cannot violate the Great Dao of Life-Death Balance."
"Even if they could truly remain in this world without causing any harm, they no longer belong here."
Ningguang was the first to speak, breaking the heavy silence.
"If we set this precedent, it will be impossible to turn back."
"Tianquan, that may be true, but cultivation also depends on chance. Perhaps this is the chance for those people?"
Mountain Shaper shook her head and continued.
"The method that allows the dead to remain in this world without causing side effects is unique to Chen Feng; even if a precedent is set, it cannot be replicated."
"Moreover, those people did not die for this Adeptus's friend; instead, they must sacrifice themselves to save those useless mortals. This Adeptus feels this is improper."
In the end, Mountain Shaper made her choice.
"Rex Lapis tasked us with guarding Liyue, and that means guarding the countless living beings of Liyue, not just a few individuals."
"If we can have one more Adeptus protecting Liyue, I believe the number of lives they will save in the future will far exceed what can be achieved today."
"Exactly."
Upon hearing Mountain Shaper's words, a look of shock crossed Keqing's face. She was about to step forward and speak, but Ningguang stopped her.
Ningguang shook her head at Keqing, signaling her not to intercede.
In a situation like this, any choice made would not be wrong; it was simply a matter of different perspectives and judgments.
Besides, there was a fundamental disagreement between the Liyue Qixing and the Adepti: in the eyes of the Adepti, it was difficult to consider a mortal's life equal to their own.
Therefore, when Chen Feng offered this condition, Ningguang had already foreseen the final outcome.
Perhaps only Ganyu and Madame Ping, who had spent long periods with mortals, would have their hearts be closer to the people.
At this moment, Ningguang couldn't help but look at Chen Feng in the distance, suddenly feeling a sliver of understanding for the anguish and pain within his heart.
With his status, he only needed to operate from the shadows to make decisions. To him, all lives were merely numbers, which was why he could so easily weigh the value of life and formulate plans.
However, Chen Feng had lost his memory for a period of time, and then he happened to come into contact with the special work of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
If the former Chen Feng was closer to the Adepti's way of thinking, then after losing his memory, he turned towards the human side. Now that his memory has recovered, the conflict and pain in his heart can be imagined.
But what Ningguang couldn't figure out was why Chen Feng had to reveal all of this. What exactly was he plotting?
Once a decision was made, he only needed to execute it resolutely. Chen Feng was not the type of person who needed others to feel the same pain as himself.
Wait a minute, could it be!
Ningguang narrowed her eyes slightly, first looking at Hu Tao, who seemed to have fallen silent after suffering a huge blow, and then at the Adepti who were discussing intensely. She seemed to have understood something.
In the end, looking at Chen Feng's calm appearance, Ningguang softly sighed.
".....I also agree with Mountain Shaper's words!"
Finally, although Cloud Retainer was a bit hesitant, she still made her decision.
"A mortal's life is a life, and an adeptus's life is also a life."
"We didn't have this opportunity before, but now that there is a way to let this adeptus's friends live another life, no matter what you all think, in any case, this adeptus will never agree to sacrifice them to exchange for the lives of a few mortals!"
Just as Cloud Retainer finished speaking, the other Adepti finally made their decisions. Sure enough, it was just as Ningguang had thought. Except for Xiao, who was still unconscious and unable to state his decision, and Ganyu, who had served as the Qixing's secretary for three thousand years, all the other Adepti chose to let the Guardian Yaksha and Skybracer remain in this world.
"..."
At this moment, Ganyu looked at Cloud Retainer, her heart suddenly tightening, not knowing how to even begin to speak next.
Cloud Retainer felt a bit embarrassed to meet Ganyu's eyes and sighed softly, but in the end, she did not intend to change her mind.
"My apologies, Tianquan."
Madame Ping looked at Ningguang with a face full of apology, for even she had made the same choice as the other Adepti.
"Everyone here died for the sake of Liyue's people. I feel that none of us have the right to ask them to sacrifice themselves again."
"They have already done enough while they were alive. Now, no matter what choice they make, no one can condemn them."
After hearing these words, Ningguang nodded.
It was indeed very difficult for someone to remain rational all the time, and even the Adepti were no exception.
But just as Madame Ping had said, no matter what choice they made, no one could blame them.
After the Adepti had made their decision, Hu Tao seemed to become even more lost and despondent, but at this moment, the Adepti had no time to pay attention to her.
"It seems you have all made your decision..."
At this moment, Chen Feng looked at the Adepti and spoke slowly.
"As long as we choose to let them stay, will you truly give up your control over them?"
Immediately after Moon Carver finished speaking, Chen Feng replied.
"Of course."
"Very well, please fulfill your promise!"
After speaking, Moon Carver stared intently at Chen Feng's movements, his heart filled with both anticipation and apprehension.
"Not so fast, I'm going to raise the stakes."
"How about one person in exchange for a thousand?"
"As long as you are willing to let them return to the world of the dead, I will reduce the number of sacrifices accordingly."
"T-This is a substantial raise in the stakes, isn't it? If they all return to the world of the dead, then basically no one will have to be sacrificed this time."
After hearing Chen Feng's words, the Adepti were stunned for a moment. Then, Cloud Retainer angrily exclaimed.
"Chen Feng, you brat, are you trying to go back on your word?!"
"Even if it's a thousand people, this Adeptus demands that you give up control over this Adeptus's friends right now!"
Cloud Retainer's words made everyone present feel very bitter inside. Although reason told them the Adepti had indeed sacrificed a lot for Liyue, these words still made them feel a bit chilled.
"Cloud Retainer, there's no need to be in such a hurry. Before that, I want to show you something."
Chen Feng spoke unhurriedly, then raised his hand and waved it. Suddenly, the figure of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties gradually materialized in the sky.
"No, I don't want to die!"
"I have an eighty-year-old father above me and a three-year-old child waiting to be fed below me. If I die, they can only follow me!"
Chen Feng raised his hand and waved it again. The man's figure vanished, and then the figure of a young woman who had lost a leg gradually materialized.
"I'm not resigned to this! I've endured so much pain for so many years, why take my life away now?"
"I'm not resigned to this!"
Chen Feng waved his hand again, and the image in the sky changed once more. The last to appear was a thin young man.
"Although I used to steal things, I've already accepted my punishment and turned over a new leaf!"
"Why won't you let me go? Don't other people make mistakes in their lives?!"
Afterward, every time Chen Feng waved his hand, the image in the sky would change. Each time it was a different person, a different reaction, and a different past, but the only thing they had in common was that they were all utterly terrified at this moment.
"Chen Feng, what is the meaning of this?"
"Are you trying to use this to shake this Adeptus's resolve?!"
"Stop this futile effort. How could this Adeptus be so easily swayed by you?!"
Although Cloud Retainer said so, a look of hesitation clearly crossed her face.
After all, Cloud Retainer had been living among mortals for some time and had gotten along well with her neighbors. What Chen Feng was displaying now had successfully awakened the memories of her time spent with them.
Cloud Retainer didn't want to change her decision, but her heart inevitably grew more painful because of it.
At this moment, Ningguang noticed the abnormality.
"Why are they so certain that their days are numbered?"
"Could you have already made the list of sacrifices public?"
Hearing Ningguang's question, Chen Feng nodded.
"Not just the list, but I also broadcasted the previous conditions and the words of everyone present here."
Hearing Chen Feng's words, the rest of the group was shocked again, and then they glared at him in anger.
This was like throwing them all onto a grill and roasting them alive while they were already suffering in their hearts!
"Chen Feng, kid, aren't you taking this too far?!"
"Too far?"
Chen Feng shook his head.
"I'm just telling them the things they should know."
"Or does Cloud Retainer believe that when making a choice, everyone else should be kept in the dark?"
Hearing Chen Feng's pointed words, Cloud Retainer suddenly found herself at a loss for what to say.
After a moment, Cloud Retainer spoke again.
"No matter what, this Adeptus's mind is made up."
"Even if I must bear a bad reputation, it doesn't matter!"
Just as Cloud Retainer finished speaking, the other Adepti sighed one after another, then stood behind her and declared their decision.
"Wait a moment, Adepti. I have one more question that I need Chen Feng to answer for me."
After Ningguang said this, she immediately turned her gaze to Chen Feng, speaking with a very serious expression.
"Even if they really saw their names on the list, they shouldn't be this panicked."
"After all, the situation here hasn't yet shown a clear one-sided trend, so Liyue Harbor must be experiencing something that's making them terrified right now."
"Actually, the sacrifices have already started appearing, haven't they?!"
Upon hearing Ningguang's words, the crowd's faces darkened, and they all turned their gazes to Chen Feng.
At this moment, after hearing Ningguang's words, a strange expression appeared on Chen Feng's face, and he then slowly spoke.
"What makes you all think I would wait until you make your choice?"
Hearing Chen Feng's answer, everyone's hearts instantly turned cold.
It was at this very moment that an unimaginable sense of pressure descended upon everyone present, followed by a massive meteorite falling from the sky with unparalleled power, aimed directly at Chen Feng's position.
"Planet Befall."
This scene brought a look of joy to the faces of the Adepti: Rex Lapis had finally intervened!