Chapter 22 : Speech

Nexus gazed at the Cultivators with a grin, the intricate silver runes in his eyes emitting a captivating glow. Kassius and Lexx, who stood behind Nexus, were unaffected by the pressure emanating from his body. They observed the people who had previously mocked Nexus now looking at him with fear and terror.

" And I have the confidence to overthrow the Nobles because I have all of you," Nexus declared, easing his pressure.

The rogue Cultivators breathed a sigh of relief as Nexus withdrew his power.

They were also surprised when Nexus expressed his determination to overthrow the Nobles with their support.

Nexus continued, "I know you may not believe me when I say I want to overthrow the Nobles, but I am serious. Look at what the Nobles have done to this Kingdom. They have lost their moral integrity, making life a living hell for the people. Some of you may not care about the commoners, but you were once citizens of this beautiful Kingdom. You witnessed the prosperity of the Purple Thorn Kingdom, reaping its benefits. Now, the Kingdom needs your strength, yet you hide like cowardly rats, watching the commoners suffer. Have you seen the state of the commoners? They resemble walking corpses, not living beings."

"But how can we possibly stand up against the Nobles? Their power is overwhelming," one Cultivator said with a bitter expression.

"Yeah, they have a strong army and a dozen experts at their disposal. How can we, Cultivators who have lived by hunting and robbing, possibly challenge them?" another chimed in.

As they listened to each other, the Cultivators began murmuring among themselves. It wasn't that they didn't want to free the Kingdom from the grip of the Nobles, but they felt powerless against their influence.

Nexus listened to the murmurs filling the room and then spoke up. "Alright, everyone quiet down," his powerful voice commanded attention.

Taking a deep breath, Nexus continued, "The reason you can't overthrow the Nobles is because you lack unity. You all think for yourselves and lack a capable leader. Look at those so-called Nobles - they have strong Cultivation bases but no real battle experience. Their army may seem intimidating, but they haven't faced real challenges like you have. You have fought in dangerous battles, risking your lives every day. Your experience surpasses theirs. That's why I believe any of you could take on ten of their soldiers and come out victorious."

Nexus paused, letting his words sink in before concluding, "So, don't underestimate yourselves. You have the strength and experience to challenge the Nobles. It's time to unite and fight for what's right."

"And let me tell you, if we manage to overthrow the Nobles, you will be hailed as heroes. Heroes who saved the Kingdom from destruction, heroes who will be revered by the people for generations to come. Your future descendants will be proud, and the souls of the deceased in the underworld will be grateful," Nexus declared in a commanding voice.

The rogue cultivators in front of him had a glint of excitement in their eyes as they absorbed Nexus' words.

"But I'm not just going to ask you to join me for nothing," Nexus continued. "I promise each and every one of you a handsome reward if we succeed. And for those who wish to leave with their rewards, I won't stand in your way. But for those who choose to stay and defend the Kingdom with me, I guarantee you a high-ranking position in the army in the future." Nexus took a deep breath before asking, "So, are you with me?"

"Yes!!!" the rogue cultivators shouted in unison, their excitement palpable as they eagerly anticipated the rewards promised by Nexus.

Nexus smiled, relieved to see their unwavering support, his eyes shining with intelligence as he surveyed the enthusiastic crowd.

Kassius and Lexx, standing behind Nexus, looked at him with admiration.

They were impressed by Nexus' ability to sway the rogue cultivators, who were typically motivated by self-interest, to join his cause. They too felt their excitement rise as they listened to Nexus' powerful speech.

The rogue Cultivators were buzzing with excitement at the thought of the rewards promised to them. Not only could they potentially be hailed as heroes by the people of the kingdom if they managed to overthrow the Nobles, but they might also secure high-ranking positions in the army and get their revenge against the Nobles. The idea of it all made their blood boil with anticipation.

Nexus raised his hand, silencing the room, as the rogue Cultivators eagerly awaited his next words.

"I know you're all eager to rebel against the Nobles, but we need to proceed with caution," Nexus said with a serious expression.

The crowd before him quieted down, hanging on his every word.

"We need to strategize carefully to ensure our success. This place will now serve as our secret stronghold," Nexus declared. "And remember, what happens here stays here. I've marked each of you with a secret symbol, so if anyone betrays us, I'll make sure they regret it."

As Nexus scanned the crowd with a cold and intimidating look, the room filled with a palpable tension. The Cultivators felt a chill run down their spines at the mention of the secret mark. Any thoughts of betrayal quickly vanished from their minds.

After a moment, Nexus eased the pressure and flashed a friendly smile. "Alright, everyone,from now on we'll be meeting here to finalize our plans from now on," Nexus announced, his demeanor shifting from menacing to approachable.

"The two people behind me are Kassius and Lexx, my right-hand men. They will be in charge if I'm not here," Nexus said, pointing at Kassius and Lexx.

Kassius and Lexx stepped forward and bowed slightly towards the crowd. The rogue Cultivators looked at them curiously.

"Okay, tomorrow we will all meet here. I want all of you to be here by then. Do you understand?" Nexus said with authority in his voice.

"Yes!" all the rogue Cultivators answered in unison.

Nexus nodded and turned around, walking out of the building with Kassius and Lexx following behind him. Just as Nexus was about to step out of the door, a voice sounded behind him.

"Please, how should we address you? Can we call you boss or...?"

Without turning around, Nexus's voice floated from the door, "You can all address me as Your Highness." With that, Nexus's figure faded into the darkness.

The crowd behind was left in shock, with wide eyes and mouths hanging open.