83: First victory

Jiang Lie saw that all the Sects had arrived and spoke:

"Fellow Daoists of the Chen Kingdom, there are two reasons for this competition.

First, it is to allow the younger generation of Disciples in the Chen Kingdom to compete on the same stage, display their respective strengths, and exchange cultivation insights;

Second, it is to use the results of the competition as the basis for re-dividing the cultivation resources within the Chen Kingdom.

Jiang hopes that all Sects will value harmony, and mindful that we are all Cultivators of the Chen Kingdom, please stop at the appropriate point during the competition."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone from the Profound Sword Sect chuckled.

Li Xuangu laughed: "It has been decades, I did not expect Fellow Daoist Jiang to have become someone who speaks of sentiment and righteousness. Congratulations.

With this kind of spirit, surely it will not take long before you might be able to shed the title of a Demonic Sect."

Jiang Lie saw Li Xuangu being sarcastic and sneered: "Jiang has had this change, isn't it because Fellow Daoist Li is generous, ceding dozens of cities to Jiang?

Jiang goes to inspect the new territories from time to time and has been infected by the Righteous Path Aura within them!"

Li Xuangu was not angry: "If one's skills are inferior, of course one will not fight again. Ceding cities is just keeping a promise; it cannot be considered generous.

Unlike a certain Sect that acts bellicose for the sake of petty benefits, causing the entire Sect's Disciples to be exhausted. Right, Fellow Daoist Ouyang, Fellow Daoist Xu."

Ouyang Qing and Xu Tianyi, who were named, were the Sect Heads of the Danxia Sect and the Azure Cloud Sect, respectively.

Seeing the intense hostility between the Profound Sword Sect and the Corpse Fiend Sect, and that they were clearly trying to use their words to build momentum, the two exchanged glances and just gave two dry laughs.

Ouyang Qing laughed it off: "Fellow Daoist Li is right, and Fellow Daoist Jiang also has a point. We shall not comment."

Xu Tianyi echoed: "Both Sects are top-tier Sects in the Chen Kingdom with formidable strength, so they must have their own considerations."

Jiang Lie sneered: "No matter how incompetent the Disciples of the Corpse Fiend Sect are, there is no such thing as shamelessly surrendering.

On the contrary, your Sect had many Disciples captured by our Sect back then, and they did plenty of groveling to beg for their release.

By the way, I heard that the daughter of Li Xuanheng from your Sect was captured by our Sect's Disciples for seven years. I wonder if she brought back any children to add to your Sect's population?"

Jiang Lie's words caused a roar of laughter among the Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples.

As the victorious Sect, the Corpse Fiend Sect naturally had more say in the Chen Kingdom, but all the Sects understood that in terms of foundation, the Profound Sword Sect was still superior.

Therefore, even the Puppet Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect, which were also Demonic Sects, did not dare to follow the Corpse Fiend Sect in mocking the Profound Sword Sect.

Fang Huai gazed at the Profound Sword Sect group. Standing behind an elderly man at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage was a young girl in green, who was none other than Li Sirou.

At this moment, her father, Li Xuanheng, glared at her fiercely, and she was blushing deeply.

Her gaze swept across the Corpse Fiend Sect members, finally spotting Fang Huai, and she immediately turned her head away.

Li Xuangu could not save Face, but he suppressed his anger and said: "Li will not engage in verbal sparring. Let us first discuss how to allocate resources after this True Dragon Assembly."

He paused and said: "I propose that based on the competition results, the thirty-nine Spiritual Veins in the Chen Kingdom shall be allocated in order of ranking as eight, seven, six, five, four, and three, with the remaining six to be managed jointly by all Sects."

This plan seemed fair but actually hid mystery.

The Profound Sword Sect and the Corpse Fiend Sect were the strongest and would likely take the top two spots; while the Danxia Sect, Azure Cloud Sect, Puppet Sect, and Heavenly Demon Sect were slightly weaker, taking the third to sixth spots would not be an issue.

As for those small Sects, they could only drink the dregs.

Jiang Lie said: "It is not just the Spiritual Veins. Of the three hundred or so Secret Realms in the Chen Kingdom, the top three will manage sixty percent, the fourth to sixth will manage thirty percent, and the remaining ten percent will be shared equally among the other Sects. I wonder what everyone thinks."

Ye Jin of the Heavenly Demon Sect said: "Sect Master Jiang is absolutely right; it should indeed be allocated this way."

Ji Cangxie of the Puppet Sect said: "We have no objections. Let us proceed according to the proposal of Sect Master Jiang and Fellow Daoist Li."

The other four major Sects naturally had no objections; even if they could not defeat the Profound Sword Sect and the Corpse Fiend Sect, they could at least defeat the other small Sects.

As for the Sect Heads and Disciples of those small Sects, their expressions were somewhat unsightly.

They knew their own strength; they would likely only be able to jointly manage a few Spiritual Veins, and the Secret Realms they would be allocated would not be many.

Even if they had resentment, they dared not say much. After all, in the Face of absolute strength, any protest was futile, and a slight misstep could invite suppression from the six major Sects.

Seeing that all the Sects had no objections, Jiang Lie's expression softened considerably: "Since everyone agrees, then it is settled. Our Sect has prepared lodgings for everyone. I wonder if you are willing to stay there?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuangu smiled faintly: "Many thanks for Sect Master Jiang's kindness, but we will not trouble you. The Profound Sword Sect has already prepared Formation Plates and will set up temporary lodgings ourselves; it is quiet and comfortable."

He clearly did not trust the Corpse Fiend Sect and was unwilling to let his Disciples stay in the place arranged by the other party to avoid being ambushed.

Seeing this, the other Sects also echoed his sentiments. The major Sects were already wary of each other, and especially on the Corpse Fiend Sect's territory, they dared not be the slightest bit careless.

Jiang Lie did not force it, just waved his hand: "Since everyone has their own plans, then Jiang will not force it. Tomorrow, please have the Disciples of all Sects arrive here on time to participate in the True Dragon Assembly competition."

The process of the first round of the competition was very simple: survival of the fittest, a duel between two people, and the winner advances. The opponents were randomly drawn.

The opponent Fang Huai drew was a Disciple from an obscure small Sect.

Before stepping onto the Martial Arts Stage, both sides signed and stamped, leaving life and death to fate. If one felt they were no match, they could surrender immediately. If they did not surrender, then whoever survived was the winner.

"Corpse Fiend Sect's Fang Huai, versus Huangfeng Valley's Mo Hen!"

Mo Hen, at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, upon seeing Fang Huai's Corpse Fiend Sect attire, his Aura had already weakened by three points.

"This Fellow Daoist, please show mercy!" Mo Hen's words revealed his cowardice.

Fang Huai nodded, then activated his spiritual power and charged straight forward.

The Cultivator knew of the Corpse Fiend Sect's Body Cultivator prowess, so he immediately patted his Storage Pouch and summoned a bronze gong. He also sacrificed a spiritual talisman, wanting to defend.

"Too slow, too slow!" Fang Huai shook his head. Facing a Body Cultivator, the opponent did not try to increase the distance immediately, but instead thought about relying on a talisman treasure to defend; it was truly foolish to the extreme.

"Netherworld Claws!"

A ghastly white ghost claw abruptly appeared beside Mo Hen, gripping the talisman paper in his hand. The talisman paper sizzled as it lost its spirituality under the effect of the Evil Qi.

Mo Hen was greatly alarmed. Before he could sacrifice a second talisman paper, Fang Huai had already closed in.

With one hand, he grabbed Mo Hen's neck, and with the other, he snatched the opponent's Storage Pouch, saying: "Surrender, I don't want to kill you!"

Mo Hen only felt a massive force gripping his throat, almost crushing his neck bones. At the same time, his blood and Qi flowed uncontrollably into Fang Huai's body.

In a panic, he immediately spoke: "I... I surrender!"

"Corpse Fiend Sect's Fang Huai, wins!" The words of the presiding Senior Brother declared Fang Huai's victory.

Fang Huai cupped his hands in thanks to the presiding Senior Brother and the audience below the stage, then left the Martial Arts Stage.

"Senior Brother Fang is brave and mighty, may the Immortal Dao flourish forever!"

"Boost the prestige of our Corpse Fiend Sect!"

Seeing Fang Huai win so easily, the Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples cheered one after another, their arrogant Aura soaring to the heavens.