Nangong Ling's gaze gradually turned cold, sharp as a sword.
Chu Qing, the head of the Haoyue Sect, and father of Chu Zhanpeng, the Young Master of the Great Peng.
Han Xu Tian, the master of the Ice and Snow Manor.
Teng Wushan, the deputy head of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.
Duan Tianlang, a royal prince, and father of Duan Han, the young prince who had visited the Yunhai Sect a few days ago.
Apart from the Luoxia Sect located at the border and the Yue and Yu families in the imperial city, the other four major forces, including the royal family, appeared uninvited on the day of the Yunhai Sect's sect competition. It was clearly not to offer congratulations.
"Head of the Nangong Sect, I have brought these people to visit, I hope you will not be offended," Duan Tianlang said, standing on a giant sword, clad in white armor, looking mighty and imposing. As he spoke, the giant sword landed on the viewing platform with a loud rumble, and one corner of the platform was reduced to powder by the sword's aura.
At the same time, Chu Qing, Han Xu Tian, and Kun Wang landed on the platform, their eyes cold and indifferent.
Beside Duan Tianlang, Duan Han stared coldly at Nangong Ling. He had harbored resentment since the day he was humiliated by Nangong Ling, and today, he intended to make the Yunhai Sect pay.
"Ha ha, it is an honor for the Yunhai Sect to have King Tianlang as a guest," Nangong Ling said with a smile, though his heart was cold. "But I wonder why King Tianlang and the other heads of sects and clans have come?"
"Not long ago, my son Duan Han came here, and I believe Head of the Nangong Sect is aware of his intentions. His Majesty has a grand vision and plans to establish the Snow Moon Holy Academy, which requires the efforts of all. Moreover, the other heads of sects and clans have already agreed to His Majesty's request, except for the Yunhai Sect..."
Duan Tianlang paused here, smiling without speaking.
"Hmm?" A hint of surprise flashed in Nangong Ling's eyes. Chu Qing, Han Xu Tian, and the others were all cunning and experienced. How could they possibly hand over their talented disciples to the royal family? They should be well aware that once the people were handed over, they would likely become part of the royal family's power, not their own.
However, Chu Qing and the others remained calm when they heard Duan Tianlang's words, as if this was to be expected, which puzzled Nangong Ling.
"What does King Tianlang plan to do?" Nangong Ling asked.
"Since Head of the Nangong Sect is unwilling to hand over the people to His Majesty, I will have to select them personally. It just so happens that today is the Yunhai Sect's sect competition, and I can see the prowess of the Yunhai Sect's disciples, allowing me to make my selections." Duan Tianlang was straightforward, his tone domineering.
The faces of everyone on the Yunhai Sect side changed. How audacious, treating the Yunhai Sect as if it were their own backyard, allowing them to pick and choose as they pleased?
"What if I refuse?" Nangong Ling's voice grew colder.
"Head of the Nangong Sect will agree, just as the other heads of sects and clans have agreed," Duan Tianlang said with great confidence, as if no one could resist his words.
"Head of the Nangong Sect, don't rush to argue. Let the Yunhai Sect's disciples participate in the sect competition and show their best. The Snow Moon Holy Academy does not want mediocrities. Those who can enter the Snow Moon Holy Academy will have the backing of the Snow Moon Kingdom, with endless elixirs and weapons, and powerful cultivation techniques and martial arts to choose from. They will become the sharp swords of the Snow Moon Kingdom."
Duan Tianlang spoke to the Yunhai Sect's disciples, his voice full of temptation. Joining the Snow Moon Holy Academy meant having access to boundless cultivation techniques, martial arts, and powerful weapons and elixirs. This was a great opportunity for those who yearned for strength, and it was highly tempting.
They had come to the Yunhai Sect to cultivate and become stronger. If the Snow Moon Holy Academy could provide better opportunities, why should they stay in the Yunhai Sect?
At this moment, many people's hearts began to stir, silently vowing to do their best in the competition.
"Despicable."
Nangong Ling cursed inwardly. Duan Tianlang's strategy to sow discord was not very sophisticated, but it was effective.
What Nangong Ling found even more intolerable was that this was a blatant provocation to the Yunhai Sect.
"I want to see who will betray the Yunhai Sect," Nangong Ling thought coldly, then said to Duan Tianlang, "Since King Tianlang wants to watch the Yunhai Sect's competition, Nangong Ling will oblige."
"The competition for outer sect and core disciples will be postponed. Today, only the inner sect disciples will compete."
Hearing Nangong Ling's words, everyone was shocked, but then they understood his intention.
The outer sect disciples were too weak, and showing their weakness would tarnish the Yunhai Sect's reputation. The core disciples were the heart of the sect and the future leaders of the Yunhai Sect, so their strength should not be revealed too early. Having the inner sect disciples compete was the most appropriate.
A hint of a different smile flashed in Duan Tianlang's eyes. Would this be effective?
"Inner sect disciples, according to the rankings on the stone wall, step onto the life-and-death platform and line up in order."
Nangong Ling spoke again, and the eighty-one names on the stone wall were called out, and their owners stepped onto the life-and-death platform, receiving the attention of the crowd, a great honor.
"For this inner sect competition, I will change the rules. Those who wish to participate in the ranking battle must first challenge the current top eighty-one inner sect disciples. The victors will have the right to participate in the ranking battle, and challengers cannot challenge the same person consecutively."
Nangong Ling continued, and the crowd was in an uproar. Many people felt disappointed, hoping to show their strength in the competition, but it seemed they would have no chance.
"Also, in this challenge for qualification, there are no limits on life and death."
"Boom." Everyone's hearts trembled. No limits on life and death.
If they challenged the top eighty-one inner sect disciples, they would surely be hated by their opponents. With this rule, they might lose their lives. This meant they could not afford to lose.
Winning would only grant them the right to participate in the ranking battle, while losing would have severe consequences, possibly even the cost of their lives.
"Not worth it."
"Risking one's life for the right to participate in the ranking battle is not worth it. I'll just wait for next year's competition."
Many disciples shook their heads, whispering to each other. This was too risky, not worth it.
"Lin Feng, the head of the sect is ruthless. I have just reached the Spirit Martial Realm, but only the first level. Those eighty-one names on the stone wall are all at least the second level of the Spirit Martial Realm. I have no hope."
Han Man smiled bitterly. He had hoped to fight in the sect competition, but it turned out to be like this.
Lin Feng's eyes flickered as he looked at Nangong Ling on the platform. This rule was indeed ruthless, but it would truly eliminate those who were not strong or lacked courage. It would ensure that only the elite, those with strength and the courage to fight, would participate. This was the effect Nangong Ling wanted, to showcase the best of the inner sect disciples to the outsiders.
"The top eighty-one disciples are on the life-and-death platform. Now, other inner sect disciples can challenge any of them, and the battles will take place on the central life-and-death platform."
Nangong Ling sat down after speaking, glancing at Duan Tianlang and the others.
"Lu Lie, I wish to challenge You Lin."
A figure jumped onto the life-and-death platform and declared loudly. Since they could not challenge the same person, the first challenger had the advantage of choosing the last-ranked among the eighty-one, and You Lin was ranked eighty-first.
At this moment, You Lin's face was grim. It was indeed the first challenge against him, making him lose face.
"Challengers, kill without mercy."
Wen Renyan, standing at the front of the crowd, spoke coldly, making the inner sect disciples who wanted to challenge shudder. This guy...
"Alright."
You Lin nodded at Wen Renyan and then jumped onto the life-and-death platform, unleashing the Poison Dragon Fist without holding back. Even without Wen Renyan's reminder, he intended to kill.
...
After a short while, in the Fengyun Gorge, the life-and-death platform area became unusually quiet.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on one place, the central life-and-death platform. There, the platform was stained red with blood, and five bodies lay on it. These five bodies were all challengers, and they all lost, being killed on the spot. No one had even bothered to clear the bodies.
Losing meant death.
The cruel and bloody lesson extinguished the flames of those who wanted to challenge.
Moreover, these five had only challenged the last five in the rankings. Future challenges would require facing even higher-ranked opponents.
Those whose names were carved on the inner sect's honor stone wall were indeed not ordinary.
Nangong Ling sat on the platform, his gaze calm. Perhaps this bloody lesson would make the disciples understand the cruelty of the martial path more deeply.
Only those with an indomitable and resolute heart could move forward bravely. Those who feared and shrank back from cruelty and bloodshed had no right to pursue the peak of the martial path.
"A bunch of trash, also dreaming of having the right to participate in the ranking battle. Death will surely extinguish your fantasies."
Wen Renyan pointed at the five bodies on the platform, his eyes cold as he scanned the crowd, looking proud and superior.
He was the top disciple of the inner sect, while these people did not even have the right to participate in the inner sect ranking battle.
The crowd's faces were grim, but they dared not speak out. Wen Renyan was always domineering, but his talent and strength were outstanding, and he was favored by the sect. No one dared to provoke him.
"Head of the sect, I think we can start the ranking battle. They have no hope."
Wen Renyan looked at Nangong Ling and said.
Nangong Ling scanned the crowd, nodding slightly. Although Wen Renyan was arrogant, he was indeed a rare talent in the Yunhai Sect, destined to become a pillar of the sect.
"Pathetic."
At this moment, a mocking voice suddenly echoed in the air, rippling through the crowd's hearts.
Wen Renyan's eyebrows raised, his gaze searching the crowd, then landing on a spot, his eyes flashing with cold light.
"It's you again." Wen Renyan's voice was icy, his killing intent evident.
"What do you find so amusing?"
"You are now the top disciple of the inner sect, standing at that height, looking down on others, and calling them trash. But wasn't there a time when you were also a nobody, and only through hard work did you achieve your current status?"
Lin Feng's lips curled into a cold smile. Wen Renyan was arrogant and needed to be brought back to reality.