Duan Tianlang lifted his foot and walked down from the viewing platform.
At his side, Chu Qing and the others closely followed him, stepping out together, heading straight for the central life-and-death arena.
This group of people were all immensely powerful. Each step they took, though seemingly slow, covered a distance of several dozen meters. In just a few breaths, they had ascended to the highest life-and-death arena.
They strolled leisurely, as if wandering through a garden.
"Disciples of the Cloud Sea Sect, listen up," Duan Tianlang's domineering gaze swept over the crowd, and he shouted, "I, Duan Tianlang, on behalf of His Majesty, have come to select outstanding disciples to go to the capital and enter the Snow Moon Holy Academy, which was personally ordered to be established by His Majesty. However, your sect leader refused my request, defying His Majesty's command. Now, His Majesty is enraged and has decided to remove the Cloud Sea Sect from the Snow Moon Kingdom."
Duan Tianlang's words shook the hearts of the crowd. Remove the Cloud Sea Sect from the Snow Moon Kingdom?
To remove such a large sect, there was only one way: extermination.
These people were going to exterminate the Cloud Sea Sect!!!
The crowd's panic intensified. No, they had come to the Cloud Sea Sect to pursue martial arts and become strong. How could they die so unjustly and tragically?
"However, His Majesty is merciful and gives you a chance. Core disciples, inner disciples, and outer disciples, anyone whose name is engraved on the ranking stone wall, if they are willing to defect from the Cloud Sea Sect and join the Snow Moon Holy Academy or other sects, can be spared death."
Duan Tianlang's words made the crowd's heads buzz, leaving them numb.
Defect from the Cloud Sea Sect? And only those who ranked high enough to have their names engraved on the ranking stone wall had the资格 to defect?
Those who had not managed to engrave their names on the stone wall instantly felt a chill run through their bodies. They had been deprived of even the choice to live.
On the viewing platform, Nan Gong Ling and the others all had extremely grim expressions. Extermination, these people had come to jointly destroy the Cloud Sea Sect.
For a thousand years, the Cloud Sea Sect had existed for a thousand years. Although there were constant frictions among the major forces, none had crossed the line, and large-scale conflicts and battles had not occurred. But this time, it was a shocking event.
The Bright Moon Sect, Ice Snow Manor, Ten Thousand Beast Sect, and the Wolf King had come together to remove the Cloud Sea Sect.
Clearly, the royal family's involvement and the Wolf King's intervention had thoroughly shattered the balance of power among the major sects, making the Cloud Sea Sect the sacrificial lamb.
"Why did you choose our Cloud Sea Sect?"
Nan Gong Ling's expression was icy cold, his eyes fixed on Duan Tianlang, wishing he could tear him apart. Could a thousand-year-old sect be destroyed in his hands?
"Nan Gong Ling, don't you understand?" Duan Tianlang sneered.
"If it's because I refused your son, I won't believe it, and I doubt you would either. Because the Bright Moon Sect, Ice Snow Manor, and others would certainly refuse such an absurd request."
Nan Gong Ling glanced at Chu Qing and Han Xue Tian.
"Heh, you're right. At first, Sect Leader Chu and the others refused, but when I told them I would use the entire Cloud Sea Sect as compensation, they immediately agreed."
Duan Tianlang's indifferent voice made the crowd's hearts tremble. He was offering the entire Cloud Sea Sect to the other sects.
"I guessed as much." Nan Gong Ling gave a bitter smile. After learning Duan Tianlang's purpose, he had already suspected why Chu Qing and the others were here.
"As for the reason you mentioned, it's simple. Your Cloud Sea Sect is the weakest and easiest to deal with. Only if the leaders of the various sects send their sect's powerful experts to assist me in this operation can the Cloud Sea Sect be destroyed with a single blow."
"You're lying."
A voice suddenly rang out. A graceful figure slowly walked up to the life-and-death arena, her cold gaze filled with intense hatred.
"Duan Tianlang, you're lying."
Liu Fei's beautiful face was pale, her body trembling with anger.
"The reason you chose the Cloud Sea Sect is because of my father. Duan Tianlang, you envy my father, his strength, and his talent. That's why you chose to attack the Cloud Sea Sect and used underhanded means to deceive the Crimson Blood Cavalry. You want to frame my father and make him suffer."
Liu Fei's eyes were filled with hatred. "Duan Tianlang, what a cruel and vicious heart, what a ruthless and cunning scheme."
Many people were shocked by Liu Fei's words. In the Cloud Sea Sect, only a few knew Liu Fei's identity and who her father was. From her words, it seemed her father was an extraordinary figure, even envied by the famous Wolf King Duan Tianlang of the Snow Moon Kingdom.
Moreover, the Crimson Blood Cavalry was her father's army?
"Divine Archer, Liu Canglan."
Many people suddenly thought of a name. In the Snow Moon Kingdom, if there was anyone whose glory surpassed the Wolf King, whose honor spread across the land, it was the Divine Archer Liu Canglan.
The Divine Archer Liu Canglan once led a few thousand men to defend a solitary city for ten days, killing tens of thousands of enemies and saving the city.
The Divine Archer Liu Canglan once carried an ancient bow, rode alone, and charged into a thousand-man army, pursuing the enemy general for a thousand miles. In the end, he killed the general with a single arrow, returning covered in blood and fainting.
The Divine Archer was the guardian of Snow Moon, his name resounding through the mountains and rivers. The name of the Crimson Blood Cavalry struck fear into the hearts of enemies.
What made the Cloud Sea Sect people feel incredibly honored was that the Divine Archer Liu Canglan was one of their own. Even though he served the royal family, he was always a source of pride for the Cloud Sea Sect.
Liu Fei, who also bore the surname Liu, was undoubtedly the revered figure.
"Feifei, how can you think such things about Uncle Duan? Your father and I are close friends, brothers. He has achieved great fame, and I am happy for him. How could I possibly envy him?"
Duan Tianlang smiled and shook his head, his gaze on Liu Fei filled with affection, his scheming nature terrifying.
If he and Liu Fei's father were close friends, then why did he just blame Liu Canglan to Nan Gong Ling? Hypocrisy, nauseating hypocrisy.
"You and my father are brothers, close friends? Then why are you going to destroy the Cloud Sea Sect, the sect where my father and I are?"
Liu Fei felt nauseated by Duan Tianlang's hypocritical face.
"Feifei, this is the will of His Majesty. I am destroying the Cloud Sea Sect for the sake of Snow Moon, with no personal motives. Besides, the Cloud Sea Sect is declining day by day, only misleading disciples. Those with true talent would be better off if we take them and give them better conditions."
"And I believe they will all be willing. If you don't believe me, just watch."
Duan Tianlang's false smile remained on his lips. Turning around, his gaze became cold as he faced the crowd.
"What I said earlier still stands. Those whose names are engraved on your sect's ranking stone wall and are willing to leave the Cloud Sea Sect and turn to the light, go to the Crimson Blood Cavalry now. Remember, your time to choose is limited."
Duan Tianlang's words made the atmosphere in the space become extremely tense. The crowd had various thoughts.
Many people also looked toward the viewing platform, at the sect leader and the elders.
"Those who wish to go, go. The Cloud Sea Sect will not retain them."
North Elder suddenly spoke, waving his hand, making many people pause.
"North Elder."
Nan Gong Ling's eyes showed a hint of confusion.
"Sect Leader, respect their choice."
North Elder's voice was tinged with sorrow. This was a helpless move. Those whose names were on the stone wall had great talent and had worked hard to achieve their current status. They might go even further in the future. It would be a pity for them to die like this.
"Alright." Nan Gong Ling knew North Elder's benevolence and did not argue, nodding faintly.
"Thank you, Sect Leader and Elders."
Seeing Nan Gong Ling nod, someone immediately spoke up and then rushed toward the Crimson Blood Cavalry.
With someone leading the way, many others began to move. In a short time, hundreds of people rushed toward the Crimson Blood Cavalry, and the number continued to increase, even exceeding the total number of names on the outer, inner, and core stone walls. Clearly, many were just trying to save their lives, even if they were not truly qualified.
"Stop, this is the end." Duan Tianlang waved his hand, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Feifei, do you see? This is human nature. I give them a better opportunity, and they cherish it, willing to defect from the Cloud Sea Sect."
Nan Gong Ling's expression, on the other hand, was the opposite, filled with a sense of desolation.
"Lin Feng, you were right. When the disciples were weak, the sect did not give them enough respect. Once they gained some strength, how could they respect the sect and serve it?"
Nan Gong Ling's gaze fell on Lin Feng, his voice tinged with sorrow. Although he had agreed, seeing so many people defect without a moment's hesitation still hurt his heart.
In times of life and death, the true nature of people is revealed. These disciples had no feelings for the Cloud Sea Sect.
"Unfortunately, you appeared too late. If you had been born a few decades earlier, perhaps the position of sect leader would have been yours, or you might have achieved great fame like Canglan."
At this moment, Lin Feng's face was expressionless. He had not expected this situation.
Lin Feng also admired Nan Gong Ling. Regardless of how he treated him, Nan Gong Ling was blameless toward the sect, always considering the sect's interests.
In the face of life and death, the true nature of people is revealed. These disciples had no feelings for the Cloud Sea Sect.