Chapter 503 - 443: Allied Army (2)

Chapter 503: Chapter 443: Allied Army (2)

However, it was precisely these two counties, which harbored ill intentions and occasionally invaded, that prevented the Mingyu Sword Sect and its subsidiary sects from deploying their full military forces. They had to leave considerable strength within to defend their territory, even causing Master Cangfeng to be unable to leave the region for long, nor too far.

In this way, even though this was a crucial decisive battle, the combat power that the Mingyu Sword Sect could mobilize was still limited.

"I can summon the three subsidiary sects in northern Liangxiang County, led by the Divine Flood Dragon Sect, and allocate some of our own forces." Master Cangfeng calculated and gave a number that was the best he could muster: "Eight Foundation Establishment cultivators and eight hundred Qi Cultivation Elite."

One Golden Core, eight Foundation Establishment, and eight hundred Qi Cultivation Elite — this was the total force that the Mingyu Sword Sect could allocate.

Meanwhile, the Huanggen Sect was indeed very weak in combat power.

Tieyuan County was simply too impoverished. Even if Ye Xiao unified Tieyuan and maintained peace for a hundred years, the entire population of Tieyuan County now was less than ten million. This was far below the thirty million in Zhongming County and the fifty million in Liangxiang County!

And the cultivators of the Huanggen Sect had only eight Foundation Establishment (including two Hired Foundation Establishment Honored Guests) and seven hundred Qi Cultivation Elite.

If not for the presence of Ye Xiao, the Golden Core, the strength of the Huanggen Sect was not much better than that of the Yunshan Sect or the Shuangye Alliance!

This time when deploying forces, the Huanggen Sect also had to leave part of their forces behind, and eventually, they could field one Golden Core, four Foundation Establishment, and four hundred Qi Cultivation Elite.

Lastly were the Yunshan Sect and the Shuangye Alliance.

Not counting Guh Niqiang, who had already left the region, they had a total of seven Foundation Establishment and three hundred and eighty Qi Cultivation Elite.

However, among them were technical talents like Tao Boliang and Cui Shanyan, whom Lu Qian did not plan to let go to the battlefield unless absolutely necessary.

So the optimal force was six Foundation Establishment and three hundred and thirty elite.

In this way, combining the strength of the three parties, the total was two Golden Core, eighteen Foundation Establishment, and one thousand seven hundred Qi Cultivation Elite.

As for the Xuanguang Sect, after several reductions, they currently had one Golden Core, five Foundation Establishment (Xu Chengyun, Wangg Hao, Ning Songzhi, Wen Luhuan, Liang Zhixing), and four hundred sixty to seventy Qi Cultivation Elite.

Add two Foundation Establishment from the subsidiary sects of the Kong Family and fifty to sixty family elites. Additionally, they’ve recently gathered two to three hundred Qi Cultivation Loose Cultivators for recruitment.

In total, one Golden Core, seven Foundation Establishment, and over eight hundred Qi Cultivation Elite.

If we compare just by numbers, the alliance of the three families should be able to crush the Xuanguang Sect!

However, when it comes to actual offense and defense, this calculation does not hold. If the allied forces of the three families, trusting in their strength, take the initiative to attack, it is almost impossible to directly break through Mingjian Mountain, given the Xuanguang Sect holds the terrain advantage and has the Golden Core Grand Array for defense. This would lead to enormous losses.

Moreover, for the past half-year, the Xuanguang Sect has been silent, which is very unlike Master Fengfeng’s character.

Lu Qian suspected that they might have successfully recruited Golden Core assistance, simply waiting for the final consolidation before launching a decisive battle.

Therefore, the best strategy is to wait and watch, allowing the Xuanguang Sect to attack, using our ample forces to deplete their momentum, and then counterattacking back to annihilate the Xuanguang Sect.

After all, it is the Xuanguang Sect that is anxious to attack, not Lu Qian. The three-family alliance can afford to wait, but the Xuanguang Sect cannot.

"So, we still need to keep the alliance of the three families a secret." After forming the tentative plan, Lu Qian said this, "I request Fairy Ye to issue a silence order to prevent information from leaking and alerting the Xuanguang Sect, thereby creating unnecessary trouble."

"The day the Xuanguang Sect attacks will be the day our alliance makes its appearance. Let’s give Master Fengfeng a surprise then."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xiao laughed heartily a few times and patted Lu Qian’s shoulder: "That’s excellent. I can’t wait for the world to witness the splendor of the Tieyuan lads! However, Sect Leader Lu, you have forgotten something."

Lu Qian raised an eyebrow: "Please, Fairy, enlighten me?"

"My Jialuo, how about I grant her to Sect Leader Lu? When things arise, it’s the disciples who should work. Let her repay the debt of saving my life. Binding our families even closer, how wonderful would that be!"

Realizing that Ye Xiao was not as straightforward and egocentric as she appeared, Lu Qian’s first reaction was disbelief, leading him to speculate without end.

Now that the three families were already allies, there was no need to add a disciple to the mix to draw closer relations. Was it merely to bring the two sides even closer? But the Huanggen Sect already had few in Foundation Establishment, sending one away would be a major loss.

Could it be to monitor the movements of the Shuangye Alliance through this method and enhance the Huanggen Sect’s influence on the Yunshan Sect through pillow talk?

That seems far-fetched.

Forget it, if it’s incomprehensible, don’t think about it. After all, he had yet to secure Guh Niqiang, how could he accept the offer of Fairy Jialuo sent to him?

"Fairy Ye, I already have a dao companion, and my companion and I share deep feelings and have already set a marriage contract, how could I possibly wrong Fairy Shen?"

He had no choice but to use his senior sister as a shield for the time being.

"It doesn’t matter." Ye Xiao waved her hand, cheerful and assertive, "A young hero, a sect leader, what’s wrong with having a few more dao companions? Sect Leader Lu needs not say more!"

...

At this moment, in the grand competition field of Lingsha City, Li Da and Wang Ruoyu were locking eyes on each other, each employing their final moves.

Jiang Qingfeng suddenly asked, "Taotao, who do you hope will win?"

Jiang Baitao thought for a moment: "Shitou, I guess."

"Why is that?" Jiang Qingfeng asked again.

"Shitou has been playing with me this whole time," Jiang Baitao said nonchalantly, "Li Zi is so arrogant, he runs away quickly when he sees me. So you can’t blame Junior Martial Uncle Jiang for being biased."

Jiang Qingfeng had a knowing smile: "Is there no other reason?"

Jiang Baitao wrinkled her delicate eyebrows, hummed a few times, hesitated, and said, "Shitou is too pitiful; he doesn’t have many friends. Li Zi is different, you see, so many people like him. Let Shitou win once and make him happy. Li Zi is so popular, it doesn’t matter if he loses."

Sitting behind them, Lin Le smiled wryly. Clearly, the Junior Martial Uncle was clever and mischievous, and always interested in others’ affairs. She even read quite a bit of romantic stories and would give advice to disciples with mutual feelings.

How come when it comes to her own matters, she becomes so dull?

Indeed, love is the most complicated of matters.

Thinking of this, he looked not far ahead at Wu Yan, who stood upright and meticulous, and sighed deeply.

With Lu Qian absent, she sat vigil in his master’s stead, her stern demeanor intimidating those around her.

Lin Le stared blankly at her back, but she was engrossed in observing the situation on the field, naturally unaware. Though only meters apart, at this moment, Lin Le suddenly felt very distant, like they were separated by mountains and seas, no longer within reach.

He made a decision in his heart.

In the field, the two young cultivators, the most outstanding representatives among those nurtured by the Yunshan Sect from a young age, bearing numerous auras of brilliance, now faced each other as the strongest opponents.

Wang Ruoyu’s Triple Round Shield was roaring with fierceness, buzzing continuously. Li Da’s side saw a pitch-black short dagger, split into two, swirling around.

All the audience watched intently, awaiting the final outcome, their hearts in their throats.

Perhaps utterly exhausted, the round shield too heavy, Wang Ruoyu suddenly took a deep breath, shifting the shield slightly. In that instant, Li Da flicked his fingers, and the two daggers shot out with a whoosh!

It was the secret technique he had practiced diligently, the Light Splitting and Shadow Transformation Technique, enabling him to condense a shadow of the magical artifact briefly, achieving the effect of controlling two magical artifacts.

The two daggers traced arcs, one left and one right, aiming at Wang Ruoyu simultaneously.

Controlling two magical artifacts was typically something only achievable at the Late-Stage Qi Cultivation, but Li Da had executed it now, instantly sparking a wave of astonishment. Wang Ruoyu no longer had the Rock Armor for protection, so how could he withstand it?

The broad-browed, big-eyed youth waved a shield and knocked one dagger away, but merely slightly twisted his body to avoid a vital spot for the other, unable to defend further, allowing it to pierce directly into his left rib!

Blood surged out, Li Da was startled, and a gasp arose from the audience.

Yet Wang Ruoyu shouted loudly, clutching the dagger in his left rib with his left hand, while swinging the shield with his right, charging fiercely at Li Da!

The blade was still lodged in his body, was he risking his life?

Blood splattered everywhere, Wang Ruoyu’s face twisted, clenching his teeth, he swung the shield down. Li Da instinctively rolled on the ground, with a boom, the shield scraped his body and struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Li Da barely had time to stand when Wang Ruoyu was already upon him, swinging the shield heavily downward.

Am I going to lose?

But in mid-air, the shield slanted and flew off to the side, clattering to the ground.

Then, Wang Ruoyu’s body collapsed, his face pale, fainting.

Li Da stared blankly at his bloodied body, not yet comprehending as the panel of judges rushed onto the field, scrambling to treat Wang Ruoyu while loudly announcing.

"The winner is, Li Da!"