Chapter 76: Cruelty
Nangong Ling's gaze gradually turned icy cold, sharp as a sword.
Chu Qing, Sect Master of Hao Yue Sect, father of Dapeng Gongzi, Chu Zhanpeng.
Han Xuetian, Master of Ice and Snow Mountain Villa.
Teng Wushan, Vice Sect Master of Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.
Duan Tianlang, Imperial Prince of the Royal Family, also the father of the young prince Duan Han, who had visited Cloud Sea Sect a few days prior.
Apart from the Sunset Gorge Sect located in the borderlands and the Yue and Yu families in the Imperial City, the remaining four forces, including the Royal Family itself, had appeared simultaneously, uninvited, and on the day of Cloud Sea Sect's sect-wide competition. Clearly, they were not here to celebrate.
"Sect Master Nangong, Duan has come with several guests. I hope you won't mind."
Duan Tianlang stood atop a giant sword, clad in a white suit of armor, looking majestic. As his voice fell, the giant sword descended directly onto the viewing platform. A rumbling sound echoed incessantly, and one corner of the platform was instantly reduced to powder by the sword's aura.
At the same time, Chu Qing, Han Xuetian, and Kun Mang all landed on the viewing platform, looking arrogantly aloof.
Beside Duan Tianlang, Duan Han stared coldly at Nangong Ling. He still harbored a grudge from the day Nangong Ling had humiliated him and driven him away. Today, he would make Cloud Sea Sect pay.
"Heh, it is an honor for Cloud Sea Sect that the Celestial Wolf King would come to visit," Nangong Ling said, his heart cold but his face still bearing a smile. "However, I wonder why the Celestial Wolf King and the various sect masters have come?"
"Not long ago, my son Duan Han visited. I believe Sect Master Nangong is clear on his intentions. His Majesty, with far-sighted vision, plans to establish the Snow Moon Holy Academy and requires everyone's contribution. Moreover, the other sect masters have already agreed to His Majesty's request. Only Cloud Sea Sect…"
At this point, Duan Tianlang paused slightly, smiling without finishing his sentence.
"Oh?" A flicker of surprise passed through Nangong Ling's eyes. Chu Qing, Han Xuetian, and the others were all cunning old foxes. How could they possibly hand over their sect's most talented disciples? They should be well aware that once the disciples were handed over, they would likely become forces of the Royal Family in the future, not their own people.
However, Chu Qing and the others remained calm upon hearing Duan Tianlang's words, as if this were indeed the case. This puzzled Nangong Ling.
"So, what does the Celestial Wolf King intend to do?" Nangong Ling asked.
"Since Sect Master Nangong is unwilling to send people to His Majesty, I will have to personally select them for him. It just so happens that today is Cloud Sea Sect's sect-wide competition. I can witness the prowess of Cloud Sea Sect's disciples and pick them one by one." Duan Tianlang was direct and overbearing in his tone.
The expressions of everyone on Cloud Sea Sect's side changed. How arrogant! What did they take Cloud Sea Sect for? That its people could be chosen at will?
"And if I refuse?" Nangong Ling's voice turned slightly colder.
"Sect Master Nangong will agree, just as the other sect masters did." Duan Tianlang's words were filled with strong confidence, as if no one could defy his words.
"Sect Master Nangong, don't be hasty in arguing. Let the disciples of Cloud Sea Sect proceed with their competition and strive to perform well. The Snow Moon Holy Academy does not want mediocrity. Only those who enter the Snow Moon Holy Academy will have the Snow Moon Kingdom as their backing, with endless pills and weapons, and powerful techniques and martial skills to choose from at will. They will become the sharp swords of Snow Moon."
Duan Tianlang spoke these words to the assembled disciples of Cloud Sea Sect, his voice filled with temptation. Joining the Snow Moon Holy Academy meant endless techniques, martial skills, and powerful weapons and pills. What a great opportunity this was! For the sect disciples who craved greater strength, it was incredibly alluring.
They had come to Cloud Sea Sect to cultivate and grow stronger. If the Snow Moon Holy Academy could offer better opportunities, why should they stay in Cloud Sea Sect?
At that moment, many hearts began to stir. They silently urged themselves to give their all in the competition.
"Despicable."
Nangong Ling cursed inwardly. Duan Tianlang's divisive tactic was not particularly clever, but it was effective.
What was even more unbearable for Nangong Ling was that this was a blatant provocation against Cloud Sea Sect.
"Let me see who will betray Cloud Sea Sect," Nangong Ling thought coldly, then said to Duan Tianlang, "Since the Celestial Wolf King wishes to witness Cloud Sea Sect's competition, Nangong Ling will naturally oblige."
"The sect-wide competition: the ranking battles for outer disciples and core disciples are postponed to another day. Today, only inner disciples will fight."
Upon hearing Nangong Ling's words, the crowd erupted in uproar. But after a moment's thought, they understood Nangong Ling's intention.
The outer disciples were too weak. To display them now would bring shame to Cloud Sea Sect. The core disciples were the sect's backbone, the future successors of Cloud Sea Sect. It was not advisable to reveal their strength too early. Having the inner disciples compete was just right.
A peculiar smile flickered in Duan Tianlang's eyes. Would this make a difference?
"Inner disciples, follow the rankings on the stone wall. Step onto the Life and Death Platform and line up in order."
Nangong Ling spoke again. Immediately, the eighty-one names carved on the stone wall came to life as their owners stepped onto the Life and Death Platform, drawing the attention of the crowd, basking in glory.
"For this inner sect competition, I will also change the rules. Those who wish to participate in the ranking battle must first challenge the current top eighty-one inner disciples. Only the victors will qualify for the ranking battle. Furthermore, challengers may not challenge the same person consecutively."
Nangong Ling continued, and the crowd buzzed with discussion once more. Many felt disappointed. They had hoped to show off in the sect-wide competition and test their strength, but it seemed they would have little opportunity.
"Also, in this challenge battle, for those vying for qualification, life and death… are not restricted."
"Boom!" Everyone's hearts trembled. Life and death, not restricted.
If they challenged one of the top eighty-one inner disciples, they would surely incur their enmity. With this rule, it was highly likely they would lose their lives. This meant they simply could not afford to lose.
Win, and they would only just earn the qualification for the ranking battle. Lose, and the consequences would be severe, possibly even fatal.
"It's not worth it."
"Risking your life for a spot in the ranking battle is too costly. I'll just wait for next year's competition."
Countless disciples shook their heads, whispering among themselves. It was too risky, not worth it.
"Lin Feng, the Sect Master is ruthless. I've just entered the Spirit Martial Realm, but only at the First Layer. Those eighty-one on the stone wall are at least at the Second Layer of Spirit Martial Realm. I doubt I have a chance."
Han Man smiled bitterly. He had wanted to fight freely in the sect-wide competition, but he hadn't expected this.
Lin Feng's eyes flickered as he looked at Nangong Ling on the viewing platform. This rule was indeed ruthless, but it would truly weed out those who lacked strength or courage. Only the elite would participate—those with real power and the guts to fight. This was the effect Nangong Ling wanted: to show the best of the inner disciples to these outsiders.
"The top eighty-one disciples are on the Life and Death Platform. Now, other inner disciples may challenge any of them. The battle will take place on the central Life and Death Platform."
After speaking, Nangong Ling sat down, casting a glance at Duan Tianlang and the others.
"Luo Lie, I challenge You Lin."
A figure leaped onto the Life and Death Platform and declared loudly. Since one could not challenge the same person consecutively, the first to challenge had the advantage, as they could pick the lowest-ranked among the eighty-one. You Lin was ranked eighty-first.
At that moment, You Lin's face was ugly. Being the first to be challenged was indeed humiliating.
"Challengers, kill without mercy."
Wen Renyan, standing at the front of the crowd, moved his lips slightly, his voice icy cold. This startled the inner disciples who were considering challenging, making them think twice.
"Alright."
You Lin nodded to Wen Renyan, then leaped onto the Life and Death Platform. He threw a Poison Dragon Fist without holding back. Even if Wen Renyan hadn't reminded him, he would have killed.
...
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the area around the Wind Cloud Gorge and the Life and Death Platform fell into an eerie silence.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on one spot: the central Life and Death Platform. There, blood had stained the platform red. Five corpses lay upon it, all of them challengers. Without exception, they had all lost and been killed on the spot. No one had even cleaned up the bodies.
To lose was to die.
Cruel, bloody lessons extinguished the flames of desire in those who had wanted to challenge.
Moreover, these five had only challenged the five lowest-ranked disciples. Those who came after would have to challenge those ranked even higher.
Those whose names were carved on the glorious stone wall of the inner disciples were indeed no mediocrities.
Nangong Ling sat on the viewing platform, his expression calm. Perhaps this bloody lesson would leave a deep impression on these disciples and make them understand the cruelty of the martial path.
Only those with an unyielding, persistent heart could charge forward fearlessly. Those who retreated in fear of cruelty and bloodshed had no right to pursue the peak of martial arts.
"A bunch of trash, and you still dream of qualifying for the ranking battle. Death should finally extinguish your illusions, shouldn't it?"
Wen Renyan pointed at the five corpses on the platform, his cold eyes sweeping over the crowd as if he were above them all, proud and arrogant.
He was the number one inner disciple, while these people didn't even have the qualification to participate in the inner sect ranking battle.
The crowd's faces were ugly, but they dared not speak out. Wen Renyan had always been domineering, but his talent and strength were too outstanding. He was valued by the sect, and no one dared to provoke him.
"Sect Master, I believe the ranking battle can begin. They have no hope."
Wen Renyan then looked at Nangong Ling and said.
Nangong Ling's gaze swept over the crowd, and he nodded slightly. Although Wen Renyan was somewhat arrogant, he was indeed a rare genius of Cloud Sea Sect and would eventually become a pillar of the sect.
"Ridiculous."
Just then, a mocking voice suddenly rang out in the space, stirring ripples in the hearts of the crowd.
Wen Renyan's brows furrowed. His eyes searched the crowd and then landed on one spot, a cold light flashing in them.
"It's you again." Wen Renyan's tone was icy, revealing killing intent.
"What do you find ridiculous?"
"You are now the number one inner disciple, standing at that height, looking down on those below, cursing others as trash. But once upon a time, weren't you also starting from being a piece of trash before achieving your current status?"
A cold sneer curled at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth. Wen Renyan was arrogant and conceited. It was time to sober him up.