Chapter 318 - 179: The Wushan Mountain Finale
Wushan Mountain, the Bluestone Arena.
As Zhang Daoming conceded defeat and departed, the heart-stopping battle on Wushan Mountain came to a close.
In the center of the dilapidated arena, Chen Sheng slowly sheathed his saber.
His dark robes were stained with dust and blood, but it did nothing to diminish his tall, ramrod-straight posture, firm as a pine.
His calm gaze swept over the crowd: the dying Shanxin; the severed-armed, gravely injured, and faintly breathing Dharma Treasury; Chen Yanling, with both arms broken and a deathly pale face; and the unconscious Lu Xuanzhou, Lu Maozhi, and Li Xuance, their fates uncertain...
Finally, his gaze landed on the host, Elder Liang Jingxing of Qingfeng Temple.
"Elder Liang, what now?"
"You’ve won this battle."
Liang Jingxing glanced at the heroes below the stage.
In this battle, Chen Sheng had fought one against seven, displaying an air of absolute invincibility.
Below, the disciples of the various sects gazed at the black-robed figure on the high platform, their eyes filled with profound shock and awe.
One against seven. Unrivaled in his realm.
How terrifying was that!
One had to understand, the people Chen Sheng defeated were not nobodies. They were the Ning’an Ten Heroes, who had made a name for themselves throughout Ning’an Prefecture. Yet even when they joined forces, they were no match for Chen Sheng at all!
The Wang Family’s Young Master, Wang Zhaoning, was shaken to his core.
’If I had gone up there,’ he thought, ’my fate would likely have been the same.’
He was inwardly terrified of Chen Sheng’s horrifying power.
’No wonder he dared to challenge all the heroes.’
’So this was the source of his confidence.’
Everyone present could see it clearly. Aside from Dharma Treasury and Zhang Daoming, who could exchange a few moves with Chen Sheng, none of the others could withstand even a single blow from him!
The same was true for Li Danqing, his expression masked by pure shock.
Xiao Jingheng of the Jingwu Bureau took a deep breath; beyond his shock, there was only reverence.
In his heart, he was now utterly and completely convinced of Chen Sheng’s superiority.
’A man like that either doesn’t enter the fray, or he settles the entire situation the moment he does.’
"In this battle, Chen Sheng of the Jingwu Bureau fought against many and subdued the various sects. According to precedent, fifty percent of the Wushan Yuan Ore shares are now for Captain Chen to allocate as he sees fit. Does anyone object?"
Liang Jingxing’s solemn gaze swept across the Sect Leaders and elders of the various sects, lingering in particular on Xuanbei of Golden Spring Temple, Lu Qingsong of the Iron Sword Sect, and Lu Canghai of Luoyun Manor.
This was because if they followed what Chen Sheng had just said, they would receive no share at all, leaving with absolutely nothing.
As for his own Qingfeng Temple...
’...though our True Inheritor, Chen Yanling, was severely injured, Qingfeng Temple can accept this outcome. After all, his foundation wasn’t harmed. Chen Sheng ultimately held back against him.’
’Compared to previous years, our share is much smaller this time, but it’s at least passable.’
’I’ll be able to report back without issue.’
’After all, the power Chen Sheng displayed was simply too terrifying—so terrifying that he hardly seemed like an expert of the Innate Realm.’
’Unless a Profound Mastery expert appeared, who could possibly stop Chen Sheng?’
’He even had a faint, startling suspicion.’
’He felt that even an expert who had just entered the Profound Mastery realm might not be guaranteed a victory against Chen Sheng.’
’Zhang Daoming’s defeat wasn’t for lack of skill.’
’Although Zhang Daoming had concealed it well just now, he could sense that his junior nephew was barely holding on.’
But as for Golden Spring Temple, the Iron Sword Sect, and Luoyun Manor, their situations were another matter entirely.
Without the supply of Elemental Crystals from the Wushan Yuan Ore, these sects would suffer a massive impact, if not fall into financial ruin.
"Rules are rules. Once set, they must be followed. The Ning’an Wang Clan has no objection."
The Wang Clan Patriarch, Wangqingshan, stepped forward and spoke.
"The Danxia Sect has no objection either."
At some point, Danxia Sect’s Leader Bai Qing had departed. The one who stepped forward now was an elder from the Danxia Sect at the Profound Gang Realm.
"The Government Office, naturally, has no objection."
Sun Yuzhi said coolly.
In an instant, everyone’s gaze, like an invisible pressure, fell upon the three of them: Monk Xuanbei, Lu Canghai, and Lu Qingsong.
The faces of the three men were so dark they looked like they might drip water. Their chests heaved violently, their eyes a mixture of fury and killing intent.
Losing the share of Elemental Crystals from the Wushan Yuan Ore for the next several years was not a simple matter of breaking bones and tearing tendons for their sects; it was a devastating blow that would shake their very foundations!
The air seemed to freeze solid in that moment.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Monk Xuanbei took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Chen Sheng. He deliberately ignored the topic at hand and changed the subject:
"Donor Chen, the battle on Wushan Mountain was meant to be a spar, yet you struck such a vicious blow. My junior nephew Shanxin’s foundation has been damaged, and his Meridians are injured. You must give Golden Spring Temple an explanation for this."
Dharma Treasury was in better condition. Although he was grievously wounded, his foundation remained intact. With a period of recuperation and the resources of Golden Spring Temple, he could fully recover.
But upon inspection, he found Shanxin’s condition to be far too dire.
It was no exaggeration to say his foundation was completely destroyed.
This was a Martial Dao genius from Golden Spring Temple, second only to Dharma Treasury, who had been expected to take over as a First Seat of a court in the future.
And just like that, he had been crippled by Chen Sheng in public.
Moreover, he had also lost their share from the Wushan Mountain battle.
There was simply no way he could explain this when he returned.
Seeing Monk Xuanbei speak up, Lu Canghai, who was already furious, chimed in:
"That’s right! Xuanzhou and Maozhi suffered such grievous injuries. You must give us an explanation!"
The Iron Sword Sect’s Leader, Lu Qingsong, did not speak, but it was clear he now stood on their side.
Li Xuance’s injuries were also severe. Although he had taken an Elixir that Lu Qingsong had prepared in advance, he had been so grievously wounded that there was no hope of him recovering anytime soon.
This was the Iron Sword Sect’s chief True Inheritor!
The Iron Sword Sect had already been in decline in recent years. If they also lost their share from the Wushan Mountain battle, it would be like piling snow on top of frost.