Chapter 801 - 82: A Battle in the Spotlight
Chapter 801: Chapter 82: A Battle in the Spotlight
Eight Desolates Sect.
Sima Kong held a long halberd, standing proudly in the center of the grand hall.
"Master, your disciple is ready."
Sima Kong looked at his master, unresigned to his previous defeat by Lin Chen.
Lin Chen’s victory was due to the powerful cultivation techniques of the Canglan Sect.
Before this, he hadn’t joined a super sect, and although his family had been around for thousands of years, its foundation couldn’t compare to those super sects.
Every super sect had existed for at least ten thousand years, becoming the dominant force in a region not only because they had Myriad Phenomena powerhouses but also due to their powerful martial arts techniques.
Myriad Phenomena powerhouses, foundation techniques, martial resources, genius disciples...
A super sect must have all four elements.
With Myriad Phenomena powerhouses to ensure dominance, foundation techniques and martial resources to attract genius disciples, a sect can thrive perpetually with the addition of such disciples.
After being defeated by Lin Chen on Martial Arts Mountain, he learned from his grandfather that the move Lin Chen used was the most powerful of the three foundation techniques of the Canglan Sect—Canglan’s Eyes.
His family’s Heaven-Dominating Armor was no match for Canglan’s Eyes, which is why it failed to protect.
It wasn’t that his strength was inferior to Lin Chen’s but rather a difference in techniques.
Because of this, after being defeated by Lin Chen, he decided to join a super sect.
Initially, he wasn’t in a hurry to join a sect, thinking that being first on Martial Arts Mountain would make sects offer higher prices, but after losing to Lin Chen, he chose to join Eight Desolates Sect.
For no other reason than that Eight Desolates Sect offered the highest price.
After joining Eight Desolates Sect, he diligently cultivated their martial arts techniques, and under his master’s full support, his strength improved significantly.
"Master, our sect is currently at war with the Canglan Sect. For this battle against Lin Chen, I plan to open it to spectators, so that the senior brothers on the battlefield can witness me defeat Lin Chen, boosting our sect’s morale."
The top three battles on Martial Arts Mountain allow challengers to choose whether to make them public according to the rules. Once public... every martial artist on Martial Arts Mountain will be alerted.
For Sima Kong, the sect’s morale wasn’t his concern. What he truly cared about was that he had lost to Lin Chen in front of countless martial artists of the Flame Dynasty, and this time he intended to defeat Lin Chen before all.
Only by doing so could he erase the humiliation he had suffered.
Qiao Lingxuan squinted at Sima Kong. Sima Kong’s talent was undeniable, but the sect chose to offer high terms to recruit Sima Kong, and even as sect master broke the rules to accept Sima Kong as a disciple in part because of Lin Chen from Canglan Sect.
In the eyes of Eight Desolates Sect, anyone could claim the top spot on Martial Arts Mountain, except someone from Canglan Sect.
Nurturing Sima Kong not only allowed them to win over the Sima Family, enabling Sima Kong to defeat Lin Chen on Martial Arts Mountain, but it also suppressed the arrogance of Canglan Sect, a multi-pronged benefit.
Now, he needed to consider whether his junior brother could defeat Lin Chen.
During this war between the two sects, the impact of such a public battle would be far greater than before, especially affecting the morale of martial artists from both regions on the battlefield.
"Very well, I believe in you!"
In the end, Qiao Lingxuan nodded in agreement. Although Lin Chen managed to escape from Yama Hall assassins, indicating he was at the peak of the Innate First Realm, under his own costly training, his disciple had already broken through to the Innate Second Realm.
The overwhelming advantage of a higher realm meant that even if Lin Chen had obtained a flawless Martial Path Will from the Canglan Secret Realm, he couldn’t defeat his disciple.
...
Chixia Pass!
The rising sun dispelled the darkness, illuminating the battlefield’s lingering bloodstains.
Since the war started by Eight Desolates Sect, the area outside Chixia Pass had been like a furnace, with martial artists from both domains continuously sacrificing their lives in this furnace.
"Another new day begins, everyone strive to survive."
A team of martial artists saw the daylight, showing no joy on their faces, as daylight meant the start of new battles.
With the war between the two regions, their dynasty also sent martial artists, representing the dynasty, needing to hold out on the battlefield for three months.
This was an order from Canglan Sect that no dynasty dared to defy.
"Big brother, the disciples of Canglan Sect and Eight Desolates Sect rarely go into battle, leaving it to us, even though this is between the two sects, and it’s us who die."
"Second brother, be careful what you say!"
The middle-aged man immediately interrupted his second brother, scanning the surroundings to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then whispered, "This is how the Flame Dynasty operates. If Canglan Sect and Eight Desolates Sect’s disciples are on the battlefield, it means the two sects have escalated to intense conflict."
The two domains do not lack martial artists below the Innate Realm, and Canglan Sect and Eight Desolates Sect would not send their disciples below the Innate Realm to the battlefield but only Innate Realm disciples.
Clearly, it’s not yet time.
"Although there are risks, the rewards are also great. Canglan Sect has established fair rules, where killing a martial artist from Eight Desolate Domain grants rewards for martial artists."
The middle-aged man looked at his brothers: "The merits we earn on the battlefield are sufficient to exchange for several years’ worth of cultivation resources. Even if we die in battle, Ping’Er and the others can use these merits to acquire martial arts resources for training."
"Not just us, those princes and officials’ descendants from the dynasty are also on the battlefield?"
War carries both risks and opportunities.
According to the rules set by Canglan Sect, as long as someone from a family is on the battlefield, old enemies cannot seek revenge at that time. Killing a martial artist from Eight Desolate Domain yields merits, and these merits can be exchanged for martial arts resources that even the dynasty’s princes find tempting.
"Remember, there is no absolute fairness in this world. Since we’ve come to the battlefield, we must take a gamble. This will be an opportunity for the Chen Family. If we win... the Chen Family could prosper for hundreds of years without worry, and if we lose... well, we’ve left resources for Ping’Er and the others."
Upon hearing his older brother’s words, the other brothers from the Chen Family nodded in agreement, even the man who had previously complained explained, "Big brother, I understand the reasoning, but perhaps due to the continuous battles over several days, my mind has become a bit muddled."
"Hmm, don’t speak recklessly, prepare to set out."
...
On the battlefield, martial artists from both sides lined up in two rows, staring at each other from several thousand zhang apart.
"Strange, why hasn’t the Eight Desolate Domain initiated their attack yet?"
"Who knows, it’s better if they don’t attack, we’ll earn merits for a day without doing anything."
Many martial artists muttered quietly, and Chen Sheng frowned, instructing his brothers to go and gather some information.
"Big brother, I’ve found out that it’s said Sima Kong from the Eight Desolates Sect has challenged Lin Chen from the Canglan Sect at Martial Arts Mountain, and this battle is fair. Both sides are waiting to commence battles after witnessing this match."
"Sima Kong, Lin Chen?"
Chen Sheng frowned; these names were too unfamiliar to him.
He knew a bit about Martial Arts Mountain, but only geniuses are qualified to compete on Martial Arts Mountain, which was too distant for him, so he hadn’t paid much attention.
"Lin Chen is a direct disciple of Canglan Sect and not long ago defeated the first-ranked Sima Kong on Martial Arts Mountain. Later, Sima Kong joined the Eight Desolates Sect, and this time he wants to avenge his defeat by defeating Lin Chen to boost the morale of the martial artists in the Eight Desolate Domain."
Upon hearing his third brother’s words, Chen Sheng finally understood what kind of figures they were, two high and mighty celestial prides.
"Then let’s watch and wait, if Lin Chen from Canglan Sect loses, don’t be too greedy for merits this time, follow the other martial artists."
"Big brother, we understand."
...
Chixia Pass.
A few elders from Canglan Sect at this moment are also fixated on the glowing curtain revealed by a disciple’s Martial Arts Seal.
Months later, Sima Kong has challenged Lin Chen.
What surprised them was that Sima Kong had actually joined the Eight Desolates Sect.
"I have confidence in Lin Chen; he could defeat Sima Kong back then, he can do so again this time."
"If the Eight Desolates Sect believes Sima Kong alone has no chance of winning, they wouldn’t publicly allow him to challenge Lin Chen, we shouldn’t be careless."
The elders have their own judgments, but they all agree that this battle will be a tough fight for Lin Chen.
Such is the case at Chixia Pass, and similarly at the border of the Eight Desolate Domain.
Soon, disciples from the Canglan Sect, Eight Desolates Sect, and other sects at Martial Arts Mountain received notifications from Martial Arts Mountain, spreading the news immediately.
This time, even many elders from super sects began to pay attention to this battle.
The duel between Sima Kong and Lin Chen is not just a matter of determining who is the strongest under twenty years old in the Flame Dynasty, but also another rivalry outside the battlefield between Canglan Sect and Eight Desolates Sect.
The two sects have been at war for some time, and all major forces in the Flame Dynasty are keeping an eye on the battlefield situation.
This battle could very likely affect the course of the battlefield.
...
...
Thousand Mechanism Sect.
"Senior Brother Zeng, who do you think will win this battle?"
"Lin Chen."
Faced with inquiries from his junior brothers, Zeng Xi answered without hesitation.
"Sima Kong dares to challenge, and under current circumstances, the Eight Desolates Sect agrees to Sima Kong publicizing the match, they must have absolute confidence in Sima Kong, I personally think Sima Kong will win."
Zeng Xi smiled and did not argue, Lin Chen is already in the Innate Second Realm, what can Sima Kong compare with?
...
A few moments later, two figures appeared on the curtain.
And upon seeing the information displayed on the curtain about these two individuals, all martial artists watching the battle exclaimed aloud.
[Name: Sima Kong]
[Sect: Eight Desolates Sect]
[Realm: Innate Second Realm]
...
[Name: Lin Chen]
[Sect: Canglan Sect]
[Realm: Innate Second Realm]
"Whoa, these two have actually both advanced to the Innate Second Realm!"