The Entry-plundering Demon Hunter

Chapter 381: Chapter 343: Martial Arts Exchange, The Face of the Huawu Alliance

Inside the video conference room.

Tang Baichuan and Old Qiao sat in the center.

Across from them was a massive display screen.

The screen was connected and split into five separate video feeds.

They showed the principals and leaders of Dragon Tiger University, Lanshan University, Martial Alliance University, Divine Fist University, and Tieshan University, all seated before their cameras.

The principal representing Martial Alliance University was a middle-aged man in his early forties.

He was sharply dressed in a suit and had rather distinguished features.

With his refined and gentle demeanor, he was the type to be extremely popular with women.

His name was Yanyang, an old acquaintance of Tang Baichuan.

Tang Baichuan knew him very well.

Yanyang might look harmless, but he was actually vicious and ruthless.

He was a former military officer who had retired from the battlefield.

Martial Alliance University was managed entirely like a military institution.

Every student’s daily schedule was strictly regulated and arranged.

They had almost no free time.

Besides him, the other principals were also old acquaintances of Tang Baichuan.

"Principal Tang, what’s so important that you called us all for a video conference?" a woman with a serious expression asked.

She was the principal of Lanshan University, Han Lili.

A powerhouse among women, she was a renowned figure in the medical world.

As she spoke first, the other principals all nodded in agreement.

Tang Baichuan smiled. "My fellow principals, we’re all sharp people. Let’s not play dumb."

"I’m sure you’ve all received news that the other Outer Alliances are coming here for a Martial Arts exchange, haven’t you?"

As soon as he said this, the other principals fell silent.

Evidently, it was just as Tang Baichuan had said.

If he had received the news, then so had the other universities.

In fact, when Tang Baichuan invited them to the video conference, they had already guessed what it was about.

But they were all seasoned veterans; no one wanted to be the first to address it.

So it was left to Tang Baichuan to bring it up himself.

After a long moment, they all nodded.

The first to speak was the principal of Tieshan University, a burly, powerfully built man.

"Principal Tang, we’ve also received notice about the Outer Alliances coming for the Martial Arts exchange!"

"But this doesn’t have anything to do with us at Tieshan University, does it?"

"Besides, the higher-ups decided to have Xingwu University, Lanshan University, Martial Alliance, and Dragon Tiger participate. Why call Tieshan and Divine Fist into this?"

As he finished, the principal of Divine Fist University also nodded in agreement.

Tang Baichuan said with a smile, "I have my reasons for inviting Tieshan and Divine Fist Universities!"

"Of course, that’s the main purpose of our meeting today!"

"I wonder, my fellow principals, what are your thoughts on the recent men in black incident that’s caused such an uproar?"

"How much do you know about who’s behind them?"

At these words, all their expressions turned grim.

The recent events involving the men in black had caused considerable losses for all their universities.

This was especially true for Lanshan University, which was not a combat-oriented school to begin with.

When those men in black launched their attack on Lanshan University,

many students met a tragic end. If the local Demon Hunting Institute, Left Guard, and Public Security Bureau hadn’t fought their way through to the campus to exterminate the attackers,

Lanshan University would have been lucky to have even half its students left.

Hearing the men in black mentioned, Han Lili’s expression changed abruptly.

"Principal Tang, you don’t mean to say that those men in black are connected to the outsiders from the Outer Alliances, do you?"

Hearing this, Tang Baichuan smiled. "Principal Han is sharp. You’ve hit the nail on the head!"

"Our investigation has revealed that those men in black are indeed connected to the Outer Alliances!"

"Furthermore, we’ve uncovered a clue: behind the men in black is an organization called the Blood Handprint, secretly supporting them!"

"How much do you all know about the Blood Handprint?"

As soon as he said this, the expressions of the principals changed dramatically.

Even Zhao Gang, the Second Senior Brother representing Dragon Tiger University, looked grave.

"The Blood Handprint? Weren’t they completely wiped out over a decade ago?"

"And wasn’t it the Eagle Alliance that led the charge, joining forces with several other alliances to destroy them?"

After the Second Senior Brother finished speaking, Tang Baichuan nodded with a smile.

"Correct. The Blood Handprint was indeed destroyed over a decade ago."

"Logically, that should all be old news, not worth mentioning."

"But what if I told you that the Blood Handprint is the one fanning the flames behind this men in black incident?"

"Don’t forget, everyone, the members of the Blood Handprint back then were a depraved and vicious bunch!"

"They even defied common sense by secretly raising demonic beasts for their own use!"

"They used these demonic beasts to wreak havoc, causing massive casualties and orchestrating one terrorist attack after another!"

"Later, their ambitions swelled, and they tried to destroy the Outer Alliances and take their place!"

"That was what led to the joint suppression by several other Outer Alliances!"

"More than a decade has passed. Most people have probably forgotten about this, haven’t they?"

"Now, they have quietly re-emerged!"

"And they’ve set their sights directly on us... So, I don’t need to spell it out. I’m sure you all understand the implications, right?"

After Tang Baichuan finished speaking,

the other principals’ expressions had all changed.

They lowered their heads, feigning deep contemplation, and remained silent.

Tang Baichuan wasn’t in a hurry. He waited quietly for them to digest the news.

After all, this was no small matter for them.

The resurgence of the Blood Handprint felt like it was tied to a massive conspiracy.

They needed to carefully sort through the implications.

To think through the connections.

Meanwhile, Tang Baichuan sat there with a faint smile, waiting for them to figure it out.

During this time, Old Qiao went to brew a pot of tea and brought it over.

Tang Baichuan sat at the conference table, sipping his tea quietly and observing their changing expressions.

After a long while, Yanyang from the Martial Alliance looked at the camera.

"Principal Tang, are you suggesting that the appearance of the men in black this time was actually orchestrated by the Blood Handprint, and behind the Blood Handprint are the Outer Alliances?"

"The destruction of the Blood Handprint over a decade ago was filled with suspicious circumstances!"

"And whether they were truly destroyed or not was only a claim made by the Eagle Alliance. There was no real proof of their annihilation. Which means... the Blood Handprint has existed all these years!"

"They simply submitted to the Eagle Alliance, or perhaps reached some kind of cooperative agreement with them?"

After Yanyang finished speaking,

Tang Baichuan smiled and clapped. "Brother Yan, your imagination is certainly rich!"

"However, those are your words, not mine. I didn’t say a single thing!"

Yanyang was speechless.

"But let’s get back to the point. Do you really think this recent men in black attack was a sudden event?

It wasn’t. They have infiltrated various departments and universities with sleeper agents!"

"This is definitely not something that could be accomplished overnight."

"In other words, they began laying the groundwork years, or even more than a decade, ago!"

"They’ve only just started to activate their plan now. As for why, I don’t know."

"A short while ago, those men in black launched attacks on various schools, as well as the local Demon Hunting Institutes and Public Security Bureaus."

"It was a probe on their part, but also an act of desperation."

"And now, they’ve chosen this moment to initiate some kind of Martial Arts exchange.

I don’t know what their motive is,

but one thing is certain: they are definitely not coming with good intentions!"

"So, the reason I’ve gathered you all here is this: the Martial Arts Alliance wants our four universities to each send ten students to participate in the exchange."

"However, five Outer Alliances are coming. If each alliance brings ten students, that’s fifty people. We’re already at a numerical disadvantage!"

"What’s more, Lanshan University doesn’t specialize in combat. Forcing them to participate is clearly unfair!"

"So my idea is to have Tieshan and Divine Fist Universities take Lanshan University’s place!"

"With five of our universities participating in this Martial Arts exchange, we can at least achieve fairness in numbers!"

"Furthermore, of Tieshan and Divine Fist Universities, one specializes in weaponry and the other in fist techniques!"

"Their combat systems are widely recognized. I’m sure you all saw how formidable the two universities were during the men in black incident!"

"So, this is the main reason I invited you all to this meeting today."

"Of course, if any of you have different ideas, feel free to speak up."

After he finished speaking, Tang Baichuan picked up his teacup and took a sip.

His gaze then turned to the screen, awaiting the opinions of the other university principals.

After a long pause, they all nodded.

The first to speak was Lei Hu, the principal of Tieshan University.

"Tieshan has no problem. As long as we’re needed, we are ready to fight at any time!"

Chen Song, the principal of Divine Fist University, added, "The same goes for Divine Fist University. Since Principal Tang thinks highly of us, we will naturally step up without hesitation!"

Both universities had stated their positions.

That left Dragon Tiger University and Martial Alliance University.

The Second Senior Brother smiled. "It makes no difference to us. Whoever comes is a comrade-in-arms."

Yanyang also nodded. "Principal Han, what are your thoughts on this?"

"Me? Of course I’m willing. You all know what Lanshan University’s primary focus is. But can we make this decision ourselves?"

"Isn’t this an official order from the Martial Arts Alliance? Can it be changed so easily? Besides, wasn’t this decision made in a meeting by the higher-ups?"

At her words, the others’ expressions froze.

They weren’t the ones in charge of this. Even the Martial Arts Alliance was just following directives from above.

The ones who made the final decision belonged to an even higher circle of leadership.

They had no say in the matter, nor the authority to change it.

Therefore, their expressions all turned grave.

Tang Baichuan, however, just smiled. "And that’s why this is the time for us to show our unity!"

"My idea is... to stand together and pressure Old Yao and the others!"

"Right now, Old Yao and his group are in the Restricted Area Battlefield, but they’re the ones who received the intel on this matter!"

"Just because we can’t get a word in with the higher-ups doesn’t mean they don’t have the influence!"

"If we pressure them, we might be able to get this changed!"

"Moreover, this is a matter of pride for our Huawu Alliance! If we lose face at this Martial Arts exchange, won’t we be utterly disgraced in front of the other alliances in the future?"

"Do you think Old Yao would disagree? Or that the top brass would disagree?"

Tang Baichuan’s speech made all the principals nod in agreement.

This matter was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Therefore, Old Yao should be able to understand the stakes.

"Agreed!"

"We agree too!"

"I support it!"

"Alright, agreed..."

Once all the university principals had voiced their agreement,

Tang Baichuan smiled. "Then let’s strike while the iron is hot and have a showdown with Old Yao!"