Urban Martial Saint

This pond is still the same as when Ye Qing and Fat Wang entered. Behind a large rock, the group emerged one after another from the mud, finally exiting this underground passage.

Emerging their heads from the water, everyone indeed felt a sense of seeing daylight again. The Knife Saint Sect people were even more excited; honestly, in that kind of situation just now, being able to come out alive is something they never even dreamed of.

In the Knife Saint Sect, only a few sect leaders knew there was such a passage behind the sect; others were unaware of this. Seeing this spacious pond, everyone was quite surprised in their hearts. Although they had been here many times before, none of them knew that there was such a passage below the pond that could directly connect to the inside of the Knife Saint Sect.

Ye Qing and his group had been inside the Knife Saint Sect for quite a while, almost a whole day, and now it was already the second night. The surrounding area was somewhat dark, but that was just fine, as they could take advantage of the night to leave.

The Wanyan Family is at the front gate of the Knife Saint Sect, and this back passage has been blocked by Ye Qing with the Immovable Bodhisattva Seal. The Wanyan Family people definitely cannot come out from the back door, as they absolutely cannot move that Immovable Bodhisattva Seal. And the distance between the front gate of the Knife Saint Sect and this back door is extremely far. Most importantly, due to the underground passage’s reason, this back door and the direction of the passage they left from earlier are vastly different. Therefore, it won’t be easy for the Wanyan Family to find their way here.

In fact, the area inside that gorge of the Knife Saint Sect is also quite broad. Even if the Wanyan Family people withdrew from the gorge then and directly searched within the area of this back pond, it would likely be at least a day later. This one day is enough time for everyone to leave here.

After escaping from the jaws of death, the relationship between the Knife Saint Sect people and Ye Qing’s group became much more harmonious. With the help of Ye Qing’s group, the injured of the Knife Saint Sect were also carried to the shore. Everyone sat down, finally catching their breath. The injured also gradually regained some strength at this moment, and after reaching the shore, most could walk on their own, boosting the morale of the Knife Saint Sect people tremendously.

If they can survive this ordeal, after recuperating for a while and regaining their strength, they won’t need to fear the Wanyan Family anymore. As long as they avoid the Wanyan Family’s swarm of long-toothed rats, in terms of number and strength alone, they have a chance to confront the Wanyan Family.

After resting for a bit, several sect leaders of the Knife Saint Sect walked directly to Ye Qing, led by the former sect leader, and they all knelt down, exclaiming, ”Sect Leader!”

Ye Qing was speechless for a moment; they had just come out when the few people from the Knife Saint Sect immediately ran over, clamoring for him to become the sect leader again. This matter, he really did not want to do. After all, he just picked up the Dragon-breaking Knife left by the Knife Saint; he didn’t think he had the capability to become the sect leader of the Knife Saint Sect.

”Everyone, please get up quickly!” Ye Qing hurriedly helped these sect leaders up and explained again, ”Everyone, Mr. Ye really isn’t suitable to be the sect leader of the Knife Saint Sect. I think it’s better not to bring up this matter again. If Knife Saint Sect needs Mr. Ye in the future, I will certainly assist with all my might. However, as for being the sect leader of the Knife Saint Sect, I’m afraid Mr. Ye really cannot do it!”

”Mr. Ye, you picked up the Dragon-breaking Knife, so you are the new sect leader of the Knife Saint Sect!” The sect leader of the Knife Saint Sect said bluntly, ”There’s no such thing as suitable or not. If it weren’t for you, Mr. Ye, the Knife Saint Sect’s centuries of foundation would likely have been destroyed. It was you, Mr. Ye, who saved the Knife Saint Sect, and you absolutely have the qualification to be our sect leader!”

”This won’t do!” Ye Qing quickly waved his hand and shook his head, continuously declining the offer. However, the few sect leaders of the Knife Saint Sect seemed resolute in having Ye Qing become this sect leader, and for a moment, there was some disagreement on this matter.

Helian Tiehua observed for a while, saw the persistent dispute between the two sides, slightly inhaled and walked over, saying, ”Alliance Leader Ye, respected sect leaders, could you allow me to say a few words?”

”Please speak, General Helian.” Ye Qing promptly said, hoping Helian Tiehua could support him with some words.

The few sect leaders of the Knife Saint Sect glanced at Helian Tiehua and glanced at each other without saying anything. In fact, comparing directly, even though Helian Tiehua is the Left Envoy of one of the Seven Steering Committees of the Hong Alliance and one of the Five Unmatches of the World, he is actually not worth much in comparison to the few sect leaders of the Knife Saint Sect. After all, these sect leaders are much older than Helian Tiehua, and their strength far surpasses Helian Tiehua; they could be considered his seniors. Originally, Helian Tiehua had no place to speak here. But because of Ye Qing, these sect leaders decided to give Helian Tiehua some face.

Helian Tiehua naturally knew his low standing here, so he dared not be presumptuous. Taking a deep breath, he said, ”Actually, I think several sect leaders may have misunderstood what the predecessor Knife Saint said!”

Hearing this, the few sect leaders of the Knife Saint Sect all frowned. The Fourth Sect Master looked at Helian Tiehua and said in a deep voice, ”We misunderstood the ancestor’s meaning? How is that possible?”

”Please listen to my explanation,” Helian Tiehua said. ”At that time, the predecessor Knife Saint said he safeguarded our lives so Alliance Leader Ye could protect the Knife Saint Sect. And to protect the Knife Saint Sect, what does it mean? Sect leaders, think carefully. You are actually the chosen successors of the predecessor Knife Saint; the Knife Saint Sect in your hands is still the Knife Saint Sect of the predecessor Knife Saint. But if you change the sect leader, then is this Knife Saint Sect still the Knife Saint Sect of the predecessor Knife Saint?”

Everyone looked at each other in dismay, feeling that Helian Tiehua’s words were somewhat about semantics, even bordering on nonsense. The Second Sect Leader’s face turned cold, intending to argue back, but Helian Tiehua quickly added, ”I know all of you think I’m being a bit unreasonable, but please hear me out. At that time, the predecessor Knife Saint also said that whoever picks up the Dragon-breaking Knife will then have all the authority to govern the Knife Saint Sect. I think this is the main reason why you want Alliance Leader Ye to be the sect leader of the Knife Saint Sect, right?”

Everyone nodded in agreement with this. However, what exactly did Helian Tiehua mean? At first, he said Ye Qing should not be the sect leader, but now he’s suggesting he should be. His speech seems contradictory, so what does he really mean?

The Second Sect Leader looked at Helian Tiehua and asked, ”What are you trying to say?”

Helian Tiehua replied, ”What I’m saying is that the predecessor Knife Saint merely said to let Alliance Leader Ye control all the authority of the Knife Saint Sect, but didn’t specify that he should be the sect leader of the Knife Saint Sect!”

The Knife Saint Sect members exchanged glances, with the sect leader furrowing his brows first, saying solemnly, ”All authority of the Knife Saint Sect is in the hands of the sect leader. If he doesn’t become our sect leader, how can he control all the authority of our Knife Saint Sect?”

”It doesn’t necessarily have to be that way,” Helian Tiehua said with a light smile. ”In fact, the predecessor Knife Saint’s intention is simple. By picking up the Dragon-breaking Knife, Alliance Leader Ye can wield the power of the Knife Saint Sect. And what does this power mean? It means that the people of the Knife Saint Sect will listen to Mr. Ye’s directives. However, the predecessor Knife Saint also wanted to preserve the Knife Saint Sect, which means the position of sect leader shouldn’t be easily passed to others.”

Hearing this made Ye Qing a bit puzzled as well; he didn’t know whose side Helian Tiehua was supporting. Why was it so roundabout and unresolved?

Seeing the varied expressions on people’s faces, Helian Tiehua smiled again and said, ”In fact, these two matters aren’t conflicting. To preserve the Knife Saint Sect and still allow Alliance Leader Ye to control the powers of the Knife Saint Sect, there is actually a simpler way!”

”What way?” Everyone looked at Helian Tiehua, naturally choosing a balanced path if available.

In fact, the people of the Knife Saint Sect aren’t particularly eager to relinquish the sect leader position to someone else. Even if Ye Qing has picked up the Dragon-breaking Knife, he’s not really one of the Knife Saint Sect, and the members might not accept him. On the other hand, Ye Qing isn’t keen on being the sect leader either, aware of his current situation, knowing how challenging it would be to control the Knife Saint Sect. Instead, truly becoming the sect leader might stir dissatisfaction among the Knife Saint Sect members, which is not something Ye Qing intends to face.

Now, with Helian Tiehua’s sudden proposal of a solution, both sides naturally want to know what the method is.

Helian Tiehua took a deep breath and said, ”To solve this conflict, in fact, it isn’t difficult. Simply allow the Knife Saint Sect to join the World Alliance and become a member of it in the future, doesn’t that solve it?”

”Ah?” Both the Knife Saint Sect members and Ye Qing gasped in surprise; none of them expected this solution from Helian Tiehua. To be honest, they hadn’t thought along these lines before. After all, the World Alliance no longer essentially existed, and no one considered the affairs of the World Alliance now.

However, on closer inspection, Helian Tiehua’s proposal is quite a clever solution. By allowing the Knife Saint Sect to join the World Alliance, the sect would then fall under the jurisdiction of the World Alliance, essentially under Ye Qing’s control, which means transferring all the Knife Saint Sect’s authority to Ye Qing. On the other side, by joining the World Alliance, the Knife Saint Sect remains itself, merely a member of the alliance. In this way, the sect leaders of the Knife Saint Sect remain its leaders, and the sect remains unchanged. This approach indeed meets the Knife Saint’s requirements, preserving the Knife Saint Sect while having its members follow Ye Qing’s instructions; it’s truly an excellent idea!

Ye Qing and the few sect leaders of the Knife Saint Sect exchanged glances, and their eyes disclosed their satisfaction with Helian Tiehua’s solution.

”I agree with General Helian’s method!” Ye Qing was the first to speak, realizing that even though little remains of the World Alliance, the Knife Saint Sect’s joining will undoubtedly reinforce it considerably.