Ling Tian Sword God

After assigning the various affairs of the Cyan Robe Association, Ling Chen embarked on his journey to the Myriad Dao Sect.

This trip to the Myriad Dao Sect was of great significance, so Ling Chen did not delay. On the second day after the discussions concluded, he and Duan Qingxu set off.

The Myriad Dao Sect was located in Thunder Country. It took Ling Chen two days to reach its grounds.

The entire Myriad Dao Sect was nestled within a mountain valley, surrounded on all four sides by towering mountains. This terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack, was the foundation of the sect’s ability to stand unyielding for hundreds of years.

Two hundred years ago, the Myriad Dao Sect offended a sect stronger than itself. The opposing sect launched a full-scale attack with several times the Myriad Dao Sect’s numbers. However, they were stopped at the gate by the Myriad Dao Sect and could not advance half an inch. Ultimately, after holding out for three full months, the Myriad Dao Sect counterattacked. They turned defeat into victory, vanquished their enemy, and eventually absorbed the opposing sect, thereby rising to become one of the top sects in the Martial World.

To this day, the Myriad Dao Sect remains confident in the formidable defense of their mountain gate, believing no one could breach it.

”I heard that after their last failure, the Myriad Dao Sect blamed it on their decision to attack. They believe that if they had simply defended their mountain gate, Shentu Yan wouldn’t have succeeded,” Duan Qingxu commented casually from behind Ling Chen.

”If they truly hold such a foolish belief, then they are in danger.”

Upon hearing this, Ling Chen couldn’t help but frown. However, he couldn’t entirely blame the people of the Myriad Dao Sect. They had not witnessed Shentu Yan’s strength with their own eyes. If they had seen the destruction of the Sky Void Palace, they certainly wouldn’t utter such naive words.

No matter how strategic the terrain or how solid the mountain gate, such factors meant nothing in the face of absolute strength.

It could be said that their past successes were not merely due to luck. However, Shentu Yan was not an opponent who could be defeated by luck or good fortune.

”That’s precisely the problem. They believe that while their offense may be lacking, their defense is more than sufficient. They think Shentu Yan won’t have an easy time trying to destroy the Myriad Dao Sect,” Duan Qingxu explained.

”I hope this trip to the Myriad Dao Sect will sober them up a bit.”

Ling Chen had a premonition that even with his personal involvement, the situation would likely not go smoothly.

Qingfeng Jue landed before the Myriad Dao Sect’s mountain. Before departing, Ling Chen had already sent a message to Liu Feiyue, asking her to inform the Myriad Dao Sect of his impending arrival.

Upon their arrival on the plaza of the Myriad Dao Sect, many of the sect’s disciples were pointing at Ling Chen and his companions, discussing them animatedly.

”That’s Ling Chen, the one who has been making quite a name for himself in the Jianghu recently.”

”He’s probably here about the alliance again. I heard he wants to unite all the martial arts forces into a grand alliance, with himself as the Alliance Leader, to jointly deal with Shentu Yan and the Divine Intent Sect.”

”Humph, I suspect this alliance isn’t so simple. This man is likely using the pretext of dealing with that old scoundrel Shentu Yan to hide his own ambitions. He probably wants to seize this opportunity to command the various powers and dominate the Martial World.”

”Now that you mention it, that does seem possible. After all, Ling Chen plays multiple roles and navigates between the Righteous Path and the demonic path. It’s hard to say whether he’s good or bad.”

Although Ling Chen had fought against several genius disciples from the Myriad Dao Sect at the Martial Arts Conference, most of the disciples had never met him and didn’t truly know what kind of person he was.

”These youngsters are truly judging a gentleman by their own petty standards,” Duan Qingxu remarked, shaking his head upon hearing their comments. ”If Ling Chen truly harbored ambitions to dominate the Martial World, he wouldn’t need to bother with forming an alliance. He could simply follow Shentu Yan’s example: employ schemes, annihilate the remaining Righteous Path sects, absorb their cultivation, and ruling the Martial World would be effortless for him.”

”Let’s go.”

Ling Chen paid no mind to the disciples’ opinions. The decision to form an alliance or not rested with the leaders of the Myriad Dao Sect and the Four Great Hidden Clans.

Should the alliance succeed, the prevailing narrative would undoubtedly shift. Some things are just like that; the outcome determines everything.

Shortly after, Ling Chen and Duan Qingxu arrived at the Myriad Dao Sect’s Conference Hall.

”Ling Chen, Sect Leader of the Cyan Robe Association, is here. Please, take a seat.”

The speaker was the Myriad Dao Sect Master, Lu Youzhen. Upon seeing Ling Chen, Lu Youzhen couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion. He recalled how he once held high hopes for Ling Chen, believing this young man would one day achieve greatness. Indeed, Ling Chen had grown at an astonishing pace to become a prominent figure in the Martial World.

Ling Chen scanned the people in the hall. Apart from the upper echelons of the Myriad Dao Sect, three Clan Leaders from the Four Great Hidden Clans were also present: those of the Dragon Hidden Clan, the Yin Family, and the Night King Clan. The Ye Family had sent their Great Elder.

In short, everyone present was a key decision-maker from their respective major power.

Ling Chen sat down next to Liu Feiyue. Across from him sat the Yin Family Patriarch, whose expression soured upon seeing Ling Chen. His son, Yin Zongli, had once had an arm crippled by Ling Chen. The patriarch had previously intended to seek revenge but had desisted due to his apprehension of the Cyan Robe Association’s power, so his mood was understandably foul.

However, Ling Chen paid no mind to the Yin Family Patriarch. He exchanged a glance with Liu Feiyue, who subtly shook her head. Seeing this, Ling Chen knew that matters were likely to be troublesome.

”Now that Sect Leader Ling Chen is here, we can finalize the matter as long as he agrees.”

The speaker was an elder of the Myriad Dao Sect with graying white hair and an exceedingly powerful aura; he had actually reached the Sixth Layer of Sky Apex. This must be Xing Tian, the Myriad Dao Sect’s remaining Great Elder.

”Yes, Sect Leader Ling Chen, after half a month of discussions, we have finally chosen a candidate for Alliance Leader,” the Yin Family Patriarch said with a faint smirk.

”Oh? And who might that be?” Ling Chen asked, though he already knew it certainly wouldn’t be him.

”I presume Sect Leader Ling Chen is aware that establishing this alliance is a matter of great importance. The position of Alliance Leader must be held by someone of high prestige and moral standing, someone who can win the conviction of everyone in the Martial World.”

The head of the Night King Clan then spoke, gesturing towards Xing Tian, ”Our chosen candidate for Alliance Leader is none other than Xing Tian, the Great Elder of the Myriad Dao Sect.”

”I am grateful for the esteem shown by my fellow martial artists,” Xing Tian said, rising from his seat and cupping his fists to the assembly. ”Although the position of Alliance Leader carries immense responsibility, one I fear I am ill-suited to bear, with a great enemy before us, even if I must make the ultimate sacrifice, I will exert every effort to rid the Martial World of the villain Shentu Yan.”

”We, of course, trust Elder Xing Tian.”

The Clan Leaders of the Four Great Hidden Clans all cupped their fists, then looked towards Ling Chen. ”Sect Leader Ling Chen, all other powers have agreed to have Elder Xing Tian as the Alliance Leader. Only your faction has yet to concur.”

Hearing this, Ling Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. The implication of their words was clear: everyone else had already agreed, and only his group remained. They were telling him to ’figure it out’—even if he disagreed, it wouldn’t change the overall outcome, so he shouldn’t do anything to displease everyone or undermine unity.