Ling Tian Sword God

「Thunder Country.」

Three hundred miles from the Myriad Dao Sect, in a desolate wilderness.

Dozens of figures in varied attire gathered in the desolate hills; they were clearly Yin Tianxiao, the Young Master of Myriad Dao, and their companions who had escaped from the secret passage. After escaping from the secret passage, they hadn’t left immediately; instead, they were waiting for someone.

”Everyone, we’ve been waiting for nearly the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. We can’t wait any longer! Otherwise, if Shentu Yan discovers our whereabouts, all our efforts will be in vain!” Yin Tianxiao, growing increasingly anxious, finally couldn’t bear it any longer. For him, waiting here for Ling Chen and his two companions was sheer torment.

”If Family Head Yin wishes to leave, feel free to do so on your own,” the Young Master of Myriad Dao glanced at him with contempt. If not for Ling Chen’s intervention, all of them would likely have perished in that secret passage. To think this fellow could be so ungrateful! It truly disgusted him.

”Master Nephew Xuan, you disciples of the Myriad Dao Sect are vital to the sect’s lineage. I’m merely concerned you might meet with some mishap,” Yin Tianxiao said shamelessly. ”Besides, Ling Chen wanted to show off his strength, insisting on confronting those Black Stone Beasts. No one asked him to intervene. Since he hasn’t emerged by now, he’s almost certainly dead. We have no need to waste time on a dead man.”

”Next, our various factions should thoroughly discuss our strategy for dealing with Shentu Yan—whether to resist, or to find a way to surrender with some dignity...”

”Enough!” This time, it wasn’t the Young Master of Myriad Dao who rebuked Yin Tianxiao, but the Family Head of the Dragon Hidden Clan. Although the Four Great Hidden Clans were jointly renowned, the relationships between them were not monolithic; in truth, there was little interaction between the individual Hidden Clans.

”Sect Leader Ling Chen is risking his life for us, after all. Family Head Yin, why must you make such cynical remarks here? I, Long Zaitian, declare this: if Ling Chen makes it out alive, my Dragon Hidden Clan will henceforth follow his directives, honor him as Alliance Leader, obey his commands, and jointly resist Shentu Yan!” Long Zaitian vowed solemnly.

”The Night King Clan will do the same,” the Family Head of the Night King Clan affirmed with a nod.

”My Ye Family as well,” the Ye Family Great Elder also stated his position.

The three great families had successively declared their stance.

Seeing this, Yin Tianxiao’s face turned shades of pale and red. Three of the Four Great Hidden Clans had declared their support for Ling Chen. What more could he say?

”Acknowledging that Ling Chen as Alliance Leader... well, it’s not entirely out of the question,” Yin Tianxiao conceded. ”If he manages to come out alive, I can have the entire Yin Family obey that brat’s commands. However, Ling Chen is more likely doomed than not; his chances of emerging alive are probably slim.”

Yin Tianxiao sneered inwardly. Empty promises and putting on a show—anyone can do that. As long as Ling Chen doesn’t walk out of there alive, everything they’re saying now is just hot air.

SWISH! SWISH!

Just then, from the entrance of the secret passage, two sharp sounds of rushing air suddenly echoed. Two figures darted out one after the other from the passage, appearing in everyone’s sight.

”Vice Sect Leader Liu Feiyue! Hall Master Duan!” the crowd exclaimed.

Yin Tianxiao was startled at first. However, after scanning the two and not seeing Ling Chen, he breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Ling Chen hasn’t come out, everything is manageable.

”Where is Sect Leader Ling Chen? He didn’t come out with you? Could it be that he has met with disaster?” Long Zaitian and the others looked grim.

”Haha, thank you all for your concern. I, Ling Chen, am not destined to die so young!”

Just as everyone thought Ling Chen had met with disaster, his voice suddenly rang out. The next moment, the figure of a young Swordsman, as if descending from the heavens, landed right in the center of their view.

”What? That brat actually didn’t die?”

Seeing Ling Chen walk out of the secret passage alive, Yin Tianxiao’s expression abruptly turned grim.

So many Black Stone Beasts, and they still couldn’t stop Ling Chen.

”Sect Leader Ling Chen, it’s wonderful that you’re alright!” Long Zaitian and the others were all beaming with joy.

”Thanks to everyone’s good fortune, I managed to escape,” Ling Chen replied with a smile. He could see a significant change in their attitude towards him. It seemed his earlier risky maneuver—attacking the horde of Black Stone Beasts to cover their retreat—had yielded considerable results.

”Sect Leader Ling Chen, what are your plans now?” Long Zaitian gestured towards the Family Head of the Night King Clan and the Ye Family Great Elder, then said with a serious expression, ”We, the Four Great Hidden Clans, have reached a consensus. We are willing to follow your commands and honor you as our Alliance Leader.”

”Oh? Family Head Yin agreed as well?” Ling Chen raised an eyebrow, then looked at Yin Tianxiao with an amused smile.

It would be a blessing if this man simply stopped causing trouble; the idea that he would actually obey his commands was rather hard to believe.

Yin Tianxiao’s expression was somewhat sullen. Of course, he wanted to go back on his word. But facing the rather sharp gazes of Long Zaitian and the other two, he could only swallow the words he wanted to say. He had just publicly declared, in front of everyone, that if Ling Chen came out alive, he would have the entire Yin Family submit to him. If he were to renege now, not only would his personal reputation be ruined, but the entire Yin Family would likely face the scorn of the Martial World.

”The Four Great Hidden Clans stand united. Since the three great families have agreed, my Yin Family naturally has no objection.”

Yin Tianxiao finally relented. Even if he wanted to cause trouble, he wouldn’t do it now. An opportunity would arise sooner or later; there was no need to rush.

”Very well then.” Ling Chen didn’t intend to press the issue with him. Yin Tianxiao was merely a petty man; getting entangled with such a person would only cause himself unnecessary trouble.

Feng Chibai, the Young Master of Myriad Dao, and the others naturally had no objections either. They had all suffered the annihilation of their sects or families by Shentu Yan and knew that forming an alliance was their only way out. Furthermore, the position of Alliance Leader had to be Ling Chen’s.

”Since you all trust me enough to appoint me as Alliance Leader to resist Shentu Yan, then I, in my capacity as Alliance Leader, will issue my first command to everyone.” Ling Chen’s gaze swept across the crowd as he spoke calmly.

Everyone’s heart tensed, and their expressions turned solemn, eager to hear what Ling Chen’s first command would be.

”Return to your respective families at once. Gather all your family’s Experts and elite members, relocate from your ancestral lands, and then assemble everyone at Green Cloud Mountain.”

A sharp glint flashed in Ling Chen’s eyes. His intention, naturally, was to rely on Green Cloud Mountain’s Bagua Mysterious Extreme Sword Array to defend against Shentu Yan’s surprise attacks. Furthermore, by concentrating all the major powers at Green Cloud Mountain, Shentu Yan would lose any opportunity to defeat them one by one.

”Relocate from our ancestral lands?” Long Zaitian and the others frowned. Their Four Great Hidden Clans were all major powers with legacies stretching back hundreds of years. Their ancestral lands were crucial to their families, the very lifeline of their fortune and destiny; how could they be abandoned so easily?

However, when they recalled the fates of Sky Void Palace, Chiyu Mountain Manor, and the Myriad Dao Sect—all first-rate major sects of the Martial World—they gritted their teeth and finally nodded in agreement.

If their entire families were to be annihilated by Shentu Yan, what use would ancestral lands be then?

”Then it’s settled.” Ling Chen’s gaze sharpened slightly. ”I will give you seven days. You must bring your respective family members to Green Cloud Mountain within this timeframe. Otherwise, don’t bother coming at all.”

After speaking, Ling Chen deliberately glanced at Yin Tianxiao. Seven days. This was the ultimatum for the Four Great Clans. As for those who wouldn’t obey commands or be controlled, it was better not to have them. Such people joining his Alliance would only be a malignant tumor.