Chapter 302: Chapter 155: Alliance (Part 2)

The pride on Ye Qingyi’s face had long since vanished, replaced by immense shock and a hint of panic. She took an unconscious step forward.

’He lost!?’

’Senior Brother Xiao actually lost!?’

For her, this was an undeniable shock, as if her world had come crashing down. She stared in disbelief, unable to accept that the senior brother she considered invincible had actually been defeated.

The indifference on Leng Qianqiu’s face vanished completely.

Her expression remained calm, but a closer look would reveal a cold glint flash through her eyes.

The Cold Jade Valley masters standing behind her felt their hearts pound in their chests, not daring to even breathe.

Her gaze fell upon Chen Qing, who stood in the arena with his spear at rest. Then, her eyes swept over He Yuzhou on the high platform before she sank into contemplation.

In the center of the field, Chen Qing slowly exhaled. The roiling qi, blood, and True Qi within his body gradually settled.

He glanced at his right hand, where the web of his thumb had split open. Expressionless, he tore a strip from the hem of his robe and casually wrapped it as a bandage.

He then turned his gaze to Xiao Bieli, who was struggling to accept reality. His voice was calm and flat.

"Senior Brother Xiao, thank you for the match."

These calm words were like another invisible slap, striking Xiao Bieli and every disciple of Cold Jade Valley across the face.

Xiao Bieli shuddered. He raised his head, his eyes fixing on Chen Qing, filled with a complex and indescribable mix of emotions. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He gritted his teeth, ignoring Chen Qing’s polite gesture. Instead, he abruptly turned and walked, step by step, toward his Long Sword, which was jabbed into the earth.

The masters present exchanged uncertain glances, their eyes eventually settling on Leng Qianqiu on the high platform.

Leng Qianqiu slowly rose to her feet, her gaze locking onto He Yuzhou.

"Sect Leader He, what fine methods. What deep-seated schemes. To think you were hiding such a prodigy in your Sect. You’ve truly... opened my eyes today."

She spoke deliberately, each word laced with a biting chill.

"Sect Leader Leng, you flatter me."

He Yuzhou, now in high spirits, smiled with renewed composure. He cupped his hands and said, "It’s only natural for juniors to have wins and losses when they spar. Nephew Xiao is a peerless talent, cultivating dual True Qi—a breathtaking feat. Given time, he is destined for greatness. Chen Qing’s victory today was a stroke of luck, winning by a hair’s breadth. He mostly relied on his brute resilience and the advantage of their similar Cultivation levels. It’s not something to be taken too seriously."

"I see that Nephew Xiao’s aura is unstable. It would be best for him to return and recuperate, so as not to leave behind any latent injuries."

He deliberately pointed out Xiao Bieli’s "dual True Qi cultivation," his words laden with deeper meaning.

Xiao Bieli had already returned to the Cold Jade Valley contingent, his expression dejected.

Leng Qianqiu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the inner turmoil caused by Xiao Bieli’s defeat. She steered the conversation back to the day’s main agenda.

"It is, as you said, perfectly normal for juniors to have wins and losses when they spar. However, we have gathered here today for a more pressing matter: to discuss the Four Sects Alliance and establish a unified command against the increasingly rampant threat of the Infinite Demon Sect. This concerns the very survival of the Yunlin Martial Arts world. I would like to hear the thoughts of Sect Leader He, Sect Leader Shi, and Manor Master He."

He Yuzhou knew that the last battle had shifted the momentum back in their favor. "Sect Leader Leng is absolutely right," he declared in a resonant voice. "The Demon Sect is a scourge that no single sect can eliminate alone. The Wutai Sect is willing to open its gates and join hands with our allies to resist this demonic threat!"

He made an inviting gesture, motioning for everyone to move to the main platform that had been prepared for the council.

Leng Qianqiu’s expression eased slightly. Only then did she lead the members of Cold Jade Valley to their seats in an orderly fashion. However, the atmosphere was now palpably more tense than when they had first arrived.

Chen Qing retrieved his spear and returned to the Wutai Sect’s contingent.

All eyes followed him as he walked, their gazes filled with shock, admiration, curiosity, and even a hint of awe.

The disciples from the Cyan Wood Institute were especially ecstatic. Unable to contain their excitement, they crowded around him with feverish eyes. They had never imagined that their usually low-key senior brother possessed such earth-shattering power. He had defeated the insufferably arrogant Xiao Bieli in a single bout, saving face for the Wutai Sect!

Yu Bao’Er, in particular, looked as if she shared in his glory.

Elder Sang stepped forward and gave Chen Qing a long, meaningful look. "Well done! Today... we owe you a great deal."

He clapped Chen Qing on the shoulder, the gesture heavy with gratification.

Chen Qing cupped his fist, his expression still calm as he replied, "Elder, you praise me too highly. As a disciple of the Wutai Sect, it is my duty to give my all and not betray the Sect’s investment or the high hopes of our masters. This minor accomplishment was only possible because of the foundation the Sect has provided. I dare not take personal credit."

’Of course, he wasn’t about to mention that he’d only stepped up because of that drop of Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk.’

Elder Sang nodded, knowing this wasn’t the time for a detailed conversation. "Let’s focus on the pressing matter before us," he said in a low voice.

Chen Qing silently stepped to the side. Li Wang, Li Lei, and the others immediately crowded around him, their excitement written all over their faces. Chen Qing simply gave them a slight nod before turning his attention back to the high platform.

’He knew the main event today was still the Four Sects Alliance. Who ended up leading it would have a major impact on the power structure of Yunlin Prefecture.’

On the high platform, the leaders of the four sects were now seated.

"Sect Leader He, Sect Leader Shi, Manor Master He."

Leng Qianqiu’s cool voice rang out as her gaze swept over the three other leaders.

"The Demon Sect is powerful. Fighting them alone, none of our sects can hope to remain safe. This alliance is not a matter of temporary passion, but a path to survival. As allies, we should be of one mind and one heart, working for our mutual benefit."

She lifted her chin slightly and began to lay out her points methodically.

"First, the resources under our four sects’ control will be made available to all members of the alliance at a discount. Be it Elixirs, Weapons, Treasure Fish, or Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals, anyone presenting an alliance credential during a transaction will receive preferential pricing."

"Second, if any one sect is subjected to a large-scale attack by the Demon Sect, the other three must respond at once, dispatching elite forces as reinforcements to fight the enemy together, as per our agreement. I trust you all understand the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, even better than I."