Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Justice Pavilion of the Righteous Heaven Alliance
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One of the places within the Righteous Heaven Alliance, the Justice Pavilion.
There, people dressed in all sorts of colorful robes sat around a circular table.
They were the elites of the Nine Great Sects, the pillars supporting the Righteous Heaven Alliance, and nine out of the thirty elders in the alliance had gathered in the Justice Pavilion.
True Person Baek Jong of the Zhongnan Sect smiled as he spoke.
"Finally, the time has come! I believe everyone here knows just how important this martial tournament is to us."
At True Person Baek Jong's words, the elders nodded in agreement.
True Person Jin Heo of Kunlun took up the conversation.
"Of course. Think of all the preparations we've made for this tournament. We even procured that precious Azure Spirit Oil and put it up as the grand prize, didn't we?"
"Kunlun went through great lengths for this."
"Ahem! Isn't it all for the sake of our Nine Sects?"
"Indeed. Thanks to that Azure Spirit Oil, we've drawn the attention of the entire martial world to the tournament."
True Person Baek Jong nodded and continued.
"Now, with all eyes on us, we must let everyone know that our Nine Sects stand at the pinnacle of the martial world, mustn't we?"
"We must! Absolutely. That's why we went to such trouble to obtain the Azure Spirit Oil."
True Person Jin Heo spoke in a somewhat agitated voice.
With just one bottle of Azure Spirit Oil as the prize, dozens of experts could be cultivated.
In terms of value, it was equivalent to five years' worth of Kunlun Sect's budget, so his reaction was only natural.
True Person Baek Jong spoke again.
"This will be the occasion to firmly establish our Nine Sects at the top of the Righteous Heaven Alliance. Everyone will know without a doubt that we stand above the clouds."
The moment the Azure Spirit Oil was announced as the prize, every sect in the world would stake their lives on this tournament.
The martial tournament was no longer a place for exchange and harmony between sects.
The younger generation would fight to win.
Not for camaraderie or achievement, but in a truly fierce battle.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire martial world.
The younger generation would fight as representatives of their sects, and the spectators would subtly judge the sects' superiority based on the outcomes.
Isn't the skill of the younger generation a measure of a sect's future and overall level?
"Through this tournament, if our Nine Sects' disciples claim the top spots and one of them takes the victory, people will think..."
True Person Baek Jong paused for a moment, a soft smile playing on his lips.
But his eyes gleamed with unmatched sharpness.
"They will know for certain who truly rules the Righteous Heaven Alliance."
At the words "who rules the Righteous Heaven Alliance," True Person Jin Heo and the other elders felt their hearts pounding.
It meant the Nine Great Sects would become the undisputed overlords of the world!
"Haha! Isn't this like returning to the era of the Nine Sects and Five Clans before the Demonic Blood Tribulation?"
True Person Baek Jong chuckled.
"We've already surpassed the Five Great Families' prosperity. The era of the Nine Sects and Five Clans? No, it should be the era of the Nine Great Sects. Hahaha!"
"Ho ho ho! True Person's words ring true, ho ho ho!"
Jovial laughter echoed between True Person Jin Heo and True Person Baek Jong.
The other elders, who hadn't joined the conversation, smiled faintly and nodded along with the mood when...
Celestial Vault Daoist of the Kongtong Sect furrowed his brow and spoke.
"There's one thing we should clarify."
"Speak."
"Everything is fine. Our Nine Sects dominating the top ranks in the tournament, showing off our power under the world's gaze—all good."
True Person Baek Jong subtly furrowed his brow.
"Could you get to the point? This Yi Mokgo still lacks the cultivation to fully grasp Celestial Vault Elder's meaning."
Celestial Vault Daoist twisted his lips in a smirk and said.
"I'm talking about the owner of the Azure Spirit Oil. We haven't discussed how to handle that yet, have we? Isn't that the most important matter?"
At Celestial Vault Daoist's words, the atmosphere in the room sank for a moment before recovering.
Proclaiming the Nine Sects' enduring strength through the tournament was important, but the real priority was tangible gain.
The Azure Spirit Oil was something the Nine Sects had painstakingly prepared over a long time.
Even a three-year-old child knew that one bottle could elevate an entire sect to the next level.
True Person Baek Jong laughed heartily.
"Celestial Vault Daoist! The Dao is ultimately..."
"Our Kongtong values practical benefits over abstract philosophy. The Azure Spirit Oil was prepared jointly by the Nine Sects. To put it bluntly, we uprooted one of our foundational roots for it. There's only one winner, and one bottle of oil. How do we divide it?"
True Person Baek Jong's eyebrow twitched slightly at Celestial Vault Daoist's crooked posture, but it quickly returned to normal.
"Let's think this through step by step. After all, won't the tournament be a stage for our Nine Sects' disciples? We can discuss the disposition of the Azure Spirit Oil when the time comes."
At that moment, Shaolin's Master Jeonggwang, who had been silent, lent his support to True Person Baek Jong's words.
"This is not the time to quarrel over gains, patron. We must unite to achieve our goal. Debating the outcome of a tournament that hasn't even begun will only breed conflict."
These were the words of a senior monk from Shaolin, the North Star of the martial world.
Moreover, Master Jeonggwang's voice carried a subtle power that calmed Celestial Vault Daoist's mind.
Seizing the moment, True Person Jin Heo came to True Person Baek Jong's aid.
"Exactly! Won't one of our Nine Sects' disciples claim victory in the tournament anyway?"
"Yes, precisely! Haha!"
"These are the disciples we've poured our hearts into raising for this very moment! We can think about the Azure Spirit Oil later."
"Yes, Celestial Vault Daoist. You're too impatient."
Celestial Vault Daoist furrowed his brow slightly before nodding.
"If that's everyone's view, then I'll go along."
True Person Baek Jong glanced at Celestial Vault Daoist before smiling at the elders.
"Isn't it time to consider our path after the tournament? We need to think about how we'll establish order in the martial world going forward. Haha!"
With True Person Baek Jong's laughter, smiles bloomed on everyone's faces.
The thought of the Nine Great Sects once again becoming the order of the strong world kept their laughter from fading.
However, the elders of the Righteous Heaven Alliance did not know.
That there was another person who thought he had the Azure Spirit Oil in the bag.
* * *
Namgung Hyuk lay half-reclined in the carriage, sighing as he gazed toward Hubei Province.
"Oh man, to think the day would come when I'd have to fight a bunch of snot-nosed kids."
Having to tussle with brats not even half his age over one bottle of Azure Spirit Oil.
"...But it's Azure Spirit Oil. Gotta grab it by the collar."
It's that precious.
And just one bottle is worth how much?
"Holding back on the hassle once could advance my ascension by ten years."
Even without the Azure Spirit Oil, even without making the Golden Immortal Pills, if he kept training diligently like this, ascension would come naturally.
With his past experiences and insights, plus superior martial arts, he could achieve it faster than before.
Having overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridians completely, whether in ten years or twenty, how could he not ascend?
'But that's exactly what I hate! Crazy. Add another ten or twenty years?!'
Just thinking about it made him want to vomit in frustration.
To go through that grueling, tedious ordeal again?
"No way in hell. If I can shave off three years or even one, I'll grab it no matter what. Damn right!"
Namgung Hyuk nodded vigorously before his eyes met Namgung Ryong's, who was walking beside the carriage.
'...Ah, maybe he could win as my proxy?'
Namgung Ryong had long surpassed the level of the younger generation.
Namgung Hyuk thought he was probably the strongest here, excluding himself.
"Hey, bro."
Namgung Ryong's eyes sparkled at the odd mix of casual and respectful tone.
"If you win the tournament, can you give me the Azure Spirit Oil?"
Nod.
Kuh, that's how it is.
That's brotherly love.
Handing over a whole bottle of Azure Spirit Oil just like that!
"Then, bro, wanna go out there and win it?"
Namgung Ryong stared at Namgung Hyuk silently for a long while before speaking.
"I could participate."
"Ooh, really?"
"...But winning? Not sure."
"Ah... yeah, figured."
Namgung Hyuk's excited face darkened in an instant.
"Sigh, no choice then. Even if it's a pain, I'll have to do it."
At worst, just smack a few kids on the butt, right?
"Sigh. Yeah, I'll do it. It's my job."
Namgung Hyuk sighed and nodded.
'For now, the Azure Spirit Oil is secured.'
The tournament hadn't even started, but to Namgung Hyuk, it was already as good as in his pocket.
It's just kids fighting, after all...
The real important thing was something else.
'Millennium Flower Carp.'
One of the essential ingredients for the Golden Immortal Pills.
Harder to obtain than even the Azure Spirit Oil—this thing moves around.
Whether hiding in the Yangtze River or Mount Hua, it's lurking somewhere.
So, finding it was crucial.
Namgung Hyuk narrowed his eyes.
'It's a tournament, so there'll be plenty of useful guys around.'
Information from the Black Spots had its limits.
Sure, gathering intel bit by bit might yield some high-level stuff eventually, but better to just mobilize an entire information network.
'Wherever you are, wait nicely. I'll club you from the head down.'
Lemme see you for real.
Seriously.
Namgung Hyuk was deep in thought about the Millennium Flower Carp when...
"Young Master."
Geum Cheomsang called out from the side, handing him some tea.
"Yeah?"
"The Family Head said to go see the Third Young Master once we arrive at the Righteous Heaven Alliance."
"Who?"
"The Third."
"Ah, the Third."
This guy pops up every time things get fuzzy?
"Is he at the Righteous Heaven Alliance?"
"...Yes."
"But why tell me instead of the First?"
"Ah, well, that's..."
Geum Cheomsang glanced awkwardly at Namgung Ryong with a troubled look.
Namgung Hyuk turned to see Namgung Ryong walking ahead expressionlessly and let out a hollow laugh.
"...Well, whatever. We're on the way, no reason not to see him."
Namgung Hyuk nodded and looked at Geum Cheomsang.
Was it his imagination, or did Geum Cheomsang look weary?
'Was kinda curious.'
Ever since waking up in the Namgung Family, he'd always wondered what the Third was like, hearing only rumors.
Even when crisis struck the family, he hadn't shown his face—not even at the Harmony Meeting.
Age unknown, name unknown—just some Third.
'Actually, isn't he dead?'
Not a ghost or anything.
Namgung Hyuk let out a hollow laugh.
"This is fun."
Seeing Namgung Hyuk grin, Geum Cheomsang quietly said.
"Young Master, just in case..."
"What now? Spit it out."
"Never mind. Probably best to see for yourself."
"Yeah. But when do we arrive?"
"Almost there."
Geum Cheomsang let out a sigh and looked ahead.
"The Eldest Young Master says it's over there."
"Huh?"
"Over there."
Geum Cheomsang pointed toward the river.
"Is the Righteous Heaven Alliance on the river?"
Namgung Hyuk tilted his head and looked ahead, his pupils gradually widening.
"Wha—?"
Along the river stretched imposing walls, with a cluster of towering pavilions rising majestically.
A massive compound so grand it evoked the ridge of a mountain, its momentum surpassing majesty into grandeur.
No, it was more like a fortress.
At the center of those walls stood an iron gate three stories tall, with a huge plaque above it.
Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Its scale was on another level from the Righteous Heaven Alliance he remembered from the past, leaving his mouth agape.
Namgung Hyuk exclaimed.
"Whoa, these bastards really made it big, huh?"
How much do you have to suck up to grow this huge?
At Namgung Hyuk's sense of the times, Geum Cheomsang swallowed dryly.
'The way he thinks about everything...'
No, but did he just call the Righteous Heaven Alliance "bastards"?
Geum Cheomsang stared blankly at the back of Namgung Hyuk's head.
Watching Namgung Hyuk, whose facade as the Namgung Family's young master was growing ever fainter, Geum Cheomsang sighed.