Chapter 150: The Alliance Assembly

"My niece, since you have arrived in the Central Plains martial arts world, you really should have come to notify the old man. This is also the fault of these two unruly disciples of mine, who are quite ignorant of etiquette and actually dared to fight with you. For your uncle's sake, why don't you shake hands and make peace?"

Xia Wuhai's previous reservations were largely due to Dao Tianfeng. Now that Dao Tianfeng was present, it was only natural to handle it this way. After a slight pause, he spoke, his voice gentle and full of the demeanor of an elder. By this point, Dugu Meng naturally knew that the old man's martial arts were so formidable that even if she exhausted all her spiritual energy and ended up crippled, she would stand absolutely no chance of winning. Continuing to act stubbornly would be utterly meaningless. Though somewhat headstrong, she was not a fool and knew how to read the room. Though she felt somewhat resentful in her heart, she forced a smile onto her face and slowly walked over to where Xia Wuhai stood. When they were close, she spoke: "This niece has a playful nature and has made a fool of herself before you, Senior Uncle. Elder Brother Xia, Dugu Meng offers you her apologies here!"

Bowing slightly, Dugu Meng said this without excessive affectation. She did feel a certain degree of guilt toward Xia Wuhai; the man had shown forbearance at every turn, yet she had pushed her luck instead. Fortunately, neither of them had been injured, and such an outcome might even be considered a blessing for the young man. Seeing Dugu Meng's gesture, Xia Wuhai hurriedly reached out as if to support her. As their eyes met, a subtle, unspoken emotion seemed to flow between them, unnoticed by either.

"Hanguang, come over here too!" Seeing this interaction, the smile on Dao Tianfeng's face grew even brighter. Those caught up in the events might remain oblivious, but an older bystander like him saw everything clearly. Of course, he had no mind to dwell on such matters, and his gaze quickly shifted to Ye Hanguang.

At this summons, Ye Hanguang's body trembled as if struck by something, but in the end, he had no choice but to walk over. Though his steps were not fast, the distance was short, and it did not take long. Standing before the old man, his head was lowered slightly, like a child who had done something wrong. Anyone looking at such a demeanor would find their anger melting away by half, let alone someone like Dao Tianfeng, who had never cared much for entangled affairs between the two. He simply looked at him, paused for a long moment, and then spoke:

"Your temper is far too rash. How many times have I told you that cultivation is just like practicing martial arts—it demands a calm and tranquil mind. If your senior brother had not stepped in before me, you would have taken a massive fall today! Remember this well: there are always people beyond people, and heavens beyond the heavens. You must never be too arrogant. Do you understand?"

Well, although the tone lacked any harsh criticism and was as peaceful as imparting a lesson, the meaning couldn't be plainer. Though Ye Hanguang still felt a lingering unwillingness in his heart, he ultimately dared not talk back. He didn't even dare to let his gaze fall upon the old man's face. Lowering his head even further, he mumbled under his breath for a long while before squeezing out two words: "I know."

In truth, it was not just Ye Hanguang; at this very moment, even Dugu Meng felt a sense of awkwardness in her heart. Although those words were directed at Ye Hanguang, they sounded as though they were meant for her as well. Having witnessed the martial prowess of Xia Wuhai, and especially Dao Tianfeng, Dugu Meng finally understood her father's words. The martial arts of the Southern Frontier were indeed formidable, but they were limited to the Southern Frontier alone. The day you travel across all rivers and mountains, you will realize that sometimes the things we take such pride in are utterly worthless in the eyes of others.

Of course, such a statement was somewhat exaggerated. That technique, "Winter's Morning Warm Sun," if unleashed with one's entire spiritual energy, was not something anyone could take lightly—it was just that the price paid to use it was rather steep. These were merely Dugu Meng's private thoughts; she neither had the ability to push that technique to such an extreme, nor the courage to do so.

As for Dao Tianfeng, he did not dwell excessively on Ye Hanguang. Young people were bound to make mistakes, after all. Besides, although this disciple had entered the sect somewhat late, his talent for martial arts was unquestionably the highest in Qilian. Mantles and inheritances could be passed down by Xia Wuhai, but this profound level of martial arts would ultimately have to rest upon his shoulders. With such thoughts in mind, a certain degree of partiality was inevitable.

"Master!"

Another voice rang out, and following it, a figure emerged from the main hall. Logically speaking, Mount Qilian was long past its days as a reclusive sect; it lacked neither wealth nor status. Their clothing and attire, even if not worthy of being described as luxurious and magnificent, should at least have been made of fine silks and soft cotton. Yet the newcomer gave an entirely different impression. His clothes were so shockingly plain that they were hard to accept; coarse sackcloth and hempen fabric were one thing, but right across the most conspicuous part of his garment was a massive patched piece of cloth, making the whole sight rather awkward.

Of course, the awkwardness was only in his attire. After all, he was a member of Qilian, and this identity alone was enough to make the vast majority of people envious. Furthermore, his existence was such that even a figure like Xia Wuhai had to address him as "Second Brother." Lao Lao'er moved quickly. When he walked up to Dao Tianfeng, he simply leaned close and whispered a few words in a low voice. What exactly was said, no one could hear, nor could anyone guess, for Dao Tianfeng's expression remained entirely unchanged from the start, as if he had not been affected in the slightest.

Yet something of consequence must have occurred, otherwise there would have been no need for such discretion. Sure enough, as soon as Lao Lao'er finished speaking, Dao Tianfeng turned around with a sense of urgency. The moment he stepped forward, the area beneath the dais fell into complete silence. This so-called Alliance Leader held immense prestige in the hearts of these people; both in reputation and strength, no one could be found at this moment who could rival him.

Dao Tianfeng's gaze swept slowly across the crowd, lingering for a brief moment on Gong Shaohua before he finally spoke:

"Twenty years ago, this old man, along with Villa Master Shen, Shao Donghua, and Dongfang Mingyue, fought a great battle at Three Wolves Mountain. I originally thought that battle had completely eradicated the Blue Lotus Demonic Cult. Never did I imagine that, because of that old scoundrel Dongfang, a few fish slipped through the net. Submerging into the shadows for twenty years, the Demonic Cult has now staged a comeback, vowing to stir up a bloody storm in the pugilistic world once more. Three months ago, Mingyue Villa suffered a catastrophic disaster, and my longtime friend, Villa Master Shen Wansan, lost his life at the hands of the Demonic Cult. Villa Master Shen devoted himself entirely to martial righteousness, never expecting such an end. It is truly heartbreaking. Bolstered by this victory, the arrogance of the Demonic Cult will surely be greater than ever, and we must not let them go unchecked. The survival of the Central Plains martial arts world may well be wagered upon this single battle. Therefore, this old man, unworthy as I am, hastily established this Martial Arts Alliance solely to unite all the righteous powers of the rivers and lakes so that we may together resist the next wave of attacks from the Demonic Cult. All of you have endured hardships, sparing no effort to cast aside your own affairs and travel thousands of miles to Jinjiang City. Here, this old man wishes to say thank you to you all!"

Lowering his head slightly, Dao Tianfeng bowed. With his status, for him to make such a gesture meant that whoever received it felt immensely flattered, as if their own status had truly been elevated. Stirred by such thoughts, a wave of excitement naturally arose. The previously silent atmosphere instantly erupted into resounding cheers. Cries of pledging loyalty and honoring the Alliance Leader shook the heavens and the earth. On this pitch-black night, not only did it shake Jinjiang City, but even the rolling waters of the nearby river seemed to tremble in resonance.

Dao Tianfeng showed no intention of stopping these cheers; perhaps this was the very purpose of his speech. Emotions were something that needed to be brewed, so when his words ceased, he let the martial artists shout to their hearts' content. Once the fervent passions had crested three or five times, the atmosphere naturally reached its zenith. He knew the opportune moment had matured. With a slight wave of his hand, he signaled for quiet. To command such absolute obedience with a mere gesture fully demonstrated his peerless charisma. Within a fleeting moment, the high-pitched shouting subsided, and everyone's gaze locked once more upon Dao Tianfeng, the anticipation in their eyes entirely unmasked.

At that moment, Dao Tianfeng continued:

"I know everyone is excited, but I hope you can all calm your minds. For the Demonic Cult to remain hidden until today and mount a resurgence now—leaving aside how thoroughly prepared they are—their sheer level of forbearance alone is not to be underestimated. Of course, we do not fear them. As long as we stand united as one, this time we shall reduce the Demonic Cult to dust and ashes, leaving them no possibility of rebirth. That is why I have gathered you all here: to make early preparations and devise the best strategy to deal with the Demonic Cult. As it happens, just a moment ago, the Prince of Qi's estate sent word that they have already located the precise whereabouts of the Demonic Cult. This is no mere coincidence; this old man believes that Heaven itself, recognizing our resolve, has deliberately arranged this for us!"

Upon hearing that the stronghold of the Demonic Cult had been found, the previously serene atmosphere broke out into a sudden commotion. Although there were no more booming shouts, the hum of whispers and murmured discussions swept through the crowd, with almost everyone joining in. Each person seemed to harbor their own thoughts, and rightfully so. Though facing the so-called Demonic Cult inevitably meant stepping into deadly peril, this was undoubtedly an opportunity as well. To achieve glory and renown, just like the legendary Four Great Sects of old—this was precisely what they had been waiting for. Thinking of this, a flash of triumphant a smile involuntarily surfaced on Gong Shaohua's face.