The Three Representatives
Dou Tianming thought back and realized it was true. Even if everyone spoke very bluntly during the secret meeting, they all used pronouns and no one called the leader by his name.
"If this continues, Alliance Leader Sima will truly become the emperor of the martial arts world, able to decide life and death with a single word. Our Western Martial World has never seen such a figure before."
"The leader has both prestige and strength; what's wrong with him becoming the emperor of the martial arts world?"
"Regarding reputation, I agree. Just the fact that the Alliance Leader provides so many martial arts manuals, giving all martial artists a chance to rise above their circumstances, is a great merit. Calling him a martial arts saint wouldn't be an exaggeration. But as for strength, the Alliance Leader hasn't shown his skills much. Some rumors have later proven to be mere speculation. His true level of cultivation remains a mystery. Perhaps he's not as strong as we imagine. Otherwise, why would he be called the 'Sickly' Young Master?"
Xue Huang sighed, "It's the darkest place under the lamp. He already clearly told everyone about the Alliance Leader's cultivation level. Do you know how many contribution points Kou Feng for giving someone martial arts instruction? 1500 points. The Mysterious Sword Sect world, can teach you a martial art by paying 1500 contribution points. But how much does the Alliance Leader charge for instruction?"
Dou Tianming recalled the Ming Cult martial arts manual he had practically worn out from reading it so many times, and blurted out, "Five thousand points!"
Do you understand what this numerical difference represents?
Dou Tianming stubbornly retorted, "Perhaps it's to raise my own value."
Xue Huang shook his head and said, "Half a month ago, Tyrant Saber Dai Wen spent five thousand contribution points to get guidance from the alliance leader. Afterwards, he laughed and claimed that the five thousand points were well spent, and even if they were twice as expensive, they would still be worth more than the price."
Dai Wen is a master on par with Kou Feng. He is a lone wolf, without any sect or school. Through a fortuitous encounter, he obtained the incomplete Ananda Saber Technique left behind by the Anti-Buddha Monk a hundred years ago, thus earning the title of Tyrant Saber. In terms of strength, he is even superior to Kou Feng. Moreover, he is arrogant and aloof, making it impossible for him to be bribed to act as a shill.
Dou Tianming couldn't question Dai Wen's character, so he could only say, "If it's twice as expensive, that's ten thousand points, enough to exchange for a supreme martial arts manual. Isn't that an exaggeration?"
"Three days ago, Tyrant Saber challenged Sword Elder and won decisively with the fifth move of Ananda Saber Technique. Before that, Dai Wen's Ananda Saber Technique only had four moves. Where did this fifth move come from?"
Dou Tianming was stunned. "No way, Ananda Saber Technique is also a supreme-level martial art, and he actually completed it in half a day? Can a person's martial arts level really reach such a height?"
"So you're still too young. I can guarantee that if you don't go see the Alliance Leader tonight, starting tomorrow, our Mount Huang Sect will be nothing but a thing of the past."
"No way! We didn't do anything. Even wiping out the Jin Lineage requires a legitimate reason. The alliance leader can't possibly use fabricated charges against us. Aren't you afraid of alienating everyone?"
"Killing someone is like destroying their spirit, my dear disciple! To eliminate someone, you don't necessarily have to physically destroy them. There are other, better ways. Sometimes, just by talking, you can make someone's life unbearable. If you don't believe me, just wait and see. As long as one of the other fourteen people makes a foolish move, you'll know what the treacherous world of martial arts is all about."
As the master and disciple talked, the carriage arrived at the headquarters of the Heavenly Martial Alliance. Even at night, the place was brightly lit, and martial arts practitioners carrying swords could be seen everywhere discussing their martial arts insights. All twenty martial arts arenas were in use, and there were even people queuing up. The lively atmosphere was just like a university library when final exams were approaching.
Xue Huang led Dou Tianming off the carriage and hurried towards the backyard. They were stopped at the gate, where they asked someone to inform the alliance leader. After that, they waited anxiously.
"The Alliance Leader has agreed. Please come in."
Upon hearing this, Xue Huang breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his sect had been saved.
Dou Tianming and his master walked inside and came to a courtyard filled with evening primroses and datura. They finally saw the elusive leader of the alliance, who was sitting in a rattan chair, holding a cup of hot tea, seemingly admiring the moon.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Dou Tianming secretly observed the other person and found that his aura was weak and almost imperceptible, which matched the rumors that he was "injured." He was outstanding in appearance, with clear and bright eyes and a heroic air of a martial artist. He was clearly a man of both talent and beauty. If he walked on the street, he would probably charm a group of unmarried girls. He was of medium build and slightly thin. Judging from the skin on his hands, there were no signs of practicing external martial arts. He was probably skilled in technique but not good at physical combat, which made him more like a swordsman in flowing Baiyi.
In short, he was very similar to the image of the leader of the alliance that Dou Tianming had imagined. He was not physically strong, but he had an extremely high level of martial arts skills. He was elegant and refined, which was very fitting for his nickname "Sick Young Master".
Xue Huang tugged at his disciple, and the two said in unison, "Greetings, Alliance Leader."
Si Ming took a sip of tea and asked slowly, "No need for formalities, just get to the point."
Xue Huang immediately recounted the matters discussed in the secret meeting during the day, adding at the end, "Although my disciple was eager to tell the Alliance Leader the news, he always respected my opinion and dared not act on his own, so he waited until evening."
Si Ming nodded. "No wonder you took so long; everyone else was getting impatient."
Dou Tianming was startled. "The others?"
Si Ming didn't explain further, but simply stood up and said, "Come with me."
Dou Tianming's mind raced with various speculations as he uneasily followed the alliance leader into the house, while his master, Xue Huang, remained calm and composed.
After passing through several corridors and entering a council chamber, Dou Tianming immediately saw many familiar faces, all of whom he had seen that morning and were extremely familiar with.
Of the fifteen sects, thirteen have come here!
These guys came to meet the alliance leader ahead of time, definitely not because they were in a hurry to take action, but because, like the Mount Huang Sect, they were trying to curry favor with the alliance leader. They were all traitors. In the end, only the Mount Kun Sect kept their promise and did not betray their allies.
"Sect Leader Kou, you're here too..."
Aren't you the initiator? How dare you be here? Our commander-in-chief is actually an enemy spy! What's the point of fighting this war?!
Dou Tianming really wanted to say to Kou Feng, "I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."
Reflecting on the morning's events, he suddenly realized that instead of discussing how to deal with the leader, they should have been discussing something else—that one of them was an opponent of the leader.
Of the fifteen sects, only one is serious. Mount Kun Sect Leader, it turns out you're the most loyal one! I really underestimated you before! You're the true hero!
After being named, Kou Feng showed no shame and declared with righteous indignation, "The Alliance Leader has just dealt with the Jin Lineage, and will inevitably face a strong counterattack from the Aristocratic Clan. At this time, our alliance must not have any internal strife. We must work together to overcome this difficulty. That is why I resorted to this desperate measure, in order to eliminate the hidden dangers to the alliance."
The other sect leaders nodded in agreement.
"Sect Leader Kou is selfless and resourceful; no wonder the Mysterious Sword Sect has flourished under your leadership. His reputation is well-deserved."
"In all the world, only our leader can set aside sectarianism and share Higher Vehicle martial arts with us. Our leader seeks neither fame nor fortune, but only to pave a path for martial artists to defy fate. Such a feat is unprecedented and will never be repeated, and it contains immeasurable merit. We, the entire Golden Sand Gang, swear to follow our leader to the death!"
"The Mount Kun Sect, having received the favor of the Heavenly Martial Alliance, shows no gratitude but instead tries to take advantage of the situation and harm the Alliance Leader. They are utterly ungrateful wretches! I urge the Alliance Leader not to be swayed by sentimentality and to punish them severely as a warning to others, to demonstrate both gratitude and authority!"
"The Heavenly Martial Alliance is a sacred ground for us to explore the ultimate principles of martial arts. How can we allow a bunch of corrupt Aristocratic Clan who only know how to bully their own kind to destroy it? Alliance Leader, at your command, our Divine Fist Sect is willing to be our vanguard, fighting these Aristocratic Clan to the bitter end, until death do us part!"
Xue Huang reached out and patted Dou Tianming on the shoulder, saying earnestly, "Now, do you understand?"
Dou Tianming nodded solemnly, and said in a tone of maturity, "The world is a dangerous place; I was indeed too young."
Chapter 349 Three Represents
Although the leader of the Mount Kun Sect is very loyal, political allegiance is never based on character, but only on intelligence and foresight. Si Ming is not a masochist and would never do something like, "Although Kou Feng and his ilk are my lackeys, they are not good people, so I must punish them. Although the leader of the Mount Kun Sect opposes me, he has backbone and courage, so I must reward him."
The final decision was that all fourteen sects that surrendered would receive a spot to cultivate high-grade martial arts. Among them, the Mysterious Sword Sect, as the initiator of the plan and the first sect to surrender to Si Ming, received three spots.