The Three Representatives (Continued)

Although Kou Feng knew that the alliance leader's move was to put him in a difficult position and attract the jealousy of other sects, he had already planned to cling to the alliance leader in order to quickly gain an important position in the Heavenly Martial Alliance, so he didn't care about the opinions of other sects.

As for the Mount Kun Sect, Si Ming did not issue a mission to exterminate them as he did with the Jin Lineage. Instead, he issued a statement saying that since the Mount Kun Sect was dissatisfied with the Heavenly Martial Alliance's system, they should part ways amicably. From now on, all Mount Kun Sect disciples would be expelled from the Heavenly Martial Alliance, and everyone would go their separate ways.

Si Ming's magnanimous attitude towards himself won him a lot of goodwill. Everyone hoped to have a safe way out. Although they got along well at the moment, who could say what the future held? It was always safer to serve a benevolent ruler than a tyrant.

However, what happened next was quite unexpected.

In less than half a month, Mount Kun Sect disciples left the sect one after another, losing a full 90% of their numbers. Only those who had grown up in the Mount Kun Sect or had been taken in as personal disciples by the Mount Kun Sect's elders remained. The former had deep feelings for the Mount Kun Sect, while the latter's fate was already tied to it, and the code of the martial world did not allow them to leave.

For ordinary disciples, joining the Mount Kun Sect is about cultivating martial arts and making a name for themselves. Since joining the Heavenly Martial Alliance offers a greater chance of accessing Higher Vehicle martial arts than staying in the Mount Kun Sect, why should they insist on staying and spending their lives with the Mount Kun Sect?

It's not like you'll be granted the sect's ultimate techniques just because you've expressed your loyalty. The Mount Kun Sect leader will still prioritize his own personal disciples.

Since investing emotions yields no return, it's better to ignore feelings and focus solely on interests. Consequently, everyone opted for the Heavenly Martial Alliance offered higher returns and a fairer approach.

In this way, the Heavenly Martial Alliance reduced a renowned martial arts sect with thousands of disciples to a third-rate sect with only a hundred or so members without shedding a drop of blood. Moreover, no one was optimistic about its future because no one was willing to join the Mount Kun Sect. Without the replenishment of fresh blood, the decline of the Mount Kun Sect was only a matter of time.

Through this incident, everyone once again witnessed the immense power of the Heavenly Martial Alliance. Despite having no rules or regulations to restrain its members, it possessed a level of control that even the leader of the martial arts alliance envied. In terms of prestige, it was even a notch higher than the Three Great Holy Lands. After all, the Three Great Holy Lands had to take action themselves to destroy a sect, while the leader of the Heavenly Martial Alliance only needed to use his words.

While the matter was raging outside, Si Ming had no time to be complacent, because a group of unexpected guests arrived at his door.

"Six Great Aristocratic Families have jointly visited?"

Si Ming wasn't surprised when he heard the news. Half a month had passed since he wiped out the Jin Lineage, Aristocratic Clan were only now reacting, which was half as slow as he had expected.

"Within our Heavenly Martial Alliance, only the Shen Clan and the Zhou Clan. It seems these two families lack confidence against us, so they've gone to find reinforcements."

Si Jingyu, standing beside him, said lazily, "To become a top-tier Aristocratic Clan, regardless of ability, one's vision must be far-sighted. They can't possibly not understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' Even a fool can feel the overwhelming power of our Heavenly Martial Alliance. Many predict that at the latest, within a year, the Heavenly Martial Alliance will cover the entire Western Martial World. If these aristocratic Aristocratic Clan don't want to be defeated one by one, they have no choice but to take a gamble. Otherwise, once you ascend the throne and become the Emperor of the Martial World, there will be no chance left."

"They have no chance now. A month earlier, they might have had a chance, but now my momentum is complete, and everything is like the rolling Torrent of history. Their resistance is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; they will only be crushed by its wheels with a thud."

Si Ming didn't take these people seriously at all, waving his hand and saying, "I won't meet them. Meeting them would give them an opportunity to play tricks. Although I'm not afraid of these petty tricks, I clearly have the ability to win fair and square. Why should I play along with their schemes and let them wait to die?"

Heavenly Martial Alliance's influence covers one-fifth of the Western Martial World, with over 1.5 million members. In contrast, the combined population of all the Aristocratic Clan in the Western Martial World would not exceed 300,000.

The fivefold numerical advantage—and this gap was only going to widen—gave Si Ming enough confidence to disregard the thoughts of the powerful Aristocratic Clan. It would be best if they decided to surrender, but if they chose to fight to the death, so be it. All Si Ming had to do was issue missions and distribute enough contribution points, then he could sit back and wait for the powerful Aristocratic Clan to perish, while also reaping a batch of talented individuals who had distinguished themselves in the battle.

The relationship between the Heavenly Martial Alliance and the Aristocratic Clan is somewhat like that between the Communist Party and the landlord class. The former wanted to carry out land reform, hand over the means of production to every citizen, thereby liberating productive forces and overthrowing the feudal land system. The latter either accepted reform or were killed; there was no third option, and there was no possibility of coexistence.

Si Jingyu said, "Let's meet him. The messenger said there's a bald man in the group of the Six Great Aristocratic Families, and judging from the attitude of those around him, he's not of low status."

"A bald man? A monk? The Glazed Temple?" Si Ming immediately realized what they meant. "It seems there are clever people in the Aristocratic Clan who anticipated being turned away here, so they went outside to seek help... Well, I'll meet with them then. I also want to see the level of Buddhism in this world and see if these so-called Buddhist School holy sites have any real knowledge."

Si Ming's comparison wasn't with the Buddhism civilization of the Sea Continent, but with the Buddhism civilization of Earth. In his previous life, he had read a lot of Buddhist and Daoist scriptures in order to write online novels, so he was quite knowledgeable. He might not be enough to compare with real eminent monks, but he was more than capable of fooling ordinary people.

During his university years, he visited a local temple and was asked by the monks if he wanted to donate money for incense. He immediately asked, "Do you know what the four elements are in the phrase 'all is emptiness'?" and "Which Buddhas are referred to as 'Buddhas of the Three Worlds'?"

When the other person couldn't answer, he mocked, "You can't even understand such a simple question? That just shows you're a fake monk. If the monk is fake, is the Buddha you worship real? Why would I spend money to worship a fake Buddha?"

Then he was driven out of the temple.

Having reconsidered his thoughts, Si Ming first issued a summons, sending people to gather his trusted confidants. After all, in the upcoming meeting, a larger group would carry more weight, much like how underworld bosses always need a group of henchmen for support when they meet. Then, he straightened his clothes and calmly made his way to the hall.

Inside the hall, there were about a dozen people waiting, each with a long, deep breath, piercing eyes, and abundant energy. They were all top-notch martial arts masters, among whom two stood out.

One of them was Shen Wumian, the head of the Shen Clan family. He learned swordsmanship at the age of three, comprehended the feeling of qi at the age of seven, showed his talent at the age of fourteen, and was already a first-class master in the martial arts world at the age of eighteen. The head of the Shen Clan family at that time took the initiative to abdicate and give way to a worthy successor. Later, Shen Wumian defeated all the sword masters in the Western Martial World with his family's Mystic Frost Sword Technique and reached the top. He was known as the Snowflake Divine Sword.

Not all patriarchs are the strongest martial artists in their Lineage. In fact, patriarchs also have to attend to Lineage affairs, which delays their cultivation time. In terms of martial arts, they are usually not as good as other family members with the same talent but who can concentrate on martial arts training. However, Shen Wumian's talent is so outstanding that the Shen Clan has changed its management style. Shen Wumian holds the title of patriarch, while the specific affairs are handled by the deputy patriarch. This time, when they went to the Heavenly Martial Alliance, considering that they needed someone with sufficient prestige and strength to bring them along, the Six Great Aristocratic Families discussed and decided that he would lead the team.

Another conspicuous person was a monk. His strength was similar to the others, but his style was different, and he could be spotted in the crowd at a glance.

When Si Ming arrived at the hall, his two disciples had already arrived. After undergoing the "Hero Training," Zhao Jiaren had developed a bandit-like air about him and had finally become a "ready-educated martial artist" rather than a "scholar who practices martial arts." In addition, Mysterious Sword Sect, the Kou Feng of the Xuanjian Sect, Xue Huang, the leader of the Mount Huang Sect, and other lackeys also came to show their support, forming a confrontation with the people of the Six Great Aristocratic Families, making the atmosphere on the scene heavy.

After Si Ming sat down in the host's seat, he coughed and said, "Guests are welcome; there's no need to make things so tense."

Kou Feng chuckled twice, "A guest is a guest, but what if they're unwelcome?"

The Mysterious Sword Sect has secured three spots for cultivating high-grade martial arts, so naturally, he wants to make a good impression.

"We welcome friends with fine wine, but when wolves come... we chop them down with an axe, of course!"

The one who spoke so openly was Liang Zhenhuan. This kid had completely latched onto Si Ming's coattails, even willingly becoming his errand boy. He had also made it clear to his two senior brothers, Zhao Yili and Zhao Zhixin, that he would never compete for the position of the Origin Return Sect leader in the future. Seeing how ambitious he was, Si Ming gave him some pointers a few times. In addition, by currying favor with Zhao Xiaohui, he learned several martial arts techniques from Flame Transmission Tower for free. Now his strength had surpassed that of his Zhao Donglai, and was approaching the top tier of martial arts masters, only lacking in Internal Cultivation.

Si Ming said irritably, "Is that how you talk? Do you think everyone's a fool? Bringing a bunch of people to the enemy's lair to act tough, aren't you afraid of getting beaten to death?"

The faces of the Six Great Aristocratic Families immediately turned ugly. They believed that Si Ming was threatening them, implying that if they dared to act tough at the Heavenly Martial Alliance headquarters, they would be ganged up on.

"Alliance Leader Sima, I am Shen Wumian, the patriarch of the Shen Clan family."

Only Shen Wumian remained calm and composed, unmoved by any words, like a precious sword sheathed in its scabbard. Before it was drawn, no one could guarantee how sharp his sword would be.

He introduced himself in a measured tone, and then introduced the representatives of several other Aristocratic Clan.

Si Ming nodded and said in a completely calm tone, "I've heard so much about you. May I ask your name, Master?"

The monk stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and said, "Namo Glazed Medicine Buddha, this humble monk Wuguo greets Alliance Leader Sima."

"Judging from this Buddhist chant, it seems that Master Wuguo is from Glazed Temple."

The Glazed Temple worships neither the Tathagata Buddha nor Amitābha Buddha, but the Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, the master of the Eastern Pure Glazed World Medicine Master Glazed Light Tathagata, one of the Three Buddhas of the Three Worlds. Si Ming knew this information.

Wuguo, he said with a hint of pride, "Exactly."

"I see. I understand why you've come," Si Ming nodded, feigning understanding, and sighed, "The Glazed Temple has finally reached into the Western Martial World. The Southern Martial World is no longer enough for you; you want to bring the Western Martial World under your control as well. The Six Great Aristocratic Families are just pawns you've been laying in wait for a long time, aren't they?"

Under the bewildered gazes of the crowd, Si Ming looked at Shen Wumian and said with a disdainful tone, "Hmph, as a member of the Western Martial World, you actually colluded with the Glazed Temple, willingly becoming a lackey of Buddhist School, intending to harm your fellow countrymen in the Western Martial World. Very well, our Heavenly Martial Alliance accepts this challenge and vows to defend the land of the Western Martial World to the death, not giving up an inch of it."

Kou Feng, as expected of the leader of a first-rate sect, was knowledgeable and experienced, far surpassing ordinary young men. He immediately regained his composure and shouted, "We swear to defend the Western Martial World to the death, not yielding an inch of its land!"