Chapter 502
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Chapter 502: The First in the World
Yun State, Zhonghang Sect
With the realm declining again, Soul Changing no longer exists in the world, only Nascent Soul. The dominant sects, including Zhonghang Sect, faced the first wave of impact.
The impact came from the vassals under the dominant sects. In the past, the dominant sects were much stronger than the vassals. The sects had at least one realm of cultivation above the vassals. For example, Zhonghang Sect had Cao Ying at Tao Achieving, while the vassal sects had at most Void Achieving. If they showed potential surpassing the dominant sects, they would surely face suppression.
Now, the highest cultivation level among the dominant sects has fallen to Nascent Soul realm. They can no longer suppress the vassals in terms of cultivation, only having numerical advantage.
However, once the vassals unite, the numerical advantage will vanish. Especially since Zhonghang Sect has sent two batches of disciples to sleep in Qing State, weakening its power. This gives vassals hope for rebellion, leading them to break free from Zhonghang Sect’s rule and establish their own sects.
"Ancestor, we must punish these dependents. If they don’t pay any price, our Zhonghang Sect will have no place to stand in the future."
"Ancestor, let’s not talk about those superficial things like reputation and status. Those are all superficial. Let’s talk about the practical things. Our Zhonghang Sect’s annual income…"
"Ancestor, and also our territory, we are located outside…"
The senior members of Zhonghang Sect all advised Cao Ying that Zhonghang Sect has many reasons to stop this matter.
The most important thing is from a benefit perspective: Zhonghang Sect’s dependents have to pay protection fees to Zhonghang Sect every three or five years. These protection fees from dependents make up about ten percent of Zhonghang Sect’s total income, which is already quite high.
In addition, there are some other assets, such as some mineral resources owned by Zhonghang Sect, which are far from the sect’s entrance but close to the territories of the dependents. In the past, these dependents dared not have any thoughts about these territories, but now they may rebel and try to take over some of your territory.
"Report…"
"Reporting to the Sect Master, Yunlan Mountain has sent a distress Sound Passing Talisman, stating that they were under attack."
Just as the senior members of Zhonghang Sect were discussing how to reprimand the dependents, a disciple came to report that a territory of Zhonghang Sect in the northern part of Yunzhong Mountain Range had been attacked.
All the leaders were very shocked. Yunlan Mountain is the largest spiritual stone mine on the back side of Yunzhong Mountain Range, producing tens of millions of spirit stones every year. It was also attacked?
"Ancestors…"
"No need to say more. Go to Yunlan Mountain first, tidy up house by house. Do they think they can get away just because they are at the same level?"
Cao Ying looked grim. Originally she hadn’t made up her mind yet, but now it seemed that Zhonghang Sect had to fight this battle. If they don’t act, others will think they are easy to bully, and Zhonghang Sect will have no place to stand.
········
Bing State, Wangxian Sect
Wangxian Sect is also facing severe provocations at the moment. Like other major sects, Wangxian Sect’s vassals are rebelling, and they are more thorough. Several vassals have united and launched a direct attack, almost reaching Wangxian Sect’s mountain gate.
"Brothers, let’s fight against Wangxian Sect. Those damn Wangxian Sect have gone too far. Every year, they demand thirty percent of our income as tribute, and they often bully us too…"
"Fellow Taoist friends, in the past, our sect was just a minor one in the cultivation world. Even if we rebelled, we would just be killed by Wangxian Sect. But oh, heavens have mercy, things have changed. Those high and mighty main cultivators, they are no longer invincible…"
"We all have the same level of skill, we are all at the Nascent Soul stage. Don’t be afraid of each other, my fellow Taoist friends, follow me…"
Several followers at the Nascent Soul stage were loudly protesting. The Wangxian Sect only took about ten percent of their offerings, which was the norm in the cultivation world. But for these sects, they had to give up thirty percent of their income.
Apart from that, followers were often bullied by the main sect. For example, if there were beautiful female disciples that caught the eye of some elders, would you give them or not?
This is a combination of public grudges and private resentments, and with the great changes in the cultivation world, everyone’s cultivation levels dropped, giving them the opportunity and courage.
"Do you hear that? When did the Wangxian Sect become as corrupt as the other sects?"
Hearing the accusations from the other side, Lin Jiang spoke to the top members of the Wangxian Sect, leaving Li Qing and the others feeling ashamed and unable to respond.
In truth, the Wangxian Sect wasn’t that noble either. They just did as the other sects did. So, they had their fair share of flaws just like the rest. It’s all part of human nature, very normal.
Normally, these followers wouldn’t dare to speak up, but things are different now – they dare to rebel.
"Six sect followers, twenty-one Nascent Souls… no wonder you are so frightened. Don’t worry, I will take care of it for you."
Lin Jiang pointed at the enemies opposite, a total of six subordinate factions under the name of the Wangxian Sect, ranked from first to sixth, totaling twenty-one Nascent Souls. It is unknown how many of them were once Soul Changing.
On the other hand, the Wangxian Sect only had around ten Nascent Souls left. It’s not that the Wangxian Sect is not capable, but many were taken away by Lin Jiang to sleep.
"Master, they are here."
Li Qing suddenly said, the enemies opposite, having boosted morale through condemnation, started commanding troops to attack, with six Nascent Souls leading the charge.
"*Explosion sound*"
Lin Jiang wielded the Sagittarius Bow, fired an arrow, powered by the Lamp Burning Technique, increasing its power by fifty times, directly exploding one Nascent Soul, causing damage to a large group of other cultivators behind him.
"Master’s power···"
"Master’s power···"
The disciples of the Wangxian Sect cheered as they saw this, applauding Lin Jiang.
"Boom"
Lin Jiang shot another arrow, this time the man tried to dodge, but Lin Jiang had already locked onto his presence. He circled around and came back, no matter how hard the man tried to avoid it, he couldn’t escape being hit.
Lin Jiang’s cultivation also decreased, reaching the peak of Nascent Soul just like them. However, with his Lamp Burning Technique increasing his power fifty times, his attack strength was almost equivalent to an early stage Soul Changing cultivator, surpassing a normal Nascent Soul peak cultivator by a realm. They simply couldn’t resist it.
He shot six arrows in a row, exploding six Nascent Soul cultivators. Even their vanguard was almost wiped out, leaving their followers pale with fear.
Even on the side of the Wangxian Sect, some people stared at Lin Jiang in shock, as if they had seen a ghost. They wore expressions of disbelief, thinking that since his cultivation had fallen to the same level as everyone else, he was just like them now. They never expected the difference.
"The Nascent Soul cultivators on the other side are almost equal to us now. Their morale is completely shattered. Why aren’t you attacking?"
"Attack, follow me!"
After Lin Jiang spoke, Li Qing finally reacted and immediately rushed out to join the fight.
"I never thought I would truly have my day as the strongest, hahaha."
Lin Jiang watched as everyone around charged out, feeling triumphant in his heart. He had once said he would become the best in this realm, and now that day had truly arrived. Even though his cultivation level was only at the Nascent Soul stage, he believed he was still the best in the world.
"I wonder who can surpass me."
Lin Jiang laughed confidently. With his long lifespan, he could use the Lamp Burning Technique countless times. With a fifty-fold increase in power, he didn’t think anyone could rival him except for Yang Luo.
In less than two hours, the battle ended with Wangxian Sect’s great victory, and Li Qing returned to report.
"Master, how should we deal with these vassal sects?"
"Execute all those above the golden core level. Spare those below for now, demote them to independent cultivators, take over their territories, manage the ones we can directly and give away the ones we can’t. No matter how the world changes, we must continue living. In the future, we must pay more attention to managing our vassals."
Lin Jiang stated the treatment of the vassal sects. In this matter, there was no justice, only self-interest. Therefore, Lin Jiang showed no mercy and decided to eliminate all potential threats at once.
However, Wangxian Sect needed to learn from this. In the past, their management of vassal sects was rough, relying solely on strength to suppress them. But things had changed now. Without the powerful dominance of the main sect, they needed to focus on the art of management.
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"You handle the follow-up, I’m leaving now."
Lin Jiang waved his hand, the provocation against the main sect was a matter concerning the entire cultivation world. Almost every state is now at war, and he had to return to Yun State to see if Cao Ying and Lin Ying could resolve it. If not, he would have to show himself in public.
