Chapter 415: The Explosive News Brought by Hong Yi

"Quiet."

Fu Xing felt a headache coming on.

He was still too young; if his old man were here, this group wouldn't dare to be so restless.

As for what would happen to Su Qianqian, Fu Xing couldn't intervene anymore.

In Sheng Shen Dalu, it was survival of the fittest, the law of the jungle—that was the norm.

The Su family's plight was just a tiny snapshot of the brutal Lian Ling world; whether they staged a comeback or were devoured on the spot, it hardly mattered now.

"Everyone."

Picking up from his earlier words, Fu Xing continued: "The spots for the five major forces will be set for now. The final details will be decided through the upcoming challenge matches, as you all choose."

"Now, we'll decide the allocation of the remaining seventy-five spots."

Fu Xing pointed to the large arena nearby, looking at the eager young talents on it, and said: "As in previous years, the remaining spots will be contested on this arena."

"However, this year's rules have changed slightly."

He glanced subtly at the red-clothed Shou Ye below and said: "Battles in Lian Ling Dao will determine twenty-five spots."

"Sword Dao, twenty spots."

"Dan Dao, fifteen spots."

"Zhen Dao, fifteen spots."

Zhen Dao?

Everyone was stunned.

The first few were fine; they were the usual methods for deciding spots in other-dimensional spaces or other trial grounds.

Lian Ling Dao was the foundation of refiners on Sheng Shen Dalu, so using it for competition made sense.

In Dong Yu, ruled by the Sword God Heaven, sword fights stimulated more people to practice Jian Dao, which also made sense.

Dan Dao masters held a superior status, even overshadowing refiners lately, so that went without saying.

But Zhen Dao...

This path was too niche!

Practicing it not only cost money and time but also took a toll on one's hair.

Without decades of groundwork, it was impossible to have a Zhen Dao master skilled enough for this stage.

Yet, this newly added Zhen Dao competition was allocated the same number of spots as Dan Dao.

"This isn't fair!"

After a brief silence, someone immediately objected.

"The major families here can afford to support Dan Dao masters, but those with Zhen Dao masters are few and far between."

"Plus, this wasn't in the rules last year; changing them on a whim is too arbitrary!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone nodded in agreement.

The old man from the Cao family, who had spoken first, stroked his beard in approval. He glanced at the young man beside him and said:

"Or perhaps, the Zhen Dao competition doesn't need so many spots; it's really a waste."

"Better to give some to Jian Dao, which would better showcase the strengths of us sword cultivators in Dong Yu."

Someone nearby was about to nod again but suddenly paused and reacted, bursting into angry curses.

"You sly old Cao, always scheming! Just because your family produced a half-step Sword Sect, you want to boost Jian Dao's spots?"

"Hah, what about it?"

"Well, in that case, why not add them to Dan Dao? Dan is the life-and-death foundation for refiners. Encouraging refiners to study Dan Dao would better ensure our safety!"

Another old man argued passionately.

"Lao Mo, I heard your family recently recruited a Dan Dao master and monopolized the Yuan Court Dan market in Tian Long City. Is this your way of stepping over the Su family to rise?"

Everyone was stunned.

When had the Cao family dared to speak so boldly?

Su Qianqian's body trembled slightly at the main table, but she said nothing.

Only then did everyone realize:

The Su family had truly fallen.

Lao Mo immediately shouted: "Nonsense! I'm thinking of the continent's people!"

"Hah, as if I, Cao Jin De, don't know your ulterior motives?"

"Then is Dan Dao not better than Zhen Dao?"

"Sword Dao is better than Dan Dao."

"You're talking nonsense!"

"You're full of it!"

"You..."

"Quiet!" Fu Xing's eyelids twitched wildly.

This group of old folks together were almost as troublesome as half of Xu Xiao Shou—how could they be so headache-inducing?

Helpless, he turned to the red-clothed Shou Ye below and said: "Senior, why don't you explain it yourself?"

At once, everyone fell silent.

Red-clothed?

This person's arrival had already surprised everyone. Could it be that he was the one who proposed adding the Zhen Dao spots?

Shou Ye stood up with a smile, turned to face everyone, and without any preamble, said:

"You're all right; I added the Zhen Dao."

"To be frank, I just returned from Bai Ku, and the dangers there are ten or a hundred times more terrifying than any of you imagine!"

The crowd was astonished, not understanding what the red-clothed one meant.

"No idea, huh?"

Shou Ye sighed, his gaze sweeping toward Fu Xing, and said: "Ever since the 'Tian Shu Ji Pan' was lost a few years ago, the 'Shi Jie Yuan Dian' has also vanished."

"It was still manageable before, with the 'You Si Jian' holding things together, forcing Bai Ku to stay open."

"But now, with the 'You Si Jian' about to emerge, if the 'Shi Jie Yuan Dian' doesn't return..."

"This time will be Bai Ku's last opening!"

His words exploded like thunder through the crowd.

"The last time?"

"This means Bai Ku will never open again? No more of this treasure land?"

Someone cried out in shock.

Others sensed something off and carefully pondered the explosive news from the red-clothed one.

"Hold on, what did you just say?"

"'You Si Jian' emerging—is that real, not just a rumor?"

Amid the buzzing discussions, someone finally reacted.

This question hit, and the crowd froze.

Everyone's gazes turned fervent; those with swords at their sides were especially restless, nearly jumping to their feet.

The three sword guests tensed instantly, leaning forward as if about to rise from their chairs.

Even Zhang Tai Ying, a pure refiner, realized the dire implications of this statement.

Without official confirmation, Bai Ku had already drawn so many powerhouses.

If even the red-clothed one, a symbol of absolute faith from Sheng Shen Hall, affirmed it...

"That's right."

Shou Ye confirmed without hesitation.

"The 'You Si Jian' has been verified and is about to emerge!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

But before anyone could leap up, Shou Ye swept his cold gaze over them, chilling everyone to the bone.

"I'm not finished."

In an instant, the banquet hall fell deathly silent.

"Go on, go on..."

Everyone's hearts tightened, feeling as if death itself was watching them.

Even Zhang Tai Ying felt a chill down his spine.

This red-clothed one's strength definitely surpassed the Wang Zuo level!

He could be at Zhan Dao, or even beyond.

Couple with the unique "Feng Xu Zhi Li" of the red-clothed organization and his seasoned combat experience...

This person's power probably outmatched all the Wang Zuo experts here combined with a single finger!

Once the crowd was quiet, Shou Ye continued coldly: "Bai Ku's final opening isn't what we wanted."

"But because it's lost its source, the rules there have become fragmented and chaotic, like a completely disordered Zhen array, full of deadly traps everywhere—extremely frightening!"

"So, we need extremely powerful Zhen Dao masters, even Tian Ji sorcerers, to help us."

"The preparations before the other-dimensional space opens must be thorough."

"Tonight, it's not just me visiting this banquet hall; in other county cities, during Bai Ku spot allocations, my comrades are doing the same."

He took a deep breath and said passionately: "Here, I want to use the news of the 'You Si Jian' emerging to rally Zhen Dao masters from across the land to head to Bai Ku for... ahem, enlightenment!"

"This is your opportunity, and also the red-clothed organization's opportunity!"

"Come on—Bai Ku welcomes you!"