Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Fight for Sansen Grass
Do not assume that after Shi Xiaole has understood a tenth of the realm of intent, low-ranked martial arts would become obsolete to him.
In fact, with Shi Xiaole’s current strength, status, and even background, even if he gets techniques from second-ranked martial arts, he would not dare to use them openly.
A common saying is that the innocent can become guilty if they possess something valuable.
In the Cloud Triangle region, second-ranked martial arts are equivalent to peerless martial arts. As soon as others get a whiff of it, there will be a bloody storm.
Currently, Shi Xiaole is not capable of protecting himself.
However, it’s a different story with third-ranked martial arts.
This martial art can be considered powerful without being so rare that it invites coveting. Most of the stronger sects possess it, so there’s no need to worry about attracting others’ envy.
Most importantly, the realm of intent is Shi Xiaole’s trump card, which he can’t use frivolously.
Time flies, and more than half a month has passed.
With Fuyang Qi Skill functioning, Shi Xiaole’s internal power has reached the middle stage of the Hidden Qi Stage. Taiyue Three Green Peaks even reached the perfection of the Transformation Phase five days ago.
Shi Xiaole speculated that his remarkable progress is related to the Huashan Sword Technique.
After all, Taiyue Three Green Peaks originated from the Huashan Sword Technique, which he has thoroughly understood. Hence, his cultivation progresses remarkably well, enhancing his efficiency.
Apart from his internal power and Taiyue Three Green Peaks, Shi Xiaole’s Baihua Mistake Fist and even the Flying Phoenix technique have also reached the perfection of Transformation Phase.
As such, his cultivation, sword technique, knife technique, fist technique, including his flying skill, have all been strengthened. Essentially, there are no weak points or flaws left.
Shi Xiaole even has the confidence that if he fights with the Grand Elder again, he can defeat him even without using his realm of intent.
Just when the disciples of the Huajian Sect were getting excited, striving for the competitive event of the sect in half a month, Yu Fangge suddenly announced a delay of the event.
"What? Delayed? Are you kidding?"
"I heard from the Second Elder. This should be true."
"Why is it delayed?"
"I am not clear on that."
The disciples were shocked upon hearing the delay of the grand event. Many of them felt disappointed, but a small group of lazy disciples felt secretly pleased and even hoped that the event would be cancelled.
"Did they find a large quantity of Sansen Grass?"
As a direct disciple and one of the skilled fighters of Huajian Sect, Shi Xiaole was called to the sect council where the news left him baffled.
In the council, Yu Fangge, the Second Elder, as well as the three direct disciples were all present.
"Sansen Grass is a crucial material for making Blood Rejuvenating Pills and is usually very scarce. As far as I remember, one Sansen Grass is worth no less than five taels of silver on the market," Xiao Yuanbo chimed in.
The majority of the thirteen sects in Mountain Luyan are budding sects who’ve moved here in the last decade. Thus, they have not completely explored the vast Mountain Luyan.
Just a few days ago, a disciple of the Huajian Sect who was responsible for picking herbs accidentally fell off a cliff and discovered a large quantity of Sansen Grass.
The disciple rushed back to the sect overnight to report this news.
Now, Shi Xiaole finally understood why the sect competition was delayed.
A sect in the martial world also needs to make ends meet.
Since the Huajian Sect doesn’t own as many properties as the Golden Phoenix Tower, their primary income, which supports nearly a thousand people in the sect, comes from selling the injury-healing Blood Rejuvenating Pills.
Usually, there is a severe shortage of Sansen Grass, which leads to the overselling of Blood Rejuvenating Pills and a bleak income swithation for the Huajian Sect. Now that a large quantity of Sansen Grass has been found, the sect naturally wants to allocate many people to secure the Sansen Grass.
The thirteen sects based in Mountain Luyan primarily deal with medicinal herbs and pills. Once the other twelve sects learn about this, it will inevitably lead to conflicts.
The Second Elder glanced at everyone and forced a bitter smile: "Don’t be too overjoyed, the news has been leaked."
"How did they find out so soon?" Yuan Qiuwei exclaimed in surprise.
"Because there is a traitor in our sect," the Second Elder hummed, "Several sects have already learned the news and rushed there to gain the upper hand."
Xiao Yuanbo asked puzzledly, "How did the Second Elder know so clearly?"
Caught off guard, Yu Fangge proudly said, "Isn’t it simple? We have also planted people in other sects."
A look of bafflement spread across Shi Xiaole and the other’s faces.
The Second Elder’s face twitched, "Because of the leak about the Sansen Grass, all thirteen sects are on high alert. Even the Changfeng Sect, Duster Gate, and other six sects have had a skirmish."
"To avoid a potential uncontrollable situation, after consulting the senior members of the thirteen sects, it was decided that the ownership of the Sansen Grass will be determined by the disciples of each sect."
The Second Elder cast a deep look at Shi Xiaole and the other three, "The reason we called you here is to hope that you four can help our Huajian Sect obtain the Sansen Grass!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Qiuwei and his companions immediately displayed stern faces, as if they were shouldering a heavy burden.
The Second Elder instructed: "In this contention, be ready to adapt to any situation. More importantly, do not casually resort to killing. As the eldest disciple, Qiuwei, you should exercise restraint. Of course, you should also prioritize the safety of your junior brothers and sisters."
Yuan Qiuwei declared resolutely, "Master, Second Elder, rest assured! Even if it costs me my life, I will defend the interests of our sect and protect my junior brothers and sisters. I will never let other people have their way!"
After more instructions and encouragement, Shi Xiaole and his three companions turned around and left.
"Second Elder, you seem to have something on your mind?"
Yu Fangge asked with a smile.
"Ah, I’m just worried about Qiuwei and the others. Chu Lin, who is also one of the Four Prides of Mountain Luyan, is said to have stepped halfway into the Qi Absorption Realm, becoming even more powerful than before. There’s also Zhao Nanxing of the Iron Sword Sect, who never falls behind others. In comparison, Qiuwei and He Houhua from the Duster Gate seem rather lacking..."
Yu Fangge squinted, remaining silent for a while before laughing, "Why stress about things that haven’t happened yet? Even if we don’t get the Sansen Grass, it can serve as a good learning experience for our disciples. Besides, miracles do happen sometimes."
The Second Elder shook his head, evidently not fully agreeing with this. He sometimes envied, yet was also exasperated with, the Sect Master’s optimism.
Considering that it was a competition involving disciples from thirteen sects, besides their core disciples, the Huajian Sect selected sixteen elites from their six to seven hundred regular disciples. In total, twenty people were chosen to participate.
The rules dictated by the thirteen sects stipulated that the number of participating disciples from each sect could not exceed twenty. Any more and there would be concerns about conflicts escalating into full-on brawls, even worse than a straightforward death match.
Following the leadership of the disciple who discovered the Sansen grass first, the group traversed mountain paths for more than four hours before finally arriving at a densely forested hillside.
Looking around, they saw the slope was scattered with three-petaled purple flowers waving in the wind and releasing a sweet fragrance. This was the Sansen grassland.
Already, at the foot of the Sansen grassland, people from the east and west were packed like sardines, creating an atmosphere rife with tension.
Shi Xiaole quickly estimated the crowd, which was nearly two hundred strong.
By calculating twenty for each of the thirteen sects of Mountain Luyan, a total of 260 participants were expected. Thus, not everyone had arrived yet.
"Zhao Nanxing, you really are an idiot."
As they neared the crowd, Shi Xiaole heard a cold rebuke. The tone of the speaker hinted at an air of annoyance.
"Chu Lin, what did you say?"
Zhao Nanxing was an attractive young man, but being scolded publicly by an archenemy darkened his expression.
Chu Lin responded with a cold laugh.
Due to their geographical proximity, the Changfeng Sect and the Iron Sword Sect, where Zhao Nanxing was a member, were the first to arrive here.
Initially, Chu Lin suggested everyone start harvesting immediately. Whoever harvested more would keep more. Simple as that.
However, Zhao Nanxing, blinded by arrogance and greed, wanted to snatch the Changfeng Sect’s share due to past grudges. This led to a stalemate between the two sects.
By the time the other sects arrived one after another, the golden opportunity to claim the Sansen grass had obviously vanished.
Chu Lin glanced around, considering the elites of the other sects before suggesting, "Everyone, us staying at an impasse isn’t helpful. To avoid a full-blown conflict, why don’t we send out our best fighters to decide the ownership of the Sansen grass through personal combat, alright?"
Upon hearing this, some people immediately objected.
They were loath to admit it, but Chu Lin was indeed the strongest among the disciples of the thirteen sects on Mountain Luyan. Who could defeat him?
Smiling confidently, Chu Lin said, "Everyone, let me finish. I don’t intend to monopolize the Sansen grass. My suggestion is that each of the thirteen sects sends a representative to fight. The first-place winner gets 20% of the Sansen grass, the second to fifth places each get 10%, and the last five each get 0.8%."
The commotion gradually subsided, and many people appeared to be considering this proposal.
Shi Xiaole gave Chu Lin a glance.
Based on the current situation, unless someone is powerful enough to take on everyone else, no sect will be able to dominate the Sansen grass.
Under this premise, Chu Lin’s suggestion of determining shares of the Sansen grass through individual fights is advantageous to him and leaves others unable to object.
The key factor is that there will be ten sects who can get some Sansen grass. Even if the other three sects are not satisfied, they wouldn’t dare take any action for fear of invoking public anger.
"Everyone, how’s your consideration?"
Chu Lin asked confidently.
"I agree."
The first to voice his approval was none other than He Houhua, one of the Four Prides of Mountain Luyan.
"I also agree."
Yuan Qiuwei concurred. For gentlemen like him who could reduce conflicts through one-on-one fights and felt confident about securing their sect’s share, this was naturally the best plan.
With the other three also agreeing, Zhao Nanxing, who was naturally proud, of course would not admit defeat; he grunted in affirmation.
The Four Prides of Mountain Luyan had always been figureheads among the disciples of the thirteen sects. Seeing their unanimous agreement, the remaining people voiced no opposition.
"Very well, which two brothers will come up first to exchange pointers?"
Chu Lin let out a big laugh, hands behind his back, and surveyed the crowd.
Those chosen to represent the thirteen sects were naturally the disciples with the highest martial arts skills from each sect; there was minimal hesitation. Soon, two of them stepped forward and began their intense duel.
