Chapter 558: Ding Hong's Conspiracy

This Flowing Cloud Sect, though merely a sect, had a full five half-step five-star masters in residence. In seventy-seven consecutive Master Grand Competitions, they had taken thirty-six championships, more than half.

The best result the Ten Thousand Nations Alliance had ever achieved was twenty-third place, fifth from the bottom.

When he was king, he had found this out clearly. That was precisely why Ding Mu had been so eager to join the Flowing Cloud Sect back then.

"As long as they are willing to act, not to mention revenge, even making me the Alliance Leader would certainly be no problem!"

His eyes flickered.

If he could get the Flowing Cloud Sect to act, not to mention revenge, even becoming the Alliance Leader would be no big deal.

"But I am just an ant. To get them to act, I must pay a sufficient price."

Ding Hong also knew that a force this large would not help for no reason. Without enough payment and benefit, trying to use them was a pipe dream.

Moreover, to deal with Zhang Xuan, he would have to get past the Ten Thousand Nations City Master Teacher Academy. They would not offend a force of equal standing for his sake.

Before, when he was at the Mortal Shedding realm first layer, perhaps they might have taken notice. Now his cultivation had plummeted to only the Sovereign realm. Such strength before a great force like this was no more than an ant's, easily crushed.

"Unless... I use that news as a bargaining chip!"

His eyes turned cold as he recalled what Ding Mu had told him.

After Ding Mu returned from causing trouble, he had spoken with him privately, saying that the conflict with this Zhang Xuan arose because the latter possessed a treasure that would drive any master teacher wild.

"A personal manuscript by Master Teacher Kong! Any master teacher would be tempted. If I leak this news to the Flowing Cloud Sect, even without my instigation, they will surely act!"

He clenched his teeth.

A personal manuscript by Master Teacher Kong was the ultimate treasure for any master teacher. No one could resist the temptation, not even the quasi-five-star master teachers of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Once the news was out, 'a man may be innocent, but the possession of jade is a crime.' This Zhang Xuan would surely become the target of the Flowing Cloud Sect's attack and die without knowing how.

"No, the Flowing Cloud Sect is too powerful. Once they learn useful information, they will surely kill me to silence me and then find a way to monopolize it..."

Just as he was about to find the Flowing Cloud Sect's residence and tell them the news, his heart tightened.

This sect was so overbearing; if they killed him to monopolize the news, he would have no recourse.

After all, a personal manuscript by Master Teacher Kong was too shocking. The fewer people who knew about it, the better.

Moreover, it involved a four-star master teacher.

"Like this: I will send letters simultaneously to the Flowing Cloud Sect, Mingxia Empire, Huanhai Empire, Luosha Sect, Hanqi Sect... and arrange to meet all their leading master teacher hall masters or sect masters... With so many forces checking each other, even if they want to kill me, they won't dare!"

Having been a king, Ding Hong was meticulous in his thinking and quickly devised a plan: "As for who ultimately gets the manuscript, that's none of my concern!"

His goal was to kill Zhang Xuan for revenge and find a chance to restore his kingdom. As for something like a personal manuscript by Master Teacher Kong, even if he got it, it would be useless, so it was better to use it as a bargaining chip.

"Let's do it this way..."

After carefully considering it several times and finding no problems—it would ensure his own safety and allow him to take revenge—Ding Hong nodded in satisfaction, then disappeared into the crowded人流.

...

In Ten Thousand Nations City, a spacious mansion that looked no different from ordinary residences was, as many forces participating in the Master Grand Competition knew, the residence of the Flowing Cloud Sect, the top contender for the championship.

The Flowing Cloud Sect was founded by quasi-five-star master teacher Mo Liuyun. Although it claimed to be a branch of the Master Teacher Academy under its jurisdiction, it had long become independent, much like a kingdom.

Here, only master teachers were qualified to be sect masters or hold high positions, but besides master teachers, there were countless professionals of other kinds, including many at the peak of Mortal Shedding fourth layer or even Mortal Shedding fifth layer.

For this reason, the Flowing Cloud Sect was deservedly ranked first among the twenty-seven forces near the Ten Thousand Nations Alliance.

Luo Xuan, the Flowing Cloud Sect's most outstanding genius and the most likely champion of this Master Grand Competition, was only twenty-nine years old but had already reached the peak of Mortal Shedding fourth layer.

Stretching lazily, he emerged from cultivation and walked out of his room.

"Senior Brother!"

Before he could leave the gate, a young man rushed over hurriedly.

"What's the matter?"

Luo Xuan frowned.

"Reporting to Senior Brother, someone just delivered a letter, saying it must be handed to the Sect Master!" the young man said.

"A person like my teacher—can anyone just deliver a letter and have it accepted?" Luo Xuan flicked his sleeve.

Luo Huang, the Flowing Cloud Sect's sect master, was his teacher.

A quasi-five-star master teacher, at the peak of Mortal Shedding fifth layer, the Unity realm—if he accepted letters from just anyone, he would not deserve to be called a strongman.

"Where is the letter?"

After his outburst, Luo Xuan held out his hand.

"Here..."

The young man handed over the letter.

Luo Xuan took it and was about to tear it open when the young man quickly said, "The deliverer said there is a special seal on the letter; if anyone other than the Sect Master tears it open, it will self-destruct..."

"You believe such nonsense? If there were a seal, as a master teacher, I would certainly be able to see it!"

Luo Xuan snorted.

As a peak four-star master teacher, his eyesight was sharp. If the other party had left anything, he would definitely have noticed. Now there was nothing on it, clearly a bluff.

Rip!

He tore open the envelope, revealing only a card inside.

Looking down, Luo Xuan frowned.

On it was written a line: "Three days hence, at Wanghai Tower. Matters concerning Master Teacher Kong's relic."

No signature, no name.

Even the handwriting was somewhat messy, clearly not his own.

"Who delivered it?"

Putting the card away casually, Luo Xuan frowned.

"It was a person in a black robe; I didn't see his face clearly..." the young man said quickly.

"Where is he now?"

"He's already gone..." the young man said.

"Let him go then. Don't tell anyone about this. I'm going to see my teacher now!" Luo Xuan instructed, then turned and walked toward the central courtyard of the mansion. Before long, he arrived.

In the courtyard, a middle-aged man was practicing boxing. His movements were slow, but each punch whistled through the air, giving a strong sense of pressure.

The Flowing Cloud Sect's sect master, Luo Huang!

The strongest among the twenty-eight forces near the Ten Thousand Nations Alliance.

Seeing him enter, Sect Master Luo Huang stopped his practice and stood upright, smiling: "You're here!"

"Teacher!"

Luo Xuan clasped his fists: "Someone just delivered a letter..."

"A letter?" Taking a towel to wipe the sweat from his head, Sect Master Luo Huang looked over.

He knew his student's character; without something special, he would not come personally.

A single letter that made him interrupt his cultivation must be very important.

"Yes..." Luo Xuan handed over the card.

"Master Teacher Kong's relic?" After glancing at it, Sect Master Luo Huang frowned: "What do you think?"

"Disciple thinks that since it concerns Master Teacher Kong, it should not be a lie. Besides... in such matters, it's better to believe it exists than not!" Luo Xuan said quickly.

"Master Teacher Kong, the Heavenly Man, ascended into the heavens. The relics he left behind are few. If this is true, no matter what it is, its value is immeasurable. It could easily allow me to advance to five-star master teacher!"

Sect Master Luo Huang nodded.

Master Teacher Kong was the founder of the Master Teacher Academy, the first master teacher in history. Any relic he left behind, no matter how small, contained true meaning and was invaluable to later generations.

The other party left a card indicating he had such an item, suggesting it might indeed be real.

Besides, whether real or not, it was an opportunity not to be missed.

"Teacher means..."

Luo Xuan looked at him.

"Naturally, we go and see!" Sect Master Luo Huang nodded: "By the way, what is this Wanghai Tower?"

"It's the most famous restaurant in Ten Thousand Nations City, and the busiest place. Choosing this location, this fellow is probably covering his escape route." Luo Xuan said.

As a four-star master teacher, he could easily see through the other party's little scheme.

"Probably not only that." Sect Master Luo Huang saw further and shook his head.

"Not only that? What does Teacher mean?" Luo Xuan was puzzled.

"Simple. If he could send us a letter, he could certainly send letters to others as well. Arranging to meet us at the restaurant is likely to wait for the best offer and sell at a good price!"

Sect Master Luo Huang said.

"Wait for the best offer? Damn, I'll send someone to catch this fellow..."

His pupils contracted, and Luo Xuan spoke hastily.

The Flowing Cloud Sect was not afraid of waiting for the best offer. As the strongest force, with a quasi-five-star master teacher in residence, they had no shortage of money.

What they feared was... that this information was not exclusive.

If other forces found out and competed for it, they would be put in a passive position, causing no small trouble.

Even if the news reached the headquarters, no matter how eagerly they competed, it would be like fishing for the moon in water.

"No need to go; it's already too late!" Sect Master Luo Huang shook his head: "First, we don't know if the person who delivered the letter was the actual sender. Even if he was, you can't be sure that ours was the first one delivered. Perhaps... other forces already know by now!"

"Then... what do we do?"

Luo Xuan asked anxiously.

"Suppress the news; don't tell anyone. In three days, take me to Wanghai Tower. I want to see who this person is and what kind of Master Teacher Kong relic he has. If he is lying and deliberately mocking us, I'm afraid even without my intervention, others will tear him to pieces!"

Sect Master Luo Huang waved his hand.

"Yes!" Luo Xuan nodded.

The same scene played out in other forces as well.

Mingxia Empire, Huanhai Empire, Luosha Sect, Hanqi Sect, Baiyang Sect, Luoqian Sect...

More than a dozen of the top-ranked forces participating in this Master Grand Competition received letters simultaneously, and the sect masters or hall masters leading them all saw the content on the cards.

For a time, all forces were in turmoil. Every strongman awaited the arrival of three days later, eager to see who the sender was and what kind of Master Teacher Kong relic he possessed.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuan was standing by the window of the spirit beast's back, watching the white clouds and mountain ranges flash beneath his feet, his face full of dejection.

"My student was taken away by them. I should have asked that Special Envoy Liu Xuan for more spirit stones... Even if she didn't give them, helping her with guidance would have earned me a lot! What a failure!"

"Help Special Envoy Liu Xuan with guidance?"

Seeing his regretful expression and hearing his muttered words, Hall Master Kang went stiff all over.