Chapter 309: We're Here to Carve It Up

At this moment, Sect Leader Hu of the Red Cloud Sect was thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere. In the past, when he had the chance to visit the Nine Firmaments Sect, he had to keep his tail between his legs and behave himself. But now, the way he looked around was as if he were appraising his own sect.

Sect Leader Hu picked up his teacup, took a sip, then set it down on the table with a clatter. Staring directly at the Nine Firmaments Sect disciple who was serving them, he said with displeasure,

'What kind of tea is this? It's unbearably bitter. Are you trying to insult us, the sect leaders gathered here, by serving such inferior tea?' Hu said indignantly.

He was very familiar with the taste of this tea. When the Nine Firmaments Sect was strong, they used to serve this same tea to guests. But times had changed. Did they think they could fob them off with this tea again?

'Sect Leader Hu, this is the tea our Nine Firmaments Sect has always used,' a disciple said, frowning slightly as he stepped forward.

Just then, a disciple standing behind Sect Leader Hu suddenly stepped forward and slapped the Nine Firmaments Sect disciple, sending him flying.

'Hmph! Our sect leader says it's inferior tea, so it's inferior tea. Hurry up and bring out your best!'

The slapped disciple, his face flushed with anger, wanted to rush forward and fight back.

When had they ever suffered such treatment?

The other sect leaders sat there calmly, watching the scene unfold. They sneered inwardly, waiting to see what the Nine Firmaments Sect would do.

If they couldn't take it and started a fight, that would be exactly what they wanted.

Stir up trouble, then directly seize the sect. The Nine Firmaments Sect had vast territory and abundant resources—enough for them all to share.

The Red Cloud Sect disciple, now standing tall and proud, was inwardly excited. In the past, the Nine Firmaments Sect had been like a mountain in their eyes, impossible to climb over.

But now that the Nine Firmaments Sect had declined, they were like a soft persimmon, ripe for the squeezing.

'You—' That Nine Firmaments Sect disciple was about to say something when someone stopped him.

'Senior Brother...' The disciple, his face red, looked at the one who had stopped him and said indignantly.

'Step back. Have the best tea prepared for the sect leaders. Leave this to me,' Wu Hao ordered.

The disciple was deeply aggrieved, but could only nod.

'Sect Leader Hu, esteemed sect leaders, my apologies for the poor hospitality. I've already sent for new tea,' Wu Hao said, cupping his hands toward the assembled leaders.

Wu Hao was also a formidable figure in the Nine Firmaments Sect, once extremely proud. But now that the Nine Firmaments Sect was no longer what it used to be, he had to set aside his pride to ensure the sect's safe continuation.

'Haha, good. You know how to handle yourself. We won't hold it against you. It's getting late—hasn't the new sect leader arrived yet?' Hu said with a wave of his hand, laughing.

'The sect leader will be here shortly,' Wu Hao said. Then he glanced at the assembled crowd and slowly withdrew. These thirty-eight sects—every one of them had ulterior motives.

The Nine Firmaments Sect disciples bustling about witnessed this scene, each feeling deeply humiliated. They knew these sect leaders—once they had been obsequious, desperately currying favor with the Nine Firmaments Sect. But now they were arrogant, no longer showing any respect.

They understood it was all because the Nine Firmaments Sect had declined.

But the stark contrast was hard for them to process.

They watched the disciples of the thirty-eight sects swagger around, pointing and ordering them about as if they were servants.

Though angry, they knew what they had to do. For now, they had to swallow their pride, or they would cause trouble for their sect leader.

'The sect leader arrives—'

At that moment, Xin Feng approached from afar. The thirty-eight sect leaders, hearing the announcement, turned to look with meaningful expressions.

They did not stand up but remained seated.

The disciples of the thirty-eight sects chatted among themselves, their noise particularly jarring.

'So this is the new sect leader of the Nine Firmaments Sect.'

'I know him—the Nine Firmaments Sect's number one prodigy.'

'Heh, looks like the Nine Firmaments Sect really has fallen. Though he's their top prodigy, his strength is worlds apart from our sect leaders. Even our supreme elders could crush him.'

...

The Nine Firmaments Sect disciples clenched their fists, filled with anger and resentment.

Feng Xiaoling followed behind Xin Feng. Though displeased with the situation, he had already anticipated it.

Xin Feng's gaze was calm, completely unfazed by all this. He walked to the main seat and cupped his hands toward the crowd.

'Thank you all for coming to grace this occasion. I am Xin Feng, and today I assume the position of sect leader of the Nine Firmaments Sect.'

The thirty-eight sect leaders exchanged glances, then half-heartedly cupped their hands and exchanged pleasantries. But they hadn't come here to chat—they had a purpose.

Xin Feng sat down without speaking, and the atmosphere fell into a tense silence.

The disciples of the Nine Firmaments Sect stood behind Xin Feng, knowing that today would not be easy.

Then Red Cloud Sect's Sect Leader Hu laughed. 'The Nine Firmaments Sect has suffered a great upheaval—we all deeply regret it...'

The other sect leaders, hearing the Red Cloud Sect speak, sat up straight, knowing the important matter was at hand.

'However, after discussion, we have reached a consensus. Please hear us out, Sect Leader Xin,' Hu said.

Xin Feng's fingers trembled slightly, then he smiled. 'Please, go ahead, Sect Leader Hu.'

Hu cleared his throat, then looked around and said bluntly, 'The Nine Firmaments Sect was once at its peak and occupied many territories. These territories originally belonged to our thirty-eight sects. For the sake of peaceful coexistence in the future, we suggest that Sect Leader Xin return those territories to us.'

'That's right.'

'Most of the Nine Firmaments Sect's territories were seized from us. Now that enough time has passed, it's time to return them.'

The thirty-eight sect leaders nodded in agreement.

Xin Feng's expression shifted slightly, but he composed himself and said with a smile, 'Esteemed sect leaders, I'm afraid I don't understand. When did the Nine Firmaments Sect ever seize your territories? Those lands were passed down from our ancestors...'

Red Cloud Sect's Sect Leader Hu waved his hand, cutting off Xin Feng mid-sentence.

'Sect Leader Xin, we came here today to discuss this with you in principle. If you insist on going your own way, our thirty-eight sects won't hesitate to go to war with the Nine Firmaments Sect. Think it over.'

Hu's expression turned cold. He didn't want to beat around the bush. The Nine Firmaments Sect had already declined. He had started with polite words, hoping the other party would be sensible and avoid a falling-out. But given the current situation, if he didn't say something harsh, they might not realize their position.

'Then may I ask, Sect Leader Hu, which territories are you referring to?' Xin Feng's hands clenched tightly within his sleeves.

'Hailie Mountain belongs to our Red Cloud Sect,' Hu said, having already prepared his demands. 'The Nine Firmaments Sect has controlled Hailie Mountain for thousands of years, causing great losses to our Red Cloud Sect. If Sect Leader Xin truly wants peaceful coexistence, you can compensate us with a hundred treasures.'

'And what about the rest of you?' Xin Feng asked calmly, though inwardly he was seething.

One by one, the other sect leaders followed suit, stating their demands.

After the last sect leader finished speaking,

the faces of all the Nine Firmaments Sect disciples turned red—not from excitement, but from sheer rage.

Xin Feng stood up, his gaze fixed on the crowd, and said through gritted teeth, 'Are you trying to carve up the Nine Firmaments Sect?'

Xin Feng had been prepared to make some concessions, but he hadn't expected the thirty-eight sects to be so excessive, wanting to carve up the entire sect.

'Don't put it that way. We're only asking for what's rightfully ours,' Hu said.

'That's right.'

'It's time to return them.'

...

The sect leaders nodded in agreement.

'That's impossible—' Xin Feng glared at them.

Red Cloud Sect's Sect Leader Hu glanced at Xin Feng, then sneered as he stood up. 'Whether it's possible or not is no longer for you to decide.'

'Exactly. If the Nine Firmaments Sect doesn't return our territories, our thirty-eight sects won't hesitate to form an alliance and wipe the Nine Firmaments Sect off the face of the Extreme West.'

At that moment, all thirty-eight sect leaders stood up.

They had the Nine Firmaments Sect cornered. If negotiations failed, so much the better—they would just attack and annihilate the sect entirely.

The Nine Firmaments Sect disciples standing there were all furious. This was too much to bear.

Xin Feng took a deep breath.

'Hey, look over there—a war ark is coming!' Suddenly a disciple pointed into the distance and shouted.

Everyone turned to look and gasped. What a massive war ark!

The thirty-eight sect leaders exchanged glances. Could it be that someone else had come to claim a share?

Xin Feng stood there, clenching his fists. Was the Nine Firmaments Sect really going to be treated like a sheep, carved up by these people?

The Nine Firmaments Sect disciples hung their heads, their hearts filled with humiliation. This was a disgrace.