First Courtyard

The Xuantian Branch is divided into one hundred and eight sub-branches, ranked from one to one hundred and eight based on a ranking battle held every three years.

The ranking determines the amount of resources allocated from the main branch, including secret techniques, Medicinal Pills, weapons, and various other resources.

This distribution method is very beneficial for the competition and development of the sub-branches, but it also causes the polarization of the sub-branches to become too severe.

That is, the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker; those in strong positions occupy their spots, gaining more and more resources, and their foundations become deeper and deeper.

As for the 108th Branch where Long Chen is, for many years, its position as the last place has been unshakable.

As a result, the sub-branch can only rely on the meager benefits issued by the main branch every year to struggle along. Without good resources, even if there are good Disciples, it is very difficult to cultivate them.

Thus, the poor are almost starving to death, while the rich are almost bursting at the seams, but this is the rule, and there is no way around it.

If you want to be well-fed, then strive to improve your ranking; only when the ranking goes up will the benefits increase.

Over a million li away from the 108th Branch where Long Chen is located, there is a place surrounded by mountains, with ancient trees reaching the sky, and huge beasts appearing from time to time.

On a high mountain, a complex of palace-like buildings has been constructed, covering the entire Peak.

This is the location of the First Branch of the Xuantian Branch; the mountains within a radius of ten thousand li are covered by a massive Spirit-Gathering Array.

If the Disciples of the 108th Branch were to come here, they would be shocked to discover that the Spiritual Qi here is much denser than when they activate their Spirit Stone arrays inside their Immortal Caves.

At the very top of this incredibly luxurious sub-branch, a tall tower has been built. On the top floor of the tower, several people are gathered, currently looking at an image on the wall.

One of the women is Luo Bing. Beside Luo Bing, a young man who looks around fourteen years old and resembles her slightly is her older brother, Luo Feng, the Sect Leader of the 36th Branch.

In front of Luo Bing and Luo Feng sits a person with a somewhat cold and grim face, his eyes as sharp as knives, making people unable to look directly at him.

This person stands there as if he does not exist, and his whole being feels as if he has achieved a Fusion with the world.

This man is none other than Sha Qitian, known as the First Sect Leader; his cultivation has reached the Innate Late Stage, and he is in charge of the First Branch.

As the Sect Leader of the First Branch, Sha Qitian holds a lofty status and is not someone that ordinary people can meet just because they want to.

But today is different; Luo Feng has brought a precious recording, and now everyone is staring intently at the wall.

The image there is precisely the scene of Long Chen fiercely battling Jiang Yifan. With the divine ring behind Long Chen shocking the world and his battle power reaching the heavens, even though everyone present is an Innate Stage expert, they cannot help but feel a little surprised.

Until the image disappeared, Luo Feng hurriedly said, "Sect Leader Sha, this Long Chen cannot be left alive; he is absolutely a scourge."

This time, Luo Bing took a group of Disciples to slap faces, but as a result, a Supreme-level Genius was crippled, and two Dao-Derivers were beaten half to death. At that time, Luo Feng was almost driven mad with rage.

However, when he heard Luo Bing recount the entire course of the battle, Luo Feng immediately brought Luo Bing to the First Branch.

This matter is equivalent to them taking action on behalf of the First Branch. Since the losses were so heavy this time, it can be considered a card of affection that must be played well.

One must know that Jiang Yifan and those twin brothers are all severely injured, and it is necessary to invite experts from the main branch to take action.

Even if experts from the main branch take action, they would need to pay a large sum of expenses; otherwise, they would not take action voluntarily.

Luo Bing hates Long Chen to the bone, wishing she could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin. Luo Feng is no better; the two siblings are not good people, otherwise, he would not have indulged his sister so much.

At the same time, Luo Feng sees further than Luo Bing; this Long Chen is definitely a terrifying Genius, and he must absolutely not be allowed to grow.

Coming here this time is firstly to subtly claim credit, and secondly to use the hands of the First Branch to eliminate Long Chen.

"As fellow Sect Disciples, how can you kill each other? The 108th Branch having a Genius like Long Chen is something we should be happy for them about; one must not harbor jealousy," Sha Qitian said, shaking his head.

Luo Bing and Luo Feng's expressions changed simultaneously. This was their first time meeting the First Sect Leader, but his attitude at this moment left them both somewhat confused.

At the same time, they felt extremely bitter inside. Damn it, I ended up in this state to help you vent your anger, and you are still making such sarcastic remarks? Are you even human?

However, even if they were dissatisfied, they did not dare to show it and could only hold it in their hearts; even if they were going to burst, they had to hold it in.

"Fellow Disciples should support and encourage each other, and must avoid killing each other. I heard that some of your Disciples were injured during sparring."

"The relationship between our two branches has always been good, and we will take care of the matter concerning those Disciples of yours," Sha Qitian said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng's face couldn't help but show joy. He was much smarter than that idiot Luo Bing and had already heard some clues.

"In that case, thank you very much, Sect Leader Sha," Luo Feng said respectfully.

"What about that Long Chen…" Luo Bing was still a bit confused and said with some worry. After all, she wanted Long Chen to die, and not hearing a reply, she was somewhat unwilling to let it go.

"Long Chen is a Genius of the sub-branch, as well as the foundation of the future of the Righteous Path and a core force in resisting the Evil Path. We absolutely cannot damage a Genius because of infighting," Sha Qitian said indifferently.

"This…"

Luo Bing wanted to speak further, but she was pulled back by Luo Feng, who said to Sha Qitian, "Sect Leader Sha has a broad mind and considers the Righteous Path in everything; I truly admire you. I still have some matters in my Sect, so I will not disturb you all any further."

After bidding farewell to Sha Qitian, Luo Feng dragged the unwilling-looking Luo Bing out of the First Branch.

"Why are you pulling me and not letting me ask? We paid so much for them, and they just dismissed us with two indifferent sentences? Do they treat us like dogs?" Luo Bing said angrily.

Luo Feng scolded her, feeling that she was hopeless: "Last time you were forced to admit you were a pig, I discovered that you really are a pig, with a pig's brain. Didn't you hear the hidden meaning in Sha Qitian's words?"

"Hidden meaning?"

"Although he said we should be united, by taking over the matter of the Disciples, he is acknowledging this favor we owe, and he will handle the rest himself," Luo Feng said.

"Why didn't I hear it?" Luo Bing said, somewhat unconvinced.

"Because you are a pig," Luo Feng said angrily. "Usually, you only know how to cause trouble, bullying this person and mocking that person. When have you ever used your brain?"

"Then… regarding Long Chen, he should at least take a stance."

"Are you an idiot? Didn't he already take a stance?" Luo Feng scolded.

"How did he take a stance? Why didn't I see it?" Luo Bing looked confused.

Luo Feng really wanted to scold her for being blind, but he held it back: "Didn't he say: Long Chen is a Genius of the sub-branch, as well as the foundation of the future of the Righteous Path and a core force in resisting the Evil Path. We absolutely cannot damage a Genius because of infighting."

"I don't understand."

"How do I have such a stupid sister? If I hadn't watched you grow up, I would really think you were born from a pig. His meaning is so obvious: we absolutely cannot damage a Genius because of infighting. That is to say, we can only take action when there is an external struggle, understand?" Luo Feng said.

Looking at the bewildered Luo Bing, Luo Feng knew that he had wasted his breath, so he simply stopped talking and took Luo Bing directly back to his own sub-branch.

After the Luo siblings left, Sha Qitian and the four Elders behind him were silent for a while.

It must be said that the First Branch is too powerful; those four Elders are all in the Innate Middle Stage, their bodies exuding powerful pressure.

"What do you think?" Sha Qitian said after pondering for a moment.

"Very powerful," an old man with white hair and beard said. "However, that Jiang Yifan is just a half-baked Supreme-level expert; in the hands of our children, he definitely wouldn't last fifty moves."

"If it weren't for the main branch seeing that they hadn't had a single Supreme-level Genius in over three thousand years, and him pestering them relentlessly, we would never have allocated this quota to them."

"Although Jiang Yifan is a fake Supreme, it must be said that Long Chen is indeed powerful, and he didn't use much effort to defeat Jiang Yifan, which shows that he still has some reservations," an Elder said with a somewhat solemn expression.

"That's right. The most terrifying thing is that he is only at the Peak of the Blood Condensation Realm. With this level of battle power, I'm afraid that in the entire branch, only Tianyu has such battle power," another Elder also agreed.

Throughout the entire battle, Long Chen was calm and collected, without a trace of panic. Even when Jiang Yifan used his beast-form possession at the end, he remained as steady as ever.

"It's a pity that the Image Recording Jade can only record images and sound. I don't know what Long Chen's will is like, so it's hard to determine what level of Genius he is."

The white-haired Elder who spoke first also nodded and said, "That is indeed the case. Without seeing the actual battle scene, it is indeed impossible to judge."

"However, according to Luo Bing's account, Long Chen's willpower is so strong that it could even make her feel threatened and submissive."

"Although I always feel that she is deliberately exaggerating, with the goal of finding a way to kill Long Chen to avenge her humiliation."

"However, in such matters, I think it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't. Long Chen is a threat and should be given attention."

The other Elders also nodded. Apart from Tianyu, no one has had such a battle record, which made them vigilant.

One must know that the reason why the First Branch has been able to maintain the number one position is that its grasp of information is extremely precise.

Especially regarding various Geniuses who could threaten their position; if they can be recruited, they are recruited. If they cannot be recruited, they can only be made to disappear.

However, regarding the other top ten sub-branches, their guard against them is also very strict. They try their best to hide their Geniuses, saving them to appear only during the Grand Competition.

But obviously, this behavior is not suitable for the 108th Branch. As the bottom-ranked sub-branch, they will always show their most powerful Geniuses, hoping to get more resources from the main branch for cultivation.

Therefore, Long Chen was immediately exposed to the sight of all the sub-branches of the Xuantian Branch.

After a while, Sha Qitian nodded and said, "Since that is the case, then it is decided. Let Long Chen disappear forever in the Nine Li Secret Realm."