Ling Yunzi’s Big Gamble

In front of Ling Yunzi's Immortal Cave, Tu Fang said with a grave expression, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, per your instructions, the benefits have been distributed."

"The guild competition has also been cancelled, and a large amount of Spirit Stone has been distributed to them. During this period, their cultivation should see a significant increase."

The distribution of Spirit Stone will allow the Spirit Stone arrays in those Disciples' Immortal Caves to operate at full capacity for three months. With the support of massive points, it means that in these three months, their cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds.

However, such terrifying consumption is a bit difficult for the branch sect to bear. The original quota issued from above was meant to support them for three years.

But now, the benefits distributed in one go account for almost one-third of the entire quota, which makes Tu Fang somewhat worried.

If this continues, although the Disciples improve quickly, there will be no resource supply later on, and I fear these Disciples will lose the motivation to improve.

"Do not worry. If this trial is successful, we can rely on our battle achievements to apply for more benefits from the branch sect; other branch sects have had such precedents," Ling Yunzi said calmly.

Tu Fang said with some concern, "But those branch sects are all top-ranked existences. They have accumulated too many resources over countless years and possess great strength. I fear that some of their new generation of Disciples have already entered the Middle Stage, and we simply cannot compare."

"After all, our branch sect is the bottom-ranked every year and receives few resources, so we don't have that many resources to Cultivate Disciples, which is why we are being left further and further behind."

Tu Fang truly felt immense pressure. The Xuantian Branch has one hundred and eight branch sects under it, and the competition between them is extremely fierce. The triennial branch sect competition determines the distribution of resources based on the ranking of each branch sect.

To put it bluntly, the branch sect guild competition came about this way, and it is also a means of survival of the fittest.

Originally, the Xuantian branch sects all had names, being called the First Branch, Second Branch, Third Branch… all the way to the Xuantian branch sect where Long Chen is located.

Because they are in last place, they simply don't tell the Disciples about this embarrassing fact, so they just call themselves the Xuantian branch sect.

Otherwise, if they announced it as the 108th branch sect, and a Disciple asked why it was the 108th, it would be quite embarrassing. The honor of being dead last is truly unspeakable.

Other branch sects have the strength to take the initiative to attack the Evil Path, but they do not have that foundation; this is actually gritting their teeth and holding on.

If it succeeds, that's fine; it shows Ling Yunzi has the courage to burn his bridges. But if it fails, and the casualties among the Disciples are too great, when responsibility is investigated, Ling Yunzi might face severe punishment, and perhaps he might even lose the position of Sect Leader.

Therefore, Tu Fang felt that this move was too risky. In fact, the branch sect is currently developing in a good direction, and there is no need to take this risk at all.

"Long Chen killing Wu Qi in four moves made a great impression on me. Long Chen's impeccable Dao Heart and will are unmatched."

"This is not a matter of cultivation level; it is a kind of absolute confidence, honed after countless life-and-death choices."

"You have also seen how terrifying that kind of will is. This is also why our Righteous Path Disciples, at the same cultivation level, find it very difficult to defeat Evil Path Disciples."

"It is still because we are not ruthless enough—not just towards enemies, but also towards ourselves. Only those who dare to risk their lives can ultimately survive."

Ling Yunzi sighed and looked at the Tianmu Mountain disappearing into the clouds, his eyes showing a trace of yearning: "Junior Martial Uncle's words that day completely woke me up. I have been too conservative, which has not only affected the development of the branch sect."

"For these past hundred years, my cultivation progress has almost stagnated. It turns out my Dao Heart had a problem."

"For a cultivator, if one doesn't even have the spirit of adventure, where is the courage to climb to the Peak of the Martial Dao?"

"It is a pity that I have been stuck in my ways for too long and have lost that sharp spirit. I need to use an opportunity to regain my sharp spirit."

After speaking, an invisible will erupted from Ling Yunzi, and even the long sword on his back began to emit a humming sound.

"Clang."

The long sword was unsheathed. Ling Yunzi looked at the long sword in his hand with an apologetic expression: "Sorry, partner, I've kept you waiting for too long."

The long sword in Ling Yunzi's hand hummed incessantly, as if it had a life of its own. At this moment, Ling Yunzi was like an unsheathed sharp blade, his Aura soaring into the sky, as if he had been resurrected, suddenly looking much younger.

The long sword was sheathed. Ling Yunzi looked at Tu Fang: "Now you should understand why I am taking such a risk."

"I have staked both my own fate and the fate of the branch sect. I also want to use this opportunity to trigger an Awakening. I have been dormant for too long, and I need a stimulus to spur me to erupt once more."

"So you chose Long Chen?" Tu Fang said in surprise.

"That's right. Since I dared to bet once, I dare to bet a second time. Since I could win the first bet, I believe I can definitely win the second time," Ling Yunzi said with extreme confidence.

Last time, Ling Yunzi risked the backlash of the Heavenly Dao to determine that Long Chen was an anomaly. This crazy approach made Ling Yunzi very proud.

Now he was going to make a high-stakes gamble, which was to stake the entire future of the branch sect and himself on Long Chen.

Originally, according to Ling Yunzi's personality, he shouldn't be involved in too much Karma with an anomaly, as the consequences would be unpredictable. It might make the branch sect rise strongly, or it might lead to total destruction.

But Cang Ming's words that day touched him too deeply. Since he had already bet once, why not dare to bet a second time?

Since he had already decided to gamble, he might as well make a bigger bet and stake his own fate as well.

If Long Chen could successfully lead the new generation of Disciples to glory, he would gain increased confidence, open his heart's knot, break through the Bottleneck shackles, and achieve another Breakthrough.

If Long Chen failed, he would have no hope of advancing for the rest of his life, and at the same time, the branch sect would suffer a catastrophic blow. Therefore, this was a truly high-stakes gamble.

He understood Tu Fang's concerns, but he trusted his own intuition. Long Chen would definitely not disappoint him. Since he believed, he would let them go all out; burning his bridges was fine.

Tu Fang looked at the confident Ling Yunzi, and his heart couldn't help but stir with excitement. This was indeed a high-stakes gamble. Although the risk was great, once won, the reward would be unimaginable.

Tu Fang was originally a steady and cautious person, even a bit old-fashioned; otherwise, he wouldn't have become the Law Enforcement Elder with the most power in the branch sect. However, he was now moved by Ling Yunzi's words.

"Tu Fang, select some powerful Elders and hurry to train them. Just having strong strength is not enough; their bodies are almost rusting. We need them to escort this group of little ones," Ling Yunzi instructed.

Although the purpose of this time was to train the Disciples' will and thoroughly stimulate their potential, it was definitely not to let them go to their deaths.

If they encountered Evil Path Disciples of the same Rank, they naturally would not intervene, but if an Elder-level figure from the other side appeared, it would be necessary for an Elder-level figure to escort them.

Otherwise, it would not be a trial, but sending the Disciples over to be slaughtered. In the past, it was always the Evil Path that initiated the war.

Although there was no negotiation, both sides tacitly agreed to this method of training, letting the Disciples fight.

The reason the Evil Path initiated it was that even if their Disciples didn't die at the hands of the Righteous Path, they would die at the hands of their fellow sect members. Their rules were more cruel; the weak only had one fate, which was death.

Therefore, Evil Path Disciples were all killed their way out. Although their cultivation was not that strong, their will was extremely firm.

If it weren't for the Righteous Path having a huge numerical advantage, they would not be the opponents of the Evil Path at all. That was why Cang Ming scoffed at this way of cultivating Geniuses, thinking it was providing whetstones for the Evil Path.

Tu Fang agreed and began to select some powerful Elders and Law Enforcement Disciples, getting everything ready.

With only a short three-month period, no one dared to slack off, as this was a major event concerning the future of the branch sect.

If through this trial, some Disciples could become true experts, then in the future branch sect competition, they could compete for a better ranking, and then the branch sect would have a chance to rise.

But if the Disciples suffered heavy casualties, it would be a very big blow to the branch sect, so Tu Fang almost personally and repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of the matter.

After everyone received the notification, they all began to move. They left the branch sect one after another. At their level, a few months of closed-door cultivation had no meaning.

Many people had not fought for too long, and they needed to start killing some Demonic Beasts to let themselves find the feeling of battle.

During this time, A Man and Xiao Xue went with Cang Ming, because both Xiao Xue and A Man needed flesh and blood to improve their strength.

Especially Xiao Xue, who had just recovered from severe injuries, needed more meat to replenish energy. As for the dozen or so Rank 3 Demonic Beasts that A Man had stored, they could only be considered snacks and were eaten up in a few days.

Cang Ming was forced to have no choice but to put some forging Materials into his spatial ring. Fortunately, his spatial ring was large enough, so he packed all the forging tools in one Immortal Cave into it.

Only then did he take A Man and Xiao Xue and continue to go deep into the barren mountains. Cang Ming needed to be responsible for their food, and also needed to forge weapons.

Long Chen's weapon was already promised. As for A Man, with his strength soaring, it increased a lot every day, and the original mace was already a bit unsuitable for him.

Watching A Man grow without limits day by day, Cang Ming was both pained and happy. Every day was just hunting and forging, busy and enjoying it.

With the assistance of Long Chen's Medicinal Pill, the Disciples of the Heaven and Earth Alliance all entered a state of Cultivation, closed-door one after another, and went all out to improve their cultivation.

Song Mingyuan and the others reviving their ancestral patterns was an encouragement to everyone in the entire Heaven and Earth Alliance, making them extremely excited.

And Song Mingyuan and the others also told everyone about the cruelty of the trial, but they patted their chests and promised that no matter when, they, these Core Disciples, would always charge at the very front of the team.

Just a simple promise moved people; this was a demeanor of disregarding life and death, making everyone's blood boil. Even some Disciples who were somewhat afraid in their hearts had their fear diluted a lot.

While the Xuantian branch sect entered a tense state of preparation, Long Chen arrived at the hill where Tang Waner had been flying kites to collect lightning power.

In front of Long Chen sat a jar full of the essence blood of ten thousand beasts. A terrifying blood Aura permeated, and one could even feel the violent Aura within the blood Aura.

These were all the essence blood of Rank 4 Demonic Beasts, which were existences on the same level as the Elders, powerful to an incredible degree.

Long Chen took a deep breath, his face full of anticipation. This was the foundation of his advancement; this time, it all depended on this essence blood.

His large hand slowly reached into the blood jar. Suddenly, his arm shook, and a massive suction force unfolded. "Essence blood of ten thousand beasts, refine for me!"