Chapter Forty-Six: The Rules Are Announced (Part Four)

Lord Sheng's words stirred something in Wang Li’s heart. As Lord Sheng had said, he was but a small shrimp; was it really necessary to risk becoming someone else’s pawn to play the righteous defender? He felt a little dejected, somewhat disheartened, as if he had glimpsed the collapse of his ideals.

But the others would not allow him the time to wallow in private sorrow.

Ling Xiao said, “Steward Wang, I’ve already contacted several fellow disciples. May I ask how you wish to arrange them?”

Wang Li returned to himself, his gaze complicated as he looked at Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao felt uneasy under his scrutiny and quickly added, “The situation is still unclear; we need you to preside over the big picture, Steward Wang.”

Wang Li was not a man who lusted after power, and besides, this was someone else’s script—before he had figured things out, he didn’t want to worry too much. He really wished he could just throw up his hands and let the true protagonist take over. Yet, having established himself as a lofty figure, he could not simply walk away.

“Very well,” he said, “bring the geniuses from the outer sect, along with Luo Heng, Jiang Yu, Hong Luanfeng, and others. Have them discuss with the team leaders how to deal with the Earth Howl pack. Though the Chosen List has been established, having so many Earth Howls lingering nearby is ultimately unsafe.”

Wang Li surveyed the crowd. “The crisis is largely over. Once you’ve dealt with the Earth Howl pack in the city, go take on your missions. Be careful outside; if you encounter anything you can’t handle, return to the city for help. Vengeance City will always be your stronghold!”

“Yes, thank you, Steward Wang!”

Wang Li was stepping back, and the crowd felt a pang of reluctance. Though he hadn’t led them for long, his abilities and skill were undeniably convincing. In the most chaotic moment, it was he who had stabilized the hearts of ten thousand people, directed the construction of Vengeance City, and, before the Chosen List was announced, gave everyone a goal for survival.

Especially since he acted generously, often gifting precious pills. Everyone present held him in high regard.

These people would have to survive here for at least five years. Five years—neither too long nor too short—but in any case, someone had to be in charge. Although the Chosen List forbade cultivators from taking lives, trouble was inevitable with so many people, so someone had to keep order. Moreover, Wang Li’s status was clear for all to see; for orthodox sects, status sometimes served better than pure strength.

Still, what they really needed was someone to oversee the big picture. Selection was their primary task, and besides… Wang Li had been drawn into the selection himself, which was intriguing.

Thus, they understood why Wang Li was delegating tasks to the disciples, and no one said more; everyone went about their business.

News that disciples of Pure Yang Temple had a Nascent Soul cultivator among them quickly spread through Vengeance City.

Where there is news, there is joy—and worry.

The joy belonged to the disciples of Pure Yang Temple: with a Nascent Soul expert among them, and one of their own, they need no longer fret over the safety of Vengeance City, nor their own security.

The worry belonged to the disciples of True Sun Sanctuary and Suppressing Immortal City.

Originally, Suppressing Immortal City’s disciples, confident in their two Golden Core experts, harbored opportunistic thoughts, hoping to leverage their top-tier power to gain influence in Vengeance City. But two sudden Nascent Soul cultivators threw their plans into disarray, leaving them awkwardly stranded.

Disciples of True Sun Sanctuary felt the same shock.

If they submitted, it would be humiliating. If they resisted, they could not. Who knew what strange events might arise during the selection process? There was a sixth-rank Earth Howl leader in the city, and now Vengeance City had Nascent Soul cultivators. They had also discovered the selection’s realm restrictions—Divine Transformation. With the sudden appearance of Nascent Soul experts, it wasn’t impossible for Divine Transformation cultivators to show up as well. Moreover, the name of Cloud Mirror had spread; if such a prodigy entered the selection, it would confirm that the ruins harbored dangers at the Divine Transformation level.

Whether facing the sixth-rank Earth Howl leader or even greater threats, disciples of the two sects were essentially cannon fodder.

Ling Sword and Mo Qian looked at each other in silence, hearts full of gloom.

What they needed now was a stepping stone to smoothly integrate into Vengeance City; otherwise, they’d lose face when taking on missions.

After all, people care about their dignity, do they not?

But disciples of Pure Yang Temple and the other sects seemed to have forgotten them. They waited a long time, but no one came to offer them a way in.

It was awkward.

They lingered idly in a section of the rear area, until Luo Heng appeared before them.

“Tomorrow we’ll take the initiative, aiming to wipe out the Earth Howl pack in the city. Do you want to join us? I need two helpers to deal with the fifth-rank Earth Howl leader.”

Luo Heng didn’t waste words, getting straight to the point.

Because the true strength of several Earth Howl leaders was uncertain, the two Nascent Soul experts could not act at the same time; one needed to remain as a backup, ready to support fellow disciples if the situation turned dire. Thus, several Golden Core experts were required to contain the other Earth Howl leaders.

Disciples of the two sects were present in Vengeance City, so they might as well be put to use. Besides, everyone would be living in the city from now on; it wouldn’t do to truly ignore them.

The disciples of the two sects had been waiting for just such an opportunity. Even if Luo Heng’s attitude was less than cordial, they had to accept; otherwise, they’d have a hard time remaining in Vengeance City.

Ling Sword said, “No problem, our other disciples can lend a hand as well.”

Mo Qian added, “Assign us tasks; idleness will only make us rusty.”

They simply had to do their part; once they contributed, no one could say anything against them.

Luo Heng replied, “Good, follow me to the central area. The disciples from the other sects are stationed there as well.”

…

As the people of Vengeance City prepared to annihilate the Earth Howl pack, the experts from the fifteen super sects, nearly crushed into dumplings, finally gained release.

When the Chosen List was established, a mysterious force shattered the small space, ejecting everyone inside.

Many emerged battered and bruised, but no one mocked anyone else—none were better off.

Once free, the fifteen bigwigs immediately reached an unspoken agreement and vanished from sight.

Seeing the empty Pure Yang Temple headquarters, countless experts were at a loss.

“Where have my disciples gone?”

“Heavens—has the sect been attacked? I caught a glimpse of the old corpse from Ghost God Sect and the Fire Phoenix from Ten Thousand Demon Abyss. Did they kidnap the disciples? Are they planning to wipe out Pure Yang Temple?”

“Shut up! Didn’t you see the sect leader and several other righteous bigwigs were there too? How could the demonic sects have a chance to kidnap ten thousand people?”

“That’s true. Did you hear anything about a selection when you were transported?”

“I think so. Are you saying the disciples were chosen and that’s why they left?”

“Most likely. Otherwise, the sect leader would have lost his temper.”

“Well, as long as it wasn’t an attack.”

“Let’s disperse, look at the state of you all. Fortunately, the disciples aren’t here, or else you’d lose all authority.”

“Tch, as if you have any authority in front of the disciples!”