A Game of Power

This is obviously weakening Golden Crow Kingdom in the name of developing the sect, while at the same time developing a force to keep a check on each of the four Great Dynasties separately.

Jin Long narrowed his eyes and didn't speak, as if agreeing with his thoughts.

At this moment, Jin Long was powerless, and he couldn't do anything about it. The Northern Continent had been unified, and they were all following Li Gang for benefits. Li Gang possessed the support of the Demon Faction and Wei Dynasty and also had control over vast resources like cultivation techniques, pill recipes, forging techniques, array formations, and so on. They all had something to gain from Li Gang, but was this reason enough?

Of course not!

However, the four Dynasties had already been unified, and they all wanted a balanced distribution of power and a leader with a common link to all the factions. If both power and status were centralized in one of the factions, the other four factions wouldn't feel at ease. At this moment, Jin Long was being checked by the other four factions, and thus, he couldn't do anything about it. This was also precisely why Li Gang raised this issue at this moment. He was aware of the situation. If he didn't take control over it now, he wouldn't get a chance in the future.

Li Gang continued. "All the geniuses above A grade will be personally trained by me without exception. I will also share top cultivation methods, array formations, alchemy pill recipes, soul cultivation methods, and forging techniques with the sect. The sect will have four inner sect elders from each of the factions, teaching cultivation art, formation art, alchemy, soul cultivation art, and forging techniques, respectively. There will be an outer sect as well, managed by outer sect elders, four from each dynasty. All youngsters with talent above C grade will be trained by the sect."

As he said that, he took out a large Wisdom Gauge Stone from his space ring and said, "This is the modified Wisdom Gauge Stone. I will also share the method of inscriptions that will be laid on the stone."

Wisdom Gauge Stone was a unique spiritual material that produced different frequencies of radiation when it came in contact with human blood. A higher frequency represented more outstanding talent.

The formations inscribed on this stone detected the frequency range and showed the talent grade corresponding to it. Just like scientific equipment on Earth, formations utilized similar methods and provided meaningful results.

With the new Wisdom Gauge, the talent of every newborn would be tested, and depending on their talents, they would be sent to the sect, trained by the clan, or chosen by Li Gang personally. With this move, Li Gang controlled the fate of the entire Northern Continent! The future lay in the new generation; they were all exceptional talents. Controlling their fate meant indirectly controlling the fate of the entire Northern Continent.

However, it was a slow process. After the catastrophe, the genes of the Warriors started changing, affected by the environmental impact, and new talents started emerging. However, even now, it hadn't yet reached its peak. The change took time, and the upper limit of talent in the Northern Continent was still only A grade. The reason Li Gang took this decision was that he foresaw that soon, S-grade talents would start emerging in this continent, given the trend at which the world was evolving. He foresaw that the upper limit had almost reached S grade. In a few years, S-grade talents would start appearing in the Northern Continent, increasing gradually until one or two S-grade talents appeared every year. How long would it take? Maybe 50 years? Or even 100 years! Until then, he had to firmly grasp control over the continent and stabilize his position as the true ruler.

The meeting was over, and Li Gang returned to Renhuo Trading's main branch with his spatial order. This branch was managed by Wu Meng. Wu Meng had already become one of Li Gang's close subordinates. Li Gang admired Wu Meng's decisiveness and capabilities.

Seeing Li Gang, Wu Meng looked at him curiously. "It appears everything went well."

Li Gang nodded.

Wu Meng was already aware of Li Gang's plans. He was surprised. "Didn't Jin Long question anything?"

Li Gang smiled as he turned to leave. "He is a Rank 7 Warrior. He is smart and has self-awareness. How can he question my decisions?"

Wu Meng glanced at him leaving and asked puzzledly, "I didn't think they were so loyal! It appears his love towards Your Majesty is immense! It is weird for a Rank 7 Warrior to be loyal to a Rank 5 Warrior."

Li Gang smirked. "Love? Loyalty? They are just illusions. I don't have to be the strongest to rule; I just have to be the one they cannot eliminate!"

Li Gang entered his room, got into his ideal position, and started cultivating the Celestial Serenity Technique. The Celestial Serenity Technique was given to him by Wang Xueyao, and he had been cultivating it from the beginning. It was a unique technique that integrated all the elements of the world, giving his body a perfect existence. It not only solidified his foundation but also helped in body cultivation. His body was much stronger than an ordinary Rank 5 Warrior.

Li Gang's understanding of this technique had already grown massively, and now he could even cultivate this technique subconsciously while doing other tasks. Though the effect was reduced in doing so. For example, even when he was chatting with Wu Meng, he was simultaneously cultivating this technique; even when he was meeting the leaders of different dynasties, he was cultivating this technique at the same time. He was already close to Rank 6 now.

His battle strength had also increased overwhelmingly. His understanding of all elements had already been perfected long ago. However, due to his low Soul Cultivation, he was still unable to sense spatial and temporal nodes, and thus, he was unable to use space and time elements.

His understanding of the Blade of Brilliance had already reached near perfection at the advanced late stage! He was now able to integrate various elements within the Blade of Brilliance and make stronger attacks.

Even without any forbidden technique, Li Gang's battle strength was around Rank 6 mid-stage. The gap between minor stages at higher cultivation levels drastically increased. Some exceptional Rank 6 early-stage Warriors could also defeat him with ease.

Shadow Sect, Southern Continent

At this moment, a young man with a bare chest and a large hammer was fighting a dark-complexioned man.

Kong Xuan kept dodging, and with his sharp sword, he was easily pushing the young man back.

"You have to keep up the pace. Even though the hammer is heavy, it doesn't mean you can slow yourself down. It is even more important to increase your speed," Kong Xuan advised calmly.

Deng Wei nodded. "Yes, master."

Kong Xuan came towards him and asked lightly, "Do you know why I took you as my student?"

Deng Wei glanced at him puzzledly. "Why?"

Kong Xuan sighed and said slowly, "Because you possess exceptional luck and perseverance."

'And you can become a common link to control Li Gang, Li Yuxong, and Huang Ling—the three crucial chess pieces!' Kong Xuan added inwardly.

Heavenly Dragon Sect, Eastern Continent

In a certain small world, there were countless Warriors training.

A young man was looking at these training Warriors from a window in a faraway palace. At that moment, he heard:

"Master, Holy Maiden is here."

Meng Xian smiled. "Invite her in."

The maid nodded and immediately went back and invited Wang Xiaoyan.

Wang Xiaoyan saw Meng Xian and immediately bowed. "I have met Senior Brother Meng."

Meng Xian also bowed and said politely, "I have met Holy Maiden. You are even more beautiful than the rumors say."

Wang Xiaoyan smiled playfully. "Brother Meng, how about we speak alone?"

Meng Xian nodded. He waved his hand and asked all the maids to leave.

As soon as the maids left, Wang Xiaoyan's playful look disappeared, and an intense killing intent filled the room.

She said slowly, "Crystal Clear!"

Her eyes turned blue, and her temperament immediately changed from a playful, innocent girl to a ruthless yet ethereal woman.

At that moment, Meng Xian felt immense pressure. However, as a former Rank 8 Warrior, this was nothing.

He murmured inwardly, 'It's just stage 1, and I'm already feeling such pressure. I can't afford to offend her for now.'

In fact, Meng Xian didn't even know what Wang Xiaoyan's Spiritual Imprint actually was. He only knew that during the Grand Inheritance of Ascendance, it was rumored that she possessed a suppressed spiritual imprint. It had two stages—stage one was the suppressed form, and stage two was the unrestrained form. It was said that she had held her ground against nine Rank 8 early-stage Warriors and one Rank 8 mid-stage Warrior alone, as a Rank 8 early-stage Warrior, all while protecting the injured Ye Fan at the same time!

It should be noted that battling a higher-cultivation Warrior at the advanced cultivation stage was much more difficult. The gap between a Rank 8 mid-stage and a Rank 8 early-stage Warrior was similar to the gap between a Rank 6 peak-stage and a Rank 4 early-stage Warrior.

Wang Xiaoyan stepped toward Meng Xian and asked lightly, "Tell me, what do you know about the catastrophe? Who is the Demon King of the South?"

Meng Xian glanced at her blue eyes and said calmly, "Holy Maiden, please sit. We can talk slowly."

Wang Xiaoyan refused. "I want to know now."

"Alright, but on one condition. I want your cooperation in the Inheritance of the Soul Emperor." Meng Xian sighed before continuing, "What do you think?"

Wang Xiaoyan nodded. "As long as your information is worth it."

Meng Xian smirked. "I don't believe in empty promises. But yes, if you can swear upon your dead parents, then I will."

How could Meng Xian trust such promises? The only reason he was willing to let her swear was because he was aware of her obsession with revenge and her devotion to her deceased parents.

Wang Xiaoyan's killing intent intensified, and her Rank 6 aura leaked out, unrestrained. The entire palace began to shake. However, Meng Xian remained motionless, as calm as before.

Seeing this, Wang Xiaoyan nodded. "Alright. Tell me!" she said as she completed her oath. "I swear upon my belated parents that I, Wang Xiaoyan, will help Meng Xian during the Soul Emperor's Inheritance as long as it is within my ability and as long as it doesn't harm any innocents, if the information he provides can help me get closer to my target."

Meng Xian smiled with satisfaction.

He said, "I remember, you had a sister."

Wang Xiaoyan narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"