Chapter 076：Cruel rules

Nan Gong Ling's gaze gradually turned cold and sharp, as sharp as a sword. 

Chu Qing, the patriarch of the Hao Yue Sect, father of Chu Zhanpeng, the Young Master of Da Peng. 

On a cold snowy day, the owner of Snowy Ice Villa. 

Teng Wushan, Deputy Gatekeeper of Wanwu Gate. 

Duan Tianlang, a prince of the royal family, is also the father of the younger prince Duan Han who visited Yunhai Sect a few days ago. 

Apart from the Luo Xiaozong Sect located in the border area and the Yue and Yu families in the Imperial City, the other four forces, including the royal family, also appeared uninvited at the same time. Moreover, they did so on the day of the Great Competition of the Yunhai Sect. Clearly, it was impossible for them to come to celebrate. 

"Lord Nan Gong, I'm here with all of you. Please don't take it personally." 

Duan Tianlang stood on the huge sword, wearing white armor and looking imposing. When his words ended, the huge sword directly landed on the grandstand, making a rumbling sound that never ceased. The foot of the grandstand directly turned into powder under the force of that sword's energy. 

Meanwhile, Chu Qing, Han Xue Tian and Kun Mian all landed on the stands, behaving arrogantly and with no regard for others. 

Beside Duan Tianlang, Duan Leng stared coldly at Nan Gong Ling. That day when he was bullied by Nan Gong Ling and left, he had been harboring a grudge in his heart ever since. Today, it was time for Yunhai Sect to suffer his retribution. 

"Ha ha, it's my honor that the King of the Wolves can visit our Yunhai Sect. " Nan Gong Ling said with a smile, though his heart was cold inside. "But I wonder why the King of the Wolves and all the sect heads and masters have come?" 

"Not long ago, Xiao Danjuan came here. His purpose must have been clear to Lord Nan Gong. Your Majesty has a broad vision and is preparing to establish the Snow and Moon Holy Order. It requires the joint efforts of all of you. Moreover, the other masters and heads of the sects have all agreed to your Majesty's request. Only the Yunhai Sect is different..." 

When it came to this part of the conversation, Tianlang paused for a moment, smiling but not saying anything. 

"Huh?" A strange glint flashed in Nan Gong Ling's eyes. Chu Qing, Han Xue Tian and others, who were all cunning and astute individuals, how could they possibly hand over the talented disciples of the sect? They should be well aware that once the disciples were handed over, in the future, they would most likely become part of the royal family's power rather than their own. 

However, when Chu Qing and others heard what Duan Tianlao said, their expressions remained calm. It seemed that this was the case all along, which puzzled Nan Gongling. 

"How did the Wolf King plan to act that day?" asked Nan Gong Ling. 

"Since Lord Nangong refused to send someone to the Emperor, then I have no choice but to personally select someone for the Emperor. Coincidentally, today is the grand competition of the Yunhai Sect. I can see the talents of the Yunhai Sect disciples and can make my choices one by one." Duan Tianlao spoke straightforwardly and with a domineering tone. 

The faces of all the people on the side of Yunhai Sect changed. How audacious! What kind of place is Yunhai Sect? Who are the people of Yunhai Sect? Are they chosen at will by them? 

"Then what if I don't agree?" Nan Gong Ling's voice was slightly colder. 

"Master Nan Gong will agree. Just like other extremely powerful sect leaders do. " Duan Tianlao's words were filled with intense confidence, as if no one could resist his words. 

"Master Nan Gong, don't rush to argue yet. Let the disciples of Yunhai Sect compete in the sect-wide contest. They should strive to perform well. Snow Moon Holy Academy, don't choose mediocre talents. Just make sure they can enter Snow Moon Holy Academy. The Snow Moon Kingdom will be your support. There are endless supplies of elixirs and weapons. You can freely choose powerful martial arts and skills. They will become the sharp blades of Snow Moon." 

Duan Tianlang's words were addressed to the disciples of Yunhai Sect. His voice was full of temptation. As long as one joined Xue Yue Holy Temple, there would be endless martial arts and skills, as well as powerful weapons and elixirs. What a wonderful thing! For those disciples of the sect who yearned for great strength, it was extremely alluring. 

They came to Yunhai Sect for cultivation and to become stronger. If Xue Yue Holy Order could offer better opportunities, why would they still be in Yunhai Sect? 

At this point, many people's hearts were already stirred with eagerness, secretly reminding themselves that they must give their all in the grand competition. 

"Despicable." 

Nan Gong Ling muttered under his breath, "That stratagem of yours, Duanyang Luan, is really not very clever. But it works quite well." 

What made Nan Gong Ling even more intolerable was that this was a blatant provocation against Yun Hai Sect. 

"I'm curious to see who will defect from the Yunhai Sect." Nan Gong Ling's heart was cold. Addressing Duan Tianlao, he said, "Since King Tianlao desires to witness the grand competition of the Yunhai Sect, Nan Gong Ling will do his best to facilitate it." 

"For the Grand Competition of the Sect, the battle between the Outer Door disciples and the Core Door disciples for ranking has been postponed. It will be resumed at another time. Today, only the Inner Door disciples will engage in the battle." 

Upon hearing Nan Gong Ling's words, the crowd was in uproar. But upon reflection, they soon understood Nan Gong Ling's meaning. 

The junior disciples are too weak. Revealing their inferiority at this moment would be a disgrace for Yunhai Sect. The core disciples are the backbone of the sect and will be the successors of Yunhai Sect in the near future. Their strength should not be exposed too early. Conducting the grand competition among the junior disciples is just the right thing to do. 

Duan Tianlang's eyes sparkled with a peculiar smile. "So, is this going to work?" 

"Inner disciples, according to the ranking on the stone wall, went up to the deathbed platform and lined up in order." 

Nan Gong Ling spoke again. Immediately, the eighty-one names inscribed on the stone wall, the owners of which, all stepped onto the death and life platform, attracting the attention of the entire crowd and achieving an extremely glorious status. 

"For this Inner Gate Grand Contest, I'll also make some adjustments to the rules. Anyone who wishes to participate in the ranking battle must first challenge the Inner Gate disciples ranked within the top eighty-one. The winner will be eligible to take part in the ranking battle. Moreover, the challenger is not allowed to challenge the same person consecutively." 

Nan Gong Ling continued to speak. The crowd erupted into a commotion again. Many people felt disappointed. They had hoped to show off their skills at the clan competition and test their abilities, but it seemed that there would be no chance after all. 

"Also, in this challenge battle, the qualification is at stake, life and death are involved... no restrictions." 

"Boom." Everyone's heart skipped a beat. Life and death, there was no limit. 

If they challenge the Inner Gate disciples ranked within the top eighty-one, they will surely be hated by their opponents. With this rule in place, they might very well lose their lives. This means that they simply cannot afford to lose. 

Victory, has just qualified for the ranking battle. Defeat, however, would have dire consequences, even potentially costing one's life. 

"Not worth it." 

"Putting one's life on the line to compete for the qualification of the ranking battle is just not worth it. At worst, one can simply withdraw and participate in the major competition next year." 

Countless disciples shook their heads and murmured among themselves, "This is too risky. It's not worth it." 

"Lin Feng, Master Zong, you are so ruthless! Now that I have entered the realm of Spirit Martial, I'm only at the first rank of that realm. But those eighty-one people on the stone walls, the weakest one is at the second rank of Spirit Martial. I guess there's no hope for me." 

Han Man gave a bitter smile. Originally, he had intended to have a fierce battle in the clan competition, but he never expected it to turn out like this. 

Lin Feng's eyes flickered as he looked at Nan Gong Ling on the stands. This rule was indeed very ingenious. However, it was truly capable of eliminating those who were not strong in their abilities or lacked courage, making the participants all be elites with strength and the courage to fight. This was exactly the effect that Nan Gong Ling wanted - to show the best side of the Inner Gate disciples to those outsiders. 

"The disciples ranking within the top eighty-one are right there on the Deathbed Platform. Now, other Inner Gate disciples can challenge any of them and fight on the central Deathbed Platform." 

Nan Gong Ling finished speaking and sat down, glancing at Duan Tianlao and others for a moment. 

"Rou Li, I wish to challenge Yu Lin." 

A figure jumped onto the Death and Life Arena and said loudly, "Since one cannot challenge the same person, the one who challenges first undoubtedly holds the advantage. One can choose the last-ranked among the eighty-one contestants, and Yu Lin is ranked eighty-first." 

At this moment, Yulin looked very displeased. It was indeed the first time that someone challenged him and it really embarrassed him. 

"Challenger, kill without mercy." 

Wen Renyan, standing at the very front of the crowd, moved his lips slightly and his voice was cold. This made all the Inner Gate disciples who were about to challenge themselves feel startled. This guy... 

"OK." 

Yulin nodded at Wenren Rock, then jumped onto the Lifes and Death Platform. With his Poison Dragon Fist, he unleashed a full-force attack without any intention of holding back. Even if Wenren Rock didn't warn him, he would still kill him. 

...

After a short while, about a chun of time, the area of Fengyun Gorge and Shengsi Platform became exceptionally quiet. 

The gazes of the crowd all focused on one spot, the central death-challenge platform. There, the blood had stained the platform red all over. On it lay five corpses. All of these five corpses were challengers, without exception. They all lost and were killed on the spot. Even the corpses were not cleared away. 

To lose is equivalent to death. 

The cruel and bloody lessons have gradually extinguished the flames in the hearts of those who wanted to challenge. 

Moreover, what these five people are challenging is merely the last five in the ranking. If they want to challenge again, they will have to do so against those with even higher rankings. 

Being able to engrave one's name on the glory stone wall of the Inner Gate's disciples, as expected, none of them are mediocre. 

Nan Gong Ling was sitting on the stands, his gaze calm and composed. Perhaps this bloody lesson would make these disciples have a profound understanding of their hearts, and become more aware of the harshness of martial arts. 

Only when one possesses an extremely firm and resolute heart can one forge ahead fearlessly. Those who are afraid to advance due to the harshness and brutality have no right to pursue the peak of martial arts. 

"A bunch of losers, still trying to secure a spot in the ranking battle. Death, it seems, can finally extinguish your fantasies." 

Wen Renyan pointed at the five corpses on the stage and coldly surveyed the crowd, as if he were looking down upon them from above and was extremely proud. 

He is the first disciple of the Inner Sect. However, these people don't even have the qualification to participate in the Inner Sect's ranking battle. 

The faces of all the people were grim, but they dared to express their anger but not to speak out. Wen Renyan was always domineering, but his innate talent and strength were outstanding, and he was highly regarded by the sect. No one dared to provoke him. 

"Master, I think we can start the ranking battle now. They, have no chance." 

Wen Renyan turned his gaze to Nan Gong Ling and said. 

Nan Gong Ling surveyed the crowd with his eyes, giving a slight nod. Wen Renyan was indeed a rare genius of the Yunhai Sect, and he would surely become a pillar of the sect sooner or later. However, he was a bit too arrogant. 

"Laughable." 

Just at this moment, a mocking voice suddenly rang out in the space, causing ripples to spread in the hearts of the crowd. 

Wen Renyan raised his eyebrows and scanned the crowd with his gaze. Then, his eyes fell upon a certain spot, and a cold light flickered in them. 

"It's you again." Wen Renyan's tone was icy cold, revealing a murderous intent. 

"Where do you think is funny?" 

"Right now you are the top contender in the Inner Court. Standing at that elevated position, you look down upon those beneath you and call them trash. However, at some point in the past, weren't you yourself also starting from the position of a nobody and then rose to your current status?" 

Lin Feng's lips curled into a sneer. Wen Renyan was arrogant and self-important. It was time to make him realize his mistakes.