Chapter 575: Ding Hong's Conspiracy

The Flowing Cloud Sect, though merely a sect, boasts five half-step 5-star master teachers presiding over it. In 77 consecutive Master Teacher Competitions, they have claimed victory 36 times, more than half of all championships.

In contrast, the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance's best result was only 23rd place, which placed them fifth from the bottom.

When he was king, he had thoroughly investigated this. It was precisely why Ding Mu had been so determined to join the Flowing Cloud Sect.

"As long as they are willing to act, let alone revenge, even making me the Alliance Leader would certainly be no problem!"

His eyes gleamed.

If the Flowing Cloud Sect would agree to act, then seeking revenge, or even becoming the Alliance Leader, would be minor matters.

"However, I am but an ant. To get them to act, I'll definitely need to offer a significant price."

Ding Hong knew that such a formidable power wouldn't offer help for free. To expect them to act without sufficient compensation or benefit would be a pipe dream.

Furthermore, dealing with Zhang Xuan would undoubtedly involve confronting the Myriad Kingdoms City Master Teacher Pavilion. The Flowing Cloud Sect wouldn't risk offending an equally powerful entity just for him.

When he was at Transcendent Mortal 1-dan, they might have paid him some attention. But now, his cultivation had plummeted, leaving him only at the Zhizun realm. With such strength, before a major power like the Flowing Cloud Sect, he was barely stronger than an ant and could be crushed effortlessly.

"Unless... I use that piece of information as a bargaining chip!"

His eyes turned cold as he recalled what Ding Mu had told him.

After Ding Mu returned from his escapade, he specifically spoke with Ding Hong, explaining that his conflict with Zhang Xuan stemmed from a treasure in Zhang Xuan's possession—a treasure that would drive any master teacher to madness.

"A personal inscription from Confucius! No master teacher could resist such a thing. If I leak this news to the Flowing Cloud Sect, they will surely make their move, even without my persuasion!"

He gritted his teeth.

For master teachers, a personal inscription from Confucius was undoubtedly the greatest treasure. No one could resist such a temptation, not even the quasi-5-star master teachers of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Once the news was leaked, Zhang Xuan, like a man possessing a treasure without the power to protect it, would surely become the Flowing Cloud Sect's target. He wouldn't even know what hit him.

"No, that won't work. The Flowing Cloud Sect is too powerful. Once they know about this valuable information, they'll surely kill me to silence me and then figure out a way to keep it all for themselves..."

Just as he was about to locate the Flowing Cloud Sect's residence to deliver the news, a sudden chill ran through him.

The sect was so dominant; if they killed him and monopolized the information, he would be powerless.

After all, a personal inscription from Confucius was too astonishing; the fewer people who knew about it, the better.

Moreover, it implicated a 4-star master teacher.

"Here's what I'll do: I'll simultaneously send letters to the Flowing Cloud Sect, Mingxia Empire, Huanhai Empire, Luosha Sect, Cold Qi Sect, and others... I'll invite all their leading Master Teacher Pavilion Masters or Sect Leaders to meet. With so many forces acting as mutual deterrents, even if they wanted to kill me, they wouldn't dare!"

As someone who had once been a king, Ding Hong possessed a meticulous mind and quickly formulated a plan. "As for who ultimately obtains the personal inscription from Confucius," he thought, "that will no longer concern me!"

His true objective was to avenge himself by killing Zhang Xuan and finding an opportunity to restore his kingdom. As for a personal inscription from Confucius, it would be useless to him even if he obtained it; it was far more valuable as a bargaining chip.

"This is the way..."

After carefully considering the plan several times and finding no flaws—it guaranteed his safety while allowing him to seek revenge—Ding Hong nodded with satisfaction. His figure then melted into the bustling crowd and vanished.

In Myriad Kingdoms City, a spacious mansion, outwardly unremarkable, was known by all the forces participating in the Master Teacher Competition as the residence of the Flowing Cloud Sect—the strongest contender for the championship.

The Flowing Cloud Sect, founded by quasi-5-star Master Teacher Mo Liuyun, was ostensibly a branch of the Master Teacher Pavilion under the headquarters' jurisdiction. In reality, however, it had long been independent, operating much like a kingdom.

Within the sect, only master teachers were qualified to become sect leaders or hold high positions. However, besides master teachers, there were also countless other professionals, including many formidable individuals at the peak of Transcendent Mortal 4-dan, and even some at Transcendent Mortal 5-dan.

It was precisely for these reasons that the Flowing Cloud Sect ranked first among the 27 powers bordering the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance, a truly well-deserved position.

Luo Xuan, the Flowing Cloud Sect's most formidable genius, was the prime candidate to win the championship in this Master Teacher Competition. Though only twenty-nine years old, his cultivation had already reached the peak of Transcendent Mortal 4-dan.

He stretched lazily, recovering from his cultivation, and then stepped out of his room.

"Senior Brother!"

Before he even reached the main door, a young man rushed toward him.

"What's wrong?"

Luo Xuan frowned.

"Reporting, Senior Brother," the young man said, "someone just delivered a letter and said it was for the Sect Leader!"

"Someone of my teacher's stature accepts letters from just anyone?" Luo Xuan scoffed, flicking his sleeve.

Luo Huang, the Sect Leader of the Flowing Cloud Sect, was indeed his teacher.

A quasi-5-star Master Teacher at the peak of Transcendent Mortal 5-dan, Harmonization Realm—with such power, he wouldn't deserve to be called a powerhouse if he accepted letters from just anyone.

"Where's the letter?"

With a snort, Luo Xuan extended his hand.

"Here it is..."

The young man handed over the letter.

Luo Xuan took the letter, and just as he was about to tear it open, the young man hastily added, "The sender said there's a special mark on the letter. If anyone other than the Sect Leader opens it, it will be immediately destroyed..."

"You believe such nonsense?" Luo Xuan scoffed. "If there were any special mark, as a master teacher, I would certainly be able to detect it!"

Luo Xuan snorted softly.

As a peak 4-star master teacher with keen perception, he would certainly have detected any hidden marks. Since there was nothing, it was clearly a ruse.

*Rip!*

He tore open the envelope to find only a single card inside.

He looked down, and Luo Xuan's brows furrowed.

It read: "Three days from now, Wanghai Tower. Concerning Confucius's relic."

There was no signature or name.

Even the handwriting was somewhat messy, clearly not his own.

"Who sent this?"

Luo Xuan put the card away casually, his brows still furrowed.

"It was someone in a black robe," the young man hastily replied. "I didn't get a clear look at their face..."

"Where are they now?"

"They've already left," the young man replied.

"Let them go," Luo Xuan instructed. "Don't tell anyone about this. I'm going to see my teacher now!" He turned and walked towards the innermost courtyard of the mansion, arriving there shortly.

In the courtyard, a middle-aged man was practicing his fist art. His movements were slow, yet each punch whistled with the wind, exuding an immense sense of pressure.

It was Luo Huang, the Sect Leader of the Flowing Cloud Sect!

He was the most powerful individual among the twenty-eight forces near the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance.

Seeing him enter, Sect Leader Luo Huang ceased his movements, stood tall, and smiled. "You're here!"

"Teacher!"

Luo Xuan cupped his fist and said, "Someone just delivered a letter..."

"A letter?" Sect Leader Luo Huang asked, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel, then looked at him.

He knew his student's character; Luo Xuan wouldn't have come in person unless it was something important.

For a mere letter to interrupt his cultivation, it had to be extremely important.

"Yes..." Luo Xuan handed over the card.

"Confucius's relic?" Sect Leader Luo Huang asked, his brows furrowing after a quick glance. "What do you make of this?"

"Your disciple believes that since it concerns Confucius, it's unlikely to be a lie," Luo Xuan hastily replied. "Furthermore... for matters like this, it's always better to err on the side of caution and believe it could be true!"

"Heavenly Master Confucius ascended to the heavens, leaving behind very few relics," Sect Leader Luo Huang mused. "If this is true, whatever it is, its value would be immeasurable! It could easily allow me to advance to a 5-star Master Teacher!"

Confucius was the founder of the Master Teacher Pavilion and the first Master Teacher in history. Anything he left behind, no matter how small, would contain profound truths, making it infinitely valuable if acquired by a successor.

The fact that the sender left a note specifically mentioning such an item suggested that it was likely genuine.

Moreover, whether it was real or not, it was an opportunity they dared not miss.

"Teacher, you mean..."

Luo Xuan looked at him.

"Naturally, we'll go and see!" Sect Leader Luo Huang nodded. "By the way, where is this Wanghai Tower?"

"It's the most famous and busiest restaurant in Myriad Kingdoms City," Luo Xuan replied. "Choosing that location, this person is likely trying to ensure a way out for themselves."

As a 4-star master teacher, he could easily discern the sender's intentions.

"It's likely more than that!" Sect Leader Luo Huang said, shaking his head, his gaze more far-reaching than his student's.

"More than that? What do you mean, Teacher?" Luo Xuan asked, puzzled.

"It's simple," Luo Huang explained. "The person who sent us this letter surely sent similar ones to others. Inviting us to the restaurant is likely a strategy to play us against each other and fetch a higher price!"

"Play us against each other? Oh no! I'll send someone to bring this person back right away..."

Luo Xuan's pupils contracted as he spoke hastily.

The Flowing Cloud Sect wasn't afraid of being played against others; as the strongest power, with a quasi-5-star Master Teacher presiding, they had no shortage of resources.

What they feared was that the information wasn't exclusive.

If other forces also learned of it and joined the competition, they would find themselves in a passive position, leading to considerable trouble.

Moreover, if the news reached the headquarters, any gains they made from the competition would be for naught.

"No need to go; it's already too late!" Sect Leader Luo Huang shook his head. "First, let's not even consider whether the sender was the person themselves. Even if they were, you can't guarantee that we were the first to receive it. Perhaps... other forces already know by now!"

"Then... what should we do?"

Luo Xuan asked anxiously.

"Keep this news under wraps; don't tell anyone," Sect Leader Luo Huang instructed. "Three days from now, take me to Wanghai Tower. I want to see who this person is and what kind of Confucius relic they have! If it's a lie, if they're deliberately playing a trick on us, I likely won't even need to act—others will tear them to shreds!"

Sect Leader Luo Huang waved his hand.

"Yes!" Luo Xuan nodded.

A similar scene was simultaneously unfolding within other major powers.

The Mingxia Empire, Huanhai Empire, Luosha Sect, Cold Qi Sect, Baiyang Sect, Luoqian Sect...

Over a dozen of the top-ranked powers participating in the Master Teacher Competition simultaneously received letters, and their respective sect leaders or pavilion masters, who led their delegations, all saw the contents of the cards.

Instantly, a ripple of excitement surged through all the powers. One by one, their powerful leaders awaited the coming of three days, eager to discover the identity of the mysterious sender and what kind of Confucius relic was truly at stake.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuan stood by the window on the spiritual beast's back, watching the white clouds and mountain ranges flash by beneath him, a look of dejection on his face.

"They took my student, I should have demanded more spirit stones from Special Envoy Liu Xuan," he muttered to himself. "Even if she didn't give them, just giving her some pointers would have earned me a lot! What a failure!"

"Help Special Envoy Liu Xuan with pointers?"

Seeing his remorseful expression and hearing his mumbled words, Pavilion Master Kang's entire body stiffened.