Chapter 484 - 244: Leader of the Righteous Path, the Initial Saint Sect

Chapter 484: Chapter 244: Leader of the Righteous Path, the Initial Saint Sect

"Chen? Who gave you permission to call me that? Today, I have summoned you in my capacity as the Ning’an Inspector! Here, you will address me... by my official title!"

The color drained from Lu Qingsong’s face, which shifted between pale and ashen. A stifling anger roiled in his chest, a mixture of shame and fury.

’When Chen Sheng was recruiting them, had he ever thrown his official weight around like this?’

But he opened his mouth, and faced with Chen Sheng’s cold and overwhelmingly oppressive gaze, he dared not utter a word of rebuttal.

"Main force? A bloody battle?"

Chen Sheng snorted, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

"Before the war, if I hadn’t schemed and maneuvered to buy you some breathing room, your three clans would have been devoured by the combined forces of Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple, with not even your bones left.

And now you come to me to discuss rewards and merits, talking about how you ’risked it all’? What, have you forgotten who pulled you back from the brink of disaster?

Did you really think you could have destroyed two century-old hegemons like Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple all by yourselves?!"

Every word from Chen Sheng was soul-crushing, striking directly at their most vulnerable point.

The expressions on Bai Qing, Wangqingshan, and Lu Qingsong’s faces grew increasingly grim, yet they could not find a single word in rebuttal.

Because what Chen Sheng said was, indeed, the truth.

While profit was certainly a motive when they agreed to the alliance, the more direct reason was that they had been backed into a corner and had no other choice.

"Of course."

Chen Sheng suddenly changed his tack, his tone softening slightly:

"Your three clans put forth the effort and shed blood. I am well aware of this. But you should also have some self-awareness.

Right now in Ning’an, while internal strife has been temporarily quelled, external threats remain. The powers in the surrounding prefectures are eyeing us like hungry tigers, all wanting a bite of this prize."

"The reason I’ve summoned you today is to establish a new charter. Previously, the Ning’an Martial World had six great powers standing abreast.

From now on... there will be five powers, jointly governing the Ning’an Martial World. What do you all think?"

"Five powers?"

Everyone in the hall was stunned, their faces showing their confusion.

’Where did a fifth power come from?’

Immediately, their gazes involuntarily shifted to the ever-silent Chu Kuangfeng.

Chen Sheng gave Chu Kuangfeng a meaningful look.

Chu Kuangfeng understood. He shot to his feet, his burly frame exuding a powerful pressure. Cupping his fist, he scanned the room and announced in a booming voice:

"Fellow Daoists, I am Chu Kuangfeng, the Sect Leader of the Initial Saint Sect!"

After speaking, he shot Chen Sheng a slightly smug look, as if to say:

’What do you think of the name I came up with?’

It was a combination of the "Chu" from Chu Kuangfeng and the "Sheng" from Chen Sheng, joined as one with profound meaning.

And subtle, too! He’d spent days thinking of it!

"The Initial Saint Sect?!"

A few low gasps echoed in the hall.

Lu Qingsong, Wangqingshan, Bai Qing, and even Nie Changming all looked stunned and bewildered.

’Since when was there an Initial Saint Sect in Ning’an?’

An almost imperceptible twitch went through the corner of Chen Sheng’s eye.

’Initial Saint Sect... That name...’

’In the end, he had overestimated Chu Kuangfeng’s literary talents.’

’But it was too late now. Rejecting it on the spot would make the whole thing look like a farce. He could only bite the bullet and accept it.’

He immediately cleared his throat, tapped the table to draw everyone’s attention back, and continued:

"That’s right. From this day forward, the Initial Saint Sect, the Ning’an Nie Clan, the Iron Sword Sect, the Danxia Sect, and the Ning’an Wang Clan will be the five standing powers, jointly governing the Ning’an Martial World. As for the division of spoils..."

"The Initial Saint Sect will take thirty percent. The Ning’an Nie Clan will take twenty percent. The remaining fifty percent will be divided equally among the Iron Sword Sect, the Danxia Sect, and the Wang Family."

When he finished, Chen Sheng leaned forward slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over each of their varied expressions. His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable finality:

"I’ve finished dividing the spoils. Now... who approves? And who objects?"

The hall fell deathly silent.

The air seemed to freeze.

Everyone was rapidly calculating in their heads.

Clearly, no one was satisfied with this arrangement.

The Iron Sword Sect and the other two clans seemed to be getting a slightly larger share than when there were six powers, but they had put in the most effort and shed the most blood, only for two "parachuted-in" powers to take the lion’s share.

How could they possibly accept that?

Nie Changming was the first to lose his composure.

Though he was only from a branch, he represented the interests of the Nie Family. He spoke at once, his voice grave:

"Lord Chen, I believe this proposal is improper. The Initial Saint Sect... has contributed nothing. On what grounds can it take thirty percent? I’m afraid this will be difficult for anyone to accept!"

"Improper?"

Chen Sheng’s gaze suddenly snapped to Nie Changming, his eyes as sharp as a blade, his tone icy:

"*You* believe? Nie Changming, who the hell do you think you are to tell me what *you* believe?"

Nie Changming’s expression changed drastically.

Chen Sheng continued, each word lashing Nie Changming’s face like a whip:

"The only reason the Nie Family has a hand in Ning’an, the only reason you get a piece of the pie, is because *I* allow it. It’s a gift I’m giving you for the sake of our marriage alliance. If I don’t give it, your branch of the Nie Family won’t even have a foothold in Ning’an.

Don’t think you can get cocky just because I’ve borrowed some of the Nie Family’s power. My relationship with your clan is one of cooperation—we each take what we need. If you dare put on the airs of a Nie Family representative again and point fingers at my arrangements...

I won’t hesitate to have the Nie Family send someone more sensible to Ning’an!"

"Chen Sheng! You..."

Nie Changming was trembling with rage, his face flushed crimson. His fingers quivered, but he didn’t dare to actually slam the table and rise to his feet.

He had long heard of Chen Sheng’s arrogance and dominance, but experiencing it firsthand was even more terrifying.

’The man’s power was now overwhelming, and with his marriage into the Nie Family’s core, his status was unique. If Chen Sheng really had his branch replaced, the main family would probably not risk a complete falling-out with him over a mere collateral line.’

"What about me?"

Chen Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly, and a faint yet piercing killing intent began to fill the air. The temperature in the hall seemed to plummet.

Nie Changming’s chest heaved violently a few times. Finally, he suppressed his rage, sat back down heavily in his chair, and said through clenched teeth:

"Fine. This matter... I will report it to the family exactly as it happened!"