220: Chapter 219: Turbulence in the Divine City 3 220: Chapter 219: Turbulence in the Divine City 3 Rao Zongzhi’s invitation was quite sudden, a bit inexplicable.
Luo Linwang felt somewhat flattered and bewildered.
Why were they chosen?
After all, there was no connection between them, was there?
The invitation was also a command.
They had no right to refuse such an important matter of the sects, and besides, seizing a flag is always more thrilling than defending one.
It was the difference between taking initiative and being passive.
“Of course, of course, we’re willing to join, but could elder brother explain why us?
Don’t you just need one assistant?”
Rao Zongzhi smiled, “Two assistants are always needed, no matter who it is.
Due to certain reasons, I spend most of my time away for cultivation, returning to Divine City only once a year; thus, I am quite unfamiliar with the junior brothers below.
In a sense, I am like you, coming from a smaller place.
Um, Da Feng Plain is close to Anhe, so I suppose you have more interactions with Daoist cultivators, and naturally, you’ll have a deeper understanding, right?
In that case, wouldn’t it be more advantageous if the three of us formed a small team to take charge of one Wu Sect Daoist Flag?”
“The higher-ups have changed their minds.
Originally, teams of two were to capture flags, but now it’s been changed to teams of three.
I heard this was Zhu’s idea.”
Teams of three capturing flags implied that there would only be twenty people left defending; this is a shift towards greater aggressiveness, probably Zhu Jiuling also realized that solely defending flags wasn’t going to yield any fruit, hence the decisive change.
Wu Sect has four large flags, plus one from the Anhe Daoist Sect, making five in total.
The Anhe Daoist Sect definitely cannot hold their flag.
When they lose it, the Quanzhen Sect will inevitably have to help them recapture it.
Only by doing this can they make the Anhe Daoist Sect realize that the Quanzhen Sect has enough strength to help them resist formidable enemies.
This is also the focus of the contention.
In the whole Southwest’s flag conquest, every flag is important, but if one must rank their significance, the flags of Quanzhen Sect and Anhe are most critical, followed by the four flags of Wu Sect, and lastly, the remaining seven.
The Quanzhen Sect has unwittingly been thrust to the forefront of the anti-Wu alliance; this is both coincidental and inevitable.
The Daoist schools of the Southwest need a leader, and the Quanzhen Sect itself is morally compelled.
Their history does not allow them to shy away from the challenge.
Luo Linwang declared resolutely, “I will certainly not disappoint elder brother.”
Rao Zongzhi was a man of few words.
In the end, he glanced at Hou Niao, who had been silent all along, “Then, you both prepare a bit and come find me.
We need to see how we can attack the platforms and capture the flags with more certainty, right?”
Watching Rao Zongzhi depart, Hou Niao sighed.
He knew the reason why elder brother Rao had chosen the two of them.
It was simply that his performance outside Sword Mansion had caught the elder’s eye.
This was a form of recognition, undeniable.
“Elder brother seems quite excited, huh?
It feels quite strange.”
Luo Linwang rolled his eyes, “You seem less enthusiastic, junior brother.
The two were now quite familiar with each other, so Hou Niao spoke without reservation, “It’s like paying homage, don’t you think?
Look at elder brother Rao.
He says he’s from a small place too and instantly narrows the distance between us.
Truly generous of heart.”
Luo Linwang curled his lip, “He says he is from a small place because he has a choice, while we come from small places because we had no other options.
People with resources often say resources aren’t everything.
Those with extraordinary beauty like to say looks don’t matter.
Thin people always talk about how good it is to be fat and healthy!
The hardworking like to say diligence isn’t the deciding factor…
So he can afford to say with great magnanimity that he’s from a small place, but can you?
What he talks about is sentimentality, while what you talk about is reality.”
Hou Niao laughed heartily, “This Scholar does have a bit of a sharp tongue when he’s up to it.
Reserved when he is unfamiliar, but once you really get to know him, you find he’s a sneaky troublemaker.
On the surface, he ingratiates himself, but in his heart, he does not take it seriously.”
There was a palpable tension in the air as various messages flew in all directions.
All the countries had started to feel a bit of pressure, and the Wu Sect had adopted an attitude of unrivaled supremacy.
This was not just for show; they genuinely had the backing to support it.
Leveraging power was also a manipulation of momentum.
Among so many Daoist factions present, who had the capability to seize such an opportunity?
And whose power could they leverage?
The Daoist Sect, the largest force on the Jinxiu Continent, was becoming a source of fear for everyone as they began to integrate and unite with each other.
…Anhe Palace had a large lake called Yanhui Lake, a rare habitat for black-headed geese on the continent, thus the name.
The lake stretched for twenty to thirty li, its perimeter a picturesque scene.
Serving as the main battleground for the Southwest convention of Daoist debating, thirteen grand flags were erected all around the lake, responding to each other from afar.
In the middle of the lake was Lake Heart Island, from which one could survey the thirteen grand flags.
The positions were clear to see, with the Wu Sect’s four flags in the west and the Quanzhen and Anhe flags to the east, subtly implying opposition.
The words were not explicit, but everyone knew exactly what they meant.
Today was the scheduled day for the Southwest Daoist debates.
All participants, including many spectators from the Anhe Daoist Sect, had gathered on Lake Heart Island, ready to spring into action.
Thirty-five disciples and four elders of the Quanzhen Sect were arranged in one of the many tall pavilions on Lake Heart Island.
From there, they had a panoramic view of the lake and the thirteen grand flags billowing in the wind on tall poles.
The flags represented various Sects: Wu Sect’s Daoist Flag was the Taiji, Quanzhen Sect’s Sword Flag, Anhe Daoist Sect’s Qiankun Flag, Taihao Sect’s Cloud Banner, Huncheng Sect’s Black Flag, Blood Transformation Sect’s Blood Flag, Wo Sect’s Flame Flag, Bai Shen Sect’s Totem Flag, and two Myriad Character Flags from the Buddhist Sect.
The disciples were fully prepared, like soldiers before going into battle.
Their entry into the fray was not decided by themselves, but rather, they were the swords, and the hands holding the swords were those of the three senior Quanzhen Upper Cultivators.
Elder Jia glanced around and snorted, “What a big spectacle.
Do they really think they can do whatever they want with this?”
Elder Wang was cautious, “This Daoist debate for the flags will no doubt see Wu Sect and our Quanzhen Sect go all out; but beyond that, there are three other forces whose influence is non-negligible.”
Uncle Li understood what he meant, “I think I know what Elder Brother means.
The attitude of the Buddhist Sect is crucial, as they are the only ones with the power to contend with the Daoist Sect on a continental scale.
However, with the Wu Sect’s expansion, the stance of the Buddhist Sects in the Southwest seems somewhat weak.
I wonder what the reason could be?
They should be leading the charge against it, but now it’s our Quanzhen Sect that’s at the forefront.
Then there’s the Anhe Daoist Sect with their internal strife, where the pacifist and the militant factions are at odds.
How much force they can exert under such circumstances is hard to say; in the end, it’s us who will have to step up for them.
But the third force Elder Brother mentioned…”
Elder Wang furrowed his brow, “Then there’s the Taihao Sect from Wei Country.
Their stance has always been ambiguous and noncommittal.
Even now, we cannot ascertain their true intentions.
These followers of the Divine Dao are always so secretive, never revealing their cards…”
The three spoke in hushed tones until Zhu Jiuling above them harrumphed softly, “Silence!
To be indecisive before battle is a great taboo.
Why concern yourselves with those thoughts?
You cannot change them!
Remember, you three are the backbone for the thirty-five disciples below.
If you are disordered, what will become of them?
Li Mengyang, you will manage the coordination, while the other two will find and fill the gaps.