Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 165 Conflict, Bet

The efficiency with which the imperial decree was delivered far exceeded Meng Xihong's expectations.

Just five days later, the sky over the Yunmeng Marsh was shrouded in a chilling, iron-blooded aura.

At the outer gate of the Tianyan Sect, the disciples who were sweating profusely in the martial arts arena stopped in unison and stared in astonishment at the outside of the mountain gate.

That wasn't a fluctuation of spiritual energy, but rather an aura formed purely from will and killing intent.

"Sect Master! A large army has arrived outside the mountain!" A disciple on guard rushed into the council hall.

Meng Xihong put down the sect's records, his expression calm.

He walked outside the hall and saw Yun Songzi standing under the eaves with a wine gourd in hand, squinting at the black line in the distance formed by endless malevolent energy.

"Good heavens, the old emperor is really willing to spend a fortune." Yun Songzi clicked his tongue.

Meng Xihong didn't speak, but straightened his robes and slowly walked towards the mountain gate.

Ji Beichuan, Zhang Xianghua, He Wen, and others were already waiting nearby, each with a solemn expression.

When Meng Xihong and his party arrived at the mountain gate, the large army was already in sight.

Three thousand people, utterly silent.

They were dressed in uniform, dark black heavy armor. Every step they took seemed to land on the heartbeats of the crowd, perfectly synchronized and without the slightest discrepancy.

The fierce aura of three thousand battle-hardened warriors transformed into invisible giant waves, relentlessly assaulting the protective array of the Tianyan Sect.

The large array of light rippled, showing signs of instability.

At the very front of this army was a burly general riding on the back of a massive, lion-like beast covered in jet-black scales.

He was about forty years old, with a resolute face and bronze skin covered with crisscrossing scars, as if each scar told a story of a bloody battle.

He simply sat there quietly, like an unshakeable iron mountain, making it hard for people to breathe.

Late foundation building!

Beside this general followed an incongruous figure.

He was a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a fourth-rank civil official from Qingzhou Prefecture. He had a refined appearance and a warm smile on his face, as if he were here for sightseeing.

Meng Xihong's gaze swept over the general and finally landed on the civil official.

For some reason, Meng Xihong sensed a very faint, discordant aura, but it vanished in an instant, leaving him no chance to catch it.

"Meng Xihong of the Tianyan Sect respectfully welcomes the Divine Martial Army!" Meng Xihong stepped forward and announced loudly.

Upon hearing this, the burly general swiftly and decisively dismounted from the beast's back.

He didn't return the greeting, nor did he even look directly at Meng Xihong. Instead, he first glanced at the tense disciples behind him, a hint of undisguised contempt flashing in his eyes.

"You're Meng Xihong?" He finally turned his gaze back, looking Meng Xihong up and down without any emotion.

"The head instructor appointed by His Majesty? He looks rather weak and uncouth, more like a pedantic scholar."

Upon hearing this, Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua's expressions changed, and they immediately stepped forward.

"Step back." Meng Xihong didn't even turn his head. His voice wasn't loud, but it made the two men pause and forcefully suppress their anger.

Seeing this, the general sneered. He turned around abruptly, facing the three thousand armored soldiers who stood like statues behind him, and spoke in a booming voice.

"Brothers! I am Qin Zhan, the commander of ten thousand men in the Broken Army Camp!"

"His Majesty has decreed that we form the Divine Martial Army and simultaneously study the 'Furnace Classic.' But you must remember, in my Qin Zhan army, there is only one rule!"

He paused abruptly, his voice rising sharply like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

That is, the strong are respected!

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as a knife, and the murderous intent honed in the midst of mountains of corpses and seas of blood pressed down on him without reservation.

"Instructor Meng, you want to train us, you want us three thousand men who crawled out of piles of corpses to be completely convinced by you?"

"Sure!" Qin Zhan grinned, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth.

"Defeat me! If you win, it proves that the 'Furnace Scripture' is indeed as powerful as the legends say. From now on, I, Qin Zhan, and the three thousand brothers behind me will be the sharpest blade in your hand. Wherever you point, we will fight! Without a word!"

“But if you lose…” His smile turned playful, “then your title of ‘Chief Instructor’ will be just an empty name. What my Divine Martial Army needs are real killing skills, and it’s not up to an outsider to point fingers!”

These words are extremely arrogant and presumptuous!
The disciples of Tianyan Sect were all filled with righteous indignation, while the three thousand armored soldiers of the Po Jun Camp remained silent. However, their eyes were all focused on Meng Xihong, their gazes filled with scrutiny, suspicion, and even more so, expectation.

Just then, the civil official who had been smiling silently stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting to Meng Xihong. "Sect Master Meng, my name is Lu Yuan. I have come here on the orders of Lord Zhou of Qingzhou to assist the Divine Martial Army in settling its logistics. General Qin is a valiant general in the army. After all, he has been on the front lines for many years and is of an upright character. I hope Sect Master Meng will not take offense."

He spoke politely, as if trying to smooth things over, but deep in his eyes was a hint of amusement, as if watching a show.

Meng Xihong smiled.

He ignored the civil official named Lu Yuan and slowly stepped forward, meeting Qin Zhan's oppressive gaze.

"General Qin's rules are very simple, and I like them."

Qin Zhan frowned. He hadn't expected that there would be no anger or fear on the young sect leader's face, only a calm expression.

“However, just fighting is too boring.” Meng Xihong’s voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"How about we add a prize?"

"Go on," Qin Zhan said, looking at him with great interest.

“If I win, you and your three thousand elite soldiers of the Broken Army Camp will not only have to obey my orders, but also join my Tianyan Sect, enter the ‘Divine Martial Hall’, become my sect’s guardian disciples, study the ‘Furnace Scripture’, and abide by all the rules of my Tianyan Sect. You will not only have to obey the Emperor’s orders, but also my orders, Meng Xihong’s orders.”

"what?"

Upon hearing this, not only Qin Zhan, but also the three thousand armored soldiers behind him showed expressions of astonishment.

Why send these imperial guards to join a rural sect?
This is a big joke!
Qin Zhan was taken aback at first, then laughed angrily: "Hahahaha! Good! What an arrogant brat! This is the first time I've ever seen someone dare to plot against my broken army camp!"

His eyes flashed with a fierce light as he stared intently at Meng Xihong: "I accept! But what if you lose?"

"If I lose," Meng Xihong's smile remained unchanged, "I will offer you the complete training manual of the 'Furnace Classic,' from body tempering to tendon changing."

My Heavenly Evolution Sect hereby merges into the Divine Martial Army, providing you with all necessary medicinal baths and elixirs, and at your beck and call without question!

boom!
Even Yun Songzi couldn't sit still anymore.

That's an incredibly high bet! Has this kid gone mad?

If we lose, the foundation that Tianyan Sect has built up over the past few years will all go to someone else!
Qin Zhan's breathing also became heavy.

He stared intently at Meng Xihong, as if trying to see right through him.

He originally only wanted to give this young sect leader a warning and establish his absolute dominance in the Divine Martial Army.

But to my surprise, the other party dared to spend such a huge sum of money!
This bet is too tempting!

"Alright!" Qin Zhan practically spat out the word through gritted teeth. "It's a deal!"

"It's a deal." Meng Xihong nodded, his smile fading.

He turned around and said calmly to the disciples behind him who were already stunned, "He Wen, take General Qin, Lord Lu, and the brothers of the Divine Martial Army to the newly built camp in the east to settle down."

"Yes, Sect Master!" He Wen replied quickly.

Meng Xihong said no more and turned to walk towards the council hall.

From beginning to end, he was not affected in the slightest by the murderous aura of Qin Zhan and the three thousand armored soldiers. His composure and calmness made Qin Zhan feel a sense of uncertainty for the first time.

"General, this man..." A lieutenant approached Qin Zhan and asked in a low voice.

Qin Zhan did not answer, but his eyes became extremely solemn.

He's a rough man, not a fool.

The person His Majesty has personally selected must possess unique abilities.
Moreover, His Majesty has already hinted at his intention to become an ally of the Tianyan Sect during his visit.

His provocation served two purposes: to test the waters and to establish his authority.

If Meng Xihong is indeed as powerful as rumored, using the mid-Foundation stage to overthrow the late-stage, this is a good opportunity to help him completely subdue the three thousand soldiers.
If it is so easily defeated, then the "Furnace Sutra" is nothing special, and studying it would be a waste of energy.

Unexpectedly, this test put him in a difficult position.

This guy surnamed Meng is either a complete madman, or... he's really fearless!

"Pass down the order to let the brothers rest properly," Qin Zhan commanded in a deep voice.

Not far away, the civil official named Lu Yuan watched with a smile.

As he watched this tense scene unfold, the smile on his lips grew even gentler.

However, unnoticed by anyone, a glint of light flashed deep in his eyes beneath that gentle smile, before disappearing completely.

(End of this chapter)