Chapter 548 - 267: The Focus of All Eyes! All Factions Stir

Chapter 548: Chapter 267: The Focus of All Eyes! All Factions Stir

Ning’an Prefecture City.

About five hundred meters from the Jingwu Bureau Office.

A high platform stood tall.

Waves of Buddhist chanting vibrated through the air, drawing a crowd of over a thousand commoners who packed half the street so tightly that nothing could pass.

Atop the high platform sat a young monk cross-legged, dressed in a bluish-gray robe. His face was as fair as jade, his lips red and his teeth white, and his expression held a hint of compassion.

A faint Golden Light enveloped his body.

From a distance, he looked like a living Buddha.

As the young monk preached, the surrounding commoners all showed looks of excitement and reverence. Some even kowtowed and bowed repeatedly.

Beyond the throng of commoners, numerous Jianghu Martial Artists had also gathered. Some stood on the street, others sat in taverns, nearly filling the entire road.

However, there was a difference.

The commoners had come to seek grace and blessings.

But the Jianghu Martial Artists from the various sects and schools were here for the show.

The show between the Jingwu Bureau and Celestial Dragon Temple.

And the show between Monk Yikong and Chen Sheng.

Back when Chen Sheng took control of all Ning’an Military and Political Affairs and, with the help of powers like the Iron Sword Sect, the Danxia Sect, and the Ning’an Wang Clan, wiped out the major Ning’an sects of Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple, many knew the matter would not end so easily.

After all, behind Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple were the top Upper Sects of Yunzhou: Celestial Dragon Temple and Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Chen Sheng certainly had backing, that was true, but Celestial Dragon Temple, Qingfeng Temple, and the Vast Sea Sect were no pushovers either.

Sure enough.

Just one month after the destruction of Golden Spring Temple, Celestial Dragon Temple made its move.

They sent Monk Yikong, a True Inheritor of their sect, to Ning’an.

And the first thing he did was find an opportunity to severely injure Chu Kuangfeng, the Sect Leader of the Initial Saint Sect.

In fact, if the Jingwu Bureau hadn’t arrived in time, Chu Kuangfeng might have suffered a fate far worse than just severe injuries.

Who was Chu Kuangfeng?

Perhaps not many knew of him before.

But ever since he founded the Initial Saint Sect, occupied the former mountain gate of Golden Spring Temple, and became the number one major sect in the Ning’an Martial World, the name Chu Kuangfeng had been ringing throughout Ning’an.

After all, while he had a reputation for chivalry, it was nowhere near enough to make him the leader of the Ning’an Martial World.

He must have had someone supporting him from behind the scenes.

And his backing was no secret.

It was none other than Chen Sheng, the Ning’an Inspector, the overlord of Ning’an who controlled all military and political power!

Now, with the destruction of Qingfeng Temple, Golden Spring Temple, and Luoyun Manor, and with the submission of the Danxia Sect, the Iron Sword Sect, and the Ning’an Wang Clan, Chen Sheng was universally acknowledged as the strongest in Ning’an.

So for Chu Kuangfeng, a man propped up by Chen Sheng himself, to be suddenly and severely injured by Monk Yikong—who was the real target?

Everyone already knew the answer in their hearts.

Now, many wanted to see who was stronger: Chen Sheng, the number one prodigy of Ning’an, or this True Inheritor from Celestial Dragon Temple.

Both were ranked on the Dragon and Tiger List, making them top prodigies of Yunzhou.

This drama of a dragon fighting a tiger sent massive shockwaves throughout the entire Ning’an Territory.

The only regrettable thing was that Chen Sheng was not in Ning’an at the moment, but in Nanzhao.

No one believed that Chen Sheng was avoiding the fight out of cowardice.

Because some news from Nanzhao Prefecture had already reached Ning’an.

Many were now aware that Chen Sheng had stirred up a storm in Nanzhao Prefecture, even going so far as to kill the notorious Blood River Sect Master, Duan He, within the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect’s territory.

His fearsome reputation in Ning’an as "King Chen of the Underworld" alone was enough to stir a sense of anticipation.

Chen Sheng versus Yikong.

Would the official prove mightier, or would the Buddha prevail?

Many people awaited the answer with great excitement.

.....

Outside the Magic Altar, on the second floor of a nearby tavern.

Several young men in brocade robes were also discussing the current situation.

"Who do you all think will win? Lord Chen or Yikong? I have a bad feeling about this. After all, Yikong is ranked thirty-seventh on the Dragon and Tiger List, while Lord Chen is only fifty-second."

"How can true strength be judged by rankings alone?"

"But Yikong came to block the gate of the Jingwu Bureau. He’s clearly confident."

The young men debated back and forth. Some supported Chen Sheng, while others thought Yikong had a better chance of winning. As the discussion grew heated, someone even suggested setting up a betting pool.

"Xiong, what do you think?"

Wang Zhaoning, the Young Master of the Wang Family, couldn’t help but look at Xiong Lie as he listened to the discussion.

Ever since Chen Sheng broke through to the Mystic Realm, Dharma Treasury died, and Zhang Daoming’s whereabouts became unknown, the lineup of the Ning’an Ten Heroes had undergone a world-shaking change.

He, along with Xiong Lie, Li Xuance, and the others, were now ranked in the top three of the Ning’an Ten Heroes.

However, the so-called Ning’an Ten Heroes had rarely been mentioned lately.

Compared to the grand spectacle of the previous generation’s Ten Heroes, they were indeed far inferior.

Especially with a Martial Dao prodigy like Chen Sheng in Ning’an Prefecture, who had ascended to the world-renowned Dragon and Tiger List, their own light was completely overshadowed.

But they were, after all, the top geniuses in Ning’an Prefecture at present. They had come this time to witness a clash between true prodigies.

Xiong Lie took a sip of Spirit Tea and said solemnly:

"I think Chen Sheng will win."

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

Wang Zhaoning’s gaze sharpened.

Xiong Lie’s voice was grave as he replied:

"I fought Chen Sheng once. We had a long, grueling battle, and it’s a shame I lost by just half a move in the end... But Chen Sheng has countless tricks up his sleeve, and his hidden cards are unfathomable. This Yikong fellow is no simple character, but I still think Chen Sheng has the better chance of winning."

Listening to Xiong Lie’s story, Wang Zhaoning was already a bit speechless.

Ever since Chen Sheng made a name for himself on the Dragon and Tiger List, whenever Xiong Lie mentioned him, he would inevitably bring up his own ’glorious defeat’ at Chen Sheng’s hands. He acted as if it were a shame, but in reality, he wore it like a badge of honor.