Chapter 175: The Good Show Has Just Begun

Chapter 175: Chapter 175: The Good Show Has Just Begun

She was truly a woman who put men to shame. Nan Chuting’s decisiveness far surpassed that of many of the Sect Leaders present.

Chu Fan also gave her a look of admiration.

"Sect Leader Li of the Purple Gold Sect, what are your plans?" Chu Fan’s gaze turned to Li Qingyuan of the Purple Gold Sect.

To everyone’s surprise, Li Qingyuan actually performed a deep bow to Chu Fan. Chu Fan quickly bowed and stepped forward.

"Sect Leader Li, you mustn’t!"

But Li Qingyuan stubbornly completed the bow. "I make this bow on behalf of the countless lives in the Eastern Domain," he said. "Lord Chu, you are still young, yet you carry the world in your heart. I am no match for you. I will naturally support Lord Chu with all my strength, but I must state one condition first."

"Please speak, Sect Leader Li," Chu Fan said hurriedly.

"I only hope that you will always maintain your benevolent intentions and keep the welfare of the countless lives in mind. If there ever comes a day when Great Xia wields power over the world but fails to seek fortune for its people, I will surely raise the banner of rebellion."

"Sect Leader Li, I can make a decision on this matter right now. After Red Blood Mansion is eliminated, Great Xia will establish the Cultivation Supervision Bureau. You, Sect Leader Li, will serve as its first Chief Official and participate in revising all laws and regulations related to Cultivation. The next Chief Official will also be personally appointed by the previous one, and the Emperor of the Empire will not interfere. Sect Leader Li, what do you think?"

As Chu Fan’s words fell, an uproar erupted in the hall, as if a bomb had gone off.

’How can this Chu Fan decide the national affairs of the Great Xia Kingdom with a single sentence?’

Li Qingyuan, however, was trembling. He puffed out his chest and declared, "I will not shirk this responsibility!"

"Good!" Chu Fan clapped his hands together forcefully.

"Sect Leader Fan of the Xuanming Sect, what do you say?" Chu Fan asked, looking at Fan Yingbiao.

"Since even Sect Leader Li and the old ancestor of the Chenqing Sect agree, the Xuanming Sect will support it as well!" Fan Yingbiao was still reluctant at heart, but the situation was clear, leaving him no room to hesitate or object.

Of the Six Sects and Eight Gates, aside from the purged Fiery Fire Sect and the departed Celestial Derivation Sect, Wuji Sect, and Celestial Sect, the remaining sects were all in unanimous agreement.

At this point, Chu Fan turned his gaze to the minor sects.

Four of the minor sects had left with the Celestial Sect and the others, leaving twenty-two.

"We are also willing to support Great Xia’s unification and abide by the new rules."

The twenty-two minor sects declared, almost in unison.

Chu Fan, however, just smiled and said, "Very good. But there are a few among you that I do not trust. Will the Sect Leaders and Elders of the White Shark Sect, Lu Fan Sect, and Phoenix Successor Sect please step forward!"

Within the crowd, a few people couldn’t help but tremble when they heard Chu Fan call out the names of their sects.

Those who recognized them turned to look at the individuals in question.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, nine people stepped out.

"There’s no need to deny it. The fact that I’ve called you out means I already have sufficient evidence. Although you are all spies planted here by Red Blood Mansion, I don’t intend to kill you all. However, the lives of the several thousand people in your three sects now rest entirely on the nine of you. What happens next depends on your performance over the next few days."

One of them, a very refined-looking, long-bearded elder, immediately said, "I don’t understand what you mean!"

"You don’t understand?" Chu Fan said with a cold smile. "Ji Bufan, show him his secret correspondence with the Red Blood Mansion Elder."

Ji Bufan pulled a dozen or so letters from his ring and tossed them in front of the man.

Seeing the letters, the man immediately denied it. "No, that’s not it! I was forced into it!"

Chu Fan walked over to him and patted his trembling shoulder a few times. "I never said I was going to kill you, so why are you so nervous? Didn’t I just say that I’ll be watching your performance?"

Just as Chu Fan was speaking, a dagger shot out from the side like a bolt of lightning, aimed at his waist.

Before anyone could react, Chu Fan simply turned with a smile, making no move to dodge.

A middle-aged man held the dagger, its tip pressed firmly against Chu Fan’s lower ribs. No matter how much strength he used, he couldn’t pierce the skin by even a fraction of an inch.

"I forgot to tell you—I’m also at the Divine Separation Realm of Cultivation. A mere Soul Emergence Realm cultivator like you can’t even break through my True Qi defenses," Chu Fan said with a soft laugh.

Then, with a casual lift of his hand, he pushed out his palm. The man was sent flying by Chu Fan. Midway through the air, his body split into seven or eight pieces, falling to the ground in a shower of blood.

Seeing the grim situation, the man’s two fellow sect members turned to flee. But Liu Yisheng and Qi Biao were already in front of them, striking with lethal force.

Chu Fan’s ruthlessness once again shocked everyone present. He had been speaking so calmly and gently that they had almost forgotten the battle at Nanling Mountain three years ago.

Chu Fan took out a towel and wiped his hand, which hadn’t a drop of blood on it. Looking at the six people from the other two minor sects, he said, "Giving you a chance doesn’t mean I won’t kill. Do you understand what you need to do now?"

"Yes, yes, we understand!" the refined, long-bearded elder said, bowing obsequiously, his forehead covered in sweat.

"Since everyone has agreed to Great Xia unifying the Eastern Domain and to establishing rules to restrain the Cultivators of the Eastern Domain, let’s discuss the specific plans."

"Within half a month, I will personally lead an assault on Three Mountains Island. At the same time, the Dark Night Envoys will eliminate the forces loyal to Red Blood Mansion and its members scattered throughout the land. If any of you are interested, you can come with me and see for yourselves how I will destroy Red Blood Mansion."

"After Red Blood Mansion is destroyed, all sects must persuade the royal families they back to submit to the Great Xia Empress. The standing armies of the Vassal States must unconditionally accept Great Xia’s reorganization and command. Any Vassal State that has not submitted after one month will be crushed by Great Xia’s army. If any sect present feigns compliance, the other sects shall rise up and attack it. What does everyone think of my proposal?"

All the Sect Leaders present nodded in unanimous agreement.

"Once the war in the Eastern Domain is concluded, the Cultivation Supervision Bureau will be established. Each sect present may select one person to enter the Bureau and hold office, participating in the creation of the rules. The Bureau will also oversee the selection of its inspectors, who will be drawn from each sect to serve in the Inspection Bureau. The Inspection Bureau will answer only to the Cultivation Supervision Bureau; the Great Xia Court will have no authority to interfere. Do you all think this is appropriate?"

"Then how will the resources be distributed after Red Blood Mansion is eliminated?" Fan Yingbiao asked.

Chu Fan glanced at him and said, "As for resources, my intention is not just to redistribute those left behind by Red Blood Mansion. All resources currently enjoyed by every sect present will be pooled and redistributed. As for how they will be divided, I will not participate. However, the Empress will send a specialist to negotiate the method of distribution with the Cultivation Supervision Bureau."

"This..." Many people began to hesitate.

Agreeing to Great Xia unifying the Eastern Domain was not a problem. They could even grudgingly accept the establishment of rules to restrain themselves.

But to ask them to spit back out what they had already swallowed? Of course, they were unwilling.

"You need not worry. It is merely a redistribution. I can guarantee that what you receive will be no less than what you currently possess."

Just then, Ji Bufan took out a Communication Jade Scroll and glanced at it, then nodded at Chu Fan.

"Liu Yisheng, Qi Biao, go to the valley entrance at once and proceed according to the original plan," Chu Fan ordered.

Liu Yisheng and Qi Biao accepted their orders and departed.

Everyone looked at Chu Fan in confusion, wondering what he was up to.

Chu Fan smiled and said, "The destruction of Red Blood Mansion begins now. Everyone, please follow me to watch a good show. After Red Blood Mansion is completely annihilated, I will gather you all again in Shuoyue City to discuss the major details."