Chapter 257 (1/2)

Huo Qiang smashed both of his large fists together. After these five years, he had grown a nice red beard to go with his crimson hair that was now longer as well. He was getting ready to jump out of the protective formation along with some of his sect brothers. There was also a particular group of youngsters among them, each one with similar crimson hair as Qiang.

”Father, the barrier will be opening soon.”

”Great, are you and the boys ready?”

Huo Qiang was grinding wide while looking behind him. There were about ten youths that looked similar to each other in one way or another. At the front stood Huo Kong that was looking like a younger version of his father already. The others behind him were his brothers that Huo Qiang had sired.

They were all at the core formation level all of them were at the early stage. Kong was the furthest one in and the closest to reaching the middle stage. With the United Element Sect's new techniques and ample spiritual resources, people that were core members could rise up their rank rather quickly.

”I'll be taking care of most of them, try not to get in my way when we are out there!”

He grinned while his body started shining in crimson. He started flying upwards toward the protective barrier. Now when it was empowered there was no fear of it closing. Qiang just needed to wait a moment for the Divine Fist Sect elders to open a path for him. When they did the United Element Sect would show these monsters their might.

The youths looked at their father flying into the distance. They knew that it was wise to not be too close to their pops. He liked to go wild, he had a hard time containing his power and when someone sparred with him they ended up injured in one way or the other. The only person that they knew that could contend with him was Zhang Dong.

Even though he was the number two of the sect, they were still very proud to be his kids. But due to the fact that there were a lot of them here, some family infighting was inevitable. Huo Qiang had a similar outlook about relationsh.i.p.s as Zhang Jin. He didn't have as many wives or kids as the old man, still there were over a hundred of them.

Every child wanted to be on top then they could inherit the family head title. There were also kids from side families and now new sect members that could affect the power dynamics of their clan. The group here wanted to prove themselves to their father, if they were useful they were hoping for rewards such as status.

”Don't think you will be on top forever, brother…”

One of the red-haired youths stuck his chin up while looking at Huo Kong.

”You can try little brother, but we both know who the superior one is!”

Huo Kong replied while smirking at the other youth. He could see that the moment he did the younger brother's forehead started showing quite the bulging vein. The redness in his face wasn't something that he wouldn't notice either.

”You just wait! I'll be sure to kill more monsters than you do. Do you dare to make a wager with me if you are that confident!”

Huo Kong raised his eyebrow at the callout. This younger brother of his had quite a mouth to him but he also had some skills to back it up. He wasn't far behind Kong in cultivation but he always managed to be a step ahead so he wouldn't fear making a wager.

”What do you want to wager? Spirit herbs? Spirit stones?”

”No, those are plentiful and easy to come by… We will wager Fairy Xue!”

Huo Kong almost tripped over as the large smirk covering his face turned upside down. He was clearly having trouble processing what this younger brother was talking about.

”F-fairy Xue?... w-what do you mean Kueng?”

The younger brother was called Huo Kueng smirked while looking to the side. There she was in the distance, Zhang Xue. She was in the process of walking together with her master Zhang Dong. She and a group of sect members were following the Patriarch into the lighthouse to check up on the comatosed Divine Fist Sect elders.

Huo Kong noticed this and he also looked, their conversation continued but in whispers as the red-haired youth started getting bashful.

”How dare you propose a wager over Sister Xue!”

He also started getting angry, his face showing a similar bulging vein on his forehead as his brothers did earlier. Huo Kueng was the one smirking now as he knew his older brother's weak point.

”What are you afraid that you would lose? I thought you were confident in your skills, brother Kong?”

The other brothers looked at these two fighting. They were interested in where this would lead to and if Zhang Xue was on the line even they were considering taking part in the wager.

”Afraid? Me?... never! What is the wager about exactly? Tell me now!”

Huo Kong was easily irritated just like his father, he also didn't think that he would lose to his younger brother. Kueng on the other hand straightened himself out and started listing the rules of this wager.

”It's simple brother, whoever wins will be the one to go ask for Fairy Xue's company in the coming yearly sect festival. The one that loses will not interfere and promise not to bother Fairy Xue for a year! How is that, do you dare take this wager or are you too scared to accept it!”

Huo Kueng pointed with his finger at Huo Kong that was starting to fume. His short temper was clearly getting to him.

”If I accept this bet… how will we determine the winner? Will we count how many monsters we kill?”

Huo Kong was skeptical, how would they even go about this? Would someone be following after them and doing the counting, he couldn't really trust his younger brother to not cheat if he didn't have someone trustworthy performing the task.