Chapter 62: Conflict at the Gate (1/2)
The next morning, Jiang Li got ready and set off.
At this moment, the outer sect was also filled with gloomy clouds.
A large number of the most elite outer sect disciples were originally preparing for the outer sect competition at this time.
However, now, they had to participate in a mission that was akin to throwing their lives away. It would be strange if they could still be happy.
It was obvious that the sect was also under martial law now. From time to time, disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall in black clothes could be seen patrolling all over the sect.
Jiang Li held the wooden tablet and passed through many obstructions before finally arriving at the gathering point.
There were approximately 500 outer sect disciples waiting here. Out of all the outer sect disciples now, they were the strongest 20%.
They were clearly much older than Jiang Li, and they should be seniors who had stayed in the outer sect for quite a number of years.
After all, all the disciples who were originally going to participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition had to be at least at the upper level of the mid-stage Qi Refinement realm.
According to the cultivation speed of medium and high-grade spiritual roots, the youngest batch was about 18 or 19 years old.
On the other hand, even though Jiang Li had body cultivation and a robust figure, he was still very easy to notice when he was less than 14 years old.
This was equivalent to a junior high student walking into the gathering hall of high school students and college students, quickly attracting a lot of attention.
In this defection incident, even if sect elders and inner sect disciples defected, these outer sect disciples were still not qualified to criticize them.
There was no other reason. They did not have the right to do so.
Therefore, as the only outer sect disciple who betrayed them, Yu Banxia was undoubtedly the target of everyone.
These outer sect disciples did not dare to criticize the sect, Elder Duan, or those inner sect senior brothers. Then, there would only be one target left.
Even Jiang Li, who was familiar with Yu Banxia, was implicated.
From time to time, there would be people pointing and whispering in his direction, but Jiang Li paid no attention to them. He only stood at the back of the crowd and waited quietly.
”Is everyone here?”
Soon, a sound came from the front. Immediately, there was a spiritual qi ripple. The people from the sect's Law Enforcement Hall were checking the number of people.
Outer sect disciples had stayed in the outer sect for so many years, and there were very few arrogant and unyielding figures. So, it caused Jiang Li to be slightly disappointed. This time, there was no situation of late or absent individuals.
The outer sect disciples boarded the ship in order. This time, they did not board the large flying ship that Jiang Li and the others had taken earlier.
Instead, it was replaced by a pitch-black, long, and narrow warship.
The functionality of the warship and the flying ship was different. The decorations inside were also more simple and practical.
Soon, the warship started to rise into the sky, and it continued to accelerate. A violent feeling of pushing on the back could be felt, and the shaking was obvious. The experience of riding this was much worse than the flying ship from before.
”Outer sect disciples, the incident in the sect this time was quite sudden. I believe you've heard the reason.”
After the speed of the warship gradually stabilized, an elder finally came out to explain the situation.
”The rumors that all of you know are correct! After the former outer sect elder, Duan Shuang, seized the treasures of the sect, he led his disciples and an outer sect disciple away from the sect!”
”What you need to do this time is to find their traces in Cloud Stream City!”
The disciples below felt their hearts turning heavy. Previously, there were still rumors, but now, they did not even have the slightest bit of hope.
”However, you don't have to worry. Duan Shuang and the others have already been heavily injured by the sect elders. Your mission this time is only to find the location where they are hiding.”
”Next, each of you will receive a lightning cracker. As long as you find one of them, toss it into the sky to create a commotion. There will be no need for you to do anything else, the sect elders will take action.”
”There are a total of 11 disciples who fled with Duan Shuang. Among them, five are Foundation Establishment disciples, and six are Qi Refinement realm disciples. As long as you find one of them, it will be considered as passing the competition and allowed to join the inner sect. This is a portrait of all of them. You must carefully take a look and remember them clearly!”
Hearing this elder's words, the outer sect disciples could only helplessly accept reality.
They could only comfort themselves with the words ”danger and opportunity coexist together”. After all, in the previous years, only the top three were qualified to enter the inner sect.
The others would either wait for the next year or rely on their cultivation to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm.
However, if they were lucky this year, there were twelve people who had the chance to enter the inner sect.
Soon, lightning crackers were distributed to everyone.
It was a bamboo tube the size of an index finger. On one end was a rope, and the other end was sealed with red paint.
Jiang Li followed the method taught by that disciple and tied the end of the rope to his wrist. At that time, he only needed to shake his wrist to activate the signal.
”Senior Brother, can you give me a map of Cloud Stream City?”
While the other outer sect disciples were crowded together to look at the map, Jiang Li went to a law enforcement disciple and asked for a map.
The map given by this cultivation sect was indeed different. Apart from having extremely high accuracy, there were also various Feng Shui positions marked in detail.
Jiang Li studied it for a while.
”It seems that I'm thinking too much. This city doesn't seem to be built according to some array formation. At the very least, one will not die after entering it…”
The speed of this warship was clearly much faster than the flying ship.
After Jiang Li squeezed into the crowd to look at the portrait, the warship shook violently again and began to slow down.
They had arrived at their destination.
Just like that, the sect left all the outer sect disciples at the city gate of Cloud Stream City.
Following that, the ship rose to the sky and slowly circled around the city with the other two flying ships.
...
”Three warships. The sect is really sparing no expenses.”
Jiang Li, who was watching the ships rise up, suddenly turned to the side and avoided a palm that grabbed him from behind.
”Senior Brothers, what do you want to do?”
He calmly turned around and looked at the five people who had already surrounded him.
”Hmph, you know that we're senior brothers, yet you still dare to dodge! Immediately kneel down and kowtow to apologize. Perhaps us senior brothers can spare your life.”
The five of them were at least a head taller than Jiang Li. At this moment, they surrounded him like he was a sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
”Oh? Sect disciples are not allowed to kill fellow disciples. Senior Brother, you must have forgotten about that.”
Jiang Li was still calm and collected. It did not look like he was surrounded. It felt like he was the one who surrounded the five people.
”Ha, Junior Brother, you've misunderstood us. Our senior brothers want to complete the mission quickly, so we can only sacrifice you.”
”Moreover, death and injuries are common in the past outer sect competitions. Now, with such a situation, who would care about our lives?”
”Just obediently let me break your limbs and don't resist. You can suffer less in that case!”
The person in the lead clawed out again. A metallic luster flashed between his five fingers, and his momentum was extremely ruthless as if he was about to grab Jiang Li's shoulder in the next moment.
Slam!