There are not many martial arts sects near Fancheng, only three major ones. One is the Tianlang Sect, while the other two are respectively known as the Dihuj Sect and the Kuoda Sect.
Since the establishment of Fancheng, these three sects have taken root nearby. Over hundreds of years, they have maintained a delicate balance of power through mutual restraint, with their strengths waxing and waning. They appear harmonious on the surface, yet secretly each strives to undermine the others. This phenomenon is common throughout Jiuzhou, as there are no genuine friendships among sects—only interests.
In recent decades, the Dihu Sect has been the strongest among the three, followed by the Kuoda Sect, while the Tianlang Sect has lagged far behind, even trailing the second-ranked Kuoda Sect by a significant margin.
The Kuoda Sect has two Grandmaster-level experts, while the Tianlang Sect has only one. However, now the Tianlang Sect also has two Grandmasters, since Zhang Zhi must have broken through, albeit without making an announcement.
Moreover, with Zheng Kaishan, the Tianlang Sect should now have three Grandmaster-level experts, making them capable of rivaling the Dihu Sect. Unfortunately, the Black Robe Organization has intervened, and although the Tianlang Sect now matches the Dihu Sect in the number of top experts, its future remains uncertain.
The deaths of those fifty inner disciples have essentially crippled one of Tianlang Sect’s legs. A sect’s strength is not determined merely by its top experts, but by the younger generation.
The older generation of top experts will eventually pass on. Without outstanding young replacements, the sect will rapidly decline in the future.
For example, although the Tianlang Sect currently has two Grandmasters, how many more years can Zhang Zhenshan hold on?
He himself has said that his time is limited. After he is gone, the Tianlang Sect will have only Zhang Zhi to uphold its reputation. Once Zhang Zhi retires, if no new Grandmasters emerge, the Tianlang Sect will quickly fall into mediocrity, being devoured by the Dihu Sect and Kuoda Sect.
However, things won’t necessarily develop in that direction, as the Tianlang Sect still has many exceptionally talented individuals. Li Tan, for instance, has voluntarily requested to accompany Dongfang Zheng on this mission rather than escape on his own, precisely to help the sect overcome this crisis.
Enough digression.
Li Tan and Dongfang Zheng followed the messenger and switched to a carriage, spending about an hour before arriving at the oasis where the tomb was located at noon.
The oasis is quite large, roughly half the size of Fancheng, and even contains creatures that shouldn’t exist in a desert, likely due to the influence of the ancient tomb’s seal. As the messenger mentioned, the oasis has been shrinking over recent decades, proving that once the seal is completely broken, this oasis will be assimilated by the surrounding desert within half a month, leaving the creatures within homeless.
However, this is not something Li Tan needs to consider. Although influenced by Tang Leyin, he hasn’t reached such a level of benevolence.
Li Tan and Dongfang Zheng got off the carriage one after another. The messenger pointed toward a row of tents in the east and said he had to leave first.
The messenger was likely affiliated with the city lord’s mansion in Fancheng. Their role was to maintain order and they probably wouldn’t participate in the tomb exploration, only supervising the order between the three sects.
After bidding farewell to the messenger, Li Tan and Dongfang Zheng walked toward the tents.
A rough estimate indicated there were more than twenty tents, colored red and yellow. Judging by the flags fluttering atop them, the red tents belonged to the Kuoda Sect, and the yellow ones to the Dihu Sect.
Now, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, and many people from the two sects were playing and splashing in the water, their behavior far from appropriate for a place with a seal.
Li Tan and Dongfang Zheng both instinctively disapproved of this behavior.
“If the attacking formation within the seal is still active, this could certainly lead to a tragedy.”
Dongfang Zheng’s expression darkened.
Li Tan smirked, looking indifferent, “They arrived a whole day earlier than us, probably thinking they’ve already figured out the seal.”
“How can they claim to have figured it out before completely breaking the formation?”
“Because most people are conceited.”
“That’s called stupidity.”
Dongfang Zheng said and walked ahead, while Li Tan asked what he was going to do. He replied that he would urge everyone in the water to come ashore.
Fifteen minutes later, Dongfang Zheng returned, but the people in the water hadn’t moved an inch.
Li Tan asked with a smirk, “Senior, what did they say?”
Dongfang Zheng’s face was grim, “They said I’m an alarmist.”
“That’s exactly what I thought they’d say.”
“Since you knew it would be like this, why didn’t you stop me just now?”
“I said something, but you wouldn’t listen anyway.”
Dongfang Zheng paused and nodded, “Those fools deserve to die, but I don’t want those kids to die with them.”
“Why does Senior care about disciples from other sects?”
“It’s not about caring or not caring; I just can’t help but want to manage it.”
“Senior must get along very well with my wife.”
“Youngster, you’re already married?”
Dongfang Zheng looked surprised.
Li Tan smiled lightly and nodded, “Yes, just over a month ago.”
“Why would you come to such a remote place alone then?”
“It’s a long story; all because of some villains.”
“Oh, is your wife alright?”
“She’s fine. I’ll go find her after some time.”
This matter involved personal privacy, so Dongfang Zheng didn’t continue asking. He pointed to someone else’s tent in the distance to change the subject, “Kid, where do you plan to sleep tonight?”
Li Tan only then remembered that he and Dongfang Zheng had come in a hurry and hadn’t brought any luggage. He said somewhat awkwardly, “Maybe just on a tree branch.”
“The desert at night can freeze water into ice.”
Dongfang Zheng reminded him.
Li Tan asked, “Senior, do you have any good ideas?”
“No, but I’m not afraid.”
Dongfang Zheng said and sat cross-legged on the ground.
Dongfang Zheng was at the peak of the Innate Realm and could certainly endure a night without any issues. Li Tan was about the same, but he didn’t really want to freeze all night.
While he was thinking about solutions, an old man with two teenagers approached. They were likely from the Kuoda Sect.
Li Tan and Dongfang Zheng both turned their gazes toward them at the same time. The old man quickly stopped in front of them and asked impolitely, “You two are from the Tianlang Sect?”
Dongfang Zheng nodded.
The old man asked again, “Where are the others?”
Dongfang Zheng answered, “They’re all here.”
“Just the two of you?”
The old man frowned.
Dongfang Zheng nodded, confirming it was correct.
The old man’s tone became displeased, “Such a major event as breaking the seal, and you only sent two people, one of whom is just a young boy. Does the Tianlang Sect look down on us?”
He directly started cursing, and Dongfang Zheng’s face darkened as he was about to retort, but Li Tan held him back.
Li Tan smiled and replied, “Not at all. It’s precisely because we admire Senior Dongfang Zheng that he only brought me along.”
“Nonsense.”
“Because Senior’s strength is unparalleled, Dongfang Zheng felt there was no need to bring too many people. Bringing more would only cause inconvenience.”
The old man clearly listened and was quite pleased, his tone immediately softening a bit, “Since the main task of breaking the seal relies on this old man, what does the Tianlang Sect plan to do?”
“Of course, we will do our best to assist Senior.”
“Hmph, you can only mess things up. Don’t bother joining in. But those who don’t work shouldn’t eat; once the seal is broken, you can enter last.”
Dongfang Zheng’s face immediately darkened, angry and about to say something, but was pulled back by Li Tan again.
He looked at Li Tan in confusion, puzzled and somewhat displeased.
Li Tan smiled happily at the old man and said, “Then we’ll follow Senior’s wise suggestion.”
Dongfang Zheng was stunned, and the old man was also taken aback, looking incredulous.
He had only meant to say those words to provoke the Tianlang Sect a bit, but the other party actually agreed, which was completely unexpected. Moreover, the one who agreed wasn’t Dongfang Zheng, but a mere child with no experience. What was even more inexplicable was that Dongfang Zheng, although looking displeased, didn’t object. What exactly was this kid’s identity?
Li Tan didn’t give him the chance to ponder this question further, pulling Dongfang Zheng and saying they were going to admire the scenery of the oasis nearby. The old man couldn’t very well chase after them and thus had no choice but to head back.
However, compared to his confusion, he was more delighted and mocking toward the Tianlang Sect.
Perhaps there was even some pride.
Could it be that this incomprehensible decision was indeed made out of awe for his own mighty image?
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