Chapter 589 – Old Vulture

The Martial Alliance had Third Earthly Martial Stage cultivators on their side. Before even starting the duel, they were fated to win one round. If the Battle clan wanted to keep their freedom, they would have to win both the duels between the First and Second Earthly Martial Stage cultivators. This was not easy as the Martial Alliance was abundant with prodigies.

“Second Brother, have you agreed to this?” asked Long Chen. The bet was unfair, so Long Chen thought they would not agree.

However, Jiang Wuya nodded and said, “Yes.”

“Why?” Long Chen was puzzled because it was clearly unfair.

“Fourth Brother said that this is a gift that they delivered to our doorstep, so how could we refuse? The Martial Alliance has a reputation to maintain. If they lose, they must keep their word if they want to maintain their reputation in the Divine Martial Empire. But we’re not the same. We are the victims, and we need to fight for our lives no matter what, so there is no difference if the battle starts after we lose. The word ‘submission’ does not exist in the Battle clan’s vocabulary.” Jiang Wuya’s tone became a little wistful in the end.

Long Chen realized that they were ready to fight after they lost, and were not planning to submit at all. That was also the style of the Dragon clan. Long Chen did not feel that it was funny, only that it was tragic but brave.

Looking at the tall, muscular man standing before him, Long Chen felt a sense of respect rise within him.

The fact that this man could bravely lift the clan up in the face of extinction showed that he was a good man! The Dragon clan were true brothers to stay by Lei Zhen’s side through this ordeal! Wasn’t it the same for Long Chen and Mo Xiaolang?

Everyone saw death as coming home at this moment.

However, Long Chen felt that there was a chance for victory. At the very least, no one at the same stage could defeat him. With Long Chen here, they would surely win the First Earthly Martial Stage battle. Now it depended on the Second Earthly Martial Stage battle. That was what Long Chen was worried about.

“Second Brother, what are your arrangements for the bet?” asked Long Chen.

Jiang Wuya said, “We don’t even need to think about the Third Earthly Martial Stage battle. Anyone who takes that role will surely lose, so we plan to just admit defeat. As for the First Earthly Martial Stage, we initially thought Third Brother could go, but Fourth Brother is going to the Battle clan’s Lightning Pool to comprehend the Running Thunder Blade. When he emerges in ten days, he’ll surely be much stronger. That is why Lei Zhen will be our fighter for the First Earthly Martial Stage battle.”

Long Chen was sure that he was much stronger than Lei Zhen, but he did not say anything. Based on what Jiang Wuya had said, they had ten more days, so it was not urgent.

“As for the Second Earthly Martial Stage, there is only one Battle Saint in the Battle clan, plus me, who qualify. Old Vulture is at the Second Earthly Martial Stage, but he is very old. That is why I’ll take the battle instead,” Jiang Wuya said solemnly.

Jiang Wuya?

Long Chen nodded. Jiang Wuya was indeed strong and was surely considered one of the strongest Second Earthly Martial Stage cultivators. However, Long Chen felt like neither Jiang Wuya nor Lei Zhen could guarantee success. Long Chen himself could guarantee he would win in the First Earthly Martial Stage battle, seeing as he could even defeat a Second Earthly Martial Stage cultivator!

Of course, if he said it now, they would not believe him.

“Their participants will come to the Battle clan and fight us in front of our ancestral mausoleum in ten days! Even if I die, I, Lei Zhen, must win in a magnificent manner!” Lei Zhen clenched his fists tightly, causing his green veins to pop. His eyes were filled with hatred.

Everyone else looked ready to sacrifice themselves too.

All they could do was try their best.

They chatted along the way, and Long Chen learned that they actually felt very helpless too. The Martial Alliance was very powerful. Now that the Battle Emperor was dead, there was no Third Earthly Martial Stage cultivator in the Battle clan. They could not even be considered a faction on the same level as the Huangfu family or the Ancient Demon Domain anymore.

Despite the large number of clan members.

The Battle clan had eight First Earthly Martial Stage cultivators with Lei Zhen here. They called themselves the Eight Battle Kings of the Battle clan. However, there was only one Battle Saint at the Second Earthly Martial Stage. He was called Old Vulture.

Lei Zhen led them to the inner section of the clan, where Long Chen met the eight Battle Kings and Old Vulture. Old Vulture was a thin old man of few words. There was also a cloud hanging over him, likely privately worried about the problem with the Martial Alliance.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Like the other Dragon clan members, Long Chen received a warm welcome.

Due to the Lei Zhen, the Dragon clan was famous in the Battle clan. During this treacherous time when they were facing mortal danger, almost all the powerful Dragon Clan members had gathered here. How could they not be moved?

The Dragon clan was one of the main reasons why Lei Zhen ended up becoming the clan leader, despite not being the strongest in the clan. The Battle clan had always respected power!

Numerous tall, muscular warriors looked at Long Chen and the others with reverence.

When they arrived, the Second Earthly Martial Stage Old Vulture asked coldly, “Is this teenager the Long Chen who killed Void Martial Saint and defeated Jiang Wushang at the Cloud Dream Swamp?”

Most of the Battle clan members were tall and huge like bears, but Old Vulture was thin like a vulture. There was barely any hair on the top of his head too.

“I am,” said Long Chen with a nod. Lei Zhen had told him that this old man was the old Battle Emperor’s brother, as well as Lei Zhen’s uncle. However, he had gone missing when he was young and was raised by demonic beasts for over ten years before he was brought back to the clan. His personality had always been cold, but he had always dedicated his efforts to the Battle clan. Even though Lei Zhen had taken over leadership, Old Vulture was still managing many daily affairs.

Old Vulture nodded. “You are not even twenty yet. Indeed, you are a teenage hero. Thank you for helping the Battle clan!”

“This is my duty. The Battle clan has many masters, and I may not actually be able to contribute much. Old Vulture, you’re exaggerating my achievements,” Long Chen said humbly.

Long Chen admired the Battle clan’s willingness to die instead of surrender. That was why he was very polite to everyone.

Next, Long Chen got to know the seven of the eight Battle Kings. Lei Zhen was one of the eight, and they already knew each other. Although Lei Zhen was the clan leader, the Battle clan had always ranked members according to strength, so he was still holding the position of a Battle King.

Each of the Battle Kings commanded a branch of the army.

The eight kings were mostly tall and muscular, but there was one handsome man whose figure was similar to Old Vulture’s. Long Chen asked around and learned that this was Old Vulture’s son, also the Second Prince of the Battle clan and Lei Zhen’s cousin. Although he looked frail, he was only slightly weaker than Lei Zhen because Lei Zhen’s Beast Soul was the Category Three King-tier Heavenly Mantra Thunder Beast that the old Battle Emperor had personally killed!

The Second Prince had a much warmer personality than Old Vulture. He was the one who spoke to Long Chen the most.

After getting to know Long Chen, the Battle clan members with worry in their eyes dispersed. Lei Zhen looked at Long Chen and said, “Seventh Brother, the Battle clan is at a crossroads that will determine our fate. I need to go deal with some matters and intensify my cultivation. Since you’ve just reached the Earthly Martial Realm, you need to solidify your base. All our siblings have reached the Earthly Martial Realm a long time ago, so you can ask them about anything you don’t understand.”

“I understand, Fourth Brother. Go do whatever you need to,” Long Chen said with a nod.

Jiang Wuya also left to go cultivate in preparation for his duel, so five of them remained. Since Long Chen needed to continue practicing his Soul Dispersing Dragon Claw and the Willow Step, plus the mood was very heavy, he searched for a place to cultivate on his own. Mo Xiaolang had nothing to do, so he followed.

“Big Brother, I just realized something. It’s easier to cultivate your divine techniques when I’m in human form,” Xiaolang suddenly said in the room that Lei Zhen had arranged for them.

Whoosh!

Xiaolang’s shadow stood up, and then it returned to its original state.

“Have you successfully cultivated the Demonic Illusion?” Long Chen asked with surprise and excitement.

Mo Xiaolang nodded and said, “It’s been so long; it’s about time I finished cultivating it. I just never had the chance to use it. Big Brother, not only do I have the Demonic Illusion, I can also use the Nine Devils Ancestral Fire. If I’m chosen for the First Earthly Martial Stage duel, I guarantee that no one is a match for me.”

Long Chen nodded. Indeed, if Xiaolang went, he was more likely to win than Lei Zhen.

Of course, Long Chen was the one with the highest chance.

“We still have ten days left, so we don’t have to decide yet. Let’s see how much of the Running Thunder Blade Fourth Brother is able to master. I’ll mention it to him then,” said Long Chen with a nod.

“Big Brother, you’re more suitable than I am for the First Earthly Martial Stage duel. Then again, the Martial Alliance has so many people that I don’t think Jiang Wuya can guarantee victory,” said Mo Xiaolang, furrowing his brows.

Long Chen thought the same.

“If we lose, the Battle clan will fight the Martial Alliance directly, which will surely lead to countless casualties. I’m sure no one wants to see that. Xiaolang, I’ve made my decision,” Long Chen said with determination.

“What have you decided?” Xiaolang asked.

Long Chen exhaled and said, “For the First Earthly Martial Stage duel, you’ll go. If Second Brother loses, I’ll give the Third Earthly Martial Stage duel a shot. No one is a match for me at the Second Earthly Martial Stage, so it’s also time for me to challenge even stronger opponents!”

“No one is a match for you at the Second Earthly Martial Stage? Big Brother, I’ve got to say ... You’re a psycho ...” Mo Xiaolang said with a bitter smile.

“You’re the psycho,” Long Chen replied. Then he continued to practice his Soul Dispersing Dragon Claw and the Willow Step.

Time passed quickly as he cultivated.

Before they knew it, night arrived.