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Bai Ya, who had just returned from the Sky Serpent Mansion's highest-level meeting, was also present within Lu Man's mountain cave dwelling at this moment.
"So most of the Dou Ancestor Protectors have agreed with She Tianhao's decision?" Lu Man asked, her expression solemn.
Bai Ya sighed, nodded, and said, "They do not intend to give up the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."
A hint of disdain crossed Lu Man's refined features. They had anticipated this long ago. The Jade-Eyed Snake Saint, the Half-Saint elite expert who once founded the Sky Serpent Mansion, also possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Even if she were the Mansion Lord, she too would be unwilling to relinquish them. Qing Lin was pivotal to the Sky Serpent Mansion's core future interests.
Once a clash of interests occurred, whether human or magical beast, neither would relent. It was the same principle as the Gu Clan absolutely refusing to allow Xun Er to leave and marry Xiao Yan. This would be tantamount to provoking the entire younger generation of the Gu Clan, and the entanglements involved would be far too immense.
However, having accompanied Qing Lin for five years, the two of them understood perfectly. Though Qing Lin usually appeared quiet, solely focused on cultivation and unlocking the Snake Saint's inheritance, she actually had no interest in the Dou Saint's inheritance. Her objective was to become stronger, unlock the inheritance, and then leave immediately.
Qing Lin did not wish for excessive entanglements with the Sky Serpent Mansion. The reason she had proactively proposed coming to the Sky Serpent Mansion for further training back then was because she realized that if Xiao Yan were to save her, he would undoubtedly pay a heavy price. Unwilling to let this happen, she had taken the initiative herself.
Therefore, Lu Man and Bai Ya had understood long ago that the Sky Serpent Mansion could not keep Qing Lin. She had always harbored a yearning in her heart; that 'White Moonlight' within her heart was too potent, and no matter what the Sky Serpent Mansion did, they couldn't win her over.
Bai Ya's expression turned somewhat hesitant. After pondering for a good while, he finally asked, "Are we really not going to tell the Mansion Lord that Xiao Yan's backing is the Hall of Souls?"
Lu Man glanced sideways at Bai Ya and said slowly, "Would telling the Mansion Lord be useful? You went to the Central Plains and investigated the Hall of Souls at the Pill Tower; you should be clear. Given the Hall of Souls' way of doing things, if Xiao Yan were a Hall of Souls Protector, we would have been killed long ago."
"Even if the Mansion Lord knew Xiao Yan was from the Hall of Souls, not only would it fail to make him wary, but it would ultimately only become more troublesome. It's not just humans; even magical beasts harbor wishful thinking. We've known for a long time that the Mansion Lord would never relinquish the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, haven't we?"
Bai Ya remained silent. It was true that Xiao Yan was from the Hall of Souls, but they didn't know his specific status. More importantly, unless Xiao Yan was the son of a Dou Saint from the Hall of Souls, his factional backing would not intimidate the Sky Serpent Mansion.
It was just like how other factions would not be wary of ordinary disciples who joined the Sky Serpent Mansion, unless they were the Mansion Lord's offspring.
Not to mention, the Sky Serpent Mansion had a conflict of interest with Xiao Yan. People die for wealth just as birds die for food. Back then, Bai Ya and Lu Man, for the sake of the Sky Serpent Mansion's reward, had refused to give up on taking Qing Lin away even when Xiao Yan revealed his Hall of Souls identity. This demonstrated that the Sky Serpent Mansion was even less likely to yield.
The reason Lu Man and Bai Ya acted as they did was not because Xiao Yan was from the Hall of Souls, but because of Qing Lin.
There had always been two factions within the Sky Serpent Mansion. One was the old interest group led by Mansion Lord She Tianhao. They believed Qing Lin should stay in the Sky Serpent Mansion, thinking it the most suitable place for her and placing the Mansion's interests above all.
The other faction consisted of serpent tribe members who sided with Qing Lin, prioritizing her wishes. They had greater faith in Qing Lin's future strength and intended to follow her. The old woman who had previously inquired about Qing Lin's intentions, for example, was one of them.
Lu Man revealed a meaningful smile, slowly flicked her snake tongue, and chuckled, "Those foolish old fossils still believe Qing Lin will definitely remain in the Sky Serpent Mansion. Qing Lin will certainly leave, and when that time comes, conflict will be inevitable."
"Our original plan was to assist Qing Lin in leaving the Sky Serpent Mansion. Then, after her cultivation reached a major level, we would support her in becoming the new Mansion Lord and expel She Tianhao's faction. But now, perhaps we should alter it. It seems that Xiao Yan is a variable. If the Yan Alliance possesses strength comparable to She Tianhao's faction, we can enable Qing Lin to become Mansion Lord sooner. At that time, we will naturally be the meritorious officials of the new Mansion Lord."
Bai Ya hesitated and asked, "Is it really appropriate for us to do this?"
Lu Man flicked her snake tongue and said, "Humans have a saying, 'It's not too much for one person to have two hearts.'"
Even Xiao Yan probably hadn't expected that the Sky Serpent Mansion would become so turbulent because of Qing Lin. Many people were silently paying attention to this Great Meeting of Factions, as its outcome would affect many things.
…
Time passed quickly. Two days later, the Great Meeting of Factions commenced as scheduled.
The Great Meeting of Factions was, naturally, held within the Sky Serpent Mansion. In the Sky Serpent Mansion's eastern mountain range, as the sun first rose, this place was already teeming with experts as numerous as clouds, and its defenses were as impregnable as iron. In the hundreds and thousands of years since the Sky Serpent Mansion's establishment, it had experienced many storms, and its reputation had gradually emerged from the successive power struggles of the past, finally attaining its current status.
Although the Great Meeting of Factions in the North-Western Region couldn't compare to the Pill Tower's Pill Gathering, it was still one of the few grand events.
This Great Meeting of Factions was a contest not only for the older generation of experts but, more importantly, for the younger generation. Of course, the young individuals representing the major factions of the North-Western Region were naturally the most outstanding among their respective generations. This new blood was the most crucial factor upon which every faction relied for its continuation, and thus, nurturing the younger generation was regarded with extreme importance.
With such emphasis on development, numerous astonishingly talented individuals had naturally emerged from the younger generation. This included not only Qing Lin from the Sky Serpent Mansion but also Ting Wanjun, the Young Sect Master of the Thunderbolt Sect; Li Shi of the Medicine Bone Sect; Shi Nian of the Profound Lion Sect; among others. Each had garnered quite a reputation throughout the North-Western Region.
Of course, the North-Western Region was a land of crouching tigers and hidden dragons; no one knew where a dark horse might suddenly emerge. Nevertheless, every Great Meeting of Factions attracted numerous factions and countless young people who prided themselves on their strength.
Outside the Serpent Mountain Range, a streak of deep blue light flashed across the sky like a meteor. Immediately after, an enormous, sea-blue flood dragon landed on a mountain peak. Its terrifying physique and dreadful aura instantly drew the gazes of many.
Xiao Yan and the others, standing on the back of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, looked down at the stream of people below, resembling ants, and were momentarily stunned.
"There are rather too many people here, aren't there? This looks like more than just a thousand."
Jia Xing Tian explained, "It's not just the hundreds of factions and empires from the North-Western Region that have come. Each Great Meeting also attracts factions from other regions to observe. Even the Central Plains sends representatives, such as those from the Yellow Spring Pavilion and the Pill Tower. After all, the strongest alchemist from the factions at this Great Meeting of Factions represents the pinnacle of alchemists in the North-Western Region, aside from the Alchemist Association."
This was not surprising. After all, the Sect Leader of the Medicine Bone Sect was a 7th-tier alchemist. Even in the Pill Tower, 7th-tier alchemists were a rare sight.
"Where is the Yan Alliance's preliminary competition area?" Xiao Yan asked.
With over a hundred factions participating in the Great Meeting of Factions, it was naturally impossible to use a random draw or a chaotic free-for-all. The North-Western Region would be divided into four areas—east, south, west, and north—for the preliminary rounds.
The first day was dedicated to the preliminary competition for the factions' younger generation. Factions from the four areas would participate in a draw for elimination matches. Ultimately, the top contender from each of the four areas would engage in one-on-one battles, and the final victor would be the most talented young individual under thirty from the North-Western Region.
The competition for alchemists under thirty was even simpler. Similar to the previous Alchemist Grand Meeting, all alchemists would refine pills simultaneously, and the one who produced the highest quality medicinal pill would be victorious.
"The Yan Alliance belongs to the factions of the western area, along with the Three Great Empires. However, I heard that the Chu Yun Empire is not participating in this Great Meeting of Factions. It's said this is because the leaders and elites of their strongest factions, the Poison Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, died tragically when they entered a secret realm." At that, Yun Yun gave Xiao Yan a subtle look as if to ask, 'Any idea how that might have happened?'
Xiao Yan merely shrugged and said nothing. It was expected that the Chu Yun Empire wouldn't participate, given that so many of their experts had perished in the Profound Nether Valley.
"Yanran, be careful. Don't push yourself too hard," Yun Yun gently stroked Nalan Yanran's silky hair. On the first day, it would undoubtedly be Nalan Yanran and Princess Yue Er competing.
A strong fighting spirit instantly filled Nalan Yanran's eyes. She had been anticipating the Great Meeting of Factions for a long time. Having always been in the Jia Ma Empire and interacting with Dou King experts from that empire and the Three Great Empires, she was eager to know how she truly stood in the entire North-Western Region.
"Rest assured, Master. I will definitely not bring shame upon the Misty Cloud Sect," Nalan Yanran nodded firmly.
She then turned to Xiao Yan and said in a serious tone, "After I obtain the title of number one in the North-Western Region, I will challenge you again!"
Xiao Yan spread his hands and said helplessly, "It would be good enough if you could take first place in the western area. Securing the overall first place, I'm afraid, will be difficult."
He knew that Qing Lin was already a Dou Emperor. Considering Nalan Yanran was still a 9-star Dou King, her chances of defeating Qing Lin were minuscule. Even if he gave her an Emperor Heaven Pill now, allowing her to break through to Dou Emperor, she still wouldn't overcome Qing Lin.
The competition for young alchemists also began almost simultaneously. After all, it was a trivial matter for alchemists to spend a day refining pills.
The Yan Alliance was still an emerging faction, so naturally, they did not have a designated camp. However, Xiao Yan and his companions were unconcerned about this. With the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's enormous body, standing in mid-air and looking down upon the competition stage offered a unique flavor.
"Is that the Yan Alliance?" She Tianhao looked toward the location of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast and asked.
In the VIP seating area, top-tier factions of the North-Western Region, such as the Sky Serpent Mansion, the Thunderbolt Sect, the Medicine Bone Sect, and the Profound Lion Sect—all among the top ten—had exclusive VIP seats. The leaders of these factions sat in elevated positions, watching the battles that had just begun in the arena.
"Yes, Mansion Lord," Bai Ya nodded and responded.
"Yan Alliance? What kind of faction is this, that it can make you pay such attention?" Beside She Tianhao, an old man stroked his beard and glanced in the direction of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast.
This old man was Shi Ming, the Sect Leader of the Profound Lion Sect, which he himself had founded. His strength had reached the level of a 7-star Dou Ancestor, comparable to She Tianhao's.