Archfiend Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Faction Showdown (Two)

At the same time these words were said on stage, there was no fight at the scene. To hastily join in on the war of Foundation Establishment seniors and Core Formation masters to fight over people was by no means an easy matter! How could the same objects of the others be better than their own?  If they didn't search according to their own positions, and they found that they in themselves were enough to attract other's strong points, they could forget about participating on the eve of this tempest-like struggle.

"Click, clack, click, clack…" the sound of keyboard typing resonated in each of the great clans. It was like passing clouds and flowing water, not pausing the least bit for rest.

"I'm glad I'm living in the age of cultivation civilization right now…" An old woman inhaled deeply with her face flushed. Her chest rising up and down severely, she said trilly: "If it was the past, how could we dare to compete with those leviathans. But now that the society's culture is developing, a fusion of several thousand years of cultivation and civilization, we have a sliver of an opportunity…" 

She finished speaking and suddenly opened her eyes, her voice carrying an excited hoarseness: "Xu Yangyi's numerical statistics haven't come out! We of Yuyang's Song Family cannot let this opportunity slip by!"

Yes, times had changed. A thing such as law was not only something normal people knew of, but also little Qi Condensation cultivators and Foundation Establishment seniors knew of. Even Core Formation masters had to abide by it, as well.

The law was something that only those at the top of the world could trifle with. If one did not comply with rules, then it was simply no rule. The world's system would shatter apart, and the result was absolutely something that the entire globe's several tens of Core Formation masters could not bear! 

What about their easy cultivating and supplies? And the people? Would they still want their Core Formation masters themselves to go out searching?

"The stats are out!" On the other side, a couple tens of men and women in suits beat their keyboards as if their lives depended on it: "Ancestor, through the statistics of the final second of qi captured, Mr. Xu's final fist strength reached 3800 kilograms and his speed arrived at 80 meters per second!" 

A white-haired man called ancestor didn't speak. Only his ten fingers that were intersected together turned white! This... was the data of the middle-stage of Qi Condensation! It even surpassed that of ordinary middle-stage Qi Condensation cultivators by a shred! 

"Get ready…" The man said tremblingly, his voice crowing as he stood up: "No matter what, we must fight this time!"

Among everyone, only Chu Tianyi bore a sneer on his face.

Cultivators did not have much time to handle interpersonal relationships. He himself was a man of sophistication that had come from true "humanity"...  What Moonchaser had said moments ago was not wrong; Xu Yangyi would surely be tempted, however, he had forgotten of humanity's instinct!

Perhaps he was planning on letting Xu Yangyi set his heart in following him. After all, didn't Xu Yangyi want to become enlightened in an arcane effort? What if he ran into a bottleneck? How would it be regarded if you took my arcane effort and didn't join my sect? But...

But! From how he spoke, everyone knew that Xu Yangyi was bound with a Core Formation arcane effort! Even if it was a sect they had to move aside for and didn't want to struggle with, at this moment, everyone had to exhaust their maximum strength to stake it all!

"Little Friend, your cultivation is on its way. You will definitely encounter all kinds of bottlenecks. Floatingcloud's sect won't force you to become a sect disciple by any means, however, is there anyone greater than Daomaster Floatingcloud that can point out these obstacles? Yes, Daomaster Floatingcloud has a policy of nurturing talents. However, there is a grand class once every year! His grace will personally appear to dispel your doubts!" Moonchaser struck while the iron was hot.

Chu Tianyi chuckled coldly and closed his eyes.

The crashing waves would continue to keep pushing and swelling… The struggle this would truly explode...

Moonchaser didn't pay heed to the gazes of other cultivators. His thoughts were rather proper by all rights. Who would dare fight now that Daomaster Floatingcloud's name had arised? It was nothing but a few major powers, but the prize this time was surprisingly to hook a big fish. He truly did have an endless admiration for Daomaster Floatingcloud's foresight. 

"Core Formation arcane effort… A Core Formation Great Dao…" Below, a man with a marigold on his chest breathed disorderly, clenching his fist to a deathly pallor: "Zhaoping City's Li Clan hears and obeys!"

"It's here!" 

"Please instruct the Second Clan Master!" 

"We must use our maximum strength… to win over Fellow Daoist Xu! Immediately satisfy any of his request!"

"Yes!"

"Tianfeng City's Su Clan hears and obeys!" Not too far away, a man with reddened eyes said with a hoarse voice: "Do not hesitate at all costs… Even if the Su Clan's ancestral legacies are emptied! This man must be won!"

"To wrest him over is equivalent to stealing a Core Formation master seedling! Our Su Clan will have the hope to emerge into power!"

"Beijiangyuan City's Fang Clan hears and obeys!" On the other side, a man in his early twenties waved both of his hands, rigidly locking his eyes on the wall of billowing spiritual energy: "No matter what… we must risk it all this time! Immediately contact the Fang Clan if we can transfer all financial businesses! Gold! Spirit stones! Resources! Real estate!"

"But, Young Master…"

"No buts!" The youth turned his head and glared at everyone, breathing heavily like an ox: "After we return, I will speak to the ancestor!"

The present was already an ocean of silent undercurrents. In the blink of an eye… a tsunami had arrived! Even the breathing of the crow had joined together to become a great river of passion. Originally… Xu Yangyi alone almost reddened their eyes. Now… this person was even tied to a Core Formation arcane effort?!

Was this a joke! If this person wasn't snatched up, when would they wait to do so?!

Perhaps Daomaster Floatingcloud himself hadn't expected that his prize of an arcane effort could be called an exquisite chess piece by itself. As long as any champion wanted to master it, they would have to go to him to learn it. It was the same as him beginning to set the title of master and disciple, but he hadn't expected...

Moonchaser's good intentions in handling had ruined the matter and thoroughly ignited this fire!

Firecloud's lips angrily trembled to a pasty color. He had believed himself to be shameless enough, but he hadn't anticipated the shamelessness of a Core Formation master; it was truly worthy of praise and admiration!

Standing in an invincible position, cool and composed… He clenched his teeth hatefully and turned his head, still wanting to say something, but suddenly, a high noise like that of an arrow piercing through clouds in the sky completely tore open the seemingly tranquil cover! 

"This is the CSIB special envoy C-Lilac! I just contacted the branch chief moments ago! The CSIB is willing to offer a 5 billion USD signing bonus! Five pieces of supreme-grade spirit stones! An attack-type supreme-grade magik artifact of any choice! A defensive-type supreme-grade magik artifact of any style! An evasion-type supreme-grade magik artifact of whatever you desire! A supplementary-type supreme-grade magik artifact of any fancy! Moreover, we will establish a medium-scale spirit stone mine for you alone! It is accompanied by three types of B-grade uncommon metals: Mooncrescent Gold, Fireblaze Ruby, and Myriadlight Stone! It's not just this! Mr. Xu will get to enjoy the lone privilege of an estate with a high-grade Spirit Focusing Formation! You'll be specially appointed a Wealth Repossession Captain! The special privilege of the Nine National Offices! In addition, the CSIB won't take a single percentage share!"

"Crash!" The crowd finally exploded!

The CSIB's massive expenditure astonished everyone present! Even the four Foundation Establishment cultivators had turned their heads back in shock at this instant. 

"You… You are truly willing to part with such capital!" Moonchaser finally understood the folly of what he had done! The CSIB hadn't made a move, but when they did, they spent a frighteningly extravagant cost!

"A mine with three B-grade metals… They're planning on arming him to the teeth! They're going to raise him to the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment?! Four supreme-grade magik artifacts… Fuck… Has Foundation Establishment become four supreme-grade magik treasures?! A high-grade Spirit Focusing Formation…" Firecloud couldn't help but to curse fiercely. This spending style was too great, so great that he didn't dare to welcome it! His entire worth wasn't valued that much!

The worth of a Foundation Establishment cultivator to buy a single person!

Originally, Xu Yangyi wouldn't have been worth so much. It was like he had studied abroad and returned, only his starting point was much higher than where everyone else stood. However, the final result wouldn't be him simply becoming the CEO upon returning from studying abroad after ten-odd years, the position that everyone had struggled for.

But now… Xu Yangyi had secured a Core Formation arcane effort! His fiendish aptitude came in addition with a Great Dao arcane effort that would lead straight to Core Formation! 

But what if Floatingcloud didn't teach him later on?

Not a problem! The CSIB still had Core Formation masters stationed in command! Even if their understanding of the Burning Heavens Revelation was inferior to Daomaster Floatingcloud's, couldn't it be understood via analogy?

What? You don't understand? Say it loud, brother, do you not believe I won't slap you to death and send you flying outside the heavens!

With Xu Yangyi's aptitude that was capable of shaking Sunnihilator's stone stele and making it crack, an explosive strength that surpassed ordinary middle-stage Qi Condensation cultivators, and the addition of this Core Formation arcane effort...

Not even to mention of the savory smell of a steamed bun, he was gold! He was the whole hog! 

"We are Fengyi's Wang Clan! As long as Little Friend Xu says the word, you will be a candidate for the next clan master! The entire Wang Clan, all of the initial-stage Qi Condensation cultivators will be yours to command!" Before Lilac's voice had even fallen, an old man with reddened eyes stood up not be out done. His voice even shook the sand on the floor: "Little Friend, consider it clearly. Admittedly, joining a big organization is good, however, there are countless clauses and rules awaiting you! Don't you want to be as free as the idle clouds and the field cranes?"

"Hehehe… Old Ghost Wang, you sure speak full of yourself. Not to even mention the rank twenty-seventh Burning Heavens Revelation, how could a Golden Dragon like Little Friend Xu himself take residence in a shallow cave? A phoenix does not perch on a parasol tree." Before he finished speaking, a seemingly swiftly moving but motionless old woman with a young girl supporting her stood up. Her wizened and thin hand was like that of a chicken claw, shivering: "There are more than a hundred clans present in Nantong Province, and every clan has brought at least 50 to 60 members and at the most 200 elites. In this endless human tide, you've come to gamble your clan legacies, but you've completely avoided placing my Zhaoping's Chen Clan in your eyes."

"Little Friend Xu, our Chen Clan is no different, but we are Nantong Province's largest alchemy clan! Perhaps all the pill elixirs of the Bountiful Treasures Pavilion are only model numbers and spread through various channels, but were you aware that true high-grade pill elixirs are never put online for auction?!"

"In Nantong Province, the Chen Clan stands on top in the way of alchemy. As I just said, if the Chen Clan says we are second, none will dare to say they are first! As long as you sign a contract with my Chen Clan, our agreement won't be one to life and death; only a hundred years! My Chen Clan's pill elixirs will be totally opened to you without restriction!"

As her voice came to the end, she nearly yelled: "No matter any pill elixir! As long as it is on the market, my Chen Clan will refine it! You can even ask everyone here, in which of Nantong Province's auctions does the highest-grade of pill elixirs not originate from my Chen Clan?"

"If Old Madam Chen is speaking like so, then our Fengyi's Wang Clan wants to throw in our two cents, as well." Before the first wave had even subsided, a second one had come crashing. A youth in a refined western suit stood up and pushed back on his gold-rimmed glasses. He was seemingly calm, yet his palms were already overflowing with cold sweat: "Fellow Daoist Xu, my Fengyi's Wang Clan governs three of the western provinces! Nantong, Yunqi, and Guifang. Which clan's high-grade Spirit Focusing Formations has not come by my Wang Clan's hand? The Chen Clan is wealthy, but the Wang Clan stands on similar footing!"

"Fellow Daoist Xu, if you join a big organization, we will cup our hands and express our good wishes. However, layers upon layers of rules and etiquette is unquestionably inferior to the joyous liberations of an unfettered lord of a major city! I, Wang Chaofeng, the young master of the Wang Clan, guarantee here that if Fellow Daoist Xu joins the Wang Clan, we will also only sign you on for a hundred years! After a hundred years, Fellow Daoist Xu may do as he will! Not only will my Wang Clan open a Spirit Focusing Formation for Fellow Daoist Xu, the Wang Clan's three most precious treasures: Six Yin Fairies, Six Yang Gods; Immortal Erudition; and Dragon Swallows Setting Sun, will be open to Fellow Daoist with unlimited access!"*

* Six Yin Fairies, Six Yang Gods - 六丁六甲, If you are familiar with the concept of "Ding" and "Jia" Both these things represent a duality of Yin and Yang. You might know these are part of the ten heavenly stems, part of China's ancient sexagenery cycle. These stems are based on elements/animals, part of a sixty day cycle. (twelve animals, five elements) (5*12) I'm not very good at explaining this. Also, not sure if I got 吞龙落日 (Dragon Swallows Setting Sun) right. Can also be parsed (MAYBE) as Swallowing Dragon, Setting Sun.

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