Free Web NovelChapter 1187: Chapter 384 Startling News
Some things simply cannot be concealed.
Especially for the powerful nations of the world.
The next day, before dawn had broken, Cao Jie summoned the champions of the three countries and revealed to them shocking news—
Just two days ago, the number one champion of Jinguo’s Inner Mansion Realm... had fallen in battle behind The gate of all demons!
This was the real reason Jinguo had withdrawn from the Yellow River Meeting Inner Mansion Arena!
In the quiet room where the four sat, Cao Jie who conveyed the message to Jiang Wang and others could hardly hide his surprise.
It’s not that champions of various countries have never died on the eve of the main competition, but such incidents are extremely rare and usually occur in other nations.
For the six powerhouses of the world, such events are almost impossible.
Any country would strengthen the protection of their champions before the Yellow River Gathering.
As Jiang Wang visited Star Moon Plain, two Godly cultivators from the Imperial City Inspection Mansion accompanied him. It is said that Qi Xiao, stationed on JueMing Island, personally guarded Ji Zhaonan during his trial in the Lost World.
Jinguo certainly doesn’t lack powerful individuals and would not be stingy in protecting their champions.
Yet their number one champion of the Inner Mansion Realm still died on the eve of the Yellow River Gathering...
It’s hard for this piece of news not to stir emotions.
Cao Jie was aware of the great battle that had taken place behind The gate of all demons two days ago.
One of Jinguo’s core areas was suddenly subjected to a massive invasion by the Demon clan, leading to an intense defensive battle. Based on the human-demon alliance agreement behind The gate of all demons, Qi Country also deployed troops to the corresponding demon area of their own.
In the persistent warfare behind The gate of all demons, such occurrences are common.
It was also normal for Jinguo’s number one champion in the Inner Mansion Realm to train behind The gate of all demons on the eve of the Yellow River Gathering. Maintaining combat instincts and adjusting to peak condition in battle is necessary for many strong individuals.
And Jinguo’s number one champion of the Inner Mansion Realm certainly had the qualifications to dismiss the preliminary selection.
But this champion, while training behind The gate of all demons, died in battle. freёwebnovel.com
This incident was unusual...
Cao Jie knew the battle in Jinguo’s territory was fierce, but he was unaware it was to such an extent—The top Godly cultivator guarding the Inner Mansion Realm champion during the trial also perished in the battle.
Jinguo suppressed this news for two days. Their participants had always been secretive, and other countries did not even consider this possibility, not expecting Jinguo’s number one Inner Mansion Realm champion to die in an accident. Thus, Jinguo managed to cover it up successfully.
Only when Jinguo announced their withdrawal from the main competition of Inner Court yesterday, prompting countless speculations, did Qi Country focus on digging into this intelligence and uncover the news.
"Despite this..." After thinking for a while, Jiang Wang still said: "I still cannot understand why Jinguo would forfeit the competition directly. It seems that with Jinguo’s strength, they should not find it difficult to replace with a second champion of the Inner Mansion Realm who has hope to seize the victory."
Take Qi Country for example. Even if something unexpected happened to Jiang Wang, Lei Zhanqian is always ready to step up, with his mastery of the Thunder Realm techniques, Thunder Enacts Heavenly Punishment, he is as strong, if not stronger, than Jiang Limeng.
Not to mention there’s also Wang Yiwu, who ranks first among the military leaders, having recently killed a famous Outer Building strong person in battle, earning the first achievement in taking down Jianfeng Mountain. When put on the stage of the Yellow River Gathering, who can say he doesn’t have a chance to contend for the championship?
Jinguo, with its three powerful veins, sits firmly in the Central Region, eyeing the world—surely they have even more options.
"I think, in these two days, Jinguo must also be actively searching for a replacement, to find another champion of the Inner Mansion Realm to join the main competition," Ji Zhaonan said.
Among the three champions present, only he has the deepest experience with the wars behind The gate of all demons: "But for an occasion like the Yellow River Gathering, there are too many issues involved.
First and foremost, at this Yellow River Gathering, Jinguo initially had directly appointed a champion to compete, without any internal selection. If the first falls, simply replace with the second—that doesn’t work. Because who the second is, that’s a big question."
Jiang Wang silently nodded; this was indeed a major headache-inducing issue, especially under such time constraints.
Ji Zhaonan continued: "Secondly, the cultivator from the Inner Mansion Realm representing Jinguo this time comes from the lineage of Jade Capital Mountain. The designated spot for the competition belongs to Jade Capital Mountain. It is highly difficult for Jade Capital Mountain to find another cultivator capable of replacing him. And for the cultivators born from the other two sacred lands to take over, who would willingly forfeit their chance? With Jinguo’s three lineages all striving for power, their internal relations are intertwined and complex. As the country with the most ancient history, these relationships are particularly convoluted, impossible to untangle in a short time.
Lastly, finding someone to match Jinguo’s top cultivator in the Inner Mansion Realm is not an easy task. For Jinguo, sending a cultivator without any chance of victory is, in itself, a display of weakness."
These words were clear, yet Jiang Wang had his own thoughts: "That being said... I still cannot understand forfeiting. Choosing who to send to battle or which lineage’s cultivator, is merely an internal transfer of interests. But to forfeit directly loses the interests of Jinguo as a whole. Isn’t it better to have less than nothing at all?"
Cao Jie took over the conversation: "The reason you don’t understand is because you do not comprehend where the interests of Jinguo lie."
"The various countries compete at the Yellow River Gathering for the distribution of benefits beyond The Gate of All Demons. However, The Gate of All Demons... is located right below Sky Capital City."
Cao Jie sighed emotively, "Granted, the power of distribution is currently shared among our six nations, but it’s undeniable that Jinguo holds the largest share of these interests."
Jiang Wang suddenly understood better; he recalled the scene at the World Stage, where as soon as Xian Nankui spoke up, Cao Jie, Namo Duo, and Xiahou Lie attacked in unison. Surely Xian Nankui’s representation was problematic, but the core issue was Jinguo being the strongest in the world...
If the upper echelons of Qing Country were to confront those of Chuguo, there would be no strong nation taking sides. They would merely watch coldly as the two fought to the death.
"At the Yellow River Gathering, the various countries compete for the rights to the distribution of benefits beyond The Gate of All Demons, vying for the authority to join the war and plunder the spoils. As for the six strongest nations in the world, possessing territories and military might beyond The Gate of All Demons, we fight as far as we can. These six nations, which oversee the distribution of benefits, what are we competing for?"
Jiang Wang got the point instantly: "More distribution rights, limited within the six countries?"
Cao Jie had more to say, but Jiang Wang understood.
For nations outside of the top six, the Yellow River Gathering indeed represents the benefits beyond The Gate of All Demons.
But such benefits are merely leftovers slipping through the fingers of the top six.
In essence, the Yellow River Gathering, where the cultivators of various countries compete, is nothing but a glimmer of hope painted by the six strongest nations for other countries, granting them a chance to break free and strive forward.
It’s still a part of the tributary system established by Channel-opening Pills.
With such hope, other nations would want to strive to integrate into it. Smaller nations become bigger, and bigger nations become stronger... rather than facing hopeless obliteration or confrontation.
Take Rong Country, for instance, it’s a country that has exhausted all craftiness to hide Lin Xian, letting him astonish everyone at the Yellow River Gathering.
If Lin Xian could advance further, Qi Country would recognize Rong Country’s victory, granting them the opportunity to wage war beyond The Gate of All Demons.
Because maintaining the fairness of the Yellow River Gathering is to maintain the current world order. Upholding this order maintains the absolute dominion of the top six powers.
Naturally, this "fairness" will also be regulated within the framework that suits the interests of the top six.
"So, Jinguo’s interests lie in being ’the strongest’. In establishing this impression, this status."
Cao Jie spoke calmly: "If I am not mistaken, since they have already forfeited the Inner Court competition... when the spots for the Outer Building are confirmed today, they will likely forfeit those as well."
He looked at Ji Zhaonan: "And this can only mean that for the unrestricted category under thirty, they are absolutely confident of securing the championship!"
How could Jinguo deepen the impression of being the strongest in the world since they lost their top Inner Mansion competitor?
By straightforwardly forfeiting both the Inner Mansion Arena and the Outer Building competitions, leaving only the unrestricted category under thirty to represent the strongest cultivator of each nation.
Not leaving any margin for error is the confidence that comes from being the strongest.
Once they manage to secure the championship in the end.
It would demonstrate that, in this Yellow River Gathering, Jinguo can take the title if they wish, or let it go if they choose to.
How arrogantly audacious!
