Chapter 715: Chapter 715

Just as Fang Chunyang had said, time was tight, and there was no way to raise the attention on the World's Top Martial Competition to a global sensation.

Xiya had vigorously promoted the tournament and even secured endorsement from the newly ascended Supreme Expert, Shou Zhen. But after more than half a month, only twelve Tier Ten Supreme Experts had confirmed attendance, while another fourteen remained noncommittal. Their participation remained in doubt.

In reality, the number of local tier ten martial artists alone numbered well over a hundred. Twelve was barely a tenth of them.

However, this situation came to an abrupt end the moment Xiya publicly conducted a nuclear test. When a nuclear bomb with a yield of one hundred thousand tons detonated, a towering mushroom cloud rose into the sky. The intense brilliance turned broad daylight into a deep crimson, sending shockwaves across the world.

The devastating power of such a terrifying weapon shattered the pride of all Tier Ten Supreme Experts in an instant. Their individual strength, capable of changing the tide of wars, stood no chance against such overwhelming destruction.

Shock came first. Then, fear. And finally... uncontrollable fury.

They were enraged that Xiya dared to defy the Deterrence Agreement and develop a weapon that threatened the supremacy of martial artists.

One after another, world-class martial arts factions that had never taken Xiya seriously stepped forward, launching fierce condemnations. They painted Xiya as a monstrous evil poised to destroy the world, calling for its annihilation through a united global effort.

Amidst this storm of public outcry, Li Pin once again brought the World's Top Martial Competition into the spotlight.

Ban the further development of such weapons? Crush Xiya for violating the Deterrence Agreement? Fine. But first... defeat me. Claim the title of the World Champion.

With their core interests under threat and ruling positions destabilized, those world-class factions and Tier Ten Supreme Experts could no longer remain passive or indifferent. By the time the World's Top Martial Competition was only a few days away, the number of Tier Ten Supreme Experts willing to participate had already surged past fifty.

As for the rest, there was no need to guess. Even if they chose not to compete, they would not miss witnessing a battle that would determine the future of the martial world.

At a vast mountain range that stretched between Aurora and Xiya.

This region originally served as the bridgehead for the Cavern Dwellers' invasion of the Eastern God Continent in the human world. It was heavily guarded by the Aurora Empire's elite forces.

Not long ago, Cavernous World's Blood Wolf City reinforced its troops in Mount Tianque, bringing their numbers to over a hundred thousand. The immense pressure compelled other factions to shift their attention to this battlefield.

By now, the Aurora Emperor, his eighteen Tier Nine experts, as well as their elite military units, were no longer the only forces stationed here. Other powerful figures from across the world had joined in as well.

In other words, this was already a battlefield that commanded global attention.

Then, Xiya's mysterious Supreme Expert and the Martial Arts Association Chairman, Li Pin, emerged out of nowhere. His decision to host the World's Top Martial Competition at Mount Tianque's highest peak, Tiangong Summit, drew even more factions and powerful martial artists from across the globe to the region.

Nevertheless, Xiya had only built minimal infrastructure on Tiangong Summit. Coupled with its towering altitude of eight thousand meters, ordinary people could not reach it. In the end, not much was needed—enough facilities to accommodate a thousand or so individuals would suffice.

At this moment, within a military outpost less than a hundred kilometers from Tiangong Summit, the Aurora Emperor had arrived at the outpost, draped in a long coat. He was surrounded by dozens of his men.

Almost as soon as he stepped into the meeting room, three figures who had arrived early rose to their feet and greeted him with respect.

They were Crown Prince Ogle, Prime Minister Alof, and Thaesis. Thaesis was one of the emperor's three wives. She was also the ruler of the Great Sun Sanctuary, the Aurora Empire's intelligence department.

The Aurora Emperor gave a slight nod, wasting no time on pleasantries as he went straight to the point. "Where exactly did this Li Pin come from? The emergence of a Supreme Expert shouldn't be without a trace! Thaesis, have you uncovered anything?"

"We've only found limited information on him," said the slender Thaesis as she handed over a report." "This so-called Chairman of Xiya's Martial Arts Association first appeared two months ago, alongside Baili Qingfeng.

"Before that, there was no record of his existence—he simply emerged out of nowhere. The moment he appeared, he made contact with Xiya's Prime Minister Yasuo and received his full support. Additionally..."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"The rumors about Shou Zhen recovering from his injuries and breaking through to Supreme Expert level with his help... are true."

The Aurora Emperor briefly paused his motion of flipping through the documents. After a moment, he said, "An additional Supreme Expert is nothing more than just another variable. Against my swordsmanship and formations, a newly ascended Supreme Expert can't stir up any real trouble."

He lifted his gaze to Thaesis. "But Li Pin appeared out of nowhere just two months ago, with no trace of his past. Could he have come from the Twin Moon Domain?"

Thaesis replied, "This is our most plausible assumption. Apart from the Twin Moon Domain, we can't explain how Xiya suddenly gained such a powerful figure. Furthermore... it seems he didn't come alone. He brought a group of skilled fighters, many of whom possess at least Tier Seven National Martial Artist-level strength."

"Then that settles it. Xiya is collaborating with the Twin Moon Domain. That is a grave offense and will undoubtedly provoke global outrage. What awaits them next will be the combined wrath of the world's great powers," The Aurora Emperor declared.

"We have already begun reaching out to the other world-class factions." Thaesis smiled. "The Steel Empire, the Radiant Empire, the Golden Eagle Empire, the Forest Nation, and Olympus have all reached an agreement with us.

"Additionally, we have contacted Mirror Mountain and the Sole Church. These forces have all agreed to take action together—to eliminate Li Pin and crush Xiya for colluding with the Twin Moon Domain and betraying humanity's interests."

The Aurora Emperor smiled slightly, his gaze toward Thaesis filled with satisfaction. "With you handling things, I have no worries."

"I won't let you down, Your Majesty," Thaesis responded with a smile. "This matter is of great importance, and due to some special circumstances, Lu Chen and Ling Jiuxiao from Mirror Mountain have personally come. Xi Si from the Sole Church has also arrived.

"Additionally, several major empires have sent their Supreme Experts. Your Majesty, would you like to meet with them and discuss how to deal with Xiya?"

"A lion hunts a rabbit with full force," The Aurora Emperor said calmly, "The number of experts in the Twin Moon Domain far exceeds our expectations. Due to the world's energy level, they can't send Legendary experts into our world, but it is highly possible for them to send Tier Eleven Quasi-Legends. And this one... is likely at the pinnacle even among the Quasi-Legends. Meeting to strategize on dealing with Li Pin is necessary."

"I'll make the arrangements. Tomorrow, when the World's Top Martial Competition officially begins, we'll launch a coordinated attack and eliminate Xiya as a destabilizing factor. That way, it won't interfere with the Aurora Empire's plan to sweep across Eastern God Continent," said Thaesis.

The Aurora Emperor nodded.

At the mid-section of Tiangong Summit, newly constructed structures resembling container houses stood in place.

Li Pin was listening to reports from Fang Chunyang, Xu Anping, and others.

Fang Chunyang said, "There are only fifty-two Supreme Experts who officially registered, but in reality, nearly seventy percent of the world's Supreme Experts have already gathered here. If this competition goes smoothly, you will claim the title of the World Champion. With that identity, everything that follows will be much easier to accomplish."

"I understand," Li Pin responded. He then turned to Xu Anping and asked, "How's the infiltration of the major factions progressing?"

"Going smoothly," Xu Anping smiled. "Each pioneer is a peerless genius in this world. Blending into these major factions is an easy task for them. The only challenge is reaching the upper ranks quickly. Their backgrounds are a mystery... earning trust in such a short time is difficult."

"No matter," Li Pin said calmly. "Once a portion of their upper ranks fall, our people will naturally have the qualifications to rise."

Xu Anping was slightly taken aback. "Captain, are you planning to wipe them all out?"

"The old must go for the new to take over," Li Pin replied. "These people are rotten to the core. If I show mercy, it won't earn their respect or compliance—it will only embolden them to push further. So, I'll use them first... to teach the others the meaning of fear,"

Having gone through an entire cycle, he knew all too well what kind of people sat at the top of these global powers. For their own benefit, they would betray anything.

"We'll follow your orders," said Xu Anping, not trying to dissuade him. "Besides, the batch of Gold Pioneers will soon mature. There won't be any major issues."

The Pioneers were far more impartial and efficient than others.

Of course, for various reasons, he couldn't deploy Pioneers everywhere. At least, not within Xiya.

Using their power to stabilize the world was only a temporary measure. Once this turbulent period passed and he reshaped the martial world, the global powers, and the major empires' perceptions, the Pioneers would gradually return authority to the native inhabitants of this world.

Fang Chunyang glanced at Li Pin, hesitant to speak.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "Aren't we straying from the main objective? Instead of ruling Xiya, unifying the Eastern God Continent, and eventually the world, shouldn't we be focusing on our actual goal?"

It was only upon hearing this that Xu Anping realized that they had completely ignored the two main characters of this divine treasure world—Baili Zhu and Baili Qingfeng.

It was as if they were walking on two parallel lines.

"The Void Emperor... is he still in school?" Xu Anping cautiously asked.

"Oh, he wanted to take a day off to visit Mount Tianque and see if he could help, but... I didn't approve his leave request," Li Pin replied casually.

Xu Anping found it strange. "And so... he just didn't turn up?"

"He didn't get the leave approved, so of course, he couldn't come. Isn't that normal?" Li Pin said matter-of-factly.

"Is it... really normal?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

The two exchanged a glance.

In the end, Xu Anping chose not to press further.

Whatever you say. You're the captain. Our job... is simply to follow orders.