Linhu Village.
Lin Chen also learned about the current situation of the Nine Kingdoms from his teacher.
Up to this day, dozens of martial artists from the Flame Dynasty have appeared in the Nine Kingdoms.
Nine Palaces Sect, Profound Nether Sect, Galo Sect, Void Sect...
A total of seven sects have shown up.
"So, currently, apart from our Liang, the other kingdoms all have martial artists from the Flame Dynasty."
"Yes, these martial artists from the Flame Dynasty act recklessly. The Royal Family of the Wu Kingdom was directly wiped out, and the royal families of other kingdoms have also surrendered one after another. I’m afraid our Liang will also find it difficult to stay out of it."
Jia Nanzhu’s face was solemn. The reason these forces have not yet entered Liang is due to its location.
The martial artists from the Flame Dynasty, upon entering the Nine Kingdoms, conveniently end up in the territories of other kingdoms.
However, once these forces have conquered several kingdoms, they will ultimately set their sights on Liang.
Liang has vast territory and abundant martial arts resources, and there is no reason for these forces from the Flame Dynasty to overlook Liang.
"What does Lord Kong plan to do in response?" Lin Chen asked curiously.
"Watch and wait. If things truly become unmanageable, we may have no choice but to compromise."
Jia Nanzhu spoke with a tone of helplessness. The gap in strength exists, and even if they wanted to fight to the death, it would not be enough.
Lin Chen also remained silent. Innate Martial Artists transcend the First Grade, and one Innate Martial Artist can travel freely throughout the Nine Kingdoms. Even if they gather an army, it would be difficult to stop one Innate Martial Artist.
As the teacher and student both fell silent, a flying eagle darted into the courtyard.
Jia Nanzhu raised his hand, and the eagle landed on his arm. He took the paper from the eagle’s claw, and after just a quick glance, Jia Nanzhu’s expression turned thoroughly grim.
"Teacher, what does the letter say?"
"See for yourself, I cannot speak it."
Jia Nanzhu handed the paper to Lin Chen. Lin Chen knew the contents of the paper were likely not good news, but after he finished reading, he understood why his teacher’s face looked so unpleasant.
The Nine Palaces Sect is holding a conference in Ice City to redivide the structure of the Nine Kingdoms.
If it were just this, it would be one thing, but the most crucial point is that the Nine Palaces Sect has only invited forces from the Flame Dynasty, such as the Profound Nether Sect and the Galo Sect, to participate.
No invitation was extended to any force from any of the Nine Kingdoms.
Anger flickered in Lin Chen’s eyes. To discuss the structure of the Nine Kingdoms without inviting any local forces or martial artists from the Nine Kingdoms is to disregard the Nine Kingdoms.
This is an arrogance that allows outsiders to shamelessly decide the fate of their native martial artists.
Surely, the martial artists of the Nine Kingdoms would be outraged.
"Lin Chen, work hard on your cultivation. Everything else is meaningless; only strength is everything."
From the time he began teaching Lin Chen cultivation, this was the first time Jia Nanzhu mentioned for Lin Chen to "work hard."
Before this, he had witnessed how diligent Lin Chen was in his martial arts cultivation, dedicating almost all his available time to it.
Watching Lin Chen train day and night, he had more than once been unable to resist advising Lin Chen to take a break.
"I understand, teacher."
Lin Chen nodded, "I shall continue my challenges on Martial Arts Mountain."
"Hmm."
Leaving his teacher’s courtyard, Lin Chen headed toward his own. In terms of strength, he still had a way to go to reach the level of an Innate Martial Artist. Not to mention Innate Martial Artists, he hadn’t even reached the Upper Grade Realm yet.
"All I can do is make it into the top ten thousand on Martial Arts Mountain. Once in the top ten thousand, I can engage with opponents. If I encounter a disciple from the Canglan Sect, I can ask for their help."
Since these sects from the Flame Dynasty, like the Nine Palaces and Profound Nether Sects, can come, then the Canglan Sect can too.
By showcasing my martial arts potential, allowing the Canglan Sect to see my value, it’s the only way I can break through the current predicament.
Martial Arts Mountain.
Lin Chen once again entered an intense challenge mode.
From twenty thousand to ten thousand, now his opponents were mostly in the Upper Grade Realm.
But owing to his powerful Divine Soul, his rate of challenges had not slowed down; in fact, it had accelerated quite a bit.
In one day, he won eight hundred matches.
A strong Divine Soul offers a tremendous advantage in the ranking battles on Martial Arts Mountain.
Powerful spirit soldiers or other treasures cannot be brought into Martial Arts Mountain; the battles there rely solely on raw strength.
With his current Ninth Tier Divine Soul strength, without relying on Divine Soul treasures, he can nearly instantly defeat anyone below the First Grade.
One day, two days, three days...
Just as Lin Chen was frantically climbing the ranks in Martial Arts Mountain, at this moment, sixteen Innate Powerhouses were gathered in a hall within the Ice City Imperial Palace of Han Kingdom.
"Let’s put it this way, the territory of Xiang Kingdom belongs to our Galo Sect."
The Innate Martial Artist of Galo Sect was the first to speak. As for visiting Xiang Kingdom back then, comforting the High Priest of Xiang Kingdom, and finding an explanation from Nine Palaces Sect for the matter of his crippled right leg, it was never mentioned again.
All the Innate Martial Artists present, regardless of their thoughts, had a common understanding that local martial artists of the Nine Kingdoms were insignificant.
If Xiang Kingdom disobeys, Galo Sect can always support a second Xiang Kingdom.
The reason Galo Sect values Xiang Kingdom’s territory is because there are quite a few young martial artists with decent potential there, and within its borders, there is also a place nurturing Innate Energy.
"You should know, back then, my Galo Sect had people come here and also left a Martial Path inheritance."
The other Innate Powerhouses at the scene exchanged glances, ultimately recognizing Galo Sect’s control over Xiang Kingdom.
"Alright, the land of Xiang Kingdom will be under the control of your Galo Sect, but other places have nothing to do with you Galo Sect."
Fei Jun, representing Nine Palaces Sect, agreed to this, and the other Innate Martial Artists did not object, thus the matter was settled. As for whether Xiang Kingdom would disagree?
It doesn’t matter!
"Galo Sect has a Martial Path inheritance in Xiang Kingdom; we acknowledge its control over Xiang Kingdom. However, your Nine Palaces Sect left no Martial Path inheritance here, is it reasonable for you to monopolize Han Kingdom?"
An elder at the scene spoke lightly, and the other Innate Powerhouses also turned their gaze to Fei Jun.
These few days, as they visited this place, they did explore the area. From the information provided by the occupied countries, there is no shortage of places nurturing Innate Energy in the Nine Kingdoms, with three in Han Kingdom alone.
Nine Palaces Sect wanting to monopolize all three is naturally not agreed upon by others.
"Han Kingdom has already recognized my Nine Palaces Sect as Upper Sect. According to the regulations of the Flame Dynasty, my Nine Palaces Sect is the master of Han Kingdom, and all resources belong to my Nine Palaces Sect."
As Fei Jun spoke, another middle-aged man laughed out loud: "Flame Dynasty regulations? Isn’t it ridiculous to mention the Flame Dynasty’s regulations at this moment?"
"The Flame Dynasty stipulates that all pioneering sects have a century-long ownership of pioneering lands; this Martial Path inheritance in Han Kingdom comes from Extreme Ice Sect. Did your Nine Palaces Sect obtain agreement from Extreme Ice Sect for Han Kingdom to recognize you as Upper Sect?"
"I’m afraid by the time Extreme Ice Sect individuals arrive, your Nine Palaces Sect won’t return Han Kingdom to Extreme Ice Sect."
The cold ridicule from several Innate Martial Artists also made Fei Jun’s face turn cold immediately, and he spoke in a deep voice: "This is a matter between my Nine Palaces Sect and Extreme Ice Sect. It has nothing to do with you, gentlemen. The overt Innate Energy paths in the entire Nine Kingdoms are fourteen, and there might be more in secret. Why do you have to focus on Han Kingdom?"
"It’s not that we are focused on Han Kingdom, but that your Nine Palaces Sect has no reason to monopolize three places of Innate Energy."
The elder coldly smiled and continued: "This time we attend the conference not to give your Nine Palaces Sect face, but to gather everyone together to figure out a reasonable allocation method. After all, now that the Annihilation Storm has disappeared, it’s uncertain whether sects will continue to join in the future. If everyone reaches a distribution agreement, we can form an alliance to prevent future sects from entering."
Hearing the elder’s words, Fei Jun understood that these people had likely communicated in advance before coming to Ice City.
"Then what do you suggest we should do?"
"Identify all places in the Nine Kingdoms that nurture Innate Energy, and we can allocate by number; we currently have twelve sects, each can exactly have one. As for the extra two places, we can take turns, with each sect managing one for five years. I believe everyone can wait five to ten years."
After the elder spoke, the other Innate Powerhouses also expressed their support one after another.
"Exactly, let’s allocate in this way."
"This method is most fair, and we can unite to resist the subsequent sects."
Fei Jun and his junior brother exchanged glances, not expecting the situation to develop this way. The situation was clear: if Nine Palaces Sect disagreed, these people would join forces against them.
Even though they had sent messages to the sect seeking support, these people had likely also sent messages back to their sects.
Ultimately, it boiled down to Nine Palaces Sect not having the power to dominate the scene.
"According to your proposal, everyone will take turns; which sect will control which Innate Energy nurturing site, and how will the surplus be allocated?"
"This is what we must discuss in this meeting."
"I, from Void Sect, want a site with a Gold Attribute Innate Energy; the rest you can distribute."
In the Ice City Imperial Palace, the arguments continued incessantly.
The Innate Powerhouses at this moment were like noisy market vendors, without any of the demeanor expected of Innate Powerhouses.
Outside the great hall, the Emperor of Han Kingdom, the State Preceptor, and other high officials listened to the arguments breaking out inside, and one of the elders couldn’t help but lightly sigh.
"The storm clears revealing the wolves, dividing the land, feasting on the gains."
"To the outsider watching this scene, greed would appear as governance of family and state."
Once the elder said this, the faces of the other high officials also turned very unsightly.
These forces from the Flame Dynasty, the intensity of their arguments was such that those unaware might think this was their homeland, and they were fighting for what was originally theirs.
In reality, they were only here to divide the interests of the Nine Kingdoms.
The Nine Kingdoms were just like meat on a chopping block, ready for these people to carve up.
No one cared what the martial artists of the Nine Kingdoms thought; this was a disgrace to the entire Nine Kingdoms.

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