Chapter 173: The Supreme Treasure of Thunder City

Finally, the time for the official commencement of the Martial Alliance Assembly had arrived.

Everything had been meticulously arranged within the Bamboo Garden well in advance. Because of the lively activities during the day, the numerous family martial artists who had gathered here were already quite familiar with the surroundings.

Consequently, almost all the martial artists had figured out who the true powerhouses were, and when taking their seats, none dared to disrupt the order.

"Oh? The arrangement here is rather extraordinary!"

Su Ye felt a slight sense of surprise as he looked at the artificial lake ahead; he had not expected such a unique design within the Bamboo Garden. The artificial lake before his eyes was by no means small, appearing to be the size of three or four football fields. The lake water was crystal clear, and various colored lights installed at the bottom illuminated the water in a mesmerizing array of hues.

At the center of the lake stood a circular stone platform where four cold-faced martial artists stood steadfastly. Each had a sharp, fierce blade tucked behind their waist, guarding the four long bridges leading to the circular platform.

The shape of the entire lake somewhat resembled the Chinese character for "field", with all focal points converging upon the central circular platform.

The banks surrounding the lake were already packed with guests! Some distinguished guests were even seated on exquisite floating boats upon the water, looking exceptionally unique.

Because Chen Shiyao had sent someone to notify Su Ye toward evening, Su Ye quickly managed to find the location belonging to the Jiang family.

At this moment, Jiang Liuying, Ling Zhu, Uncle Zhong, and Gangjin were all present. The entire atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, and no one was speaking; even the usually talkative Jiang Liuying wore a solemn expression.

"Su Ye, over here—why did you only just arrive? Everyone has been worried about you all day." The first to speak turned out to be Ling Zhu.

Uncle Zhong also nodded with relief, saying, "Seeing that you are unharmed, the master and I can finally rest easy."

"Mhm!" Su Ye did not offer any superfluous words, merely responding briefly before looking at Jiang Liuying. He wondered if she was still angry, as she remained completely silent.

Gangjin chimed in from the side, "Brother Su Ye, the plan might change tonight! We will need to adapt to the situation as it unfolds!"

"Very well—we will adapt as circumstances require," Su Ye replied with a nod.

At that moment, a wave of bustling excitement suddenly erupted from ahead, the sounds indicating the arrival of significant figures.

"They're here! Aren't those the people from the Illusion Sea Sect? That must be their Sect Master, Wen Chaoye!"

Special spectator stands had been constructed around the perimeter of the lake water, and a delegation of dozens of martial artists had already taken their seats. The elderly man in the center walked with the majestic gait of a dragon and the stride of a tiger. He wore a string of conch shells across his body, and his hair was exceptionally long, resembling strands of sea grass.

This elderly man must be Wen Chaoye.

Su Ye did not know him, but he was quite familiar with the young maiden by his side—she was none other than Third Miss Wen Bibo, who had previously led people to the Huaping Manor, and whose conch shell had been snatched away.

However, Wen Bibo had later been captured and bound by the Jiang family; he had not expected that she would be rescued and even attend such a grand assembly.

Subconsciously, Su Ye touched the storage conch shell he carried. Although it had been crafted into the shape of a bull's horn, he feared Wen Bibo might recognize it at a glance if she saw it. Moreover, any grievances between him and the Illusion Sea Sect would likely have to be resolved tonight.

Sure enough, as soon as Wen Bibo sat down, she cast her gaze about, searching everywhere, evidently having heard that Su Ye had appeared.

Immediately afterward, another wave of commotion arose with the appearance of two more factions. One was a group of venom-witch practitioners, led by the Mountain Witch. He appeared to be an elderly man no taller than one hundred and sixty centimeters, yet all the martial artists around him treated him with utmost reverence, even harboring a trace of fear.

Practitioners of venom and witchcraft like him were figures whom no martial artist wished to provoke.

Following the Mountain Witch came the Thousand-Face Dragon Head, who appeared to be the most ordinary among all these bigwigs. He was a stout, tattooed man who looked like the boss of an underworld syndicate, bearing a fierce and menacing countenance.

Every single arrival was capable of instantly sparking a wave of sensation.

Su Ye calculated silently in his mind. The Illusion Sea Sect Master Wen Chaoye, the Mountain Witch, and even the Thousand-Face Dragon Head—all these individuals would target him and the Jiang family directly out of vengeance or self-interest.

The sudden appearance of so many formidable enemies added a heavy layer of oppression to his heart.

Dong, dong, dong!

Suddenly, drums began to beat. Many of the previously unlit lights around the lake simultaneously flashed on at that moment, seemingly as a theatrical way to welcome the arrival of the truly pivotal figures.

Only three people walked out this time.

Walking dead center was Ouyang Yi, a robust man with a very benevolent appearance. He was the Alliance Master who controlled the entire Martial Alliance forces of Yangcheng.

Flanking Ouyang Yi on his left and right were Chen Shiyao and Tu Shixin, respectively.

Su Ye recognized Chen Shiyao, the supreme prodigy who appeared to be only twenty years old, standing out remarkably among the many powerhouses. The other companion was a lean, dark-skinned elder whose temples bulged outward and whose cheekbones were exceptionally prominent. From the shouts of those nearby, he knew this was Tu Shixin, the maternal grandfather of Ouyang Yunfeng.

"Ha, ha! Alliance Master Ouyang! You've finally arrived! Ah, long time no see!"

"Alliance Master Ouyang's cultivation has advanced considerably once again, and the Martial Alliance is managed so flourishingly. Ha, ha, it is truly the fortune of Yangcheng!"

"Thanks to everyone's generous support, although there have been minor frictions within the Martial Alliance recently, everything is proceeding smoothly."

Ouyang Yi smiled amiably and gestured for everyone to be seated. Then, taking a few paces forward and circulating his internal vital energy, he spoke in a resonant voice: "Thank you all for honoring us with your presence to attend our Martial Alliance Assembly. I am Ouyang Yi, Alliance Master of the Yangcheng Martial Alliance. The purpose of inviting you all here today is very simple. I believe everyone has already witnessed many supreme treasures today, but now is the time to display the true supreme treasures..."

As soon as he finished speaking, ten martial artists emerged from a corner of the lake, jointly carrying a long object. Each of them bore a heavy load upon their shoulders, draped beneath long white cloths that invited endless speculation.

They emerged from one of the long bridges intersecting the field-shaped layout, and upon reaching the wooden bridge, they abruptly ripped the white cloth away.

Instantly, the contents within were revealed—it turned out to be an enormous giant python!

This giant python was easily as thick as the body of an ordinary eight- or nine-year-old child, stretching over thirty meters in length. Its snake skin had already begun to sprout scales, and particularly upon its head, plates of armor-like scales were emerging, terrifying to behold.

Fortunately, this giant python had already been slain; otherwise, many martial artists would not have dared even to approach it.

"This first supreme treasure, allow me to introduce it personally! This is a deep-sea savage product, slain right within Thunder City! Look at its appearance—it has already grown scales, becoming a legendary savage dragon! Its entire body is a treasure... Pray, observe it closely, everyone!"

The team of martial artists carried this massive savage dragon across the long bridge, while the martial artists around the lake narrowed their eyes to inspect it clearly. Fortunately, the lighting here was quite good, and martial artists who practiced cultivation underwent marrow-cleansing and blood-renewal, possessing eyesight far superior to ordinary people.

"Is it truly a savage dragon? I've heard that even a casual scale from such a creature possesses special properties to ward off cold and evil spirits. Carrying just one of those scales on your body is enough to make malevolent entities retreat upon sight."

"The most valuable parts are its venomous fangs and its snake gallbladder. If such items fall into the hands of venom witches, what a terrifying instrument of slaughter they will become!"

"Pah! What do you know? The most valuable part is its snake blood. This creature had lingered in Thunder City for centuries, nourished by the terrestrial lightning of Thunder City itself. To drink a mouthful of this snake blood is equivalent to drinking dragon blood! I'm not kidding you—with just a mouthful of this dragon blood as aid, breaking through from the first stage of Qi Gathering to the ninth stage is an absolute certainty within a year!"

Hearing this, the crowd fell into a state of shock, never imagining that this savage dragon possessed such immense value. No wonder the Martial Alliance had spared no effort to search for the legendary Thunder City; not only were the items displayed during the day treasures, but what was on display now was truly a supreme treasure.

Watching from afar, Su Ye furrowed his brows, feeling a secret sense of alarm in his heart. Having stayed in Thunder City for so long, he had no idea when the Martial Alliance had managed to slay such a giant python.

It seemed that all the major factions who entered had not been idling about. Since he himself had encountered fortuitous encounters, how could these powerful factions return empty-handed?

Uncle Zhong clenched his fists tightly by his side and muttered in a low voice, "This savage dragon was hunted down under Ouyang Yunfeng's leadership, costing the lives of two men in the end. Yet, who would have thought that the prize ultimately belongs to this Alliance Master, while the meritorious hero who risked his life has been stripped of his authority and locked away! It truly makes one's heart turn cold!"

Before the first round of exhibitions had even concluded, someone in the crowd shouted loudly.

"Alliance Master Ouyang, we martial artists of Changtan are determined to secure this savage dragon! Just name your price! How much?" On a floating boat beside the lake, a middle-aged man stood up directly and asked in a ringing voice.

Instantly, the crowd quieted down slightly. Everyone wanted to know how much such a supreme treasure would cost. Judging by its value, it surely had to be measured in hundreds of millions, and ordinary major families would never dare to inquire about the price.

"Ha, ha, ha! How could the supreme treasures displayed by our Martial Alliance be measured in mere money? What I wish to exchange it for is regional jurisdiction—your Changtan, for instance!"

Ouyang Yi paused thoughtfully for a moment, seemingly recalling what noteworthy aspects Changtan possessed. After a brief reflection, he came up with it and stated, "Your Changtan needs to join our Yangcheng Martial Alliance, and all pill businesses as well as forging businesses in the East City area shall be taken over by our Martial Alliance. Rest assured, the duration is merely ten years! It is as simple as that!"

Upon hearing this, the various families immediately erupted into a commotion. Those present were all figures who governed families and led disciples; naturally, they recognized Ouyang Yi's tactic as a disguised form of territorial expansion.

Moreover, lasting for a full ten years at once—that decade was more than enough for the Martial Alliance to plant its roots firmly!

Seeming to think of something else, Ouyang Yi laughed heartily and added, "Of course, these ten years will not take advantage of you unfairly! Any talented disciples selected by your Changtan from the Spiritual Energy Academy, as long as they enter the top one thousand, will be permitted to come to our Martial Alliance for advanced cultivation free of charge. Ha, ha!"

The assembled families fell into an even greater uproar.

Jiang Liuying muttered a soft curse: "You can tell right away that he harbors malicious intentions!"

Su Ye remarked, "Indeed. Not only is he scheming to plant roots in Changtan without bloodshed, but he also intends to co-opt the most formidable batch of talents for his own use. Even if Changtan manages to bring this savage dragon back, the privileged batch of talents who ultimately benefit from it will still end up belonging to the Martial Alliance. This is an absolute windfall for him!"

Evidently, the martial artists of Changtan also realized that such a trade was far too disadvantageous.

It was tantamount to cutting off their own future; they would rather develop slowly than ever agree to this. "Heh, such a major matter requires me to return and consult with the various families! I cannot make the decision alone! Alas!"

These few remarks were already exceedingly polite; they certainly did not wish to offend the hegemonic Ouyang Yi on an occasion like this.

However, just as the people of Changtan tactfully declined, another group stood up. The person who stood up was none other than the Thousand-Face Dragon Head.

With a gravelly, booming voice, he shouted aloud, "Heh, those weaklings of Changtan lack the spine and can't stomach it, but we of Nantan certainly want it! Alliance Master Ouyang, we'll take it!"

The crowd was startled once again. The Nantan region governed by this Thousand-Face Dragon Head and Changtan were at loggerheads, having engaged in numerous private gang wars.

If the Thousand-Face Dragon Head were to bring this supreme treasure back now, it was feared that within half a year, he would annex Changtan.

Realizing this as well, the complexions of the Changtan martial artists turned pale in an instant.

Hearing this, the corners of Su Ye's mouth slowly curled into a cold sneer: "So, he intends to profit from a war!! Hmph!"