Lord of the Desert

Chapter 584: Taking sides
The topic quickly shifted to the latest three lists.

This is a must-discuss topic at every table at Dahua.

"Ever since Hong Zhenshou was officially removed from the list in September, the capital has been engulfed in a bloodbath."

Yin Lianfeng was much older than Hong Fan and held a higher position, so the way he addressed her was more distant.

“The disciples of my clan have returned and said that there have been nine duels between the most outstanding talents in just two months, and the title of ‘Five Sons’ has been decided.”

Many of those present had heard of these "Five Talents," referring to the five peak-level innate martial artists who ranked among the top five on the Prodigy Ranking after the Blazing Star was removed from the list: Jin Shuang, the Queen of Hejian Kingdom; Yu Pojie of Zhenyu Palace in Hanzhou; Leng Zhuoxi of the Leng Family in Lingbo City; Wei Yan of Erbai City in Shengzhou; and Nie Yin of Yangxia Sect in Qingzhou.

Who will be the current top scorer?

Hong Fan asked.

Fengsui City was as remote as Jinhai City, and Kuaiye Mountain separated it from the north and south. The results of the three examinations were usually released two or three months later than those in Shenjing.

"The top spot belongs to Yu Pojie of the Prison Suppression Palace. He has mastered the 'Pagoda Prison Suppression Manual' and is said to have been personally instructed by 'Binding Realm'. He is a figure like your sworn brother who appears out of nowhere."

Wei Zhaoli explained.

Fu Jiecheng, known as "Boundary-Binding," is a second-level Celestial Being, ranked fourteenth on the Earthly Ranking, and is recognized as the second-best expert in Hanzhou.

In fact, Hong Fan was no stranger to the Zhenyu Palace—its young and powerful elder, Gu Zhiyong, known as "Shouldering Mount Tai," was killed by him.

However, the things that happened in Zi Wuchang are already rotten inside Zi Wuchang, so there's no need to say them out loud and cause everyone unnecessary trouble.

"What is Jin Shuang's ranking after that?"

Hong Fan recalled the junior with black eyes who had challenged him a few months ago but hadn't dared to make a move.

"He was still second in the rankings. He challenged Yu Pojie twice, even pulling out his trump card, the 'Eight Winds Revolving Wheel' sword technique, but in the end he still couldn't win."

Wei Zhaoli smiled and replied, his expression slightly cold.

"Speaking of which, my family contacted us privately after August; hey, they wanted to directly replace Jin Shuang at the top of the list after you were removed from the list."

Hong Fan remained silent.

Those present were all in high positions and could discern the meaning behind the words.

With the fall of Huaiyang Kingdom and the decline of the Feng family, and with Yi Zhen nearing the end of his life, the imperial court grew increasingly impatient with the kingdoms of Hejian and Langya. The fact that the dignified Governor of Hezhou revealed this secret in public suggests that he was deliberately trying to save face for the lower-class families.

Halfway through the banquet, Wei Zhaoli excused himself due to busy business, and Yin Lianfeng took the opportunity to ask him to leave.

After the waiter cleared away the leftovers and replaced them with freshly brewed tea, only Yin, Qin, and Hong remained at the table.

A new incense stick was lit on the side table to dispel the lingering smell of food.

"Admiral Wei is in high spirits today; it is usually extremely difficult to invite him to a banquet."

Yin Lianfeng took a sip of tea.

"What Lord Yin said is very true."

Qin Hong echoed this.

"Firstly, it's out of respect for Brother Hong, and secondly, it must be because the great undertaking in Zhongzhou has been accomplished. Brother Hong probably doesn't know that at the end of October, four direct descendants of the Qingheng Mo clan confessed their crimes, half of the clan members severed ties and migrated south, and even the Heavenly Divine Weapon 'Peerless' was offered to the Divine Capital Martial Arts Academy!"

Hong Fan was indeed unaware of the outcome of this matter, which made it rather difficult to comment.

Qingheng Mo Gong passed away in February. It is said that the pressure on the Martial Arts Academy began as soon as his coffin was laid to rest.

It can only be said that Old Man Guan is truly unrefined when it comes to not being particular about these things.

"The headmaster has a real appetite, causing trouble month after month and year after year, which frightens all the noble families in the world to live in fear."

Qin Hong sighed, his words laced with sarcasm.

"What good is it if everyone is insecure?"

Yin Lianfeng sneered. "Apart from the one who ran into the hands of Shi Fang Ju Mie, all the Martial Saints in the past five hundred years have died of old age—ha, Guan Qimai is only one hundred and twelve years old this year..."

The audience remained silent for a long while.

One hundred and twelve.

Yin Lianfeng's voice was somewhat weak and trembling.

"I am honored to be ranked twenty-second on the Earthly Ranking, but the thought that the Great Hua Clan still has to endure two hundred years of such iron-fisted rule gives me a moment of despair."

He shook his head and poured himself more tea.

"What do you think, Brother Hong?"

Qin Hong suddenly asked.

The tone was casual, yet it was clearly a test.

Hong Fan had long since left the ranks of the Imperial Guards, but secrets don't stay hidden forever, and the news that Guan Qimai wanted to take him as a disciple had already spread within a small circle in Hezhou.

Moreover, since the beginning of this year, Zhangwu Academy has been promoting the construction of public schools in Liangzhou, which has greatly helped Hong Fan.

"I personally admire the headmaster's ideals."

Hong Fan drank the tea in his cup without covering his mouth.

"But the road ahead is long and arduous, and his method may not work."

Hong Fan has always supported the nationalization and equalization of martial arts education, but a bad order is better than no order. To eliminate powerful families, one must first be able to completely replace their social functions.

For example, the judiciary, law enforcement, and maintaining order and justice...

From this perspective, even with Guan Qimai, a Martial Saint, in charge, the power of the Martial Academy is still far from sufficient.

Yin and Qin felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this.

Although Hong Fan did not side with the aristocratic families, he was clearly not of the same mind as Guan Qimai.

That's enough.

Today's Hong Fan is not the "promising future" of the thirty-first year of Zhenghe. Now his combat power has surpassed Qin Hong of the Yuanci Second Pass, and his influence is no less than Yin Lianfeng of the Heaven and Man Realms.

At least in Hezhou, no one has the right to force him to take sides.

The wind whispers outside the window, the moon rises high above the treetops.

It's getting late.

"Lord Yin, Lord Qin, there is another piece of good news I would like to share with you both."

Hong Fan stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Next April, my elder brother will marry the eldest granddaughter of Lord Jiang of Xijing. This is a major event in our clan. Lord Wuzheng, Lord Zhu, and Admiral Xu have all been invited to attend. It would be a great pity if these two elders were not present to witness this grand occasion."

Qin Hong immediately stood up when he saw him bow solemnly, and Yin Lianfeng also sat up straight from behind his chair.

"Since it is a personal invitation from Chixing, how can we refuse?"

The two readily agreed.

P.S.: When I was setting up this book, I didn't realize that a harem ending and the creation of multiple female protagonists are largely mutually exclusive, and now I'm racking my brains over it.

Now that things have come to this, there should be a relatively good way to handle it.

The process may be tortuous, but I will try my best to write a happy ending.

(End of this chapter)