‘If they cannot be defeated, then they must be assimilated.’
The concept of a Federation, as defined, refers to a structural form where two or more academies of science unite.
Originally, each member academy enjoyed sovereign independence, but upon joining the Federation, they cede a portion of their authority to the federal academy while retaining some power to manage their internal affairs.
This was the literal interpretation, or at least, this was how it was written in the encyclopedias published by the academies.
However, the issues plaguing the Southern Dipper Star Federation Academy were profoundly intricate, far too complex to be elucidated by such a simplistic explanation.
While others might have been oblivious to Ren Du’s reason for bringing only a few individuals to East Bamboo, Director Ji understood it with absolute clarity.
Following the demise of Yan Ling, factional struggles had inevitably erupted within the Southern Dipper Star.
Though these conflicts were not lethal in the long run, certainly not enough to shatter the Southern Dipper Star into fragments, they nonetheless spawned a multitude of minor, troublesome issues.
East Bamboo was an insignificant place, so small it was practically negligible on any map.
Yet, was its geographical location truly unimportant? On the contrary, it was crucial.
Someone within the Southern Dipper Star must have taken notice of it, but they were hampered by the intricate factional strife.
They were more inclined to focus on regions with superior geographical advantages rather than such a desolate, forgotten corner.
Thus, it was entirely understandable that no one would approve of Ren Du bringing too many people here.
Within the federal system of the Southern Dipper Star, Ren Du’s authority was not equal to his own.
His power was constrained by numerous parties, whereas Director Ji’s own limitations were far more lenient.
A smile involuntarily curved on Director Ji’s lips as this thought crossed his mind.
‘My advantages far outweigh Ren Du’s,’ he mused. ‘East Bamboo must be secured!’
Ren Du showed no intention of retreating or ceding ground, and Director Ji, naturally, could not abandon Le Sishu.
The two remained locked in a stalemate, neither willing to be the first to disengage.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Feng Linwan’s swordplay flowed with effortless grace, making it difficult for East Bamboo Immortal to gain a decisive advantage in swordsmanship.
Figures such as Ren Xinzuo and Wan Ren openly lauded the swordsmanship of the Taiyi Lingxu Sect.
Ren Xinzuo, being from Polaris, naturally nodded in approval.
Wan Ren, however, was from the Southern Dipper Star and was reluctant to openly praise an enemy’s superior swordsmanship.
Though he remained silent, his heart held considerable admiration for her skill.
Yu Wusheng observed the sword duel, a thought stirring within him.
All the previous contestants, be it Tian Qi, Xu Chang, Xiao Zhang, or Ren Xinzuo, had adopted a strategy of ‘swift assault for a quick victory’.
They emphasized offense over defense, aiming to rapidly seize the advantage and subsequently defeat East Bamboo Immortal.
East Bamboo Immortal possessed profound cultivation, rendering a prolonged battle disadvantageous to their side.
Establishing a short-term advantage through a swift assault to secure a quick victory over East Bamboo Immortal was a logical approach.
However, East Bamboo Immortal consistently managed to turn the tide, effectively transforming the ‘swift assault for a quick victory’ strategy into a self-imposed limitation for their opponents.
As the hopes of a quick victory for earlier contestants shattered, those who followed often concluded that the previous attempts lacked a clear advantage for swift success, prompting them to pursue quick victories with even greater fervor.
Should this cycle persist, it would take less than a day for all their members to fall before East Bamboo Immortal.
Feng Linwan, despite her cultivation being inferior to East Bamboo Immortal’s, had managed to contend with her through superior swordsmanship, holding her own for an extended period.
While she would not be defeated anytime soon, victory also seemed elusive.
As noon approached, Feng Linwan finally withdrew her sword and conceded.
Her cultivation was waning, and continuing the fight would only mean prolonged resistance against East Bamboo Immortal’s swordsmanship.
She had never intended to defeat East Bamboo Immortal; her sole aim was to see how many moves she could withstand.
To her surprise, she had persevered for so long.
The thought that East Bamboo Immortal would likely remain helpless against the Taiyi Juntian Sword if not for her own dwindling cultivation, and that she had, in fact, surpassed many of the previous contestants, filled Feng Linwan with a surge of pride.
With a graceful turn, she drifted off the stage, like an ethereal fairy, quickly retreating to the back of the crowd.
East Bamboo Immortal watched Feng Linwan depart.
She had not anticipated fighting her opponent for an entire morning.
The opponent’s swordsmanship was unique, unlike anything she had ever encountered.
Had she unleashed her full power, using her fist and palm techniques to break through the sword arts, she could have swiftly defeated her, and the battle would certainly not have dragged on this long.
However, she had already drawn her sword to meet the challenge, signaling a contest of swordsmanship.
Should she abandon her sword mid-bout and resort to fist and palm techniques, even a victory would inevitably carry the taint of cunning and unfair play.
A genuine admiration for Feng Linwan swelled in everyone’s hearts.
Initially, they had perceived her as haughty and aloof, but now, they universally acknowledged her exceptional skill and extraordinary talent.
Any prior impressions of arrogance were now simply regarded as the natural demeanor of a master of their craft.
The crowd turned their gaze towards Director Ji, only to find him still locked in a struggle of cultivation with Ren Du.
They had been battling for an entire morning, yet neither showed the slightest sign of diminishing power.
“Director Ji, it’s already been an entire morning…”
Director Ji offered no reply.
Should he utter a sound to answer anyone from Polaris, Ren Du’s palm force would instantly bear down upon him.
The others exchanged glances, deciding to continue the matches.
Only Tian Qi repeatedly shook his head.
“If you ask me, we should pause for a bit. It’s already noon, and eating is important! Eating is important!”
“Tian Qi, don’t fret! We martial artists won’t starve to death from missing one meal.”
The man who claimed to be Tian Qi’s Uncle Chen offered words of comfort to Tian Qi, though his final remark carried a distinct undertone of mockery.
Chi Yiheng, the scholarly man, flicked open his folding fan, poised to step onto the stage, only to see two figures preemptively leap onto it.
He had no choice but to retreat.
He had intended to enter the fray earlier, but this turn of events made him appear as if he were shrinking back from battle, afraid to step forward.
The two women who stepped onto the stage were both clad in elegant attire: one in a green gown, the other in a pink one.
Their long swords, pointed diagonally towards the ground, chimed with two crisp notes.
“From the Flourishing Bloom Over Water Sword Sect, Sword Protectors Guan Xuelan and Ye Shuanghong.”
Witnessing these two young, beautiful women seemingly poised to fight two-on-one, Fenghu and Yunlong, the two elders, couldn’t help but frown.
Had it been anyone else, they would undoubtedly have reprimanded them for ganging up, but their opponent was East Bamboo Immortal.
A one-on-one match offered no guaranteed victory, so two combatants entering the fray was understandable.
Moreover, the Flourishing Bloom Over Water Sword Sect bore no discernible stain of wrongdoing; they were merely a group of maidens who cultivated flowers and practiced swordsmanship in the ‘Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers’.
As esteemed veterans of the martial world, Fenghu and Yunlong saw no reason to reprimand them for this.
Wan Ren, observing Fenghu and Yunlong’s indifference from the side, felt a growing vigilance towards Guan Xuelan and Ye Shuanghong.
From East Bamboo Immortal’s previous match with Feng Linwan, it was evident that she struggled against the Taiyi Juntian Sword’s fluid, adaptable movements, which allowed for both offense and defense.
Although East Bamboo Immortal could have leveraged her fist and palm techniques for a swift victory, perhaps out of concern for fighting unfairly, she had consistently adhered to confronting her opponent with swordsmanship, thus prolonging the contest significantly.
Judging by the expressions of Fenghu and Yunlong, they clearly lacked understanding of the Flourishing Bloom Over Water Sword Sect, and were unaware of the formidable power of the ‘Flourishing Bloom Over Water Sword Formation’.
“Polaris is truly formidable,” Zhu Jifeng exclaimed, shaking his head with a sigh.
“Since its founding by Jueziming, the Flourishing Bloom Over Water Sword Sect has always remained aloof from worldly affairs, dedicating themselves solely to the study of swordsmanship and medicinal arts.
To think… even they are now willing to serve Polaris… truly, the moral fabric of the world is deteriorating!”
Zhu Jifeng shook his head, lamenting that after years of reclusion, he found everything outside had changed drastically from what it once was.
“East Bamboo Immortal’s swordsmanship is extraordinary, embodying the very essence of a grandmaster,” Guan Xuelan articulated, her voice clear.
“As mere juniors with shallow cultivation, if either of us were to enter the arena alone, it would undoubtedly appear arrogant and disrespectful to East Bamboo Immortal.
Should we be defeated in a single move, it would bring even greater shame upon our sect.
Therefore, we invited our fellow disciple to join us, ensuring we do not fail in showing due respect when engaging with a grandmaster.
Moreover, given East Bamboo Immortal’s profound cultivation, even if the two of us juniors were to exert our full strength, it is uncertain if we could withstand even a single move or half a stance from her.
Our decision to team up stems from our personal initiative, and we humbly ask for your understanding regarding any impropriety.”
Guan Xuelan was articulate, and her speech convinced everyone present.
Although there were still points that could be refuted, no one chose to argue.
She portrayed herself as exceptionally weak, emphasizing on one hand that she could not contend with East Bamboo Immortal alone, and a swift defeat would only disgrace her sect.
On the other hand, she humbly acknowledged herself as a junior, highlighting East Bamboo Immortal as a grandmaster.
For a junior to challenge a grandmaster one-on-one would clearly be seen as overconfident and arrogant; only by two juniors joining forces to seek guidance could true respect be shown to an elder.
Yu Wusheng paid little heed to their rhetoric.
His gaze shifted towards Director Ji’s side, where Ren Du and Director Ji’s contest of cultivation had reached a critical juncture.
If he could seize the opportune moment to intervene, he was certain to inflict severe damage upon Ren Du.
Should his side ultimately fail to secure victory for Polaris in the contest against East Bamboo Immortal, they must at least make the Southern Dipper Star bleed a little to compensate for Polaris’s losses.
It was not uncommon for others within Polaris to share Yu Wusheng’s perspective.
His gaze swept over a nondescript middle-aged man standing nearby, who offered him a malevolent smile, evidently having divined his inner thoughts.
‘So, it’s Ma Yan…’
Yu Wusheng knew this man by his moniker, ‘Silver Sword Swift Hand’, renowned for his nimble swordsmanship that struck with the fury of a gale and the speed of lightning.
However, his reputation was far from savory, and he was widely condemned in the martial world.
Yet, his swordsmanship was exceptional, and whenever someone sought trouble with him, he always managed to escape with composure.
No one knew who his master was.
“Brother Ma, why the laughter?”
“Mr. Yu, you ask the obvious!”
Ma Yan, with a mirthless smile, approached Yu Wusheng and chuckled softly.
“If someone were to strike Ren Du from behind at this very moment, Director Ji could seize the opportunity to win… As for Ren Du, heh heh, he wouldn’t die, but he’d be severely wounded…”
“So, Brother Ma, you’re confident of victory?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare! It’s merely a fifty-fifty chance.”
Ma Yan gazed at Yu Wusheng, his hands tucked into his pockets, and chuckled softly.
“If we could eliminate Ren Du for Polaris, then even if we don’t defeat East Bamboo Immortal on this trip to East Bamboo, it wouldn’t be a fruitless endeavor.
Moreover, it would bring us immense prestige before Polaris!”
“Are you suggesting, Brother Ma, that you want me to join you in this action?”
“An extra person means an extra chance of success.
With Mr. Yu joining, the odds of victory could reach at least seventy percent.”
Yu Wusheng found this utterly ludicrous.
Ma Yan claimed only a fifty percent chance of success with a solo sneak attack, and with Yu Wusheng’s addition, it barely climbed to seventy percent.
This implied Yu Wusheng’s contribution was less than half of Ma Yan’s own.
He couldn’t discern whether Ma Yan was praising him or insulting him.
“Let’s forget it, then! I have no interest in such opportunities for glory, Brother Ma. Please, do as you wish.”
Ma Yan cast a meaningful glance at Yu Wusheng, then, with an air of nonchalance, walked towards the front of the crowd.
Yu Wusheng’s expression immediately turned as cold as frost, his gaze fixed icily on Ma Yan’s retreating back.
Both men cursed silently in their hearts.
‘Idiot!’