I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 889: Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Three: After the Battle

To take, one must first give. Aside from the cheering commoners of Lanshan City, anyone present could see the ill intent in the edict. This led to an atmosphere of difficulty and embarrassment that pervaded even the First Head of the Martial Hall of Lanshan City, who dared not rashly step forward to claim the edict, resulting in a tense and awkward standstill.

However, as Wang Chan’s voice issuing the edict travelled further, the cheers from the city’s populace grew louder; they too knew that they couldn’t stall for much longer.

Just as everyone was caught in a dilemma, a voice suddenly broke the silence.

“Many thanks to Saint Wang for bestowing this honor. I, Tang Zhi, on behalf of the Longxi Alliance and the Tang Clan, humbly accept it.”

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice, where a graceful middle-aged man stood atop a Luan carriage – he was none other than the leader of the Longxi Alliance, the chieftain of the Tang family in Xiling – Tang Zhi.

Ironically, every martial artist present had a higher cultivation level than Tang Zhi, but none exhibited the ease and nonchalance that Tang Zhi demonstrated when faced with such a complicated decision.

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Indeed, upon hearing Tang Zhi’s voice, those powerful enough to split mountains and shatter cliffs put aside all their worries and difficulties, as if this unimposing middle-aged man standing on the Luan Bird had the solutions to all problems.

This trust was a reflection of the authority he had built over the years in Longxi, an authority so strong that even as an ordinary man, Tang Zhi could command the allegiance of over a thousand from the Fierce Realm, and no one found it inappropriate.

It was soon evident to all martial artists loyal to the Alliance that the Longxi Alliance could exist without a Grandmaster, but not without its leader.

The Martial Ancestors, just moments ago restless with concern over Wang Chan’s “gift of death,” were now stabilized, as if reassured by a tranquilizer, the moment Tang Zhi appeared, not a single objection raised.

Their united determination even earned a sideways glance from the issuer of the edict, Wang Chan, who admired Tang Zhi, saying, “Legend has it that the leader of the Longxi Alliance, Tang Zhi, is unrivalled in strategy, calm and profound. Seeing you today truly is extraordinary.”

Standing atop the Luan Bird, Tang Zhi, with an unchanged expression, clasped his hands towards Wang Chan, “You flatter me, Saint Child. Compared to the military tactics and cunning strategies of the Wang family in the southern regions, my little schemes are negligible.”

“Fascinating, truly fascinating, ah hahaha!” Wang Chan studied Tang Zhi closely and then turned his head to look at Tang Luo, laughing wildly, “Who would have thought that a mere aristocratic family from Xiling could produce two such remarkable figures at once? Fascinating, too fascinating, ah hahaha!”

The Wang family ancestors categorized talents into three levels: the third being quick-witted and speculative, the second being forthright and heroic, and the highest being profound and substantial.

It seemed that every head of the Wang family of the southern regions possessed a first-class aptitude and temperament. When Wang Chan laid eyes on Tang Zhi, he almost felt a sense of déjà vu of that familiar charisma.

“I truly wish to see just how far the Tang Clan, with both of you, will go,” Wang Chan said as he used a talisman to inscribe an edict, handing a fragrant scroll to Tang Zhi, “This is the Dutian Heavenly King’s edict. A heavenly envoy will arrive shortly to erect a plaque for the Tang Clan of Longxi. Do not take it lightly.”

After handing over the edict to Tang Zhi, Wang Chan took one last look at Tang Luo and Tang Zhi, then with a mischievous grin, soared up into the sky and headed straight north.

Seeing Wang Chan leave, the martial ancestors of the Tang Clan finally breathed a sigh of relief, and gathered around Tang Zhi, eager to hear the family head’s thoughts on the current situation. However, Tang Zhi, who was riding the Luan Bird, did not even glance at the imperial edict. He approached Tang Luo and asked closely, “I have already ordered someone to fetch the Divine Pills from the medicine hut on Red Cloud Mountain. They should arrive shortly. Minister Luo, how is your injury?”

The top prize from the Longzhou Young Warriors Martial Arts Competition, three Divine Pills, were sent to the medicine hut on Red Cloud Mountain upon his return, in hopes that Sun Jinfang could deduce the pill formula from the three Divine Pills. After all, the Tang Clan possessed countless rare millennium-level divine herbs and treasures. In theory, they should be able to recreate such a rare Divine Pill.

Then they would have countless Divine Pills to use, which would be far more cost-effective than Tang Luo swallowing a Divine Pill himself. However, he had not expected the clan leader to be so worried about his injury that he would send someone to fetch the pills from the medicine hut on Red Cloud Mountain.

It seemed as though, in Tang Zhi’s eyes, Tang Luo’s injury was more important than whether the Tang Clan had Divine Pills or not.

“Thank you, clan leader, for your concern,” said Tang Luo with a bow. “It’s merely a superficial wound. I can heal it with my Innate Qi; there’s no need to waste a Divine Pill. It would be best to continue leaving them in the medicine hut for the pill masters to study.”

Tang Zhi nodded, seemingly still uneasy, and added, “Even if Minister Luo does not need the divine medicine, let Doctor Sun examine you. The Yin-Yang Divine Art of the Wang Clan is inscrutable, and those two treacherous blades are sinister and unpredictable. Be sure not to overlook any concealed injuries.”

“Thank you for your concern, clan leader.”

After inquiring about Tang Luo’s injury, Tang Zhi began to handle the aftermath in the southern part of Lanshan City.

The battle between Tang Luo and Wang Han was earth-shattering. The once-prosperous South City was reduced to ruins, the mountainsides collapsed into abysses, and tens of thousands of households were displaced. These matters were all for the leader of the Longxi Alliance to worry about.

Destruction is always easier than construction. Powerhouses like Wang Chan could devastate half a city on a whim by standing up to fight with Tang Luo, not to mention a Grandmaster-level or King Realm-level battle.

The citizens of Lanshan City had barely recovered from a natural disaster when they suffered this man-made calamity. Fortunately, before the battle, Tang Luo had used his sonorous, bell-like ability to warn the citizens to leave, thus preventing a great loss of life.

Yet, damage was inevitably done. For the poor citizens, their life savings were bound up in their homes; destroying their dwellings was as good as taking their lives. Now, the Tang Clan had to resolve how to resettle the tens of thousands of households displaced by the battle.

In the past, Tang Luo would have been utterly unable to help, but now it was different. He had the Righteous Gang, the Righteous Business Group, and nearly ten thousand people under his command to delegate tasks to. Many of them had experience from previous floods, so resettling a group of refugees was not an issue at all.

Summoning Cui Dayou and Gong Zheng to his headquarters, which resembled ruins, Tang Luo, while being examined by Sun Jinfang, said to the two, “Winter is approaching. Organize your men to head to South City immediately to see what difficulties the Alliance is having with resettling the citizens. Take care of all the areas the Alliance cannot reach. If any household in South City is displaced due to this battle and suffers from the cold and hunger, I will hold you two responsible. Understood?”

Cui Dayou and Gong Zheng had not expected such an urgent summons to be about this matter, but hearing the family head’s extremely serious tone, neither dared to delay and solemnly promised, “By the family head’s order, we will ensure the well-being of the people in South City, and we will not let any household suffer due to the harsh cold.”

Looking at the endlessly respectful Elder Xu outside the door, Tang Luo waved his hand to Gong Zheng and Cui Dayou, saying, “You may use the wealth of the business group as needed. If it is not enough, take my token to access funds from the clan’s treasury. Alright, you may leave now.”