Chapter 427: The Ten Sect Alliance Occupies the Earth Gate (First Update)

On the only path from the Outer Domain to the Central Region, two towering mountains squeezed the road narrow, barely revealing a gap.

And above that gap, there currently stood a massive gate of light; it was the second stage of this Immortal Sect Grand Competition—the Earth Gate!

In the announcement provided by the Sword Casting Hut, it was stated that the Heaven, Earth, and Human Gates would all be guarded by gatekeepers.

Although the Human Gate was also set up, the vast majority of participants were not stopped; the gatekeeper only blocked some idiots whose strength was insufficient for Golden Core.

And after three days had passed, the sects with sufficient strength had all successfully passed through the Earth Gate and entered the Central Region.

At this moment, the sects still remaining in the Outer Domain were either truly lacking in strength and afraid to set foot in the Central Region, or they were preparing to seize the opportunity to take the Earth Gate and compete for the title of the Human Realm champion.

However, when some sects that had truly arrived late due to the great distance wanted to pass through the Earth Gate, they discovered a different situation.

The Earth Gate's gatekeeper was gone.

The Earth Gate, which should have been guarded by only a few gatekeepers, was now teeming with people, and the area in front of the gate was filled with small groups dressed in various attires.

Although these people were gathered together, it was very obvious that they were harboring ulterior motives, yet when outsiders arrived, they united and acted in unison against them.

They directly blocked those sects attempting to pass, not mentioning any trials at all, but instead reached out their hands to demand one thing.

A Token.

"You say you don't have a Token? Haha, then you aren't allowed to pass!"

"Did you hear that! Without a Token from our Ten Sect Alliance, no matter who you are? No matter what background you have, don't even think about walking past us, the Ten Sect Alliance!"

"Overbearing? Haha! Kid, that's just not understanding; we are actually helping you all!"

"With just this little bit of strength, even if you go in, you'll just suffer. It's better to stop here, and you won't have to continue suffering later! Why not thank us and kowtow a couple of times to your elders? Hahaha..."

After most sects had left, ten slightly stronger sects among those remaining joined forces. On the evening of the second day, they attacked the Earth Gate together, directly suppressing the gatekeepers arranged by the Sword Casting Hut and forcibly seizing control of the Earth Gate.

The strength of these Ten Sect Alliance personnel was not considered powerful, but they had the advantage of being numerous. By jointly guarding the Earth Gate, they were not afraid of others forcibly breaking through; they could crush outsiders to death simply by relying on human-sea tactics.

Consequently, after forcing back several sects that were stronger than any one of them individually, the attitude of these people began to grow increasingly arrogant.

Not only did they not restrain themselves, but they also began to openly sell the so-called Ten Sect Alliance Token, a medallion marked with the insignia of one of these ten sects.

A medallion with a real value of no more than one Spirit Stone, yet they dared to demand a price of ten thousand Spirit Stones.

However, this medallion was universal among the ten sects; a medallion from any one of them could be used to pass, so there was still room for private negotiation regarding which one to buy and how much to spend.

Such greedy behavior truly made many people despise them, their teeth itching with hatred.

Some wealthy and imposing sects couldn't be bothered to argue with them; they threw down the Spirit Stones and passed through gracefully, not wanting to have anything to do with this bunch of fellows.

But the rich were only a minority. Most of the sects participating in this Immortal Sect Grand Competition were small sects hoping to become famous overnight through this grand event; they needed this stage to show themselves to the outside world, yet they were also short on funds.

In the end, more and more people gathered outside the city, and the atmosphere outside the Earth Gate became increasingly tense.

They were waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity for a major counterattack.

"If things go on like this, the situation is likely... not going to be very good."

Ma Mingan, the old beggar who had previously pestered Ren Yidao in Qingyun Prefecture City, looked at the growing crowd outside the city, shook his head slightly, and sighed in a low voice.

"The Gang Leader actually listened to slander and got involved in such a thankless task; isn't this just ruining his own foundation?"

The Gaitian Gang was also one of the ten sects in the Ten Sect Alliance, and it was one of the main forces whose strength could be ranked in the top three.

When the Purple Shadow Sect, the leader of the Ten Sect Alliance, came to lobby them, Ma Mingan had strongly opposed it; he did not think this would bring any benefit to the Gaitian Gang.

But unfortunately, this time the Gang Leader seemed to have made up his mind; even as an Elder who could rank in the top ten in strength within the Gaitian Gang, he simply could not persuade the Gang Leader.

In the end, some of the others in the gang followed the Gang Leader into the Central Region, while the rest remained to guard this place.

The former could follow the Gang Leader to continue making a name for themselves in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition, while the latter could scrape together some extra profit by guarding the gate; it was hard to say which side was better.

Seeing the others who stayed behind to guard together becoming increasingly greedy after the Spirit Stones entered their pockets, Ma Mingan felt growing unease while sighing.

Finally, he sighed and said something to another Elder who had stayed behind.

"Lao Fang, you all keep watch here; I am going to the Central Region to find the Gang Leader."

But the other old beggar blocked him. He lay sloppily on the floor, rubbing the dirt and dust off his body, and said in a tone that was neither fish nor fowl:

"Lao Ma, you can't leave. The Gang Leader gave a clear order for you to stay and guard the gate; don't make things difficult for the brothers."

Ma Mingan was not surprised and immediately cast out his own bait.

"As long as you shut your mouth, the share of Spirit Stones allocated to me will all be yours."

And then... the other party took the bait.

"Oh, oh, well, that sounds great! Lao Ma, watch your safety on the road!"

Fang Zhiqun didn't hesitate for a second; waiting a second longer would be a sign of disrespect to the Spirit Stones.

"We are brothers; suffering a little punishment for your sake is no big deal!"

He flicked the mud ball from his fingertip, patted his chest, and loudly saw Ma Mingan off to the Central Region.

And before Ma Mingan entered the gate, he suddenly remembered one thing and entrusted Fang Zhiqun:

"By the way, if you happen to meet a white-haired youth later, do me a favor and don't make things difficult for him; that is a disciple I have yet to formally take into my sect."

This was a small matter, and Fang Zhiqun didn't take it to heart at all, waving his hand casually.

"Don't worry, don't worry! Your disciple is my Junior Martial Nephew; with me, Lao Fang, handling things, you can rest easy!"

Ma Mingan shook his head but said nothing more, charging into the Earth Gate, his figure disappearing in an instant.

And after he left, Fang Zhiqun curled his lip and said disdainfully: "A disciple? Lao Ma, don't you worry, I will definitely take good care of him! Hehe, isn't it only natural for a disciple to show filial piety to his Senior Uncle?"

Immediately, he cast the matter to the back of his mind and continued rubbing the mud balls on his body.

And just shortly after Ma Mingan entered the Earth Gate, a group of uninvited guests arrived outside the city.

The people from the Southern Border Divine Dynasty had arrived.

Zang Zhenyu looked from afar at the crowd of nearly a thousand people gathered outside the Earth Gate, curled his lip, and looked disdainful.

"A bunch of rabble."