283: Offer martial arts, offer loyalty, offer your knees!

Helian Ba stiffly turned his neck, looking at the red-robed man sitting calmly on the throne. The pain on his face was far less than the shock and collapse in his heart.

He had spent his entire life striving for dominance, meticulously planning, just to rule the Jianghu. How could he have ever suffered such a great humiliation?

But more than that, there was a fear that originated from the depths of his heart.

If the other party wanted to kill him, any one of those nine slaps just now, with a little more force, he would already be a dead man.

"You... who exactly are you?" Helian Ba's voice was dry and hoarse, with a tremor he didn't even notice.

"Who this King is, is not important," Lu Jiuyuan's gaze was calm. "What's important is your choice.

Submit, or die."

Helian Ba's expression changed erratically, a mix of struggle, unwillingness, and fear.

He glanced at Guan Yutian, who walked out with a smile in his eyes, and then felt the burning pain on his face and the still-churning Qi and blood within him. All his ambition and pride, in the face of an absolute disparity in strength, collapsed instantly.

In the Jianghu, the strong are respected!

He painstakingly bent down, kneeling on one knee.

"Helian Ba... greets the Alliance Leader! I am willing to be at the Alliance Leader's disposal!"

"Godfather!" Bai Yu'er exclaimed in surprise.

"Master!" Lian Chixue also found it hard to believe.

Helian Ba didn't look back, and said sternly, "Yu'er, Chixue, why aren't you kneeling to greet the Alliance Leader!"

The two women exchanged glances, seeing the fear and helplessness in each other's eyes, and finally had no choice but to kneel as well.

Lu Jiuyuan nodded slightly, not surprised by Helian Ba's submission.

The reason why ambitious individuals are ambitious is because they know how to assess the situation.

"Rise. Guan Yutian."

"Your subordinate is here!" Guan Yutian quickly stepped forward.

"The matter of the Sea Shark Palace merging into the Supreme Alliance shall be handled through negotiation between you and Helian Ba. Integrate your forces as quickly as possible; this King has a use for them."

"Yes, Alliance Leader!" Guan Yutian and Helian Ba responded simultaneously.

"From now on, you two will be the Left and Right Protectors of the Supreme Alliance. Left Protector Guan Yutian, Right Protector Helian Ba!"

"Yes, Alliance Leader!"

"As you command, Alliance Leader!"

"Tell me about Evil God Gu Mutian and Elder of the Frontier!"

"Yes!" Guan Yutian responded, then said, "Evil God Gu Mutian and Elder of the Frontier are, in the past five hundred years, the highest achievers in the Jianghu, besides Chess Ancestor and Ying Shuntian."

"These two were rivals, but also close friends, transcending the Jianghu.

Moreover, I once heard that Evil God Gu Mutian was unconvinced by the ling shuang sword, the number one divine weapon under heaven,

He personally acquired rare treasures of heaven and earth, forging Dragon Soul and Phoenix Blood, a saber and a sword, the Dragon and Phoenix harmonizing, to contend with the ling shuang sword."

Helian Ba watched Guan Yutian speak eloquently, and immediately interjected, "The ling shuang sword is one sword, but Gu Mutian forged two divine weapons, a saber and a sword. It's clear that he lost!"

"I don't think that's necessarily true!" Guan Yutian shook his head. "Evil God Gu Mutian's martial arts are superior to ours, and he sees further than us. It's very possible he has already reached the same Realm as Chess Sage and Ying Shuntian.

There must be a reason why he forged a pair of saber and sword. It's just that we haven't understood it yet!"

Lu Jiuyuan sat upon the throne, his fingertips gently tapping the armrest, listening to the debate between Guan Yutian and Helian Ba, noncommittal.

He raised his hand, stopping their argument.

"The dispute over divine weapons can wait for now."

Lu Jiuyuan's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness, "The most urgent task is to thoroughly integrate the forces of the Supreme Alliance and the Sea Shark Palace.

This King needs a force that is easily commanded and operates efficiently, not a scattered mess."

His gaze swept over Guan Yutian and Helian Ba: "Left and Right Protectors."

"Your subordinates are here!" Their hearts tightened, and they quickly bowed.

"I give you ten days."

Lu Jiuyuan's tone turned cold, "Within ten days, complete the inventory of personnel, integration of resources, and restructuring of the organization for both factions.

Should anyone outwardly comply but inwardly defy, or secretly obstruct..."

He paused, and a chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the entire hall, making even ambitious figures like Guan Yutian and Helian Ba feel a shiver down their spines.

"Execute without mercy."

The simple three words carried a bloody aura like a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

"Yes, Alliance Leader!"

The two responded in unison, not daring to show the slightest slack.

"Gather all your martial arts Secret Manuals, and those of your Gangs. I want to observe them! You wouldn't disagree, would you?" Lu Jiuyuan asked again.

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba's hearts simultaneously tensed.

Martial arts Secret Manuals are the Foundation of a School, a force, and their core secrets, as well as the Foundation of a Master.

The new Alliance Leader's request for all of them was self-evident: he wanted to control not only their people but also the fundamental martial arts they relied on for survival.

However, circumstances were beyond their control.

Since their lives and Foundations had already been handed over, what were mere Secret Manuals?

The thought of resistance flashed in their minds but was immediately extinguished.

Guan Yutian was the first to bow and say, "Alliance Leader, you overstate! Since this subordinate has submitted, everything of the Supreme Alliance naturally belongs to the Alliance Leader!

This subordinate will now transcribe and present all martial arts classics collected within the Alliance, as well as the Mind-Cultivation Techniques of the Divine Dragon Palm and Undying Divine Skill that this subordinate cultivates!

Furthermore, this subordinate's home contains a peerless sword Dao Secret Manual, 'Sword Separating Worlds,' whose power is unparalleled. However, this subordinate's Aptitude is dull and I have been unable to comprehend it, so I wish to offer it to the Alliance Leader for observation."

Helian Ba also dared not fall behind, and quickly said, "All martial arts of the Sea Shark Palace, including this subordinate's famous Avatar Demonic Shadow divine skill, shall also be entirely offered to the Alliance Leader!"

"Very good." Lu Jiuyuan nodded slightly, "Go, and be quick."

"Yes!" The two dared not delay and immediately withdrew to personally handle this important matter concerning their lives and fortunes.

Lu Jiuyuan closed his eyes to rest, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the armrest of the throne.

He demanded the Secret Manuals not because he coveted the martial arts themselves.

With his current Realm, techniques like the Divine Dragon Palm and Avatar Demonic Shadow, while having their subtleties, could no longer enter his Dharma Eye.

His true purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of this world's martial Dao rules and Origin Qi circulation methods through these top martial arts of this world.

Only by knowing oneself and one's enemy can one emerge victorious in every battle.

He wanted to devour this world's divine weapons, the core of Luck, and would inevitably confront Gu Mutian and Elder of the Frontier, the two most powerful experts.

Understanding their martial arts philosophy and this world's power system in advance was crucial.

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba were extremely efficient, or rather, under Lu Jiuyuan's pressure, they dared not be anything less.

In less than two days, both of them respectfully presented stacks of thick Secret Manuals to Lu Jiuyuan.

"Alliance Leader, all the treasured martial arts classics of the Supreme Alliance (Sea Shark Palace), as well as the core Cultivation Techniques cultivated by your subordinates, are all here. Please examine them, Alliance Leader."

Lu Jiuyuan opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two stacks of Secret Manuals. With a slight flick, all the titles were imprinted in his mind.

Divine Dragon Palm, Undying Divine Skill, Avatar Demonic Shadow, Divided Mind Palm, Sword Separating Worlds... In total, there were dozens of types, covering Internal Skill, palm techniques, light body techniques, sword techniques, saber techniques, and other aspects. They truly represented a part of this world's martial arts essence.

He casually picked up the Divine Dragon Palm and Avatar Demonic Shadow from the top and quickly flipped through them.

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba stood respectfully with their hands down, feeling uneasy. Both of them, one offering the highly problematic Sword Separating Worlds and the other secretly retaining hidden dangers in his martial arts, harbored ulterior motives.