Chapter 877: The Strong Make the Rules

After endless arguing, they finally managed to hash out a set of rules.

Rule One: Each faction present may bring three attendants. Whether it was a single person, a pair, or a group, each counted as one faction, and the attendant quota was the same for all.

This rule had been fought over for a long time. But most of those present were lone cultivators, while pairs and groups were far fewer. So, unable to withstand the collective pressure, they had no choice but to compromise.

In truth, Jiang Chen could understand this rule. If you were already a multi-person group and brought even more attendants, your combined strength would be overwhelming—it would tip the balance. After all, this wasn't a brotherhood. Everyone was on guard against each other. Who would want to see someone else's forces grow too dominant and upset the balance?

Jiang Chen didn't really care. He and Huang'er were only two people, and even with Lin Yanyu, that was only two attendant slots used. Getting three slots was more than enough for him.

Rule Two: Excluding those present and their attendants, the total number of additional people who joined could not exceed five hundred. Five hundred was the absolute cap.

Rule Three: All would jointly enforce this rule, and if necessary, even use force to ensure compliance.

Rule Four: After entering the wilderness, everyone could cooperate or act independently. Each party decided for themselves. No restrictions imposed.

…

There were many more rules, large and small, but Jiang Chen didn't bother paying attention to most of them.

He could easily guess that with so many Imperial Realm experts jointly pushing these rules, ordinary rogue cultivators had no way to resist through force—they could only submit.

There was no suspense about that.

What he was really thinking about was that fourth rule. After entering the wilderness, everyone could cooperate or act alone, with no restrictions.

This particular rule had a hidden subtext.

In other words, once inside the wilderness, they were no longer teammates with no binding obligations to each other. When someone found something valuable, people could fight to the death for it, by whatever means necessary.

Put bluntly, it was survival of the fittest—everyone for themselves.

Jiang Chen understood this rule perfectly.

After these agreements were settled, the gathering dispersed. Jiang Chen was about to return to his own area when a magnetic voice came from behind him: "Fellow Daoist Huang, wait a moment."

Though Jiang Chen hadn't stayed long, he had already memorized the characteristics of everyone present. He recognized the voice immediately.

Behind him, a man dressed as a scholar was walking up briskly. From his attire, he looked less like a martial cultivator and more like a scholar heading to the capital for the imperial examinations.

"Fellow Daoist, might I have a word in private?"

Jiang Chen remembered this man—his name was Lü Shinan, one of the few cultivators who had shown neither hostility nor coldness toward him before. However, Jiang Chen didn't lower his guard just because of that.

The two walked to a secluded corner. Lü Shinan smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Huang's spiritual sense is truly formidable. I'm greatly impressed."

"Fellow Daoist Lü, let's skip the pleasantries, shall we?"

Lü Shinan wasn't offended by the interruption. He smiled and said, "I do indeed have something I'd like to discuss with Fellow Daoist Huang."

"If I'm not mistaken, Fellow Daoist Lü and I have no prior relationship. I'm not sure what there is to discuss."

"Strangers once, acquaintances twice. Though your temperament is a bit firm, compared to those old and cunning types, I'd still rather place my trust in you, Fellow Daoist Huang."

Jiang Chen didn't take this flattery too seriously. Compliments cost nothing—the man could say whatever he pleased.

"Here's the thing—when that Elder Feng Huan ambushed you earlier, I saw how calmly you handled it. I suspect your true strength is no less than ours Imperial Realm experts. I have a proposal: once we enter the wilderness, why don't we form an alliance?"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "An alliance? Give me one reason to trust you."

Lü Shinan replied, "I'm all on my own, and they look down on me. They look down on you even more. If we don't form an alliance, once we're inside, we'll both be among the first targets they strike. Out of shared misfortune, we should band together and keep each other warm."

It had to be said, Lü Shinan's proposal did make a certain amount of sense.

Unfortunately, Jiang Chen had no interest in alliances, and he didn't trust strangers.

"I'm sorry, I already have companions. Fellow Daoist Lü will have to find someone else." Having rejected the proposal, Jiang Chen returned directly to his own area.

After just that short time away, the number of cultivators outside had noticeably increased.

Huang'er glanced around, a hint of worry between her brows. "There are more and more people."