The Federation, a newly established martial arts organization under King Liu, was a motley crew, held together by self-interest. They harbored existing grudges amongst themselves and thus, cooperation was out of the question.
The Six Gates, on the other hand, was an imperial organization directly under Chu Chen's command. It was primarily staffed by systematic soldiers, with volunteers recruited to join the Six Gates as its core.
In other words, the Six Gates was essentially an extension of the military in its core nature.
The Two Elements Formation, Three Powers Formation, Four Symbols Formation, and Five Elements Formation. These four formations represented defensive and offensive capabilities for groups of two to five people. While relatively simple, most martial artists wouldn't bother learning them.
Unless it was for a sect specifically tasked with defending against enemies through formations.
The Federation members, lacking any formation or strategy, would each find an opponent and attempt to quickly dispatch them with their martial arts. The Six Gates, however, remained unhurried. Two or three members would form a formation, simultaneously engaging two, three, or even more enemies.
With the aid of military formations and coordinated efforts, the battle proceeded in an orderly fashion. The Federation's chaotic brawling gradually put them at a disadvantage.
"Damn it! If you like formations so much, then I'll send you all to the underworld together!"
Wulan roared, discarding his weapon. He ripped off his upper garments, then assumed a horse stance, channeling his qi. A scorching flame condensed in his mouth.
"Heaven Burning Earth Assimilation!"
A fire serpent, seven to eight meters long, surged from Wulan's mouth, instantly igniting those within range who couldn't dodge. If the ignited individuals didn't use their own spiritual energy to resist, they would turn to ash within a quarter of an hour.
Within the range of the fire snake attack, everyone, whether from the Federation or the Six Gates, was caught in its path.
"Has this madman lost his mind? He doesn't even care about his own people?"
Zhao Min, recognizing Wulan's current state at a glance, sneered dismissively. She then said, "Would a few of you trouble yourselves to take down this lunatic?"
"Your Excellency, rest assured. With a few of us acting together, he has no chance of survival."
An elder from the Crimson Feather Sword Sect stroked his beard, appearing very confident. The others echoed his sentiment.
"I'll leave that to you over there." Zhao Min said, taking a few steps back and watching quietly.
"You fire-breathing scoundrel! Let your grandpa here deal with you!"
The elder from the Crimson Feather Sword Sect, holding his sword in one hand and forming a hand seal with the other, cast a water-attribute spiritual energy shield around himself. He then charged forward, attacking from the flank.
"Take this move, Flying Feather Sword Frost!"
Wulan, who was gleefully spewing fire, suddenly felt his mind heat up. His sanity was already compromised, but at this moment, he sensed the threat of death.
"A Foundation Establishment realm cultivator from the Six Gates?"
Wulan was startled and quickly controlled the flame in his mouth, changing the fire serpent into arrows and projectiles to defend against the elder from the Crimson Feather Sword Sect.
The sword energy and flames collided. The sword energy, already possessing extreme lethality, coupled with the advantage of the first strike, gradually gained the upper hand in the confrontation by a narrow margin, snowballing as the sword energy overwhelmed the flames.
More than ten sword energy shuttles deeply pierced Wulan's body. He clutched his chest, but couldn't stop the bleeding from the numerous wounds.
"I never expected a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator from the Six Gates to show up, and from the Crimson Feather Sword Sect at that, hahahaha~"
Wulan shouted, seeming to want to say more. However, due to the severity of his injuries and excessive blood loss, his vision darkened, and he collapsed.
"The leader is dead!"
"The leader has been killed!"
"Everyone, run!"
Seeing their leader fall, the Federation's rabble dared not linger. They wished they had more legs to run faster.
Gazing at the deceased Wulan, the elder from the Crimson Feather Sword Sect shook his head slightly and sighed, "Though we are both at the Foundation Establishment realm, there is a vast difference between cultivators at this level. You merely reached the late Foundation Establishment realm through plundered resources. How can you compare to me, who has repeatedly reached the peak of Foundation Establishment?"
"Now that spiritual energy is recovering, we only need to maintain the existing order and secure our foundation. Opportunities will be everywhere then. Why did you have to do this, betraying the court and meeting such an end? It is truly regrettable."
"It is fate."
Zhao Min unfurled her fan, ignoring the elder from the Crimson Feather Sword Sect's rambling. She said, "There should be three more Foundation Establishment realm cultivators in the Federation. I wonder if the elders and their companions can annihilate them all, leaving no one alive?"
The elder from the Crimson Feather Sect paused, then replied, "If it were just me, it would be impossible. But with the assistance of my colleagues, I believe it will not be a problem."
The elders from the Golden Light Gate and the Profound Heaven Gate exchanged glances and laughed, "They are merely three junior cultivators in the late Foundation Establishment realm. With the three of us joining forces, how could they possibly survive? Please rest assured, Your Excellency."
Zhao Min nodded, then said, "That is good. Then I will trouble the three of you."
After some pleasantries, and confirming that their side's top forces could annihilate the opposing top forces, Zhao Min did not hesitate. She led her people to raid the Federation's stronghold. Six Foundation Establishment realm cultivators engaged in one-on-one combat, devastating the surrounding hundred meters.
The final outcome was indeed as the elders had predicted. The Federation's three Foundation Establishment realm cultivators were no match for the three elders. After a brief struggle, they were all slain.
Without their Foundation Establishment realm leaders, the Federation immediately dissolved into a scattered mess and was annihilated by the Six Gates with minimal cost.
"Hoo~ This Federation established by King Liu, it lasted less than a month before it was basically finished. I wonder what King Liu's expression will be when he finds out."
Zhao Min's smile, hidden beneath her fan, was triumphant.
Meanwhile, in Mengdie County, King Liu, Li Mengdie, was in a furious rage.
"A bunch of scoundrels! I told them to absorb other like-minded individuals to develop themselves, but they dared to go and destroy sects! Now look, they've attracted the attention of the Six Gates, and instead, they've been wiped out!"
"What I wanted was to deal with those bandits!"
Li Mengdie was extremely angry. She established the Federation not to unify the martial world or anything of that sort, but simply to consolidate the strength of martial artists to protect convoys transporting supplies and grain from bandit attacks.
This was the only effective way to counter the bandits in the past. As long as a transport team had a significant number of martial artists participating, the bandits would only observe and follow, but not take any direct action.
But now, the Federation, established for less than a month and before it could even be utilized, was completely destroyed. The money invested had gone down the drain.
"Your Highness, how should we deal with those martial artists who fled and then returned?"
Fan Ju asked cautiously.
"Seal their cultivation and imprison them all in the death row!"
A scarlet glint flashed in Li Mengdie's eyes as she said angrily.
"Yes!"
Watching Fan Ju's retreating back, Li Mengdie thought about the bandit problem with a headache.