Chapter 102: Conflict within the Student Alliance Organization

Chapter 102: Conflict Between Student Alliance Organizations

It was evident that the influx of new population had greatly alleviated Hong City’s labor shortage and accelerated the construction of the new city walls. The previously sparsely populated inner city was now put to good use by Li Hongshen, who built several rows of six-story townhouses—each floor housing six units, with each unit roughly ten square meters in size.

Every room came equipped with a private restroom, water storage barrels overhead, and the neighborhood featured public bathhouses, dining halls, as well as supporting medical clinics and small plazas. With the population swelling, the morning exercise areas were divided into four parts: small plazas were built in each cardinal direction—east, south, west, and north—to provide residents with dedicated spaces for physical training.

The large central plaza in front of the lord’s mansion was reserved exclusively for warriors; only those who had become warriors could train there. This arrangement prevented overcrowding and avoided wasteful downtime during work hours. Beyond the inner city, Li Hongshen boldly planned residential zones beyond the yet-to-be-completed new walls, relocating some people early to help them adapt to life outside the old city limits.

The new walls were constructed using the same techniques as before but featured changes in design. This time, Li Hongshen honestly built four barbicans with thick battlements and dug a protective moat beneath the walls. The height of the new walls was raised to sixteen meters, with a base width between fifteen and eighteen meters. The moat outside was nearly twenty meters wide and almost ten meters deep—ample space for the Imperial Crocodile to thrash about.

There were still four gates, but the walls took on a polygonal shape. The corner towers were built similarly to the previous ones but significantly taller, equipped internally with multiple crossbows specifically aimed at wild beasts and the strange creatures expected in the future.

Once completed, the expanded city encompassed the entire northern section of the lord’s territory on the continent. To the east, it connected to Fengxi Valley Fortress; to the west, it reached the mining pits; and to the south, it led to the harbor. The once-precious tall tree forest had been transplanted closer to the central eastern region near Fengxi Valley. Now, land within the territory was becoming scarce, clearly signaling to Li Hongshen that advancing his skills should become a priority.

Yet, Li Hongshen did not rush to the Gateway City to undertake exchange missions. Instead, he devoted himself to developing his own domain, following the blueprint of his sixth five-year plan. However, as he began this new phase of construction, tensions began to stir outside. Elite Lords and members of the Lords’ Association scattered along the main thoroughfare started clashing.

Through Luo Si, Li Hongshen obtained firsthand information about these conflicts: the retaliatory methods of Sang Ba, the sequence of events and outcomes, as well as the opponents’ counterattacks and propaganda efforts. Luo Si himself had endured several minor skirmishes over trade disputes with the opposing side and later engaged in several confrontations with members of the Lords’ Association, with mixed results but generally restrained exchanges.

However, what followed puzzled Li Hongshen and defied his expectations. After multiple rounds of conflict, the dispute drew in more participants from both sides. Eventually, the Elite Society and the Lords’ Association expelled two or three official members each from the Million-Li Plains, and the situation spiraled toward chaos.

By then, right and wrong no longer mattered, nor did anyone care who had sparked the original problem. Relations between the factions had reached a freezing point. Even Li Hongshen began preparing for all-out war, stockpiling vast quantities of weapons and armor, selling off goods to acquire blood crystals for warrior awakenings.

His original plan to perform a second awakening to cover the new walls was postponed amidst the growing tension. This charged atmosphere persisted until senior brothers from both sides emerged from their inner circles to negotiate.

The Elite Society sent Bu Lieming Hao, surnamed Hao, a high-ranking third-year known internally as the “Little King,” holding the position of steward. The opposing side appointed a lord known as Gongzi as their representative. Li Hongshen knew little about him, only that he was not a native of Peng City but from the Lords’ Association of Yucheng—the 44th Domain’s central city.

Both parties traveled from their inner districts to the mid-ring area, finally choosing the site where the conflict began—Dawnstar Valley—for strategic negotiations.

Li Hongshen was present as an observer, a mere background figure and an onlooker, watching the entire process unfold. The opposing side started with a shout: “The Elite Society must provide a response, compensate the Lords’ Association for their losses, and take full responsibility for this conflict.”

The Elite Society’s reply was firm: “First, the Lords’ Association neither has the qualification nor the strength to demand a response from the Elite Society. This is an unjust attack meant to provoke discord. This incident began as a mere commercial dispute between individual members but was seized upon and exaggerated by the Lords’ Association, culminating in the current situation.

“As for the internal motives within the Lords’ Association, you understand well enough: you seek to suppress the student alliance within the same city by fomenting conflicts, hindering the progress of new lords. In the end, the ones who will suffer are yourselves.

“If you aim to compete for the top spot in Peng City, do so through honorable means—let the progress of your members speak for itself—rather than resorting to these despicable underhanded tactics to trip up your rivals.

“We ask that the Lords’ Association control its members and cease these meaningless and distasteful provocations.”

The strategic negotiation was candid, constructive, and ultimately beneficial. Although critical disagreements remained, with senior leaders managing the discussion, a simple agreement was reached.

Relying on this accord, the conflict was finally brought under effective control and management, allowing Li Hongshen to resume his development with peace of mind. Observing the negotiation in full, Li Hongshen gained much valuable knowledge and insight.

At the very least, he understood that the Elite Society would staunchly defend its members’ development interests and safety, and had the strength to repel any invaders.

Moreover, Li Hongshen encountered other student alliances from Peng City’s high schools and befriended some new contacts.

In fact, Peng City No. 1 High and Peng City Experimental High were home not only to the Elite Society and Lords’ Association but also many other student alliances of varying sizes.

However, the Elite Society of No. 1 High—consisting entirely of elites and spanning numerous major cities in the main world, with top lords from each city’s key high schools as its foundation—and the Lords’ Association from Experimental High School were the most renowned.

Their conflicts extended beyond Peng City; in every city, both factions vied for dominance as the premier student organization.

This recent clash was simply the Elite Society of No. 1 High facing another challenge from the Lords’ Association of Experimental High.

Another notable group was the Brotherhood of the Sixth High, but since Sixth High was the stronghold of the Peng City Sisterhood, the Brotherhood of No. 1 High consistently held fourth place.

Though a large cross-city organization, the Sixth High Brotherhood lacked much presence. Yet, its high lord marriage rate was among the highest in Peng City—perhaps a different kind of fame.

Please consider supporting with some votes.

(End of chapter)