Chapter 847: Explanation
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“Exalted, Overlord Nine Serenities was at least three hundred meters tall, reaching the heavens and stepping on the earth, even without being able to see him fully. He was covered in black flames as they swallowed the skies, his eyes burning like the midday sun, around ten meters big and unleas.h.i.+ng a terrible light…”
In the Heaven Reaching Pavilion of the Double Dragon Manor, the three elders returned with their teams of disciples to report, now kneeling before the Exalted Double Dragons. The fear had yet to recede from their features ever since that encounter.
The Exalted looked at them, then at each other with dumb looks.
Exalted Hei Ran was astonished, finding it hard to speak, “Three hundred meters tall, with eyes as big as ten meters… you call that a man?”
Ugh!
The three elders recoiled and shook their heads.
They saw this reaction coming, since not even they would believe an old monster like him would still be around without having borne witness.
“Exalted sir, we saw it with our own eyes. We’d never lie about this. Sirs can ask the kids too, they were there as well, under the expert’s overbearing aura.”
Elder Ou sighed, “We saw the Universal Righteous Sect being razed to the ground, replaced by a scorching inferno. The senior’s power is beyond anything we know, a true monster cultivating for three hundred thousand years. There may not even be anyone to challenge him in the world, not even Invincible Sword.”
“However, Devil Mountain has secluded itself, with its disciples no longer roaming the lands. If such an ancient and outstanding sect would’ve stayed around, that Invincible Sword wouldn’t even have had the chance to show himself.”
The Exalted were skeptical still. This was a tough pill to swallow.
[How can the world hide such an overbearing existence?]
But seeing the group so fl.u.s.tered and honest, then recalling Zhuo Fan’s obscene power, the one to teach him had to be a freak in itself.
The Exalted shared a nod, choosing to trust it somewhat.
That Overlord Nine Serenities might not be such a literal giant, since there were skills to make one look big, though he had a giant’s power to shake three Genesis Stage experts like nothing.
That made looking further into Devil Mountain’s vendetta a complex issue now that was better put off. No one wanted to kick the hornet’s nest.
Exalted Hei Ran waved his hand, “Since no other area is behind this incident, it shouldn’t affect western lands so we’ll let it go for now. With five sects gone, they were asking for it to be destroyed by messing with the wrong man. We don’t need to stir it further and plunge western lands into more mess either. Elder Du, inform every sect of this, that it was not a conflict with another area. You’re also to warn them, to keep to themselves and not run amok. Who knows if there isn’t a second Devil Mountain out there?”
“Yes, sir, I’ll be right on it.” Elder Du bowed and withdrew.
Exalted Bai Mei frowned, “So the five sects killed themselves through their actions, but what are we to do now about the empty seats?”
“With the western lands so vast, with just four out of nine remaining, it will leave a great vacuum across the board. It may even prove to be a weakness for others to exploit…”
Exalted Hei Ran sighed, “We can’t touch Devil Mountain but now western lands has suffered heavy losses, affecting its stability.”
The people below sighed as well.
It wasn’t as simple as having western lands’ power cut short with the loss of those sects, but also its control over it. This only grew worse since a superior-three sect and a middle-three sect were included.
A superior-three sect didn’t just have some mere venerables, but oversaw a large empire as well as dozens of other neighboring nations, watching them for any infiltration from other areas.
While Heaven Trailing Sect was the last middle-three sect, located around a third-rate empire like Tianyu, it still overlooked the dozens of other nations around. Adding to that was the Beast Taming Sect being gone as well, leaving no one in the Quanrong Empire.
At least a fifth of western lands was now out of the nine sects’ control.
It was a severe blow to western lands’ stability.
Western lands’ sects didn’t just share control, but also danger. The chances were high that the central area might take advantage of this breach, crus.h.i.+ng western lands’ force like nothing as it invaded.
This was the Exalted’s greatest fear…
Elder Ou pondered before speaking, “Exalted sirs, this land might be empty, but not that big, with only Universal Righteous Sect’s territory on the large side. Why don’t we just split it among the other four sects?”
“Absolutely not!”
Exalted Hei Ran shot it down, “The domain of every sect is based on strength, on what they can take. Not having the strength aside, the sheer manpower required to be sent will be too much to get all that land under control. Don’t forget the Demon Scheming Sect’s lesson.”
Elder Ou shook and hung his head in shame.
[How could I forget such a crucial point?]
The nine sects had stabilized the western lands, but that was due to their hostility among each other and not unity. When one betrayed, the other eight destroyed it.
The same applied to every sect. The group held together under the same principle, watching each other like hawks. If one betrayed the sect, he’d be culled on the spot.
But once a faction rose from a sect and settled outside, you could be sure it would grow and fight the original. Especially now, when the lands need support and help to prevent the outside enemy from creeping in.
Xie Wuyue was rubbed the wrong way when he was kicked off his chair and even brought outsiders to rebel. This situation was even worse, as when a sect would be split, internal discord would rise.
Elder Ou was sweating buckets, cursing his loud mouth for such a rotten idea. He almost sent western lands to its doom.
Exalted Hei Ran knew it wasn’t on purpose and only frowned at the problem.
Wu Qingqiu bowed, “Exalted sirs, I might have a proposal, though unsure if I should speak.”
“There’s no harm in speaking.” Exalted Hei Ran urged.
Wu Qingqiu began, “The nine sects overlook their own domain, safeguarding western lands. This makes it so only those people of every sect know their domains the best. Calling them local thugs isn’t wrong in this sense.”
The Exalted looked at him hard.
“Exalted sirs, since five thugs died, rather than take one from the other five, it’s better if we pick a new thug from the empty places, to defend western lands.”
“You mean…”
The Exalted heard Wu Qingqiu’s proposal and spoke at the same time, “Foster a new power to make up for the empty five sects?”
Wu Qingqiu nodded.
“But what group in the secular world has what it takes to take on the duty of a sect?”
“Exalted, I know of one that can take such a burden.”
Wu Qingqiu’s eyes shone with determination, “In our journey to Tianyu Empire, I discovered the Luo Alliance, filled with capable people, experiencing swift growth and looking out for others. Among their men there are also experts from the Demon Scheming Sect that the alliance took in. With Double Dragon Manor’s a.s.sistance they are certain to grow even faster, to support western lands’ peace!”
Exalted Hei Ran’s brow shook, then looked at the rest, “What do you think?”
“Agreed!”
“Agreed!”
“Agreed!”
Ye Lin, Yan Mo, Wen Tao and the other disciples spoke together. The Exalted were curious about this.
[What’s their connection to Luo Alliance to side with it?]
[Then again, since the Luo Alliance could gain such outstanding geniuses’ favor, it shows it’s capable.]
Exalted Hei Ran turned to Elder Ou, “Look into it, see if they are worthy and help them. This shall be western lands’ fortune!”
“Yes, sir!”
Elder Ou bowed and carried the order.
The meeting went through some minor matters before ending.
Wu Qingqiu and the disciple flew for a waterfall when he smiled, “Having secured the Luo clan a seat among the sects, brother Zhuo’s spirit should be pleased in heaven.”
“I don’t know about that, just that I can’t let my rival down.” Yan Mo sighed and shook his head, “Let’s tell Chu Qingcheng the news as well. It should help her ease her sadness.”
“Hard to tell. She doesn’t look like the type to chase glory.” Ye Lin sighed.
Yan Mo smirked, “Hey, Chu Qingcheng doesn’t like you much so what are you doing coming as well?”
“Her not wanting to see me is one thing, and another for me to go to her. What’s it to you anyway?” Ye Lin huffed.
Wu Qingqiu chuckled, “Don’t fight now, we’re here.”
The group landed in an elegant yard around a clear pond.
They were only greeted by Shui Ruohua and Dan’er, looking lost and scared.
“What’s wrong?” Wu Qingqiu rushed over and then froze.
A graceful figure leaned on the bed with a heartbroken look, her silver hair fluttering in the breeze coming from the window…