The chamber within the Myriad Soul Grotto fell into silence again concerning Zong Shou. Nearly every person present wore a look of ferocious hatred etched onto their faces.
For this man, the Daoist Sect truly had no recourse. The title of Blood Sword Demon Lord had been forged in the blood debt of hundreds of thousands of disciples across thirty-seven Sects.
And today, Kun Ming had died directly by his hand. Hundreds of thousands of sect cultivators were injured because of him, and their hatred ran bone-deep.
“If eradication proves impossible, cooperation could be an option.”
Dao Lord Tai Huang interjected with an impassive expression: “However, due to prior incidents, this child already deeply resents our Daoist Sect. Moreover, a supreme-level expert within our sect perished at his hands, and many crave to devour his flesh. This enmity is irreconcilable; that path is blocked.”
Having spoken, he cast a meaningful glance toward Qing Ming.
Qing Ming choked on the words, a chill spreading through her heart, recognizing this as Tai Huang’s subtle, indirect accusation.
In the final analysis, the grievances between the Daoist Sect and Zong Shou were primarily confined to the Dao Ling Qiong Realm and the Yuqing lineage.
Within the Qiong Realm, a prevailing sentiment had long existed. Daoist cultivators sought purity and non-action, positioning themselves as transcendent beings.
In truth, there was no genuine necessity to clash head-on with the Dao of Common People.
Equality among the masses—what did that have to do with the Daoist doctrine? Was this Shangqing lineage perhaps attempting to wash its hands of the matter?
“Since Zong Shou’s entry into the Dao of Common People, this feud has been irreconcilable. The root of this dual animosity traces back to the end of the Barren Cloud Era, precisely when Xi Zi sought that supreme Heaven-Opening Treasure. It was destined then that only one could survive between the Daoist Sect and the Dao of Common People—”
Qing Xuan also spoke flatly, yet the atmosphere in the room grew subtly awkward.
This served as a stark reminder that the grievance over the siege against Xi Zi was utterly beyond resolution.
Tai Huang merely smiled, unconcerned: “This boy, Zong Shou, is something we two are hesitant to address directly. However, there are those unafraid of him. Taishi and the Supreme Primordial Lord both harbor a hatred so deep it burns. As for the latter, it matters little, but the former harbors no fear of the Lu Family. It is merely that currently, they must keep a distance from the Xiu Temple to recuperate their injuries and cannot strike immediately. Furthermore, there are many others who desire the life of this child, including the Lu Family. Should it truly come to the direst necessity, even you and I acting personally is not out of the question. Therefore, what our teaching truly needs to focus on is the present moment. Since this child relies on the martial arts of Wang Wu Dao to rampage unchecked, we must cut the fuel from beneath the cauldron. This is the sole opportunity for our Daoist Sect to reverse the tide—”
“I concur with your assessment!”
Qing Xuan laughed as well, speaking leisurely: “Whether it is the Seven Swords of the Common People or the Thirty-Three Heavens Array, both require the vital energy of Wang Wu Dao to sustain them. Consequently, this Great Qian is the essential lifeline the Dao of Common People must save.”
Qing Ming listened quietly, a sliver of joy gradually rising in her breast.
She had already grasped the intentions of Qing Xuan and Tai Huang: allied, the strength of the Three Teachings remained far superior to that of the Dao of Common People.
By circumventing the thirty-three arrays of the Common People’s Qiong Realm and engaging in battle within the Cloud World, the Daoist Sect still held a substantial chance of victory.
This grand war against the Dao of Common People was far from over!
Zong Shou’s Great Qian Dynasty was indeed the sole vulnerability of the Dao of Common People at this juncture.
Not just her, but everyone within the Myriad Soul Grotto chamber suddenly became animated, their expressions refreshed and spurred on.
“You and I have seen it. With the wisdom of Scholar Zhu and Li Biexue, they surely realize this as well. Are these two men the sort to let matters rest easily?”
As they were speaking, Qing Xuan suddenly felt a stirring in his heart, his gaze sharpening significantly as he looked beyond the Qiong Realm.
To the east, a massive, unfurled scroll of golden silk, stretching for over ten thousand zhang, was sweeping across the void, flying toward the direction of the Imperial Capital.
“It comes from the White Deer Cave—”
That was the fundamental stronghold of the Confucian School, the very place where Sages imparted their teachings.
Many present here also possessed the ability to observe the void, and they all turned their gaze accordingly.
Then, a single, grand, righteous, and powerful voice boomed across the distance.
“I hereby announce to all Confucian scholars under heaven: Zong Shou, the Demon King of Great Qian, has slain our esteemed Sage Master Dong of the Orthodox School. This man adheres to the doctrines of the Common People and venerates heretical theories of demonology. In his decade on the throne, he has continually acted contrary to established norms, committing all manner of absurdities, engaging in perpetual warfare, and preventing the populace from finding peace. Furthermore, he intends to emulate the First Emperor by burning books and burying scholars alive, seeking to annihilate our Orthodox School—he is the enemy of our Confucian Gate!”
The voice, astonishingly, spanned tens of thousands of li, even penetrating directly into the Qiong Realm.
Tai Huang raised an eyebrow, then laughed unrestrainedly.
“An enemy of Confucianism? This is a call to all Confucian scholars to make war upon Great Shang. This child is now cemented with the reputation of a tyrant. It is fortunate; Daoist Zhu must be furious right now, intending to fight Great Qian to the death—”
Even within Great Qian, where the populace enjoyed prosperity and governance was clear.
It could not compare to the Confucian School’s power to inscribe the annals of history.
“How could he not be enraged? The Confucian Sage Dong died by Zong Shou’s sword, almost beyond any possibility of resurrection. This individual had a camaraderie of shared tutelage with Scholar Zhu!”
Qing Xuan’s expression turned cold, his gaze shaded and inscrutable. His most cherished disciple had also died by Zong Shou’s hand, requiring five thousand years to recover.
How could he not hate, how could he not be infuriated? The tranquility of his heart, cultivated over years of practice, could no longer be maintained.
“However, the thirty thousand Daoist soldiers painstakingly maintained by the Monarch of Great Shang were annihilated in a single day. I fear he is heartbroken right now and may not readily heed Scholar Zhu’s request.”
To attack and destroy Great Qian, reliance on the might of Great Shang was essential.
Within the Daoist Sect, the Primordial Spirits of two hundred thousand disciples were severely wounded, and many others required healing.
Meanwhile, Great Qian, despite employing the strategy of elite troops, already possessed over three million Tier Three combat soldiers. The number of Blood Cloud Cavalry alone reached thirty thousand.
Moreover, the martial spirit within the nation was extremely vigorous, especially following Zong Shou’s new policies. Recently, masters and powerful experts had been emerging ceaselessly.
In a time of crisis, summoning another two million troops would not be difficult.
If the Supremes did not act, and the Saints’ Venerables were suppressed by the exclusionary force of the Cloud World’s will, then the main strength for this war could only rely on Great Shang.
“Emperor Yuan Chen? He has no other choice. If he refuses, we simply replace the Emperor. The Tai Ling Sect has always supported Prince Liao. If this one takes his place, I imagine Scholar Zhu will give it careful consideration.”
Qing Xuan sneered derisively. This was his war of revenge for his disciple, and thus, he would tolerate no obstacles.
Even if they could not immediately crush that little brat Zong Shou, they could sever his foundations.
In the future, they could slowly erode his nation’s strength, seize his destiny, and thus utterly strangle him!
“Besides, his thirty thousand Daoist soldiers were all buried beneath Zong Shou’s sword. How could he not be enraged? How could such a Demon Lord not inspire terror?”
Within the Imperial Capital of Great Shang, in the Pavilion for Hearing Governance within the Fenghua Palace, Yin Yu suddenly coughed up a mouthful of bright red blood, the crimson fluid splattering starkly across a white sheet of paper resting on his imperial desk.
Yin Yu still felt the blood and vital energy churning violently within his chest, an unbearable anguish and utter disgust flooding him. His mind swam in waves of dizziness; in that single instant just now, he had nearly lost consciousness on the spot.
Even now, he could scarcely believe that the words he had just heard were true.
Involuntarily, his voice became harsh and severe, his eyes bulging until they seemed ready to burst.
“It is truly annihilated? My Great Shang’s fifteen thousand Ironclad Phalanx Troops, eighty thousand Divine Arrow Crossbowmen, and fifty thousand Yuan Chen Blood Cavalry, all perished outside the Common People’s Qiong Realm. Slashed to death in one stroke by the Great Qian Demon King Zong Shou using the Sword Array of Common People?”