"It's more than just that—" Lin Xuanxuan shook her head, seemingly at a loss for words. Shen Yuexuan also paused, more than just that?

What did Lin Xuanxuan mean by that? Then, Lin Xuanxuan’s voice continued, "At that time, Zong Shou’s position on that roster was volatile.

At its lowest, it dropped past the thirty-sixth page; at its highest, it even surpassed Wei Xu, reaching the fourth page. It only stabilized quite recently." Shen Yuexuan grew even more bewildered, wondering what this situation implied.

However, judging by Lin Xuanxuan’s demeanor, she didn't seem to know much more either; questioning her would likely be fruitless. And just moments later, Yuan Wushang’s figure materialized nearby, approaching them as he walked.

"I found nothing on my end; it shouldn't be here." Yuan Wushang’s expression was slightly strange. "I did run into a few individuals from the Dao Sect and nearly came to blows.

They were searching too. Of the six Saint-tier Venerables who entered the Qin Emperor’s Tomb this time, only two returned safely.

The other four have vanished without a trace." Lin Xuanxuan’s delicate eyebrows lifted, and she let out a heavy snort. She must have seen the two who fled back, having fought them not long ago.

She had personally watched those two step into the void together, escaping the ancient Qin Emperor’s Tomb. As for the other four, they should have been surrounding and killing Zong Shou, inside the Qin Emperor’s Tomb with him at that time.

Their disappearance left it unknown whether they were trapped or had perished. Mentioning this, Shen Yuexuan also fell into contemplation.

"I encountered quite a few retainers from the noble families on my side as well, and their expressions were rather anxious. The missing Saint-tiers probably aren't just those from the Dao Sect." What exactly happened inside that subterranean palace?

How did Zong Shou manage to survive the siege of more than ten Saint-tier Venerables? Could it only have been due to that single Scroll of the Supreme Tribulation Respondent, which might be 'Absolute Defense'?

But even relying on that item, those Saint-tiers shouldn't have ended up in a state of life or death ambiguity. Shen Yuexuan immediately suppressed his wandering thoughts; the most crucial thing now was to quickly ascertain Zong Shou's whereabouts and prevent any mishaps.

However, the clues were too few. Zong Shou was besieged in the underground palace; logically, they only needed to find the fragment of the Minor Thousand World nearby.

Yet, the spatial-temporal storm triggered by the Qin Emperor’s Tomb was too violent, and the area it covered was too vast. It had mingled with the surrounding Void River of Realms, making it as difficult as ascending to heaven to locate anything quickly.

Unless they could deploy more personnel, or wait several months for the spatial-temporal storm to subside. "This upheaval seems to have escalated quite significantly.

The only way is—" Lin Xuanxuan felt a slight headache, just about to say that they must wait for the Supremacy-level experts from the Realm of All Living Beings to arrive, when her heart suddenly stirred. A message flashed through her consciousness, causing her brow to furrow deeply.

It was Lin Xuanjing conveying the news to her through shared mind and bloodline connection. With their level of cultivation and arcane power, once the isolation of the Two Principles Dragon Convergence Array was removed, even within this spatial-temporal storm, as long as the location was known, their minds could still connect.

"There's new information. Yin Yu has returned safely to the Imperial Capital, accompanied by the Twelve State-Guarding Bronze Figures.

It is said that in the early hours of this morning, he consecutively issued three edicts, dismissing one hundred and thirty-seven officials. Furthermore, he forcibly revoked the fiefdoms of nine major aristocratic families under the pretext of hoarding private troops and plotting treason." Yuan Wushang and Shen Yuexuan immediately exchanged glances, shock flaring in their eyes.

The Twelve State-Guarding Bronze Figures ultimately fell into Yin Yu's hands? The might of the Great Shang Dynasty was bound to surge.

Dismissing a hundred officials and confiscating fiefdoms—was he preparing to strike against those powerful clans? Their hearts grew heavier.

While Yin Yu’s move was directed internally, now that he possessed the Twelve State-Guarding Bronze Figures, attacking the Great Qian was only a matter of time. To reclaim lost territories, perhaps even launch a counter-offensive into the Southern Frontier, or sweep across the East Lin and South Wind Cloud Continents.

Unless the Great Qian possessed a method to counterbalance the Twelve Bronze Figures. It wasn't just the Great Qian; the Sword Sect of Buddhism, which had a de facto alliance with the Dao of All Living Beings and Zong Shou, would likely also be affected and suppressed by the Great Shang.

"Furthermore, it seems a great war is brewing on the Tianfang World side." Lin Xuanxuan’s expression was helpless. Despite having weathered countless massive storms, this sudden state of impending chaos still felt incredibly thorny, even powerless.

"The Night Demon Clan has made their move. It is said that a full ten Jiedushi Prefectures, three million Dao Soldiers, have already been deployed outside the Tianfang World.

More subsequent forces are arriving continuously—" Shen Yuexuan’s face changed again. Although he was an itinerant cultivator, he paid considerable attention to the Tianfang World, which was vital to the Great Qian’s survival.

The term Jiedushi Prefecture referred to the highest organizational echelon within the military forces of the Dark World Demon Court of the Night Demon Clan. A single Jiedushi Prefecture, in addition to three hundred thousand Dao Soldiers, also commanded two to four million auxiliary troops, often responsible for the warfare in one sector.

And its commander was at least of Saint-tier strength. Ten Jiedushi Prefectures—that was nearly thirty million troops!

If the Tianfang World falls, not only will the Great Qian’s territory be completely fragmented, losing contact with the seventy-six outer worlds and fighting in isolation, but the entire Cloud Realm will also face the onslaught of the Night Demon Clan's massive army. The situation had deteriorated to this extent— Pressured both internally and externally, the precariousness of the Great Qian’s current situation surpassed even the period months ago when the Great Shang attacked with the full might of the nation.

"What are the specifics?" Shen Yuexuan tried to inquire further, but saw a shade of pallor creeping over Lin Xuanxuan’s face. "Elder Longying and my second sister have already rushed to the Tianfang World to take charge.

Fortunately, Zong Shou had long been prepared for the Night Demon Clan. But half a year ago, he commissioned your Mohist Sect to reconstruct the defensive Grand Array of the Tianfang World, correct?" Shen Yuexuan nodded slightly.

It was he who personally summoned his fellow Mohists to undertake this array. At that time, Zong Shou had been extremely meticulous, sparing no expense on materials.

"The Tianfang World is garrisoned with one hundred thousand Heavenly Dipper Sword Soldiers, sixty thousand Heavenly Dipper Crimson Crossbowmen, and three hundred thousand auxiliary troops. Furthermore, the peerless general Lie Que of the former Nine Capitals Immortal Court is presiding.

For the time being, they can hold the line. Qiu Wei is also gathering troops as much as possible, and it’s said the Yuanlian World is also massing an army.

However, in my view, they probably cannot hold out for long—" As far as she knew, the Dark World Demon Court possessed at least two Supremacy-level figures, each with accumulations spanning tens of thousands of years. They were by no means opponents for Longying, at most only capable of causing some restraint.

Beyond that, the Dark World Demon Court also had several Dynasties under its banner, much like the Lu Family. There were a full five Sovereigns equivalent to Supremacy-level experts, and fifty Jiedushi Prefectures, amounting to tens of millions of troops—a major power comparable to the Fen Kong Lu Family.

Even the Great Qian, exerting its full effort right now, could barely muster around 450,000 Dao Soldiers in the Tianfang World. And the experts above the Saint level were pitifully few.

What was even more fatal was that within the Cloud Realm, there was the Great Shang, whose power was surging due to possessing the Twelve State-Guarding Bronze Figures. The Realm of All Living Beings also faced threats from the Dao and Ru factions.

The Cloud Realm possessed more than ten Supremacy-level experts and countless powerful individuals, yet they were fundamentally unable to form a unified force. Yuan Wushang had remained silent all this time, his face growing increasingly grim.

Then, he coldly snorted, "What’s there to fear? If the soldiers come, we meet them; if the enemies arrive, we kill them.

If it comes to the worst, we die fighting." Shen Yuexuan shook his head. He did not fear death, but he was unwilling to see the hope for the Mohist school’s revival destroyed by his own hand.

"Can't you make a temporary truce with the Dao and Ru factions? If the Tianfang World falls and the Night Demon army masses at our borders, perhaps even that Great Shang Emperor won't have an easy time." "Impossible!" Lin Xuanxuan gritted her silver teeth and let out a cold laugh.

"This involves that Heavenly Creation Divine Treasure. That Dao Sect would conspire with foreign races; what would stop them now?

Why would they willingly allow our Dao of All Living Beings to dominate? They probably wish for our Dao of All Living Beings and the Dark World Demon Court to mutually destroy each other, allowing them to clean up the mess afterward.

As for the Great Shang, with the Twelve State-Guarding Bronze Figures in hand, Yin Yu likely believes himself invincible and can sit back and watch the fireworks. Eliminate internal threats first, then deal with external aggressors—" Shen Yuexuan sighed inwardly.

Lin Xuanxuan’s assessments were profoundly accurate. But what could be done now?

Just sit back and await death? If Zong Shou were here, what situation would they face?

The Tianfang World could, at most, hold out against the Night Demon army for one or two months. Although Lie Que was a peerless general, he could not defy the heavens against such a disparity in strength.

And precisely at this moment, Zong Shou’s whereabouts were unknown. For a time, the area fell silent.

Both Lin Xuanxuan and Shen Yuexuan remained mute, until Yuan Wushang’s voice broke the stillness once more. "Who is that?

He seems unusual, perhaps one of the Corpse Generals from the Qin Emperor’s Tomb—" Hearing this, the other two looked over and saw a figure clad in black armor manifesting in the distance. He was scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.

Finally, he noticed the three of them, and his gaze instantly turned icy. The expressions of the trio also shifted to one of caution.

More than half of the Saint-tier Corpse Generals within the Minor Thousand World had achieved strength comparable to Saint-tier by relying on the enhancement of the Two Principles Dragon Convergence Array. And after the destruction of the Qin Emperor’s Tomb, at least half of them were destroyed in the shockwave following the world's collapse.

Many others, once control was lost, were either suppressed or purified by the boundless focus and Great Sun Buddha Power of the Buddhist Sect. Only a very small portion had either fled far away or managed to slip back into the Cloud Realm to hide, their strength diminished to some degree.

But this individual was different from the other Corpse Generals. His imposing aura was still robust, subtly reaching the peak of the Saint tier, comparable to Lin Xuanxuan, perhaps even slightly superior.

He was not enveloped by the malevolent aura of the other vicious corpses, nor was he frenzied and irrational. While his eyes held vigilance and hostility, they were also exceedingly rational, carrying a faint hint of scrutiny.

Apparently holding little interest in the trio, he glanced closely at Lin Xuanxuan before soaring across the void again, departing from their spatial location. "I've seen it before—" A strange look crossed Lin Xuanxuan’s eyes.

She recalled that during that time, this Corpse General had also entered the subterranean palace. Not far from her, someone had engaged in a massive battle, Seemingly over the contest for that River and Mountain Pearl—