"Your Majesty… Qin Yun's life token has shattered." Within the Ling Clan ancestral grounds, Gui Ying stood behind Emperor Ling, reporting respectfully.
"Shattered, has it?" Emperor Ling nodded slightly, his gaze profound as he looked towards the endless sky. Xiao'er, you truly… surprise your father. If the Cloud Millet and Qin Clan are removed, who in the entire Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty could contend with the Ling Clan? Of course, with the Sacred Church still present, the Ling Clan dare not claim supremacy. But one day, when the Ling Clan's wings are fully grown, this Sacred Dynasty could very well be renamed the Ling Dynasty!
"Shattered is good. Gui Ying, notify our other sleeper agents. They may begin their operations. In this war, whether the Qin Clan wants to fight or not, they will have to." Emperor Ling smiled faintly and turned to walk into the hall.
"Yes!" Gui Ying bowed low, remaining prostrate until Emperor Ling's figure vanished before slowly rising. Yet, his eyes held a trace of apprehension. This father-son pair of the Ling Clan… they are truly… formidable, daring, and ruthlessly shrewd.
---
Myriad Daos Demon Sect, Peak Courtyard.
Ling Xiao sat in the courtyard, sipping tea from his cup. Beside him, Fu Yunao knelt, brewing a pot of light tea.
"Young Master, the Cloud Millet side… has made a move." Xiao Tu stood bowed before Ling Xiao. Following Ling Xiao's arrangements these past few days, he had been responsible for gathering information on the Cloud Millet Sect. Early this morning, he had personally witnessed the Cloud Millet Holy Son, Jin Yang, lead a group of true disciples and heaven's prides to Fengtian City. That city had been utterly massacred the day before yesterday; it was said not even a dog remained.
"Oh? After waiting so long, they've finally acted. Xiao Tu, accompany me down the mountain. Senior Sister Fu, use this opportunity to focus on breaking through to the Breakthrough Realm. Soon… it will be the Myriad Sects Grand Competition." A faint smile played on Ling Xiao's lips. The game begins. It's time for this hunter to set out. The Cloud Millet Holy Son, the Qin Clan heir… the Luck Points on these individuals must be quite substantial.
---
"Send a Divine Emperor to the Qin Clan?" Wan Rendí frowned slightly, looking at Fu Yunao before him, a trace of gravity flashing in his eyes.
"Yes! Sect Master. Young Master Ling Xiao said it would be best if you went personally to keep the Qin Clan's Divine Emperors and Divine Kings occupied within their clan grounds." Although Fu Yunao didn't understand the purpose behind the Young Master's instruction, since he said so, there must be a reason.
"That troublesome brat… he plans to take action himself." Wan Rendí let out a cold laugh, but instantly understood Ling Xiao's scheme. Now that Cloud Millet had sent their Holy Son down the mountain, they likely intended to leave this conflict to the younger generation. By having him go to the Qin Clan now, Ling Xiao probably also had the Ling Family's Divine Emperors heading to the Cloud Millet Immortal Sect. This way, the top experts of both sects would be tied down, giving him room to operate. Once a Holy Son is killed and true disciples are slaughtered, neither the Cloud Millet Immortal Sect nor the Qin Clan will stand by idly. Thus, this war will truly ignite.
"Such a terrifying cunning. Does the Ling Clan truly intend to dominate the Eastern Territories?" Wan Rendí sighed softly and strode out of the hall. It was common knowledge throughout the Sacred Dynasty that the Myriad Daos Demon Sect had never been on good terms with Cloud Millet. His visit at this time shouldn't attract too much suspicion. Moreover, if Wan Rendí wasn't mistaken, several other forces had probably already approached the Qin Clan recently, seeking to influence the situation in the Eastern Territories.
Simultaneously, several figures also emerged from the ancient borders of the Ling Clan, heading towards Cloud Millet.
Suddenly, the Eastern Territories became a place of gathering storms and undercurrents, clearly on the brink of a major upheaval.
---
"We've heard the Cloud Millet Holy Son Jin Yang has taken their true disciples to Fengtian City! Your Majesty, send us to eliminate these treacherous, dishonorable villains!" In the Qin Clan Holy Hall, many Qin Clan experts were agitated, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit. Qin Yun's death was like a thorn, constantly irritating their nerves.
"Absolutely not! If our Qin Clan experts move against Cloud Millet disciples, likely none of the supreme orthodoxies in the Eastern Territories would let us off." Emperor Qin shook his head, his expression still calm and composed. Rules could be broken. But the prerequisite was being prepared to bear the consequences of breaking them. The Qin Clan was strong, but at best, they were on par with the Ling Clan. Once they committed an act that incurred universal condemnation, their fate would be extremely miserable. If the supreme orthodoxies joined forces, the Qin Clan could be annihilated in an instant.
"Your Majesty!!!" Hearing this, countless Qin Clan elders were furious. Your Majesty, Your Majesty! At a time like this, you're still filled with talk of benevolence and morality? Do you truly intend to watch the Qin Clan's prestige be utterly destroyed?
"Silence!" Emperor Qin gritted his teeth. Qin Yun's death yesterday had already made him sense a great crisis. But after investigating all night, he had found no clues on Qin Yun. Especially since the man was dead, his soul extinguished, making soul search impossible. And as for these Qin Clan elders before him, all seemingly loyal on the surface, he couldn't just arrest and search the soul of anyone he suspected, could he? If he did that, the Qin Clan would likely collapse from within even before the war with Cloud Millet began.
"Qin Wei, step forward!!" Emperor Qin took a deep breath. Since the Cloud Millet Immortal Sect wanted to keep the conflict among the younger generation, he was willing to oblige. After all, for supreme orthodoxies, Divine Emperors and Divine Kings were the foundational pillars! Furthermore, any direct descendants or sect true disciples inevitably possessed life-saving trump cards far exceeding their cultivation realm. With Qin Wei and the Cloud Millet Holy Son's cultivations, as long as they were cautious, it was impossible for them to die. As for the lives of those ordinary disciples… consider it the price to end this conflict.
"Father!!" A young man in golden robes, handsome and striking, immediately stepped forward in the hall. He appeared to be only in his early twenties, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes; within his gaze, one could similarly see a dazzling sunlight. The Great Sun Sacred Body was a cultivation only the Qin Clan's Emperor and his heir could practice. This young man with a somewhat ordinary name but handsome appearance was precisely the Qin Clan heir, Qin Wei. Mid Breakthrough Realm, monstrous talent, powerful background. In the Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty, he was an existence not to be provoked. Although Qin Wei hadn't comprehended a Dao Principle, the road was long, and he had plenty of time. With his mid Breakthrough Realm cultivation alone, who in the entire Eastern Territories would dare be his enemy?
Oh, Ling Xiao would, Nian Qingyun would, the Cloud Millet Holy Son would, the Yuan Yue Holy Son, the Tai Xuan Dao Child, the Ancient Puppet heir, the Tian Xu Holy Maiden probably would too…
Dammit! So I'm actually trash!!
"Wei'er, lead the Qin Clan disciples to Fengtian City. Settle this grudge with the Cloud Millet Holy Son." Emperor Qin sighed inwardly. Just as Qin Wei turned to leave, he seemed to remember something and addressed an elder with a terrifying aura in the hall, "Grand Elder, follow them at a distance. Guard against any tricks."
"Yes!"
"Your Majesty!!" But just as that elder was about to follow Qin Wei out, a hurried voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty, the leader of the Myriad Daos Demon Sect, Wan Rendí, has arrived with several Demon Sect elders. He says… he says he wishes to discuss plans for a joint campaign against Cloud Millet!" A Qin Clan expert strode in, his expression grave, but a hint of excitement flickered in his eyes. Excellent. The Myriad Daos Demon Sect had always been at odds with Cloud Millet. With their assistance, why worry about not defeating Cloud Millet? This way, Elder Qin Yun and the many Qin Clan disciples who died at Sunset Divine Mountain would not have died in vain.
"Hmm? The Myriad Daos Demon Sect? Wan Rendí?!"