"Hahahaha, Emperor Qin, I trust you've been well since we last met?"
Just as Emperor Qin was frowning in contemplation, a hearty laugh suddenly sounded from outside the great hall. Immediately after, demonic light flared, and the figures of Wan Rendí and Grand Elder Yu Wenba appeared before the Qin Clan members. Behind them stood several Divine Kings of the Demon Sect, clearly having come in full force.
Are you kidding me? Currently, in the entire Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty, the only sect likely daring to set its sights on the Myriad Daos Demon Sect was probably the Cloud Millet Sect alone. Otherwise, the wrath of a supreme orthodox sect wasn't something just anyone could withstand. Similarly, the Cloud Millet Sect, beset by troubles both internal and external, certainly had no mind to scheme against the Myriad Daos Demon Sect now. That Wan Rendí dared to lead his elders here was, of course, because he was sure the Cloud Millet Sect wouldn't act rashly.
"So it is Sect Master Wan." Emperor Qin's golden eyes narrowed slightly, but he couldn't help sighing softly in his heart. Was it a coincidence, or driven by interest? Or perhaps the mastermind behind this scheme was the very Demon Sect Master before him?
Killing with a borrowed knife – everyone was doing it. Especially for supreme orthodox sects, to stand unshaken, one must have enough to deter others. When two great orthodox sects warred, casualties were inevitable. Once Divine Kings or Divine Emperors fell, the collapse of a sect could often happen in an instant.
"Heh, Emperor Qin, you don't look well. Could it be because of… the Cloud Millet matter?" Wan Rendí smiled faintly, demonic light shimmering in his eyes, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Ling Xiao's plan could indeed be called insidious. The whole matter seemed bizarre. But the brilliance lay in the fact that the Qin Clan was powerless to stop it, unable to resist, even… forced to grit their teeth and follow the path Ling Xiao had set. At this moment, he vaguely saw the scene of two supreme orthodox sects crumbling into ruin. Fortunately, back when Emperor Ling had personally visited, bringing Ling Xiao to the Demon Sect, he had agreed to it despite the opposition of numerous elders. Looking at it now, that decision had been extremely wise. Otherwise, the one being schemed against now might have been his Myriad Daos Demon Sect.
"Heh, may I ask the purpose of the Sect Master's visit?" Emperor Qin pretended to be amiable, and even the Grand Elder who had been about to leave stopped and stood in place.
The Myriad Daos Demon Sect had come in full force: two Divine Emperors, four Divine Kings. The Qin Clan couldn't afford not to be cautious.
"The matter of the Cloud Millet Holy Son killing my Demon Sect's Young Master… Emperor Qin must have heard of it, right?" Wan Rendí nodded. He had long prepared all manner of arguments, just waiting for Emperor Qin to ask.
Acting… of course, requires a full set. Otherwise, look at Teacher Bo, several times a day, each time completely immersed in the role. What was that called? Professionalism!
"What? Ling Xiao is dead?!" Emperor Qin's reaction was momentarily delayed, and he even felt a faint stir of excitement. If Ling Xiao was killed by the Cloud Millet Holy Son, it would inevitably provoke retaliation from the Ling Clan. Add to that the Dan Yuan Holy Land and the Myriad Daos Demon Sect, the Cloud Millet Immortal Sect could be destroyed in a matter of days!
Watching the smile gradually blooming on Emperor Qin's face, Wan Rendí and the others felt a flash of surprise.
Ling Xiao? Did I mention Ling Xiao? Is Emperor Qin perhaps dreaming?
Sure enough! It wasn't that Emperor Qin was profoundly wise and righteous, unwilling to provoke war between two supreme orthodox sects and lead to the suffering of the people in the Eastern Territories. This was clearly… a lack of confidence!
"Ahem, Emperor Qin, I was referring to… my Demon Sect's previous Young Master." Wan Rendí coughed twice, instantly jolting Emperor Qin back to reality.
Dammit! I lost my composure!
"Ah, so it was the previous Demon Sect Young Master. Then the Sect Master's meaning is…" Emperor Qin's expression stiffened, but he couldn't help cursing inwardly. Damnable Wan Rendí, can't you speak clearly? You had me thinking about how to divide up the Cloud Millet's territory!
"My Demon Sect Young Master was less skilled, so being killed is only natural. Thus, for these twenty years, I never intervened. But… the Cloud Millet Immortal Sect, with its wolfish ambitions, actually dares to set its sights on the Qin Clan. I'm afraid my Myriad Daos Demon Sect will ultimately not escape its poisonous schemes. Why don't we take this opportunity for our two great orthodox sects to join forces…" Wan Rendí gave a grim laugh, the pressure of his Divine Emperor cultivation spreading out, instantly causing the expressions of many Qin Clan experts to change.
"Of course, if Emperor Qin is unwilling, just pretend I never came. As for the Cloud Millet side, I, Wan Rendí, naturally do not fear offending them. If they dare provoke me, I will surely storm their sacred mountain."
"This…" Emperor Qin's eyes narrowed. The elders in the hall, however, looked solemn.
This is the bearing a true sect master should have! If they provoke us, I will exterminate their entire sect. Even if the people suffer, it proves our sect's mettle!
Of course, this entire speech had been prepared by Ling Xiao in advance, told to Fu Yunao to relay to Wan Rendí. After all, that hidden piece, Qin Yun, must have already ignited the fighting spirit of the Qin Clan's experts. And Wan Rendí's words were the final straw to break the defenses in their hearts!
All these schemes lie within the grasp of Ling Xiao's father!
"Your Majesty!! We are willing to join Sect Master Wan in storming the Cloud Millet sacred mountain to demand an explanation for the disciples of our clan!"
"That's right! Your Majesty!! Our Qin Clan's trump card, the minor branch, requests to join the battle!!"
"Your Majesty!!"
For a time, the Qin Clan's Holy Hall was filled with impassioned and fierce demands.
"Ah…" Emperor Qin sighed softly. In his long life, he found he hadn't sighed as much in all those years as he had these past few days.
"Heh, since the Sect Master has come from afar, why not first sample the fine wine and delicacies of my Qin Clan? We can discuss the remaining matters later; it's not too late." Emperor Qin smiled warmly, not directly responding to the elders' requests at all, and stepped down from the dais.
"Since Emperor Qin is so hospitable, how could I have the nerve to refuse." Wan Rendí nodded, a hint of disappointment seeming to flash between his brows, but inwardly he sneered.
Ling Xiao, the rest is up to you.
At the same time, at the mountain gate of the Cloud Millet Immortal Sect, Ling Tianlin and the others tore through space and appeared, heading towards the main hall on the mountain peak.
And in a place less than a hundred miles from Fengtian City, a Cloud Millet Divine King frowned slightly, looking with confusion and utmost wariness at a black-clothed figure blocking his path.
"For what reason do you block my way?"
"Since it's a conflict among disciples, Elder, you shouldn't interfere, should you?" Gui Ying stood with his hands behind his back, black light swirling around him, shrouding his entire figure and making his face indistinct.
"You are… from the Qin Clan?!" The Cloud Millet Elder was a second-grade Divine King, a top-tier existence in the Eastern Territories. But facing the black shadow before him now, he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. Originally, he hadn't intended to interfere in the disciples' conflict; he was merely following orders to leave the mountain and investigate whether another sect was involved behind this scheme. He never expected to be intercepted just after setting out.
"Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that today, you must die." Gui Ying wasted no words. A pair of withered hands suddenly shot out. Instantly, heaven and earth darkened, the great sun seemed to extinguish. A pitch-black demonic sun, as if descending from the void, instantly enveloped the Immortal Sect Divine King.
"Div… Divine Emperor!!! So the Qin Clan… No!!" A miserable scream had just erupted before it was instantly snuffed out.
Below the Divine Emperor, all are ants. This saying held true!