"My lord, your efforts are far from satisfactory! Your current plans are insufficient to meet the requirements of the eminent monks of the Underworld Hall. If you cannot proceed smoothly, how can our Nangong family act?"
In a secluded courtyard within the ancestral lands of the Nangong family in Yunhai Daozhou, a middle-aged man in a black and white long robe regarded Wu Ying, the Prime Minister of the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty, who was leisurely sipping tea to his left.
"This matter has encountered a snag. Who could have foreseen the sudden appearance of the Great Han Imperial Dynasty? It emerged as if from thin air. Even after more than a month, our An Yuan Celestial Dynasty has failed to uncover the true foundation of the Great Han Imperial Dynasty!"
Upon hearing the man's displeased words, Wu Ying frowned. The teacup he held lost all its savor.
"Bang!"
Wu Ying slammed the teacup onto the table. Wisps of white vapor, imbued with potent spiritual energy, dissipated into the air.
"Now that the Great Han Imperial Dynasty has intervened, it has disrupted the Emperor's schemes. With a bit more time, those old fossils of Lingxu Palace will sense something amiss. They have already begun consolidating their forces on the Chiyang Celestial Dynasty battlefield. It will be difficult to use Lingxu Palace's might again. If Chiyang Celestial Dynasty doesn't fall, the death qi will be insufficient to meet the eminent monks' requirements!"
Wu Ying's expression turned grim as he spoke coldly.
"If the mission fails, even with our combined efforts, we will be unable to withstand the wrath of the gods. The Chiyang Celestial Dynasty battlefield must be opened. If Lingxu Palace refuses to engage, then we will force their hand. Perhaps we can also stir the Nine Li Celestial Dynasty!"
The middle-aged man's brow furrowed deeply. If the stipulated time arrived and the number of deceased beings was insufficient for the eminent monks, his Nangong family would surely fall into abyss! Su Dan Novel Network.
Their own ancestor, a powerful being who had attained the Dao God realm, still could not withstand a single strike from the eminent monk's disciple. For beings of such cultivation, they stood at the pinnacle of countless lives within the five Daozhou surrounding Wanyuan Daozhou.
He! Nangong Aofeng, a cultivator at the ninth level of the Celestial God realm, could have led the Nangong family to rule Yunhai Daozhou without incident. Yet, unexpectedly, two monks descended from the heavens, their single finger shattering the family's forbidden sky formation. The eminent monk's disciple then suppressed the Nangong family's strongest member, leaving him worse than dead!
The eminent monk surveyed the surroundings and spoke but one sentence: "When war erupts and flames ignite, if the Soul Banner is not filled within three years, the war shall not cease!"
With those few monastic words, the Nangong family dared not disobey. Like the Nangong family, the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty had encountered a similar situation!
Under the guidance of the eminent monk's disciple, the Emperor of the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty and the Patriarch of the Nangong family used Lingxu Daozhou and Jiangyu Daozhou as their chessboard, with Yan Yun Daozhou as a backup. If the number of deceased beings fell short, they would draw upon the Nine Li Celestial Dynasty to compensate!
For safety and to avoid widespread dissent, the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty dragged the unsuspecting Lingxu Palace into the fray, offering half the territory of Jiangyu Daozhou as tribute and the cultivation methods of supreme True Gods as enticement, thereby enabling Lingxu Palace to raise an army and attack the Gate of Creation.
However, no one had anticipated the sudden appearance of the mysterious Great Han Imperial Dynasty, which had disrupted the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty's plans.
The situation was now unclear, and Lingxu Palace was gradually distancing itself from the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty.
"Patriarch Nangong! Lingxu Palace is hesitating now, and the war cannot commence. For the Emperor's safety, he requests that you, Patriarch, dispatch troops to participate!"
Wu Ying took a deep breath and said coldly.
"Dispatch troops? Do you realize that if my Nangong family becomes involved, the Nine Li Celestial Dynasty will surely see through some of our situation, and at that point, we will all be exposed..."
Suddenly, Nangong Aofeng's voice cut off. His pupils narrowed instantly, and his expression was one of great difficulty.
"We can't afford to worry about that now!"
"If we fail to meet the eminent monk's deadline, it won't be the Gate of Creation or Lingxu Palace that perishes, but your Nangong family and the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty!" Wu Ying's voice was chilling.
"If your Nangong family refuses, the eminent monk can find the Nine Li Celestial Dynasty! At that point, Aofeng, you will regret it too late!"
"It can only be so!"
Nangong Aofeng's face changed drastically, and he stood up with trembling legs.
"These eminent monks should be beings from the Buddha's Nether Temple. But what do they want with so much death qi?"
Looking at Wu Ying beside him, Aofeng's gaze was peculiar as he spoke in a low voice.
"That is not for us to fathom!"
Wu Ying's expression shifted. The Buddha's Nether Temple was a powerful sect guarded by Saints, controlling ten Daozhou.
It was on par with the Tian Yuan Sect and the Feng An Divine Dynasty, collectively known as the Three Great Heavenly Gates!
Although Wu Ying was merely the Prime Minister of the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty, he had served the Emperor and traveled extensively, making him familiar with the various powers, both large and small, in the vicinity!
"Patriarch Nangong, you must understand that with our current strength, we are insignificant in the eyes of the Buddha's Nether Temple. Therefore, we should simply do as they command. Only by surviving can we reach the pinnacle of cultivation."
"Indeed! In the eyes of the Buddha's Nether Temple, they control over a dozen forces like the Nangong family and the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty. For the sake of survival, we can only act this way."
"If they can find us, they can find the Nine Li Celestial Dynasty and Lingxu Palace!" Nangong Aofeng's face was pale.
They were obeying the eminent monks' command to slaughter indiscriminately, knowing that the death qi of the deceased beings would be sufficient to fill the Soul Banner in the eminent monk's hands. Regardless, the eminent monk only wanted the death qi; whether it was Lingxu Palace and the Gate of Creation that died, or the Nangong family and the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty, it was all death.
It was merely a matter of exchanging identities!
"Wu Ying, we must deal with the Great Han Imperial Dynasty in Jiangyu Daozhou in advance!"
Aofeng turned his head, his expression cautious.
"What do you intend to do?"
Wu Ying raised his head.
"They want death qi, don't they? We are currently held back, and the Great Han Imperial Dynasty's identity is quite mysterious. If the battlefield deployment cannot proceed smoothly, will they be satisfied?"
"They can't possibly remain aloof and do nothing!"
"What do you intend to do?"
Wu Ying's expression changed.
"Let them contribute as well. You, the An Yuan Celestial Dynasty, can focus on dealing with the Gate of Creation, while my Nangong family formally declares war on Lingxu Palace!"
"As for the Great Han Imperial Dynasty, perhaps the eminent monks can investigate them!"
"Eminent monks?"
"They might not go. If they learn of this, it might make Patriarch Nangong and the Emperor appear incompetent!"
Wu Ying shook his head.
"What is there to fear!"
"If they don't act, the war will only drag on. By then, the Nine Li Celestial Dynasty will be involved, and it will truly be beyond repair!"
"Even now, if they want us to do their bidding, they must at least secure our peace of mind!"
"If they only focus on the front lines and neglect what's happening behind the scenes!"
"Even if we both complete the eminent monks' task, will we fare any better?"