บท 455: Chapter 455: Across the Continent

Xuan Kong Zi actually stumbled upon this news incidentally.

The forces and experts of Central Plains always held a somewhat condescending attitude toward the regions beyond their own. Few forces would meddle in matters there. After all, those regions were a mixed bag, and even if one could exert covert control, the benefits would be minimal and could result in more losses than gains.

Moreover, due to the considerable distance between the Central Plains and the outer regions, transmitting news was a challenging task. Even many individuals who were pursued and hunted in Central Plains would flee to the outside for several years before returning.

"The complexities of the forces in Central Plains make even the Hall of Souls hesitant to initiate large-scale battles. However, in places like the North-Eastern and South-Western Regions, it's different. With the Hall of Souls' power, they can easily dominate a one-sided war. They only need to show up afterwards to reap countless soul bodies."

"Although I'm not sure why they're resorting to these means to gather soul bodies now, even when the Hall of Souls collected soul bodies in the past, it was done discreetly. Such actions that directly trigger large-scale wars have never occurred before."

"However, the Hall of Souls' collection of soul bodies undoubtedly harbors their scheme. Even though we don't know the specifics of this scheme, I believe we should react to it. We can't let them carry on like this." Xuan Kong Zi looked at Xiao Ming, his brows furrowed.

The Heavenly Court wasn't exactly a righteous alliance, but there's a saying: "Don't do what your enemies hope you will do. Instead, strive to do what your enemies don't want you to do." Though they were unaware of the Hall of Souls' motives, disrupting their plans was paramount.

Xiao Ming fell silent for a moment after hearing Xuan Kong Zi's words.

The actions of the Hall of Souls were undoubtedly related to his theft of a large number of Soul Essences from them.

Moreover, considering the Hall of Souls' millennium-long plan had only a few years left, their urgency in acting was reasonable.

He had also sent his partners, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, to steal the Soul Essences, but he was unsure of their current progress.

After brief contemplation, he nodded in agreement.

"Putting a stop to the Hall of Souls? Feasible. I will issue the orders as soon as possible. However, the specifics will require your expertise to work out."

Despite not being actively involved in day-to-day affairs, Xiao Ming's decision-making authority as Alliance Leader remained unencumbered. He could make such decisions on his own.

"Great. How many people are you planning to dispatch to the other regions?" Seeing that Xiao Ming had made up his mind, Xuan Kong Zi also felt relieved and turned to ask.

The regions beyond Central Plains were not teeming with experts like Central Plains itself. Various sects and empires thrived there, but they were mired in constant internal conflicts. Although some forces with substantial strength attempted to unify these regions, they continually failed to do so.

Moreover, these so-called forces with substantial strength were equivalent to first-rate powers within Central Plains. To put it bluntly, they weren't even as strong as powers like the Four Pavilions. Hence, many of the Central Plains' forces and experts paid little attention to those regions.

Currently, even though the Hall of Souls had dispatched reinforcements there, it was unlikely that they would send too many powerful individuals. Central Plains remained their primary base of operations.

So, Xiao Ming quickly responded to Xuan Kong Zi's question.

"We will send Half-Saint experts to each region to take turns overseeing. We can also dispatch some Dou Venerates, but not too many. We can recruit experts locally, especially since many sects and forces are likely to be struggling right now, making them less inclined to reject us."

By then, the Heavenly Court would become a superpower spanning five regions!

"There are vast distances between regions. If we were to fly back, it would take at least two months. Therefore, we have to establish wormholes. I'll personally set them up in a few days. It will make things easier and keep us connected to other regions."

Wormholes could be created as long as one's strength reached the Dou Venerate realm. However, building a wormhole so far from the Central Plains to the outer regions wasn't something an ordinary Dou Venerate could achieve.

Fortunately, Xiao Ming was already a Dou Saint expert, so creating them wouldn't be too difficult.

With the decision made, Xuan Kong Zi began to arrange manpower.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ming started constructing the wormholes.

Several days later, four roughly thirty-three-meter-wide black voids slowly appeared on a stone platform atop a mountain peak. A violent spatial force surged continuously from within them, rapidly spreading outwards.

"Alliance Leader, is it successful?"

An elderly man wearing the attire of an Elder's robe appeared not far from the wormholes, his demeanor respectful.

"Mm..."

Xiao Ming smiled and nodded, then turned around.

"Go inform Elder Xuan to bring people over."

"Understood!"

After the Elder left, it didn't take long before Xuan Kong Zi arrived with his group of people, accompanied by around fifty more elderly individuals.

These figures were suspended in the air, emitting vast auras that spread throughout. These auras eventually rippled beneath the sky, under the oppressive pressure created by their collective presence. As a result, the entire world appeared to shake.

Among them, four elders were particularly formidable, just like Xuan Kong Zi, all of them being Half-Saints.

"Alliance Leader!"

When they saw Xiao Ming, these elders who were several times his age, or even a dozen or twenty times his age, all descended and bowed in respect.

"No need for excessive courtesy."

Xiao Ming waved his hand and then addressed the group.

"By now, you must be aware of the purpose of your summoning. As long as you stabilize the situation, a Dou Venerate will be rewarded with three six-colored Eighth-Tier Pills. A Half-Saint will receive three nine-colored Eighth-Tier Pills. Those with outstanding contributions can receive Ninth-Tier Treasure Pills!"

Once these words were spoken, everyone's eyes ignited with fervor.

As the saying goes: "If you want a horse to run, you must give it grass!"

Half of the powerful people who had arrived were lone cultivators attracted by the generous benefits provided by the Heavenly Court in recent days.

Three Eighth-Tier Pills held a significant allure for them.

Even the Half-Saints couldn't remain indifferent; the appeal of Ninth-Tier Treasure Pills was equally strong.

Because Master Alchemists of Treasure Pills were exceedingly rare, some had never even witnessed the emergence of a Ninth-Tier Treasure Pill.

No one doubted Xiao Ming's ability to produce such a quantity of Eighth Tier Pills.

Eighth-tier Alchemists were exceptionally scarce outside, but within the Pill Tower, summoning dozens of them was quite easy.

With sufficient medicinal ingredients, these Eighth-Tier Pills were nothing more than a drizzle.

"Alliance Leader, rest assured. We understand the situation. These barbaric forces in these regions are nothing to fear. We will establish a stable foothold…"

Xiao Ming nodded, seeing that everyone was ready to proceed. He gently waved his sleeve.

With the wave of his sleeve, the four wormholes positioned between the mountain peaks suddenly began to fluctuate intensely. An exceedingly violent spatial turbulence surged out of them, rapidly spreading. A deep and resonating sound, similar to thunder, emitted faintly from within the wormholes, echoing incessantly throughout the surrounding world.

The wormholes began to rotate slowly as the spatial fluctuations spread. A faint suction emanated from within them.

"This is the Wormhole Scroll. The coordinates on the other side haven't been established yet. Once you arrive, as long as you find a safe place, tear it open. This will form a passage, and the wormhole can be established permanently there..."

With a flick of his finger, a black scroll shot towards the four leading Half-Saints. It was imbued with an extremely powerful spatial energy.

The four people took the scroll and placed it in their storage rings. They then bowed slightly to Xiao Ming before flying directly towards the pitch-black wormholes.