From the south, a group of seventeen approached, led by a man in a loose white robe with a silver mask. Even without seeing his face, his presence exuded an air of nobility.
Seventeen people, all at least at the level of Great Celestial strength.
The previously dominant twenty-one rogue Great Celestials now felt deeply ashamed.
Great Celestials, symbols of power and prestige, were always formidable figures wherever they went. But now, they seemed almost laughable in comparison. How many were there now? Nearly a hundred Great Celestials surrounded them, organized by faction, while the rogue Great Celestials were clearly outmatched.
"Greetings, Taichu Sacred King!" the ten from the Taiji Sacred Court saluted.
"Greetings, Taichu Sacred King!" echoed from the others, including those from the two other Sacred Courts and the dojos.
In the Fengzhong Territory, the Taichu Sacred King was respected by all, a ruler who commanded reverence.
Zhong Shan looked directly at the masked Taichu Sacred King.
The Jade Emperor observed calmly. Seeing the Taichu Sacred King, he showed no concern, remaining composed.
"Sacred King of Great Yan?" the Taichu Sacred King addressed Zhong Shan.
"Yes, Zhong Shan," Zhong Shan responded with a nod, his expression serious.
"The Fengzhong Territory already has three great dojos and three great Sacred Courts. We don't need more. A new Sacred Court is not welcomed here unless you leave the Fengzhong Territory. Otherwise, you will be attacked. I offer you another path: become a vassal of the Taichu Sacred Court, and I will ensure the safety of your Great Yan Sacred Court," the Taichu Sacred King said calmly.
Zhong Shan frowned.
"If you refuse, no one can protect your Great Yan Sacred Court," the Taichu Sacred King declared.
At that moment, another figure appeared nearby—a handsome man in a purple robe, exuding a powerful and vast aura.
"The three Sacred Courts and three dojos have all gathered? It's been millennia since the six major factions of the Fengzhong Territory were together," the purple-robed man remarked with a smile.
Clearly, this was the leader of the last dojo.
"Greetings, Purple Cloud Master!" the Great Celestials bowed slightly to the purple-robed man.
The Purple Cloud Master, head of the Purple Cloud Dojo in the Fengzhong Territory, had arrived alone, much like the Taichu Sacred King.
"Jade Emperor, this is not your Four Continents. Do you intend to meddle in the internal affairs of the Fengzhong Territory?" the Purple Cloud Master asked, looking directly at the Jade Emperor.
"Internal affairs? That depends on the situation. If it involves me, I will intervene," the Jade Emperor replied calmly.
The Jade Emperor had made his stance clear. The Purple Cloud Master frowned slightly, then looked at Zhong Shan, his gaze shifting to a woman behind him.
Gan Bao'er! Seeing her, the Purple Cloud Master's pupils contracted.
"Central Master? Are you also interfering in the internal affairs of the Fengzhong Territory?" the Purple Cloud Master questioned.
Central Master? Everyone was momentarily stunned. There was another master here? A master? Anyone who could become a master was a figure of immense power.
All eyes turned to Gan Bao'er.
The rogue Great Celestials wiped the sweat from their foreheads. Had they been too impulsive? Was there another master present here?
Perhaps the world is too vast, and the Jade Emperor had never heard of the Central Master. He was slightly puzzled upon hearing the Purple Cloud Master's address.
"Whoosh!"
A fierce wind blew, bringing another ten Great Celestials.
At the forefront was a woman in a luxurious robe and a purple jade crown, resembling Gan Bao'er in every way.
"Purple Cloud Master, it's been a while," the woman said.
"Central Master?" the Purple Cloud Master frowned.
Resembling Gan Bao'er exactly? The Central Master?
Zhong Shan held Bao'er's hand, who looked coldly at the Central Master.
"Who are you?" Bao'er demanded.
"Didn't Zhong Shan tell you?" the Central Master smiled faintly.
"What do you want?"
"Don't play dumb. Once I help your husband fend off these enemies, you will come back to the Central Dojo with me," the Central Master stated plainly and then landed in front of the Longevity Hall with her nine subordinates.
Gan Bao'er's expression remained unchanged, clearly expecting this outcome.
"Is there more?" the Purple Cloud Master frowned.
"Whoosh!"
Another fierce wind blew, bringing a group of female Great Celestials. They were all in white, with expressions as cold as eternal ice.
"Ice Goddess Palace Master? Are you also connected to the Great Yan Sacred Court?" the Purple Cloud Master frowned.
It seemed all these forces were coming out of the woodwork.
The leader, a woman of unparalleled beauty but with an icy demeanor, ignored the Purple Cloud Master and instead addressed Bei Qingsi: "Do you recognize me?"
"Bei Qingsi greets the ancestor!" Bei Qingsi responded.
"Good. After we fend off these enemies, you will return to the Ice Goddess Palace with me," the woman stated.
Bei Qingsi looked at Zhong Shan, who nodded, and she agreed, "Yes."
It was clear Zhong Shan had already discussed these matters with his consorts.
The ten from the Ice Goddess Palace landed before the Longevity Hall. The Palace Master and the Central Dojo members exchanged glances but said nothing.
"Whoosh!"
Another fierce wind brought ten men, their hair yellow and dry, who landed before the Longevity Hall and knelt on one knee.
"The Archaic Family, ten emissaries of the Xun Hall, greet the Hall Master!" they declared.
The ten men were bowing to Gu Qianyou!
"Archaic Family? Hall Master? How am I a member of the Archaic Family?" Gu Qianyou asked calmly.
"You have the bloodline of the Archaic Family. The Xun Hall has been without a master for fifty thousand years. Only someone with the Xun Cauldron can be the Hall Master. You are the Hall Master. The Family Head has ordered us to welcome you home!" the leader explained.
"Bloodline?" Gu Qianyou frowned.
"We beg the Hall Master not to reveal this to anyone," the leader said. Then, he pointed his finger, and a yellow light shot toward Gu Qianyou.
Gu Qianyou caught it, and it seemed to convey information directly into her mind. After five breaths, her brow furrowed deeply. She opened her eyes, looking much more complex and troubled. She glanced at Zhong Shan, clearly conflicted.
"Is there really a bloodline connection?" Zhong Shan asked.
Gu Qianyou nodded.
"Hall Master, the Archaic Family hopes you will keep the bloodline inheritance confidential," the man reiterated.
"No need to tell me for now," Zhong Shan said at the right moment.
The ten members of the Archaic Family stood firm, while another faction arrived in the distance.
"Whoosh!"
Another group of ten descended onto the plaza in front of the Longevity Hall. The leader, dressed in a luxurious red robe with a purple jade crown, resembled Wu Jiutian.
"Wu Jiutian?" Zhong Shan said in surprise.
The leader, however, responded seriously, "I am not Wu Jiutian."
"Uh!" Zhong Shan was slightly taken aback.
Not Wu Jiutian? But the resemblance was uncanny!
"Vermilion Bird!" the woman commanded.
Suddenly, a Vermilion Bird flew out from Tian Ling'er's arm.
"Chirp!" The Vermilion Bird screeched angrily, disturbed from its rest.
"Good, it's still here," the woman smiled slightly.
"And you are Tian Ling'er?" she then looked at Tian Ling'er.
"What do you want?"
"Nie Fancheng, Wu Jiutian, and Nie Qingqing are all in the Phoenix Territory. They asked me to bring you there," the woman explained.
"Why should I believe you?" Tian Ling'er shook her head.
The woman threw a jade slip towards Zhong Shan.
"This is a letter from Nie Fancheng."
Zhong Shan caught it and read it carefully. After a while, he took a deep breath and nodded.
"It is indeed from Nie Fancheng," Zhong Shan said, frowning.
"After this matter is resolved, Tian Ling'er will come with me to the Phoenix Territory," the woman stated bluntly.
Tian Ling'er pouted, feeling uncomfortable, though Zhong Shan had prepared her for this before the opening of the heavens.
The surrounding rogue cultivators now felt a sense of fear.
Central Dojo, Ice Goddess Palace, Archaic Family, Phoenix Territory—so many factions? If they had acted rashly earlier, they might not have been able to leave now.
"How does this small world have so many connections?" one rogue cultivator muttered quietly.
As if there weren't enough connections, another gust of wind brought more people.
On the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, another group of ten people appeared, all dressed in white robes, looking directly at Di Xuansha.
"Di Xuansha, the Sacred Sky Sanctuary invites you. After this matter, you will go to the Sacred Sky Sanctuary," the leader announced.
Di Xuansha frowned, looked at the people before him, then at Zhong Shan, and finally nodded.
Sacred Sky Sanctuary? The rogue cultivators were speechless. Was there any point in staying here?
"Whoosh!"
"Another one?" a rogue cultivator groaned.
This time, Zhong Shan immediately recognized the newcomers.
Ten men, each wearing armor, exuding a killing aura.
They landed in front of the Longevity Hall and bowed respectfully to Zhong Shan.
"Great Qin, Wang Jian, by order of the Holy King, here to congratulate the Sacred King of Great Yan on opening the heavens and to help clear out any enemies," Wang Jian bowed.
Great Qin, Wang Jian!
Holy King? Ying had become the ruler of a Sacred Court too?
"General Wang, too kind!" Zhong Shan quickly replied.
"Before the enemies are gone, Wang Jian and nine subordinates are at your disposal," Wang Jian stated directly.
"Thank you!"
Everyone waited a while longer, but no more forces arrived.
The Fengzhong Territory's six major factions had sent fifty-eight Great Celestial-level experts.
The rogue cultivators, twenty-one in total, no longer posed much of a threat.
The Great Yan Sacred Court, with its allied factions, now boasted eight major forces and eighty Great Celestial-level experts.
In a short time, the Lingxiao Heavenly Court had gathered one hundred fifty-nine Great Celestials. It was an unimaginable and bizarre scene.
Such a vast assembly of power, once clashed, would surely lead to catastrophic destruction!
The major factions eyed each other warily, none having anticipated this scenario.
Behind the Taichu Sacred King, Sima Zongheng's face was filled with jealousy and disbelief. What kind of situation was this? One hundred fifty-nine Great Celestials in a standoff? This was beyond exaggerated.
One hundred fifty-nine Great Celestials, this scene was clearly beyond the control of any faction. The Jade Emperor frowned, the Purple Cloud Master frowned, and the Central Master and the Ice Goddess Palace Master all frowned.