The Peril of Kang Zhou

Alas, the vast majority of cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage found it arduous to reach the late stage, and advancing from Nascent Soul to Deity Transformation was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Over ten thousand years, Kang Zhou had seen only one Deity Transformation cultivator emerge, but regrettably, he had passed away two millennia ago.

"Senior Brother, I guarantee that His Excellency Yaksha King will act. Otherwise, I would not have dared to eliminate Fan Qu Qing."

Tian Mo replied solemnly. She understood full well how formidable an existence Yaksha King was; he would always honor his word. He owed Lei Dong a great favor, a debt not to be underestimated. Had Lei Dong not intervened that time, regardless of how the Wrath of the Sea God developed, the Yaksha Clan, though not annihilated, would have suffered more than half its casualties. Moreover, she knew that her young lover, Lei Dong, still held the trump card of Nether Ghost Emperor.

Nether Ghost Emperor was an incredibly heaven-defying existence, a non-human who cultivated to the Deity Transformation stage, a peerless prodigy of his generation. It was said that he had painstakingly cultivated to the mid-Deity Transformation stage, and rumor had it that he was not far from the late stage.

Indeed, Nether Ghost Emperor regarded those in the Deity Transformation stage as mere youngsters in the Netherworld Domain.

With these trump cards, one dared not claim to escape the clutches of the Taishang Sect, but self-preservation was more than assured.

"Good, good. In that case, we shall either do nothing at all, or having started, see it through to the end."

Yin Sha Demonic Venerable was also a ruthless individual. Since they had already offended the Taishang Sect, why should they beg them? He also knew that Tian Mo's words concerned the very survival of the entire Yin Sha Sect.

Yin Sha Demonic Venerable made up his mind, his aura instantly shifting from before, his expression resolute as he declared:

"Xuan Zhen Zi, there is no need for further words. A life-and-death contract has been signed; life and death are naturally left to fate. If your Taishang Sect disregards its reputation and attempts to renege, then our Yin Sha Sect shall accompany you to the very end, preferring to break as jade than remain whole as a tile."

These words were spoken with resounding clarity, his demonic cultivation transmitting them for hundreds, even over a thousand miles. Core Formation, Foundation Establishment, and even Qi Condensation cultivators heard this declaration. For a moment, the Yin Sha Sect's prestige soared.

Many Nascent Soul cultivators present frowned, secretly thinking that if the Yin Sha Sect could peacefully overcome this calamity, it might find an opportunity to flourish. What did cultivators dependent on sects fear most? It was being betrayed by their sect at the most crucial moment. The Yin Sha Sect's defiance of such power would undoubtedly win the hearts of many rogue cultivators, minor sects, and powerful clans.

But they dared not disregard the Yin Sha Sect either. Just as Blood Demon had said, once the Yin Sha Sect was annihilated, the Taishang Sect would absolutely not let go of Kang Zhou, this sweet pastry, disrupting the existing power structure and devouring each sect individually. The leaders of various factions grew immensely vexed. "Yin Sha Sect, if you wish to die, so be it, but why drag your fellow Kang Zhou Daoists onto this pirate ship?"

"Good. Very well said."

Xuan Zhen Zi was furious, his beard bristling and eyes glaring as he retorted:

"Yin Sha, I never imagined you to be so arrogant. Just you wait; when this Venerable One returns to report to the elders, we shall see how your Yin Sha Sect is dealt with."

With that, without greeting anyone, he transformed into a streak of white light and brazenly departed, followed by the Ling Xiao Six Disciples.

"Fellow Daoists, you have all witnessed this."

Yin Sha Demonic Venerable let out a sinister laugh:

"In truth, everyone here is intelligent and has long since guessed that the Taishang Sect's true target is not merely my sect. Although Da Qian Zhou is vast and rich in resources, sects there are as numerous as trees in a forest, and the Taishang Sect is not the sole preeminent power. Today, they are merely seeking an excuse to invade our Kang Zhou. If our righteous and demonic factions in Kang Zhou cannot cast aside our past grievances and overcome this difficult hurdle together, then... while my Yin Sha Sect will certainly be finished, this Venerable One believes that your future days will also be far from pleasant."

The demonic factions, such as the Demonic Prison Sect and Asura Heaven, were relatively fine, as they had long-standing defensive alliances. But the Nascent Soul patriarchs of the righteous path secretly cursed in their hearts, for Yin Sha Demonic Venerable's words were indeed the truth. The Taishang Sect was a ferocious tiger; once it occupied the Yin Sha Sect's territory, how could it be content to lie dormant and hidden?

"Amitabha, may this humble monk ask, how are we to deal with Senior Tai Yi True Immortal, who single-handedly slayed his way into our Kang Zhou? At that time, will not everyone in Kang Zhou feel uneasy?"

The speaker was Venerable Subduing Dragon, the Great Monk of Vajra Temple, a towering figure like a fierce ox. Yet, in reality, his thoughts were meticulous and refined; otherwise, the Vajra Temple would not have dispatched him this time.

A Deity Transformation expert was formidable, but directly confronting over 100 Nascent Soul cultivators would be suicidal. However, if one were a bit shameless and disregarded the dignity of a peak expert, striking each person individually, it would cause immense headaches. Nor could a group of Nascent Soul cultivators be protected together constantly.

Thus, Venerable Subduing Dragon's words echoed the concerns of all the Grand Elders present. With the combined strength of Kang Zhou, united against all but Tai Yi True Immortal, the problem would naturally not be significant, but dealing with a Deity Transformation expert was somewhat difficult. Deity Transformation experts possessed a profound understanding of Space Law, appearing and disappearing like ghosts, making it challenging to gang up on them.

"Fellow Daoists, rest assured. If Tai Yi True Immortal truly dares to come, this Sect will naturally invite a cultivator of equal standing to restrain him."

Yin Sha Demonic Venerable chuckled incessantly:

"Moreover, Da Qian Zhou is not dominated by a single preeminent sect; their enemies are equally numerous. In short, as long as we in Kang Zhou are united, the Taishang Sect will surely gain no advantage. We must be of one mind internally; once outsiders invade, if Kang Zhou appears weak, they will undoubtedly bite off a piece or two. At that point, our Kang Zhou will be doomed."