658 The Sacred Heart Sect’s Army

He was the most respected person in the room. Even within the six royal clans, the black tortoise clan held immense influence, surpassed only by the white tiger clan. Everyone regarded him as their leader.

The black tortoise clan’s leader spoke up, “Enough of these trivial complaints.”

A silence enveloped the meeting hall.

The grand elder of the white tiger clan then proposed, “I suggest we form an alliance with the three sects, as well as the Sacred Heart Sect.”

All eyes turned to him. “Why would the three sects ally with us? The Sacred Heart Sect aside, haven’t we seen enough of the humans’ frailties over the years?”

The elder from the white tiger clan retorted with a cold smirk, “Didn’t we exploit the divisions amongst the three sects when the eight royal clans ventured into Great You? If not, power would have been split evenly.”

Whispers filled the room before a consensus was reached.

“The current Qingzhou Alliance has that elder’s blessings and the Qingzhou Emperor’s protection. They could well dominate Great You in the future. None of us, including the three sects and the Sacred Heart Sect, would want that.”

The elder’s words resonated with everyone.

The black tortoise clan’s leader then stated, “We should consider this alliance. If I’m right, Qin Huai of the Qingzhou Alliance is the one who thwarted our plans in the spirit world and killed our kin in Pingwang’s secret realm.”

Heads nodded in agreement. Their suspicions about Qin Huai had now turned into convictions. The dragon clan joining forces with the Qingzhou Alliance signaled something significant. And they believed only someone who had consistently been a thorn in the side of the six royal clans, like Qin Huai, would have such influence.

“That Qin Huai has the makings of an emperor,” remarked the black tortoise clan leader, his eyes flashing with determination.

…

West Cauldron State, at the Sacred Heart Sect’s main base.

A dark ancient cauldron sat atop a furnace, its bubbling contents resembling blood, casting unsettling, crimson waves. From above, it was evident that countless such cauldrons dotted the entire wasteland.

A young man in white stood atop a mountain peak. He mused, “I had considered the Qingzhou Alliance’s elites harnessing their full potential against the six royal clans. I imagined they’d evacuate their main members from Qingzhou. I even pictured someone breaking into the king realm, continuing the Qingzhou Emperor’s legacy. What I hadn’t foreseen was that elder using his final moments to resolve the crisis in Qingzhou.”

Behind him, a group of people in blood-red robes stood solemnly, absorbing his words.

The intimidating aura emanating from him caused the very atmosphere to feel icy. Birds, sensing this overpowering presence, would alter their paths to avoid flying within several miles of him. This man in white was not only renowned but also an enigma. He was the master of the Sacred Heart Sect.

A man in a blood-red robe knelt behind him, announcing, “Master, the six royal clans are here.”

“They wish to ally with us against the Qingzhou Alliance?” questioned the sect master.

“Precisely, Master. It aligns with your foresight,” replied the man. “Qin Huai has taken the lives of both the beast king and the white-robed king. We must seek vengeance!”

The group behind him echoed in agreement, “Indeed, Master!”

The Sacred Heart Sect’s master cast a pointed look at the speaker. The man blushed, rendered mute. He was acutely aware of his inferiority to Qin Huai, who had already eliminated two key guardians of their sect.

The Sacred Heart Sect’s legacy spanned years, always being the dominant force that others feared. They never imagined being bested by someone so young, let alone losing two of their strongest members to him.

Facing the might of Qin Huai and the Qingzhou Alliance’s prodigies, the group hesitated, struggling to voice their thoughts.

Then, from the horizon, a powerful energy resonated throughout the wasteland. It rivaled the strength of the white tiger clan’s innate abilities. The man, with his wild hair and blood-red eyes, emanated a formidable aura that made even those behind the sect master shield their eyes.

He was the Blood Sea King, also known as the guardian within the Sacred Heart Sect. His reputation was that of a one-man army, leaving no survivors in his wake, even sparing none amongst allies. Due to his ruthless nature, few knew of his existence, and even the Sacred Heart Sect members preferred to keep their distance.

The sect master gestured to him, “Go. When you reach Qingzhou, there’s no need for a direct confrontation with the Qingzhou Alliance. Simply exterminate them. Cripple Qingzhou’s fortune and scatter its spiritual energy.”

“Understood!” The Blood Sea King acknowledged with cupped fists.

…

At East Qingzhou, members of the Qingzhou Alliance stood atop the city gate tower. Alongside them was a familiar figure in Daoist robes, displaying a wry smile: Zhang Youji.

“The six royal clans have dispatched three royal kings, each leading an army of ten thousand, towards the Cyan Plains,” he reported. “Meanwhile, the three sects aim to strike as well. They might be trying to relieve pressure on the Qingzhou Alliance by doing so, avoiding a direct attack and distracting us.”

Zhang Youji relayed this information confidently, sounding almost as if he was reciting a rehearsed script.

Zhang Youji paused briefly before proceeding, “Truth be told, the other two sects might just stand by, waiting to see the outcome between the two conflicting sides. Such thoughts have been voiced even within our True Path Sect.”

He remarked, “Their strategy of attacking the enemy’s unguarded vital spots first sounds better than it is in practice.”

“The real reason for my visit is to help you…”

Zhang Youji candidly disclosed the strategies of the three sects. Such tactics certainly weren’t to his liking. Though couched in noble terms, the actions of the three sects seemed rather small-minded this time.

Regardless of their reasons, it was the Qingzhou Alliance and Qin Huai who had disrupted their plans for Great You. Their deeds were vital for the resurgence of the three sects and the whole human race. Such methods felt profoundly wrong.

“We appreciate your honesty, Zhang Daozi,” Xiang Mingfeng acknowledged with a bow, followed by the others. They valued Zhang Youji’s intentions. Right now, Qingzhou desperately needed all the strength it could muster.

“Is Brother Qin still in seclusion?” Zhang Youji inquired.

Gou Jie answered cautiously, “Alliance Master’s current seclusion is critical. We wouldn’t dare to disturb him.”

However, everyone understood that Qin Huai was on the brink of ascending to the king realm. Recently, an unusual phenomenon had indicated as much. It was an aura bursting with life, drawing numerous creatures towards it.

“We’ll have to hold the fort,” they declared with serious expressions. .

The previous intervention by the dragon clan’s ancestor had turned the tide, vanquishing the three kings. This time, the responsibility lay squarely on their shoulders. The relentless pressure from the six royal clans weighed on them.

“It’s always the final battle,” Fang Huo mused. “Once I ascend to kinghood, I’ll have them right at my doorstep and teach them a lesson!”

Boom!

Suddenly, a surge of red filled the horizon from the west of Qingzhou, casting an ominous hue. The pressure from this phenomenon was palpable, even from miles away.

A black eagle darted through the sky, landing in Gou Jie’s grasp.

“It’s the Sacred Heart Sect! They’re slaughtering the city!” The revelation sent shockwaves among them.

Almost immediately, Zhang Youji activated a talisman. Gou Jie’s fingers bled as the Yin-Yang Diagram and a blood mirror manifested. The two energies merged, revealing an image.

“It’s a prominent figure from the Sacred Heart Sect!”

“And he’s alone!” they concluded in disbelief.

The situation grew direr. The forthcoming confrontation would likely require immense resources, especially with the army of the three kings approaching. Before the battle even began, they could sense the encroaching desperation. They felt stretched too thin, even for beings of their stature.

“We’ll handle the Sacred Heart Sect’s king,” someone proposed.

Just then, a familiar voice chimed in, “Leave this to me.”

Emerging from the shadows, dressed in black, was Qin Huai. Without a word, he advanced toward the Sacred Heart Sect’s army, ready to face them head-on.