Chapter 1167: Chapter 616: Four Hundred Thousand (Three Updates Combined)_6
The winter in the Southwest is very cold. Cultivators lodge in civilian houses, and even though they can barely make mortals work for them, small matters such as sand mixed into their meals and centipedes and scorpions crawling out of the bedding are innumerable. The alliance army has caught several spies in the snow, all of whom were civilians trying to report to the Hidden Stream. Naturally, these people were executed, but as these incidents frequently occurred, many cultivators felt bewildered: why did they travel thousands of miles to the Southwest in the first place?
It is worth noting that the news of Hidden Stream returning to the world to conquer territories has spread in all directions like the aftermath of an explosion. Apart from the members of small Demon Sects that were annexed, there are countless demons who came to seek refuge voluntarily. The Demon Clan has the inherent nature to submit to the strong and oppress the weak. Thirty thousand years ago, a Divine Beast emerged, leading Hidden Stream, a formidable force stirring the winds and waves, which attracted many demons to offer their services.
The Hidden Stream did not refuse the volunteers. The Power of Growth of the Ba Snake made Changtian confident they would not betray him. The long march ahead also requires fresh blood for replenishment. However, the new recruits need rigorous training, and Changtian is not in a hurry, utilizing the advantages of fighting on home ground to engage the Guangcheng Palace alliance slowly, reducing their forces while sending his own new recruits into battle to undergo a trial by fire and blood.
The He Sect Leader said solemnly: "We also know that Guangcheng Palace must be under the control of Yin Jiu You, which is why they goaded so many Immortal Sect members to send themselves to death. Heh heh, he fears that Lord Divine Monarch will do nothing with the blood covenant, so he sends them to us to kill immediately. It is truly a plan to kill two birds with one stone, gaining soul power while making Hidden Stream the public enemy of the world."
Although aware that this is Yin Jiu You’s plan, how could Hidden Stream show mercy to this group of enemies? Indeed, by the summer of the second year, under Hidden Stream’s Fortress Clearing tactics, the alliance army couldn’t hold on until the autumn harvest. Guangcheng Palace may still have some strength left, but the dozen Immortal Sects that originally followed orders refused to continue and collectively demanded to withdraw from the Southwest. Thus, in early autumn that year, when the alliance army left in dismay, there were sixty thousand cultivators who closed their eyes here forever.
This battle seemed to prove once again how foolish a strategy it is to conduct long-distance military campaigns and fight on foreign territory in the vast expanse of the Southern Continent.
However, six months later, Changtian himself shattered this understanding. This time, the news came from the Eastern part of the Southern Continent.
The Jiuxiao Immortal Sect, which occupied the Yingsha Islands, was wiped out. Nearby sects received the news several days later, and the cultivators who went to investigate were shocked: from top to bottom, there wasn’t a single living thing here. Even the spirit beasts raised in the mountain gate, and the rabbits jumping in the grass, were slain on the spot; it was truly a case of leaving no creature behind.
The grandest hall of Jiuxiao Sect was riddled with thousand scars in this battle, lacking the former grandeur. At its center, on the Shadow Reflection Jade, once a treasure that released drifting clouds and ethereal Immortal Music, now only twelve blood-red characters remain: "An eye for an eye, blood for blood, and a life for a life!" Naturally, only two words followed — Changtian!
Whether this was indeed the work of Hidden Stream, people were initially skeptical, but shortly after, a statement issued from Bashe Forest confirmed it without doubt — the assassin was the Shaking Heaven God! No one knew what method he used, but within half a year, he led the demon crowd quietly across the continent, annihilating the entire Jiuxiao Immortal Sect. Despite its long history, this sect remained isolated from the world, yet somehow managed to incur the fatal wrath of the Shaking Heaven God. Rumors also claimed that Jiuxiao Sect had three immortals who had survived the Heavenly Tribulation, could they have fallen at Changtian’s hands too?
Such actions of exterminating entire sects is terribly shocking, and after this event, the continent was filled with fear, with everyone on edge. If one day you are targeted by such an enemy, wouldn’t there be no peace ever again? Thinking to preemptively strike strong, many sects jumped up, demanding Hidden Stream be declared a Demon Sect and attacked collectively by the continent.
Such calls were naturally ignored by Hidden Stream. In fact, from the annihilation of Jiuxiao Sect to Changtian’s return to Bashe Forest, Hidden Stream was leaderless, and someone couldn’t help but incite Fengtian Prefecture, the closest to the Southwest, to act quickly.
Faced with the surging external turmoil, Fengtian Prefecture remained uncommonly silent. The long-sleeved Master Miluo not only abstained from involving himself, but also prohibited his followers from getting involved in this muddy water. Thus, the precious opportunity for war slipped away quietly, while Changtian returned to Bashe Forest, which became fortified and impregnable once more.
Due to this favor, the relationship between Hidden Stream and Fengtian Prefecture became quite interesting, without probing each other and not intervening, yet having trade exchanges among civilians. No one could criticize Miluo’s approach because he would soon attempt Crossing Tribulation. If he fails to survive the Heavenly Tribulation, should he leave Fengtian Prefecture to face Hidden Stream’s revenge and fury? People now clearly understand how vengeful and powerful Hidden Stream has become.
Afterwards, Hidden Stream went through several battles, expanding its territory to thirty-two Great States, almost matching the domains held by Fengtian Prefecture and King Jinghai Mansion. Adding the size of Bashe Forest itself, it now stands as the colossus of the Southwest Region.
By now, more than half of the contents of Changtian and Yin Jiu You’s blood covenant have been completed.
At this time, a rumor began to quietly spread across the continent: the reason Shaking Heaven God has been rampantly slaughtering and destroying others for the past two years is to collect Life Souls to sacrifice to the Heavenly Dao to revive his beloved! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
