"It seems this time the zombies will be harder to deal with.
I'm heading to the City Lord's mansion for a meeting. I'll tell you more about what happened when I get back!"
Patriarch Liu greeted them and hurried off towards the City Lord's mansion. Ding Yun and the other two remained where they were, chatting about the factions the City Lord had mentioned, waiting for him to return and explain what had happened.
And how they should respond.
...
A few minutes later.
The heads of the eight great influential families in the city all arrived at the City Lord's mansion and were seated according to the City Lord's arrangements.
"Things are urgent, so let's keep this brief.
The Corpse Puppet Sect has refined a Hanba, and has now officially launched an attack on the Rising Sun Sect. The Rising Sun Sect is the pillar of our Great Gan Dynasty, so the current situation is dire. If the Rising Sun Sect successfully defeats the Corpse Puppet Sect, then everything will be fine. But if the Corpse Puppet Sect succeeds, the entire Great Gan Dynasty will undergo earth-shattering changes.
It's even uncertain if the royal family will be replaced.
But a command has just been issued from above, requiring us to unite and thoroughly hunt down any discovered zombies and other evil creatures. What are your opinions on this, you families?"
The City Lord's intention was clear: he wanted to discuss whether they should obey the orders from above. If they obeyed, and the Rising Sun Sect was victorious, then there would be no problems.
But if the Rising Sun Sect failed and they had obeyed, then they would undoubtedly face retaliation from the Corpse Puppet Sect!
"This..."
"Doesn't the Rising Sun Sect also have a Nascent Soul cultivator?
In theory, a Nascent Soul cultivator is comparable to a Hanba. And when all the righteous cultivators learn of the existence of a Hanba, shouldn't they attack it with all their might? I believe the Corpse Puppet Sect won't last long.
Besides, if we let the zombies run rampant.
How many people nearby will die."
"It's hard to say. A Hanba feels no pain, possesses innate divine abilities, and is fearless of death. Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators might not be its match, unless they are willing to sacrifice their lives and perish together with it.
But which ancestor would be willing to do that..."
"How about we observe for a while? See how the nearby counties are handling it? And then we can follow suit?"
After the family heads discussed for a while.
The City Lord quickly added:
"There's no time. The order from above requires us to act immediately, and the task must be completed within three days.
We haven't been given any time to observe."
If this matter could be postponed, he wouldn't have called everyone here for an urgent meeting.
Since there was no opportunity to observe or delay, they could only choose between obeying the orders or not. Therefore, they all unreservedly shared what information they had about the Corpse Puppet Sect and the Rising Sun Sect.
After exchanging and discussing with each other for a while.
They finally decided to obey the orders.
Because they unanimously believed that the Rising Sun Sect must have some hidden reserves, and righteous sects had always supported each other. Even if the Rising Sun Sect was in some danger, after they sought external help, other righteous sects, out of consideration for their reputation, would offer some assistance.
Therefore, the Rising Sun Sect might suffer heavy losses, but it should not be annihilated.
After the discussion, everyone quickly brought forward the plan to surround and annihilate the zombies that had been prepared earlier, and each returned to mobilize their family members and make preparations.
They would launch a full-scale attack as soon as night fell. Zombies were more active at night, making it ideal for encirclement and annihilation.
Afterwards, Patriarch Liu returned and informed Ding Yun and the others about the situation. Ding Yun nonchalantly stated that she wouldn't participate in such a minor matter. After saying that, she took some Creation Spirit Water with healing properties and handed it to Patriarch Liu.
Then she turned and went straight back to her courtyard to find her mother.
Patriarch Liu had not expected Ding Yun to take action, and even felt it was better if she didn't, as she could serve as the Liu family's hidden strength and secret weapon.
So after Ding Yun left, he summoned all the family elders and held an elder council meeting, informing them of the orders and requirements from above, and instructing them to coordinate personnel.
However, to avoid causing panic.
He did not mention the Hanba, but only told them to gather that night to eliminate the zombies outside.
This matter had already been communicated.
Although they didn't understand why it was happening earlier, they raised no objections, nodded to show their understanding, and then went about their business.
That night, the eight great families, in conjunction with the City Lord's mansion, dispatched a total of forty-seven cultivators at the late Qi Refining stage, along with a full nine cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage.
They set out to encircle and annihilate the zombies and the evil cultivators behind them.
And they succeeded very smoothly.
After all, the trouble was caused by an early-stage Foundation Establishment evil cultivator and a few disciples at the Qi Refining stage.
Even with the assistance of many zombies,
They were no match for so many cultivators.
Their annihilation was only natural.
As those zombies were wiped out, the villagers in the city gradually returned, and the refugees were driven out and ordered to camp outside the city.
This was because they couldn't afford to stay in inns within the city and had to sleep on the streets, which was too detrimental to the city's appearance.
Previously, with zombies roaming outside, they could be tolerated.
Now that the zombies outside had been cleared,
How could they continue to tolerate them?
After this series of operations, Ji Yun City quickly returned to its former appearance. The common people felt that the matter was over and everything would return to normal. Only the heads of the eight great influential families and the City Lord were actively concerned about the outcome of the battle between the two sects thousands of miles away.
Because the outcome would determine the fate of the Great Gan Dynasty.
And it would indirectly determine their future.
Who wouldn't care?
Half a month later, a burst of light brighter than sunlight suddenly erupted from the south. It was clearly visible even from Bei Hai County, thousands of miles away. Those who were closer and stronger could even feel the terrifying energy waves and the extremely scorching heat.
There might have been faint roars mixed in.
They were unclear.
After the light wave subsided for four hours, the City Lord's mansion received the specific news and informed the other family heads.
The Rising Sun Sect had detonated its Rising Sun Golden Bead.
Not only had it completely annihilated the Hanba and tens of thousands of zombies, but it had also destroyed all living beings within thousands of miles of its own sect.
The Corpse Puppet Sect suffered heavy losses.
It was said that only a few Golden Core True Monarchs and a small number of disciples who were guarding the sect survived. Simultaneously, fearing that their enemies would pursue and annihilate them while they were weakened, they had fled the sect and their whereabouts were unknown.
The Rising Sun Sect had also lost one Nascent Soul cultivator and three Nascent Soul Venerables. Currently, only one Nascent Soul Venerable and four or five Golden Core True Monarchs remained.
Their strength had been severely depleted.
Things were likely to become chaotic from now on.
After all, the Rising Sun Sect was the only sect in the Great Gan Dynasty with a Nascent Soul cultivator. Now that their Nascent Soul cultivator had died and only one Nascent Soul Venerable remained, how could they suppress the sects within the Great Gan Dynasty?
They might not even be able to suppress the royal family.
After all, the royal family also had a Nascent Soul Venerable.
Therefore, as soon as they received this news, everyone clearly understood that a turbulent period was likely to follow, and the entire Great Gan Dynasty would be in turmoil. Even if the Great Gan Dynasty did not split, the sects within the Great Gan Dynasty would fight over the inheritance of the Rising Sun Sect.
If the Rising Sun Sect was also unwilling to fall from its pedestal,
The situation would undoubtedly become even more chaotic.