Tang Family.
Tang Gan hosted a grand banquet, warmly entertaining Sun Zhi and several leaders of the Seven Fiends Alliance.
He was in high spirits, clinking glasses with Sun Zhi repeatedly and conversing with great pleasure.
Rumor had it that Sun Zhi was extremely insidious and prone to betraying his brothers. However, the rumors now seemed false. This Alliance Leader Sun was cheerful, unpretentious, and very approachable.
Most foreign powers were arrogant and looked down upon cultivators from the Southern Domain. He had endured many disdainful glances from foreign cultivators these past few days.
Now that he met Sun Zhi and his group, Tang Gan felt valued and was deeply moved.
Sun Zhi wore a fake smile, perfunctorily dealing with Tang Gan, feeling utterly disdainful in his heart.
Had this Tang Family head gotten too carried away? He had only offered a few polite words, and the man was already getting ahead of himself, wanting to become sworn brothers.
Although he liked having many brothers to rely on and to betray when convenient, this Tang Gan was clearly not on the same level. He also wanted to curry favor with him?
However, for the sake of his plan's smooth progress, he had no choice but to force a smile and humor Tang Gan.
"Patriarch Tang, the maintenance of the Crimson Jasper City's guardian formation is nearing completion. Our Alliance Leader and the esteemed leaders are here to lend a hand, to enter the formation's core and activate the formation with immortal spiritual energy. At that time, the power of the guardian formation will be several times stronger than before."
Seeing that Tang Gan had drunk his fill, the Third Leader seized the opportunity to speak.
Sun Zhi's purpose for this trip was naturally not to help Crimson Jasper City activate its guardian formation, but to activate a spatial artifact within the magic cube.
The Third Leader had already modified Crimson Jasper City's guardian formation into a killing array, preparing to slaughter the city to activate the artifact.
But first, the magic cube had to be placed within the formation's core underground.
To enter the formation's core, Tang Gan's consent was required.
Of course, in reality, only he needed to enter the formation's core. Involving Sun Zhi and the others was merely a tactic for negotiation.
If several people were denied entry, eventually, someone would be allowed in.
"Thank you, Alliance Leader Sun, and all esteemed leaders, for your assistance. Tang Gan is deeply grateful. You may enter and exit the formation's core as you please."
Tang Gan readily agreed without a second thought.
This surprised the Third Leader somewhat, as he had prepared many arguments. Now, they were all unnecessary.
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, thinking Tang Gan was truly an imbecile.
Several Tang family elders accompanying them frowned. How could the core area of the guardian formation be casually opened to outsiders? It concerned the safety of the entire Crimson Jasper City, and who would be responsible if something went wrong?
Moreover, Sun Zhi's reputation was notorious, and the Seven Fiends Alliance was also infamous. They must be on high alert.
Furthermore, during the recent maintenance of the formation, the Third Leader had refused to allow Tang family formation masters to accompany him, which was highly abnormal and should be a cause for vigilance.
They secretly transmitted messages, advising Tang Gan to retract his promise.
However, Tang Gan would not listen. Among the elders, there was one from Tang Xueyi's faction. He couldn't help but suspect them of ulterior motives, intending to sow discord between him and the Seven Fiends Alliance.
As long as the Tang family could align with the Seven Fiends Alliance, their influence in the Southern Domain would be greatly enhanced, and his position as family head would be as stable as Mount Tai.
The elders' advice was fruitless, and their expressions turned grim.
Sun Zhi, cunning and experienced, saw everything and couldn't help but smile.
It seemed no one could stop his plan from proceeding.
Once the spatial artifact was activated, it could be used to reopen the gate to the demon realm. This immense contribution would surely earn him unimaginable rewards.
When the demon army swept across the Xuanling Realm, he might even be able to rule a domain.
Sun Zhi grew happier as he thought about it, clinking glasses with Tang Gan frequently. In the end, he even genuinely recognized Tang Gan as his junior brother.
...
Tang Xueyi's brows were tightly furrowed as she paced back and forth in her family's manor.
She had just received news that the group from Floating Sky Mountain had entered the Southern Domain's territory and would likely reach Crimson Jasper City in a few days.
Moreover, the news indicated that Floating Sky Mountain had mobilized almost its entire force, exuding a heavy aura of hostility, as if intending to wreak havoc upon the Southern Domain.
"What should I do? What can be done? Floating Sky Mountain has a vast number of people and immense power. Can Mr. Ji, with his limited strength, handle it?"
Tang Xueyi was extremely anxious.
Although she knew Ji Mo was unfathomably profound, Floating Sky Mountain had a history of tens of thousands of years and had produced many immortals. Its foundation was deep, and she feared Ji Mo might suffer a disadvantage.
After much thought, she remembered that Ji Mo was not alone; he had many followers.
Some time ago, she had inquired about Ji Mo's whereabouts and, by chance, had come into contact with the Luo family and the Great Qin Dynasty, maintaining contact with them.
Therefore, after careful consideration, she decisively sent out the message.
...
Luo Family.
The patriarch's secluded cultivation place.
Heaven and earth spiritual energy surged there, immortal spiritual energy permeated the air, and colorful auspicious clouds flickered continuously, giving rise to a terrifying aura.
It was Luo Li who was attempting to break through to the Mortal Immortal realm, and she was at the final stage, on the verge of success.
Suddenly.
The heaven and earth spiritual energy receded, and the immortal spiritual energy dissipated. Luo Li walked out from her secluded cultivation place.
The little girl had grown considerably taller, looking like a porcelain doll, exquisitely carved.
She wore a pure white jacket made of dark night demon sable fur, a hairpin woven from willow branches emanating Dao charm on her head, and a bow tied with nine-transformation heavenly silkworm silk on her soft hair.
Her entire being appeared ethereal and transcendent, like a young celestial maiden.
In her arms, she cradled a ginseng baby with ten flowers and ten leaves, the Ginseng King.
"Oh dear, my little ancestral grandmother, what are you doing? You were about to ascend to the Mortal Immortal realm, how could you run out? And Ginseng King, how could you let Ah Li act so recklessly?"
Hui Neng sensed the commotion and rushed over quickly.
As he moved, lotuses bloomed with each step. His shiny bald head was enveloped in Buddha light, creating an astonishing spectacle. If not for his somewhat incongruous horse-like face, people would readily believe he was a Buddha descending to the mortal world.
When Ji Mo left last time, he had left him several Buddhist scriptures.
Now, Hui Neng's Buddhist teachings were profound and vast. If he weren't intentionally suppressing his cultivation to accumulate strength for a breakthrough, he would have already advanced to the Mortal Immortal realm.
"Someone wants to trouble Brother Ji, and I won't allow it."
Ah Li said indignantly.
Having received the message from Tang Xueyi, she immediately interrupted her breakthrough and rushed out.
Nothing in the world was more important than Ji Mo.
"What? Someone wants to trouble Mr. Ji? Let's go! This old monk will contact Fan Jingxing and Xuan Ao. It's time for us brothers to do something for Mr. Ji."
Hui Neng displayed a fierce, wrathful expression, devoid of any compassion, radiating killing intent.
Soon, the Luo family assembled a large number of experts and rushed to Crimson Jasper City.
...
Great Qin Dynasty.
Ying Tianbao, with the invincible and all-conquering Heavenly Fragrance Wolf Cavalry Legion, had swept across the land in recent times, annexing more than half of the secular states in the Southern Domain.
On this day, he was frolicking with several snake women when he received Tang Xueyi's message. His imperial countenance turned furious, and he roared, "You damn scoundrels, you dare to lay a hand on my Brother Mo? You're seeking death."
Ying Tianbao abandoned his dalliance with the snake women and immediately issued an imperial decree.
Before long, Yao Weiwei and Hua Tianxiang led the Heavenly Fragrance Wolf Cavalry Legion, along with hundreds of thousands of cavalry, directly towards Crimson Jasper City.
...
Asura Hall.
Black Rose stood atop a high mountain peak, the gentle breeze caressing her beautiful face. Her eyes, like autumn water, flowed with the melancholy of longing.
She was thinking of someone.
The communication jade pendant in her embrace vibrated. She took it out and looked, then smiled.
"Mo Mo, I'm coming..."
Black Rose leaped from the mountaintop, her cold voice echoing throughout the Asura Hall.
"All members of the Asura Hall, follow me to kill!"