"Esteemed allies, the current situation remains unclear to all of us. Perhaps we should convene to discuss our next course of action against Great Qin. If we succumb to internal strife now, our alliance will likely crumble even before Qin attacks."
Zi Yun sighed, his expression sincere. He felt a deep sense of frustration. His meticulously crafted plan was supposed to be foolproof, yet Great Qin, as if blessed by heaven, had seen all fifty of their Emperor-level experts return.
"Hmph! Discuss? How do we discuss? Are we to follow your advice again and be sent to our deaths?"
A voice sneered. Clad in black, the speaker stared intently at Zi Yun.
"Hei Sha, cease your slander. I, Zi Yun, am a sect leader. What right does Great Qin have to force me into an alliance? Would I abandon my status as a sect leader to become a running dog for Great Qin? Furthermore, do you truly believe Great Qin would willingly form a secret alliance with us for the deeds our sects have committed?"
A flicker of anger flashed in Zi Yun's eyes. Even a clay figurine has some temper, let alone the fact that his sect and the Five Fiends Sect had always been at odds. To be provoked by Hei Sha like this was something he could not tolerate.
"Everyone, we must calm down. My sect suffered considerable losses in this operation. Do you truly believe I would collude with Great Qin to betray you? Would I betray my own people?"
Zi Yun looked at the assembly. He knew that losing half of his sect's strength overnight was something that everyone present found unacceptable. It was understandable to vent anger and adopt a harsh attitude, but to unfairly shift the blame onto him was going too far.
"Who knows if your sect's people have actually died?"
Hei Sha whispered impassively. Though his voice was soft, everyone in the hall heard it.
"Hei Sha!!!"
Zi Yun roared, his eyes blazing with ferocity. A terrifying aura erupted from his body.
Simultaneously, everyone in the grand hall felt their expressions shift. They all looked at Zi Yun with apprehension, especially Hei Sha, who was the direct target. His face turned slightly red, and he gazed at Zi Yun with a mixture of disbelief and awe.
"You… you've broken through?"
Hei Sha asked, his tone laced with incredulity. Zi Yun's power was clearly greater than before, more transcendent, more ethereal, and more oppressive.
"Overlord-level?"
Someone murmured, their voice filled with speculation. Zi Yun's aura felt akin to that of an Overlord-level expert.
"Now, does anyone still believe I would collude with Great Qin? Or do you think Great Qin has the means to offer me conditions that would tempt me? Do they have the qualifications?" Zi Yun spoke unhurriedly, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance. Having slumbered for an epoch, his strength had long surpassed its former limits. He had touched the threshold of the Overlord level and would soon break through to become a true Overlord.
The grand hall fell silent. No one spoke. With the power Zi Yun had just displayed, Great Qin, in its current state, was indeed unqualified to ally with him.
"Fellow Daoist Zi Yun, what is your current realm?"
Someone inquired.
"Capable of fighting an Overlord!"
Zi Yun replied, his words concise and filled with dominance.
"Hiss!" Several people in the hall gasped. To be capable of fighting an Overlord meant that, in the absence of Heavenly-level experts, no one in the world could defeat him.
"Hei Sha, tell me, do you still doubt me now?"
Zi Yun spoke again, his gaze fixed on Hei Sha with cold intensity, as if ready to act at any moment.
"Fellow Daoist Zi Yun." Hei Sha's mouth opened, his scalp tingling. Zi Yun's current strength was sufficient to kill him. This realization made him feel deeply uneasy. Previously, while Zi Yun was stronger, Hei Sha had at least possessed the means to protect himself. But now, he was afraid.
"Ahem, Fellow Daoist Zi Yun, Hei Sha was merely speaking in anger and should not be taken seriously. The fall of those fifty Daoist friends has unsettled everyone. It is natural to vent their frustrations."
An elder interjected, attempting to smooth things over. He smiled and continued,
"Our most important task now, as Fellow Daoist Zi Yun mentioned, is to devise a strategy to deal with Great Qin. After all, our enmity is absolute. It is either Great Qin's destruction or our own demise."
"Indeed, Fellow Daoist Zi Yun. This operation was truly unexpected. Losing half of our sect's foundation has thrown everyone into disarray. We should focus on how to handle the upcoming events."
Someone chimed in, trying to lighten the mood.
Zi Yun remained silent, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"That is for the best. I hope we do not fall into disarray before Great Qin even arrives."
"Yes, yes, we must not engage in internal conflict. We must unite against the common enemy!"
Hei Sha quickly agreed, his face slightly flushed. He likely felt that many would secretly mock him in his current state.
"Everyone, recall your disciples and dispatch Emperor-level martial artists to covertly investigate Great Qin's movements. Those Daoist friends would not have perished without a trace. We need to understand what truly happened last night. Only then can we plan how to deal with Great Qin."
Zi Yun stated, completely ignoring Hei Sha.
The assembled crowd nodded in agreement. This time, no one raised any objections, given Zi Yun's evident strength.
That night, none of the sect leaders present rested. All of them waited anxiously.
They were not idle, however. The forces of various sects were consolidating, gathering together. Simultaneously, hidden experts from each sect emerged from seclusion.
Great Qin's annihilation of half the foundation of sixteen sects overnight had made everyone take the matter seriously. They no longer underestimated Great Qin.
After all, if Great Qin possessed the strength to destroy half their foundation, it also possessed the strength to destroy them all.
As dawn gradually broke, countless forces turned their gaze towards Great Qin. They had, to varying degrees, received news that sixteen sects had dispatched fifty Emperor-level experts to deal with Great Qin. In the eyes of many, Great Qin was likely already annihilated.
However, to their utter astonishment, Great Qin remained as it always was. Its five cities were intact, and none of its Emperor-level experts had fallen.
This left many in shock. Had a great battle not occurred last night?
Yet, the departure of fifty Emperor-level experts the previous night had been witnessed by many along the way.
A wave of confusion swept through the crowd. The situation was truly bizarre.
It wasn't until eight o'clock in the morning that Great Qin's official website resumed its live broadcast.
"What? The people from the sixteen sects have been captured by Great Qin and are to be publicly executed???"
"Fellow Daoist, are you sure? Those are Emperor-level experts! Is Great Qin really using secular means against them?"
"No, how could the sixteen sects be captured by Great Qin? I heard last night that fifty Emperor-level experts descended upon Great Qin. Logically, with Great Qin's strength, they should not have been able to escape this crisis."
"What exactly happened? I heard that the forces sent by the sixteen sects to annihilate Great Qin were all wiped out last night, utterly annihilated!"
"How did Great Qin achieve this? Did they enlist help? But I received word that the experts from the Sword Pavilion and the Daoist Sect did not leave their respective sects last night. Furthermore, with over fifty Emperor-level experts, unless an Overlord-level force intervened, no other power could suppress fifty Emperor-level experts."