"Everyone,"
The voice of the Cloud Sea Dao Master boomed, "What I say next, those belonging to the Dark Realm, I hope you will listen."
"Hmm?"
The Dark Master looked at the Cloud Sea Dao Master with confusion.
What did he mean?
He was perplexed.
Was Cloud Sea going to speak to his subordinate Great Emperors?
What was the stratagem?
Ignoring the Dark Master's confusion, the Cloud Sea Dao Master said gravely, "I know you've been deceived, but there's one point I hope you will confidently consider: the Dark Master... has always remained in the Seventh Land since his emergence."
"This point, I believe you know very well."
The Dark Master had never left the Seventh Land.
The Dark Master looked at Cloud Sea, unsure of what he was trying to convey.
"Listen carefully to my next words."
The Cloud Sea Dao Master's voice resonated like a great bell: "As we all know, the Dark Master has no other Ninth-Order friends besides Yin Si. If an unidentified Ninth-Order appears later, what do you think would be the reason?"
As these words were spoken, the Dark Master's expression drastically changed.
His growth record was traceable.
The Dark Master was once a cultivator in a small world, rising amidst the apocalypse to reach his current status.
For a million years, he had never left the Seventh Land.
This meant that apart from those in the Seventh Land, he didn't know anyone outside.
Moreover, in the past million years, other Ninth-Orders had rarely come, and even if they did, they were merely passing through. Neither the Dark Master nor Cloud Sea had any acquaintance with them.
Even if they knew each other, these people wouldn't intervene if a life-or-death battle were to erupt.
The Dark Master had no friends.
But if the Dark Master had help later, it would be very intriguing.
The Cloud Sea Dao Master added another blow: "Ninth-Order powerhouses are basically traceable. There are no unknowable things in this world. If one or two more Ninth-Orders appear with concealed identities, what do you think... that would represent?"
"..."
Silence.
An eerie silence.
Cloud Sea's words were equivalent to a gamble on the unfolding battle.
If there were Ninth-Orders with hidden identities, the Dark Master's purported growth history would be directly refuted.
It was simply too obvious.
Even the Cloud Sea Dao Master and the Mountain Master had many untold stories.
But the Dark Master's origin was too clean, too clear.
Especially his brothers who had grown up with the Dark Master were even more aware of all this.
They had gossiped about the Dark Master for a million years; right and wrong were clear at a glance.
"Dark Master,"
A hint of a smile appeared on Cloud Sea's face. "Am I correct?"
"..."
The Dark Master did not reply, his expression still calm.
Although he was extremely anxious internally, he maintained a placid facade.
"Heh heh."
Suddenly, the Dark Master laughed. "Fellow Daoist Cloud Sea, your seemingly absurd theory has some basis, but do you know if, for the past million years, my divine sense has ever left my body and roamed elsewhere?"
This statement was tantamount to an implicit admission that someone would come to help later.
"Hahaha."
The laughter came from the Mountain Master. "Dark Master, do you realize how weak your current explanation is?"
"Do you think everyone else is a fool besides you? Look at the people behind you, look at their expressions, hahaha..."
The Mountain Master burst into laughter.
He then turned to Cloud Sea and gave him a thumbs-up: "Impressive."
It had to be admitted.
Cloud Sea's words were spoken beautifully and logically.
And the Dark Master, flustered internally, had directly admitted that someone would come to help later.
Indeed...
The Dark Master on the opposite side turned his head, his gaze slowly sweeping across.
He saw doubt in many eyes, including those of his brothers with whom he had lived for a million years.
The Dark Master sighed inwardly, "A miscalculation..."
It was indeed a miscalculation.
He hadn't expected Cloud Sea's words to expose him.
However, he was also a person of strong mental fortitude, and after a glance around, he retracted his gaze.
A cold laugh rang out. "Cloud Sea, Mountain Master... your stratagem of sowing discord is futile. The truth will eventually be revealed. Come... let this master see if you can kill me today."
If he couldn't win with words, he wouldn't speak anymore.
If Cloud Sea were allowed to continue speaking, his own side's morale would crumble before the fight even began.
This situation must not be allowed to happen.
Only by fighting immediately could he divert his subordinates' attention.
"Tsk."
Naturally, Cloud Sea could not be fooled by the Dark Master's intentions.
However, this was enough.
"Then... fight."
Boom.
Cloud Sea attacked directly.
His five fingers became like mountains, flashing amidst the clouds, disturbing heaven and earth.
"Crush you to death."
The Mountain Master attacked simultaneously.
The heavy power of the earth pursued an offensive route.
The mountain collapsed... and instantly descended.
"Utmost Darkness."
The Dark Master naturally would not wait to be slaughtered.
With a soft cry, boundless darkness descended, engulfing the majestic mountain that was suppressing him.
Boom.
One collision resulted in earth-shattering tremors.
The giant mountain shattered, and the curtain of utter darkness was torn apart.
The first strike was a draw between the two.
But don't forget, Cloud Sea was still there.
His five fingers became like mountains, disturbing the heavenly mechanism and plucking the threads of fate.
With a 'crack,' a thread snapped.
With the Mountain Master blocking in front, his attack succeeded with ease.
"Mm."
The Dark Master grunted, his body stumbling back thousands of meters.
He was injured.
Facing two opponents of the same cultivation level was too difficult.
"Kill."
The Mountain Master issued the order.
The Cloud Sea Dao Master also waved his hand.
"Kill."
Under the command of two Ninth-Order beings, hundreds of Great Emperors instantly took to the sky and charged towards the Dark Realm powerhouses.
"Kill."
The Dark Master also gave his command.
His subordinates, who had been hesitant, immediately put aside their doubts and began to counterattack.
No one would wait for death.
As for their doubts, they could be addressed later...
Boom.
Hundreds of Great Emperors collided.
A chaotic battle instantly erupted.
...
Yin Si Realm.
The moment the Cloud Sea Dao Master and others attacked, Chen Fan and his group, who had concealed their presence, appeared outside the Yin Si Realm.
Because the Yin Si Dao Master had appeared, they had to intercept him.
Each side would be responsible for their own area, and neither would cause trouble for the other.
"Senior Yin Si,"
Chen Fan bowed politely and clasped his hands towards the Yin Si Dao Master, saying, "Dao Master, please do not interfere in the matters over there. If Senior feels bored, this City Lord has people who can accompany you for a while."
His voice was not contemptuous, but it made the Yin Si Dao Master's expression turn grim.
Immediately, a cold laugh surfaced. "With just these few people, do you think you can stop me?"
Boom.
From all directions, Great Emperor powerhouses emerged from their hiding places.
The Yin Si formation had already laid a trap for Chen Fan and his group before they even arrived.
A siege of over a hundred Great Emperors was enough to make even a Ninth-Order perish in regret.
However, Chen Fan's face showed no sign of tension.
Instead, a smile appeared. "Senior has quite the grand gesture. We are so few, yet you have summoned so many. A hundred Great Emperors, alas... Senior truly thinks highly of us."
"Your reputation, City Lord Chen, is worthy of such attention."
"Oh?"
Chen Fan's interest was immediately piqued. "My reputation is that great?"
Yin Si Dao Master: "..."
How should he answer? The Yin Si Dao Master did not know.
"Hahaha."
Seeing the Yin Si Dao Master's silence, Chen Fan laughed, looked at the Evil Monarch beside him, and said, "It seems the Yin Si Dao Master is quite bored. In that case, how about you and I play with Senior? As for the others, they can watch for now."
"Of course, if anyone wishes to join the fray, then let's all play together."