"The situation of the Other Tribe Chieftain is still uncertain. It is still unknown if he has exited seclusion."
The man inside the wind said, "But the Other Tribe's Left Sage King visited the Great Xia Empire's imperial capital previously and should have reached an agreement with the Xia Emperor. It will be disadvantageous to our cult."
Chen Luoyang thought back about his life resume. There was a statement that mentioned him battling with the Other Tribe's Left Sage King, and it resulted in the Left Sage King suffering severe injuries. The details might be unknown, but right now, the Left Sage King must be thinking to take revenge.
Chen Luoyang sighed in his heart. The Demon Cult possessed two of the Five Emperors, and even though the two Emperors in the Demon Cult might not be on the same side as the Cult Master, if outsiders invaded the Demon Domain, regardless of their public or private issues, they wouldn't sit by and do nothing.
That was why, even when Chen Luoyang the Cult Master was outside, the Demon Cult's main camp still looked steady.
However, the three other Emperors were working together right now.
The Great Xia Empire, the Other Tribe, and the East Sea's Wang Clan… These three factions weren't on the same side, and they even had intense contrasts and conflicts with each other. However, due to all sorts of reasons, they were temporarily standing on the same side. Consequently, they were now departing for the south to attack the Demon Cult.
With the unclear situations of the Sword Pavilion Lord and the Other Tribe Chieftain, it made the circumstances even grimmer.
"Ke…" Contrary to the situation, Chen Luoyang revealed a smile on his face. "If they were to enter the Shu Prefecture together, This Seat might view them with more respect."
The man in the wind said, "Apart from the East Sea King's insistence to challenge the Grand Hall Chief, our divine shrine's Heaven Demon Blood Tree is hard to move. As such, the shrine is something that our cult cannot lose. The opposition must have understood this point and is planning to invade our cult's sacred domain when you are not around."
When you left the sacred domain's shrine, apart from the Heaven Demon Blood Tree, the Ancient Divine Pot and the Divine Demon Token had been brought along. Without the Divine Demon Token, the shrine wouldn't be able to activate the Zhurong Inferno Array. To the enemy, it is an extremely rare opportunity."
"Our cult has amassed a large number of artifacts and divine martial arts, which must also be part of their objective. The Divine Cult is the result of the Cult Master and the previous precursors' blood and sweat. If the cult's foundation is destroyed, it will also serve as a revenge for the Other Tribe's Left Sage King for being defeated by you back then."
Chen Luoyang's mouth was twitching in his heart. Didn't this hint that if a group of individuals came to gang up and beat him, even if he had legs to run, the shrine's Heaven Demon Blood Tree wouldn't be able to run?
As for the Divine Demon Token, it contained the Demon Cult's most powerful and absolute arts.
Divine Demon Token, the black pot, and the Heaven Demon Blood Tree were the Demon Cult's three cardinal artifacts.
The Divine Demon Token was a symbol of the Cult Master's status. Apart from the absolute arts recorded inside, its most important function was to activate the Demon Cult Shrine's protection array.
The Zhurong Inferno Array made use of the south domain's Earth Fire, and it was extremely powerful. Now that Cult Master was on the outside, the defense of the Demon Cult Shrine was inevitably lowered.
To the enemies of the cult, it was indeed an opportunity bestowed by heaven.
Previously, the Demon Cult had two Emperors keeping watch and had plenty of other experts within the cult too. Even if the protection of the array wasn't around, no one would dare to seek trouble at the southern desolate domain. However, now that the three other Emperors were working together to eliminate the demons, the Demon Cult should be worried. Even with the advantage of home ground, the scale of victory was tipping towards the opposition.
"The enemy has planned a feint attack to create a diversion and hoped for Cult Master to be stalled at Shu Prefecture. They would then be able to focus their power to attack our cult's sacred domain," the man in the wind said. "The situations of the Sword Pavilion Lord and the Other Tribe Chieftain are still unknown. It might be due to them waiting for your decision before they counteract."
Chen Luoyang said indifferently, "Are they afraid that This Seat might also attack their shelter?"
"Cult Master is brilliant. The opposition is biding for time and has to be on guard," the man in the wind responded.
"Therefore, you are advising This Seat to give up on Shu Prefecture and return to the Shrine? When the saber and the sword attack, if This Seat is at the shrine, wouldn't the Divine Cult be able to use the Zhurong Inferno Array to repel the enemy?" It wasn't possible to see emotions from Chen Luoyang's face.
Chen Luoyang had already declared that he was going to take down Shu Prefecture. If he was to slip away after a strong declaration but weak finish, it would show that he was all talk and no action. Even though he had made the change after seeing through the enemy's scheme, it shouldn't be considered a defeat; it was an action to regain the initiative. But in the outside world — in the Shu Prefecture and the other Grand Divine lands that his Demon Cult wanted to conquer — the Demon Cult Master's reputation would suffer a blow, and it would be a plain humiliation for him.
The man in the wind stayed silent for a moment before he bowed and said, "Xiao Yuntian makes a solemn vow that I will personally seize the Shu Prefecture within a year and offer it as a tribute to Cult Master."
Chen Luoyang was enlightened. His life resume had this statement:
[Promoting Xiao Yuntian into the Ancient Divine Cult's Left Envoy.]
It turned out that this person was the Demon Cult's Left Envoy. Generally speaking, below the Demon Cult Master, the most important leaders were the Four Hall Chiefs, the Left Envoy, and Right Envoy.
The Four Hall Chiefs had a rather fixed duty as they each led an army and governed a department. The Left and Right Envoys were roles with plenty of freedom and would receive orders directly from the Cult Master to venture the world.
Xiao Yuntian's responsibility as the Left Envoy was probably to become the Cult Master's personal eyes and ears, and to establish a different information network.
Such a person was naturally the Cult Master's trusted aide. It was no wonder he would directly meet with Chen Luoyang without seeking permission. It seemed normal for him to not be that particular with etiquette when in private.
Chen Luoyang was vigilant because Xiao Yuntian was part of the younger generation faction that was promoted after the Cult Master ascended. It meant that he must be a young elite that was born in the Demon Cult. He might be young, but his cultivation was enough to contest with the influential figures of the Divine Province. This person might be an old friend that grew up together with the Cult Master.
While pondering in the heart, Chen Luoyang asked, "Why are you behaving like this? Are you worried that This Seat is determined to take down Shu Prefecture and would risk having another battle with the Sword Pavilion Lord here?"
"I believe that Cult Master can do anything that he wishes to achieve," Xiao Yuntian said. "But the enemy's alliance army should have already departed for the south and is headed straight for our cult's sacred domain. If Cult Master returns after taking Shu Prefecture, the timing might be overly strained."
Chen Luoyang tapped on the armrest gently and suddenly smiled. "I have never noticed that you actually belittle This Seat so much."
Xiao Yuntian bowed and said, "Yuntian doesn't dare to."
"The shrine must not be lost. This Seat will rush back immediately. As for the Shu Prefecture, does it need to be as long as one year? Only incapable individuals have to choose between two choices. This Seat wants it all."
The wind that enveloped Xiao Yuntian had finally wavered and revealed a fluctuation of emotion. Through the wind, there was obviously an astonished expression that could be seen from the eyes.
On the same day, the Demon Cult army, which had been besieging the Golden Summit's Huayan Temple for many days, had ceased battle and withdrawn its troops.
The orthodox heroes on the Golden Summit were all cheering in unison while the leaders had varied expressions.
"It seems like the Demon Cult members have already detected the movements from His Majesty," said a Great Xia Imperial Clan expert wearing a python robe. "These demons aren't that foolish, but it is already too late."
Nie Hua said, "We have been able to stall them for a few days, and this allowed us to seize the decisive opportunity."
The host of this place, Huayan Temple's Zen Master Xindeng put his palms together and said, "Namo Amitabha. Now that the Demon Cult has withdrawn their troops, peace has finally been returned to the Shu Prefecture."
Nie Hua looked at the Five Color Hall Master, Song Lun, who only knew of the entire plan today. "Hall Master Song please don't be offended…"
Song Lun didn't look angry and simply shook his head. "Third Sir doesn't have to mind. This matter is of great importance. If this humble Song is in your position, I will also be extra cautious. Since the Demon Cult has withdrawn their troops, and the Golden Summit is unscathed, then this humble Song's visit to the Shu Prefecture isn't in vain."
"We must not relax yet," Nie Hua said. "My master ordered me to put on a pursuit and maintain pressure on the enemy."
That Great Xia Empire's nobleman said, "With the Pavilion Lord chasing at the back, Chen Luoyang wouldn't be able rest easy and wouldn't dare to make haste without restraint. If there is a slight mistake, Chen Luoyang, the great demon's head shall be immediately taken off by the Pavilion Lord's sword. If we continue to stall them, then His Majesty will have more time."
"If the Demon Sovereign is able to rush back to the Southern Desolate Demon Domain, the Demon Cult would be able to combine both their internal and external forces. They would then be formidable."
Nie Hua said, "This battle shall affect the fate of the Grand Divine Province till many years in the future. We orthodox factions must do our best. Everyone please keep to the original plan and proceed south with my master. Even if we cannot eradicate the Demon Cult in this battle, we need to deal a huge blow to them."
The battle for Shu Prefecture seemed to have reached a conclusion. However, like the surge of a storm, an intense wave swept through the world and blew the storm from the Shu Prefecture to the entire Divine Province.
Qingliang Temple's Elder Mingjing said, "The Demon Cult is malevolent and deceitful in many ways. We need to be cautious that they might be pretending to retreat and have laid an ambush."
"Elder is extremely correct," Nie Hua said.
The Great Xia Empire's nobleman asked Song Lun, "What is Hall Master Song's intention?"
Song Lun cupped his hands and said, "In response to Your Highness, King
"Hall Master Song, the Demon Cult might be returning in low spirits after a defeat, but at this current juncture, there is already no possibility of withdrawal. We need to do everything with the spirit to eliminate all future worries," Nie Hua said.
"Third Sir doesn't have to worry. This humble Song understands that a launched arrow has no way of turning back," Song Lun said. "This humble Song is returning back to Mountain City to coordinate the entire Five Color Hall. After all, officially contesting the Demon Cult isn't a small matter, and it will make the people unsteady."
Nie Hua and the others said, "We truly admire Hall Master Song for having such great principles."
After discussing an appropriate plan, everyone moved out.
The sword light that was like a bright sun had penetrated the heavens again. It was striving for radiance against the real sun during daytime.