Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

Chapter 97 The Conflict at the Holy Mountain

Deer Spirit Continent, located in the southeast of the four continents of immortals and demons, is the place where the Dao Ancestor attained enlightenment. It is a place where the wisdom and spirit of heaven and earth converge and the pure source of the universe gathers.

Its spiritual veins are as extensive as a coiled dragon, rich in spiritual energy, and its territory is more than three times larger than that of Heming Continent in Taihua.

Numerous immortal sects, large and small, are located here, making it the main stronghold of the Immortal Alliance.

At the very center of the Divine Continent stands a colossal mountain range that reaches the heavens. Legend has it that this is the place where the world was first enlightened, and the sacred mountain of all sects in the Immortal Alliance.

At the summit of the sacred mountain, an irregularly shaped spiritual sphere hangs in the sky, neither gold nor jade, with Daoist energy flowing over it, releasing a light that will never dim.

And surrounding this spirit orb are ten mountain peaks.

A gentle breeze was blowing, and figures appeared on five mountain peaks. They were all different in shape and temperament, but all exuded a strong aura.

Those who can appear here are all top-tier experts who are in charge of their respective regions.

"Why do this?!"

"In any case, those are hundreds of millions of people!"

"I disagree!"

The speaker was a burly man with a beard and a gourd of wine hanging from his waist. His eyes were downcast, and he looked somewhat listless, as if he hadn't woken up yet.

However, at this moment, he shed his languid demeanor, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light, like a sword drawn from its sheath, radiating a chilling aura.

"I only just learned of the existence of the Fifth Continent! Why has the news already spread throughout the Blood Demon Slaughter Continent?"

He looked at the person on another peak, his voice cold and stern: "Since the establishment of the Immortal Alliance, there has never been a precedent of bringing demonic calamity upon innocent mortals!"

"What exactly do you want?!"

"What path do you cultivate?! Are you immortals or demons? What is the founding principle of the Immortal Alliance?!"

"Yuan Dao, give me an explanation!"

The man was a stern-faced old man, dressed in a black and white Taoist robe, and he resided on the highest peak, in the position closest to the spirit sphere.

He simply sat with his eyes closed, his expression calm, and did not change in response to his questioning.

"Amitabha Buddha, Layman Qin Song, please don't be anxious—"

On another peak in the northwest, a gentle, warm Buddhist light emanated from it. Zen Master Jue Min sat upright on a lotus platform, one eye closed, his lifeless single eye gazing at him. His voice was calm: "The Immortal Alliance is merciful; how could we act unjustly? We have never led the demonic sect to innocent mortals. That Great Xia monarch fell into the demonic path, refusing to listen to advice, and even beheaded my Zen Master—"

"Shut up!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted.

Qin Song didn't even glance at him, only coldly snorting, "I don't want to hear your nonsense!"

"Amitabha----"

The old monk lowered his eyes slightly, not annoyed, but simply chanted a Buddhist prayer in a low voice, put his palms together and lowered his eyes, and said nothing more.

On a mountain peak not far from the old monk, Yun Shu of the Taihua Sect sat upright, a gentle breeze ruffling a few strands of white hair. He opened his eyes, his expression calm, and said to Qin Song, "The Great Xia has repeatedly emphasized that it does not need the protection of my Immortal Alliance."

Qin Song paused, seemingly taken aback, and frowned: "No need?"

But then he added, "Even if it's unnecessary, we shouldn't lead the demonic sects towards innocent people!"

"Why are Taihua and Zen Buddhism sealing off the boundary? Clearly, it's to create a passage for the Demonic Sect to cross the Abyss and reach the Fifth Continent!"

Yun Shu responded, "The Demonic Sect is coming on strong. Our sect is already struggling to protect Heming Continent. Beyond the Abyss Sea, thousands of miles away, our reach is too far to extend. We are truly powerless to protect the dynasties beyond the Abyss Sea."

Qin Song merely snorted coldly: "Hmph! Don't try to fool me. Your Taihua and Chan Sect were the first to make contact with Great Xia, so how did this news get out of Blood Demon Continent?!"

There were only five people here, and he took on three of them all by himself.

The last person was a woman, exuding a calm and gentle aura. Seeing that an argument was about to break out, she spoke softly, with a gentle power that seemed to soothe the restlessness in people's hearts. As if changing the subject, she asked Yun Shu, "We have never heard of the Fifth Continent. Since Taihua and the Chan Sect have already made contact with the Great Xia, why don't you tell us what kind of place it is?"

At this point, there's no need to hide it anymore.

Yun Shu didn't try to hide anything, stating frankly: "It is vast and abundant, with a spiritual energy and vein density that surpasses even the Divine Continent. The Great Xia Dynasty governs hundreds of millions of people, its population exceeding that of all other continents. Among them are many with exceptional talent and potential; if they receive guidance from immortal arts, their future achievements will be limitless—"

Words are an art. He only said that the Great Xia rejected the protection of the Immortal Alliance, but he did not mention the Great Xia's demands, nor did he say that Xie Cangrong requested that they could trade with each other as long as they were treated equally. The Great Xia he described was more like a stubborn dynasty that closed itself off from the world, where the monarch's power was supreme and he did not like anyone to be above him.

Yun Shu introduced the intelligence that Xiao Zheng and his group had brought back. Upon hearing this, the woman's eyes lit up, and even Qin Song couldn't help but lower his gaze.

The Immortal Alliance is not in a good position right now, so the Fifth Continent, with its rich resources, is naturally very attractive.

The meeting they held was just a small gathering of the Immortal Alliance. If a grand meeting of all sects of the Immortal Alliance were to be convened, there would likely be a continuous stream of sects wanting to cross the Abyss Sea to the Great Xia to investigate.

"Is something ghostly?"

Suddenly, a series of eerie sounds came from afar.

A cold wind blew in their faces, and everyone present unconsciously frowned.

In the mountains of Northeast China, four sinister and eerie creatures carried a huge coffin up the mountain. The coffin was as black as ink and carved with countless painful and ferocious faces.

Its arrival chilled the once glorious and sacred land, causing black mist to rise and the monster to vanish.

The pitch-black coffin shattered and exploded, splintering wood everywhere. A withered little hand broke through the coffin, and amidst the swirling, eerie smoke, a child with a pale face and bloodshot eyes crawled out.

He swept his gaze across the crowd, revealing a sinister smile, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Gentlemen, it must have been fifty years since we last met."

His voice was strange; it wasn't a child's voice. It was somewhat shrill, as if several voices were overlapping, making one's heart tremble upon hearing it.

Just then, the old man who had remained silent since Qin Song's initial questioning finally opened his eyes. He looked down at the eerie child with concern in his eyes and repeatedly asked, "Seven Ghosts Gathering Stars? Geng Yuan, are you alright?"

The child simply smiled with narrowed eyes and replied in an eerie voice, "Hehe—good, I'm perfectly fine! Hahaha~"

Although this guy looks a bit sinister, the Ghost Control Hall is indeed a sect of the Immortal Alliance.

Qin Song felt a little disgusted with him and unconsciously moved in another direction.

Continuing the previous topic, Geng Yuan asked Yun Shu with some anticipation, "Is there something ghostly about the Great Xia?"

Yun Shu simply shook his head: "The intelligence is scarce, and I know nothing about it either."

"Tsk tsk~"

We've strayed a bit from the topic.

Seeing that Yuan Dao had finally stopped pretending to be dead, Qin Song asked again, "Yuan Dao, explain!"

Yuan Dao simply looked down at him, his voice calm: "The attitude of the Great Xia is my explanation."

They themselves have said that they need to protect themselves, so why should the Immortal Alliance go out of their way to fawn over them?

Qin Song narrowed his eyes and still asked, "Even if that dynasty and court were short-sighted and foolish, why would they lead the Demonic Sect to innocent civilians?"

Yuan Dao replied, "The Immortal Alliance has never led the Demonic Sect to the masses; this was the Demonic Sect's own choice."

"Because they are unprotected, the Demonic Sect recognizes their weakness and will go there on its own."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone like stating an irrefutable truth: "Recognize the cruelty of reality; the great way is merciless, and necessary sacrifices are worthwhile."

"Since they don't need the protection of the Immortal Alliance, we might as well give it a try to exorcise the demons."

"There is a fifth continent beyond the Abyss Sea. The Demonic Sect will find out sooner or later. If they don't come today, they will come in the future."

The Great Xia claimed that it could protect itself and did not need the protection of the Immortal Alliance.

Now the Demonic Sect has arrived.

If they can truly withstand it, then they will prove it to the Immortal Alliance.

Otherwise, they would not have the right to demand independence.

"snort!"

Qin Song sneered, "You must be afraid because that monarch was able to kill Cihui, so you let the Demonic Sect lead the charge!"

Yuan Dao merely glanced at him without saying a word.

The Demonic Sect is an enemy that the Immortal Alliance can never appease, but similarly, the Great Xia Dynasty has a tough stance and is not a friend of the Immortal Alliance.

The monarch of Great Xia is not someone to be trifled with. If you offend him, he will not hesitate to kill the great master of the Immortal Alliance, regardless of the consequences.

The Great Xia is mysterious, possessing power strong enough to kill cultivators at the eighth realm, comparable to the strength of a small sect within the Immortal Alliance. However, information about the Great Xia is still scarce; no one knows Xie Cangrong's trump card, nor how many secrets the Great Xia holds.

Based on the existing intelligence, Xie Cangrong's power is definitely not unlimited, and at least it should not belong to him alone. He may be able to deal with a single powerful individual, but he cannot handle a large-scale invasion. Otherwise, he would not need to treat people like Lu Junfeng with such courtesy.

But how do we verify this?

Lu Junfeng only mentioned Xie Cangrong's powerful aura, but Xiao Zheng later discovered that Xie might possess a powerful treasure. It was only after Ci Hui's death that they learned Xie Cangrong could control the immense power of mountains and rivers.

And then there's that bizarre army, those imposing ministers, and those inexplicable laws—

The Great Xia is like a bottomless abyss; no one knows where its limits lie. Every time someone feels they've touched the bottom, the next person arrives and is smashed to pieces. Now, every carefully gathered intelligence comes at a price, and no one is willing to be the first to stick their neck out.

Since the Immortal Alliance has no one left, then we can only let the Demonic Sect take the lead.

The Great Xia has always maintained a tough stance, refusing the Immortal Alliance's most important condition for protection. So it's time to let them know how cruel reality is and how brutal and ruthless the Demonic Sect is.

This move serves three purposes: first, it can test the strength of the Great Xia; second, it can deplete the power of the Demonic Sect; and third, it can make the Great Xia realize the current situation and advance the process of merging the Great Xia with the Immortal Alliance.

Neither of these points is detrimental to the Immortal Alliance.

Qin Song raised his head and declared, "No matter what, saving the people is the right thing to do! I believe the Immortal Alliance should gather its strength to stop the demonic forces in the Abyss Sea."

They are both mentally strong individuals, making it difficult for them to persuade each other.

Yuan Dao didn't argue with him, but simply said, "The rest are not present, so they are considered to have abstained. Let's vote."

After a brief silence, Yuan Dao asked calmly, "Who is willing to go to war with the Demonic Sect?"

There was some silence on the sacred mountain.

Apart from Qin Song, no one else expressed their opinion.

"Oh!"

Qin Song's gaze was intense as he surveyed his surroundings. The Moonlit Woman lowered her head slightly, her expression obscured by the shimmering moonlight. Geng Yuan's crimson eyes darted around, a silent, eerie grin spreading across his lips. The old monk clasped his hands together, his pupil-less eyes lowered, his Buddhist light still gentle, yet offering no response. Yun Shu's white hair fluttered slightly, his gaze fixed on the endless void, seemingly detached—all Qin Song received only silence in response.

The Immortal Alliance has become somewhat unfamiliar to me at some point.

Qin Song scoffed, "When did the Immortal Alliance fall to this level? Yuan Dao, does your Zhengyu Immortal Sect deserve to be the number one sect in the Immortal Alliance, or a model of righteousness?!"

"Isn't it just because they covet that sacred land?"

"The great principles of heaven and earth emphasize cultivating the mind, yet now people are resorting to unorthodox and heretical methods of cultivation."

"Is spiritual practice about cultivating the mind or the spirit? External aids are merely supplementary; when did they become the main focus?"

He pulled out the gourd from his waist and took a big gulp of immortal wine: "Hmph, if you're unwilling, my Jinglan Sect will leave alone!"

With a flick of his robe, he gave the crowd one last look before vanishing in a flash.

Amitabha Buddha~

Gazing in the direction he disappeared, Ge and Zi chanted a Buddhist prayer.

The atmosphere was somewhat subdued.

It's better to let him go.

After all, the Immortal Alliance cannot simply stand by and watch the Demonic Sect destroy the Great Xia Dynasty.

Suddenly, Geng Yuan looked up and said in a sinister voice, "What if Great Xia wins?"

There is no answer to this question.

The four continents of immortals and demons were unaware of the great changes in the Great Xia Dynasty. Similarly, the Great Xia Dynasty was unaware of the undercurrents of the immortals and demons targeting it.

Liu Bingxuan sent a warning message, but Xie Chourong did not ignore it and had already dispatched additional troops to garrison Dongheng.

With the enemy in the open and us in the shadows, this is all the preparations he can make for now.

If they really want to start a war, then they might as well give it a try.

As of now, no invaders have appeared in the Great Xia.

What Da Xia needs to do now is to focus its attention on itself.

In Zhaolin Pavilion, a group of ministers gathered, their eyes all fixed on the monarch.

Preparations before the change were not in order; the real busyness was now. Xie Chorong would summon officials to discuss matters from time to time, and every day or two he would convene a small meeting with his trusted aides.

We must keep abreast of the changes taking place in Daxia and propose policy adjustments in response to these changes, while making advance plans for future development.

This is what a leader should do.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was the first to report: "Your Majesty, recently, theft and assault have occurred in many parts of the southeast of our dynasty. Most of these crimes are committed by enlightened and awakened cultivators. The county towns are not well-defended, and few have been caught."

Every matter has two sides, right and wrong.

Change is not all good; it can also create many problems.

The heart is hard to fathom, and there are many kinds of pursuits.

Xie Chou Rong enlightened the world, and there were ambitious people like Gong Qiao, Song Zhaowen, and Qi Xiu who had their own pursuits.

However, there are also those who indulge in unrestrained desires and evil.

Most people's thoughts are somewhere between good and bad, and they are restrained by rules and laws.

However, a small minority are pure villains.

They are selfish, barbaric, fierce, and arrogant; they believe that crime is right. Yet—they follow their hearts, and they too are on the path of spiritual practice.

If Gong Qiao and her group are the Immortal Alliance of Great Xia, then those criminals and villains will also appear in Great Xia and become the Demonic Sect of Great Xia.

Moreover, once they gain power, they often act without restraint and can erupt quickly. Despicable acts are their passport, and their destructive and chaotic covenants always exert their influence faster than useful talents, causing damage to the order.

Just like now, a month has passed since the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven.

Theft, robbery, murder—crime rates are rising in various places, and local officials are merely protected by the nation's fortunes, lacking the power to proactively combat crime.

Arrests require military suppression, which is inefficient.

This is normal; you can't expect all the people in a country to be good people—that's impossible.

Where there is too much, there will be shadows.

"I understand."

Xie Chorong had anticipated this.

However, he didn't have time to prepare everything. Before the sacrificial ceremony, the cultivators' cultivation was slow, and they were destined to lack the power to protect everyone.

Chaos is the growing pain of change and the pressure on leaders; it is bound to happen.

However, a new order will eventually be established.

Only by clearing away these surfacing errors can everything get back on track.

No one knows what the future holds, but Xie Chou Rong believes that moving forward is the right thing to do! Change and progress both require taking risks and responsibilities.

Behind every praise, there is always a curse.

He will take responsibility for these mistakes.

Produce