Li Yao's heart was pounding violently, but he nodded his head gloomily and said hoarsely, "Exactly. Dividing, luring, and defeating them one by one is what the dynasties in the central plateaus are best at. If the barbarian tribes are all united, it will be a major headache for the dynasties in the central plateaus.
"Not just the barbarian tribes. It is the same for the bandits like us."
Qi Changsheng spat again and said angrily, "In the early years, there was more than just Old Qi's Heaven Battering Army in the northwest. There were twenty to thirty different armies of bandits.
"At that time, I tried my best to persuade the leaders of the refugee army that it was fine for them to accept the imperial court's invitation to surrender, but they had to understand clearly what their identities were. How could the imperial court trust us wholeheartedly?"
"Therefore, we had to be united. Even if we surrendered, we had to sell ourselves at a good price. Also, we could not attack each other or our old brothers after we surrendered.
"When the birds are gone, the bow is put away. When the rabbit is dead, the hounds will be cooked. The court accepted the surrender of some bandits exactly because there were more bandits to deal with. If all the bandits were annihilated, what would be the point of keeping those who surrendered earlier?
"But many bandit leaders did not listen. The imperial court only threw half a tasteless bone, and they could not wait to wag their tails and beg for mercy. After accepting the surrender, they changed their minds and thought that they were really the emperor's army. They turned around and attacked us, the poor brothers who used to fight side by side in the past."
"As a result, for a few years, the bandits in the northwest fought each other. Those who were not killed by the court were almost all killed by their own people. Even last winter, Old Qi's Heaven Battering Army was almost crushed by the hounds. Old Qi could only crawl into a hole and hide here and there like a mouse.
"In the end, guess what? The bandit leaders who surrendered before used all their strength to fight their former companions. They killed a thousand enemies but lost eight hundred of their own men. Slowly, they were exhausted. They thought that the imperial court would reward them for killing the bandits. In the end, before they died, they were all accused of treason by the imperial court and killed. Hahahaha, little emperor, this was your idea, wasn't it?"
Emperor Phoenix narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "They are unpardonable, insane people in the first place. The court only used them as a stopgap measure. How can we recruit them sincerely and make them official in the court?"
"The Northwest is like this, and so is the Southeast."
'Mother of White Lotus' Wan Mingzhu shrieked. "There are plenty of people in my White Lotus Cult who betrayed the organization and joined the court for petty gains. However, the boneless and eyeballs do not usually gloat for long. After their value is drained by the court, they are tossed aside like rags, ending up in the most miserable, hopeless end."
"You are absolutely right," Meng Chifeng concluded. "This is the best example of disunity among the organization, which gives an opportunity for the external enemy to take advantage of.
Meng Chixin concluded. "Now, you should understand why we have to kill the selfish, indecisive, and shameless guys, right?"
"To surrender or to fight a bloody battle? Even if we surrender, which force in the deities' realm should we surrender to can be discussed slowly. Whatever conclusion we reach in the end, it will be acceptable.
"But in any case, we must be united and face the deities' realm with a united stance.
"The Ancient Sages Sector should only make one sound. Nobody is allowed to get in touch with the deities' realm in secret without considering the big picture of the Ancient Sages Sector and accept the surrender of the deities' realm for their own selfishness.
"If such traitors do show up, execute them immediately!"
Meng Chixin's voice was so aggressive that the overwhelming killing intent of 'Wolf God' swept across the room like a wind mixed with blades.
Including Li Yao, everybody felt that dozens of iron sabers were stirring inside their chests and brains brutally, making them shudder involuntarily.
"Alright. Now that you've figured out the situation, I'll sort through it and see if we can reach the most basic consensus."
Wu Suiyun intervened between Meng Chixin and the ten Yuanying and slightly eased the atmosphere. He said calmly, "First of all, regardless of your stance and camp, and regardless of your conflicts in the past, I believe that you are all willing to consider the big picture of the Ancient Sages Sector instead of your personal gains and losses, right?"
The Yuanying looked at each other in bewilderment. Master Bitter Cicada was the first to nod. "Amitabha. If the Ancient Sages Sector can be kept safe and sound, I will gladly be minced into pieces and condemned to the infernal hell forever."
Although the other Yuanying were not as merciful as the monk, they were not as selfish as the scoundrels of the six major sects, either. They all nodded.
"Alright. Since we are all considering the future of the Ancient Sages Sector, we can resort to whatever means necessary to protect our world. Bloody battles, surrender, schemes, betrayals … all the whimsical options are open for discussion without any concerns. We will not be bound by any rules of the mortal world, either. Do you agree on that?" "Yes.
Everybody pondered for a moment but still nodded.
Protecting the Ancient Sages Sector was, of course, their top priority. What bullsh * t law could be more important than protecting their own world?
"Thirdly."
Observing their faces, Wu Suiyun was very satisfied with the calmness and rationality of the Yuanying. She went on. "During the discussion, you are free to express your opinions however fierce the debate may be. But I hope that we can reach a consensus in the end.
"The twelve of us should be equal because every one of us is capable of changing the future of the Ancient Sages Sector. Therefore, I hope that the final decision can be approved by all twelve of you so that we can work together for the future of the Ancient Sages Sector.
"If anyone has a different opinion, you must speak out frankly. Do not engage in clandestine deals in private. Of course, regarding the different opinion, even if it is only one of you, the other eleven must listen carefully and face it seriously, trying to come up with a perfect solution.
"Only in such a way can the Ancient Sages Sector survive in the dark and mysterious sea of stars, and only in such a way can we fight for the greatest interests for ourselves when we are crushed by the behemoth that is the deities' realm. We can gamble on a brand-new future for all the Cultivators and civilians in the Ancient Sages Sector.
"Everybody, do you agree with the three conditions I just mentioned?"
Wu Suiyun's eyes were clear as she stared at everybody expectantly.
"Yes."
Qi Zhongdao replied with a gloomy face.
"Amitabha. Fellow Cultivator Wu has always been thinking for the people in the world. I have no objection."
Master Bitter Cicada put his hands together.
"This beggar agrees, too."
Holding the broken stem of his pipe, Ba Xiaoyu remarked.
"I agree."
Han Baling looked at his master, Meng Chixin, and declared resolutely.
"I agree."
Qi Changsheng and Wan Mingzhu agreed at the same time.
"I agree."
Emperor Phoenix hesitated for a long time before he spoke solemnly.
"I don't care. So be it. I only hope that there are more advanced sword arts in the deities' realm."
Yan Liren yawned.
"I agree."
Li Yao glanced at Long Yangjun as quickly as lightning, but Long Yangjun nodded before he did. "I agree."
"Great."
Wu Suiyun and Meng Chixin looked at each other and finally took a breath in relief. They smiled and said, "You are all sensible and far-sighted people. We couldn't have been better. We thought that it would take us a year and a half just to unite the experts of the Ancient Sages Sector.
"It seems that the Ancient Sages Sector is not destined to perish yet. Chances are that we can find more opportunities that will revitalize our world and set us on a brand-new path of development."
The comforting words slightly relaxed everybody's nerves that had been tightened. Finally, a reluctant smile appeared on their faces.
It was not destined to perish yet. They only hoped that the Ancient Sages Sector was not destined to perish yet and that it could soar into the sky after all the misfortunes.
"Sister Wu, Senior Meng, the deities' realm is mysterious. We don't know the first thing about the extraterrestrial lands," Qi Zhongdao said.
Qi Zhongdao asked, "So many things. Where exactly should we start?"
"Far away, but right in front of us."
Wu Suiyun pointed at Deity Raincloud, who was cramping softly in a coma on the ground. "The visitor from the deities' realm has become our prisoner. Isn't she the perfect target for us to make a breakthrough?
"However, before we interrogate her, emperor, tell us about Deity Raincloud's background first and how you met her." Shua! Shua!
Shua! Shua!
Everybody focused their eyes on Emperor Phoenix. Even Li Yao could not hold back his curiosity and could not wait to figure out the background of the special agent of the Imperium. Why was she the only one?
Emperor Phoenix's position in the crowd was very awkward in the first place. Now that so many seniors and experts were staring at him, his face was even more gloomy. Biting his lips, he pondered for a long time and said, "I met Deity Raincloud five years ago.
"At that time, I was still living in the Thunder Martial Temple in the ancestral temple in the western suburb of the Divine Capital. I was all by myself, and my situation was not very good.
"However, in the end, I was still a prince, and I never got involved in the power struggles between the other princes, so I was able to enjoy peace and quiet. I was able to focus on cultivation, and I didn't lack any cultivation resources. My cultivation speed was extremely fast, and at that time, I had already climbed to the Core Formation realm.
The bloodline of the royal family had been passed down from generation to generation after generation of experts. It was rather mysterious after all. Also, they were never short of resources and Cultivation arts. Therefore, it was perfectly normal that the royal family's training speed was slightly faster than that of regular Cultivators.
Emperor Phoenix had entered the Core Formation Stage at such a young age. He was indeed one of the rarest and most distinguished Cultivators in the world of Cultivators, but he was not exactly shocking in the royal family that had been around for a thousand years.
Emperor Phoenix frowned, as if he were recalling the night five years ago. "I remember that it was a night five years ago. I was training so hard that I was almost mentally deranged. I also took some drugs that soothed my nerves. I slept very soundly at night, and I barely had any dreams.
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