198: Domain Lord Envoy

The entire Shenhuang Celestial Domain instantly fell into a dead silence.

Every living being who saw or heard the vermilion bird token was dumbfounded and paled in horror.

"The... the vermilion bird token... shattered?"

"It was... shattered by a single wolf howl?"

"It's the Wending Sect! The mighty experts of the Wending Sect have arrived!"

"My god! Shattering the vermilion bird token with a single shout? What kind of cultivation is this? The Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan has really kicked a steel plate this time!"

"'The Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan has no need to exist'... those words are so overbearing! The weather is about to change in the Shenhuang Celestial Domain!"

Those various forces and Loose Cultivators who were originally rubbing their hands together, preparing to respond to the vermilion bird token to earn the bounty, were now like having a bucket of ice water poured over their heads from top to bottom; their enthusiasm was instantly extinguished, replaced by a bone-chilling cold.

Every one of them was as quiet as a cicada in winter, not daring to make the slightest move, all choosing to watch from the sidelines.

Cold light flickered in Xiao Bai's silver eyes, and its voice spread throughout the entire beast tide.

"Full speed ahead! Target, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Kingdom!"

"This Venerable wants to see who gave them the courage to dare touch the people of my Wending Sect!"

"Roar—!"

The beast tide roared in unison, their Evil Qi billowing like a cloud of destruction, crushing towards the direction of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan!

...Deep underground in an inconspicuous, desolate place within the Shenhuang Celestial Domain.

This was an abandoned ancient earth-fire Secret Realm, its entrance long since buried by nature, and it had now become the temporary hiding place for the Vermilion Bird Empress and the others.

"They're here... the experts of the Wending Sect have arrived."

The Empress slowly exhaled, a flash of undeniable shock and relief crossing her eyes. "This aura... it's as vast as a sea of stars and as domineering as heavenly might; it's actually more powerful than the Old Ancestor in his prime!"

"The Wending Sect... actually has such a being!"

Beside her, the Grand Priest held his scepter, silently regulating his breathing. His face under the hood seemed even more aged and withered, but his eyes were clearer than ever.

He nodded, his voice hoarse but certain: "Scarlet Nightmare has acted perversely, colluding with external enemies and murdering his own kin. He even dared to issue the vermilion bird token to publicly hunt down a direct disciple of the Wending Sect... such actions are truly seeking his own destruction!"

"With such powerful reinforcements, they will surely face thunderous wrath."

Hearing this, hatred and pained regret intertwined in the Empress's eyes.

She looked around; gathered in this small, temporarily opened space were the clansmen who had followed her in breaking through the encirclement.

Most of them were injured, their auras withered, and their eyes filled with alarm and indignation, yet their gaze toward her was still full of trust and expectation.

"Grand Priest."

"How many of our clansmen who fought their way out with us... are left?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there are only five Elders of the True Immortal Realm remaining."

"Eighteen high-level Elders of the Heavenly Immortal Realm."

"The rest of the clansmen... number about one thousand two hundred. Among them, thirty-seven are low-level Heavenly Immortals, and the rest... are all at the Earth Immortal level or below."

"This... is our entire current strength."

The Empress closed her eyes, her chest heaving violently for a moment.

Once upon a time, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan awed the Shenhuang Celestial Domain, with dozens of True Immortals, Heavenly Immortals and Earth Immortals as numerous as the clouds, and millions of clansmen.

Now, only these few thousand remnants were left, hiding in this dark, sunless cavern.

"Scarlet Nightmare... and the Domain Lord behind him!"

She suddenly opened her eyes, a raging fire burning in her Phoenix eyes. "They used a vicious Immortal Treasure bestowed by the Domain Lord to plot against us, and even sent several experts to assist in secret, only then managing to control several of the sleeping Old Ancestors and catching us off guard!"

"Otherwise, how could they be allowed to be so rampant!"

"However, the heavens will not destroy my Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan!"

"The Wending Sect's mighty experts have arrived; the end for Scarlet Nightmare and his lot is right before our eyes!"

She looked at the Grand Priest and said in a heavy voice, "Grand Priest, pass down the order for all clansmen and Elders to seize the time to heal and recover!"

"Distribute all the resources we brought out; do not be stingy."

"At the same time, send people to carefully scout the movements outside, especially news regarding the Wending Sect experts and Scarlet Nightmare's rebel army."

"Tell everyone to endure and wait."

"When the time comes, it will be the moment for us to strike, clean house, and take back everything that belongs to us!"

The Grand Priest bowed and accepted the order.

"This old one understands!"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, the unyielding fire in our clansmen's Bloodline has never been extinguished!"

"Just waiting for Your Majesty's command, we will surely incinerate the rebels with thunderous momentum!"

...Vermilion Bird Immortal Kingdom, Holy Flame Hall.

Although it had been rearranged in an attempt to erase the traces of battle, a faint scent of blood and scorching still lingered in the air.

Grand Elder Scarlet Nightmare, now the new "Immortal Lord," was standing slightly bowed at the bottom of the hall.

Before him were four figures shrouded in a hazy gray mist, their auras obscure and deep, carrying a cold indifference that stood above all living beings.

"Lord Envoys, that Wending Sect expert is coming with great momentum, shattering the vermilion bird token with a single shout. I'm afraid..."

Scarlet Nightmare's voice trembled slightly, his face filled with worry.

"No need to say more."

The leading gray-misted figure interrupted him, his voice flat and rippleless, betraying no emotion. "Since the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan has officially submitted to my Lord and offered its loyalty and resources, my Lord will naturally provide protection."

"A few external enemies are nothing to worry about."

"However, this Wending Sect... this Envoy has never heard of such a name among the Twelve Heavenly Domains of the Lower Heaven before."

"Scarlet Nightmare, are you certain they come from the Qinggu Heaven Domain?"

Another gray-misted envoy beside him added, his voice having a metallic texture: "The Qinggu Heaven Domain should be the territory under Domain Lord Situ's jurisdiction... but those in charge there seem to be the Three Great Academies."

"Where did this Wending Sect... pop up from?"

The third envoy pondered: "This matter is indeed suspicious! The Three Great Academies have always been peaceful, more than capable of maintaining the status quo but lacking in initiative. For such a powerful Sect to suddenly emerge... I fear some unknown change has occurred in the Qinggu Heaven Domain."

"We must find out immediately. If this Wending Sect is not under control and might even interfere with my Lord's grand plan... we must report back as soon as possible and make a decision early."

"If necessary, we should eliminate them first with thunderous means to prevent future trouble."

The leading envoy nodded slightly, acknowledging the judgment of his colleagues.

He looked at Scarlet Nightmare again.

"Scarlet Nightmare, your primary task right now is to mobilize all the power of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan and increase the intensity and scope of resource collection to offer up to the Domain Lord."

"This is the foundation of your position."

"As for the matter of the Wending Sect, we will handle it ourselves; you only need to cooperate and not lose your composure."

Hearing this, Scarlet Nightmare felt a bit more at ease and hurriedly bowed deeply: "Yes! Thank you for your guidance, my Lords! Scarlet Nightmare understands! I will certainly do my utmost to collect the required resources for the Domain Lord, and there will not be the slightest negligence!"

"I will give the order now for a full clan mobilization to increase the collection efforts!"

"Mhm, go then." The gray-misted envoy waved his hand, saying no more.

The four figures slowly faded as if merging into the air, finally disappearing from the hall as if they had never appeared.

Only when that suffocating pressure had completely dissipated did Scarlet Nightmare straighten his back and slowly exhale a breath of turbid air, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

He wiped his forehead, the fear in his eyes gradually fading, replaced once again by ruthlessness and ambition.

"This Immortal Lord has the Domain Lord and several envoys backing me. Wending Sect? Heh, just a bunch of clowns!"

He sneered in a low voice, turned, and walked out of the hall, sternly instructing his waiting confidant: "Pass down my, the Immortal Lord's, order! From now on, the entire clan enters a state of war!"

"The extraction efficiency of all mineral veins, herb gardens, and Secret Realms is to be increased threefold!"

"The tributes from affiliated forces and the subordinate Immortal Kingdoms are to be increased by fifty percent!"

"Anyone who delays or resists shall be treated as a rebel and executed without mercy!"

"Yes! Immortal Lord!" The confidant responded solemnly and hurried away.

Scarlet Nightmare stood alone in the much emptier Holy Flame Hall, looking at the blood-red sky outside the hall, his lips curling into a sinister arc.

"The Vermilion Bird Immortal Clan will reach new heights in the hands of this Immortal Lord!"

"And you short-sighted rebels, as well as that nonsensical Wending Sect... you will all become the first great gift I present to the Domain Lord!"