76: At that time, you and I will share Donglin Prefecture.

The heavy rain poured down, the sound echoing like thunder, leaving behind a persistent reverberation.

Endless rain poured down, seemingly intent on washing away all the sin and filth of Black Blood Mountain City.

Inside the city, within a magnificent and grand palace, two groups of Cultivators met.

One side was dressed in various styles, emanating dense Evil Qi, while the other wore uniform gray Daoist robes and black masks.

As soon as the two groups of Cultivators met, the atmosphere immediately became tense.

"I seem to smell rats."

Among the group dressed in various styles, a Cultivator heavy with Evil Qi curled his lips into a mocking smile.

"Fellow Daoist Li Mo, I smell it too, and it looks like I've spotted them. Wow, there seem to be quite a few."

"Haha."

Another Cultivator chimed in and let out two unrestrained chuckles.

Hearing such mockery, the leader of the masked Cultivators on the other side spoke with an indifferent tone.

"Is that so? This Seat finds there are few rats; otherwise, in a prefecture so vast, why would there be only one place for them to hide?"

"Heh heh, we still have a place to hide. What about you?"

"How many years has it been? Why aren't you lot completely wiped out yet."

The leader of the masked Cultivators replied with a light chuckle: "Because we, the servants of the Door, are eternal and indestructible."

"End this boring nonsense. Say something we want to hear."

Hearing this, the leader of the masked Cultivators also nodded.

"Although your Black Blood Mountain City is a top-tier power in Donglin Prefecture, how can you contend with the Nine Sects?"

"Leaving aside the existences above the Nine Sects, just a mere Saint of Cloud Heaven Sect has already frightened you considerably, hasn't he?"

The leader of the masked Cultivators gave a cold smile, taking in the subtle changes in the expressions of the Cultivators opposite him.

"According to what my Tianyuan knows, your Black Blood Mountain City has made quite a few preparations over the years to deal with this Saint of Cloud Heaven Sect and his lackeys."

"Hmph, you don't need to worry about that. You should worry about your own survival."

"After saying all that, what exactly is the purpose of your visit?"

"Destroy the Nine Sects!"

The masked Cultivator leader said indifferently. His words were like a clap of thunder, shaking every Cultivator present.

"Destroy the Nine Sects..."

The representatives of Black Blood Mountain City showed a trace of seriousness. If any other power dared to utter such words, they would surely be met with ridicule.

However, if it was them.

It wasn't impossible.

"If your Black Blood Mountain City can assist my Tianyuan in destroying the Nine Sects."

"Then, you and I shall divide Donglin Prefecture between us!"

The masked Cultivator leader spoke, his words extremely tempting.

The leading Cultivator of Black Blood Mountain City asked, "How exactly will this be done?"

The masked Cultivator leader in front of him moved his lips slightly, sending a sound transmission. Soon after, the other party's face showed an expression of disbelief.

"This matter is of great importance, and it is not something we can decide on."

"We must immediately report this to Lord True Monarch."

The representatives of Black Blood Mountain City were clearly tempted by the proposal but did not immediately agree.

"That is fine."

The masked Cultivator leader pointed toward the gloomy sky.

"Do you know that your Black Blood Mountain City's Yuanzhao True Lord is up there right now, negotiating cooperation with the True Lord of my Tianyuan?"

"This meeting between you and me is merely a formality."

Sure enough, not long after.

A deep, authoritative voice rang out in the ears of the Black Blood Mountain City representatives.

"Agree to their terms."

"Yes, True Lord."

The Cultivators of Black Blood Mountain City were all shaken, but they knew well that cooperating with the other side was like asking a tiger for its skin.

However, since the Nascent Soul True Lord had spoken, they had no choice but to comply.

"Gentlemen of Black Blood Mountain City, happy cooperation."

The masked leader bowed slightly in salute, then led the many masked figures out of the palace.

"Peh."

"A bunch of neither human nor ghost monstrosities."

"They've completely soiled the floors of our Black Blood Mountain City!"

Among the Cultivator representatives of Black Blood Mountain City, someone spat in disdain.

"With these fellows reappearing, there will inevitably be continuous turmoil in the future."

"Indeed, our plan must also be put on the agenda as soon as possible."

"All the hidden Prodigy disciples must be cultivated more intensely. These seedlings are not much worse than those damned Saints of the Nine Sects!"

"It's just a shame those useless fools didn't manage to capture Zhang Yizhi back then..."

"If we had known, we shouldn't have tried to capture him. We should have strangled him preemptively at all costs."

...Thump, thump, thump, thump...

Outside the palace, a masked figure behind the masked leader asked doubtfully, "Lord Chief Steward, are we really going to cooperate with Black Blood Mountain City?"

"These Evil Cultivators act deceitfully and unscrupulously. Cooperating with them, I fear we risk being betrayed at any moment."

His words were filled with worry, clearly doubting the true intentions of Black Blood Mountain City.

"For the Great Cause, cooperation is unavoidable."

"In recent years, our Tianyuan's frequent activities have been noticed by the Saint of the Shenluo Sect."

"Furthermore, not long ago, the low and mid-level forces deployed by our Tianyuan within Cloud Heaven Sect's Tianjian City suffered heavy losses."

"This incident has had a major impact."

"That Steward-level Apostle was a well-known figure on our Tianyuan's Heroes List. If nothing unexpected happened, he would certainly have reached the Golden Core stage in a few years."

"Unfortunately, after that incident, the higher-ups suspect that the Nine Sects have become aware of us."

"Hmph, the experts of my Tianyuan are currently deducing the entire sequence of events, and the culprit will surface eventually!"

"What we are doing is for the entire Canglan Realm!"

"For the thousands of races in the Canglan Realm! For the future!"

"Even if they don't understand us now, when the Great Cause is accomplished, everyone will be endlessly grateful to us!"

The masked leader shouted, "For the Great Cause!"

Immediately, the many masked figures walking behind him also shouted fanatically in unison.

"For the Great Cause!!!"

...Northwest of the Western Yan Dynasty, Wuning Commandery.

It has another name: Former Three Kingdoms Territory.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Western Yan Dynasty was very happy because he was leading his massive army straight into the rebel heartland.

After a month of campaigning, he had won battle after battle, and the rebel army was already routed.

According to the current situation, reclaiming the lost territory was only a matter of time.

Just now, he received another report from a spy, locating the enemy's main camp.

Not only that, but they also found traces of an important figure in that large camp.

If he could capture this person, it would definitely be a major achievement.

Therefore, he immediately gathered his troops and marched forward.

"Report—!"

"The rebel army has discovered our forces and is hastily forming ranks!"

A scout rushed over from afar, reporting the sighting of the enemy's main force. The enemy was indeed exactly as the spy had reported.

Something felt off.

This was a little too coincidental.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Western Yan Dynasty frowned, but then his brow smoothed out.

No matter what, his side possessed considerable strength; the advantage was his.

"Quickly go and invite the Supervising Old Ancestor!"

The Commander-in-Chief of the Western Yan Dynasty ordered loudly.

"Understood!" The scout left upon receiving the order.

A moment later, two black-robed elders arrived from the horizon.

"Greetings to the two Old ancestors!"

All the generals bowed down in unison. These two were important figures of the Western Yan Dynasty.

They were both powerhouses that the Western Yan Dynasty had recruited at great cost. Bound by marriage alliances, they had become completely "their own people."

The Golden Core Cultivator in the lead was named Gu Qinglie.

His fire-attribute Cultivation Technique was superb, and he had once used flames to kill tens of thousands of Cultivators.

The other one was named Hong Jianshan, skilled in controlling many Magical Artifact Puppets.

"This time, we must capture the rebels!"

Gu Qinglie scanned the entire army with his gaze and said coldly.

"We respectfully obey the Old ancestors' decree!"

The soldiers roared, and the atmosphere was highly charged.

"Advance—!"

The Commander-in-Chief of the Western Yan Dynasty shouted.

"Woo woo woo..."

The sound of the horn echoed through heaven and earth, and the mighty army marched toward the enemy's location.

Gu Qinglie, Hong Jianshan, and the two Golden Core Ancestors simultaneously soared out, charging straight toward the enemy's main camp.

The remaining hundred thousand-plus troops followed closely behind them, engaging the enemy in battle.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE~~~

The entire battlefield shook, dust flew up, and sand and stone scattered wildly.

The Western Yan Dynasty army surged into the rebel formation like a tide, their battle cries piercing the clouds.

The rebel forces of the Former Three Kingdoms Territory could not resist at all and were constantly retreating.

Seeing victory within reach, joy appeared on the faces of Gu Qinglie, Hong Jianshan, and the two Old Eccentrics.

They were completely unaware that all around the battlefield, massive Teleportation Arrays lit up, continuously summoning large numbers of elite Cultivators.

Among them, several people emitted terrifying Qi. With every step they took, ripples appeared beneath their feet.

"The plan has begun."

...Five days later, sunlight streamed through the attic window and fell upon a dignified-looking man.

Qin Dong woke up from his cross-legged position and stretched, while Wang Wantang also woke up from her Cultivation.

As the saying goes, the morning sets the tone for the day; it was a perfect time to exercise.

The two met eyes, and the atmosphere instantly became intimate.

Qin Dong was about to be understanding, when suddenly, an urgent knock sounded at the door, ruining the beautiful atmosphere.

"Who is it?"

Qin Dong opened the door with an angry expression, only to see his father-in-law, the Prince of Jingjiang, whose face was wreathed in smiles...