405: Chapter 405 Success

"Quiet."

Shi Yunyu's gaze swept across the crowd, and she said slowly:

"The reason I didn't let you know the truth at first was to avoid panic. After all, there was no use in telling you. Those three Erosion Beasts are indeed all at the Mahayana Sixth Layer or above."

As soon as these words were spoken, the great hall fell into dead silence.

Ling Hao shook his head, looking at Ji Xuanming with a mocking smile:

"Supreme Elder Ji, yesterday, when you were inside the Sect and invoked the power of the Protective Sect Array, you could only exert the strength of the Mahayana Fifth Layer at most. You want to go out alone and Face three Mahayana Sixth Layer beasts?"

He paused, his smile meaningful:

"You are nothing more than a Mahayana First Layer novice."

"You—!"

Ji Xuanming stood up abruptly, his Face flushing red:

"You are at most only at the Mahayana Sixth Layer! What right do you have to talk about me?!"

Ling Hao's smile deepened:

"But who told you that was my limit?"

He stood with his hands behind his back, his aura restrained, yet it inexplicably caused one's heart to palpitate.

The crowd looked at each other, their eyes full of shock and suspicion.

Shi Qingxuan's eyes flickered slightly, remembering the scene yesterday where he had effortlessly broken through the power of the Protective Sect Array.

Ling Hao extended his second finger:

"Second—if the roots of the Fallen Immortal Ancient Banyan break the Seal, do you have a way to suppress them?"

Ji Xuanming's Face turned livid, and he remained silent.

If he couldn't even solve the first crisis, how could he talk about the second?

Ling Hao extended his third finger:

"Third—if the True Demon Realm behind the western Cangyuan Main Rift launches a full-scale invasion, can you Seal it?"

He looked directly at Ji Xuanming, his smile fading:

"You cannot, but I can."

"The four main rifts in Cangwu Province have all been Sealed."

Shi Qingxuan chimed in from the side, her voice clear and resonant.

"This is also the reason why I agreed to cooperate with the Moon Shadow Holy Land; only the Moon Shadow Holy Land has the ability to Seal the main rifts."

Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at her—this Sect Master Shi really knew how to speak, knowing how to assist him.

He withdrew his gaze and swept it across the hall:

"If these three major crises cannot be overcome, the White Rock Holy Land will have no way to survive."

Ling Hao looked at Ji Xuanming with a mocking smile, then swept his gaze over the others:

"Besides, do you really think I care about your little foundation?"

He paused, his smile becoming increasingly meaningful:

"To put it bluntly, if I really wanted to destroy you, and you begged me, I might—out of consideration for the Face of the Human Race—let you live."

Upon hearing this, the neutral Elders' expressions changed one after another!

They subconsciously looked at Shi Yunyu.

Based on the strength Ling Hao displayed yesterday, if he really wanted to take action, only Lady Shi Ji would have a glimmer of hope to resist!

Shi Yunyu said gently: "Fellow Daoist Moonshadow is just joking, everyone need not panic."

Some of the gazes directed at Ji Xuanming already carried scrutiny and doubt.

Someone whispered:

"That's right... Although Supreme Mingxuan is strong, he truly cannot Seal the main rifts..."

"We truly need Supreme Moonshadow..."

"If he really wanted to plot against the Holy Land, would he need to go through so much trouble?"

Ji Xuanming stood up abruptly:

"Then what is your reason for helping?! If you aren't plotting against the Holy Land, then why are you helping?!"

Ling Hao smiled:

"Reason?"

He extended three fingers:

"First, Cangwu Province is adjacent to White Rock Province. If you fall, the battlefield will come to my Cangwu Province. With you here, it will be easier. Is this reason enough?"

"Second, resource benefits—my Moonshadow Sect helps you solve problems, and it is only natural to collect some remuneration. Is this reason enough?"

He paused, his gaze shifting to Shi Yunyu, his smile deepening:

"As for the third... there isn't one."

Some sharp-minded Elders followed Ling Hao's gaze toward Shi Yunyu, remembering the rumors from the past few days, and revealed thoughtful expressions.

Shi Yunyu's heart skipped a beat when she was swept by Ling Hao's smiling gaze.

Her Face remained calm, but her fingers, hanging within her sleeves, curled slightly.

Ji Xuanming trembled all over, opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.

He sat down dejectedly, not saying a word.

It was over.

It was completely over.

The plan to seize the Nine Peaks Heaven-Sealing Array had completely failed.

And he had only brought trouble upon himself.

Ling Hao withdrew his gaze, swept across the hall, and said indifferently:

"Are there any other questions?"

No one answered.

The great hall was dead silent.

Shi Qingxuan took the opportunity to stand up.

Her gaze swept across the hall, and her voice resounded throughout the great hall.

"Since that is the case, this Sect Master announces—effective immediately, the White Rock Holy Land and the Moonshadow Sect shall form an offensive and defensive alliance. Within the territory of White Rock Province, a network of world-suppressing monuments and resonance dao towers will be gradually established to resist the Erosion Beasts together and defend against external enemies!"

After her words fell, the great hall was silent.

Immediately, the neutral Elders stood up one after another to echo her.

"Good! Very good!"

"With the help of the Moonshadow Sect, our White Rock Province is saved!"

"Sect Master Shi is wise!"

The Elders who were originally part of Shi Qingxuan's faction looked at Shi Yunyu with eyes full of joy:

"Lady Shi Ji truly has a Wisdom Eye for people; with Supreme Moonshadow..."

Shi Qingxuan nodded slightly, her Face as calm as water, but she let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.

It was finally accomplished.

Although she was the Sect Master, she could not be too dictatorial.

Over the past few days, bearing the pressure from the Ji Family, if it hadn't been for Ling Hao's repeated help, this alliance would likely have been difficult to implement.

She subconsciously looked at Ling Hao, her gaze carrying a hint of gratitude.

Ling Hao happened to look up, met her gaze, smiled slightly, and nodded gently.

Shi Qingxuan felt an inexplicable warmth in her heart and averted her gaze.

Ji Xuanming said nothing, sitting upright in his seat, his expression so gloomy that water could almost drip from it.

His gaze swept over the neutral Elders who were expressing their support, a flash of sinister malice appearing in his eyes, but in the end, he did not speak.

Since things had reached this point, he could only acquiesce.

If he spoke again and that Supreme Moonshadow took action, he himself...

Ji Mitai stood in the crowd, his head bowed, but a strange arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

It wasn't a failure yet.

During the time he previously managed Mingxuan Peak, he had obtained what he wanted.

It was just that he had lost the Old Ancestor's trust, so subsequent actions would be more troublesome. When the time came, that Protective Sect Array... breaking the array would require more effort.

The rest was just waiting.

He raised his eyes, looking at the backs of Ling Hao and Shi Yunyu as they disappeared into the distance, a flash of crimson passing through his eyes.

...

Two days passed quietly.

Inside the Holy Land, the discussion about the Moonshadow Sect continued unabated.

Outside the Holy Land, the green mountains were like dark ink, and the streams gurgled.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the council hall, the world was left with only the sound of the wind, the water, and the occasional chirping of birds.

Ling Hao and Shi Yunyu walked side by side.

He glanced at her sideways.

Today, she was still wearing that loose, moon-white cloak, which draped from her shoulders to her ankles in one continuous line, revealing no waistline, no curves.

The overlapping collars folded beneath her chin, layer upon layer, revealing only a patch of fair skin on the side of her neck. The sleeves were wide, extending past her palms, and when her hands hung down, they disappeared into the sleeves, hiding everything beneath that serene, white expanse that resembled snow accumulated on distant mountains.

He suddenly remembered that day in the courtyard...

At that time, she was wearing a light apricot-yellow short silk jacket and a lotus-root-colored high-waisted silk skirt with dark patterns. The fabric was thin and light, clinging to her figure. The full curves of her chest were softly supported, her waist was slightly tightened at its slender point, and the curves of her hips were faintly visible beneath the skirt...

That was the rich, ripe beauty unique to a mature woman; it was something that, at one glance, made one know just how soft and warm this body must be.