Shangguan Yunbo, Ye Morong, Zhang Luo, and other Great Tang experts, along with cultivators from the Southern Wilderness Witchcraft Sect, were currently stranded in the Southern Wilderness.
Shangguan Yunbo had already received the urgent reports from the East Sea and the Northwest, but no imperial orders summoned him back.
"What is the current situation with the Xumi Vajra Sect?" Shangguan Yunbo asked the attendant general by his side.
The attendant general replied, "Just the day before yesterday, Jiasheng Upper Master fought a great battle with the Four-eyed Python Emperor. Other masters from the Xumi Vajra Sect assisted, and the Four-eyed Python Emperor temporarily retreated."
"However, other demon tribes from the Southern Wilderness have begun to act, joining forces with the Four-eyed Python Emperor, intending to battle the Xumi Vajra Sect again."
The two most formidable demons of the Southern Wilderness, equivalent to top human experts of the Ninth Heavenly Layer, were a tree and a snake.
The forr preferred stillness and seldom interacted with the outside world.
The latter, in addition to its power, gradually gathered the remaining demon tribes of the Southern Wilderness under its command, forming a formidable force.
Years ago, after a great battle with the Snow Region Divine Eagle Commander and the demon hordes of the Snowy Plains, most demon tribes of the Southern Wilderness had rested and recuperated.
Now, with the Four-eyed Python Emperor taking the lead, there were signs of the demon hordes acting in concert once more.
To these great demons, human cultivators, especially those with high cultivation, were supre delicacies and potent nourishnt.
In this respect, they were even worse than the Witchcraft Sect’s Blood River Lineage.
Jiasheng Upper Master’s understanding of the Southern Wilderness was limited to what the monks of Vajra Temple had told him.
But he understood the demon tribes very well.
Now that the demon hordes of the Southern Wilderness were gathering, he reminded his fellow sect mbers to be vigilant but showed no fear himself, remaining as calm as ever.
Comparatively, Jiasheng Upper Master was more concerned about the developnts in Mingzhou to the east and Yuanzhou to the north.
"Heavenly Principle?" Jiasheng Upper Master questioned.
By his side, Master Zongcuo, a high monk from the Xumi Vajra Sect, also of the Eighth Heavenly Layer, replied, "It has been confird to be Heavenly Principle."
Jiasheng Upper Master nodded. "And Yuanzhou? Is it the Solitary Eagle Khanate?"
"Yes," Master Zongcuo answered.
Jiasheng Upper Master said, "Send word back to Sumi; let them decide. For now, we should avoid contact on both fronts."
Master Zongcuo stated, "The Solitary Eagle Khanate and those aligned with Heavenly Principle might still learn of our activities."
Jiasheng Upper Master said, "In the short term, it’s not a major issue and won’t affect Sumi’s overall plans."
Master Zongcuo put his palms together. "Yes, Senior Brother."
After a pause, he said, "An imperial decree has arrived from the Tang Court."
Jiasheng Upper Master replied, "Let Suoyang go. He should suffice."
Although Suoyang was not old, he was the forr Abbot of Vajra Temple.
Now that the Xumi Vajra Sect had arrived, Suoyang remained one of the key figures they were grooming. His status was not insignificant, and he could represent the sect in dealings with the Tang Imperial Court.
As for Jiasheng Upper Master, an expert of the Ninth Heavenly Layer, even if he could free himself for a ti, he would soon find himself unavoidably tied down again.
Against other opponents, even the Jiuli people, Jiasheng Upper Master and other Buddhist experts from the Western Regions would willingly lend the Great Tang a hand. This was contingent on receiving substantial support from the Tang Court.
This was similar to how he had previously rushed to Guanlong to help quell the demon unrest. Later, he fought significant battles in the Southern Wilderness against Wei Ancheng of the Blood River Sect and the Four-eyed Python Emperor.
However, Heavenly Principle and the Solitary Eagle Khanate were special cases.
Given Sumi’s more far-reaching plans, it was prudent to avoid contact for the ti being.
"With these two major upheavals—one in the seas off Mingzhou and the other in the mountains of Yuanzhou—occurring simultaneously, the consequences will undoubtedly be extensive," Master Zongcuo said softly. "Many situations may change as a result."
Jiasheng Upper Master added, "The major families of Qingzhou, Suzhou, Cangzhou, Youzhou, and Jingxiang will likely not make any significant moves. Should changes occur, the focus will then shift to Jiuli, the so-called Mortal Tao Country, and the White Lotus Sect."
After a mont of contemplation, he spoke again, "Please ask Renzhu to leave the Western Regions and operate covertly to provide support and respond to any contingencies."
"Understood," Master Zongcuo replied. After a mont of thought, he asked softly, "Setting aside the White Lotus heretics, if the Mortal Tao Country makes a move, will it target the Great Tang, or the three main orthodox Taoist Sacred Lands?"
Jiasheng Upper Master stated, "If they instigate chaos targeting the Great Tang, we can seize the opportunity to help the Tang quell it. This would allow us to gain more support from the Tang Court. However, if they target the three major Taoist Sacred Lands, there’s no need for us to act hastily. In that case, let Renzhu assess the situation and decide on the course of action."
Master Zongcuo nodded gently, grasping the implications.
***
Atop Dragon Tiger Mountain, within Celestial Master Mansion.
Yuan Mobai and his disciple, Lei Jun, sat opposite each other, reviewing reports from various sources.
While Shangguan Ning was en route to Yuhang, Zhang Jingzhen had already departed for Guanzhong to seek an audience with the Emperor.
Firstly, he was to represent Celestial Master Mansion in expressing support for the Tang Court, acting as a liaison and diator.
Secondly, a shocking upheaval in the northwest was destabilizing the Tang Dynasty’s northwestern frontiers. Consequently, Pure Yang Palace on Zhongnan Mountain, located in Guanlong, was also within the threatened area.
Previously, the three great Taoist Sacred Lands had agreed to support one another like interconnected branches of a tree, and had dispatched representatives to each other’s sects.
Although Pure Yang Palace was not currently threatened by the Mortal Tao Country, Celestial Master Mansion still needed to demonstrate its solidarity.
Of course, since mbers of the Mortal Tao Country had not yet appeared, Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai, and the others remained inactive for now. It was sufficient to have Zhang Jingzhen, a High rit Elder of the Seventh Heavenly Layer, represent them.
"Elder Huang of Pure Yang Palace will remain at Zhongnan Mountain this ti."
Yuan Mobai said, looking at a report, "Elders Guan and Lu have both already headed to the Yuanzhou region."
Lei Jun beca thoughtful upon hearing this.
After so thought, he looked up. "Master, I heard His Majesty intends to travel north personally?"
"There are rumors to that effect," Yuan Mobai responded.
Lei Jun picked up another report. While perusing it, he asked softly, "Master, how sincere do you believe Jingxiang and Cangzhou are?"
According to the latest news, the entire Great Tang was stirring to action.
Simultaneous calamities on three fronts—the Southern Wilderness, the East Sea, and the Northwest—were putting the Great Tang Dynasty to the test.
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