"Opening the Treasure Vault at The Hour of Hai, this Hou Yuxiao seems to be up to something else."

"I heard he's been busy meeting with the leaders of various forces all day, bringing along Chu Kuangren, Lu Kangping, Zhou Xuan Kai, and others. Is he trying to form an alliance with those hundred Sub-Saints of Martial Dao to contend against us?"

"Not likely, Hou Yuxiao isn't that foolish. Many of those hundred Sub-Saints of Martial Dao have secretly pledged allegiance to the Holy Land. He should be well aware that even if he manages to rally a group, opposing us isn't realistic."

"Then what is he planning?"

"I guess he just wants to bolster his presence, nothing to worry about."

"Bolster his presence...…"

In a side hall at the northeast corner of the Yu Divine Palace, Wei Xuheng and Zhang Ruoxu were sitting across a table. It was said that a local official isn't as influential as present authority, and Zhang Ruoxu had stepped down from the position of Sect Master, so his status should be lower than Wei Xuheng's. Yet, from the manner of their conversation, it was clear his status was higher.

Seeing Wei Xuheng seemed somewhat puzzled, Zhang Ruoxu continued, "The journey to the Treasure Vault is perilous, and Hou Yuxiao surely understands this. Of course, it's not just him; anyone with a bit of wisdom knows that with fourteen Saints present, seeking opportunities from the Treasure Vault isn't simple. Survival is the priority. The Sub-Saints of Martial Dao from various places have long pledged loyalty to the Holy Land, those less wise should realize by now that they need to rally with others. Hou Yuxiao's visits come just in time."

Saints and Sub-Saints are worlds apart. Facing Saints, even a thousand or ten thousand Sub-Saints of Martial Dao together are powerless, let alone a hundred. Hou Yuxiao indeed doesn't have the courage to oppose Saints.

These Sub-Saints dared to come for the journey to the Treasure Vault ultimately because their needs differ from those of the Saints. Saints seek further advancement; while Sub-Saints seek only the opportunities within the Treasure Vault. To them, the greatest opportunity is breaking through to become a Saint. The two have no overt conflicts with each other.

So Hou Yuxiao's rallying of these Sub-Saints of Martial Dao is likely just to unite against those Sub-Saints with the backing of Saints. However, to do so, he himself also needs support from Saints...

"Sect Master, Hou Yuxiao requests an audience!"

Wei Xuheng raised his head and exchanged a glance with Zhang Ruoxu. Instantly, a flash of intent passed through both of their eyes.

"It seems, he intends to turn to us."

"Among the five allied families, counting Wuwei King, we are the ones he trusts the most. After all, Qingxue is his wife, and the Hou Clan has a familial connection with our Ziqing Holy Sect."

After Wei Xuheng spoke, he addressed the outside, "Let him in!"

...

Hou Yuxiao felt a bit parched. He had just met with over thirty leaders of different forces. Although they were carefully selected, suitable for collaboration within the Treasure Vault, it inevitably required some persuasion.

Entering the hall and seeing Zhang Ruoxu and Wei Xuheng, he hurriedly bowed and greeted the two, saying, "Mr. Hou pays respect to the two ancestors."

Wei Xuheng was Zhao QingXue's master, and Zhang Ruoxu was Wei Xuheng's senior brother. Calling them both 'ancestor' wasn't inappropriate, though doing so at this critical juncture, shouting 'ancestor' so deliberately, his intentions were rather transparent.

"The title of Sect Master is now of high status and power; calling me ancestor is not something I dare accept!"

Hou Yuxiao detected the teasing in Wei Xuheng's tone, but showed no reaction, only shaking his head and revealing a trace of helplessness, "Taking over the Shendu and restoring Great Yu was an act born of necessity by Hexi. Though Mr. Hou's heart aligns with the alliance, we are too weak. Without carving out our own path, we'll be obliterated by Great Jin any moment..."

"If that's the case, why didn't you discuss clearly with the alliance beforehand, or touch base with me first? By rashly taking over Shendu, you've made all five Holy Lands follow your lead, do you realize that although it was a splendid strategy, it has nonetheless aggrieved the five Holy Lands?"

Hou Yuxiao's expression shifted slightly, but his heart remained calm.

He was aware of these issues when he invaded Shendu.

At the start of his northward campaign, the alliance hoped he would lead the three-family coalition to support the Dongyuan Path. However, doing so would mean becoming cannon fodder for the alliance, which he was unwilling to do. Thus, he took a gamble and decided to strike at the undefended rear of Great Jin, employing strategies of engaging the east and attacking the west, finally capturing Shendu, a place of special significance to Great Jin.

By capturing Shendu and restoring Great Yu, he elevated his status within the alliance, forcing the Holy Lands of the alliance to protect him and using the Treasure Vault of the Divine Sect to threaten Great Jin. These actions not only alienated the alliance but also made an enemy of Great Jin.

Despite these offenses, neither side dared to ignore him like at the start of the conflict, fearing to provoke him and drive him toward the other camps.

Therefore, at this moment, Hou Yuxiao's position is both the most dangerous and the most stable.

Of course, his actions not only went against the intentions of the alliance but also forced their hand to protect him, turning the alliance from proactive to reactive. Wei Xuheng's comment about angering the five Holy Lands was indeed valid.

Even though he was well aware of these facts, his heart was calm, but he still acted unaware and feigned enlightenment, simply because in Wei Xuheng's previous words, there was the phrase "touch base with me first."

Wei Xuheng's message was clear: While keeping the alliance in the dark about the Shendu affair was one thing, keeping the Ziqing Holy Sect uninformed was another matter altogether.