CHAPTER 766: RECOUNTED

This contingent from the Azure Origin Sect fell into the ambush set by the Dali Dynasty without any preparation. Lately, the Azure Origin Sect had been trying to win over the Dark Alliance branch. So, when organizing this activity, True Monarch Azure Mist took the initiative to invite members from the Dark Alliance.

Although they didn't want to get involved in the conflicts between the Azure Origin Sect and Jade Sword Sect, the Dark Alliance couldn't easily reject the friendly gesture from the Azure Origin Sect. Therefore, Book Mountain True Monarch joined the team and acted together with everyone else.

Initially, Book Mountain True Monarch didn't take it seriously and treated it as an opportunity to explore the Nine Heavens. If they had encountered the forces of the Dali Dynasty in any other place, even if the enemy outnumbered them and had many powerful cultivators, everyone would have focused on breaking through, and many could have escaped.

However, the Dali Dynasty had planned meticulously and set up a deadly ambush, deploying top-tier experts to eliminate the enemy entirely and drastically weaken the upper echelons of the Jiuqu League.

Book Mountain True Monarch reacted swiftly, realizing the ambush and immediately using a treasured item to hide using the unique terrain of the Nine Heavens. Then, they slowly searched for an opportunity to escape.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Book Mountain True Monarch knew that leaving the team behind and focusing solely on their own escape wasn't an honorable act. No matter how thick-skinned a person was, they couldn't help feeling ashamed when talking about their dishonorable actions. Book Mountain True Monarch was not someone shameless; they valued their reputation.

If it weren't for being forced into a corner, knowing that the disparity between their strength and the enemy's was too great, and having no chance of winning, Book Mountain True Monarch wouldn't have abandoned their teammates and hidden alone.

Meng Zhang and Xu Mengying were understanding and didn't blame Book Mountain True Monarch. They didn't have the position to criticize or look down on others either. In the Cultivation World, the prevailing trend was selfishness and self-centeredness. In the face of a great enemy, it was not uncommon for people to abandon their fellow sect members or kin and flee.

Someone like Meng Zhang, who was willing to lend a helping hand to others, was already a rare benevolent person in the Cultivation World. Book Mountain True Monarch had no strong connection with the others in the team, so naturally, they wouldn't sacrifice themselves for them.

While Book Mountain True Monarch managed to escape the ambush, the same couldn't be said for the rest of the team. Facing the well-prepared Dali Dynasty ambush, the three Primordial Spirit True Monarchs of the Azure Origin Sect led a fierce resistance. After a brutal battle, many Primordial Spirit True Monarchs fell on the spot, and the scene was extremely tragic.

Except for Book Mountain True Monarch, who had hidden from the beginning, the rest of the team was nearly annihilated, and only a few managed to escape.

True Monarch Azure Mist's two junior brothers died in the battle, and not even their Primordial Spirits managed to escape. True Monarch Azure Mist's physical body was crushed on the spot, leaving only their Primordial Spirit.

The surrounded cultivators fought with all their might to create a gap in the encirclement. He Luo True Monarch escorted True Monarch Azure Mist's Primordial Spirit, barely managing to break out of the ambush.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Book Mountain True Monarch also slipped away through the gap.

Afterward, He Luo True Monarch and his group were chased relentlessly by Wen Dong True Monarch and True Monarch Crossing Blade. Fortunately, they coincidentally met Meng Zhang and Xu Mengying. The four of them supported each other and managed to escape from the Nine Heavens.

Upon hearing Book Mountain True Monarch's account, even the usually composed Meng Zhang and Xu Mengying were shocked and their faces turned pale. The scale of the Dali Dynasty's operation was enormous, mobilizing so many Primordial Spirit True Monarchs for a decapitation strike in the Nine Heavens, targeting the high-level cultivators of their enemies.

Although the Jiuqu League had already split into northern and southern factions, their attitudes were still aligned when it came to resisting the Dali Dynasty. Losing so many Primordial Spirit True Monarchs in one fell swoop left the camp where the Azure Origin Sect was situated depleted and severely weakened. How could they face the Dali Dynasty in the future?

Over the years, after knowing that the Dali Dynasty had set their sights on the Jiuqu League, many cultivators, including Meng Zhang, had gathered various intelligence about the Dali Dynasty, studying their style of conduct and war tactics.

The Dali Dynasty was known for striking fiercely like a thunderbolt, launching devastating attacks to inflict maximum damage and strike at the enemy's core.

Having launched this ambush, it was likely that the Dali Dynasty would soon launch a full-scale attack on the Jiuqu League. In fact, while they were talking, the Dali Dynasty's forces might already have invaded, spreading havoc.

Thinking about this, Meng Zhang and the others' expressions changed dramatically. Taiyi Sect was somewhat better off since it was located in the far north of the Jiuqu League, serving as a rear defense.

If the Dali Dynasty followed a systematic approach, it would probably take some time before they reached Taiyi Sect.

However, the numerous branches of the Yellow Lotus Sect were scattered throughout the Jiuqu League, with their Main Altar positioned at the border between the north and south.

Having heard all they could from Book Mountain True Monarch, Xu Mengying hastily bid them farewell. Ignoring her injuries, she flew directly towards the direction of the Yellow Lotus Sect's Main Altar.

Although Book Mountain True Monarch had already sent a messaging flying sword to relay the events back to the Dark Alliance branch, there were still things that required his personal account to make accurate judgments for Red Pig True Monarch and the others.

As Meng Zhang was now allied with the Dark Alliance branch, he slightly delayed his departure to explain the situation to them.

Having narrated the events and seen that Meng Zhang had no further questions, Book Mountain True Monarch took his leave and hurriedly flew back to the Dark Alliance branch.

With Xu Mengying and Book Mountain True Monarch gone, Meng Zhang was also worried about the situation in Taiyi Sect. Suppressing his injuries for the time being, he rushed back to the Hundred Grass Slope at Taiyi Sect as quickly as possible.

The Demon Wind Gobi was located almost at the northernmost part of the Jiuqu League, making it too far from the Azure Origin Sect. As of now, news of the Azure Origin Sect cultivators being ambushed by the Dali Dynasty had not yet reached Taiyi Sect.

Upon returning to Taiyi Sect, Meng Zhang didn't dare to be complacent and immediately sent out messaging talismans to inform the nearby sects, such as Great Wind City and Beast King Mountain.

Jade Sword Sect probably knew about this already. Nevertheless, Meng Zhang still sent a message to Jade Sword Sect as a matter of courtesy.

At the same time, he gathered the Gold Core elders of Taiyi Sect and told them the whole story.

Considering Taiyi Sect's strength and circumstances, there wasn't much they could do. Preparing for battle actively was something Taiyi Sect had been doing for a while; their cultivators, together with those from the Hanhai Alliance, were on high alert.

Meng Zhang had injuries, and he couldn't act recklessly. He had Niu Dawei, one of his top disciples, issue mobilization orders to prepare the entire Taiyi Sect and Hanhai Alliance cultivators for war.

Meanwhile, Meng Zhang secluded himself, focusing on healing his injuries, hoping to recover fully before the impending battle.

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