185: Chapter 184 Arrival in the Northern Region

Xuanyuan Yao lowered his head, but his heart was in turmoil.

Throughout this Sect conference, he had been sweeping at the edge of the square, watching with his own eyes as the Sect Master bestowed one Immortal technique after another.

The leaders of those subordinate forces were all trembling with excitement, and his heart felt as if it were being clawed by a cat.

Those were Immortal techniques; he hadn't even touched one in his entire life.

But as a prisoner, what else could he do besides sweeping the courtyard and wiping the gates every day?

He had thought about it for the entire conference, gripping his broom so hard it almost snapped.

To perform a service, he had to perform a service.

As long as he performed a service, the Sect Master might look upon him with more favor.

Lin Chen looked down at Xuanyuan Yao kneeling before the platform and was actually a bit stunned.

This fellow had been honestly sweeping the floors since being captured; he had almost forgotten there was such a person in the Sect.

"I actually forgot about you."

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, sized him up for a moment, and suddenly remembered,

"You used to be part of the Ancient Desolate Divine Hall; you're familiar with the Central Region."

Xuanyuan Yao hurriedly looked up: "Reporting to the Sect Master, this subordinate stayed in the Central Region for tens of thousands of years. I know exactly where the strongholds of every major Imperial clan are!"

Lin Chen nodded and looked at Immortal Qing Li:

"Qingli, take him with you to the Central Region."

Immortal Qing Li glanced at Xuanyuan Yao and nodded slightly.

Overjoyed, Xuanyuan Yao immediately kowtowed to accept the order. He retreated to the corner with his broom, his back much straighter than before.

The preparations for the expedition were faster than expected.

For this Sect conference, the noble families and Sects had brought their elites; the Grand Elders, core figures, and accompanying Protectors of every house were all in Xuanqi City.

Although there wasn't time to mobilize the ordinary Disciples at the bottom, the top combat power of the entire Eastern and Western Regions was here, saving the trouble of moving troops back and forth.

Xiao Zhan finalized the organization of the three armies and quickly arranged the distribution of the Warships.

The three armies finished assembling in the sky above Xuanqi City.

Warship after Warship lined up, blotting out the sun and stretching beyond the horizon.

The entire Xuanqi City was pressed into a deathly silence by this murderous aura.

The Cultivators in the streets looked up at the sun-blocking fleet above their heads, not even daring to breathe loudly.

There were many spies from various forces in Xuanqi City.

For an event as significant as the Taixuan Sect holding a Sect conference, any force in the entire Ancient Desolate Continent with any connections had sent people to keep watch.

At this moment, these spies mingled in the crowd, their faces turning pale as they looked at the endless fleet of Warships overhead.

The Taixuan Sect was coming out in full force; such a display was definitely no small matter.

Some quick-witted spies already had a thought: they were going to conquer the entire Ancient Desolate Continent.

Several communication talismans flew out from various corners of Xuanqi City almost simultaneously, racing in all directions.

In the Sect Masters Hall, Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, holding a teacup and drinking slowly.

Xiao Zhan stood to the side, hesitated for a moment, and then reported in a low voice:

"Sect Master, many spies have infiltrated the city, and several communication talismans were just sent out. Should we send people to intercept them?"

Lin Chen blew on the tea leaves, not even lifting his eyelids:

"Let them send them."

Xiao Zhan was slightly stunned, then immediately understood.

The Sect Master didn't care at all if these forces knew the news in advance. What could they do even if they knew?

When the three armies marched out, those who should submit would still have to submit, and those destined for destruction could not escape.

The Taixuan Sect wasn't conducting a sneak attack; it was a fair and square crushing.

The faster the news spread, the more pressure it would put on those forces still waiting on the sidelines.

Under the leadership of the three True Immortals, the three armies entered the Void Realm cracks in sequence.

Immortal Xuanming was the first to tear through the Void Realm, and the Northern route's Warships from the various temples of the Western Region entered one after another.

Immortal Qing Li and Immortal Lingxiao followed closely behind.

Three Void Realm passages opened side-by-side. The Warships trailed long plumes of fire in the Void Realm, while the Great Emperor Peaks shuttled back and forth in the passages, protecting the lower-level Cultivators.

The Northern Army was the first to pass through the Void Realm passage.

A crack opened in the sky above the Northern Region, and the Warships slowly sailed out.

The Xuelan Imperial Lord stood beside Immortal Xuanming and pointed into the distance:

"Elder Xuanming, the strongest force in the Northern Region is the Northern Region Imperial Palace, controlled entirely by Dugu Jue. Although there are many other large and small forces, as long as the Northern Region Imperial Palace falls, the others will collapse without a fight. This subordinate suggests we take down the Northern Region Imperial Palace directly."

Immortal Xuanming nodded.

The Warships turned around and headed straight for the Imperial City.

On the walls of the Imperial City, the guarding Cultivators saw the approaching dark shadows on the horizon from afar, initially thinking it was some force passing through.

As the Warships flew closer, a True Immortal-level pressure bore down like mountains, causing the entire city wall to tremble slightly.

The generals on the wall scrambled to report the news, while several Elders on duty steeled themselves and flew into the air.

But they didn't even have the courage to block the front of the formation and could only approach tremblingly.

The leading Elder bowed deeply, his voice shaking:

"I... I do not know which Immortals have graced us with your presence. May I ask who you are..."

Immortal Xuanming glanced at him without speaking, turning his head to look at the Xuelan Imperial Lord.

The Xuelan Imperial Lord immediately understood and stepped forward. The Elder recognized the newcomer and was stunned for a moment:

"Xuelan Imperial Lord?"

"By the order of Immortal Lord Taixuan."

The Xuelan Imperial Lord didn't exchange pleasantries and got straight to the point,

"The Taixuan Sect will unify the Ancient Desolate Continent; those who do not comply will be executed without mercy. Have Dugu Jue come out immediately to pay respects to Elder Xuanming."

The Elder's face turned pale. He bowed repeatedly, then turned and flew deep into the Imperial Palace.

Deep within the Imperial Palace.

Dugu Jue sat slumped in the chair in the center of the hall, his clothes a crumpled mess and his white hair disheveled.

The desk in front of him was piled haphazardly with secret reports from various provinces, and several empty wine jars rolled on the floor.

The air was filled with a strong smell of alcohol, so pungent it almost made one's eyes sting.

The desk was piled with secret reports from various provinces, yet not a single one could tell him who the killer was.

"Emperor!"

The Elder rushed into the hall, his steps faltering from the smell of alcohol, but he still steeled himself and fell to his knees with a thud,

"Emperor, the people from the Taixuan Sect have attacked! The outside is full of Warships, led by the Taixuan Sect's Immortals. They want the Emperor to go out immediately to pay respects; those who do not comply will be executed without mercy!"

Dugu Jue's finger twitched slightly.

Taixuan Sect.

These three words reached his ears as if through a thick fog.

He slowly raised his head. A very brief flash of clarity passed through his bloodshot eyes, but it quickly dimmed again.

He glanced at the kneeling Elder, his lips moving:

"And the killer? Was he found?"

"The killer who killed Ao'er, have you found him?"

He reached out and pointed at the pile of secret reports, his voice growing raspier and more urgent:

"Look at these secret reports. Every single one, every single one I open is the fucking same."

"No clues, can't find anything, don't know. Not one person can tell me how Ao'er died! Huh?"