Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1370 - 876: Illusion Moon Sect Leadership
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
Three days had passed.
Within the study on Spiritual Spring Mountain Plateau, Yang Zhenshan reviewed the intelligence brought by the Secret Martial Guards, his face becoming ever more solemn.
Events at Lotus Heart Valley had surpassed his predictions, and Zhang Mo's strength went far beyond what he had imagined.
Once Lotus Heart Valley came under siege, Liu Zai Xian issued a desperate call for aid, prompting the nearest Lan and Yu families to rush reinforcements right away.
Yet, the Foundation Establishment experts from those two clans got ambushed and slain en route, failing to arrive at Lotus Heart Valley.
Just three hours into the siege of Lotus Heart Valley, Zhang Mo shattered the valley's Guardian Array, utterly destroying this thriving hub.
Inside Lotus Heart Valley, most of the more than ten thousand cultivators met their end, though a handful of fortunate survivors fled the area.
At the same time, Zhang Mo's ghost soldiers and blood puppets assaulted the Lin family lands, slaughtering thousands of clansmen, including the Foundation Establishment cultivator Lin Zhensong.
While Lotus Heart Valley crumbled, reinforcements from the Chen, Yan, Liu, and Lin families showed up one after another, clashing in an intense fight beyond the valley and finally driving back Zhang Mo.
It was less a repulsion of Zhang Mo and more a deliberate withdrawal on his part.
From start to finish, Zhang Mo toyed with the Qingli Six Families, luring them steadily into his schemes. Ultimately, he slipped away without a scratch, his forces barely diminished.
In that clash, the Qingli Six Families sacrificed six Foundation Establishment cultivators: Lin Zhensong and Lin Wanli of the Lin family, the Lan family ancestor, the Yu family ancestor, plus the later-arriving Foundation Establishment aids from the Yan and Chen families.
Liu Zai Xian suffered grave wounds and barely clung to life.
This result stunned countless observers.
Gazing at the document before him, Yang Zhenshan let out a deep breath, "Trouble!"
The devastating losses of the Qingli Six Families hurled the Qingli Dynasty into dire straits.
Zhang Mo's scheme was far from over; his following move would be straightforward—pick them off one by one.
Without a strong response from the Qingli Six Families, the Qingli Dynasty would swiftly fall under Zhang Mo's control.
Given the Unpredictable Ghost Sect’s Yin Soul Bureau's methods, after crushing the Qingli Six Families, who would Zhang Mo strike next?
The Sea of Spirit, or perhaps the Nether Prison Sect?
On this occasion, Zhang Mo deployed no fewer than fifteen Foundation Establishment cultivators and almost a thousand late-stage Qi Refining cultivators—a horrifying force that could overwhelm either the Sea of Spirit or the Nether Prison Sect.
What's more, after wiping out the Qingli Six Families, Zhang Mo's might would swell even further.
Next to him, Mo Xuanyu amounted to a small fry, scarcely worthy of sharing the Blood Pool Steward role in the Yin Soul Bureau.
"Grandfather, should Zhang Mo's rise go uncontested, the Sea of Spirit could be lost!" Yang Chengye murmured, positioned before the desk.
Yang Zhenshan gave a faint nod, "Zhang Mo surely won't let the Sea of Spirit off the hook!"
Though the Sea of Spirit serves as a haven for Martial Artists, plenty there know how to forge ghost soldiers and blood puppets.
Against Foundation Establishment immortal cultivators, Golden Body Realm martial artists possess some means of resistance.
Yang Zhenshan excels in Divine Soul assaults, making Mo Xuanyu’s blood puppets appear frail, yet other Foundation Establishment cultivators lacking Divine Soul prowess couldn't readily vanquish multiple Golden Body Realm martial artists.
Relative to late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, the Sea of Spirit boasts far more Heavenly Gang Stage martial artists.
Such Heavenly Gang Stage martial artists make ideal cannon fodder—their power might lag, but their sheer quantity compensates, with the Sea of Spirit able to rally around ten thousand of them.
Thus, Zhang Mo definitely won't overlook the Sea of Spirit.
"Should we act?" Yang Chengye inquired.
These days, the Spirit Source Land has solidly rooted itself in the Sea of Spirit, securing its own domain and forging a silent pact with the Three Sects of Spirit.
Now viewed as an extension of the Sea of Spirit, the Spirit Source Land cannot tolerate Zhang Mo's rampage.
"When the sky crumbles, the tall ones hold it up; this isn't our moment to step into the spotlight!" Yang Zhenshan twirled his beard while speaking.
The Three Sects of Spirit truly dominate the Sea of Spirit. Should Zhang Mo truly plan to assault the Sea of Spirit, the Three Sects of Spirit would spearhead the counterattack.
Furthermore, this predicament extends far beyond just the Sea of Spirit's concerns.
Zhang Mo's menace targets not only the Sea of Spirit but extends to the Nether Prison Sect, the lingering remnants of the Qingli Dynasty, and the Hidden Sword Mountain hidden away in the Yunxiao Mountain Range.
The Yun Que Clan and White Cloud Immortal City within the Yunxiao Mountain Range could also get pulled into the fray.
Though the Yun Que Clan belongs to the Demon Clan, they hold absolute sway over the western regions of the Yunxiao Mountain Range. Zhang Mo's schemes will undoubtedly affect them as well.
Never think that the Yun Que Clan, as part of the Demon Clan, stands against the Human Clan's powers; truth be told, the Demon Clan possesses great wisdom too. Such wisdom brings clear insight into gains and perils.
The Yun Que Clan shares scant ties with the powers of the Sea of Spirit, yet they foster tight bonds with various Human Clan cultivation factions.
Take White Cloud Immortal City, for instance. Rumors claim that numerous mutant beasts from the White Cloud Commerce originate from the Yun Que Clan.
Would White Cloud Immortal City tolerate Zhang Mo causing chaos in the western reaches of the Yunxiao Mountain Range?
Absolutely not—White Cloud Immortal City holds stakes in Lotus Heart Valley as well. Indeed, during the annihilation of Lotus Heart Valley, several White Cloud Commerce affiliates perished at Zhang Mo's hands.
Thus, might White Cloud Immortal City support the Qingli Dynasty?
"Have the Secret Martial Guards keep an eye on the Qingli Dynasty; if there are any changes, inform me immediately!" Yang Zhenshan ordered Yang Chengye.