Gu Jinlai’s words caught Liu Jingtiao and Zhang Liefeng off guard.
They had invited Gu Jinlai to the Purgatory Sect precisely to play on his emotions, to remind him of the Purgatory Sect’s merits, and to dispel any future actions Lingxiao City might take against the Purgatory Sect.
Before they could even speak, Gu Jinlai had already brought up the Cold Moon Sect’s incorporation into Lingxiao City!
It meant that Gu Jinlai’s Lingxiao City had already begun its assimilation of other powers in the Tiannan region.
Zhang Liefeng glanced at Liu Jingtiao.
This Primordial Spirit True Monarch hesitated, not knowing how to respond, and it took a while before he managed to say in fits and starts, "This matter... this matter..."
Gu Jinlai said, "If Venerable Daoist Liu doesn’t have other opinions in short notice, it’s okay. Let’s continue discussing the Divine Sword Conference. My suggestion is that some of us powers from Tiannan act together. That way, if any problems arise, we will have each other’s support."
"Naturally, that goes without saying."
Liu Jingtiao nodded, "Elder Gu is a member of our Purgatory Sect’s Supreme Elders. Naturally, we will act together."
"That’s good to hear."
Gu Jinlai said with a smile, "I presume the two Venerables have heard about the recent plundering of our Sword Heavy Cannons by the overseas islands. We issued an ultimatum, giving Lizhou State three months to explain themselves, but so much time has passed without any response. It seems they do not intend to give Lingxiao City an explanation. When the time comes, I’ll take people to Lizhou State. If the two Venerable Elders are interested, you can join in the excitement with me."
"Unless we’re caught up in pressing matters, we certainly won’t be absent."
He continued to maintain a harmonious and friendly atmosphere with the two Venerables, exchanging views until the banquet came to an end.
After sending Gu Jinlai back to rest, Liu Jingtiao and Zhang Liefeng immediately consulted with Lu Zhanxian, a Peak Monarch.
"This must be Gu Jinlai testing the attitudes of our Purgatory Sect,"
Lu Zhanxian pondered and said.
"I had anticipated this day would come, only I thought it would take another decade or so, since Gu Jinlai needs time to digest Jiangzhou State, Yellow State, and maintain stability in both regions. I didn’t expect this day to arrive so swiftly."
Liu Jingtiao let out a sigh.
"The main force of Lingxiao City is Gu Jinlai’s Demon God Guards. These Demon God Guards follow the path of Demon Martial Artists, who favor rapid advancement. In three to five years, they can cultivate a warrior as powerful as a devil..."
Zhang Liefeng paused slightly as he said this, "Moreover... given that Gu Jinlai is extensively developing Demon Martial Artists and yet there haven’t been any incidents of Martial Artists losing control, the rumors that he found a way to purify the demonic nature from the Demon Blood Essence... must be true."
After finishing, his expression was one of both envy and disbelief, "What kind of inheritance did Gu Jinlai get from that Jade Scroll?"
Lu Zhanxian remained silent.
He thought of the intelligence that had been passed to him by Lu Zhanfeng...
Currently, Lingxiao City boasts 18,000 Demon God Guards.
amounted to 18,000 official martial artists.
Moreover, the Mystic Steel Armor of Lingxiao City is famed throughout Tiannan. Its super heavyweight Mystic Steel Armor exceeds the defensive power of top-grade Treasure Armor.
With these Mystic Steel equipments, any one of the Demon God Guards could boast combat power not inferior to Gang Condensation Level Experts.
Eighteen thousand Gang Condensation level experts!
The mere thought was chilling!
If one disregarded combat power above Divinity Transformation, with these 18,000 Demon God Guards, Lingxiao City could already steamroll all forces in Tiannan.
The alliance of Purgatory Sect, Cold Moon Sect, and Netherworld Sect wouldn’t stand a chance against this force.
After all, the number of experts at the Gang Condensation level and above in the Purgatory Sect totalled just over a thousand, and nearly two thousand if local Gang Condensation Level Experts not directly affiliated with the Purgatory Sect were included.
The Cold Moon Sect and Netherworld Sect were in a similar state.
Combined, they had just over six thousand people.
Estimating those beyond Qi Refinement, they might just reach a collective count of 18,000.
With such foundational strength, no wonder he harbored ambitions of annexing Tiannan.
If it weren’t for their fear of the top experts in the Divinity Transformation and Primordial Spirit Realms of the major powers, they might have chosen to forcefully steamroll their ambitions into reality.
Especially since the Cold Moon Sect had already submitted.
"Gu Jinlai will soon take action against Lizhou State, appearing to confront overseas forces, and he has invited us to join..."
After pondering for a moment, Liu Jingtiao said, "He probably just invites us to watch the battle. As for the purpose..."
Lu Zhanxian said calmly, "He seeks to fulfill the objective of bending others to his will without fighting, by demonstrating the formidable power of Lingxiao City, to coerce our Purgatory Sect into joining Lingxiao’s system as well."
Lu Zhanxian said, "Gu Jinlai possesses three of the most powerful killing devices in his hands. The first, the Sword Heavy Cannon, needs no further explanation. The second is that war spiritual artifact known as the Mystic Bird. It’s said that there are sixteen such war spiritual artifacts, but that may be him bluffing. Even during the battle at Yuntian City, he only deployed three, and one of them was damaged at the time. Hence, three is probably the actual number they have..."
Zhang Liefeng and Liu Jingtiao nodded.
"Although these war spiritual artifacts are formidable, their power seems to be between that of a top Monarch and a Peak Monarch. As long as I am not besieged by all three, I am confident that I can destroy them one by one."
Lu Zhanxian said, "What truly makes me wary is that trump card of his, said to be from the Aries Star Palace."
Thinking of the power displayed by Gu Jinlai when he used that trump card on two occasions...
Zhang Liefeng and Liu Jingtiao’s expressions became serious.
"Even though, based on our speculation, this trump card seems to only be triggered at close range and there appears to be an interval between uses, its power... is too great. If we guess wrong, the price will be our lives. Therefore, I want to see it with my own eyes one more time."
Lu Zhanxian said, "If that trump card is as we have speculated, we still have room for negotiation. If it is even more powerful than we anticipated..."
This Peak Monarch, one of the top ten experts of the Ten Demonic Sects, shook his head, "Then there’s nothing more to say. We’ll just have to bow our heads and admit defeat."
"We may not have only this one option."
Zhang Liefeng said somewhat unwillingly, "The Earth Immortal Palace is clearly hosting the Divine Sword Convention in hopes of unifying the Ten Demonic Sects, so why don’t we choose the Earth Immortal Palace, which is hosting the Divine Sword Convention, instead of Gu Jinlai’s Lingxiao City? The Earth Immortal Palace has the Saint Di Luo presiding. Joining the Earth Immortal Palace would obviously have a brighter future than joining Lingxiao City, and if we could be the first to express our allegiance to the Earth Immortal Palace... Buying loyalty with gold, we might even be able to use the resources of the Earth Immortal Palace to attempt reaching the Devas Realm."
"It’s not the same, not at all the same."
Lu Zhanxian shook his head, "Without the Supreme Divine Weapon, the Sky Extreme Sword, the Earth Immortal Palace and the Human Immortal Hall are at their last gasp. Unless they really succeed in unifying the Ten Demonic Sects, what we’re seeing now is their final twilight. But Lingxiao City is different... whether we like it or not, Lingxiao City is like a sun that is slowly rising and will one day reach its zenith, illuminating the Earth."
Liu Jingtiao looked at Lu Zhanxian, somewhat astonished.
He hadn’t expected that this Venerable Daoist, who previously seemed to regard Lingxiao City with considerable wariness and hostility, held such high regard for them.
"Gu Jinlai wants to use Lizhou State and the overseas forces to bluff and intimidate us, the Purgatory Sect. Well, let’s see if he really has the power to make us feel wary, afraid, and even submissive."
Lu Zhanxian said in a grave voice.
"Venerable Daoist Lu, should we call Hong Ye back?" Zhang Liefeng asked softly.
Upon hearing this name mentioned by Zhang Liefeng, Lu Zhanxian’s expression turned a bit strange.
With a vestige of serenity.
The most outstanding disciple of the Purgatory Sect in the last century!
In just thirty years, she achieved the Divinity Transformation.
She disappeared without a trace thirty years ago, and the outside world believed her to have perished.
But in reality, a few Supreme Elders knew...
Having obtained a great opportunity, she had become one of the most powerful foundations of the Purgatory Sect.
When Lu Zhanxian met her six years ago, they tested each other’s strength. Although they didn’t fight to the death, her combat power had already reached a level on par with his.
"A year ago, I was in contact with her because of the matter in Lingxiao City. She is at a critical moment in taking that step and shouldn’t be disturbed at this time."
Lu Zhanxian shook his head, "Moreover, without a clear understanding of the limitations of Gu Jinlai’s trump card... Hong Ye’s presence won’t make much difference. If the worst-case scenario occurs, her existence can still reserve a seed of life for our Purgatory Sect."
Having heard this, Zhang Liefeng nodded.
"So be it. I will personally go and see through all of his trump cards," Lu Zhanxian declared resolutely.
Zhang Liefeng and Liu Jingtiao also nodded solemnly.
Gu Jinlai stayed at the Purgatory Sect for three days, then said his farewells to Liu Jingtiao and several other Venerable Daoist Elders.
It was not that he didn’t want to stay longer at the Purgatory Sect, but...
In those three days, Zhang Yukan, who had gone to Tianhe, finally sent back good news!
The large Demon Realm Rift in Tianhe was located!
Since they had already predicted that the Demon Realm Rift would open soon, Gu Jinlai did not dare delay and potentially miss the precious opening time.
After leaving the Purgatory Sect, he even parted from the thousand-strong group of Demon God Guards and hurried to Lingxiao City alone.
Outside Lingxiao City, in his estate, Zhang Lihuo, Si Tianyan, Guan Xingyun, Xiang Fengyun, and others were already prepared.
Three operable Mystic Bird fighting machines and five modified ones that had not yet been fitted with engines were all loaded onto vehicles.
However, the Mystic Bird fighting machines were not the focus; inside a large carriage was the main attraction, the Cheng Ying Mecha.
Gu Jinlai planned to take the Cheng Ying Mecha directly to the Demon Realm Rift at Tianhe. While waiting for the rift to open, he, along with Zhang Lihuo and others, would work overtime to cast the mecha.
Even though the mecha was still some time away from completion and might not be ready for the imminent opening of the Demon Realm Rift, during the wait for the rift to open, the Great Heavenly Masters and Heavenly Monarchs couldn’t just be idle.
They would advance the progress on the mecha as much as possible.
Only when the mecha truly appeared would Lingxiao City dare to say that they possessed the strength to protect themselves in these chaotic times filled with the covetous gazes of devilish creatures.