In a hidden place in the Eastern Region, a considerable number of people had already gathered. All of them were powerful martial artists, with the lowest cultivation at the fifth level of the Heavenly King realm. There were even over a dozen Half-Emperor realm cultivators. Besides seeking the opportunity to break through to the Emperor Venerable realm, those who held grudges against Xu Chuan and the Tai Yi Holy Land, like cats smelling fish, had all converged here. They were preparing to seize the chance to tear a piece of flesh from the Tai Yi Holy Land. If they could bring down the Tai Yi Holy Land from its divine pedestal, that would be even better.
At this moment, no one spoke. The atmosphere was tense, filled with unspoken conflict. They hailed from different factions, and some factions even harbored enmity towards each other. If it weren't for the news and the plan to attack the Tai Yi Holy Land, they would never have assembled here. They might have erupted into a battle the moment they met.
After an indeterminate period, the space suddenly vibrated. Immediately following, a warship bearing the insignia of the Xuan Tian Holy Land tore through the void and arrived at the location. Li Yan, leading a group of people, slowly disembarked from the warship and approached everyone.
"Everyone has waited long enough!" Li Yan said with a smile. It was he who had summoned these factions. After witnessing Xu Chuan's combat prowess, he felt a twinge of fear, worried that the Tai Yi Holy Land might be a trap waiting for them. Thus, after discussing with Hou Qinglin, they made a sinister decision. They gathered all the factions coveting the opportunity and those who had grievances with Xu Chuan. Their plan was to proceed together to the Tai Yi Holy Land, forcing Xuan Sa to hand over Xu Chuan and the opportunity! If they refused, with so many of them acting in concert, the Tai Yi Holy Land would be on the brink of annihilation! As for the opportunity, it would go to whoever was luckiest to obtain it!
These factions all readily agreed to the proposal. Individually, no single faction was a match for the Tai Yi Holy Land, let alone obtaining the opportunity from them! Only by uniting could they have a chance.
Li Yan sat at the head of the table and surveyed the crowd. "Are the representatives of the Eastern Region factions not here yet?" He had done his homework. The Eastern Region was not monolithic. Several major powers held grudges against the Tai Yi Holy Land, or rather, against Xu Chuan. Li Yan had contacted them long ago. Logically, they should be the most eager to attend. Yet, not a single trace of their presence was visible.
"Elder Li, the Yao Shan Sword Sect, the Tai Xu Holy Land, and the Silver Moon Holy Land have sent messengers. They will proceed to the Tai Yi Holy Land ahead of us to gather intelligence and await our arrival."
"As for the Tian Yan Sect... there has been no response. They seem to have vanished."
A Half-Emperor realm cultivator bearing the insignia of the San Yang Holy Land stepped forward and reported. The San Yang Holy Land was located in the Southern Region, close to the Eastern Region, and had arrived relatively quickly. This time, the San Yang Holy Land had mobilized almost all its forces. Apart from the San Yang Holy Lord, who was difficult to leave the Holy Land, everyone above the Tong Tian realm had been summoned to the Eastern Region. Their sole purpose was to annihilate the Tai Yi Holy Land and kill Xu Chuan! The San Yang Holy Lord detested Xu Chuan to the extreme. Not only had his son, Yang Ding Tian, died at Xu Chuan's hands, but his hidden operative had also perished at Xu Chuan's hands. The young generation of strong cultivators in their San Yang Holy Land had all been wiped out by Xu Chuan. The reason he learned of this news so quickly was thanks to people from the Temple of Light. Consequently, the San Yang Holy Lord immediately dispatched his men to accompany the Temple of Light's contingent to the Eastern Region, intending to intercept Xu Chuan en route. However, after receiving Li Yan's summons, they formulated a new plan. Since so many factions were jointly attacking the Tai Yi Holy Land, why not seize the opportunity to annihilate it? Then, the San Yang Holy Land could simply usurp its position, and with the Tai Yi Holy Land's inheritance, they might even become more powerful. As for whether anyone else would have the same idea, they were not worried at all. Those with the strength to compete with them were too far away, requiring time and effort to travel. The closer Eastern Region factions, however, lacked the capability! Therefore, after the annihilation of the Tai Yi Holy Land, they would be the biggest beneficiaries.
"Good. With them gathering intelligence, it saves us time," Li Yan nodded. The Half-Emperor realm cultivators present, along with himself, Hou Qinglin, and Long Tu, numbered nearly twenty. Even without the assistance of these Eastern Region native factions, taking down a mere Tai Yi Holy Land would be incredibly easy. Their absence was their loss. Thus, Li Yan did not pay it much mind. It was merely a passing remark.
"Since everyone is ready, let us depart!"
"Regarding the opportunity, it goes to those with destiny. I have only one requirement: personally kill Xu Chuan!" Li Yan's eyes gleamed with cold light, his killing intent palpable. However, he spoke only what he said. In his heart, his thoughts were different. Xu Chuan's head was his, and the opportunity was also his. These people were merely tools for him to pressure the Tai Yi Holy Land. Did they even deserve to contend with him for the opportunity? A joke!
"Attack Tai Yi!"
"Kill!"
In an instant, everyone's emotions were ignited. Although each harbored their own thoughts, at least for this moment, they were united. All their auras erupted, interweaving to unleash a sky-piercing killing intent. This killing intent instilled fear in all nearby things. They were the elites among elites from various factions. Each one, if placed outside, would be a powerhouse dominating a region. This time, to seize the opportunity, they had brought out their strongest forces.
This powerful aura, piercing the heavens, was also sensed by the Tai Yi Holy Lord far away.
"They are here!" Xuan Sa said calmly. Despite sensing the multitude of approaching powerhouses, Xuan Sa showed no fear. The Eastern Region was his territory. Daring to invade his Tai Yi Holy Land was akin to lighting a lamp in a latrine – seeking death!
"There are always so many people in this world who do not fear death!" Xue San Jian also said with a cold laugh.
"Opportunities stir the heart, especially such supreme opportunities," Zhu Rufeng, who had been silent, also spoke. As a veteran peak Half-Emperor, having fought against demons for countless years, he had seen many storms and did not truly regard these dozen or so Half-Emperors with much concern. Daring to come to the Tai Yi Holy Land was simply courting death!
"After this is over, you shall enter the small world to break through to the Emperor Venerable realm."
"After breaking through, you shall guard the small world and only emerge when the issues are completely resolved."
"Xu Chuan has already grown strong. The Tai Yi Holy Land can be entrusted to him with peace of mind." Xue San Jian turned and said to Xuan Sa. Xu Chuan had omitted the information about the secret land when revealing the secret of the Emperor Venerable's disappearance. Therefore, Xuan Sa could only seek another way to break through. The small world, where they fought against demons, was one such method. Breaking through within it would also allow him to evade teleportation. However, after breaking through, he would have to remain within it. Only when someone broke the formation covering Xuan Tian could he return to Xuan Tian.
"Alright!" Xuan Sa nodded, agreeing without hesitation. Being able to break through to the Emperor Venerable realm was the lifelong goal he could not give up on.