The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings

Chapter 2025: Chapter 1970–1971: Why He Cannot Be Seen as the Emperor of Heaven (Part 2)

Now, what needs to be done is not to stop oneself, but to leverage the already mobilized advantages to accelerate the changes in the current situation. By rapidly mobilizing all the religious sects, drag them onto the same level, and let everyone deplete resources.

He also understands that such an approach will inevitably only rally some forces, while others will choose to continue hiding, waiting for the moment.

However, isn’t this exactly Tie Qianshan’s plan? His aim is to deliberately divide these forces into two camps, one ready to mobilize at any moment, and the other wishing to reap benefits without fighting.

By that time, the Heterodox Alliance’s forces would have reached their peak, and the foundation nearly exhausted. They would strike directly at those who are prepared but whose strength hasn’t been fully realized, plundering their resources to strengthen themselves.

And with the Heterodox Alliance taking the initiative, the other parties who have been preparing for war will certainly not sit by and watch. They will definitely seize the opportunity to act together.

As for whether those preparing forces will target the Heterodox Alliance, Tie Qianshan isn’t worried at all.

Because everyone isn’t foolish. Not to mention the Heterodox Alliance’s strength reaching its peak, making them a tough opponent, their resources being seventy to eighty percent depleted means targeting them yields little return while causing self-damage.

Picking soft targets is human instinct, the choice to seek benefits and avoid harm.

If there is no choice, then the Heterodox Alliance would naturally need to worry. But with some forces not yet developed to the fullest, everyone will naturally choose to strike first, seize resources to bolster their own strength; this is the optimal choice.

“Actually, I have a rather immature idea. You may listen to it.” Xue Wuheng’s face broke into a smile, softly speaking a thought he had pondered for a long time.

“After the matter of the Five Old Lords, their reputation was tarnished within the Gods and the Taoist School. This cast a shadow over the Five Old Lords, who originally were candidates for the Emperor of Heaven. If we tell the Taoist Monarchs of the Taoist School now that there are better choices, can we use this to stir up the situation, even bind with the Taoist School?”

Xue Wuheng shared his thoughts; these arose while interacting with the Taoist Monarchs of the Taoist School after joining forces with the three immortal sects to counter Buddhism School.

“Hmm? This indeed seems true, otherwise why would the Taoist Monarchs stay with the three immortal sects, ignoring the matter of the Five Old Lords?”

“Vice Alliance Leader Xue, please continue!”

“Who could replace the Five Old Lords?”

“Dragging the Taoist School into this would undoubtedly make many forces tremble with fear.”

“…”

“The Human Race Five Emperors is actually a good choice.” Xue Wuheng said.

After probing the Taoist Monarchs of the Taoist School about their disappointment with the Five Old Lords, Xue Wuheng thought of why not push the Human Race Five Emperors to ascend, allowing the Heterodox Alliance to seize this opportunity.

After all, if it were purely the Taoist School’s Five Old Lords, this is purely Taoist School’s power. The Heterodox Alliance wouldn’t be able to intervene, even with an invitation from the Taoist School, Xue Wuheng would remain wary, as they are clearly outsiders.

However, if it’s the Human Race Five Emperors instead, then the relationship is equal, and the Human Race Five Emperors’ strength isn’t weak. Although slightly inferior to the Taoist School, they have the power to resist domination; they won’t truly be willing to submit to the Taoist School, thus the Heterodox Alliance’s value can be manifested.

Upon return, Xue Wuheng also considered whether this situation was orchestrated intentionally by the Taoist Monarchs to involve the Heterodox Alliance.

But even if the Taoist Monarchs had such intentions, Xue Wuheng didn’t plan to refuse, as this matter seems beneficial from every angle, with no harm at all, so there’s no need to reject it.

After thorough consideration, Xue Wuheng then refined the plan slightly, choosing to propose it today, hoping to gain agreement from others, at least first achieve a unified stance internally within the Heterodox Alliance.

“The Human Race Five Emperors?”

Upon hearing the name, the others immediately recalled much information about the Human Race Five Emperors.

The Human Race Five Emperors have been very low-key in recent years, despite being an extremely powerful force. But since it’s now the era of the Taoist Monarchs, these former rulers of the human race are no longer the masters of heaven and earth.

So, it’s clearly a strong faction centered around five newly ascended Taoist Monarchs, supported by numerous True Immortals and Gods, yet inadvertently ignored by various forces.

If not for recently hearing Xuantian Sect’s Taoist Monarch Xuantian offering support, suggesting the Human Race Five Emperors as potential candidates for future Heavenly Court leadership, they likely wouldn’t pay much attention.

Of course, regarding the support from Taoist Monarch Xuantian, calling for the Human Race Five Emperors as potential replacements for the Jade Emperor as Imperial Honors, all immortals dismissed it, knowing clearly that Taoist Monarch Xuantian’s strength is far from sufficient, unable to compete with the Taoist School.

Furthermore, it’s not just the Taoist School; even the Demonic Way and the other immortal sects have had enough of the days when Xuantian Sect was the human race’s Righteous Path leader, unwilling to see Xuantian Sect return to that position.

However, the Heterodox Alliance differs, for grudges with the Jade Emperor are evident. Any opposition to the Jade Emperor, from their perspective, can potentially serve as an ally.

Despite the general neglect of the Human Race Five Emperors, the Heterodox Alliance spent considerable effort to investigate the potency of the Human Race Five Emperors’ faction, assessing whether they indeed have the ability to contend with the Jade Emperor and potentially replace him.

Yet, from the intel obtained from Sky Mechanism Pavilion and Bai Xiaosheng, it appeared the Human Race Five Emperors’ strength, though not weak, was merely relative. With only the support of Taoist Monarch Xuantian, they couldn’t ascend to the position of Emperor of Heaven, nor could they compete with the Taoist School’s Five Old Lords.

Upon confirming this information, many powerful members within the Heterodox Alliance felt quietly regretful. Just as the Jade Emperor would suppress the Heterodox Alliance if given the chance, they, too, wouldn’t mind giving the Jade Emperor trouble.

“Alas, the Human Race Five Emperors, they lack the fate of the Emperor of Heaven!”

This was the lament of a strong figure within the Heterodox Alliance at the time.

However, the rapid changes in the situation were unexpected by anyone. The Five Old Lords, formerly strong contenders for Emperor of Heaven, almost fully supported by the Taoist School, ended up undermining themselves.

From the Five Old Lords’ perspective, Qingling Primordial Lord’s original choice wasn’t wrong. Had he successfully ambushed the former Wood Virtue Star Lord, seized the Wood Dao Authority to confirm as a Taoist Monarch, his prestige would certainly rise further, gaining more support from the Taoist School.

Yet, sometimes heroism is judged by success or failure. Regardless of whether his approach was right or wrong, once he failed to seize authority, he was destined to be a failure, unrecognized by anyone.

If the Taoist Monarchs of the Taoist School had no other choice, even if the Five Old Lords were worse, they would grudgingly push the Five Old Lords to ascend in the face of no compromise with the Jade Emperor.

However, sometimes it’s just so coincidental; the emergence of the Human Race Five Emperors made the Taoist Monarchs realize, they aren’t solely dependent on the Five Old Lords. There are other alternatives.

Some strong figures may feel the Human Race Five Emperors possess greater strength and aren’t cultivated by the Taoist School. Even if supported, conflicts of interest with the Taoist School, much like the current Imperial Honors, are inevitable.

This isn’t a possibility, but an inevitability that can be readily foreseen.

Yet stepping back, even if the Five Old Lords genuinely ascend, wouldn’t they, too, conflict with the Taoist School over interests?