Chapter 522: A Bitter Pill to Swallow

Chapter 522: Chapter 522: A Bitter Pill to Swallow

The Snake Emperor, Ghost King Ao Tian, and their forces split into three groups and began their separate attacks on the three great powers.

Catching them by surprise—that was the Dragon Sect’s guiding principle.

Not only that, but the Imperial City, for reasons unknown, also dispatched three columns of its own, joining forces with the Dragon Sect to attack the three great powers.

Just as Long Ao and the Snake Emperor had guessed, after Long Ao’s massacre of three thousand people and seven Semi-Saint Martial Artists on White Spirit Mountain, the three great powers never imagined he would press his advantage. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

By the time the three great powers finally reacted, the situation was already irreversible.

The Dragon Sect’s Corpse Slave Army, combined with the Imperial City’s formidable forces, caused the three great powers to suffer one defeat after another. In the span of a single night, they were nearly driven out of Kyushu and forced back into the Kyushu Spirit Realm.

However, the three great powers clearly had no intention of giving up. They immediately redoubled their efforts, dispatching powerful reinforcements to secure their positions. By doing so, they finally managed to establish a firm foothold.

This time, the Snake Emperor and the others didn’t dare to disobey Long Ao’s orders again. They stopped when they had the upper hand and did not continue their pursuit of the three great powers.

Just when everyone—including the Imperial City and the three great powers—thought Long Ao would move to occupy the other states, the Dragon Sect’s three columns unexpectedly withdrew and returned to the Celestial State.

Long Ao’s move left everyone completely baffled.

The Imperial City was deeply frustrated. They had thought they could seize half the lands this time, but the Dragon Sect’s sudden withdrawal meant the Imperial City had no choice but to abandon its plans as well.

In the Dragon Sect, on the back mountain, beside an exceptionally beautiful lotus pond.

"Brother Duan, please have a seat."

Long Ao wasn’t the least bit surprised by Duan Kai’s sudden arrival. He had long suspected the Imperial City would send someone, but he hadn’t expected Duan Kai to come in person.

Duan Kai was quite frustrated. As a high-ranking member of the Imperial City, he shouldn’t have had to come for such a matter. But given Long Ao’s current status, Duan He was no longer qualified for the task.

"Sect Leader Long, I trust you already know the purpose of my visit."

Shaking his head, Long Ao said nothing.

’Hmph.’ Long Ao snorted inwardly. Of course he knew why Duan Kai had come, but he wasn’t going to be the one to say it. In this situation, the advantage was his.

Though he was inwardly cursing Long Ao and all eighteen generations of his ancestors, Duan Kai’s expression remained perfectly natural. "Sect Leader Long," he said, "the Dragon Sect and the Imperial City joined forces and gained the upper hand. Why didn’t we press our advantage? Why did the Dragon Sect suddenly withdraw, squandering such a golden, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"

"So, Brother Duan believes pressing our advantage is the best possible strategy?"

Nodding, Duan Kai said, "That’s right. We caught the three great powers completely off guard. As long as we press our advantage, I am certain we can drive them out of Kyushu. Then we can each take half the lands for ourselves."

How could Long Ao not understand Duan Kai’s meaning? He swore fiercely under his breath again. But no matter what, his Sect and the Imperial City were still allies.

"Brother Duan, since things have come to this, I’ll be frank. With the Dragon Sect’s current strength, if we were to clash head-on with the three great powers, we would only be courting our own destruction. Do you agree with my assessment?"

Duan Kai said nothing, which was a tacit admission.

As a high-ranking member of the Imperial City, Duan Kai knew just how terrifying the resources and power of the Four Great Forces truly were. ’For the newly established Dragon Sect to think it can annihilate them all by itself? Others might believe it, but I certainly don’t.’

But Duan Kai was still unwilling to give up this chance. His objective was simple: he wanted to use the Dragon Sect’s power to tie down the three great powers. Once they occupied Kyushu, they could search for the Tomb of the Gods with all possible speed.

As long as they could find the Tomb of the Gods, the Imperial City’s withdrawal from Kyushu would be a small price to pay.

He was unwilling to let it go.

"For the Dragon Sect, in its current state, to clash head-on with the three great powers would be suicide. Brother Duan, your Imperial City is vast and powerful, so of course you have nothing to fear. But our situation is different."

"Sect Leader Long, since we’ve reached this point, let’s stop beating around the bush."

"Fine."

Long Ao appeared completely nonchalant, as if he couldn’t care less about the alliance between their two powers. This very attitude made Duan Kai feel his confidence slipping away.

’Normally, countless factions would be clamoring to form an alliance with the Imperial City, and the Imperial City would always be the one in charge. But now?’

’It was as if in this alliance, the Dragon Sect was the leader and the Imperial City was the subordinate. It made it seem like the Imperial City had to curry favor with the Dragon Sect.’

"Sect Leader Long, your feud with the three great powers—especially the Long Family and Piaomiao Palace—has reached a kill-or-be-killed stage. While we may not be able to annihilate them, tying them down is more than within our capabilities. Don’t you agree?"

Long Ao remained silent. He knew very well that Duan Kai wasn’t finished.

And sure enough.

"Sect Leader Long, I can guarantee that if you commit your full strength this time, we can absolutely drive the three great powers out of Kyushu. Afterward, we’ll each take half the lands. What’s more, I can also promise that after three years, my Imperial City will withdraw from Kyushu, leaving the entirety of it to the Dragon Sect. How does that sound?"

Long Ao sneered inwardly.

He saw right through Duan Kai’s scheming.

’The Tomb of the Gods... In the end, Duan Kai is this desperate to drive out the three great powers so he can have the Tomb of the Gods all to himself. But what the Four Great Forces would never guess is that the Tomb they’re so desperately searching for isn’t in Kyushu at all. It’s in the City of Sin, within the Kyushu Spirit Realm.’

’That being the case, why not use the Imperial City to tie down the three great powers for me?’

Having thought this through, Long Ao said, "Brother Duan, since you’ve put it that way, I’ll be direct as well. The only reason my Dragon Sect was able to defeat the three great powers was because of the Corpse Slave Army. The problem is, my Corpse Slave Army is limited in number. If the Imperial City can dispatch double the forces, I’ll agree to your proposal."

’Shameless.’

’Despicable.’

Duan Kai inwardly cursed Long Ao and all eighteen generations of his ancestors once more. ’Double the forces! Long Ao just wants to sit back and reap the rewards while we do all the work! But I can’t refuse.’

Duan Kai had come here specifically to make this happen. Weighing the Tomb of the Gods against the cost of sending twice the men, he nodded. "No problem, Sect Leader Long. Since we have an agreement, let’s act immediately. What do you say?"

"Fine."

Long Ao smiled. In this deal between the Imperial City and the Dragon Sect, the Imperial City had clearly gotten the short end of the stick. But they could only swallow their bitterness and suffer in silence.

If it weren’t for the Tomb of the Gods, Duan Kai would never have swallowed his pride and made such a compromise. Long Ao had seized upon this exact point to secure the greatest possible benefit for himself and the Dragon Sect.

’The Corpse Slave Army possesses an Undying Body. I have nothing to worry about there. When the great powers go to war, I’ll be the one to reap the benefits in the end.’

(PS: It’s 2 AM, gotta get to sleep. I have to wake up early tomorrow. *Sigh*!)