An Unlikely Alliance and a Daring Plan

Within this realm, three distinct powers held sway.

These were the human Sword Sect, the demon beast Thousand Bird Cave, and the Myriad Insect Hall.

Sect Leader Murong of the Sword Sect was a cultivator at the early Golden Core stage, while the Great Roc demon, master of the Thousand Bird Cave, boasted a peak Golden Core cultivation.

The Hall Master of Myriad Insect Hall, another great demon, possessed a mid-Golden Core cultivation.

For a long time, these three factions had vied for dominance in this territory, locked in continuous struggle.

Among them, the human Sword Sect was the weakest, and the Great Roc from the Thousand Bird Cave was undeniably the most powerful.

Outwardly, therefore, the human race and the Myriad Insect Hall shared a relationship akin to ‘if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold’.

Indeed, the great demons of the Thousand Bird Cave had long coveted the Myriad Insect Hall, eager to turn its insect demons into their own blood sustenance.

The great demons of the Myriad Insect Hall, in turn, understood that their true mortal enemies were the great demons of the Thousand Bird Cave.

It was precisely this mutual animosity that allowed the human race to carve out a sliver of survival in this ongoing contest.

Now, with both the Thousand Bird Cave and the Myriad Insect Hall advancing on the Sword Sect simultaneously, could it be that these two demon races had actually united?

Even alliances between humans were fraught with immense difficulty and complexity, regardless of nation, status, or sect.

The thought of demons uniting seemed even more convoluted and impossible.

It was like expecting a mouse and a cat to become friends.

While in human terms, this might symbolize differing personalities, for demon races, it represented a genuine, tangible conflict.

****

At this moment, Sect Leader Murong had already led the cultivators of her sect, along with those from the northern lands, to the Sword Sect mountain peak.

She gazed at the two vast black clouds surging ominously from the distance.

The Sword Sect’s position lay on the absolute frontline, serving as the sole protective barrier for the humans behind them.

Should the Sword Sect fall, the humans in its wake would become nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter by these demon races.

The only path to self-preservation seemed to be retreat.

Yet, Sect Leader Murong had never once contemplated such a notion.

If she were to flee with the Sword Sect disciples, what kind of living hell would await the human race behind them?

But if they did not retreat, what power did the Sword Sect possess to confront these two demon races?

Fangyuan also watched the vast host of demons approaching from afar, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

In her previous life, this Thousand Bird Cave incident had never occurred.

“Form the grand sect array and stand with me against the invading demon races,” Sect Leader Murong commanded the Sword Sect disciples.

“Today, even if our Sword Sect is annihilated here, not a single person shall retreat!”

“Yes!”

The disciples responded in unison.

The Sword Sect began to meticulously deploy its grand sect array, golden light piercing through the sky.

However, the two demon armies in the distance slowly ground to a halt.

****

The Great Roc demon of the Thousand Bird Cave now perceived the great insect demons of the Myriad Insect Hall positioned not far from her own army.

This situation grew increasingly intriguing and peculiar, stirring a faint sense of unease within her.

As a peak Golden Core cultivator, she could not disregard her sixth sense.

Why had these great insect demons also mobilized and gathered to attack the Sword Sect?

Moreover, they had visibly poured out their entire force, with even low-cultivation lesser demons acting as soldiers.

Her Thousand Bird Cave would never resort to such measures; every bird demon present possessed some level of cultivation.

Thus, she immediately issued an order for the bird demons around her to halt, establish a formation, and await further plans.

****

Meanwhile, on the Myriad Insect Hall’s side.

The leading great demon had also received intelligence regarding the Thousand Bird Cave nearby, and she, too, harbored the same doubts.

Could it be that some cultivator from the northern lands had defected to the Thousand Bird Cave?

Perhaps they shared her own thought: since all the northern cultivators were gathered in the Sword Sect, it was an opportune moment to wipe them all out and silence them.

To achieve her objective swiftly, she had made thorough preparations, even going so far as to be willing to deploy her clan’s ultimate trump card.

“My command: deploy the formation and stand ready for battle!”

She declared, instructing the surrounding insect demons.

****

The three factions thus found themselves in a tense standoff, the air thick with a premonition of impending storm, like ‘the wind howls, rain threatens, filling the mountain tower; dark clouds press on the city, threatening to crush it’.

Time passed, stretching late into the night.

****

Inside the Sword Sect’s main hall.

Sect Leader Murong sat on the main seat, her face etched with worry.

The sky seemed on the verge of collapsing, and she, being the tallest, bore the greatest burden.

Her gaze swept over the cultivators below: the northern cultivators on the left, and her own Sword Sect disciples on the right.

“Sect Leader Murong, I have an idea.”

Fangyuan, standing among the Sword Sect disciples, stepped forward and spoke.

“Oh? Speak—”

Sect Leader Murong looked at Fangyuan before her, then inadvertently glanced at the northern cultivators to her left.

Some suspicions had already begun to form in her mind.

After all, those involved often miss the obvious, while bystanders see clearly.

This Fangyuan hailed from the northern lands, yet she concealed her identity.

Why would she do so?

The answer likely lay with these northern cultivators.

Unbeknownst to her, the rights to enter this secret realm had long been divided among the northern sects, which was why she didn’t realize Fangyuan was an illicit entrant and thus needed to remain hidden.

“These two demon races are visibly not on good terms,” Fangyuan stated clearly.

“It is late night now, and both sides are filled with suspicion.

Why don’t we take the initiative, first inciting a conflict between the two races, letting them fight until both are severely wounded?

Afterward, we can launch our attack and clear up the aftermath!”

‘At a time like this, Fangyuan is still thinking of launching an offensive? You cunning girl!’

Qin Yan, hearing Fangyuan’s words, knew that Sect Leader Murong would likely agree.

He immediately stepped forward and declared, “If that is the case, I am willing to go with her to carry out this scheme!”

Qin Yan understood that no place would be safe at this moment, and Fangyuan’s side was precisely the safest.

Upon hearing this, Fangyuan looked at Qin Yan with a hint of surprise.

She had originally intended to invite Qin Yan to go with her, but she hadn’t expected him to volunteer.

‘Could it be that he’s worried about me? Hehehe—’

Cough, cough!

“If that is the case, then go forth and do it!”

Sect Leader Murong looked at the two before her.

She would not inquire about the process; since Fangyuan had stepped forward, only the desired outcome mattered.

Fangyuan nodded, then prepared to leave the Sword Sect hall with Qin Yan.

“This Immortal Qin, he truly is… sacrificing himself for righteousness.”

The northern cultivators, watching Qin Yan depart, could not help but sigh with such admiration.

With the demon armies so close, Qin Yan was still willing to undertake such a dangerous task for the Sword Sect and for humanity.

In stark contrast, the other prodigies of their northern clans seemed utterly despicable.

This truly evoked the image of a classical male cultivator: for the common people, for the Grand Dao!

If one could become Dao Companions with this Qin Yan, it would indeed be a great fortune in life, for who would not yearn for such a person?

What’s more, Qin Yan’s appearance was remarkably beautiful.

With both beauty and such a character, he was truly the ‘white moonlight’ in the eyes of mortals and cultivators alike.

All the prodigies of the northern lands voiced such sentiments.