If they hadn’t heard the news in person, they wouldn’t have believed it.

“Chen Cangshu, are you dreaming? Tell the truth, did we lose miserably?” asked one of them. 

“Fuck off! Old Yi’s saint palace was destroyed in order to detonate the formation. He almost lost his life and you stand here saying this? Is it hard to admit that he turned the tide?!" Chen Cangshu shouted. 

“Don't get me wrong. I’m just so happy I can't believe it. I was afraid it’s all nonsense!” 

“Don’t worry, the others will be back with their reports soon.” 

Turning to Fang Taiqing, Chen Cangshu said, “Sect Master, I rushed back to report so you can prepare and plan your next move. Nonahall and the other four divine realms must be outraged by the crushing defeat. We must deal with them as soon as possible.” 

“Alright, go rest. Gao Yue, take ten people with you and bring Yi Xingyin back safely. He’s Archaion’s hero.” Fang Taiqing’s voice was a little hoarse. 

“Everyone, let’s welcome our heroes together!” 

Since the Heaven Branch sect master had spoken, his words were obviously credible. At this moment, Tribulation Peak was in shock. Turning around, Fang Taiqing entered Tribulation Peak. 

“Where are you going?” Leaning against a pillar, Fang Yuqing asked softly.

“Looking for Xuanyuan Dao. What else would I be doing? Fuck! Everyone’s so excited.” 

“As the Heaven Branch sect master, you shouldn’t use foul language,” said Fang Yuqing.

“If this continues, I might go crazy.” Fang Taiqing replied.

“Yes, now that Yi Xingyin has come forward, you can’t surrender.” Fang Yuqing pouted.

“Who would’ve thought he possessed such talent and courage! What a pity. I do admire him, though,” said Fang Taiqing.

“What do you think will happen next?” asked Fang Yuqing.

“The Nonahall Sect is bound to try destroying Taiji Peak Lake, but with the Ninefold Formation, their odds of winning seem to be much lower than originally expected. Did you hear about Li Tianming?” asked Fang Taiqing.

“I heard. He killed a million by manipulating their souls,” Fang Yuqing replied.

“That’s the most frightening part! Now that he has such means, and with Ghoul King Si Ling and her army of corpse puppets gone, the legions of the five divine realms have lost their advantage. They’ll lose their entire army in the war. In fact, the legions of the five divine realms and the army of corpse puppets were their strongest weapons against us. But now we don’t have to fight such low-level battles with Li Tianming around. It looks like it’ll be a battle between the samsara powerhouses of both sides. Without their warriors and army of corpse puppets, they’ll have to pay a heavier price if they attack the Ninefold Formation. Even if they manage to take down Archaion, the Nonahall Sect would be crippled." Fang Taiqing cursed. He had never been an irritable man. But this had left him speechless. It was all so unbelievable! 

“So the Archaion Sect has a chance of winning?” 

“Even if Archaion doesn’t win, we won’t lose either,” said Fang Taiqing.

“Then what should we do?” asked Fang Yuqing.

“What can we do?” I’ll have to let the old woman down! Fuck, they’re all monsters, I’m the only normal one!” 

Fang Taiqing left gloomily.

……

In one corner of Tribulation Peak—

“Yi Xingyin, you bastard....”

As soon as he heard the news, Ouyang Jianwang fell on his bottom. The entire Tribulation Peak was celebrating, but he opened a jug of wine with tears in his eyes. He swallowed the wine that was mixed with tears. 

“Damn it! You risk your life in order to be a hero. And after you became a hero, you became useless!” 

He was upset. In his heart, that buddy of his had always been a free and easy man, but he was obsessed with heavenly patterns to the point of neglecting everything else. 

“I’ll just have to watch over you in the future. What should I do? I can’t be a dissolute man anymore. Fine then! I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life. If I have a mouthful of wine, half of it is yours.” 

……

Xuanyuan Xiao left Soulburn Hall just as Fang Taiqing arrived. 

“Heaven Branch Sect Master,” Xuanyuan Xiao greeted.

“Have you reported the outcome of the battle to Xuanyuan Dao?” asked Fang Taiqing.

“Yes,” said Xuanyuan Xiao.

“Alright.” 

Fang Taiqing nodded and entered Soulburn Hall. Xuanyuan Dao stood at the door with his hands behind his back. 

“You’ve heard everything?” Fang Taiqing looked up at him.

“Yes, they reversed the tides of battle and made a name for themselves.” Xuanyuan Dao smiled.

“I have an idea I’d like to share with you,” said Fang Taiqing.

“I’d like to hear the details.” Xuanyuan Dao replied.

"With the imperial son’s heaven-defying means, ordinary battles are no longer effective. Additionally, a third of the Nonahall Sect’s army has been destroyed and six ghoul kings are dead, so they lack commanders. I don’t think they’ll continue attacking the cities. Their original plan was to bulldoze the cities to create hundreds of millions of corpse puppets to use in attacking the Ninefold Formation. But now there’s no point in attacking the cities. The only thing they can do right now is stake it all on one battle, gather all the samsarans, and attack Taiji Peak Lake," said Fang Taiqing. 

“And your point is?” 

“Disperse those in the cities, get them to enter the mountains and spread out. After all, our enemies no longer have the troops to chase and kill the citizens throughout Archaion. Even if they wanted to, our intelligence agents will be able to find them when they’ve gathered a million-strong army. We can send the imperial son to slay every last one of them. Additionally, we must quickly find a hundred million empyrean saint cultivators and above to gather at Taiji Peak Lake to provide power for the Ninefold Formation. That was their strategy in Tianming City. When the time comes, the Ninefold Formation will be invulnerable to attack.” Fang Taiqing voiced all his thoughts in one breath. 

Before this, the cities couldn’t be cleared out for fear that the enemy would march straight ahead, and at the same time they couldn’t remain to be refined into corpse puppets. However, they didn’t have to worry about that now, because the enemy’s legions were useless. 

“I agree, it’s a good idea. Taiji Peak Lake will be the ultimate battlefield. Let the masses hide in the mountains,” said Xuanyuan Dao.

“Since you agree, I’ll start implementing it,” said Fang Taiqing.

“Shouldn’t we wait until Jian Wuyi returns? He’s done well this time.” 

“There’s no need. He’s never had any opinions,” said Fang Taiqing.

“Has the imperial son returned?” asked Xuanyuan Dao.

"Not yet. When he returns, I’d like him to head to the east and west borders immediately. Regardless of how the Nonahall Sect in the south responds, let’s get him to destroy the Hexapath and the Biritual legions first. After all, speed is crucial in war, right?" said Fang Taiqing. 

“I hear that the imperial son is stronger than a third-origin tribulation elder?” 

“Yes, no one can kill him now,” Fang Taiqing replied.

“Alright. When he returns, we’ll ask him if he’s willing to go.” 

“He’s given his all for the sect. Would he refuse?” Fang Taiqing pursed his lips.

“That’s true. After all, it won’t take much time, anyway,” said Xuanyuan Dao.

“With him around, there’s no need for an army.” 

At the thought of that, Fang Taiqing was tempted to swear again. After muttering several expletives inside, he waved his hands and was about to leave.

“Do you remember what Her Eminence said?” asked Xuanyuan Dao.

“What’re you referring to?” 

“What she said after your mother’s death,” said Xuanyuan Dao.

“I remember.” Fang Taiqing replied.

“In truth, I think it’s good to have a pure heart. The heavens won’t forsake those who sacrifice.” 

“I’m in control of my own life. I don’t believe in fate!” Fang Taiqing laughed.

“So?” 

“You don’t have to test me. I’ll live and die as a member of the Archaion Sect. You can choose whether to believe me or not,” said Fang Taiqing.

“I believe you,” Xuanyuan Dao replied.

“I’m leaving.” Fang Taiqing turned and left, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

……

On Specter Mountain, the All Saints Hall beneath the Nineghoul Skypalace was huge and magnificent. Within the hall itself, many tribulation elders had gathered. They were the peak powerhouses of the Nonahall Ghost Sect, and their only goal was Taiji Peak Lake. 

The purple-robed ghoul king, Zi Xiao, sat in All Saints Hall. Just as everyone was in the midst of discussion, a murky beast descended in front of the hall—it was the necrofiend flare dragon. 

 Everyone in the hall was excited, smiling as they chatted. 

“I knew good news was on its way." 

"I wonder how many tribulation elders the four ghoul kings killed."