After Meng Zhang's return, it was under his authority as the Sect Master that the Taiyi Sect began to prepare for battle. Prior to this, both the Flying Swan Sect and the Northern Desert Qi Family had already mobilized their forces.
None of these three factions actually wanted to go to war at this time. It had been less than twenty years since the last major battle, where the Fire Cloud Sect suffered a crushing defeat and the Flying Swan Sect reclaimed the Feihong Mountain. All three factions paid a heavy price in that battle, especially the Flying Swan Sect, which suffered greatly in its efforts to reclaim the mountain.
The short period of time since then was not enough for the three factions to heal their wounds and recover their strength. Among them, the Taiyi Sect was in the best situation, as it was a rising sect. With the establishment of the Hanhai Alliance and the development of the Demon Wind Gobi, they had ample resources to gradually make up for their losses.
After the Flying Swan Sect regained its dominance over the Endless Sea of Sand, they had the support of more than half of its resources, allowing them to recuperate and slowly regain their strength. Only the Northern Desert Qi Family had shallow reserves and insufficient resources. After so many years of cultivation, their strength had not fully recovered.
Even for the Taiyi Sect, which was in the best situation, now was not the ideal time to start a major war. Unfortunately, the will of the Primordial Spirit True Monarch was not something the three factions could defy. Even if they were unwilling, they had to prepare for battle and be ready to attack the Deadly Sea of Sand at any time.
Two months after the Taiyi Sect began its preparations, Jin LiDaoist Master visited once again. Meng Zhang, accompanied by his senior disciple Niu Dawei and Daoist Master Yang Xueyi, received her.
As soon as they met, Jin LiDaoist Master glanced at Meng Zhang with some surprise. "Sect Master Meng, your cultivation base has progressed so quickly. With your age, it seems you have a good chance of becoming a Primordial Spirit in the future."
Meng Zhang quickly humbled himself and praised Jin LiDaoist Master in return. Jin LiDaoist Master had already reached the completion stage of the Gold Core realm, so she should not have paid much attention to a mid-stage Gold Core cultivator like Meng Zhang. However, Meng Zhang did not conceal his cultivation base and aura. From his pure aura alone, one could tell that his cultivation base was very refined and solid. Considering that Meng Zhang was only a little over a hundred years old, Jin LiDaoist Master couldn't help but regard him highly.
Based on Meng Zhang's progress in cultivation, it was uncertain when he would be able to catch up with Jin LiDaoist Master and stand on equal footing with her.
Originally, Jin LiDaoist Master and Meng Zhang had a close relationship, and now she had even higher expectations for him. She didn't hide some things from him but rather informed him of many inside details.The battle between True Monarch Tian Zhu and the Fifth Rank great power was nearing its end. If they could clear the Deadly Sea of Sand at this time, the Fifth Rank great power would be completely defeated in the gamble. The power accumulated from multiple victories in the gamble would be enough for True Monarch Tian Zhu to accomplish his plan.
This time, the attack on the Deadly Sea of Sand by the three factions was related to the final gamble between True Monarch Tian Zhu and the Fifth Rank great power. Both sides would spare no effort and would bring out all their trump cards.
In addition to the three factions from the Endless Sea of Sand, True Monarch Tian Zhu's side also had reinforcements from outside.
When Meng Zhang heard about the reinforcements from Jin LiDaoist Master, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Relying solely on the power of the Taiyi Sect and the other two factions would be too difficult to attack the Deadly Sea of Sand.
When Meng Zhang inquired about the specifics of the reinforcements, Jin LiDaoist Master revealed a mysterious smile. She didn't keep him in suspense for too long and revealed the information he wanted to know.
In addition to the three factions from the Endless Sea of Sand, the Crane Song Sect from the Jiuqu League would also send people to participate in the battle. The Crane Song Sect claimed to be acting in the name of justice, eliminating the ghost cultivators and demonic cultivations within the Deadly Sea of Sand. As a righteous sect, and not conflicting with the members of the alliance, this move was understandable.
Meng Zhang could understand the participation of the Crane Song Sect, but when Jin LiDaoist Master mentioned that the Yellow Lotus Sect's Mountain Branch would also join the battle, Meng Zhang seemed puzzled.
Although the Yellow Lotus Sect had internal conflicts and was in a semi-separatist state, the East River Branch of the Yellow Lotus Sect had a long-standing grudge with the Flying Swan Sect. The Mountain Branch and the East River Branch were at least part of the same sect, so why would the Mountain Branch disregard the feelings of the East River Branch and come to assist the Flying Swan Sect?
Seeing Meng Zhang's puzzled expression, Jin LiDaoist Master slowly explained it to him.
The East River Branch and the Mountain Branch of the Yellow Lotus Sect were the closest to each other geographically,but their relationship was the worst. They had many conflicts and accumulated a lot of grievances over time.
The Mountain Branch had always been weaker than the East River Branch and had been suppressed by them for many years. It wasn't until about three hundred years ago when the Mountain Branch's Elder Yue Feng became a Primordial Spirit True Monarch that the situation completely turned around.
After the disappearance of the Yellow Lotus Sect's Cult Master, only the Main Altar and one Primordial Spirit True Monarch who didn't involve themselves in external affairs remained. Apart from that, True Monarch Mountain Peak became the strongest in the Yellow Lotus Sect.
Even though True Monarch Mountain Peak didn't directly take action, they had many ways to make things difficult for the East River Branch. With the support of a Primordial Spirit True Monarch, the Mountain Branch's strength soared, surpassing the East River Branch and firmly suppressing them.
In the past, the East River Branch invaded the Endless Sea of Sand together with the Fire Cloud Sect and had a brief conflict with the Flying Swan Sect. However, the East River Branch completely gave up on the idea of attacking the Endless Sea of Sand mainly due to the pressure from the Mountain Branch, leaving them no time to spare.
The Mountain Branch had been relentlessly suppressing the East River Branch for many years, and in recent years, they had almost completely subdued them.
True Monarch Mountain Peak cherished their reputation and didn't want to be seen as fighting within the same sect. When suppressing the East River Branch, they paid attention to their methods and rarely engaged in direct confrontation. Instead, they used their influence and external forces.
When Jin LiDaoist Master caused trouble for the East River Branch because of Jin Qiao'er, the entire sect was in chaos, and the Mountain Branch had intentionally allowed it to happen.
Later, Jin LiDaoist Master stopped her actions in a timely manner, mainly because the Mountain Branch felt that she had caused enough trouble and pressured her to stop.
After years of suppression, the East River Branch had no power to resist in front of the Mountain Branch. If it weren't for the Main Altar's attitude, the Mountain Branch might have already completely absorbed the East River Branch with the support of True Monarch Mountain Peak.
In fact, Meng Zhang had already heard about the entanglement between the Yellow Lotus Sect's East River Branch and Mountain Branch from Luo YeDaoist Master. He was just pretending to be ignorant in front of Jin LiDaoist Master, not wanting her to think that he was too well-informed.
However, what Jin LiDaoist Master said next was something that Meng Zhang truly had no knowledge of.
There was a deep connection between True Monarch Mountain Peak and True Monarch Tian Zhu. True Monarch Mountain Peak's successful breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit stage was largely due to the guidance of True Monarch Tian Zhu.
Jin LiDaoist Master had only recently learned about this matter. True Monarch Tian Zhu had never mentioned it to her before.
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