Upper reaches of the Dilin Spring.
In Mo Han's encampment.
Nine people sat on the ground, their faces solemn.
"Wei Daolin and Ling Shu both fell, how is this possible? Is the news accurate?"
Inside the tent, someone asked.
He was surrounded in the center, with narrow eyes and dressed in a plain blue brocade robe.
"Boss Mo Han, it's definitely true. I saw it all with my own eyes. I even captured a deserter under Ling Shu. If you don't believe me, I'll bring him in to see." The scout youth said, giving a look to the person beside him. Immediately, a person who was bound and gagged was dragged into the tent from outside.
"Mmph mmph—"
Seeing Mo Han, the person thought everyone was going to kill him, so he struggled in terror, wriggling on the ground like an eel.
"Next, I ask, you answer. Say one more useless word, and I'll kill you!" the scout said, removing the gag from the person's mouth.
The latter's face turned red. After taking several deep breaths with all his might, he asked tearfully, "What... what do you want?"
"Shut up, you can only speak when I ask!" the scout slapped him, then asked ferociously, "Quickly tell me, why was Wei Daolin's faction in Wanyan Zhenyao's territory, and what were you doing there!"
Upon hearing this, the person tremblingly replied, "Wei Daolin was there because they intended to attack Wanyan Zhenyao's territory. We were there because someone named Wen Boye went to find our boss Ling Shu."
"Ling Shu allied with Wei Daolin to swallow Wanyan Zhenyao together, but unexpectedly, a fierce person suddenly appeared in the opponent's ranks and killed Wei Daolin and all his ghost generals. Ling Shu also fled on his own!"
"The remaining brothers are probably all captured. That person is too strong, he couldn't be killed even when surrounded by hundreds of people!"
The deserter's voice was full of grief. He still remembered the terrifying scene of charging towards Xu Mu and being blown away by a casual gust of his fist wind.
"I didn't expect Wei Daolin to actually fall." Mo Han's heart was struck hard, and he signaled his subordinates to take the deserter out.
Three seconds later, a terrified scream echoed from outside the tent.
"Ah—"
"Now there's a question: Will Wanyan Zhenyao really lead his people to invade us?" A boy with a youthful face asked inside the tent. The others also frowned.
After absorbing Ling Shu's and Wei Daolin's forces, Wanyan Zhenyao's foundation would definitely crush them.
If Wanyan Zhenyao were to attack them, they would have no way to resist. After all, they were not as good as Wanyan Zhenyao to begin with, and the latter's management of his subordinates was simply monstrous!
"He probably won't. Wanyan Zhenyao values rules, and we didn't participate in tonight's events. He has no reason to come." Mo Han pondered for a moment and said indifferently.
"The most important issue now is that we need to know who killed Wei Daolin. We absolutely must not offend him, lest we suffer the same fate."
"I only have a little information about this person," the scout said, after taking a sip of water and pausing. "He is from a downstream faction, and his name seems to be... Mu Xu."
"A downstream faction?" A burly man holding a giant axe scratched his head in confusion upon hearing this. He felt something was not quite right.
Then, he suddenly remembered what happened tonight. A downstream faction had visited, but he had turned them away!
"Old Seven, what's wrong? Do you have any news?" Mo Han's eyes narrowed, and he asked coldly.
"This... Earlier tonight, a downstream faction came to see you, boss, but Miss Qing'er sent them away." The man swallowed and said nervously, "However, the captain of that faction was not called Mu Xu, but Xu Jingchu, a woman."
"Xu Jingchu?" Before Mo Han could reply, the scout stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with fear, and said, "It's over! There was indeed a woman named Xu Jingchu next to that Mu Xu."
"His conflict with Wei Daolin, and the situation reaching this point, seems to be because of this woman!"
"Why didn't you tell me about something so big!" Mo Han also stood up in anger.
"Miss Qing'er told us to keep quiet, and she was the one who drove them away. I couldn't do anything..." The man lowered his head and mumbled.
"Alright, there's no point in dwelling on this. Hurry up and find a solution. They won't let us off." Mo Han's expression was terrible. He initially thought this matter had nothing to do with him and he could stay out of it.
But now, that person had come to ask for an alliance, but they hadn't even entered the door. Now that they had absorbed Ling Shu and Wei Daolin, he would be next!
"To prevent retaliation, we should run, run through the night." The scout said with a grim expression.
"While they are still recovering from the great battle and are weakened, we can either launch a surprise attack and win, or flee this place quickly."
"Fighting is definitely out of the question. That guy can even kill Wei Daolin. Who can defeat them?" Mo Han shook his head and sighed.
Now, it seemed they had only one path left: escape. But where could they escape to!
"Pass down the order. Everyone, leave the encampment immediately and head to Shou Ding Mountain. The faster the better!" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Mo Han pondered for a moment, finally made up his mind to leave, and issued the order.
But at the same time, hurried footsteps were heard from outside the tent.
"Report! An unknown force has appeared in the upper reaches of the Dilin Spring. The personnel are numerous and powerful, and they are heading towards our encampment!"
A supernatural ability user on night patrol ran over and reported hastily.
"What, so fast!" Mo Han's face changed in surprise, and he urged, "Quick, run, it will be too late if we are slow!"
Mo Han led his men out of the military tent and turned to take his subordinates ahead, preparing to go to Shou Ding Mountain for reinforcements.
But at this moment, a neat formation had already floated down from the dark night sky, their numbers vast and their strength formidable.
The blood qi emanating from the person at the forefront made Mo Han's heart tremble even from a thousand meters away.
"You people ahead, stop! This is our territory!" Some unsuspecting cultivators saw Xu Mu's group and arrogantly tried to drive them away.
But then, they all fell silent.
Because there were simply too many of them.
"Don't move, I'll keep you safe." Xu Mu led his team down from the sky, his aura surging, semi-enclosing Mo Han's two hundred men.
Following Xu Jingchu's instructions, Xu Mu slowly walked to Mo Han. After a moment of eye contact, Xu Mu smiled:
"You are Mo Han?"
Mo Han was a little nervous and wary as he bowed, forcing himself to remain calm and replied, "I am."
"May I ask why you are visiting so late at night? This is our territory, and I don't recall having offended you."
"I believe those who can establish themselves as kings here are not fools. You should know what has happened." Xu Mu looked at Mo Han, his expression calm, and said, "I have two requests this time."
"First, although I am not one to hold grudges, your paramour did indeed provoke us. Therefore, we demand that she apologize in person."
"This can certainly be fulfilled." Mo Han heard this, his expression a little awkward as he turned his head and roared, "Li Qing'er, where are you hiding? Hurry up and send someone to bring that slut here to apologize!"
"Yes!"
Seeing this, Xu Mu exchanged a glance with Xu Jingchu, and then continued, "The second matter is also very simple. I want to invite you to join my alliance."
"Uh... Did I hear you correctly? You want me to lead my people to join your alliance, not cooperate?" Mo Han asked with a grim expression.
Joining an alliance and cooperating were two entirely different concepts. In the latter, the positions were equal, while in the former, it was tantamount to surrender, with their lives and status at the mercy of others.
"You heard correctly, and there's nothing wrong with joining us. At least you won't be eliminated or lose points. If there are benefits, we can share them together." Xu Mu took a step forward and said.
"You mean, if I don't choose to join the alliance, our points will be taken away, and we might even be eliminated?" Mo Han stared at Xu Mu, his eyes cold as he asked.
"Yes." Xu Mu nodded, meeting his gaze.
The air crackled with tension, and the pressure from both of them was released, clashing and intertwining, as if space itself had solidified.
Soon, Mo Han succumbed in this invisible confrontation. Xu Mu's physical pressure was too immense, amplified by a hint of the Great Dao of Death. He was no match.
"Alright, it seems I have no choice." Mo Han's face was pale. He took two steps back, then looked at Xu Mu and asked, "But I should at least know what your objective is."
"These people behind you, some belong to Wei Daolin, some to Ling Shu, and some to Wanyan Zhenyao. I assume this is only a part of them."
"After you won, you absorbed all their subordinates into the alliance, nearly a thousand people, and you still want mine? So what exactly do you want to do?"
Mo Han's question was also what his subordinates wanted to ask. They didn't really care who their boss was; they only cared if that boss could bring them corresponding benefits.
Points were the greatest benefit here. Xu Mu's intention to absorb so many people clearly indicated he was planning something big, but big things often came with risks.
Therefore, whether Xu Mu could help them earn a lot of points was the most crucial factor.
"There's nothing to hide. I want to deal with Ye Gong, so I need manpower." Xu Mu said decisively.
"Deal with Ye Gong? Ye Gong of the Ye clan? The Ye Gong who is currently occupying Tian Qiong Peak?" Mo Han and the others' eyes widened, and they asked in disbelief.
"You need manpower to deal with Ye Gong, but why are you doing this?" Mo Han asked, puzzled. He didn't understand why Xu Mu wanted to do this, because Ye Gong was considered the strongest among them in this preliminary competition, and his current occupation of Tian Qiong Peak, coupled with Jiang Taixu's disappearance, proved it.
But now someone said he was going to deal with Ye Gong, so they wanted to know why.
"Because I am an external member of the Jiang family, and I am participating in this competition on behalf of the Jiang family." Xu Mu looked at Mo Han and then explained to everyone, "And you don't need to worry. To be honest, I was sent by the high-level officials of the Jiang family to intercept Ye Gong. It's just that I arrived at the Gathering Spirit Sacred Land later, so I had to recruit manpower in this way."
"Now, if anyone doubts my strength, you can come up and try me. The number of people doesn't matter, but after you try, I hope you will join the alliance and have no other thoughts."
As Xu Mu spoke, his physical pressure, carried by his blood qi, spread to every corner of the space. His heartbeat thundered like muffled drums, making everyone's heads tremble.
"Is anyone coming?"
He asked, but after a while, not a single person dared to step forward to challenge Xu Mu.
"Very good. Then from now on, we are allies. We will first ascend Shou Ding Mountain. Please return to the stronghold with me for some simple planning and training." Xu Mu said, smiling at Mo Han.
"Captain Mo, is there any problem?"
"No... No problem, Alliance Leader Mu Xu, we will all listen to you!"