"War? Is the news true?"
The next morning in the Hundred Monster Hall, Lin Ze frowned, his face full of complexity.
"Can we trust what that mystic beast said? What if it's a scheme by Mo Ze?"
Upon hearing the news, Zhuque reacted the same way as Xiao Zi. Why would Mo Ze's mystic beast kindly come to warn them?
Bai Ran's expression was calm, but the coldness in her eyes was undeniable.
"Whether it's true or not, we must have thorough countermeasures."
Because they could govern humans, the Divine Realm possessed the largest military force in the entire Nine Heavens.
Coupled with the God of War, Bai Li Xiao, who could previously divine the future, the Divine Realm was capable of fighting any single force on its own.
Even though Bai Li Xiao had left the Divine Realm, no one knew how many trump cards the Divine Emperor still held. No one dared to act rashly and break the balance of the Nine Heavens.
"Below the Divine Emperor are the five managing elders, followed by the God of War Bai Li Xiao, then the Five Great Holy Lords, and the celestial soldiers and generals."
Jiang Ye stroked his chin, analyzing the Divine Realm's military strength: "This is the overt deployment of the Divine Realm. No one knows what trump cards the Divine Emperor has hidden."
"What is the status of the Divine Maiden of Yaochi Palace within the Divine Realm?" In Zhuque's mind, the image of that lunatic woman appeared.
Jiang Ye answered without hesitation: "She is under one of the Five Great Holy Lords."
The Five Great Sacred Halls were Yaochi Palace, Tuolu Hall, Demon Extermination Pavilion, Ten Directions Temple, and Tianzhe Hall.
The Divine Maiden of Yaochi Palace was merely a subordinate of the Palace Master of Yaochi Palace.
"Do you know the strength of those Five Great Holy Lords?" Lin Ze looked at Jiang Ye and asked. Among them, only he understood the Divine Realm and could reveal some information.
However, Jiang Ye remained silent, seemingly hesitant to speak.
Jing Feng sighed, understanding his intention: "I have deep feelings about this. I once fought one of the Holy Lords, the Hall Master of Tuolu Hall."
Jing Feng's expression darkened, and his eyes showed coldness: "Very strong, to the point where he was not at a disadvantage when facing me."
"Then compared to Zhong Zi and the other two, who is stronger?" Lin Ze pressed.
Jing Feng glanced at Zhong Zi and the other two and smiled: "Naturally, they are not as strong as them."
Zhong Zi and Dong Ling were both ghosts who had lived for thousands of years, so powerful that they could condense solid forms out of thin air. It was naturally difficult for Holy Lords who had only lived for a few hundred years to compete with them.
"But..." Jiang Ye's expression was complicated: "If Zhong Zi and Dong Ling were to face the Five Great Holy Lords simultaneously, it would still be uncertain..."
Jing Feng was speechless. Indeed, if the Holy Lords knew they were not as strong, they would never choose to fight Zhong Zi and Dong Ling one-on-one...
If they attacked together, even with Zhong Zi and Dong Ling joining forces, it would be extremely difficult to handle...
"But now that Miss Bai is here, perhaps there is another way?" Jing Feng looked at Bai Ran, a smile on his lips.
Jiang Ye blinked, somewhat confused: "What do you mean?"
But Xiao Zi immediately understood: "Could it be... an alliance?"
Jing Feng nodded slightly, looking at Bai Ran with a smile: "Before Miss Bai appeared, the various forces had no interaction and were in opposition to each other."
"But her appearance has united the Demon Realm, the Ghost Clan, and the Monster Clan."
If these three forces joined hands, there might be an unexpected turn of events.
Zhuque's eyes lit up, seemingly extremely excited: "Yes! The three forces can join hands!"
This way, no matter which force the Divine Realm declared war upon, the casualties would be minimized. If successful, they could even break through the Divine Realm!
"What are you waiting for? Quickly notify the Demon Lord!"
The crowd looked at Jing Feng with anticipation. Jing Feng immediately took out his communication jade pendant and contacted Long Jin Han.
Cheers erupted all around, as if the dawn of victory was already visible.
However, from beginning to end, Bai Ran did not utter a single word, her face clouded with gloom.
An alliance...
As long as the three forces joined hands, they could drag the Divine Realm down from its pedestal and even strike at its core?
If they could think of such a method, how could the old and cunning Divine Emperor not?
"Your Grace."
Jing Feng reported the entire situation, but there was a long silence from the communication jade pendant.
"Your... "
"Pass the jade pendant to the little girl."
Jing Feng was startled. Although he didn't understand the meaning of his lord, he obediently complied.
"Long Jin Han, it's me."
"Girl, what do you think about the matter of the three forces forming an alliance?" the man's voice was deep, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Bai Ran paused. The people around them stopped talking and watched her quietly.
Bai Ran lowered her gaze, her thin lips parting slightly: "It shouldn't be so hasty."
A deep laugh rang out, and Long Jin Han spoke: "I think so too."
The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point. Neither Bai Ran nor the Demon Lord approved of the alliance strategy.
Bai Ran handed the jade pendant back to Jing Feng, but by the time Jing Feng took it, his lord had already broken contact.
"Why?" Jiang Ye blinked in confusion. Why did they both disagree with the three forces forming an alliance?
Bai Ran sighed, a hint of helplessness on her face.
"Have you heard of the shortest plank principle?"
The shortest plank principle? Everyone frowned, utterly bewildered.
"The capacity of a wooden barrel to hold water depends on the length of its shortest plank. If the shortest plank is broken, the entire barrel will be in crisis."
The most important aspect of an alliance was intelligence sharing.
But if someone from the Divine Realm infiltrated one of the forces, the intelligence of all three forces would be leaked, without exception.
Jing Feng's expression sharpened, and his mind gradually calmed down.
Miss Bai was right. No one could guarantee that there were no spies from the Divine Realm within their own territory.
From a lowly palace attendant to the leader of a small faction.
The three forces would rise and fall together. But if they didn't form an alliance, the other two forces could still preserve themselves.
Zhuque sighed and gradually understood why his master disagreed.
To start a war, the first to know would be the soldiers in the army, but what if there were spies among these soldiers?
The plans formulated by the three forces could potentially be ruined by just one person.
The atmosphere in the palace was oppressive, everyone with a dejected expression, unsure of what to do.
...
At the same time, in the Demon Realm.
"Have you found any trace of that person?"
Long Jin Han's voice rang out. Jing Yun below trembled slightly: "Reporting to Your Grace, not yet..."
Coldness filled Long Jin Han's eyes: "You may withdraw."
Jing Yun's body was filled with fear and worry: "Yes..."
In the vast and empty palace, Long Jin Han rubbed his temples, exhausted.
Where had that person gone...