Chapter 2865: Extraordinary Times

Chapter 2865: Extraordinary Times

Surround Shi Wan Da Shan! No one is allowed to enter or exit.

In the dead of night in Da Chu, the shouts echoed through the heavens.

Fu Ya was the first to arrive at Shi Wan Da Shan, gazing down from above. Not a single person was in sight, not even a bird. All those Zhun Di had vanished as if they had evaporated from the world.

Where are the people? Where have they all gone?

The later arrivals, Gu San Tong, Tai Yi Zhen Ren, and Wu Ya Dao Ren, were also stunned. Though they were Zhun Di, their cultivation hadn't reached the peak, so they hadn't been qualified to enter earlier. They had come only after sensing the major disturbance in Shi Wan Da Shan. But now, with a quick look, the altar was gone, the people were gone, and Shi Wan Da Shan was left in utter disarray.

How could this have happened?

Ming Jue and Bai Zhi, who arrived even later, also wore grim expressions. They had been in seclusion and only emerged upon hearing the news.

In that instant, both of them lifted their gazes toward Cang Miao, convinced that Ming Di had been watching earlier and must know the reason.

Ming Di said nothing, only sighing.

Wow, where are the people?

How did they just disappear? Where did they go?

This is strange.

More and more people arrived at Shi Wan Da Shan, all baffled, their faces full of confusion. Such a large group, with the weakest being peak Zhun Di and even one at Half-Step Great Accomplishment—how could they have vanished without a trace?

Meanwhile, Fu Ya had descended from the sky to the spot where the altar had once stood. He looked around carefully, but all he saw was desolation. Not only were the people and the altar gone, but many of the surrounding mountains had also disappeared. The strangeness of it made even him draw in a sharp breath. What on earth had happened?

Forbidden power.

Ming Jue stood still, closing his eyes to sense it. The power had completely dissipated, but he could faintly detect its presence.

Time, space, spacetime.

Bai Zhi murmured softly, her brows slightly furrowed. Ming Jue could sense it, and so could she. It was vague and hard to grasp, yet undeniably real. The mysterious disappearance of so many Zhun Di must be related to forbidden power. She had heard her master mention before that when multiple powers intertwined, it could lead to either creation or catastrophe. The scene before them clearly fell into the latter category.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Outside the mountains, the Da Chu army had arrived, deploying troops around Shi Wan Da Shan and erecting a massive barrier to cover the entire area.

Xiao Feng, the First Hall Master of Tian Ting, entered clad in armor, scanning his surroundings as he walked. He already knew that the peak Zhun Di had been researching a formation here, but where had everyone gone?

Buzz!

Fu Ya summoned a divine stele, upon which hung numerous primordial spirit jade plaques—belonging to Da Chu's emperors, divine generals, and many others.

Fortunately, all the primordial spirit jade plaques were still intact.

They wouldn't have gone off on some adventure together, would they?

That doesn't sound right.

They didn't even take me along. How un principled!

Tai Yi Zhen Ren, Si Ming Xing Jun, and Tai Bai Jin Xing had also arrived, hands tucked behind their backs as they joked, though their expressions were far from lighthearted. This matter was too bizarre.

Seal off Da Chu.

This incident must not be leaked to anyone outside.

After a long while, Fu Ya spoke with authority. With Kun Lun Shen Nu absent, along with the emperors, divine generals, and the entire Da Chu leadership, his words carried the most weight.

This news absolutely could not get out. If Hong Huang learned of it, it would spell utter disaster. With over ninety percent of their peak forces gone, how could they stand against Hong Huang?

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

At his command, Extreme Dao Emperor Weapons soared into the sky like blazing suns, their imperial divine light illuminating the earth. A massive barrier instantly unfolded—it was a protective heaven barrier, one that was only activated during wartime.

You two, come with me.

Fu Ya said, then ascended into the sky.

Ming Jue and Bai Zhi glanced back one last time before following him.

In Tian Xuan Men, Fu Ya held Dong Huang Tai Xin's divine token and opened the water curtain connecting Xuan Huang and You Ming.

They're gone?

So many Zhun Di, all vanished?

How is that possible?

Shocked voices came from the directions of Xuan Huang and You Ming.

After all, among those who had disappeared were their own ancestors, sect leaders, and clan emperors. Because of the formation matter, nearly all the peak forces had gathered in Da Chu for the excitement. Now, those left behind had very few peak Zhun Di.

How could they just disappear like that?

Guard Xuan Huang and You Ming well.

I will investigate this matter as quickly as possible.

Fu Ya said, then closed the water curtain. He paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, trying his best to suppress his anxiety, though panic still showed through. A shadow of gloom hung over his mind.

In the past, he had always been an assistant to Ren Wang or Dong Huang Tai Xin, at most a strategist.

But now, with those in charge gone, he lacked a pillar of support and felt inevitably flustered. It would be best if Hong Huang didn't stir up trouble and no foreign domains invaded. Either one could easily overwhelm the current Zhutian.

The more tense we act, the more it will arouse Hong Huang's suspicions.

Ming Jue said casually, glancing at Fu Ya. This old fellow seemed to have lost his composure.

What the divine son says is true.

A soft voice sounded as Hong Chen Xue arrived, apparently summoned by Fu Ya.

There was no choice—Da Chu was short on usable people at the moment. Hong Chen Xue's identity was special; she had once been the master of Tian Ting's intelligence pavilion, making her the most suitable for this.

Her expression wasn't much better.

So many peak Zhun Di had vanished without a trace; whether they could return was unknown. If they did, all would be well, but if not, they would have to rely on themselves.

Spread the word that tonight's events were a trap set by Zhutian, designed solely to lure out Hong Huang.

Hong Chen Xue suggested.

The fairy's mind is quite sharp!

Ming Jue laughed, pulling out his wine flask.

Scare Hong Huang a bit. That makes sense.

Bai Zhi smiled; she agreed with the idea.

It's feasible.

Fu Ya stroked his beard, looking at Ming Jue and Bai Zhi, then at Hong Chen Xue. Da Chu still had plenty of talent. As the second-in-command, he might not hold things together, but others could.

He fully endorsed Hong Chen Xue's method.

As the art of war states, winning the mind is superior to winning through force.

Zhutian was weak, so psychological warfare might be more effective than direct combat.

Hong Huang had been beaten so badly time and again that they were now like startled birds. By appearing strong when weak and weak when strong, who would dare to make a move? Who would risk being the first to act? One misstep could lead to their clan's annihilation.

With the strategy decided, Hong Chen Xue left. As she walked, she donned her battle armor. Deceiving Hong Huang was only temporary; one day, they might all end up on the battlefield.

Ming Jue and Bai Zhi also departed—one stayed in Da Chu, the other went to the starry sky. As the most peak forces in the current Zhutian, if war broke out, they would be on the front lines: one guarding Da Chu, the other patrolling the stars.

Once the three had left, Fu Ya's briefly calmed heart grew even more restless.

Taking a deep breath, he sent out his divine sense and dismantled Da Chu's barrier.

Before long, many people were brought in—mostly ordinary mortals, their generals, and undefeated commanders who had never known defeat. While they might not fare well against cultivators, their wisdom in certain fields surpassed that of immortals.

Ye Chen had done this well in the past, handing over command to mortals. He might have been the first in the cultivator world to do so. Though that battle was lost, it wasn't the mortal generals' fault—the heavenly demons were just too formidable.

Qin Xiong also arrived; once a general himself and now a cultivator, he still possessed great insight.

With these advisors, Fu Ya regained some confidence.

That night, Zhutian was far from peaceful.

Many entered the starry sky, such as Zhutian's various emperor heirs and those in seclusion at the emperor heir level, all coming out to patrol. This was to guard against the Hong Huang clans and to confuse them.

With over ninety percent of the peak forces absent from Zhutian, someone had to step up. If war truly erupted, Ye Chen's generation would be Zhutian's main force.

As for the older generation, many were prepared to self-destruct if necessary.

Paper can't wrap fire.

The events at Shi Wan Da Shan quickly reached Hong Huang. Though their ancestral land was sealed, they had spies outside, and the news spread fast.

This made Hong Huang restless.

So many Zhun Di, all gone?

That's what the intelligence says.

This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, everyone.

But I heard this was a trap set by Zhutian.

Better to be careful; those ants are full of tricks.

Various clans exchanged messages, banding together for now, sharing intelligence. The more cunning races tried to goad others into testing the waters.

Unfortunately, no one was a fool. No one wanted to be the first to poke their head out. At least, they needed to clarify things first. Who could guarantee this wasn't a pit dug by Zhutian? Once you jumped in, there was no way out.

Ming Di's gaze grew even deeper.

It seemed Hong Huang had been thoroughly intimidated, growing more cautious with every concern.

This was exactly what Zhutian wanted.

There was no other way—in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were needed.