Within the Da Mo Territory.
The Seven Sects Alliance rooted in Da Mo for a dozen years, while its influence and power expanded rapidly, also brought about drastic changes in various aspects.
One of the most direct changes is that the number of Immortal Dao Cultivators in the Da Mo Cultivation Realm has more than doubled compared to ten years ago, truly exceeding the other three major powers by a margin.
Not only has the number of local Immortal Dao Cultivators surged dramatically, but the cultivators traveling from the Southwest Countries to Da Mo have increased by more than ten times compared to usual.
The explosive growth of Immortal Dao Cultivators naturally brought about a series of grand occasions, such as the emergence of dozens of new marketplaces.
In the southern part of Da Mo, there is a newly established Danfu Marketplace, built just ten years ago.
Thanks to the support of the Ying Mo Sect from the Seven Sects Alliance behind the scenes, Danfu Marketplace developed extremely rapidly, becoming one of the largest marketplaces in southern Da Mo within a few short years.
At this moment:
It has been seven or eight days since the grand battle at the Seven Sects Alliance Headquarters.
In the bustling Danfu Marketplace, the usual scene of numerous Escape Lights weaving back and forth is nowhere to be seen. Nearly all cultivators are gathering in twos and threes or in small groups, discussing the same matter in different places.
The only event that could make them act like this is the sudden downfall of the hegemonic Seven Sects Alliance in the Southwest, an earth-shattering event.
Numerous cultivators showed a variety of expressions: some excited and thrilled, some slightly agitated, some anxious and fearful, some ambitious and scheming… all sorts of emotions, each one different.
Inside the residence of the marketplace steward, 'Wang Tian':
"Damn it!"
Under the concealment of a heavy array, a young master dressed in luxurious brocade paced back and forth in the room, his expression gloomy and irritable.
"Those old things have disappeared for a dozen years, and yet they can still show up. What kind of world is this..."
He kept cursing incessantly, but even he didn't realize that he subconsciously lowered his voice.
Zhao Bing is an Inner Sect Steward of Ying Mo Sect, with a master who is a Supreme Elder at the Golden Core Stage within the sect. Although his status is nowhere near that of true disciples and Elders within the sect, compared to the Foundation Establishment Cultivators outside, he is still considered a significant figure.
Originally, his days were extremely comfortable, but then a sudden change occurred seven days ago. The Supreme Elder stationed at Ying Mo Sect hurriedly announced an Imperial Decree, then arranged for all members of Ying Mo Sect to scatter and flee.
On that day, in frantic panic, Zhao Bing recalled his acquaintance with the Head Steward Wang Tian of Danfu Marketplace. Given the dense crowd at the marketplace, it would be easy to escape should anything happen, so he hurriedly brought a few concubines and disciples to Danfu Marketplace.
Until today, Zhao Bing still feels an unrealistic sense, like being in a dream, unable to believe he has fallen into such a situation.
"It's already been several days, why hasn't the sect sent me any messages?"
Zhao Bing's heart has long been filled with a strong sense of unease, making him extremely restless and agitated.
Usually speaking:
On the side of the Seven Sects Alliance, there are not only more than twenty Golden Core Ancestors, but also figures like the Chenxing Celestial King, holding overwhelming power.
And the enemies they faced were just two individuals, shouldn't the battle be settled swiftly, and members and disciples be summoned back?
To disseminate members and disciples beforehand seems overly cautious to Zhao Bing.
Yet he has waited here for seven days, not daring to step out even half a step, but has not received the messages or notices he desires.
"No movement for seven days, could something unforeseen have happened to the sect?"
"No... it can't be!"
Zhao Bing shook his head vigorously, forcing himself to calm down:
"It must be that Qingxu and Nether Abyss are particularly troublesome, extending the battle till now."
"The most likely scenario now is a temporary stalemate between both sides, so we, the members and disciples, are not out of danger yet..."
These few self-comforting thoughts indeed eased his restlessness considerably.
He sat down again, pondering whether to meet Wang Tian later and propose going out for a trip.
He cherishes his life immensely, so upon arriving here, for safety's sake, just in case, he hasn't taken a single step outside in seven days.
And just as Zhao Bing was still hesitating:
At this time, a few young men and women entered from the side hall, his two disciples and three concubines.
Having been confined in this small inner room for several days, sheltered amidst heavy arrays, they are also tormented by restlessness and irritability, to the point of bursting, wanting to go out for a walk.
Their request was what ultimately made Zhao Bing resolve to ring a Dharma Bell and summon Wang Tian, the Head Steward, here.
Although they are both stewards of Ying Mo Sect, Wang Tian's status compared to his is not on the same level at all. Although the latter became a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he's merely a pawn at Zhao Bing's disposal.
Once the Dharma Bell is rung, no matter what key matters Wang Tian is handling, he must first drop everything and come to duly obey his orders.
"Ring, ring, ring..."
Soon, less than a quarter of an hour after the Dharma Bell rang, Wang Tian arrived from outside.
"Wang Tian, I'm planning to..."
He, as usual, sat in the Taishi Chair, holding a teacup, instinctively posturing, casually giving instructions. But halfway through his words, his voice abruptly stopped.
He quickly sensed something amiss:
The entering Wang Tian did not deliberately hunch his body or trot as he used to, but confidently and uprightly entered the inner residence hall.
The usual look of respect and ingratiation on his face was replaced by a superior, scrutinizing gaze.
In that scrutinizing look, there was a fascinating mixture of excitement, greed, and barely noticeable cruelty, eyeing him like a lamb ready for slaughter.
"Wang Tian?! What do you intend to do?!"
Zhao Bing immediately realized the danger. As he abruptly stood up, crashing into the chair behind him, he secretly activated his Protective Daoist Techniques while grasping the storage bag at his sleeve, ready to retrieve his Spiritual Artifact.
Although his actions weren't concealed, he was still a step slower than Wang Tian, who had been prepared beforehand.
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"
With a movement of his Divine Thought, Wang Tian activated the Four layered Array that enveloped the courtyard, sealing off all internal and external disturbances and initiating its suppressive power!
In an instant, layers of semi-transparent barriers descended with the force of rolling thunder!
"Wang Tian! You're courting death!!"
Zhao Bing roared, as a faint black light shield emerged around him while a black Treasure Bead appeared in his hand, which he immediately launched upwards.
The combination of Daoist Techniques and Spiritual Artifact allowed him to barely withstand the suppression of the initial layers of barriers, but additional layers continued to descend, leaving him in grave danger.
Meanwhile, his disciples and concubines, with their Qi Refining Stage cultivation, were instantly crushed under the array's suppression, turning into gruesome piles of flesh, no longer recognizable as human.
"No!!"
Zhao Bing's eyes turned red with rage and grief, but as soon as this sorrow arose, it was replaced by terror.
He realized that faced with the full power of a Second Order Array, consisting of more than one layer, his cultivation and strength were far from sufficient to contend against it, leaving him without even a chance to escape.
His master, despite being a Golden Core Level Supreme Elder, had many disciples and did not hold Zhao Bing in high regard, thus it was impossible for him to be bestowed with a Third grade Protective Secret Treasure.
Prior to this, he hadn't even considered:
By voluntarily stepping into the core of the Danfu Marketplace, which had the strictest security and a Four-layered Grand Array, he had essentially handed his life over to Wang Tian.
But how could such a lowly thing, a slave who pledged allegiance to the Ying Mo Sect, dare to act against him? Was he not afraid of sect retribution afterward?
"Could it be that, could it be that the Ying Mo Sect has already..."
This thought immediately crossed Zhao Bing's mind, causing him to shiver from head to toe.
He struggled to stop himself from thinking in this direction, but he couldn't suppress these thoughts, leading to a despair akin to impending doom.
If it weren't for something amiss with the Ying Mo Sect or even the entire Seven Sects Alliance, how would a mere Wang Tian, nothing more than a dog-like figure, dare to act against him?!
"It seems you've guessed as much."
A few steps away, Wang Tian stood with his hands behind his back, his expression a mix of a smile and a sneer:
"You high and mighty dogs probably never imagined you'd see a day like this, huh?"
Just as he finished speaking:
"Crack! Crack!"
With a crisp sound, the black Treasure Bead above Zhao Bing's head cracked with several fissures before suddenly exploding.
Once the black Treasure Bead shattered, his sole remaining Protective Daoist Technique crumbled like a solitary log, swiftly disintegrated under the array's pressure, leaving the barriers to descend unimpeded with great force!
"Ah!"
Zhao Bing let out a miserable cry, his body was crushed with bones broken everywhere, reducing his seven-foot stature to merely four feet.
Blood spurted and splattered, his entire body covered with severe lacerations displaying white fractured bones. If not for his Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation and strong Life Force, he likely would have perished instantly.
At this moment, Wang Tian was in no rush to take his life, instead controlling the array to maintain the pressure at this level, leisurely "appreciating" Zhao Bing's dying state.
"Wang... Tian..."
Zhao Bing, crushed into half, struggled to move and couldn't speak, could only use the remaining Divine Thought to project a weak, resentful voice:
"You, you won't... die a good death!!"
"My Master... will surely... avenge me!"
"Hahaha..."
Wang Tian laughed heartily and spoke:
"You might have only guessed the defeat of the Seven Sects Alliance, but you couldn't imagine just how disastrously they fell, could you?"
He gazed at Zhao Bing, whose life was ebbing away bit by bit, his face filled with pleasure, speaking methodically:
"Elder Qingxu and the Nether Abyss Ancestor from our Da Mo Realm have nearly driven the Golden Core Cultivators of your Seven Sects Alliance to extinction!"
"It's said that only two Golden Core Cultivators narrowly escaped that day, and it seems your master wasn't among them."
"Wha-what?!"
Even in his critically injured and dying state, as his consciousness blurred, Zhao Bing was thoroughly shocked by this news.
He had anticipated the possibility of the Seven Sects Alliance's defeat, but never imagined such a crushing and absolute rout, reducing them to mere remnants!
"Astonishing, isn't it?"
Wang Tian's lips curled slightly, his tone exuding satisfaction:
"When I got this news, I was just as shocked as you, equally incredulous."
"I spent a full three days, verifying from various sources before I could finally confirm the truth of this news and learned that those few remaining Golden Core Cultivators had already fled Da Mo."
"The Golden Core Cultivators from the Chentian Sect, the Changluo Xu Clan, and the Ying Mo Sect, reportedly secretly took their loyal members and treasures before their hasty departure, preparing for a future resurgence."
"And yet, you received no notice from the Supreme Elder of Ying Mo Sect, it seems you've been abandoned..."