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“That explains the increased activity of the Sacred Heart Sect. They’ve been covering for Qingzhou,” Zhang Youji said, understanding dawning in his eyes.

“What else is the Sacred Heart Sect doing outside of Qingzhou?” inquired Qin Huai.

“Their Sect Master’s actions are perplexing. He has declared war on the Qiongqi clan of the Barren State and the Phoenix clan of Lu State.”

Zhang Youji voiced his astonishment at these developments. Both tribes, deeply entrenched in the Great You for nearly ten thousand years, had substantial influences in their respective regions. However, they found themselves outmatched by the zealous believers of the Sacred Heart Sect.

Qin Huai, recalling the frenzied scenes in Qingzhou City, was unsurprised by the cult’s success in instigating conflict between the two states.

“Our assessment of the Sacred Heart Sect’s strength was too conservative,” admitted Zhang Youji. He estimated that the cult could mobilize a fighting force of hundreds of millions.

Hearing this staggering number, which equated to half the population of Qingzhou, even Qin Huai was taken aback.

“And the reaction of the three sects?” Qin Huai asked abruptly.

Zhang Youji smirked. “Of course, they didn’t miss this opportunity. The Sacred Heart Sect ignited a chaotic war, and the three sects responded by declaring war on the eight royal clans. Now, the factions are engaged in skirmishes along the borders of several states in the Great You…”

Qin Huai fell silent. He had planned to request the True Path Sect’s military aid to quell the disorder in Qingzhou, but it was clear that the sect couldn’t spare any troops. He had previously assumed Qingzhou to be the most chaotic place in the world. However, amidst the war involving the seven kings, three sects, and a religion, it was, in a way, a haven.

He felt as if he had lived a lifetime since he reached this seemingly bizarre conclusion. His previous belief in the peaceful coexistence of the six royal clans and the three sects had led him to be overly optimistic about the situation beyond Qingzhou.

“The audacious maneuver of the Sacred Heart Sect suggests that the king realm puppet they aim to create using the blood sea array will be no ordinary entity. Once it comes into being, it will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with, capable of defeating the most formidable in the Great You. We must prevent this from happening!” declared Zhang Youji fervently.

He added, “Upon my return, I’ll report this matter to my master. I’ll attempt to leverage the time gap in the information flow to dispatch a king realm martial artist to address the situation in Qingzhou.”

Upon hearing Zhang Youji’s suggestion, Qin Huai quickly waved his hand and vehemently declined. “I have already taken care of the blood sea array issue. The only remaining concern is the white-robed king, who remains uninformed. Let the True Path Sect focus on the frontlines. I’ll figure out a way to handle Qingzhou.”

Qin Huai wasn’t a hero, but he recognized the danger in Zhang Youji’s offhand mention of ‘exploiting the information time difference’. It was a precarious gambit that could backfire terribly if not cautiously executed. The potential failure could not only prevent them from saving Qingzhou but might also lead to the human race becoming entirely subservient to the eight royal clans, with no possibility of resistance.

“Exactly how many king realms exist in this world?” Qin Huai asked, resigning to the fact that no assistance was forthcoming, and tried to gather whatever information he could.

“Not many. Among the eight clans and three sects, there are only dozens at most,” answered Zhang Youji. “The Long family, for instance, only has one elderly prince still in the king realm. In fact, you met him earlier. He’s the father of that young prince, Prince Bai Liu. The Kun Peng clan of Qingzhou still hasn’t recovered from their emperor’s defeat ten thousand years ago.

“Nonetheless, the remaining six royal clans remain at their peak, each protected by eight or nine king realm experts. The three sects are weaker due to limited resources and the short lifespan of the human race, which hinders the cultivation of top-tier experts. Each family would have four or five at most.”

As Zhang Youji calculated with Qin Huai, they concluded that even accounting for the potential king realm experts in the Sacred Heart Sect, the combined power of the six royal clans was still twice that of theirs.

“The three sects were completely unprepared for this battle,” Zhang Youji admitted, holding his head in his hand. “Without our support, the Sacred Heart Sect will surely fall. Once consolidated, the six royal clans would seize the momentum to eradicate the three sects after crushing the Sacred Heart Sect. We have to engage in this fight.”

Qin Huai studied the ordinary-looking Daoist before him. A closer inspection revealed Zhang Youji’s concealed fatigue. The pressure on him must have been immense.

“Regardless, I will find a way to help with the Qingzhou situation,” Qin Huai stated firmly.

Zhang Youji patted his shoulder and said, “Brother Qin, don’t feel guilty for us just because the Sacred Heart Sect is on our side. And don’t believe you were wrong to destroy the blood sea array.”

Qin Huai looked at Zhang Youji in surprise, causing the latter to become equally startled. “I guess I was overthinking.”

“Brother Zhang, rest assured. I’m not that great,” Qin Huai confessed, explaining that given a choice between justice and his loved ones, he would prioritize the latter. “If I can’t even protect my own family, what right do I have to talk about righteousness? I’m not a saint. I’m just an ordinary man. But if I have the power, I will certainly use it.”

“Haha, that’s good.” Zhang Youji smiled, then slowly sat cross-legged on the ground. “Since you’ve already seized the great opportunity from the Golden Spirit Temple, there’s no reason for me to linger.”

With that, Zhang Youji’s figure began to fade gradually.