Cloud Mirror Continent, Jihuang Sword Palace City.
True Monarch Ziji hurried to Lie Jiuyou's residence.
Within the residence, Lie Jiuyou was playing chess with Celestial Venerable Jian Yue in a white jade pavilion. Seeing True Monarch Ziji's flustered appearance, the hand holding Lie Jiuyou's chess piece paused slightly, and he frowned. "Ziji, what has you in such a panic? You preside over the sect's affairs now. How can you still be so unsteady?"
Not even stopping to catch his breath, Ziji hurried forward and said,
"Sect Master, something has happened. Red Crane has returned to Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain. Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain has now formally declared itself a subordinate sect of the Tianli Sect. Yu Chen has also been detained by Red Crane and handed over to the Tianli Sect!"
Clack!
The chess piece in Lie Jiuyou's hand dropped onto the board with a crisp clash like metal and stone. He abruptly rose to his feet. "How could Red Crane have returned to Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain? Wasn't he imprisoned by Fang Mo in Galaxy City?"
Ziji hastily said,
"We do not know the exact circumstances either. However, Red Crane did indeed return to Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain, subdued Blue Flame True Lord, and ruined our plan. Junior Brother tried to withdraw, but Red Crane wounded him. After that, the Tianli Sect entered Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain and took over its resources!"
He swallowed, moistening his throat, then continued,
"Our people noticed something was wrong, but they did not dare approach. They only dared contact Blue Flame after the Tianli Sect had withdrawn, and only then did they learn the news. But it was already too late. Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain had completed its handover with the Tianli Sect, issued notices to every side, and formally submitted to the