Outside the Chaos, the expressions of the Six Saints grew increasingly grave.
Sect Master Tongtian slammed his palm against the void in fury, his voice brimming with helplessness. "This pack of short-sighted fools!
"They care only for immediate gains, knowing nothing of how lips gone mean teeth exposed. They mistrust one another and fight on their own.
"If this continues, the six states will inevitably be swallowed by the State of Qin one by one!"
Lu Yuan was silent for a long while. His gaze turned toward the Qin lands in the mortal realm, his heart full of powerlessness, yet he slowly spoke to reassure the Saints.
"Fellow Daoists, Martial Uncle Yuanshi presses forward step by step, while Zu Long's remnant soul is bound by the contract and powerless to break free.
"It can only impose harsh policies, using the order and state of Qin to nourish Martial Uncle Yuanshi's Dao Fruit.
"Meanwhile, the six states have abandoned reform, and their people are not united. The momentum of Qin unifying the realm has already begun to show.
"All we can do is continue secretly aiding the Vertical Alliance and patiently await a turning point."
Over the following years, the State of Qin continued to carry out reforms without the slightest slackening.
Qin's national strength grew ever greater as it steadily nibbled away at the lands of the six states and seized their cities.
Though the six states organized several more alliances against Qin, they could never escape the predicament of divided hearts.
Either they dispersed before battle, or they returned in crushing defeat.
The Vertical Alliance gradually fell apart, no longer able to form an effective force of resistance.
Again and again, the Six Saints witnessed the failure of the Vertical Alliance, watching the State of Qin rise step by