If the Three Sects were destroyed today and Cheng Jingfeng—or rather, Zhao Jingfeng—and the others escaped alive...
It was not hard to imagine what would happen next.
With Situ Zhen and Yan Donghai dead, Cheng Jingfeng would have no trouble taking control of the Phantom Star Sect, becoming the most powerful figure beneath its sect master, Xi Longxuan.
Then... given enough time, they could wait for an opening to deal with the Nascent Soul Stage giant in the Secret Pavilion, or force him to retreat. The Great Zhao Dynasty could bring the vast Phantom Star Sect into the palm of its hand without expending a single soldier.
The thought made Venerable Tianhong's hair stand on end.
"Hahaha! Well played! The Great Zhao Dynasty certainly knows how to make a grand move!"
"Such methods truly leave me in awe!"
"Old Tianhong, do you think you still have a chance? Now... I can give you a choice of how you die."
Among the Demon Shadow Palace's ranks, Zong Lu laughed aloud. His gaze settled on Venerable Tianhong, and one mocking remark after another rang out.
Yet when his gaze flicked toward Zhao Mingyuan, deep wariness of the Great Zhao Dynasty showed in his eyes.
After all, they had quietly turned so many Golden Pill Cultivators of the Phantom Star Sect without raising an alarm!
Both the resources they had spent and the methods they had used were extraordinary.
The Demon Shadow Palace was made up entirely of Evil Cultivators. Compared with the other Three Sects, its members were more fickle, its ranks looser and more chaotic. It might well harbor Great Zhao's hidden agents too.
Venerable Tianhong's face darkened at the words, his expression growing uglier.
He stared at Zong Lu from afar but gave no reply.
Instead, he turned toward the