Storms Gather Again

Zhao Wuji's words left the people of the Northwestern Twin Cities silent for a long time.

The court joining forces with martial factions against the Radiance Cult was an exceedingly rare occurrence.

To be precise, local court authorities often joined forces with martial factions to get things done.

But in the Great Xia Court's five hundred years, an imperial edict ordering an alliance with martial factions had been issued only once.

That was five hundred years ago, when the court openly joined the Three Dao-Buddhist-Demonic Lineages to destroy the Radiance Cult.

Now the court had openly issued another order to join forces with martial factions, and once again, the target was the Radiance Cult.

Only this time, Zhao Wuji had come to the Northwestern Twin Cities first.

"How many forces does the court intend to commit?"

The figure from Peerless City spoke.

Zhao Wuji pointed at himself. "Just me."

The figure from Radiance City sneered. "Your court has a fine scheme. You want to catch a white wolf with bare hands?

"You call it an alliance to destroy the Radiance Cult, but you clearly mean to provoke us into fighting them to the death until both sides are ruined!"

Zhao Wuji said evenly, "We aren't asking you to fight for nothing. His Majesty has given me an edict: any martial faction willing to oppose the Radiance Cult will be authorized by the court to oversee its own territory. In effect, the court will recognize each faction's lawful authority within its sphere of influence.

"No one dares touch the territory of the Northwestern Twin Cities, and neither of you needs to expand your reach. This edict may not matter much to you.

"But you must know how tempting it will be to other martial factions.

"The court isn't trying to catch