Within the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, the tension had reached its breaking point.
Qi Tianlong came storming through their doors once again, his face full of fury as he stared straight at Liu Ran!
He shouted, "Liu Ran, after discussing it today, our Ghost King Sect has decided to move against the Shadow Pavilion!
"If your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect refuses to take part in this encirclement and annihilation operation...
"Heh, heh..." A cold glint flashed through Qi Tianlong's eyes as he continued, "Then our Ghost King Sect will regard your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect and the Shadow Pavilion as jackals from the same den, surely involved in some unspeakable dealings and sinister schemes!
"Moreover, our Ghost King Sect absolutely won't let this rest. We will first wage a battle to the death against your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, until victory and defeat are decided!
"We will never give you any chance to stab us in the back!"
"Qi Tianlong, are you threatening our Falling Rosy Clouds Sect?" Liu Ran demanded furiously.
Liu Ran's expression was grave. Faced with Qi Tianlong's forceful threat, he knew this was no small matter.
If things really were as Qi Tianlong said, refusing to join the attack against the Shadow Pavilion would probably put the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect in an extremely unfavorable position.
Yet if he agreed too readily, there was no telling whether a deeper trap lay hidden within.
For a moment, countless thoughts raced through Liu Ran's mind. As he weighed the gains and losses, a sheen of sweat involuntarily appeared on his forehead.
With a grave expression, Qi Tianlong spoke again. "This is an excellent opportunity for your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect to prove to the world that you haven't been secretly colluding with the Shadow Pavilion.
"Besides, I've already posted bounties on the Shadow Pavilion's members with Blood Slaughter. When the time is ripe, our three forces can strike together and encircle the Shadow Pavilion. We must wipe it out completely!"
"Also, as far as I know, the Shadow Pavilion doesn't have many people out in the open.
"There are only a few elders and hall masters, some intelligence personnel, and a young master of the Shadow Pavilion whose strength is at the mid Yin-Yang realm!
"There's also a pavilion master who has yet to appear, whose strength is at least at the late Tribulation Crossing realm or its peak. But he probably isn't at the Reincarnation realm. If he were, he wouldn't resort to these divisive tactics!
"Clearly, the Shadow Pavilion wants our Ghost King Sect and your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect to slaughter each other, then sit back and reap the rewards! All to achieve some unspeakable purpose!
"Can your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect really remain indifferent when others are scheming against it?"
Hearing this, especially learning that even the Blood Kill Organization would take part in the operation, Liu Ran could not help but waver slightly!
The Shadow Pavilion actually dared to scheme against the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect. It really does need to be taught a lesson! As one of the major forces, how can we remain indifferent?
In that case, the scoundrel who used the Falling Rosy Clouds Sword Art to kill Sun Qi might also belong to the Shadow Pavilion! Otherwise, how could there be such a coincidence?
He disappeared after killing someone, and we couldn't find him anywhere. He must have gone back to the Shadow Pavilion!
The more Liu Ran thought about it, the more it made sense. "Qi Tianlong, then the scoundrel who killed your disciple using the Falling Rosy Clouds Sword Art might also belong to the Shadow Pavilion?"
"Heh, heh, you're not stupid after all! You thought of it too?"
Qi Tianlong said, "If he isn't one of your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's people, then he's very likely from the Shadow Pavilion. Moreover, he has extraordinary talent. He learned your Falling Rosy Clouds Sword Art so quickly, despite having only just joined your sect!
"Tsk, tsk, what a slap in the face for your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect!"
"Qi Tianlong, you..." Liu Ran said, "Spare me your snide remarks. Didn't your Ghost King Sect get slapped in the face too? Hmph!"
Then Qi Tianlong continued his analysis:
"Although our major forces have had friction, it's only ever been minor scuffles!
"I suspected before that this person had ties to the Shadow Pavilion. Now he must be one of theirs.
"The imperial family hasn't done anything like this in all these years either! Unless they and the Vajra Sect join forces!
"The imperial family's ambitions are obvious enough. Those bald donkeys are very powerful, and with the Vajra Sect around, the imperial family doesn't dare act recklessly.
"The Vajra Sect has no intention of dominating the Heavenly Star Dynasty. As long as you don't provoke them, they won't bother with you!
"Ever since the Shadow Pavilion appeared within the dynasty, it has upset the existing balance! It has actively stirred up disputes among several sides! Just what is it trying to do?"
After hearing Qi Tianlong out, Liu Ran nodded! He thought, This old fox could still work it out after being schemed against! Cunning indeed!
But outwardly, he remained calm and slowly replied, "That would be excellent, but our Falling Rosy Clouds Sect also has many concerns. After all, besides the Shadow Pavilion, there are still the Vajra Sect and the imperial family, whom we must constantly watch and guard against.
"Therefore, we cannot turn out in full force. We can only send a portion of our elite forces to participate in this operation. I hope you understand." With that, he fixed his keen gaze on Qi Tianlong, awaiting his answer.
Qi Tianlong fell silent for a moment before saying, "Fine, but you and some of your stronger elders must take action. Sending ordinary disciples won't be much use!
"According to the intelligence I have, those two mysterious elders of the Shadow Pavilion only have cultivation at the peak Yin-Yang realm, but their actual combat strength cannot be underestimated!
"They can fight those at the Tribulation Crossing realm without falling behind in the slightest!
"Even our Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder Gui Ming was surrounded and killed by those two! How hateful!" Qi Tianlong said through gritted teeth.
"What's even more troubling is that, although their pavilion master has yet to show himself, judging from various signs, his strength has at least reached the late to peak Tribulation Crossing realm.
"Fortunately, if their ranks contain no experts above the Tribulation Transcendence stage, then with our three powerful forces striking together, we will surely be able to take down the Shadow Pavilion in one stroke!
"However, the most crucial issue right now is that we don't know how many peerless experts at the Tribulation Transcendence stage are hidden within the Shadow Pavilion.
"Or how many reserves it has. These are all the people we've seen out in the open, and there aren't many high-end combatants!
"But why would they be so brazen as to attack our Ghost King Sect? And even scheme against both our sects!
"Unless they're fools, or they really have the ability! Clearly, the Shadow Pavilion's people aren't fools!
"As the saying goes, a cautious hand keeps a ship sailing for ten thousand years. To ensure nothing goes wrong, we must send more top experts to participate in this operation.
"At the same time, we must take particular care to maintain secrecy. We absolutely cannot let even a whisper of this carefully planned encirclement and annihilation operation leak ahead of time.
"Therefore, our three forces have decided to gather our strength in secret and quietly launch this heart-stopping battle of encirclement and annihilation!"
"Good, that works!" Liu Ran nodded slightly in agreement, then continued, "In that case, let's set our departure for tomorrow night!
" His gaze was firm and decisive, as though he could already see the first light of victory ahead.
Hearing this, Liu Ran immediately replied, "No problem, then it's settled!
"Our Falling Rosy Clouds Sect will arrive at Fengluo City on time and rendezvous with you all there." As he finished speaking, a trace of confidence and anticipation flashed through his eyes.
Qi Tianlong nodded in reply. "All right, then I'll return to the Ghost King Sect first, make the necessary arrangements, and prepare thoroughly for battle!
" Before his words had faded, he turned and left, his figure swiftly disappearing into the boundless night.
Thus, the curtain officially rose on a grand plan jointly devised by three forces to wipe out the Shadow Pavilion...