Chapter 378 - 369: Disaster from Zixiao, a Self-Determined Fate

As time went on, the flames of war on the battlefields of the Burying Moon Mountain Dream World cluster burned ever more intensely.

For the alliance between the Golden Clan and the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life, all three of their other armies were in constant retreat, with the sole exception of Fang Yang's.

Their situation was deteriorating, growing worse with each passing day.

Among these three forces, the fourth army, led by Silver Phoenix, was on the very brink of collapse.

Silver Phoenix possessed the Frost and Snow Phoenix Sacred Body, her cultivation was at Tier Five Peak, and she hailed from the Frost and Snow Villa.

She was a formidable figure.

Growing up, Silver Phoenix had always been the most brilliant of her generation, leaving her peers far behind.

She had drawn the attention of the Saints and was considered one of the most promising talents of her time.

Despite having the Frost and Snow Phoenix Sacred Body, she had no great love for peace and quiet.

On the contrary, she loved excitement.

She frequently made her move, showcasing her strength. Every new level of cultivation and power she revealed would invariably draw gasps of admiration from others.

As such, she was a frequent sight on the battlefront between the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life and the Red Flame Demon Country, where she carved out a fearsome reputation.

She was decisive and brave, adept at taking great risks and staking everything on a single, desperate gamble.

While others, like Jiuzhe and Su Dao, were either biding their time or simply lacked the strength to act...

...she took the initiative, repeatedly putting herself on display.

Finally, after years of ceaseless slaughter...

...she became the first supreme prodigy of her generation in the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life to win the favor of the Ten Thousand Dao Altar's Divine Spirit.

Through this, she received one of the highest legacies of the Daoist Sect.

However...

Due to her profound killing intent, the Great Powers of the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life had her deliberately take time to settle down and temper her disposition.

...

"A great reputation is never unearned."

Silver Phoenix sighed. "The Grand Princess of Great Xuan is truly impressive."

Her words immediately drew a reaction from everyone within the fourth army's command tent.

Upon hearing this, Layman Yue said, "Now that things have come to this, our only option is to request aid from Fang Yang. But who should we send to lead the team escorting the secret letter?"

Standing to one side, Chen Chenye's heart stirred as he sensed an opportunity.

He had only recently recovered to his peak state and had just arrived to join the fourth army.

At that moment, Chen Chenye's eyes hardened with determination as he spoke with righteous conviction.

"Let me go. I'm a newcomer and haven't properly integrated with the army yet. It would be better for me to escort the secret letter."

...

While Silver Phoenix, Layman Yue, and the others were still deliberating, Chen Chenye stepped forward.

Everyone turned to look at Chen Chenye's face.

Chen Chenye stood tall, as straight as a pine tree.

He looked like a colossal purple-gold pillar capable of holding up the very sky, exuding an air of trustworthiness.

Of course, he had his own agenda for volunteering to undertake the risky mission of delivering the secret letter.

He had long been planning to make a move against Fang Yang and Su Xi.

Now, he felt his opportunity had finally arrived.

He would use the coming shift in the situation to quietly lay his trap.

'First, I will capture Su Xi, cause her to fall into depravity, and make her my agent.'

'Then, using her position as second-in-command, I will gradually enrich myself at the expense of the third army.'

'Ultimately, I will ruin Fang Yang in a single stroke.'

'And this will be the price Fang Yang pays for carelessly handing over great authority to others!'

In this grand scheme, the most difficult step was capturing Su Xi and causing her to fall.

But he was, after all, one of the current generation's Demon Sons of the Jile Demon Sect.

He was certainly not lacking in such methods.

It was just that within the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life, it was not convenient for him to use them.

Once he did, he would inevitably be discovered.

If that happened, his master, the Purple Sky Manor Master, would undoubtedly kill him for the sake of righteousness.

"You've only just arrived..." Layman Yue mused.

Silver Phoenix also reminded him:

"That Grand Princess of Great Xuan is no easy person to deal with. Her eyes are exceptionally sharp and insightful, utterly piercing."

"Setting her aside, just Zhang Haisheng alone is a rising star of the Demon Dao with astonishing strength."

If the Great Sun Dragon Lady hadn't burst onto the scene and broken all conventions...

...then that Grand Princess of Great Xuan would have had an excellent chance of seizing all the opportunities, shouldering the heavenly mandate of this domain, and stepping into the realm of a Young Venerable.

If not for such a powerhouse holding down their opponents' formation, Silver Phoenix and her fourth army would not have suffered such a miserable defeat.

As for Zhang Haisheng, he was a young Great Saint from the Jile Demon Sect, known for his vicious methods and sinister, cruel nature.

Zhang Haisheng was a Tier Five Peak cultivator and a renowned expert in the Cosmic Dao.

He possessed the Void Insect Saint Body and could unleash all sorts of Spatial Wind Blades at will.

...

At this moment, under everyone's watchful eyes, Chen Chenye listened to their concerns and replied earnestly:

"My master, the 'Purple Sky Manor Master,' told me not to attempt things beyond my capabilities."

"And my senior brother, 'Jiuzhe,' also once said that one must give everything their all, so as not to betray their own heart."

"I believe... that I can do it."

His master and senior brother had indeed spoken those words.

At the time, however, he'd let their words go in one ear and out the other.

They went in one ear and out the other, and he had scoffed at the advice.

But now, to seize this opportunity, he didn't mind invoking his so-called master and senior brother to add weight to his words.

He succeeded, just as he had wished.

The moment he accepted the order, he sneered inwardly:

'I knew the two of you were highly respected, both inside the Daoist Mansion and out, but in the end, you're still just tools for me to use. Hmph.'

...

「Five days later.」

The eastern region of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Venerable's Dream Realm Mountain Range.

Third Army, Commander's Tent.

"Commander, an urgent secret order has arrived," Su Xi said, walking in briskly.

Hearing this, Fang Yang's expression turned grim.

He knew that if this was an urgent order that even Su Xi lacked the authority to handle, it must be a matter of grave importance.

Soon, Fang Yang was briefed on the situation.

...Chen Chenye was leading a small team with a secret letter, presumably to request aid for the fourth army.

However, Chen Chenye himself was apparently tied up by Zhang Haisheng.

Thus, only the elites of his team had managed to break away and escape.

"Chen Chenye..." Fang Yang muttered, his gaze turning distant and cold.

Between Sang Xiaowan's letter and his own first impression, he had no favorable opinion of Chen Chenye.

Subconsciously, he raised his guard, instantly suspecting a trap.

...

Soon.

The few people in the command tent quickly grasped the contents of the secret order.

Su Xi then proposed, "Commander, how about I lead the troops to provide aid, while you remain here to defend our position?"

Fang Yang looked at Su Xi's beautiful face and was immediately reminded of Chen Chenye's pathetic, simpering behavior.

He was just about to shake his head and refuse.

There was no need for Su Xi to put herself in harm's way.

Just then, words began to materialize from the divination fortune in his mind:

[The situation turns dire, an ally requests aid. Paths of duty diverge, disaster arises from Purple Sky. Your fortune is your own to decide.]

[Mid-High Lot: The second-in-command leads a detachment forth, with the commander following. Head straight for the Great Sage Dream Realm shaped like a Golden Giant Cauldron. Proceed with a high profile to turn misfortune into fortune. You may obtain a Tier Five opportunity. Auspicious.]

[Mid-Neutral Lot: The second-in-command leads a detachment forth, with the commander following. Enter the Great River of Saintly Spirits and travel downstream. Proceed with a low profile. There will be no additional gains, but also no losses. Neutral.]

[Mid-Low Lot: The second-in-command leads a detachment forth, but the commander does not follow, remaining behind to hold the position. You may observe the dream realm's storm from afar, but disaster will stir from within. Purple Sky will rebel. The situation will be fraught with treachery. Inauspicious.]

[Mid-Low Lot: The entire army remains stationary. The grand situation will turn against you; resentment will fester among all ranks, and loyalty will fracture. From then on, crises will abound. Every step will bring a lethal threat, making survival uncertain. You must be exceedingly cautious. Inauspicious.]