1794

The one who had spoken was a higher-up from the Guardians Guild. As a sixth-stage God, he had a rather high status in the camp. He was Gongsun Shiliu, a fellow who happily borrowed the might of his master to bark at others.

He knew who Xiang Shaoyun was, but he insisted on not showing Xiang Shaoyun any respect. After all, Xiang Shaoyun was a competitor of his beloved nephew. However, he had barely finished his words when Huang Baiwu slapped him across his face. The slap hit so hard he was even momentarily disoriented.

"Continue running your mouth, and you'll lose your head," said Huang Baiwu. He didn't show any respect due to his terrible mood.

Gongsun Shiliu was stupefied. He pointed at Huang Baiwu speechlessly. That was all he could do as Huang Baiwu's aggressive aura was akin to a mountain pressing down on him. He couldn't even talk if he wanted to.

That was a strength far beyond his level. Xiang Shaoyun naturally did not care much for Gongsun Shiliu, either. He headed straight for a building in the middle of the encampment. The building looked impressive and imposing. A powerful formation ran around it, giving an impression that it could unleash a powerful attack at any time. That was the battle hall belonging solely to Gongsun Yinxiong, the Yingxiong Battle Hall.

When Xiang Shaoyun arrived, Gongsun Sanyang showed himself.

"You're back as well?" asked Gongsun Sanyang in astonishment.

Xiang Shaoyun nodded. "I had no choice. Do you know where the Saintly Forest Courtyard people went?"

He had mainly come because he wanted to ask that question.

Gongsun Sanyang said, "Old Xie brought them away. They're not far from the battle hall. You can easily find them."

Gongsun Sanyang pointed in a direction. Xiang Shaoyun instantly understood the implication of the Saintly Forest Courtyard's presence. Just as he was about to take his leave, Gongsun Shiliu ran over and complained to Gongsun Sanyang, but before he could finish his words, he received three slaps from Gongsun Sanyang. Gongsun Shiliu was stupefied.

Xiang Shaoyun did not seem to care and directly left with Huang Baiwu. Gongsun Sanyang was planning to introduce Xiang Shaoyun to his grandfather, but it was too bad that Xiang Shaoyun had decided to leave.

Looking at Xiang Shaoyun's departing figure, Gongsun Sanyang sighed and said, "Looks like that bastard Qin Jiu will probably be the young guild master."

He had initially looked highly upon Xiang Shaoyun's chances. Unfortunately, Xiang Shaoyun had decided to return like him. Since they had all returned before 100 years were over, Qin Jiu would probably be the one to win the seat.

Xiang Shaoyun brought Huang Baiwu to the Saintly Forest Courtyard's new location. The Saintly Forest Courtyard had preserved a majority of their people, but the Dusk Dynasty's emperor emeritus was nowhere to be seen. Huang Xiaoyue explained in tears that the emperor emeritus had perished because of her.

Huang Baiwu's expression dimmed. He could only declare furiously that a day would come when he would destroy the entire devil race. Xiang Shaoyun took the chance to enter and have a conversation with Old Xie.

"Kid, let me tell you something. What if I hand over all these Saintly Forest Courtyard people to you?" asked Xie Feng.

"Old Xie, what do you mean?"

"I'm dying soon," said Old Xie, to Xiang Shaoyun's astonishment.

Before Xiang Shaoyun could recover from his shock, Old Xie continued, "The entire dominion is in chaos. War is breaking out everywhere. This old man can't think only of myself while the world burns. I have a feeling that I'll die before long. But I can't allow the inheritance of the Saintly Forest Courtyard to end here. It carries part of humanity's hope. Therefore, I hope you can agree to my request."

"Old Xie, is this your final request?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

Xie Feng nodded. "Consider it so."

After some hesitation, Xiang Shaoyun agreed. He left with Huang Xiaoyue, the Saintly Forest Stele, and a group of youngsters. As for the remaining members of the Saintly Forest Courtyard, they stayed to fight the devils. Xiang Shaoyun didn't stay because his priority was the Western Desert.

The dominion was in complete chaos, and he was deeply disappointed with the Guardians Guild. Everyone was scrambling for power and personal gains with no unity whatsoever. Since he did not have enough reputation to rally the entirety of humanity, he decided to fully put the Western Desert in order. At the same time, he would focus on strengthening himself.

The Western Desert's zombie calamity had vanished. It was unknown if Kong Pingfan was the reason for that. The zombies had stopped their conquest while the Wumo Pass had transformed into a forbidden area. Nobody could approach it. As for the Guardians Guild, they had also withdrawn from the Wumo Pass.

Huang Tian had left as well, going somewhere else to help the humans. With Xiang Shaoyun's rise, the Ziling Sect enjoyed a meteoric rise as well. With their original location as the starting point, they expanded in all directions. Even the Yu Clan had sworn allegiance to them.

The arrogant Di Clan had moved to an unknown location. Like in the past, they had once again concealed themselves, hoping to reappear after the chaos ended.

Unfortunately for them, Xiang Yangzhan and Purple Lightning Marquis did not give them the chance. They went straight to the Di Clan's main headquarters and trampled over it. With that, the Di Clan was completely removed from the Western Desert.

The Jing Sect was a tier-8 organization with an existing relationship with the Nangong Clan. Even they announced their allegiance to the Ziling Sect. They had no other choice. After all, even the Nangong Clan's ancestor had become Xiang Shaoyun's puppet. If the Jing Sect dared to show any disobedience, they would be destroyed.

Before long, Ziling Sect became the Western Desert's rising star.

With organizations like the Yu Clan and the Jing Sect falling under their rule, everyone could see that the Ziling Sect's master, Xiang Shaoyun, had gained enough influence to win the young guild master position in the Guardians Guild. However, he seemed to have completely given up on the position. Instead, his focus had shifted to becoming a local warlord.

He sent Zhuge Zhantian out as a diplomat and had Zhuge Zhantian start organizing their many subordinate organizations into a single entity. Du Xuanhao was appointed the first commander and was sent to subdue the remaining Western Desert organizations.

Xiang Shaoyun knew very well that talking alone would not make these organizations submit. Actual action and might were required. With that, more than half of the Western Desert fell under the Ziling Sect's rule.

Some of the subordinate organizations originally planned to only feign allegiance, but Devouring Ghost and his people immediately exterminated those discovered. The remaining organizations thus fully fell in line.

However, the Ziling Sect's rapid expansion courted the Celestial Alliance's resentment because the Celestial Alliance also had their own subordinate organizations in the Western Desert. The Ziling Sect's actions were basically the same as taking from them. They could not tolerate it.

One day, a delegation arrived from the Celestial Alliance, bearing their divine decree.

"Ziling Sect's master, Xiang Shaoyun, come out, kneel, and accept the divine decree," a sharp voice rang out.

The one who had spoken was a higher-up from the Guardians Guild. As a sixth-stage God, he had a rather high status in the camp. He was Gongsun Shiliu, a fellow who happily borrowed the might of his master to bark at others.

He knew who Xiang Shaoyun was, but he insisted on not showing Xiang Shaoyun any respect. After all, Xiang Shaoyun was a competitor of his beloved nephew. However, he had barely finished his words when Huang Baiwu slapped him across his face. The slap hit so hard he was even momentarily disoriented.

"Continue running your mouth, and you'll lose your head," said Huang Baiwu. He didn't show any respect due to his terrible mood.

Gongsun Shiliu was stupefied. He pointed at Huang Baiwu speechlessly. That was all he could do as Huang Baiwu's aggressive aura was akin to a mountain pressing down on him. He couldn't even talk if he wanted to.

That was a strength far beyond his level. Xiang Shaoyun naturally did not care much for Gongsun Shiliu, either. He headed straight for a building in the middle of the encampment. The building looked impressive and imposing. A powerful formation ran around it, giving an impression that it could unleash a powerful attack at any time. That was the battle hall belonging solely to Gongsun Yinxiong, the Yingxiong Battle Hall.

When Xiang Shaoyun arrived, Gongsun Sanyang showed himself.

"You're back as well?" asked Gongsun Sanyang in astonishment.

Xiang Shaoyun nodded. "I had no choice. Do you know where the Saintly Forest Courtyard people went?"

He had mainly come because he wanted to ask that question.

Gongsun Sanyang said, "Old Xie brought them away. They're not far from the battle hall. You can easily find them."

Gongsun Sanyang pointed in a direction. Xiang Shaoyun instantly understood the implication of the Saintly Forest Courtyard's presence. Just as he was about to take his leave, Gongsun Shiliu ran over and complained to Gongsun Sanyang, but before he could finish his words, he received three slaps from Gongsun Sanyang. Gongsun Shiliu was stupefied.

Xiang Shaoyun did not seem to care and directly left with Huang Baiwu. Gongsun Sanyang was planning to introduce Xiang Shaoyun to his grandfather, but it was too bad that Xiang Shaoyun had decided to leave.

Looking at Xiang Shaoyun's departing figure, Gongsun Sanyang sighed and said, "Looks like that bastard Qin Jiu will probably be the young guild master."

He had initially looked highly upon Xiang Shaoyun's chances. Unfortunately, Xiang Shaoyun had decided to return like him. Since they had all returned before 100 years were over, Qin Jiu would probably be the one to win the seat.

Xiang Shaoyun brought Huang Baiwu to the Saintly Forest Courtyard's new location. The Saintly Forest Courtyard had preserved a majority of their people, but the Dusk Dynasty's emperor emeritus was nowhere to be seen. Huang Xiaoyue explained in tears that the emperor emeritus had perished because of her.

Huang Baiwu's expression dimmed. He could only declare furiously that a day would come when he would destroy the entire devil race. Xiang Shaoyun took the chance to enter and have a conversation with Old Xie.

"Kid, let me tell you something. What if I hand over all these Saintly Forest Courtyard people to you?" asked Xie Feng.

"Old Xie, what do you mean?"

"I'm dying soon," said Old Xie, to Xiang Shaoyun's astonishment.

Before Xiang Shaoyun could recover from his shock, Old Xie continued, "The entire dominion is in chaos. War is breaking out everywhere. This old man can't think only of myself while the world burns. I have a feeling that I'll die before long. But I can't allow the inheritance of the Saintly Forest Courtyard to end here. It carries part of humanity's hope. Therefore, I hope you can agree to my request."

"Old Xie, is this your final request?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

Xie Feng nodded. "Consider it so."

After some hesitation, Xiang Shaoyun agreed. He left with Huang Xiaoyue, the Saintly Forest Stele, and a group of youngsters. As for the remaining members of the Saintly Forest Courtyard, they stayed to fight the devils. Xiang Shaoyun didn't stay because his priority was the Western Desert.

The dominion was in complete chaos, and he was deeply disappointed with the Guardians Guild. Everyone was scrambling for power and personal gains with no unity whatsoever. Since he did not have enough reputation to rally the entirety of humanity, he decided to fully put the Western Desert in order. At the same time, he would focus on strengthening himself.

The Western Desert's zombie calamity had vanished. It was unknown if Kong Pingfan was the reason for that. The zombies had stopped their conquest while the Wumo Pass had transformed into a forbidden area. Nobody could approach it. As for the Guardians Guild, they had also withdrawn from the Wumo Pass.

Huang Tian had left as well, going somewhere else to help the humans. With Xiang Shaoyun's rise, the Ziling Sect enjoyed a meteoric rise as well. With their original location as the starting point, they expanded in all directions. Even the Yu Clan had sworn allegiance to them.

The arrogant Di Clan had moved to an unknown location. Like in the past, they had once again concealed themselves, hoping to reappear after the chaos ended.

Unfortunately for them, Xiang Yangzhan and Purple Lightning Marquis did not give them the chance. They went straight to the Di Clan's main headquarters and trampled over it. With that, the Di Clan was completely removed from the Western Desert.

The Jing Sect was a tier-8 organization with an existing relationship with the Nangong Clan. Even they announced their allegiance to the Ziling Sect. They had no other choice. After all, even the Nangong Clan's ancestor had become Xiang Shaoyun's puppet. If the Jing Sect dared to show any disobedience, they would be destroyed.

Before long, Ziling Sect became the Western Desert's rising star.

With organizations like the Yu Clan and the Jing Sect falling under their rule, everyone could see that the Ziling Sect's master, Xiang Shaoyun, had gained enough influence to win the young guild master position in the Guardians Guild. However, he seemed to have completely given up on the position. Instead, his focus had shifted to becoming a local warlord.

He sent Zhuge Zhantian out as a diplomat and had Zhuge Zhantian start organizing their many subordinate organizations into a single entity. Du Xuanhao was appointed the first commander and was sent to subdue the remaining Western Desert organizations.

Xiang Shaoyun knew very well that talking alone would not make these organizations submit. Actual action and might were required. With that, more than half of the Western Desert fell under the Ziling Sect's rule.

Some of the subordinate organizations originally planned to only feign allegiance, but Devouring Ghost and his people immediately exterminated those discovered. The remaining organizations thus fully fell in line.

However, the Ziling Sect's rapid expansion courted the Celestial Alliance's resentment because the Celestial Alliance also had their own subordinate organizations in the Western Desert. The Ziling Sect's actions were basically the same as taking from them. They could not tolerate it.

One day, a delegation arrived from the Celestial Alliance, bearing their divine decree.

"Ziling Sect's master, Xiang Shaoyun, come out, kneel, and accept the divine decree," a sharp voice rang out.