Chapter 487: Vast Sea Dao Alliance |
After the withdrawal of Flying Swan Sect from Demon Wind Gobi, Taiyi Sect has been closely monitoring Flying Swan Sect's movements. As a rising Gold Core sect in the Endless Sea of Sand, Taiyi Sect has a lot of catching up to do, and intelligence capability is one crucial aspect.
Compared to the well-established Flying Swan Sect, Taiyi Sect is far behind in this regard. However, Flying Swan Sect is not without weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Having ruled over the Endless Sea of Sand for many years, Flying Swan Sect has accumulated numerous potential enemies. Some dissatisfied cultivators from Flying Swan Sect gradually started to communicate with Taiyi Sect in secret.
After much effort, Taiyi Sect gradually uncovered some of Flying Swan Sect's movements. Just as Meng Zhang had speculated, the information Flying Swan Sect provided during their withdrawal from Demon Wind Gobi was all lies, with the Fire Cloud Sect's disturbance being nothing more than an excuse.
While minor conflicts and skirmishes continue along the borders of Fire Cloud Sect and Flying Swan Sect, no large-scale battles have erupted. The three severely injured Gold Core Daoist Masters of Fire Cloud Sect have yet to recover, and Daoist Master Scarlet Flame alone cannot overcome Daoist Master Fei Shi.
After the return of Daoist Masters Fei Yu and Fei Jiang with their armies, they began a lengthy period of recuperation. With Lion Demon General, the major threat from Demon Wind Gobi, taken care of, and Taiyi Sect acting as a barrier against threats from Demon Wind Gobi, Fire Cloud Sect remains weak and cannot pose a significant threat to Flying Swan Sect.
Seizing this rare period of calm, Flying Swan Sect swiftly recovers its strength. With considerable hidden reserves despite the heavy consumption in recent years, Flying Swan Sect can still provide substantial resources.
The lost disciples are gradually being replenished, and new Refining Qi and Foundation Building stage disciples are emerging. As long as Flying Swan Sect can enjoy a few hundred years of stable development, they should be able to replenish their ranks with Refining Qi and Foundation Building stage cultivators.
Flying Swan Sect's actions this time were not due to any grudges against Taiyi Sect, but rather a natural caution toward Taiyi Sect as a ruler in the Endless Sea of Sand, prompting them to take instinctive actions.
After Qin Hongying settled in Grand Lion Ridge two years ago, the situation in Demon Wind Gobi remained relatively stable. Under Meng Zhang's instructions, Taiyi Sect made significant moves.
Taiyi Sect led the way and brought together surrounding cultivation forces to establish a grand alliance named "Vast Sea Dao Alliance." This alliance includes traditional allies of Taiyi Sect such as Qiaoshou Sect and Land Walk Sect, which had long submitted to Taiyi Sect.
In Meng Zhang's view, directly annexing or making these forces Taiyi Sect's vassals would not be a good approach. Unifying them under an alliance in a more gentle manner would present a more favorable image.
Within the alliance, all members are considered equal, and their status is that of allies. Each sect and family can preserve their own heritage.
In addition to these cultivation forces, Taiyi Sect also welcomed qualified loose cultivators into the alliance. In the eyes of those who are discerning, Meng Zhang is a rising star, and Taiyi Sect will become the new dominant power in the Endless Sea of Sand.
It may be too late to jump on the bandwagon now, but timely cooperation can still bring benefits. Including Taiyi Sect's original vassal families, nearly thirty cultivation forces joined the Vast Sea Dao Alliance, and many loose cultivators eagerly joined as well.
Among them, the remnants of Earthfire Sect, which had openly resisted Flying Swan Sect and came close to extinction, joined the alliance under the name of the newly rebuilt Earthfire Sect. After Meng Zhang had let them go, they remained loyal and diligently maintained their heritage, guarding a First Rank spirit vein.
By publicly bringing Earthfire Sect back, Meng Zhang not only shows contempt towards Flying Swan Sect but also sends a message to other cultivation forces. Even the sect that Flying Swan Sect extremely hated, Earthfire Sect, can be protected and its heritage preserved by Taiyi Sect.
If Earthfire Sect remains loyal to Taiyi Sect and serves the alliance faithfully, it may have a chance to thrive again.
The establishment of the Vast Sea Dao Alliance was not a spontaneous decision by Meng Zhang but a long-standing idea and plan. The goal is to unify all the cultivation forces in the area, consolidate resources, grow the alliance, and compete with other sects, including Flying Swan Sect.
As the only Gold Core sect among these cultivation forces, Taiyi Sect takes the leading position. Meng Zhang, as the Gold Core Daoist Master and the Sect Master, is the most suitable candidate for the alliance's leader.
Since Meng Zhang needs to stay in Demon Wind Gobi for the long term, he doesn't have the time to oversee everything. Therefore, he entrusted Niu Dawei, his senior disciple, to handle the specific affairs of establishing the Vast Sea Dao Alliance.
Niu Dawei is already very capable, and after years of experience, he is fully capable of taking charge and handling this matter properly.
Meng Zhang's third disciple, An Moran, shortly after his sister An Xiaoran reached the Foundation Building stage, also went into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Building stage. Once his Cultivation Base was solidified, he, too, came to Grand Lion Ridge to serve under Meng Zhang.
Realizing Taiyi Sect's intelligence shortcomings and anticipating the increase in enemies both within and outside the alliance due to the establishment of the Vast Sea Dao Alliance, Meng Zhang had long planned to set up a special branch dedicated to gathering intelligence and handling tasks that Taiyi Sect couldn't openly engage in. He named this branch "Secret Hall," a crucial and sensitive branch to be managed by someone he trusts deeply.
An Moran has been under Meng Zhang's tutelage for many years. He has a stable and unusually calm personality, making him a capable young man. Meng Zhang entrusted An Moran with the task of setting up the Secret Hall, providing full support and access to Taiyi Sect's resources.
Additionally, Meng Zhang sent a special message to Daoist Master Luo Ye, requesting the assistance of his old friend Jue Ying to come to Demon Wind Gobi.
Jue Ying and Meng Zhang share a genuine old friendship, having fought side by side in the past. Even after becoming a Gold Core Daoist Master, Meng Zhang hasn't forgotten this bond and doesn't hold a condescending attitude towards her.
Upon receiving the message, Jue Ying quickly arrived in Demon Wind Gobi to meet with Meng Zhang. After years apart, Jue Ying's Cultivation Base has reached the late stage of Foundation Building. It probably won't be long before she faces the threshold of advancing to the Gold Core stage.
After catching up, Meng Zhang entrusted her with an important task. He hoped that Jue Ying would help An Moran establish the Secret Hall and provide guidance to him. Jue Ying's background in the Dark Alliance makes her an excellent assassin and spy, perfectly suited for this role.
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