Chapter 1967: Chapter 1912-1913: Who Is the Victor? Taoist Monarchs Clash (Part 2)

As for the news of Zhao Baiyang and the other two Demon Monarchs, he was also quite curious. Could it be that this time the injuries really rendered them powerless to intervene in external affairs? If this is the basis, then Wan Fayi’s idea is not without merit.

“Although I haven’t personally interacted with them, judging by the series of reactions, their injuries are not light. After all, even the Divine Weapons of those veteran Bodhisattvas have been employed. Given their strength as newly ascended Dao Lords, being able to retreat is already commendable, and getting injured is expected.” Pei Xuanjing nodded, voicing his deduction.

Even though he didn’t participate in that battle, with Pei Xuanjing’s strength, many matters within the Realms of Heavenly Seas couldn’t be concealed from him, especially engagements between such Dao Lord-level experts, where he could sense the movements of both sides through the fluctuations of their exchange.

Moreover, in this instance, the Buddhism School acted, and those two Demonic Gates didn’t react at all, which was quite telling.

Pei Xuanjing didn’t believe that such occurrences would be suppressed and not conveyed to the two Demon Monarchs by the experts within those Demonic Gates; while it might happen in other forces, it definitely wouldn’t occur within the Demonic Gate.

And under such circumstances, with no response, it proves that those two Demon Monarchs should also be in retreat, completely unable to intervene in this affair.

If other forces were dealing with the Heterodox Alliance, they might stand idly by and feign ignorance.

However, this time the Buddhism School’s action was clearly deliberate revenge, targeting the previous incident where Zhao Baiyang trapped and killed the Arhat Venerate of the Buddhism School, causing them significant losses and disgrace.

This matter doesn’t solely fall on Zhao Baiyang; those two Demon Monarchs also participated personally. When facing the Buddhism School, they share a mutual survival interest. If they ignore this matter, waiting for the Buddhism School to target them, how will they respond then? Stand by and do nothing?

“The injuries are that severe?” Yu Zhenzi couldn’t help but be startled.

He initially thought the so-called severe injuries were just excuses, stories circulated by the Buddhism School to forcibly save face, tacitly agreed upon by Zhao Baiyang and others, as a way of giving the Buddhism School an out.

After all, the Buddhism School’s losses were considerable that time, and with Zhao Baiyang and others ascending as Dao Lords, it was difficult for both sides to continue the fight to the death; thus, maintaining appearances.

But who would have thought that this incident was genuinely severe, and the confrontation that day was horrifyingly fierce.

Just as Pang Hong was about to inquire further, Pei Xuanjing suddenly spoke: “More fun has emerged, it seems this world truly is in turmoil.”

In the next moment, they felt a terrifying tremor, as if the heavens and earth were shaking.

Bear in mind, they were currently within the Shenxiao Domain. Although it is dependent on the Divine Land World, it is, in some respects, independent of it.

Under normal circumstances, the terrifying aftermath of a clash by many True Immortal Sixth Layer Heaven experts wouldn’t cause a tremor here.

Now, feeling it within the Shenxiao Domain, there’s only one answer; it is a duel between Dao Lord-level experts.

“Master?” Pang Hong whispered.

Pei Xuanjing chuckled and shook his head slightly: “No worries, it’s just the Fire Virtue Star Lord and Great Emperor Ziwei fighting intensely in the Chaos Void.”

“Ah! This is no problem?” Pang Hong also bore a shocked expression, unable to understand how his master could remain so composed.

Although in recent times, the attention of various forces has been drawn to the war between the Buddhism School and the Heterodox Alliance, this doesn’t mean that the actions of other forces have halted.

In fact, because this war drew so much attention, the friction and conflicts between other forces have gradually increased, leading to more frequent engagements, escalating into openly declared wars without concern for secrecy.

As far as Pang Hong knew, not to mention other forces, the conflicts among the various powerhouses within the Heavenly Court had become quite intense.

The Jade Emperor suppressing and consolidating power against the Residual Number Emperors, Heavenly Kings, and Heavenly Monarchs; the power struggle between Great Emperor Ziwei, Southern Dipper Six Star Lords, and the Fire Virtue Star Lord.

Even Emperor Dongji and Emperor Gouchen, these two Imperial Honors, were restless. Although they hadn’t immediately declared their positions, they were exploiting the chaos to suppress some Gods and expand their influence.

Some Gods’ authority conflicts also erupted continuously during this period.

In the end, over these ten thousand years, it wasn’t merely the conflicts of interest among the immortal sects; there were significant disputes among the Gods of the Heavenly Court. Within immortal sects, even senior disciples and mentors could conflict over interests, so it’s no surprise the Gods of the Heavenly Court, mere colleagues, would also conflict over interests.

Even though Pang Hong was within the Shenxiao Sect, several Gods within the Shenxiao Lineage of the Heavenly Court also took this opportunity to suppress dissidents, consolidate authority, and expand influence.

Everything was for interests; although the Yuqing Shenxiao Mansion was powerful, it wasn’t invincible within the Heavenly Court. They also faced many opponents and competitors, inevitably encountering obstructions in many endeavors, accumulating considerable resentment.

Now that everyone is making moves, Pang Hong isn’t a saint; how can he remain unmoved and let things take their course? If he were truly such a person, how would the Shenxiao Sect have grown so strong?

Furthermore, why would the Southern Dipper Six Star Lords dare to contend with Great Emperor Ziwei? Apart from only obeying Emperor of the South Pole Eternal Life, there’s also the unspoken suggestion and support from Pang Hong behind the scenes.

Ultimately, the rise of any power occurs by compressing the living space of other forces.

A fallen whale supports many lives, indeed. But in the process of its life and death as an ocean’s overlord, the whale occupied numerous interests, with countless beings becoming its food.

If Pang Hong and Yu Zhenzi truly behaved so affably as they appear now, how would the Shenxiao Sect compete against others?

Ultimately, this facade is maintained because the stakes are large enough, and there’s no longer a need to compete with reckless abandon when returns and investments don’t match. Hence, the current restraint and promotion of amiability to maintain the status quo.

If the Shenxiao Sect didn’t possess so many resources now, being just an average large immortal sect, whenever development was hindered, they wouldn’t be the custodians of the rules, but rather the vanguard looking to disrupt the existing order for their gain.

Even though he’s not personally intervening, merely allowing his disciples to act, Pang Hong still has some understanding of the frictions and conflicts among various forces and is preparing appropriate defenses.

Regarding the conflict between Great Emperor Ziwei, Southern Dipper Six Star Lords, and Fire Virtue Star Lord, over these years, in their struggle for control and influence over many stars, countless True Immortal-level exchanges occurred, too many to count.

Even though in this process, no Star Gods have fallen into slumber or been annihilated, quite a few Star Gods’ authorities have been seized, and they themselves have been severely injured.

Yet, despite this, both sides remain restrained. Aside from some initial probing, the two Dao Lords haven’t engaged in a head-on full-blown confrontation.

After all, being allies with Great Emperor Ziwei, Jade Emperor is on his side, but Fire Virtue Star Lord has the support of the Witch Deity Teaching, making the sides quite evenly matched.

Of course, whether Great Emperor Ziwei’s restraint is due to witnessing the Jade Emperor and the Buddhism School’s joint venture turning against the Buddhism School, leading to concerns about repeating the same mistakes; that is something no one knows.