Chapter 444: Black Dragon Guard Hall Master, Battle Begins

The winds and clouds shifted over Wangdu.

Every day a batch of people died; the death of the Sixth Prince had claimed many lives.

The deaths of this batch filled Wangdu, inside and out, with bloodshed.

A storm-is-coming atmosphere hung over Wangdu, ready to erupt at any moment, and many families were secretly plotting their futures.

As for the Great Qi Dynasty's future—who among the Qi Family could sit in that position—many had begun placing their bets.

The people of the Heavenly Heart Sect and the Spirit Sword Sect rarely intervened; or rather, they did not care much about this matter. Whoever sat in that position was fine, so long as the territories they controlled did not change and their interests were unaffected—anyone could be emperor.

The Yin Gui Sect was different. Driven out of the Great Qi Dynasty's territory, they had long lingered in the desolate outside, always wanting to return. Once they returned, they would encroach on the interests of the Heavenly Heart Sect and the Spirit Sword Sect, leading to conflict—and the Heavenly Heart Sect and the Spirit Sword Sect would never allow such a thing to happen.

There were also the Monster Race, and the people of Tianwai, all watching, all waiting.

Shadow Grand Elder smiled and said, "Myriad Poison Demon King, you have no choice but to join hands with our Yin Gui Sect."

"This Elder can promise you everything I agreed to before, on the condition that you, Myriad Poison Demon King, demonstrate your worth. The Heavenly Heart Sect and the Spirit Sword Sect have controlled the Great Qi Dynasty for a long time—it is time for us to take control."

"The Heavenly Heart Sect's territory belongs to my Yin Gui Sect; the Spirit Sword Sect's territory is yours to control as you please, Myriad Poison Demon King. How about it?"

Settling the division in advance was the premise of cooperation. Shadow Grand Elder certainly did not want to fall out over distribution later. The two forces would each take some territory and resources, and the rest would be claimed according to strength.

Myriad Poison Demon King gave a cold laugh: "Shadow Grand Elder, your Yin Gui Sect is not yours to decide. You make such a division—are you even qualified?"

Myriad Poison Demon King did not agree with his distribution. It was well known that the territories and resources controlled by the Heavenly Heart Sect were all top-tier, and Myriad Poison Demon King had his eyes on them—he would not give them up easily.

Shadow Grand Elder could not represent the Yin Gui Sect; he only represented himself.

For this deal, this transaction, Myriad Poison Demon King naturally wanted to secure greater benefits, and had to be careful.

"Heh heh heh, Myriad Poison Demon King, it goes both ways. Have you not also failed to fully control the Monster Race?"

"In this world, you are not the only Demon King. As far as this Elder knows, White Deer Demon King is also interested in the Great Qi Dynasty."

Myriad Poison Demon King's expression turned ugly, staring hard at Shadow Grand Elder.

The two of them were the same—neither could fully control their respective forces.

Within the Monster Race, power was mainly divided into two parts: one part was his, Myriad Poison King's, and the other was controlled by White Deer Demon King.

The two opposed each other and also could not stand each other, each wanting to fully control the other.

Myriad Poison Demon King was more radical, wanting to dominate the entire world. The Great Qi Dynasty, the Heavenly Heart Sect, the Spirit Sword Sect, and the Yin Gui Sect were all regarded as enemies. To annihilate these forces and all humans, transforming this world into a world of demonic beasts—toward this, he ceaselessly strove.

Step by step, invading the human world, replacing humans, controlling this world.

His goal was simple: first replace them step by step, then little by little complete his plan.

In the end, he would turn all humans into his people. This plan was mad, and its implementation had already begun.

This time was the best opportunity. Once successful, he would…

White Deer Demon King was different. He valued freedom—or rather, letting the Monster Race regain its freedom—rather than fixating on this world and making an enemy of the entire world, which would ultimately bring backlash upon oneself.

Their visions differed: one focused on this place, the other looked beyond.

Shadow Grand Elder was the same as Myriad Poison Demon King. Humans, demonic beasts—any living creature was his food, nothing more than fellow Daoists within his Myriad Ghost Banner.

To annihilate humanity, achieve Advancement, and become a truly terrifying existence.

Cultivating ghost methods as a human, transforming from human to ghost, becoming the supreme Ghost King and thereby breaking through the shackles and limits of ghosts.

In a certain sense, they were the same.

"Hmph, the Yin Gui Sect does not consist of only you. Yin Gui Zhenren is also interested in the Great Qi Dynasty."

Neither yielded to the other; each wanted to gain more benefit.

Shadow Grand Elder continued, "Let us cooperate first. Whoever takes the Qi Family first will have the right to speak."

Taking the Qi Family would not be easy.

The Heavenly Heart Sect would never allow the Qi Family to fall.

The Spirit Sword Sect was the same. They did not care, but they also did not want the Qi Family to fall.

The current situation was what the Heavenly Heart Sect and the Spirit Sword Sect most desired.

"Good."

The two reached a preliminary agreement.

Both knew the other could not be trusted, yet at this moment, there was no choice.

Myriad Poison Demon King saw Shadow Grand Elder off, then turned back and said, "You heard everything. The Yin Gui Sect's ambitions are immense. This man is very dangerous."

Mu Longhao stepped out and said dismissively, "Just a delusional old fool."

"Ghost King—heh heh heh—that is nothing but a minor Dao. Myriad Poison Demon King, cooperating with me is your only choice."

"What I can give you is something he could never imagine in his entire life."

Myriad Poison Demon King did not agree, but instead looked at Mu Longhao.

Seeing this, Mu Longhao did not press the matter.

These people were nothing more than his toys.

A game was only fun when played slowly.

If it ended all at once, it would be no fun.

"These people do not understand the true world. They fancy themselves in control of everything. How laughable, how laughable."

All a flock of frogs at the bottom of a well—pitiful creatures.

"The sealed world, Chen Chuyang, Longshe Shan, and that little thing."

The plague demonic beast had escaped. Mu Longhao had been searching continuously, tracking its traces.

He tracked it all the way to Wangdu, where it vanished without a trace.

He did not know where it was hidden, and he happened to want to see just how much of a commotion these people could stir up.

The turmoil in the Great Qi Dynasty, the movements of those sects, and the many forces emerging one after another—this was the perfect chance for him to take their measure, then wipe them all out in one swoop.

"I'll kill you all off one by one, and eat you."

He licked his lips; everyone was nothing more than his food.

To him, Demon Kings, Ghost Kings, even human Strong Ones were nothing.

Black Dragon Guard Dadian.

Black Dragon stared at Jing Yuheng before him, his gaze icy.

Sitting on the throne above, a half‑blackened figure, the Black Dragon Hall Master gazed at the White Wolf Vice‑Hall Master and the Azure Dragon Vice‑Hall Master standing beside Jing Yuheng, his eyes narrowed, as if he had long anticipated this situation, without surprise or anger.

"White Wolf, Azure Dragon, I, the Hall Master, consider myself not stingy toward you; why do you stand against me?"

"What Jing Yuheng gives you, I, the Hall Master, will double."

These two were promoted by him personally.

But…