Chapter 172

Any sect, or any power, including those big families, actually has factional divisions; the only difference is the number.

Speaking honestly, the Dao Yi Sect's internal relations are already quite simple; it can almost be said that factions have been eliminated, leaving only a direct line and an external branch.

However, this is also unavoidable; the emergence of the external branch is an inevitable result of the Dao Yi Sect's development.

After all, talents like formation masters, talisman seal masters, pill masters, and weapon refiners sometimes can only be recruited from outside.

As for those who joined the Dao Yi Sect midway, they definitely lack the sense of belonging that Hong Zun, Qi Xiong, and other direct-line members have toward the sect.

Put bluntly, these people joined the Dao Yi Sect mostly for profit; they are together only because of profit.

Unlike Hong Zun, Qi Xiong, and the like, who entered the sect as children and were raised by the sect itself, to them the Dao Yi Sect is like a home.

No matter what happens, they will never abandon the sect.

The external branch is different; they are unlikely to fight to the death for the sect, and if the Dao Yi Sect declines, these external members will probably just leave directly.

Of course, this does not mean those in the external branch are bad apples; they actually have their own contributions to the Dao Yi Sect, they just work for money.

Fundamentally, the direct line and external branch have no conflict; it's just that their fundamental attitudes toward the sect differ, so they can't get too close, but as long as they maintain surface harmony it's fine.

As for why Zhang Tianzhen makes Hong Zun so dissatisfied, we need to start from his own issues.

Since joining the Dao Yi Sect, Zhang Tianzhen has indeed done many things for the sect, from maintaining the Protecting Sect Grand Formation to constructing various types and grades of formations; he is indispensable.

He has also trained some excellent young formation masters for the Dao Yi Sect, but the sect has paid for all of this.

However, in recent years, Zhang Tianzhen has been getting close to the Luo Xia Sect; even earlier, rumors spread that he wanted to leave the Dao Yi Sect and join the Luo Xia Sect.

Of course, these rumors are unverified, but where there's smoke there's fire; ordinary disciples might not know, but as a high-ranking member of the Dao Yi Sect, Hong Zun still knows some inside information.

That Su Lao Guai indeed wanted to win over Zhang Tianzhen, but Zhang Tianzhen's demands were too high, and Su Lao Guai refused, so it came to nothing.

Moreover, the Luo Xia Sect already has a ninth-grade formation master; it couldn't possibly spend a huge cost to win over Zhang Tianzhen.

Their closeness means Su Lao Guai probably just wanted to spite the Dao Yi Sect; winning them over would be nice, but if the price is too high, then forget it.

What angers Hong Zun is that Zhang Tianzhen is overly greedy and also likes to play both sides for profit.

After hearing Zhao Zhengping's explanation, Ye Zhangqing nodded and roughly understood what was going on.

"If that's the case, if Zhang Tianzhen leaves, wouldn't our Dao Yi Sect be left without a ninth-grade formation master?"

"It's not that serious; worst case, we just cooperate with the Formation Sect. Actually, when the sect originally established Myriad Formation Peak and Hundred Herbs Peak, it was precisely to avoid being strangled by others."

"It's just that formation masters and pill masters are too hard to cultivate, so we can only recruit strong outsiders, but after all they are not our Dao Yi Sect direct line; expecting them to have as much sense of belonging as direct-line disciples is unrealistic."

"Having them is better; if not, working with the Formation Sect is fine—at worst it's a bit more expensive, or we owe a favor."

Zhao Zhengping sees it clearly: although a ninth-grade formation master is important, saying the sect can't do without him isn't true; there are still many ways, worst case we just find another—after all, you have cultivation resources, so why worry about not finding someone?

Furthermore, whether Zhang Tianzhen is reluctant to leave the Dao Yi Sect is still debatable.

Looking across Dongzhou, the only sects comparable to the Dao Yi Sect are the Luo Xia Sect, Qing Yun Sect, and Huang Ji Sect; if he abandons the Dao Yi Sect, where could Zhang Tianzhen go?

After chatting casually, everyone went their separate ways; those who cultivate cultivate, those who do other things do other things.

Meanwhile, Hong Zun and Qing Shi went to the formation entrance to personally check the water tribe's situation; already more than ten disciples were guarding there.

On the other side, the Old Dragon King of the East Sea Dragon Palace returned with a crowd of water tribe strongmen, seeing the dragon palace in utter ruin, his face as black as a pot bottom.

His pair of dragon eyes glared fiercely at the surrounding water tribe as he shouted angrily.

"Speak, what's going on? What's going on? How could my dragon palace, so huge, not be held for even a few days?"

"Your Majesty, the Divine Sword Peak's Peak Master Hong Zun and Grand Elder Qing Shi are at Jinhai Yingdi, the Dao Yi Sect.............."

A water tribe member related the whole story truthfully.

Upon hearing this, the Old Dragon King's killing intent grew stronger; it turned out the Dao Yi Sect had discovered this long ago, while he had been played around by them.

Damn it, simply damn it.

"Good, good Dao Yi Sect, you destroyed my dragon palace and killed my offspring; the water tribe and your Dao Yi Sect will be mortal enemies."

The Old Dragon King roared angrily; this battle was not only the destruction of the dragon palace, his three sons—the eldest prince died, the fourth and fifth princes are said to have been captured alive, while only a few princesses managed to escape by luck.

With the Old Dragon King's roar, the sea surface instantly surged with huge waves, and dark clouds covered the sky.

Then a black flood dragon surged out of the sea, heading straight for Jinhai Yingdi.

At the entrance, seeing the black flood dragon rush over, Hong Zun and Qing Shi showed no change in expression.

Through the formation, the Old Dragon King instantly saw Hong Zun and Qing Shi and roared.

"Hong Zun, Qing Shi, I will kill you."

He kept attacking the formation, but unfortunately the formation stood firm.

"Hong Zun, if you have the ability, come out and fight me for eight hundred rounds."

"You idiot, if you have the ability, come in; I'll slice you with one sword."

To this, Hong Zun coldly snorted: "With a formation, why would I need to go out?"

"If you have the ability, come out."

"If you have the ability, come in."

"Come out."

"Come in."

Blocked by the formation, the Old Dragon King had no recourse and could only yell in frustration.

"Good, good, good, Hong Zun, do you really think this Near Sea Grand Formation will protect you forever? I want to see what you can do without the formation."

Speaking, the Old Dragon King dove into the sea again, then immediately said to all the Demon Kings:

"I will break the great formation at Jinhai Yingdi and slaughter the entire Divine Sword Peak."

Since they have already been discovered, there is no need to continue hiding; directly break the formation at Jinhai Yingdi—once the formation is broken, their aquatic race can launch a full-scale invasion of Dongzhou.

To avenge the millions of dead aquatic beings.

Hearing this, the Demon Kings had no objection; now it no longer matters where they strike from.

"Let the army of Haixi City return, and I will strike from Jinhai Yingdi."

Inside the Dragon Palace, the Old Dragon King, his eyes red, gave the order; inside the formation, after watching the Old Dragon King leave, Hong Zun and Qing Shi stayed only briefly before also returning to the camp.