544 The Trend (1/2)
”The current world situation?”
Extreme Darkness ran her fingers through her hair and smiled uncomfortably.
”Not too good!”
”It is to be expected that the world would descend into chaos following the occurrence of the Demon Spirit invasion. As the saying goes, 'tough people rise during tough times'. Truly powerful factions would take this opportunity to consolidate their strength.”
Fang Yuan wrung his hands.
”Has there not been any reaction from anywhere in the world?”
In truth, there were many underlying forces in Da Qian. While the power of the dream masters was declining, the spiritual knights and martial artists were waiting in the wings to replace them.
If the full potential for conflict of the entire Da Qian empire was to be realised, it would shake up the world.
Even though the Imperial Court and the dream masters were weak, they were still capable of putting up a good fight.
”Do elaborate!”
Fang Yuan said curtly.
”Yes, my lord!”
Extreme Darkness signalled for someone to fetch a map and her clear voice reverberated about the room.
”...After the battle in the Jade Capital, the dream masters were dragged down from their altars while the Imperial Court was destroyed. It was a devastating blow indeed! The Demon Spirits had overrun all 99 regions of the Da Qian empire. The Jade Capital in the Middle Region was the worst hit! The regions around it are now deserted following the massacre of every living person! The whole area has become a playground for the Demon Spirits!”
She picked up a pen and traced the outline of the nine regions in the middle of the map.
”This area, once home Da Qian's greatest cities, is now a huge graveyard...casualties number hundreds of millions. There is nothing left to be said…”
”Beyond the 9 central regions, things are more complicated. Although they have also been affected by the invasion of the demon spirits, they are still accessible by the regional armies. However, a large number of Demon spirit troops remain stationed in the wilderness and attack the cities from time to time...the most famous incident involved Wu Yue and Zhang Jin, who had their entire army annihilated by the Demon spirit army and lost their lives…”
”I am not surprised!”
Fang Yuan clasped his hands together and nodded. These two people had been backed by dream masters and given that their backers had collapsed, they would have been dragged down from their horses by the martial artists and spiritual knights even if they hadn't been killed by the demon spirits.
Perhaps that was what happened.
”Following the fall of the dream masters, a few factions emerged to fill in the power vacuum. They scrambled to acquire territory in the name of protecting the masses. Some of them have also engaged the demon spirit army in a few skirmishes, which reinforced their legitimacy!”
Extreme Darkness continued.
”Overall, the world now can be split into 4 parts. Let's not talk about the lands taken over by the demon spirits. A Martial Alliance has emerged in the north, comprising all the sects in the area. The organisation has managed to gather several top Wu Zongs and is headed by a True Divine...the lands of the north are barren and sparsely populated. The Dream Masters Alliance had not bothered to interfere in northern affairs back in the day. The Martial Alliance is working towards realising the potential in the North…”
Extreme Darkness spoke of this matter with disdain.
After all, the Dream Masters Alliance had indeed left the place alone. They had thought that it was a sterile land with no valuable resources.
”The Martial Alliance of the North?”
Fang Yuan was silent for a moment. He had never heard of this organisation but the North reminded him of the Qin siblings of Dongyi County in the Sand Region.
They were chess pieces that he had planted in the early days. Fang Yuan wondered at how they were doing, having been left alone for so long.
Although the Qin family was an influential clan in Dongyi, they would be helpless in the face of such a catastrophe.
”Hmm, we have two subordinates planted in Sand Region's Dongyi County...send our people to check out how they're getting along. If they're fine, then let's leave it at that. If not, ask them if they intend to move elsewhere!”
Fang Yuan made an expansive arm gesture.
The Nine Extremes Mountain was located on the southeastern part of Da Qian. Coming here from the north was a journey of tens of thousands of miles. Also, with the Demon spirits running amok, a large-scale migration was suicidal! Even if it was a small group, it would be extremely chancy.
Whether the Qin siblings would or could come depended on their level of determination and fortune.
Regardless, Fang Yuan felt that sending people to check on them was already a great display of benevolence. He saw no need to fetch them over personally.
”Yes, my lord!”
Liu Mengmei bowed and shot a challenging look at Extreme Darkness.
”As for the west, with the Fan Region in the centre, is witnessing the rise of a faction known as the God Seeking Palace! There are many True Divines and True Elementals from the Imperial Court in there. It has also been rumoured that Qian Huanyi and the Superior Wu Zun has joined them. The local government is under their control, their influence extends to the surrounding regions and they have even managed to secure the loyalties of the local militias. As a result, they have become insufferably arrogant!
Extreme Darkness could not be bothered to entertain Liu Mengmei and focused on reporting to Fang Yuan.
”God Seeking Palace?”
Fang Yuan was slightly bemused.
”This place would be a perfect match for an old man on the brink of death who only knows how to sing ditties all day long.”
”On the brink of death?”
Extreme Darkness was stunned. Although the folks from the Imperial Court were advanced in years, they had many more years to live by virtue of their solid cultivation.
”Don't mind me, go on…”
Fang Yuan motioned for her to continue. He had become warier.
God seeking! Their aim was probably to purge the world of their enemies. The ministers and generals of Da Qian did hate the royal family, but their enmity with the dream masters ran deep too.