Immortal Martial Arts: Marry a Wife and Live a Long Life

Chapter 18: The Mother of Nonexistence

Since the rise of the White Lotus Cult in Huozhou, which resulted in the disastrous defeat of the imperial army, it immediately attracted the attention of the entire Daqian Empire. The whole court and the people were in an uproar.

Anyone with a sharp mind knows that the Daqian Empire is in a state of turmoil and hidden currents. Whether they can quickly eradicate the White Lotus Cult has become a test of the Daqian Empire's strength.

The White Lotus Cult is a major force. After defeating the Huozhou army, they immediately swept across the land, quickly spreading to the thirteen prefectures of Huozhou. Only the core territories controlled by the major sects have not been touched by the White Lotus Cult.

This caused several major sects in Huozhou to temporarily remain inactive, observing the situation and deviating from Han Li's speculation.

As mentioned before, the previous Emperor Qian was too domineering during his reign, offending many forces both inside and outside the empire, including the major sects within the imperial court.

After successfully annihilating the Buddhist sect and driving away their minions, Emperor Qian turned his back on them, wanting to use his momentum to force the major forces within the empire to truly submit, rather than remain in a semi-independent state.

Emperor Qian's true purpose was to strengthen his control over the empire's internal forces, wanting to emulate the ancient empire and have the powerful individuals of the major sects obey the orders of the Daqian Empire. Furthermore, the major sects would have to offer their unique skills to enrich the imperial treasury.

This was tantamount to demanding the lives of the major sects. Once they agreed, they would become completely subordinate to the Daqian Empire. As a result, the major forces joined forces to resist.

The Yin-Yang Sect, the Kuroyuri Temple, and the Dajing Empire, who were eyeing the empire from the outside, immediately became restless, mobilizing troops and preparing to invade the Daqian Empire and divide its territory.

Under internal and external troubles, Emperor Qian finally compromised. The situation was beyond his control. If he really took action against the sects within the empire, the three major forces would undoubtedly retaliate.

In that case, the Daqian Empire would likely be destroyed under his rule.

Internally, he compromised, allowing the major sects to remain semi-independent and even making some concessions and compensations. Externally, he continued to be tough, forcing the three major forces to retreat.

Since he couldn't achieve it during his reign, he left this problem to his successor. Whoever becomes the Emperor Qian in the future will always face this problem.

The sects within the empire were originally a temporary loose alliance. Seeing the Daqian Empire retreat, they didn't dare to take advantage of the situation and continued to coexist peacefully.

More importantly, the major sects didn't want to become cannon fodder. If they continued to resist, the three major forces would be happy to see it happen and even add fuel to the fire. Only when the major sects clashed with the Daqian Empire would the three major forces enter the scene and reap the fruits of victory.

Just like Emperor Qian's thoughts, the leaders of the major sects also planned to leave this problem to future generations.

Since conflicts with the Daqian Empire are inevitable as they develop within the empire, both sides understand that unless one side has an absolute advantage, it is unlikely that a major conflict will erupt again.

If a major sect were to produce a True Martial Realm Martial King, they would definitely not be willing to be subordinate to the Daqian Empire and would become the ninth major force in the Xuan Territory. If a Divine Origin Realm powerhouse were to be born, it would be easy to overthrow the Daqian Empire and even have the possibility of unifying the Xuan Territory.

The Daqian Empire is the same. If they were to produce a Divine Origin Realm powerhouse, the three external threats of the Yin-Yang Sect, the Kuroyuri Temple, and the Dajing Empire could be easily resolved.

In the absence of such individuals, they can only compromise and restrain each other, unless they find a good opportunity.

The current Emperor Qian is unable to control the Daqian Empire, and there are many criticisms within the court. The suppression of the major sects has also weakened, but none of the major sects have acted recklessly. After all, the Daqian Empire has not yet officially weakened.

According to the speculation of various major sects, the White Lotus Cult is undoubtedly a pawn used to test the foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty.

If the Great Qian Dynasty annihilates the White Lotus Cult with thunderous force, the hidden hand behind the scenes may temporarily retreat and wait for the next opportunity. If the Great Qian Dynasty fails to deal with the White Lotus Cult in a timely manner, it indicates that the Great Qian Dynasty is somewhat lacking in strength.

The hidden hand behind the scenes will increase its support for the White Lotus Cult, completely disrupting the internal affairs of the Great Qian Dynasty, accelerating its decline, and then seeking an opportunity to subvert and divide it.

The major sects in Huozhou, and even the major factions in other states, have started to observe, hoping to glimpse the foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty.

If the Great Qian Dynasty is really in trouble, they don't mind leaning towards other top forces in the Xuan Realm, and together they will divide the Great Qian Dynasty and take a big bite of meat while overthrowing it.

The interests of the sects and the interests of the Great Qian Dynasty are different. They will not fight to the death for the Great Qian Dynasty. Their sects are only nominally affiliated with the Great Qian Dynasty.

In the next few months, the situation has changed again.

Under the watchful eyes of the major forces in Huozhou, the strengthened White Lotus Cult actually attacked Huozhou City.

In that battle, the White Lotus Cult produced two Empty Void Realm Grandmasters and eight Soul Refining Realm True Immortals, shaking the Great Qian Dynasty.

An unexpectedly emerging cult actually had four Empty Void Realm Grandmasters, seventeen Soul Refining Realm True Immortals, and hundreds of Vital Spirit Realm cultivators. Such a lineup was too luxurious.

Although Huozhou City was the largest city in Huozhou, there were only three Empty Void Realm Grandmasters in the city. One was the city's defender, one was the leader of the Jingye Department, and the last one was a secluded Grandmaster.

The Jingye Department is a martial organization of the Great Qian Dynasty, used to strengthen the dynasty's rule, and only obeys the Qian Emperor, overseeing the entire Great Qian Dynasty.

The members of the Jingye Department are at least at the Sea Opening Realm. When Han Li broke through to the Sea Opening Realm, the Jingye Department invited him to join, but he refused. He didn't want to serve the court.

With the attack of the White Lotus Cult and their attempt to seize Huozhou City, the Great Qian Dynasty was furious. The Qian Emperor's decree was transmitted to the city's defender and the leader of the Jingye Department on the same day, ordering them to eliminate the White Lotus Cult as quickly as possible.

The battle broke out, with the White Lotus Cult launching a fierce attack, and the Great Qian Dynasty relying on the city's defensive formation. Even if they managed to persuade the secluded Grandmaster to take action, their strength was only on par with the White Lotus Cult.

There was also the Tushen Army in Huozhou City, which was the most elite army in Huozhou, under the command of the city's defender. With the formation, they could exert the combat power of an Empty Void Realm Grandmaster and hold off one of the White Lotus Cult's Law Kings.

Otherwise, with one Empty Void Realm Grandmaster and several Soul Refining Realm True Immortals continuously attacking, the city's defensive formation would not last long.

The White Lotus Cult failed to capture the city after a long siege. The leader of the White Lotus Cult, the Undying Mother, appeared and broke the city's defensive formation with just three moves, demonstrating the terrifying strength of a Myriad Manifestations Grandmaster.

But in the end, the White Lotus Cult was defeated, with countless casualties. If the White Lotus Cult had Myriad Manifestations Grandmasters, how could the Great Qian Dynasty not have any?

The Myriad Manifestations Grandmasters who guarded Huozhou, Leizhou, Qingzhou, and other three states had already arrived at Huozhou City, waiting for the appearance of the Undying Mother. Their strength was much stronger than that of the Undying Mother, who was only an early-stage Myriad Manifestations Realm Grandmaster.

In this battle, more than half of the seventeen Guardians of the White Lotus Cult died, and three of the four Law Kings were killed. The heavily injured Undying Mother fled with the last Law King, hiding within the Great Qian Dynasty.

When the news reached Lingjun City in Leizhou, Han Li was shocked to hear it.

(End of this chapter)