The first to waver was the sect master of the Celestial Radiance Sect. Having brought the Celestial Radiance Sect to this point, he had believed there was no turning back. But now, hearing Jiang Chen's words, something stirred faintly within his heart.
Looking at the situation, the Imperial family and the Xiahou clan had not completely crushed the Sacred Land after all. Should the Celestial Radiance Sect really keep going down this path of opposing the Sacred Land until there was no way back?
Jiang Chen seemed able to read the Celestial Radiance Sect Master's thoughts. He smiled and said at leisure, "Sect Master of Celestial Radiance, your sect has a man named A Hong. He was the key to how I, Shao Yuan, was able to infiltrate the Sacred Land. He has always been displeased with the rebellion by the Imperial family and the Xiahou clan. He also told me that your Celestial Radiance Sect has been consistently suppressed within the alliance and is deeply unhappy about it. Now, on behalf of the Sacred Land, I can forgive the disrespectful actions of your Celestial Radiance Sect. As long as you take your people and leave the alliance right now, and stop aiding tyranny, the Sacred Land guarantees full pardon for all past offenses! If you're willing to join the Sacred Land and help suppress the rebellion, the Sacred Land will reward you according to your merits! Whether you choose to be enemies or friends—it all comes down to a single thought."
The Celestial Radiance Sect Master clearly felt the looks from those around him suddenly grow strange. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
How could he not see that this Shao Yuan, while ostensibly recruiting him, was also cutting off his retreat within the anti-Sacred Land alliance?
The subtext of those words was plainly stating that the Celestial Radiance Sect had long been dissatisfied. So even if he didn't leave, would the others still welcome him with open arms?
In other words, the Celestial Radiance Sect had reached a point where leaving was no longer optional—because he had no choice.
A man capable of becoming a sect master possessed extraordinary decisiveness. Steeling himself, he nodded and said, "The Celestial Radiance Sect withdraws! Young Master Shao Yuan, please inform the Grand Sacred Master that the Celestial Radiance Sect, recognizing the depth of its sins, has decided to abandon darkness and embrace the light, pledging allegiance to the Sacred Land! From this day forward, we will follow the Sacred Land's lead. We shall strive to atone for our transgressions through merit!"
The moment these words left his mouth, the scene erupted in uproar.
Marquis Xiaoyao was furious: "The Celestial Radiance Sect has long since betrayed the alliance! Fellow Daoists, how can we tolerate such treacherous backstabbers?"
"Right—we can't just let him walk away!" The Xiahou clan had its loyalists as well.
However, at this moment, apart from a few die-hard followers, the other factions were remarkably quiet, choosing not to get involved.
Clearly, with the situation still uncertain, everyone was adopting a posture of self-preservation. Even if they didn't withdraw from the alliance, they would wait and see how things played out.
"The Beigong family, the Feng family—you too have been cannon fodder in this alliance. The Grand Sacred Master has said your treatment will be the same as the Celestial Radiance Sect's. Abandon darkness for the light, and you will likewise be rewarded according to your merits, with full pardon guaranteed. Moreover, you know the strength of the Sacred Land well enough. Today I have come to warn you. The next time I come, it will be with a great army at your gates. Once the killing begins, if you want to withdraw, there will be no opportunity!"
Setting aside the precedent of the Celestial Radiance Sect, even without it, these two families had been severely oppressed by the Xiahou clan and the Imperial family, suffering devastating losses in strength, and were deeply resentful of the alliance.
Hearing Jiang Chen's words now, how could they not be moved?
The patriarch of the Beigong family couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Shao Yuan, can your words truly represent the Grand Sacred Master?"
"I was entrusted by the Grand Sacred Master—how could I not represent him?" Jiang Chen replied evenly.
"Good. In that case, the Beigong family withdraws from the alliance and pledges allegiance to the Sacred Land! These past days, we too have been thinking that perhaps the Sacred Land's rule over the Divine Kingdom is truly what suits things best. The other factions are nothing but harboring empty ambitions without the substance to back them up!"
The Beigong family not only withdrew but took a parting shot at the Imperial family and the Xiahou clan in the process.
With these three first-rate factions pulling out, the remaining factions began to waver. Clearly, the strength of the anti-Sacred Land alliance had been significantly diminished.
The sect master of the Yaochi Sect deliberated for a moment, then sighed: "Your Majesty, I must apologize. After careful deliberation, the Yaochi Sect feels that this rebellion is rather baffling. We, too, choose to withdraw!"
The Yaochi Sect had originally maintained fairly cordial relations with the Imperial family. Now that even the Yaochi Sect was pulling out, the other first-rate factions grew even more panicked.
Thus, of the three great sects, two had withdrawn from the alliance. Of the seven great families, two had likewise departed.
At this moment, Jiang Chen's gaze drifted calmly to the patriarch of the Yan family.
"Patriarch Yan, it seems you intend to follow the Xiahou clan down this dark path to the very end, is that right?"
The Yan patriarch's entire body shuddered as he regarded the young man hovering in the sky, his expression complicated, his heart a tangle of emotions. This young man, just a few years ago, had been a promising talent of their Yan family. Now, he stood above them all, calling the shots.
"Forget it, forget it," the Yan patriarch murmured with a sigh. "Mistake after mistake—this time, the Yan family must finally make the right choice. I withdraw. The Yan family withdraws!"
The Yan family had never held a particularly prominent position within the alliance.
However, they were still a representative of the first-rate factions. Among the three great sects and seven great families, the Yan family had earned its place.
And so, of the three great sects and seven great families, five had now withdrawn from the alliance.
The remaining five consisted of four families and the Yunlang Sect.