Although Meng Qianqiu was a decisive and resolute powerhouse, he was not the sort who refused to listen to reason. After this demigod patriarch's persuasion, he mulled it over carefully and realized the logic was sound.
However, Meng Tianxing was his lifeblood. If anything happened to Meng Tianxing, Meng Qianqiu dared not even think about it — he simply could not accept such an outcome.
And yet the demigod patriarch's words made a great deal of sense.
The enemy's strategy was obvious: to pick them off one by one.
If he left now, it was entirely possible the enemy would seize the opportunity to do exactly that.
Just as Meng Qianqiu was lost in thought, a subordinate leaned in and whispered, "Patriarch, there's something suspicious about this. Think about it — the news we received says the Menglan Sect wasn't destroyed, only the treasury was plundered and Young Master Tianxing was taken. But the Yuchi family was wiped out completely."
Meng Qianqiu was no fool. Hearing this, he fell into contemplation.
The subordinate continued, "The opponent did leave some room for our Menglan Sect. Patriarch, perhaps the wind is about to change."
"Oh? What's your take?" Meng Qianqiu glanced at his advisor.
"I've been gathering intelligence from various sources lately. I hear the major holy lands of the Ten Great Divine Kingdoms have mostly quelled their rebellions, and very few remain in a stalemate. Under these circumstances, if the Zhenwu Holy Land calls for outside aid, there's a good chance it will receive a response. The situation for the allied forces has already begun to shift subtly."
Meng Qianqiu's heart sank. This possibility was something he had occasionally considered these past days. But deep down, he still believed the allied forces were vast enough to overwhelm the Zhenwu Holy Land without much difficulty.
Now it seemed he might have been far too optimistic.
Could it be that this rebellion would end the same way as in the other divine kingdoms — with the rebels' ultimate defeat?
He had to admit, this sent alarm bells ringing in his mind.
"Are you saying the allied forces are beyond saving?"
"The current situation is already quite grim. In my view, we must prepare ourselves for every possible outcome. Fortunately, the opponent only plundered the treasury and took Young Master Tianxing. It seems they still have moves left to play. Perhaps we really shouldn't be staying with the allied forces any longer."
Meng Qianqiu was a man of decisiveness. He nodded immediately. "Good. Pass the word — the Menglan Sect's army is to withdraw at once and leave the allied forces!"
Once Meng Qianqiu issued this order, another demigod patriarch was stunned. He hurriedly urged, "Brother Qianqiu, doing this would be deserting in the face of the enemy."
Meng Qianqiu let out an odd laugh. "Retreating now is better than having no way out later. Golden Bell Ancestor and Yuchi Patriarch have already fallen. We don't even know who our opponent is. That is not an enemy I, Meng Qianqiu, wish to provoke."
This was the plain truth. Meng Qianqiu was not someone who yielded easily. But that did not mean he was oblivious to the situation.
At the very least, he could see it clearly now — this was an enemy he absolutely did not want to stand against.
And so, before everyone's eyes, Meng Qianqiu led the Menglan Sect's forces straight out of the camp. The demigod patriarch who had been watching could only stare in disbelief.
With this development, the various allied forces were suddenly plunged into a massive upheaval. First, Yuchi Patriarch had led a contingent of elites away.