The Yunmeng Kingdom bordered the Tiangui Kingdom and was also a member of the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance. However, compared to Tiangui, Yunmeng was far inferior.
The Yunmeng Kingdom held a position in the alliance roughly comparable to the Eastern Kingdom — a second or third-rate existence with no standing to compare against the top four kingdoms.
Tiangui Kingdom, as one of the Four Great Kingdoms, was naturally a colossal power within the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance.
Because of this, Yunmeng needed a protector, and that protector was the Shangyang Kingdom.
Shangyang's standing within the alliance was on par with Tiangui — together they were the two dominant powers among the Four Great Kingdoms.
Shangyang's relationship with the Purple Sun Sect was identical to Tiangui's relationship with the Treasure Tree Sect — both kingdoms served as the foundational base for their respective sect headquarters!
With Shangyang's protection, Yunmeng was indirectly under the Purple Sun Sect's shield as well. This meant that even Tiangui could not easily provoke a conflict with Yunmeng.
All in all, despite being weak, Yunmeng had not been bullied much by Tiangui over the past several decades.
Of course, this was also because Yunmeng had always been well-behaved and never provoked Tiangui.
At this moment, in a remote valley within Yunmeng Kingdom, several hundred li from the Tiangui border.
Deep in the valley, Tian Shao and Gou Yu were both covered in wounds. The small squad of Dragon Tooth Guard that Tian Shao had brought along had all perished in battle.
Now, only the two of them — both Spirit Realm martial artists — along with a large flock of Golden-Winged Sword Birds, were still holding on as they retreated into this valley. In truth, they had already reached the end of their strength.
"Tian Shao, hand over that woman, and you can leave. I promise not to kill you."
From outside the valley, a voice rang in with an air of condescension, drifting lazily into the depths.
Tian Shao gave a cold snort, his rugged face tinged with contempt. For him, Tian Shao, to betray a friend? That was nothing but a daydream.
Gou Yu's expression remained calm. She turned to Tian Shao and said, "Commander Tian, you should accept. You've fought alongside me until now, and I'm deeply grateful. Leave now, go back and tell Chen Shao — tell him all of this was the work of Purple Sun Sect disciples. He'll avenge me."
Tian Shao grinned. "Miss Gou Yu, that's a fine suggestion. But I, Tian Shao, have an iron backbone. Even if it means death, I won't abandon a friend and flee for my life. You want me to leave? Save your breath!"
Gou Yu seemed to have expected this response. She nodded but said nothing further. Her beautiful eyes gazed into the void, slightly lost in thought.
Her heart murmured: "Jiang Chen... if I die in battle today, perhaps in your memory, I'll be remembered even longer? If I ever get the chance, I'll tell you — choosing to follow you, I, Gou Yu, have no regrets. Never mind dying once — even if I died a hundred times, endured a hundred rounds in the depths of hell, I still wouldn't regret it!"
That grating voice from outside drifted in once more. "Tian Shao, I've given you your last chance. If you won't take it, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Tian Shao burst into hearty laughter. "Are all disciples of the Purple Sun Sect such spineless ninnies? If you've got the guts, come on in and fight! I fear nothing under heaven or earth — why would I be afraid of a few rat-like scoundrels from your Purple Sun Sect? Come on, come inside and let's brawl! Even if I die, I'll drag a few of you down with me!"
"Stubborn to the end!"
The voice gave a cold snort. "Then I'll send you both on your way together!"
Outside the valley, a tall young martial artist in apricot-yellow robes raised his hand, brandishing a broadsword that he pointed skyward at an angle.
The golden sunlight blazed upon the wide blade, which instantly radiated waves of heat like a furnace. The surrounding vegetation withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Senior Brother Luo, are we really going to slaughter them?" a fellow disciple of the Purple Sun Sect whispered from behind the young man.
"They refuse to listen to reason — might as well put them out of their misery. How long are we supposed to keep stalling?" The young man surnamed Luo furrowed his brow.
"Heh heh, Senior Brother Luo. That woman is the enemy of my Junior Sister Long Juxue. If we can capture her alive, that would be even better. I'm sure my Junior Sister Long would be most grateful." The speaker was none other than Yu Jie of the Purple Sun Sect, the same disciple who had appeared before the Erdu Pass.
And this Senior Brother Luo was also a genius disciple of the Purple Sun Sect.
However, this Senior Brother Luo — Luo Huang — belonged to the True Yang lineage, which shared the same sect but was a different branch from Yu Jie's Water Moon lineage.
"Long Juxue?" Luo Huang smiled faintly. "That genius with the innate Azure Phoenix constitution? Your Water Moon branch really stumbled upon a treasure. Fine, since you put it that way, I'll give Junior Sister Long the courtesy. But this woman I can spare — those sword birds, once the fighting starts, I may not be able to hold back."
Yu Jie sighed. "If we could command this army of sword birds, that would be ideal. Our Purple Sun Sect, when it comes to flying spirit aves — forget comparing to the Myriad Spirit Sect, even the Treasure Tree Sect outstrips us. It'd be a shame to simply slaughter these sword birds."
Yet Yu Jie understood clearly — once battle commenced and the pressure of a Earth Spirit Realm martial artist was unleashed, if these sword birds charged fearlessly, there would be no way to preserve them.
Trying to keep the sword birds alive while also killing Tian Shao and capturing Gou Yu was obviously unrealistic.
Moreover, these sword birds appeared to be extremely difficult to tame. Over the past few days, they had tried every method imaginable but could not find a way to bring them under control.
The Purple Sun Sect did have some spirit beast tamers, but Luo Huang was no longer willing to wait.
"Senior Brother Luo, how about we wait a bit longer? Once the sect's beast tamers arrive and find a way to tame these Golden-Winged Sword Birds, it'll be a tremendous achievement for us."
Yu Jie and Luo Huang were not the same.