The Great Conquest, A Hidden Plot?

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As changes loomed within the depths of the Avonz Ruin Mystic Realm, a corresponding transformation unfolded in the outside world, particularly among those ensnared within the domain of the Southern Wastelands.

In the heart of the Revolutionary Lands, within the influential Easthaven City, a formidable assembly had congregated. Comprising warriors and masters from diverse backgrounds, each visage reflected a unique blend of gentleness and fighting spirit. Some displayed calm indifference, yet a common thread of sorrow traced the depths of their eyes.

Unlike the ruins, where time passed quickly, only a day had transpired since the preceding battle’s catastrophe, and aside from ongoing repairs to various structures, the city’s core functions were already restored. The eager assembly had gathered around the meticulously repaired teleportation circle, their eyes brimming with anticipation.

Abruptly, a resounding noise echoed from one side as the doors of a grand mansion swung open, unveiling a formidable scene. A well-equipped army of warriors, armed to the teeth as if preparing for imminent conflict, emerged with purpose.

Leading this formidable force were four figures: Jalanshi Miran and Jalanshi Xulan, accompanied by the distinguished clan guardians—the Right Elder and Left Elder. Each exuded overwhelming power, their eyes reflecting a solemn determination.

This sight would have intimidated many warriors, and beads of sweat formed on the foreheads of those gathered. However, they gritted their teeth, fortifying their resolve, and collectively shouted:

“Death to those sorcerers! Death to the bandits!”

“The Everlasting Crypt has crossed the line! We must retaliate with all our might!”

“Too many lives have been lost! The Black Dunes must answer for these sins!”

The powerful voices resonated, and the Jalanshi Clan army came to a halt before them. A chilling wind swept through, silencing the assembly as they waited in anticipation for what was to come.

Jalanshi Miran, positioned at the forefront, surveyed the assembly before addressing them. “The Jalanshi Clan has long endeavored to maintain balance, but our efforts have proven futile. We granted passage in adherence to the pact between our groups, restricting certain activities from reaching our lands. Alas, it has now gone too far. The city we built lies tarnished, and the order we established is shattered! People gathered here, are you prepared to fight? Will you make them pay for the transgressions against these sands?”

The listeners felt a fiery determination within them, their eyes gleaming like stars. Clenching their fists and thrusting them into the air, they roared in unison, “We shall fight!”

Jalanshi Miran smiled, turning to Xulan at his side who declared, “It is time.”

Nodding in agreement, Jalanshi Miran addressed the Right Elder and Left Elder, saying, “Old friends, let us fight together once more.”

“Good! These old bones of ours are on the brink, but let us have the honor of paving the road for this conquest,” the Left Elder joked, eliciting a chuckle from the Right Elder. Yet, observing the aura of impending battle around them, Jalanshi Miran knew that no more time could be wasted.

“Everyone, I will commence the transference array; prepare for combat!” Jalanshi Miran declared. The assembled warriors gripped their weapons, poised for immediate action.

Raising one palm, Jalanshi Miran generated a towering energy around the teleportation array. As the array began its transformation, a few individuals within the group exhibited peculiar glints in their eyes, including some from noteworthy parties.

“Daoist Nei, it appears staying behind was the right choice,” remarked Palace Elder Sha of the Sand Palace, clad in brown robes, as he gazed at the mysterious man by his side.

“Indeed, it’s wiser for us to stay here rather than venture into the ruins now. Let’s entrust those children to those above us. I have a feeling there’s more to the crypt than meets the eye,” Nei Zemin stated, his deep eyes flickering brightly behind the dense cloth wrapped around him, concealing most of his features.

Close by, the bloodline clan core elders, comprising Mao Xuegang of the Viper Bloodline Clan, Zi Mei of the Black Spider Clan, and Hong Meng of the Red Vulture Clan, had also opted to remain behind.

“As citizens of the south, it is our duty to aid in this battle!” declared Zi Mei.

“Mm, this is a good chance to stomp the crypt for good,” added Hong Meng.

“Indeed,” Mao Xuegang nodded in agreement.

In another group, the Midnight Hall Elder Deng and Wuqi Clan Elder Wuqi Tai exchanged a look, sharing a silent message.

“This is a good chance to uncover the secrets of this ancient lineage. Should we follow?” proposed Elder Deng.

“No, let’s wait for the others to finish with the ruins. We shouldn’t spend more time than needed here. After all, it’s almost ‘that’ time again in Margerum,” Wuqi Tai added.

“Oh, you mean that yearly event. Haha… I should stop by this time,” Hall Elder Deng said with a trace of excitement. The duo, after deciding promptly, flickered and appeared outside the teleportation circle.

By now, Jalanshi Miran had completed the conjuration of the power required for the teleportation. His eyes gleamed splendidly, much like the dazzling circle surrounding everyone gathered, before he invoked its magic.

“Let’s go — Mass Teleport!” His voice echoed throughout the city as a bright light emanated from the circle, engulfing all present. It ascended into the sky, towering over the city. Within the Jalanshi Clan mansion, Zola and Jafari, standing with the remaining clan guards, observed in silence.

“Father, Ancestor, Elders… please keep them safe,” Zola murmured in a silent prayer, echoed by Jafari. The two watched attentively as the beam of light rose to the sky’s high limits before vanishing into nothingness.

∞∞∞

As the Black Dunes’ conquest unfolded, deep within its vast expanse, a foreboding realm held the essence of death in the air—the Everlasting Crypt. Resting on desolate land adorned with dark sands and tombstones, it exuded decay and dread, striking fear into any who dared venture into its depths.

Delving into the sandy expanses revealed an extensive graveyard surrounding a colossal palace. Sinister flames flickered within massive chalices, imparting bone-chilling coldness rather than warmth. Within this eerie setting, figures draped in tombstone-patterned wrappings moved purposefully, their cloaks bearing symbols, some featuring eyes with skulls—marking them as members of the Phantom Eyed Faction.

“Hurry, we must prepare quickly!”

“They’re already on their way here!”

The crypt sorcerers worked with increased urgency, setting up weapons as a sinister light covered the entire crypt, indicating the activation of the defensive formation. Overseeing these efforts were the core members of the crypt council—the Grand Sorcerers. Adorned in golden wrappings and black gold robes with tombstone patterns, they engaged in discussions about current affairs.

“Is it true? Did that old fool Jalanshi decide to launch such an offensive?”

“It came from our source, so it must be true. Right now, we must decide on our means of countermeasure. Our crypt is now at its weakest state, having sent off most of our powers, including the Crypt Master.”

“Agreed. We should resist them as much as we can, as long as the Crypt Master succeeds. We will be the ones to laugh in the end.”

The Grand Sorcerers spoke with solemnity, each bearing a stern appearance. Suddenly, one of them looked around, frowning, and said, “Where’s Braz? He’s supposed to be leading us. Didn’t he return after failing that mission?”

Contemplating this, a few couldn’t help but frown. Despite his previous failure, Braz had assumed the role of acting leader. Among the crypt sorcerers, only Braz and Jugan possessed the power to assume that position, except for the formerly fallen Grand Preceptor Nilzak.

“I’m uncertain of his whereabouts. He’s a troublesome guy, not only did he squander the prime opportunity to apprehend that, but he also caused the loss of our faction’s Crypt Child. That scoundrel is akin to his—” a Grand Sorcerer was on the verge of uttering something when, suddenly, the sky shone above, revealing a massive diagram.

“They’re here! Everyone, be ready!” one of them commanded, their eyes cold as they braced for potential threats. However, despite a considerable amount of time passing, no one emerged from the teleportation circle.

“What the hell? Where are they?” a Grand Sorcerer complained.

Confusion swept through the group, but soon, a black light emanated from behind the diagram—a colossal ray seemingly condensed from the center of the universe, interwoven with starry particles.

“That’s the Light of Abyss! Be careful!” a few of the Grand Sorcerers exclaimed in horror. They had expected a direct confrontation, but none had envisioned the enemy launching a devastating blow akin to all or nothing move.

Before they could react or issue commands, the colossal ray crashed onto the defensive formation. The formation struggled for only a few breaths of time before shattering like glass. The destructive ray descended, enveloping the entire crypt in chaotic brilliance.

A monstrous bang echoed as not only the Grand Sorcerers but also most of the crypt sorcerers above were obliterated by the energy, followed by the annihilation of all things within its range.

Moments passed, and the lights gradually faded. From the teleportation rift, hundreds upon hundreds of combatants appeared, led by Jalanshi Miran. The Right Elder and Left Elder floated above with arms outstretched, now resembling lifeless statues turned pale white, devoid of any traces of life.

Old friends, worry not, this victory will forever be in your name. Jalanshi Miran inwardly said he looked at a few clansmen, who arrived at their side, moving their corpses away.

Jalanshi Xulan naturally stood beside Jalanshi Miran. Though he remained silent, his gaze fixed on Miran as the latter pointed downward, his cold eyes surveying the mostly ruined Everlasting Crypt and the few surviving sorcerers.

“Everyone, attack!” commanded Jalanshi Miran as the allied forces moved in unison, descending with tremendous force.

“Let’s go!” shouted Mao Xuegang, with Zi Mei and Hong Meng following suit, transforming into rays of light as they descended.

“We can’t afford to fall behind these bloodline folks now, can we, Fellow Daoist Nei?” Palace Elder Sha remarked, to which Nei Zemin chuckled and replied, “Haha, no, we can’t. After all, they’re only Half Step True Souls.”

Instantly, it seemed as if hell had broken loose. The remaining sorcerers looked up in fear, some Grand Sorcerers with rage-filled expressions, while others fell into despair. One of them shouted, “Braz! Where are you?!”

His pitiful cry was soon drowned out by countless barrages of attacks sweeping downward, crumbling not only the sorcerers but also the land itself. Jalanshi Miran noticed this and frowned, observing the entire region with his spiritual sense, pondering, “Where is he? That Phantom Eyed brat…”

As chaos loomed above, deep below the ruined crypt palace and its main rooms, within a secret passage, Braz walked down a set of stairways lit by spooky green flames from mounted candles. He descended to even further depths below the Everlasting Crypt. With each step, he felt the earth trembling above, as if everything was on the verge of annihilation.

A cold look settled on his face; his thoughts hidden from the world. It was unknown how long it took, but soon, he found himself before a large door with skulls on its surface. Unsettling qi seeped from within, and even the skulls had ominous red lights shining from their eyes.

“It’s me,” Braz said as the skull’s eyes shone bright before a rumble and a loud creek, followed by its opening.

The scene soon revealed itself to Braz, showing a massive room with many caskets and corpses. There were bones scattered around them as a group of shady individuals, garbed in dark cloaks shuffled about, moving the corpses towards a small gray portal, centered at the room’s core.

One cloaked individual looked familiar, the very same being who spoke and met with Kazak in his memories. He stood directly before the rift, observing the others before he turned and looked at Braz.

“This one is quite surprised, to what do I owe the visit from our number one client?” The being said with a shady smile.

Braz looked at the cloaked individuals moving the corpses, his eyes caught sight of Kazak, who was closed off in a casket. His palms tightened before returning to normal as he spoke, “There’s a ruckus outside, it seems that the Jalanshi’s attacking with a sizeable power.”

The being didn’t seem to care about any of that, he chuckled and replied, “Huhuhu… this one knows quite well, not only them, but we’ve also gotten ourselves on the eyes of two who are well known.”

“Two who are well-known… wait, you don’t mean the Exalted One’s, do you?” Braz said in surprise.

“Huhuhu… indeed, you are smart, much more so than that Anuran. The two observing are very stubborn… even from that time. I believe it was they and that knight who fought off the mighty — Obliz…” the being said calmly.

Braz seemed a bit worried and spoke, “Is this the reason you’re leaving so soon?”

“Huhuhu… Braz… since you’ve been a faithful client than that Anuran. This one… will tell you more. Our objective for both the south is now complete, and everything else is just an extra. Whether it’s the Nether World Core or that Ancient Devil’s legacy, recently acquired by our kin, we now have both. As for everything else, it doesn’t matter. Now it’s time for us to prepare… for war,” the being said with a sinister smile.

Braz trembled at those words. For a moment, he didn’t know what to do. As if he could read his thoughts, the being smirked as he spoke, “Do you wish for our aid? You should know that such a choice requires a new contract.”

“I… I’ll do it!” Braz said as he gritted his teeth.

“Excellent. So long as you sign a deal, this one shall leave you with a special gift. Consider it a present for our business,” the being said as he waved his hand, conjuring a black scroll with extremely fine writing.

Braz looked at the terms with solemn eyes, but he still pricked his finger and signed it with his blood. After that happened, a bright red light shone from the contract which burned into a gray flame before fading.

 “The gift is placed, may we meet again, Braz of the Phantom Eyes, Huhuhu!” the being said in a sinister laughter said as it faded, along with everyone else, the rift swirling around before vanishing, leaving only Braz within the room.

A grim feeling spread forth, not only in the room but upon the heart of a man whose soul had blackened at the pits of the crypt’s darkness. Braz looked at the small gray orb that hovered before he grasped it with his palm as it merged with his being.

Suddenly, two individuals appeared in the room, an old man in a decoded robe that had elaborate runes and eyes which glowed with complex markings. Along with another, similarly aged man dressed in loose clothing, with a jug on his waist. He gave off an unusual aura as if he was a fleeting being, existing in and out of reality.

Naturally, these were none other than Lang Shang and Chu Kongling, who had been lurking in the southern lands for quite some time. The two looked around and frowned as they mentally conversed.

We’re late, again, the nefarious qi had just left, it’s as if they knew we were coming and had already prepared. Chu Kongling said in a trouble tone.

Well, we are dealing with fiendkin. Their methods are more than we can imagine, when it comes to them, even my eyes can’t properly divine, Lang Shang said with a rare look of sternness.

It’s troubling, it’s not easy to descend on our world. What could have made them decide to leave? Chu Kongling said, feeling a terrible unease.

Maybe, they’ve already accomplished what they’ve come here to seek, Lang Shang said as his eyes flashed with unusual runes as if calculating something.

Braz seemed to have noticed their arrival, he turned around with a strange gray orb now protruding from the center of his brows, his eyes showing a cold look.

“I humbly greet the mighty Divine Eye and Ethereal Exault. It’s an honor to be in your presence, but also a shame. For as you can see, we’re all at war time.” Braz said as a sinister aura began to flow from his body.

Only at this time did Lang Shang and Chu Kongling gave any attention to Braz. Chu Kongling frown as he saw the orb on his forehead and energy flowing from his body. He said via mental message, We’ll have to get rid of this one, in this state, he might be a little troublesome for Old Miran above.

Well, that’s expected, he’s only a Formation Dao, he wasn’t qualified to be rated as that Autarch’s Knight. Lang Shang replied, as he looked at Braz and spoke, “Kid who walks the path of ruin, do you regret your choice?”

“I regret nothing. All I do… is for the crypt,” Braz said, his eyes shining in a cold light as his phantom skull marks had a spooky glow. Instantly, the orb on his head split open revealing a terrifying red pupil, his skin began to turn gray as his body exploded with an overwhelming amount of fiend qi.

Lang Shang and Chu Kongling remained calm in front of him, their qi slowly rising as an icy air blew from the pits of the ruined crypt, soaring upward pass the chaotic battles up above, towards the dark sands of the Black Dunes.

The scene here grim as if foretelling the end of a dismal conflict, but unlike here, far off into the distant Avonz Ruins, its own chaos had already started to brew.

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