Chapter 578: Chapter 396: The Dust Settles

Qionglin Domain Influence +1%

A notification appeared on the light screen.

This was the third notification Fang Yun had received in the last few days.

The Celestial Cloud Sect’s influence in the Qionglin Domain had now reached 8%.

’After we finish off the Demon Spirit Sect, the sect’s influence in the Qionglin Domain should rise to 9%...’

Fang Yun thought to himself after a glance at the light screen.

This was his estimate of the regional influence once the news fully spread.

There were very few Core Formation Influences within the Qionglin Domain—whether they were orthodox Core Formation Influences or Evil Dao Core Formation Influences—that could match the Celestial Cloud Sect’s current level of influence.

’When faced with a Core Formation Sect like this, there’s really no need to act rashly.’

At this moment, Fang Yun tried his best to think from the perspective of the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect. He considered how they would deal with a powerful Core Formation Sect, especially one that likely had an unknown variable: the mysterious Spirit Refiner mentioned by the Demon and Ghost Cultivators.

「A short time later.」

Fang Yun went to see Miao Qinghong.

Besides himself and Miao Qinghong, the only other Core Formation Cultivator from the sect guarding this location was Wang Lingwei. All the others had returned to the main sect.

"Sect Leader, the situation isn’t what you described. I haven’t seen a single Core Formation Stage Ghost Cultivator yet," Miao Qinghong said as soon as she saw Fang Yun approach.

"Elder Miao," Fang Yun said with a smile. "An analysis is just an analysis; it’s perfectly normal for one to be wrong. I overestimated the nerve of the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect."

"Why don’t we just march into the Black Ghost Cave’s Earth Realm and attack their sect head-on?" Miao Qinghong suddenly proposed.

Fang Yun shook his head repeatedly.

"We haven’t fully secured the Demon Spirit Sect’s Earth Realm yet. After we do, we’ll still need to consolidate our hold and manage the area. These things take time. A rash attack on the Black Ghost Cave would lead to a series of negative consequences."

Although Miao Qinghong hadn’t thought of it that way, her actions were a classic case of biting off more than one could chew.

Being too aggressive might provoke a fierce backlash.

Fang Yun was well aware of his own strength and understood the sect’s current overall power level, but he still preferred to take things one step at a time.

Besides, even if they were to expand, the Black Ghost Cave wouldn’t be their target.

Demons, Ghost Cultivators, and Blood Demons.

Of these three major Evil Dao cultivation systems, they had currently only offended the Demons.

Therefore, if they were to make a move, it should be to join forces with the Wind Ling Sect and attack the Dragon Demon Palace. This would prevent them from being targeted by the Nascent Soul Influences of both the Demons and the Ghost Cultivators simultaneously.

Fang Yun had already gathered enough information from Lin Ke, but his biggest concern remained the potential actions the Nascent Soul Influences might take against their Celestial Cloud Sect.

"Fine, fine." Miao Qinghong didn’t argue with Fang Yun any further on this point.

Compared to the old Celestial Cloud Sect, the current sect’s actions were at least heading in a direction she approved of.

If this were the old Celestial Cloud Sect, they would probably still be hiding in their shell, just waiting for the Evil Forces to make a move before launching a counterattack.

"Elder Miao, I came to tell you that I need to go out for a while."

"What for?" Miao Qinghong couldn’t help but ask.

"The Black Ghost Cave and Ghost-Controlling Sect may not have sent any Core Formation Ghost Cultivators our way, but they’ve dispatched plenty of Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivators. We can’t let them have even an inch of the former Demon Spirit Sect’s Earth Realm."

Fang Yun gave a brief explanation, and Miao Qinghong understood.

Fang Yun was going to deal with these Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivators himself to speed up their consolidation of the former Demon Spirit Sect’s Earth Realm.

A task like this wasn’t suited for her; it was a job for Fang Yun.

Besides, she had little interest in Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivators.

If a Core Formation Ghost Cultivator were to appear, however, that would be a different story.

"Go on, don’t worry. Supreme Elder Wang and I will hold down the fort here."

...

「Yan Family Ancestral Land.」

The Yan Family was one of the Foundation Establishment Clans subordinate to the Demon Spirit Sect, and they were the last of its vassal forces still in existence.

"Patriarch, there’s no need for us to keep defending this place."

"That’s right, Patriarch. The Demon Spirit Sect has been destroyed. There’s no point in us holding out any longer."

"If we stay, there will be no reinforcements. In the end, we’ll suffer the same fate as the Demon Spirit Sect."

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Demon Yan Family all tried to persuade their Patriarch.

"The Demon Spirit Sect..." the Yan Patriarch murmured.

As a Foundation Establishment Influence subordinate to the Demon Spirit Sect, they were the ones who found its sudden destruction hardest to accept.

They had lived in the Demon Spirit Sect’s Earth Realm, and the sect was their shield. Now that the shield was gone, many of its vassal forces were immediately plunged into a state of confusion.

"After the Demon Spirit Sect’s fall, this land is now technically the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Earth Realm."

"Honestly, we’re already lucky. If the Ghost-Controlling Sect and the Celestial Cloud Sect weren’t fighting over this territory, we might have been wiped out long ago. Their conflict has given us some breathing room. Patriarch, if we don’t seize this chance, we’ll be destroyed too."

"I understand. We’ll evacuate tonight under the cover of darkness."

The Yan Patriarch gave his order.

"Where to?"

"The Dragon Demon Palace’s Earth Realm?"

"I think the Lion King Cave’s Earth Realm would be better. To get to the Dragon Demon Palace, we’d have to cross through the Celestial Cloud Sect’s lands. It would be much safer to pass through the Purple Blood Pavilion’s Earth Realm."

"Yes, I also think heading toward the Lion King Cave is the better option."

"Then it’s settled! We’re heading for the Lion King Cave’s Earth Realm!"

The yet-to-be-destroyed Demon Yan Family began their evacuation.

After leaving their ancestral land, they would have no territory in the Lion King Cave’s Earth Realm. They would have to start everything over from scratch.

「Overnight.」

All the Demons here were gone.

「The next morning.」

A group of Ghost Cultivators stormed the area.

"Huh? The Demons here aren’t fighting back."

"Perfect. Saves us the trouble."

"Don’t get careless. The Demons might have fled, but isn’t there still a Spirit Refiner?"

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