Volume Two, Chapter Twenty-Six: Bringing Profound Mystery Valley Under Control

After more than two decades of relative calm, the atmosphere in Iron Flower City had grown increasingly tense. Ever since the two leaders of the Purple Mysterious Alliance appeared here, everyone felt that something significant was about to unfold in Iron Flower City.

Sure enough, within just a few days, the other sixty-three factions of the Sixty-Four Bandit Alliance suddenly made a public announcement: the Mysterious Valley would prematurely end its management over Iron Flower City, relinquish all rights to the city, and order them to return to their original bases, forbidding any further stay in Iron Flower City.

“Damn bastards!”

Inside the Mysterious Valley, Zhao Yongkui was so furious he could say nothing else. Last time, Wan Peng had brought a message, but he had not expected the other sixty-three factions to act so swiftly, not even granting them a chance to explain. The management rights, which were supposed to rotate every sixty million years, had been forcibly revoked halfway through Mysterious Valley’s term.

“Big brother, things aren’t looking good. It’s one thing to take back the management rights, but their attitude... it’s as if they’ve already decided we’ve sided with the Purple Mysterious Alliance and are turning against us!”

Mysterious Divine King frowned deeply, shaking his head incessantly. Both Zhao Yongkui and Divine King Xuanqing had already guessed this, but none of the three wished to accept such a grim reality.

“We can’t just sit and wait to be destroyed. This is deliberate!” Divine King Xuanqing said firmly. Having been a Divine King for several decades, he had never encountered a crisis like this before.

“I know, but if we stand up and oppose them now, won’t that just play into the Purple Mysterious Alliance’s hands? Once we break from the other factions, our only path left is to join the Purple Mysterious Alliance!” Zhao Yongkui waved his hand helplessly. The sudden betrayal by his own alliance was a shock. Even now, he couldn't tell if someone was deliberately pushing them toward the Purple Mysterious Alliance.

“Are we really going to hand over the city’s management rights just like that?”

Mysterious Divine King’s brows furrowed even tighter. Relinquishing the rights early was not merely a matter of power, but also of pride. If Mysterious Valley did this, it would no longer be the strongest faction among the Sixty-Four; it might even fall further behind.

“No, we won’t hand it over. Doing so would be an admission of guilt. If they want us to surrender the management rights, they must give us a reasonable explanation!”

Zhao Yongkui said bitterly, though even he was uncertain whether his hatred was directed more toward the Purple Mysterious Alliance or his own alliance.

“Alliance Leader, Ping Tian’s plan is truly excellent!”

In Iron Flower City, Qin Si and Cui De, disguised as commoners, strolled along the street. Cui De whispered to Qin Si, informing him that the news of the sixty-three factions forcing Mysterious Valley to surrender its management rights was already spreading throughout the city.

“Haha, yes. It saves us so much effort. Just a few more days, and there’ll be a show to watch!”

Qin Si smiled proudly. He loved situations like this—solving problems with the least effort possible was his unshakable principle.

Meanwhile, in Tongmu Village.

“Mysterious Valley can no longer sit still. They’ve sent an envoy to accuse us of violating the alliance agreement!” Lu Tianqing chuckled as he spoke to the other three.

“Looks like we need to add some fuel to the fire. Haha!”

Gu Tai laughed heartily, and the four of them laughed together. By turning up the pressure, Mysterious Valley would soon be branded as traitors by the sixty-three factions. Purging Mysterious Valley and then moving against the Purple Mysterious Alliance would become a justifiable course of action.

“Gentlemen, Wan Peng Divine King seeks an audience!”

Just as the four were reveling in their triumph, an aide to Lu Qingshan suddenly entered. The arrival of Wan Peng at this moment surprised them all.

Extending his divine perception outward, Lu Qingshan confirmed that Wan Peng was indeed waiting at the entrance of Tongmu Village. Lu Qingshan had bribed Wan Peng but had kept this secret from others. Wan Peng’s unexpected appearance was bewildering.

“Let him in.”

Before the three others, Lu Qingshan had no choice but to admit Wan Peng. After all, Wan Peng was also a leader within the Sixty-Four factions.

“Big Brother Lu, things have taken a turn for the worse…”

Before Wan Peng even arrived, his voice echoed through the hall. Lu Qingshan’s expression darkened immediately. Wan Peng’s unannounced and loud arrival was completely out of character for him.

“Wan Peng Divine King, why not speak calmly? Why such a loud voice?”

With Gu Tai and the others present, Lu Qingshan could not afford to lose face and thus asked loudly.

“Apologies—I wasn’t aware the gentlemen were here. The news I received this time is too grave to contain my emotions,” Wan Peng said, bowing and clasping his fists in apology. He then slowly sat down on a chair brought by an attendant. As a Divine King, he was entitled to sit alongside Lu Qingshan.

“What news?”

Among the four, Shui Ruojun was the most curious. She asked first.

“I heard that Zhao Yongkui has already produced three superior-grade heavenly artifacts and thirty medium-grade heavenly artifacts to buy your life, Big Brother Lu. Among these three superior-grade heavenly artifacts, one is a defensive battle armor!”

Wan Peng spoke slowly. After finishing, he observed the stunned looks on the others’ faces and secretly smiled. Zhao Yongkui did possess these items, but the person actually trying to buy Lu Qingshan’s life was someone else.

“Is this true?”

Lu Qingshan jumped up, staring incredulously at Wan Peng.

“Big Brother Lu, do you think I would joke about such a matter?” Wan Peng feigned displeasure. In front of others, he maintained the dignity of a Divine King.

“Zhao Yongkui, the scoundrel!”

Lu Qingshan could no longer sit still. He paced back and forth, agitated. He also had his spies. He did not know the full contents of the three hundred heavenly artifacts the Purple Mysterious Alliance had gifted Zhao Yongkui, but investigations had confirmed there was indeed a superior-grade defensive battle armor among them. Zhao Yongkui actually put that armor up to buy his life.

For Divine Kings in the Primordial Divine Realm, superior-grade heavenly artifacts were already exceptional. Using three such artifacts to buy the life of a Divine King was unheard of—except if one was a defensive superior-grade artifact. Those were rare even among Divine Kings.

Lu Qingshan began to suspect that Zhao Yongkui had uncovered his ambitions. Suddenly, he glared sharply at Wan Peng, but Wan Peng’s equally anxious gaze deceived him. Lu Qingshan trusted Wan Peng, as he was already fully committed to his cause. The notion that Wan Peng had sided with the Purple Mysterious Alliance was unthinkable and impossible for him to accept.

A superior-grade defensive heavenly artifact might indeed tempt other Divine Kings to risk everything to claim Lu Qingshan’s life. This was a distinct possibility. A schemer like Lu Qingshan had never imagined that this time, he himself was the one being schemed against.

“Village Chief Lu!”

Gu Tai and the other two also stood. Three superior-grade heavenly artifacts, including a defensive battle armor, were indeed tempting. Had they not already been allied with Lu Qingshan, they might have been swayed.

“He’s ruthless. Don’t blame me for being unforgiving. Gentlemen, Wan Peng Divine King, I hereby request an immediate alliance meeting. This meeting will exclude Mysterious Valley. We will jointly discuss plans to attack Mysterious Valley!”

After some thought, Lu Qingshan made a firm decision. Gu Tai and the others did not oppose it. They had always planned to eliminate Mysterious Valley; this only hastened their actions, with a legitimate pretext.

At this moment, Iron Flower City stirred anew. No one had expected that just as news spread about the sixty-three factions demanding Mysterious Valley surrender management rights, a notice would surface of Mysterious Valley’s leader Zhao Yongkui placing a bounty on Lu Qingshan’s head—with such a generous reward that some Divine Kings had already mobilized.

In an instant, the citizens of Iron Flower City began to leave—some to the other four cities, others to relatives or friends in nearby villages. Anyone could see that great turmoil was imminent. Staying behind now was utterly unwise.

“A conspiracy—this is a conspiracy. The Purple Mysterious Alliance—they must be behind this!”

Inside Mysterious Valley, Zhao Yongkui had smashed over a dozen cups since the announcement of his bounty. He knew he had been outmaneuvered. Lu Qingshan refused to hear his explanations, and the other sixty-three factions had united completely, isolating Mysterious Valley. They had likely already passed a resolution to collectively attack them.

“Big Brother, we cannot just wait to be destroyed!”

Both Mysterious Divine King and Divine King Xuanqing were furious but more so anxious. Lu Qingshan’s forces no longer entertained their explanations, and the enemy’s army would soon be upon them. Mysterious Valley alone could never withstand such an assault.

“There’s no other way. We have only one path left now!”

Suddenly, Zhao Yongkui sighed deeply, turning to walk away slowly. Watching his retreating figure, Mysterious Divine King and Xuanqing felt a profound loneliness. This was no longer the ambitious Mysterious Divine King who had once led them to conquer this land.

Ten days later, the alliance of sixty-three factions jointly issued a statement denouncing Mysterious Valley and declaring a formal attack on Iron Flower City within a month.

Twenty days later, Zhao Yongkui, leader of Mysterious Valley, publicly declared that Mysterious Valley, along with Iron Flower City, formally joined the Purple Mysterious Alliance, becoming the Mysterious Valley division of the Purple Mysterious Alliance.

(To be continued)