Chapter 930: Chapter 864: Siege of Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace!

“Today, why have so many martial arts forces gathered here?”

“Revenge!”

“To attack the Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace!”

“To kill Gong Jing, that scoundrel!”

Below Cloud Mountain, within the Sword South Path, seventy-two various martial arts forces, both big and small, assembled here, along with several powerful loose cultivators joining them.

In an instant, over fifty thousand martial artists gathered here, creating a grand spectacle.

However, within the vast halls of the Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace, there were only slightly more than five hundred people, half of whom were servants.

Only around two hundred of them were truly combat-capable.

Gong Jing looked at the martial artists of Sword South Path below, resembling ants, and for the first time felt that perhaps it was himself who was the ant.

…

At the same time, in Mengyun County.

As the entire focus of Sword South Path recently shifted towards the Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace.

The martial artists here watched for a while, found nothing unusual, and since no strong experts from other sides arrived, gradually left.

After all, the reason Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace disseminated the news that the Town Martial Office discovered a secret realm near Mengyun County was to probe what the Town Martial Office was really doing through these lower-level martial forces.

Unexpectedly, they were directly countered by a wave of public opinion warfare from the Town Martial Office.

Zhang San estimated that now Gong Jing still might not know why the years of meticulous planning by the Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace suddenly had their secrets exposed.

“Brother Zhang San, the experiment has succeeded. This type of pollution also affects rats, but strangely, the rate of effect is similar to that on martial artists of the True Core Realm. Conversely, if it’s a rat demon with a certain level of cultivation, the effect is faster.”

In recent days, the Thousand-Eyed Rat King had been conducting research with his followers and Officer Wei, finally discovering some patterns regarding Outer God pollution and those affected.

Zhang San curiously asked, “I understand that martial artists have stronger resistance.”

“But could ordinary people really be weaker in resistance compared to a rat?”

On this point, Zhang San found it difficult to understand.

Officer Wei explained at this time, “Actually, it’s like this. Outer God pollution is both a mental and physical pollution.”

“For physical pollution, the stronger the physique, the greater the resistance. Thus, martial artists resist better than ordinary people. Naturally, a rat demon would also have stronger resistance than an ordinary rat.”

“But the mental pollution is related to the intelligence of the polluted. We tend to think, the less intelligent, the seemingly easier it is to get polluted. However, it’s the opposite…”

“The truth about Outer God pollution is that it’s a dual form of pollution, affecting both body and mind. The smarter you are, the more perceptive you become of something within the pollution that we haven’t yet understood, hence more susceptible.”

“If one isn’t smart or operates in a state of confusion, like an ordinary rat with limited intelligence, they are less likely to be mentally polluted.”

Zhang San was greatly astonished by this theory!

“So intelligent people are more easily polluted, and the not-so-bright have more resistance?”

Officer Wei and the Rat King nodded in agreement.

Zhang San glanced at the Thousand-Eyed Rat King and remarked, “But if this conclusion is true, it means that in this battle, at least before breaking through the white mist, our human martial artists and cultivators can’t be the main force. Even the strong ones among your descendants, Rat King, shouldn’t participate for now.”

Zhang San realized that sending in low-intelligence beings would be futile.

While high-intelligence ones would be more likely to get polluted.

For a moment, Zhang San didn’t know how to solve this pending issue.

But he thought the Thousand-Eyed Rat King might have an answer.

Sure enough, the Thousand-Eyed Rat King appeared heavy-hearted at this moment.

“In fact, I could have used this matter to negotiate with you. After all, the upcoming battle might cause great losses to my Rat Race. However, we are part of the Twelve Zodiacs, even leading them!”

“You humans sometimes call yourselves mouse-like when feeling inadequate.”

“Yet today, let me show you humans the strength of these so-called ‘mouse-like’ beings!”

The Thousand-Eyed Rat King spoke, closing his eyes slightly.

At the same time, centered around Mengyun County, countless rats seemed to sense something and swarmed toward Sword South Path.

The Thousand-Eyed Rat King had anticipated possible events while researching with Officer Wei.

Thus, he had gathered most of the rats within Great Sui’s territory at Sword South Path in advance.

Now, Zhang San had a need.

So he sent billions of rats congregating here directly.

At this moment, Zhang San witnessed a flood of rats converging from all directions.

Slowly opening his eyes, the Thousand-Eyed Rat King appeared somewhat weakened.

“Zhang San, I’ve now summoned tens of billions of rats here.”

“Next, my rat descendants will control these rats, guiding them into eighteen villages and counties, including Mengyun County. They’ll organize the intelligence and reveal what’s happening in there.”

“If any danger arises, my descendants will ignite the Qi within these rats, leading to their self-detonation. This way, no living beings remain to be polluted by Outer Gods, not even corpses.”

Zhang San knew that this was equivalent to the Thousand-Eyed Rat King sacrificing his clan to aid everyone.

He also understood that the alliance between the All Things Path and the Imperial Path was just beginning.

More such collaborations would probably follow.

With Outer Gods invading, nowhere in this world would find peace.

Thinking of this, Zhang San glanced towards the direction of Cloud Mountain, hoping that matters there could be resolved well.

At this moment, halfway up Cloud Mountain, two elderly figures unexpectedly appeared.

“Everyone, please calm down. May we two old folks have a word?”

The seventy-two martial forces, consisting of tens of thousands of martial artists and cultivators, were aggressively heading up the mountain, while the people within the Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace were prepared for a final desperate struggle.

No one expected that at this time, the Old Manor Master Zhuge Longyin of Martial Marquis Manor and Sect Master Lin Wenshan of Qing City Sword Sect appeared.

“Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace, hand over all cultivation resources and wealth, surrender your mountain gate for division among us. Then have everyone from Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace leave Sword South Path. Neither side harms the other, settling all grievances. How about that?”

For the Sects planning to attack Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace, this was naturally desirable.

Although they sought revenge, Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace was one of the top three martial forces in Sword South Path, and they feared great losses from this battle.

Gong Jing knew as well that while the Sect had many strong members, they were up against thousands of martial artists and cultivators this time, making it impossible for Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace, strong as it was, to kill them all.

“Not only do we represent Martial Marquis Manor and Qing City Sword Sect, but this is also the intent of Officer Zhang from the Town Martial Office. Does everyone understand?”

In this moment, Gong Jing suddenly realized.

Perhaps this catastrophe for Cloud Mountain Ethereal Palace was orchestrated by Zhang San.

But now, even knowing this, there was nothing he could do.

As for his eight direct disciples, if not for betraying him, they would have all fallen to Zhang San’s hands.