The battle between the Hei Alliance and the Dong Alliance raged fiercely. After suffering severe losses among their ranks, the Hei Alliance finally achieved victory. Dong Fang Yu Liang and the Dong Tribe were defeated, and he was taken away by the Dong Tribe's Gu Immortals.
As for the other tribes that had suffered catastrophic damage, they were forcibly absorbed into the Dong Tribe.
After several weeks of rest and reorganization, with many tribes joining their banner, the Hei Alliance army marched toward the Gu Tribe. The Gu Tribe was a large-scale tribe that had joined the ranks of the Liu Tribe.
The Liu Tribe leader was a rank five Gu Master, a veteran expert who had survived countless battles.
When the Hei Alliance arrived at the Gu Tribe's territory, they were stunned by a magnificent sight.
Across the vast plains stood a towering mountain of stone blocking the path. Defensive Gu such as Steel Snake Gu and Pollen Pellet Gu were spread everywhere, while Gu Masters occupied positions all along the mountain, prepared to defend it to the death.
The Hei Alliance sank into gloom.
However, after some time, one of the most famous experts in the Northern Plains appeared and effortlessly resolved the situation.
Mountain As Before!
Tai Bai Yun Sheng shouted as brilliant white light illuminated the mountain created by the Gu Tribe.
"It's Tai Bai Yun Sheng!"
"Oh no! Tai Bai Yun Sheng possesses Mountain As Before Gu!" the Gu Tribe leader cried out with a pale face as the mountain beneath him collapsed.
Thousands of Gu Masters suddenly found themselves suspended in the air.
Most of them could only scream as they watched the ground rushing closer and closer. Only the stronger experts managed to activate defensive, movement, or flying Gu worms.
Hovering in the sky, the Gu Tribe leader watched with bloodshot eyes as the Gu Masters of his tribe smashed into the ground and exploded into pieces.
Hei Lou Lan warmly welcomed Tai Bai Yun Sheng and seated him directly beside himself, even placing him above Chang Shan Yin's seat.
After Tai Bai Yun Sheng joined the Hei Alliance, countless experts and small tribes followed him into the alliance army.
Throughout his long life, Tai Bai Yun Sheng had been the greatest benefactor of the Northern Plains. He healed the wounded, restored the spiritual springs of tribes, and saved countless experts from death.
Those people naturally joined the side of the benefactor who had rescued them without hesitation, making Hei Lou Lan even happier.
Fang Yuan observed Tai Bai Yun Sheng with interest, and the latter returned the gaze with equal curiosity.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng was an elderly man in his seventies. Wrinkles lined the corners of his eyes and mouth, while a warm and gentle smile rested upon his face like that of a kind grandfather.
However, Tai Bai Yun Sheng did not approach Fang Yuan. He merely waved toward him before returning to his own matters.
Fang Yuan did not care and resumed cultivating.
After a full week of preparation, the Hei Alliance recovered completely, and its strength increased greatly.
Liu Wen Wu sent a letter setting the date of battle against the Hei Tribe.
Thus, the enormous army advanced across plains covered in snow like a thick white cloak.
Fang Yuan remained seated inside his Large Lizard House Gu and did not join Hei Lou Lan and the other alliance leaders.
This behavior pleased Hei Lou Lan greatly. Soon enough, Bi Xiu Han flattered him by criticizing the Wolf King, earning himself a high seat beside Hei Lou Lan.
Chang Shan Yin did not appear again until the day of battle itself.
Meanwhile, on another front, the Ma Tribe displayed astonishing performance during the Imperial Court struggle. They shattered the Song Tribe and its alliance before stabilizing their territory. Nu Er Tu assaulted Jiang Bao and completely suppressed him.
The reputation of Ye Lui Sang grew tremendously, and his forces spread like wildfire.
One of the Ye Lui Tribe elders bestowed a Fire Path Immortal Gu upon Ye Lui Sang, causing his battle strength to rise to an entirely new level.
However, before he could fully secure his territory, he was ambushed by seven large-scale forces and defeated in battle. Although those forces were not super tribes, they possessed numerous powerful experts.
The icy aura of the ten-year blizzard spread alongside the freezing winds, gradually covering the land with frost and snow.
Likewise, battles erupted everywhere to determine the future ruler of the Imperial Court.
The most important battle was naturally the clash between the Hei Tribe and the Liu Tribe.
The Hei Tribe established defensive lines everywhere while the Liu Tribe army continuously advanced to attack them. The Hei Alliance army would stop for a period, construct a defensive line, then continue advancing before constructing another line again.
Finally, after ten days, the two armies met.
A vast empty space stretched between the two armies, reserved for the battle of experts.
From the Hei Tribe's side, Water Demon Hao Ji Liu stepped forward.
In response, the Liu Tribe dispatched one of their own experts — Bei Yan Fei.
Both were upper-stage rank four Gu Masters, seasoned veterans of the Northern Plains.
The two exchanged over twenty moves, ending in a draw.
However, it was obvious that the advantage was gradually shifting toward the Water Demon.
Seeing this, Liu Wen Wu immediately sent out another expert.
Both sides continuously dispatched experts, and after some time, more than twenty massive battlefields had formed between the two armies.
The balance gradually tilted toward the Liu Tribe because of Liu Wen Wu's second brother.
Ouyang Bi Sang was extremely famous within the demonic path. Although his cultivation was only at peak-stage rank four, his battle strength rivaled rank five experts.
After witnessing the unfavorable situation, Hei Lou Lan finally ordered the full assault.
Gu Masters charged forward alongside wolf packs and fox groups, while experts such as the Shadow Sword expert Bian Si Xuan soared into the battlefield.