The grand hall buzzed with chaos. Sixteen sects, divided into five factions, vied for the position of alliance leader, as if they had already completely conquered Da Qin.
"Report! Esteemed lords, all five cities of Da Qin are normal. Apart from traces of residual battles, no one from our side of the Emperor-level experts has been found! Those dispatched earlier have vanished!"
Just as the crowd was about to come to blows, a figure stumbled into the hall in a panic, face contorted with terror.
Previously, the sixteen sects had sent many scouts to gather information, but the dispatched personnel had seemingly gone missing, with no news filtering back.
Subsequently, one more person was sent to scout the situation of Da Qin's five cities from afar before immediately returning.
The hall fell silent instantly, as if time had stopped. Everyone froze.
"What did you say? Say it again, how did our dispatched individuals disappear?"
Zi Yun spoke with difficulty, his expression shifting continuously. Fifty Emperor-level powerhouses vanished? Da Qin's five cities remained intact, how was this possible?
A terrifying guess formed in his mind, but he refused to believe it was true.
"Lord, Da Qin's five cities are as they were, with no abnormalities. This small one found no trace of our dispatched forces."
The messenger spoke, steeling himself.
"What!!!"
"This is impossible!!!"
"You insignificant wretch, clarify your words! What do you mean no trace of our forces was found? Fifty Emperor-levels, do you have eyes only for dogs?"
"How can Da Qin's five cities be unharmed? Did you not investigate thoroughly? Do you know the punishment for deceiving us?"
"This wretch is surely lying! Kill him, and send an Emperor-level expert to investigate!"
In the hall, everyone instantly became agitated. Fifty Emperor-level experts were the foundation of half of each of their sects. Now they were gone, how could this be?
Unaccountably, a cold sweat broke out on everyone present.
"Every word this small one speaks is the truth. If you gave this small one ten thousand chances, I would still not dare to deceive you lords!"
The messenger knelt on the ground, his voice trembling, his body shaking, his face terrifyingly pale.
Upon hearing this, the complexions of everyone present changed, their expressions filled with a hint of panic.
Fifty Emperor-level experts, gone?
"Send one Emperor-level expert, no, five Emperor-level experts to investigate, immediately, now!"
Zi Yun spoke hastily, a sense of unease growing within him. Those dispatched had disappeared, could they all be dead?
This was impossible. Did Da Qin possess such strength? Yet, the current information made him doubt. Da Qin's five cities were unharmed, this was too bizarre.
"Boom!" The person who had just reported the intelligence in the hall instantly exploded, killed by Zi Yun with a casual flick of his hand. At this moment, seeing the messenger only agitated him.
"Fellow Daoist Zi Yun, what exactly is going on?"
Someone asked, their face etched with anxiety.
"Why don't we all go and see Da Qin ourselves? Perhaps our people have already controlled Da Qin and want to give us a surprise?"
Someone speculated, but their expression was grim, as if they found their own excuse hard to believe.
Zi Yun opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. If anyone observed Zi Yun closely at this moment, they would notice his fingers trembling slightly. Fifty Emperor-level powerhouses, suddenly gone. It was likely that sending more people to investigate would yield the same result.
Half an hour later, the five Emperor-level martial artists sent to investigate returned. When they brought back the same situation, the entire hall erupted.
Four of Da Qin's five cities showed clear signs of battle, and the remains of their people were discovered.
"How is this possible?? You mean, all fifty Emperor-level experts are dead?" Someone exclaimed directly, their face ashen.
"This is not true. Fifty Emperor-level experts could easily destroy five Da Qins. How could they be completely annihilated against one Da Qin? Does Da Qin have Heaven-level powerhouses guarding it?"
"Absurd! Utterly absurd! How could they be annihilated? This is too laughable. What strength does Da Qin possess to annihilate them?"
"No! Old man, I don't believe it, this is simply impossible! Have you five investigated thoroughly?"
"Guards, go investigate again! No, I will go myself! I don't believe they are all dead. How long has it been? Da Qin has shown no fluctuations, how could they possibly be dead?"
"Zi Yun, you old bastard! The plan was yours, did you secretly collude with Da Qin? And join forces with Da Qin to annihilate our people?"
In the hall, everyone was panicked. Half of the foundation of each sect was gone, how could they not lose their composure?
"Hmph! Everyone, this sect has lost four Emperor-level experts. Even if I colluded with Da Qin, I wouldn't possibly harm my own sect's people, would I?"
Zi Yun's face contorted. The people he dispatched were all dead, which was enough to shock him. Now, he was being accused of colluding with Da Qin, how could this be? After all, everyone in the hall had gone mad. If they all believed this person's words, they might join forces to kill him to vent their anger.
"Then what exactly is going on? What danger did they encounter? Da Qin only has a dozen or so Emperor-level experts, what strength do they have to annihilate fifty Emperor-level experts? Moreover, among them were nine late-stage Emperor-level experts and three Heavenly Weapons. Who can tell me what happened?"
Someone roared, their face contorted, radiating intense killing intent. The loss of one late-stage Emperor-level expert from their sect was too great.
In the hall, waves of terrifying auras surged. The demise of fifty Emperor-level experts left the core figures of each sect unable to remain calm.
Some of them were enraged, but beneath their rage was a greater sense of fear towards Da Qin.
"Could it be that Da Qin has always had top-tier powerhouses guarding it? Just waiting for us to send ourselves to our deaths?"
Someone speculated, their face pale. Perhaps the alliance of their sixteen sects was merely a joke in Da Qin's eyes.
"Everyone! Calm down! Now is not the time to fall into disarray. I propose we launch a full-scale attack now, descend directly upon Da Qin's capital, and fight them!"
Zi Yun spoke. At this point, there was only one option: to fight. Even if Da Qin had top-tier powerhouses, their strength must have been depleted after killing fifty Emperor-level experts. This was the best opportunity for the sixteen sects to turn the tide.
"Nonsense! Going now is suicide, Zi Yun, I think you've conspired with Da Qin and are trying to trick us into committing suicide!"
Someone cursed him on the spot, showing him no respect.
"Indeed, we cannot go now. Zi Yun, whether you are misunderstood or not, I suggest you do not leave this hall from now on!"
Wu Neng, the leader of the Black Witch Sect, spoke, his face somber, staring intently at Zi Yun. Although his words were polite, everyone in the hall sensed a hidden killing intent.
"Zi Yun, this operation was initiated by you, and now you are asking us to attack in full force. What are your intentions? Have you truly secretly joined forces with Da Qin?"
Bai Wuyong also spoke, his gaze locked onto Zi Yun.
Seeing this, Zi Yun sighed. At this juncture, these people were not focusing on dealing with Da Qin, but instead were suspecting him. This left him feeling utterly powerless.