Having resolved the matter of Guiyun Ridge, Xiao Yunlong and his group returned to the Southern Border Great Camp by helicopter overnight.
As for how to persuade the two guardian elders, Taiyi and Xiuer, Xiao Yunlong chose not to interfere further, leaving it to the Southern King to handle.
Lu Zheng tong had originally intended to appear in person, but considering his identity was not entirely appropriate, he ultimately decided to secretly send his adjutant, Zhou Yun, overnight.
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, as soon as Xiao Yunlong finished breakfast, Xuanyuan Qingfeng came to report.
"Your Highness the Northern King, the two guardian seniors, Taiyi and Xiuer, have agreed to rejoin the Southern Border Great Camp. Last night, they secretly returned to the camp with Adjutant Zhou. They are currently in the main hall of the Southern King's Palace. His Highness the Southern King requests your presence to discuss important matters!"
Xiao Yunlong nodded to acknowledge, then rose and headed to the Southern King's Palace.
Xiao Yunlong was not surprised that Taiyi and Xiuer agreed to serve the Southern Border Great Camp again. After all, through the intelligence reports from Adjutant Zhou's spies during this period, he had learned that the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master, Zhage Boya, had become increasingly autocratic in recent years, and the two guardians had grown increasingly dissatisfied with him. Especially on the matter of whether to aid Guiyun Ridge yesterday, the two guardian elders firmly agreed to provide assistance, while the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master strongly vetoed it. The facts proved the two guardian elders were right; if the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master had provided assistance, Guiyun Ridge would not have been brought under the control of the Southern Border Great Camp.
Now that the Southern King, Lu Zheng tong, had control of Guiyun Ridge, it was equivalent to Hidden Ancient Ridge losing its left arm.
It was precisely because of this incident that the two guardians completely saw through the selfish nature of the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master and became disheartened. Therefore, when Zhou Yun secretly found them last night, the two guardian elders agreed without much hesitation.
Xiao Yunlong, accompanied by a few trusted subordinate generals, soon entered the Southern King's Palace assembly hall. He immediately saw two white-haired elders sitting in the lower seats, whom he presumed to be the guardians of the Southern Border Great Camp, Taiyi and Xiuer.
The martial arts cultivation of the two was indeed not weak. Especially Taiyi, who had already half-stepped into the Innate True Essence realm. Seeing this, Xiao Yunlong felt even more that his decision last night was correct. With the return of these two guardian elders, the Southern Border Great Camp gained an important safeguard.
After a round of introductions, the Southern King Lu Zheng tong said, "Northern King, we have now pacified Chuanlong Ridge and Baiyue Ridge, and even successfully taken Guiyun Ridge. Furthermore, the two guardian seniors have chosen to rejoin us. It can be said that Hidden Ancient Ridge has not only lost its left arm this time but also its right wing. Should we directly attack now?"
Xiao Yunlong nodded slightly and said, "Of course, we can. However, before the attack, perhaps the Southern King could first issue a royal decree, ordering the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master to come to the Southern Border Great Camp to confess his crimes. If he refuses to come again, it will not be too late to attack!"
Adjutant Zhou Yun quickly added, "That's right. First, issue a decree to have the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master come in person. If he is willing to come, then we can resolve this major hidden danger without bloodshed, and it will also show His Highness the Southern King's magnanimity. Of course, if he refuses to come, then the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master will have lost the moral high ground, and our subsequent conquest will be justified!"
"Indeed. As expected, this is what this king thought of, worthy of being the God of War of our Dragon Country!" the Southern King Lu Zheng tong praised.
Adjutant Zhou beside him cast a meaningful glance at Xiao Yunlong and then said, "Southern King, I will go and draft the official document and decree now!"
The decree was soon issued and delivered to the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master's mansion. Zhage Boya, who was sitting in the dining room eating bird's nest congee, was furious after reading the decree document from the Southern Border Great Camp.
"You bastards, what are these dogs thinking? They actually want this Ridge Master to go to the Southern Border Great Camp to confess my crimes. This is a huge joke!"
Zhage Boya gritted his teeth and roared, tearing the decree document to shreds on the spot.
"Go back and tell the Southern Border King that this Ridge Master is not guilty, nor will I go to the Southern Border Great Camp to confess. If you want me to hand over the power I hold, do it in your next life!" Zhage Boya pointed outside the door and roared through gritted teeth.
The envoy from the Great Camp standing outside dared not even breathe, and could only quickly turn back to report.
His adjutant then stepped forward and said, "Ridge Master, you have refused the decree from the Great Camp. I fear they will directly attack us next!"
"So what if they attack? Do you think I'm afraid?" the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master snorted disdainfully, his expression very arrogant and overbearing.
"Your Excellency the Ridge Master, you naturally would not be afraid, but now that the two guardian elders, Taiyi and Xiuer, have rejoined the Southern Border Great Camp, we must be prepared for what comes next," the adjutant cautiously advised.
Zhage Boya raised his slender eyebrows and said, "What you said is not wrong. We indeed need to prepare properly. However, just thinking about those two old fellows, Taiyi and Xiuer, makes me angry. I have treated them well over the years, yet they betrayed me at a crucial moment. Damn it, truly damnable!"
"Don't let me catch those two old fellows, or I will skin them alive. And that brat surnamed Xiao, if it weren't for him, how could the situation in the Southern Border have become so unstable? This Ridge Master will never forgive him!"
While cursing angrily, the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master stood up and walked out quickly.
"Your Excellency the Ridge Master, where are you suddenly going? You haven't finished your congee yet!" the adjutant called from behind.
"The sky is falling, and you're still eating congee? I'm going to Hidden Ancient Temple. Only by inviting the experts from the Secret Treasury Sect can we resolve this!"
The Hidden Ancient Ridge Master said and walked directly to the nearby garage. Seeing this, the adjutant quickly followed, opened the car door to welcome his master in, then got into the driver's seat and started the car.
The car roared out of the Ridge Master's mansion and sped towards the white snow-capped mountain to the west.
Half an hour later, the car stopped halfway up the mountain. Halfway up the mountain stood a magnificent ancient temple.
At this moment, the monks of the Secret Treasury Sect inside the ancient temple were performing their morning rituals. The Hidden Ancient Ridge Master did not enter through the main gate but drove around to the backyard.
After being announced, the Sect Master of the Secret Treasury Sect personally came to greet him. In fact, the Hidden Ancient Ridge Master, Zhage Boya, was also a disciple of the Secret Treasury Sect a long time ago. After becoming the Ridge Master, he became even closer to the Secret Treasury Sect. Three years ago, the Secret Treasury Sect enfelled Zhage Boya as the Grand Dharma Master of Secret Treasury, thus their interests were completely tied together.
"Brother Zhage, what is so urgent that you have come without prior notice!" Zhage Boya got out of the car, and the Sect Master of the Secret Treasury Sect stepped forward to ask.
Zhage Boya cut to the chase and immediately informed him of the day's events at the Southern Border Great Camp, pointing out the severity of the current situation.
"That fellow surnamed Xiao, did he really kill the Heavenly King of the Protectorate of the Brahma Kingdom?" the Sect Master of the Secret Treasury Sect asked, frowning, his expression looking somewhat solemn.
"Although I don't want to admit it, it is indeed so!" Zhage Boya sighed.
The Sect Master of the Secret Treasury Sect pondered and said, "If that's the case, then this child might indeed be difficult to deal with. Even if I were to act, I would probably not be this person's opponent. After all, three years ago, this junior went to the Brahma Teachings in the Brahma Kingdom for exchange and had a tentative spar with that Heavenly King of the Protectorate, knowing his martial arts cultivation and attainments were truly extraordinary."
Zhage Boya coldly snorted and said, "Can our grand Secret Treasury Sect not deal with a brat who hasn't even fully grown up?"
The Sect Master of the Secret Treasury Sect gave an embarrassed smile and then said, "Brother, please calm down. This junior will go and invite our eight patriarchs of the Secret Treasury Sect to come out. With their eight people coming out, the matter can be settled!"
"Good, then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and invite them!" Zhage Boya waved his hand.
"Brother, please follow me!" The Sect Master of the Secret Treasury Sect smiled slightly, and then the two walked deeper into the back mountain.
At this very moment, Xiao Yunlong and his group had also boarded a special plane and were heading directly towards Hidden Ancient Ridge.
When they entered the territory of Hidden Ancient Ridge, Zhage Boya happened to be returning to the Ridge Master's mansion with a group of experts from the Secret Treasury Sect.
At this time, the butler came to report, saying that Xiao Yunlong had entered the territory of Hidden Ancient Ridge with a group of experts and would arrive at the Ridge Master's mansion in about ten minutes.
"Good, you dog surnamed Xiao, it's good that you've come. This time, this Ridge Master will ensure you have no return!"
The Hidden Ancient Ridge Master, Zhage Boya, sat at the main seat of the hall, clenched his fists, and said in a deep voice.
Below him, on either side, sat four old monks with gray beards and hair. These eight old monks were the eight patriarchs of the current Secret Treasury Sect!