He gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go find him. If he doesn't retrieve the Asura Banner, I'll fight him to the death."

The other Great Witches were shocked to hear that Zhu You, the Great Witch, actually wanted to fight someone from the Supreme Dao Sect. A Great Witch quickly stepped forward, grabbing Zhu You's arm, and comforted, "Zhu You, don't rush. Let's first get to the bottom of the truth." His voice was full of worry and anxiety, fearing that Zhu You might impulsively do something irreparable.

Another Great Witch chimed in, "Let's thoroughly investigate who took the Asura Banner; this might not be the fault of the Supreme Dao Sect." The other Great Witches nodded in agreement, fully aware of the Supreme Dao Sect's power and dominance. Going to war with them would be like hitting a rock with an egg, akin to a suicide mission.

Although the Jiuli Tribe has always been known for their combativeness, standing as a formidable force in the Taixu Universe, they were keenly self-aware. To them, the Barbarians were nothing more than a sharp blade wielded by the Supreme Dao Sect, a pawn that could be discarded at any moment.

Since the internal strife within the Taixu Dao Sect, the Supreme Dao Sect had become the undisputed actual ruler of the Taixu Universe through sheer strength and aggressive tactics.

The simplest evidence is that the spirit coins currently most popular in the Taixu Universe's cultivation realm are issued by the Supreme Dao Sect. These spirit coins are produced from the Supreme Dao Sect's mysterious Furnace of Eight Trigrams, which others cannot counterfeit.

Spirit coins hold a pivotal role in the cultivation realm; whether it's purchasing magical treasures or elixirs, or exchanging cultivation resources, they are indispensable. Yet the manufacturing rights of spirit coins are entirely in the hands of the Supreme Dao Sect, allowing them to produce as many as they wish, thereby silently and securely controlling the whole cultivation realm of the Taixu Universe.

Moreover, the Supreme Dao Sect, through various means, indirectly controlled the Bodhi Dao Sect.

After all, the Bodhi Dao Sect has a vast influence on the secular world. Although their teachings come from the Taoist sects, in terms of deceiving the secular world, they have surpassed their predecessors.

Especially the move of making grand aspirations, even many cultivators are defenseless against it.

Of course, the foundation of the Buddhist sect's grand aspirations lies in a book called the Future Star Tribulation Scripture. Without it, ordinary cultivators wouldn't easily be deceived.

A Great Witch heard that after Shakyamuni visited the Bodhi Dao Sect, the Future Star Tribulation Scripture was burned to ashes. The monk even said directly, "I am the present, why need the future?"

Truly domineering.

In another sense, the Jiuli Tribe and the Bodhi Dao Sect can both be seen as lackeys of the Supreme Dao Sect. The difference being, the Bodhi Dao Sect holds greater value.

If disobedient, even the Bodhi Dao Sect would be dealt with by the Supreme Dao Sect.

Their style of operation is indeed tyrannical.

However, the Supreme Dao Sect often says, "Heaven and Earth are not kind; they regard all things as straw dogs," hence their public stance promotes equality, which has a resonance with the Bodhi Dao Sect's ideology—"all beings are equal in their nature."

In the eyes of the Jiuli Tribe, beyond the Supreme Dao Sect, everyone else is merely an ant, which is also a form of equality.

The Jiuli Barbarian King observed the expressions of the Great Witches coldly, knowing these Great Witches had long lost the ambition of their ancestors, each being complacent and fearing the Supreme Dao Sect like a tiger.

If it came to bullying the weak, picking soft targets, these fellow tribe Great Witches were top-notch, but to actually fight a hard battle, it was wishful thinking.

Alas, it's too difficult.

Currently, the Great Witches of the Jiuli Barbarian Clan are even more in number than when they repelled the Taoists, but their combat strength is much inferior to back then.

Of course, in the Barbarian King's view, even the current Four Great Daoist Sects, compared in strength to the times when the Purple Star Emperor, Great Emperor of Longevity, and other cosmic dominators perished or disappeared, are considerably weaker.

Born from distress, die from complacency, it's the same for any power.

As everyone debated, the teleportation altar of the Jiuli Tribe opened, and the Five Phoenix Great Witch appeared, covered in blood, then rushed into the Royal Court.

His witch bone armor in front of his chest was shattered beyond repair. The Five Phoenix exclaimed in grief, "Great King! The Asura Banner was snatched by people from the Pure Yang Dao Sect."

The Great Witches knew little about this battle but had heard some rumors about the Pure Yang Dao Sect supporting their opponent from behind.

Now, what the Five Phoenix said merely confirmed it.

They were not surprised.

A Great Witch prepared to speak and blame the Five Phoenix.

After all, the Five Phoenix was not from the Jiuli Tribe, making him a good scapegoat.

At this point, the Barbarian King spoke, "Do you know the origins of the opponent?"

"I heard that the opponent's daughter is now an in-house disciple of the Heavenly River Dao Sect."

The Great Witches gasped.

Pure Yang Dao Sect may have had longstanding good relations with the Heavenly River Dao Sect, but the nature of this event is clearly more significant. As an in-house disciple of the Heavenly River Dao Sect, although her current cultivation is shallow, through gaining experience and reincarnating several times, she has a good chance of advancing to the higher echelons of the Heavenly River Dao Sect.

Even if she doesn't reach high up, she'll at least have a say in the higher places.

Moreover, being a woman, what if she becomes a dao partner of some big shot from the Heavenly River Dao Sect?

Cultivation is not just about fighting and killing; it's about social connections.

With the Five Phoenix having exposed the background of the opponent, people couldn't strongly hold him accountable.

Moreover, the Asura Banner was directly handed to the Five Phoenix Great Witch by the faceless people of the Supreme Dao Sect.

This was also the intention of the Jiuli Barbarian King.

He didn't actually want to punish the Five Phoenix Great Witch because dealing with the Five Phoenix might easily alienate the Great Witches who were not originally from the Jiuli Tribe.

Every Great Witch is the essence of the Barbarians.

The Jiuli Barbarian King couldn't allow the Barbarians to fall into internal division.

He understood well that the more united the Barbarians are, the more likely they are to break free from the control of the Supreme Dao Sect.

Truthfully, the Jiuli Barbarian King didn't believe the Supreme Dao Sect's domineering ways could last much longer.

Because now, major powers like the Heavenly River Dao Sect and the Pure Yang Dao Sect are already opposing the Supreme Dao Sect. As long as they don't fall, the Supreme Dao Sect can only oppress one's side to maintain its hegemony.

But human nature loathes oppression most.

The more oppression, the greater the force of future rebellion.

The premise is that the Pure Yang Dao Sect and Heavenly River Dao Sect do not capitulate; once the two Dao Sects capitulate, other rebellious sparks elsewhere will also be extinguished.

The Heavenly River Dao Sect is uncertain, but the Seven True Monarchs of the Pure Yang Dao Sect, each qualified to achieve Da Luo, yet wholeheartedly follow the path of Taiyi, indicates they are ruthless people.

Such ruthless people will not hesitate once they've decided on their course.

Therefore, the Pure Yang Dao Sect is bound to struggle with the Supreme Dao Sect to the end.

The loss of the Asura Banner at this moment further enabled the Jiuli Barbarian King to clearly see the grand situation.

He understood even more that regardless of the grand situation, self-reliance and strength are most important.

The Jiuli Barbarian King abruptly turned around and gazed at the "Ancient God Star Map" floating deep within the Royal Court. It is the treasured map passed down countless ages by the Jiuli Barbarian Clan, depicting a mysterious forbidden area in the Taixu Universe—the Ancient God Hall within the Spirit Platform Star Sea.

The highest realm for a witch is called "Ancient," also known as the Ancient God Realm.

Even just exploring the pathway to the Ancient God Realm could substantially improve the current predicament of the Barbarians.

"The Dao Discussion and God Destruction Conference..." The Barbarian King suddenly showed a fierce look, "After the Four Great Daoist Sects open the conference, the entrance to the Spirit Platform Star Sea will open accordingly, providing us the opportunity to break into the Ancient God Hall."

Zhu You's face changed dramatically: "Great King! The Ancient God Realm is desirable, but the prohibitions there are terrifyingly dangerous; you could fall there without caution."

"If not now, then when?" the Barbarian King interrupted, "Moreover, with the loss of the Asura Banner, the Barbarians must find a new tribe-repelling treasure from the Ancient God Hall to continue fighting for the Supreme Dao Sect..."

He knew well that this battle lost the Asura Banner, and the Supreme Dao Sect was on the wrong side of reason.

This was a chance to enter the Spirit Platform Star Sea; he might not have such an opportunity in the future.

Sometimes, the rise and fall of a group can come down to a single thought.

Furthermore, when it comes to significant matters, consulting the subordinates is of no use.

From the perspective of a superior like the Barbarian King, subordinates, fearing for their lives, will only evaluate issues from their perspective without a broad strategic view.

He needed to make this decision to alter the fate of the Barbarians.

Seeing the Barbarian King's decision, the other Great Witches naturally had no rebuttal.

They dared not offend the Supreme Dao Sect, nor could they defy the Barbarian King in such significant matters.

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