Chapter 1040: Suspicious Points Everywhere

As Jin Yulin finished speaking, a commotion arose among the crowd. Everyone exchanged glances, as none of them had heard about this matter.

In this war, they had captured five sea territories and plundered a vast amount of cultivation resources. The human race couldn't stop them, and they currently held the upper hand. Making them withdraw now seemed unacceptable, and they were somewhat reluctant.

They had even been considering escalating the offensive and sending in more reinforcements.

The black-robed elder frowned and said, "Elder Brother, things are going so well, and we currently hold the advantage. Why should we withdraw our troops? Yes, our sea race's roots are in the deep sea, but that doesn't prevent us from operating on land! It wouldn't be too late to retreat if the Central Plains Cultivation World and the Northern Frontier Cultivation World send reinforcements. If our people escape back into the sea, would the human race dare to pursue us? Our sea race's water-evading technique is second to none; no one dares claim to be better."

"That's right, Elder Brother," another chimed in. "The Northern Frontier Cultivation World and the Central Plains Cultivation World haven't even supported the Southern Sea yet, so there's no need to withdraw so quickly. Furthermore, the demon race of the Eastern Barren has reached an agreement with us. They are engaging the human race in the Eastern Barren, so even if the Northern Frontier and Central Plains Cultivation Worlds send support, there won't be many reinforcements."

"Indeed, Elder Brother," another voice added. "We've agreed with the Eastern Barren demon race to advance and retreat together. The Northern Frontier and Central Plains Cultivation Worlds are very far from the front line. Even with large-scale teleportation arrays, it would take at least a year or a year and a half for them to reach the front."

One by one, others voiced their opinions; none of them wanted to retreat.

They had just tasted the fruits of their success; making them withdraw now was unthinkable! If not for Jin Yulin's high prestige among the sea race, others would have already expressed their objections more forcefully.

Jin Yulin let out a cold laugh, scoffing, "Advance and retreat together? You actually believe that? To be frank, the Northern Frontier Cultivation World has attacked the Eastern Barren demon race. The Eastern Barren demon race cannot sustain a two-front war and has already withdrawn its forces. The Eastern Barren battlefield has fallen, repeating the mistakes of over a century ago!"

"What? The Northern Frontier Cultivation World attacked the Eastern Barren demon race? Is this news reliable?"

"No way! Did the demon race collapse so quickly? And did the Northern Frontier Cultivation World join the war so soon?"

Jin Yulin's expression hardened, and he sneered, "The news came from our informant within the demon race. Hmph, the Eastern Barren demon race retreated on their own without telling us. Aren't they hoping that the human race will shift their focus and send reinforcements to the Southern Sea Cultivation World? They've played their hand well."

The sea race members present looked grim. If this were true, they would be in serious trouble. With the Eastern Barren demon race defeated, the human race's attention would shift to the Southern Sea. At that point, the combined forces of the Eastern Barren, Southern Sea, Northern Frontier, and Central Plains Cultivation Worlds would converge on the Southern Sea. By then, even hiding in the sea might not do them much good.

"Damn it, the Eastern Barren demon race is too despicable! This is betrayal, outright betrayal."

"We absolutely cannot let this go, but let's withdraw our troops first!"

The black-robed elder's brow furrowed tightly as he asked, "Elder Brother, since you've called us here, you must have a countermeasure, right?"

The other sea race members all focused their gaze on Jin Yulin. Jin Yulin's expression softened, and he said, "If we simply withdraw like this, it certainly won't do. We've plundered so much wealth, and the human race will definitely need to vent its anger. So, let the demon race and the barbarian race bear the brunt of the human race's wrath! We'll find an opportunity to create friction with the barbarian race, using that as a pretext to reduce our forces. It must be done discreetly; we cannot withdraw all at once and arouse suspicion."

"Elder Brother," one person said, "back then, when the Southern Sea, Central Plains, and Northern Frontier Cultivation Worlds jointly developed the Eastern Barren, they only managed to occupy a portion of the territory. This time, the Northern Frontier Cultivation World and the Seven Great Immortal Sects of the Eastern Barren joined forces, and the Eastern Barren demon race just retreated? That's not normal!"

There was a reason the Eastern Barren demon race was able to occupy most of the Eastern Barren's territory. The most important factor was their unified mobilization, with little internal dispute. This was unlike the Southern Sea, where the barbarian, sea, and demon races constantly fought among themselves, and each race also had internal conflicts, leading to numerous contradictions. Overall, the cohesion of the sea, barbarian, and demon races was inferior to that of the Eastern Barren demon race.

The Eastern Barren demon race exerted all its strength in one direction and thought with one mind. Defeating them would be extremely difficult.

Jin Yulin shook his head and said, "I'm not clear on that. Our informant's status isn't high, so they don't know too much. Perhaps the Central Plains Cultivation World sent support! Regardless of them, we've already reaped significant benefits; it's time to withdraw."

"Elder Brother, we will all listen to you."

"That's right, we'll all listen to you."

Jin Yulin nodded with satisfaction. They then began discussing the pretext for their withdrawal and the routes to take, ensuring they wouldn't be discovered by human cultivators.

Northern Frontier, Nine Nether Sect.

In the Nine Nether Hall, Shangguan Wei sat on the main seat, her expression cold and indifferent. Two men and one woman stood below her, looking somewhat apprehensive.

"What's going on?" she asked. "Didn't I say that no one is allowed to launch an attack without my orders?"

Shangguan Wei's gaze was icy, and a trace of killing intent flashed in her eyes.

She could not tolerate anyone defying her orders. Anyone who dared defy her today would dare betray her tomorrow.

Those who dared to betray Shangguan Wei would find themselves wishing for death but unable to die.

"Sect Leader," one of the men quickly replied, "it wasn't us who launched an unauthorized attack on the demon race; the demon race attacked us. It's absolutely true. The demon race suddenly invaded in full force, and we suffered heavy losses. Friends and relatives from other factions died at the hands of the demon race, and they refused to obey our orders. Under the pretext of avenging their loved ones, they launched a massive attack on the demon race. Strangely, the demon race was defeated in a single battle, abandoning their armor and weapons. We have occupied millions of miles of territory. We heard that the Central Plains Cultivation World sent reinforcements to the Eastern Barren, so the demon race definitely couldn't fight on two fronts, which led to their defeat."

Shangguan Wei frowned, her voice icy. "Idiots! If the demon race is unwilling to fight on two fronts, would they still actively attack our Northern Frontier Cultivation World? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?"

"This... I am foolish," the man stammered, "but I swear on my inner demons that the demon race indeed attacked us, and we only counterattacked. Their defeat in a single battle might be due to the Seven Great Immortal Sects of the Eastern Barren manipulating demonic beasts to create a false impression of a demon attack, deliberately instigating conflict to increase pressure on the demon race."

Shangguan Wei's expression turned cold, and the three subordinates looked terrified, their faces ashen with fear.

Shangguan Wei governed her subordinates with extreme strictness. Defying her orders meant death without mercy, falsely relaying orders meant death without mercy, acting on one's own initiative meant death without mercy, and questioning her meant death without mercy.

Throughout the Nine Nether Sect, everyone feared Shangguan Wei. Even if what she said was wrong, it was considered right.

Nine Nether Sect disciples who questioned or opposed Shangguan Wei had their bodies destroyed and their souls tormented day and night.

After the internal strife within the Nine Nether Sect, its vitality was severely damaged. It was precisely Shangguan Wei's domineering personality that allowed her to repel attacks from multiple factions. Her subordinates felt more fear than reverence for her. The advantage of this was that Shangguan Wei wielded supreme authority within the Nine Nether Sect. However, the drawback was also significant: once Shangguan Wei was gone, the Nine Nether Sect would once again fall into internal chaos.

Its success and failure alike stemmed from Shangguan Wei.

"Why refuse territory that's being given away for free?" Shangguan Wei mused for a moment, then instructed, "Elder Li, Elder Sun, you two will lead our sect's disciples in a massive attack on the demon race. Remember, have the rogue cultivators and smaller families charge ahead to deplete the demon race's strength. The lives of our Nine Nether Sect disciples are more precious than theirs."

"Yes, Sect Leader, your subordinates obey."

Two months later, the Nine Nether Sect took the lead. Under the banner of defending the human race's spiritual heritage, they assembled a large number of cultivators to attack the demon race.

The Nine Nether Sect had always been the largest sect in the Northern Frontier Cultivation World. Even though its power had been somewhat weakened by past internal strife, its influence remained largely undiminished. When the Nine Nether Sect stepped forward, followers flocked to them. In less than a month, tens of thousands of cultivators gathered at the border between the Northern Frontier and the Eastern Barren. Under the leadership of the Nine Nether Sect, the Northern Frontier cultivators launched a massive attack on the demon race, forcing them to retreat steadily.