Reincarnated as a Ginkgo Tree: I Create an Eternal Divine Kingdom - Chapter 154

“But how exactly can we earn merit?” Liang Ziying asked eagerly.

“The Mist Army is currently exploring the Kunlun Plateau. You can join them,” Ruan Huian replied.

“Understood.” Liang Ziying and Lin Lingsu were initially surprised but soon bowed in acknowledgment.

What shocked them was that the Mist Army was actually exploring the Kunlun Plateau.

That place was the true peril of this world.

There were many forbidden zones, but only one place was called the Desolate Realm, and that was the Kunlun Plateau.

When they followed the Mist Army into the Kunlun Plateau, they were even more astonished.

The Mist Army had already entered the Kunlun Plateau and had even established a foothold there.

They knew that their respective factions were not insignificant. So, they were privy to more information than ordinary cultivators.

The Kunlun Plateau was filled with forbidden beings, even at its outermost edges.

For example, Lin Lingsu’s master, the current Celestial Master of the Palace of the Spirit King, had once attempted to explore the Kunlun Plateau.

However, she had encountered a mutant flying tiger just as she approached the edge of the plateau, forcing her to retreat.

For the Misty Forbidden Zone to enter and establish itself in the Kunlun Plateau, it had undoubtedly gone through fierce battles.

Meanwhile, back in the Misty Forbidden Zone…

After Liang Ziying and Lin Lingsu left, Ruan Huian spoke, “Lord Divine Tree, several countries in the Southern Desolation have recently expressed their intent to adopt the Sect of the Other Shore as their state religion.”

Su Mu was surprised.

“Adopting the Sect of the Other Shore as their state religion? Doesn’t that mean they are joining under the Sect’s banner?”

The White Spirit Python asked in confusion, “Why would these countries do that?”

Ruan Huian explained, “A recent rumor has been spreading like wildfire across the Southern Desolation—claiming that the Great Xia’s Dragon Bone Navy encountered the Mist Army and that the entire fleet, including the Dragon Bone Warship, was captured by the Mist Army.

“I suspect these countries are simply afraid.”

The other commanders of the Mist Army immediately understood.

Previously, the countries of the Southern Desolation believed that, powerful as the Misty Forbidden Zone might be, it couldn’t threaten them directly in the short term. Therefore, they chose to wait and see.

But now, after the Misty Forbidden Zone defeated the Great Xia’s Dragon Bone Navy in the Nanzhao Bay and seized the Dragon Bone Warship…

On one hand, this demonstrated the strength of the Misty Forbidden Zone to the countries of the Southern Desolation. On the other hand, it also made them realize that their periphery was now under the control of the Misty Forbidden Zone.

Most of the countries in the Southern Desolation were coastal.

With the Misty Forbidden Zone reviving the Dragon Bone Navy, they now had formidable maritime power.

This posed a greater threat to the countries of the Southern Desolation than any land threat the Misty Forbidden Zone could pose.

Previously, the royal families of various countries believed that even if they failed to resist the Misty Forbidden Zone, they could at least flee overseas, just like the royal family of the Nanzhao Kingdom.

Now, things were different.

With the Misty Forbidden Zone possessing such powerful naval forces, they wouldn’t even have a chance to escape if they lost.

That’s why they were truly terrified and began one by one to join the Sect of the Other Shore.

“This is good news. Allow them to join,” Su Mu said.

“Yes, Lord Divine Tree,” Ruan Huian replied.

She also understood this was a positive development.

Once these countries joined the Sect of the Other Shore, the power struggle between the Sect of the Other Shore and the Holy Sect of the Other Shore would shift dramatically.

Recently, the Holy Sect of the Other Shore had been far more dominant than the Sect of the Other Shore.

But if all the countries embraced the Sect of the Other Shore as their state religion, the Holy Sect would undoubtedly face resistance.

With the rise of one, the fall of the other would be inevitable. Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before the Sect of the Other Shore could crush the Holy Sect and fully inherit the legacy of the original Sect of the Other Shore.

Three days later.

Luo Hu Kingdom was the first nation to announce its intention to join the Sect of the Other Shore.

This was because part of the Luo Hu Kingdom’s coastal waters was located within the Nanzhao Bay.

The naval power of the Misty Forbidden Zone posed the greatest threat to the Luo Hu Kingdom.

Fortunately, the ruler of Luo Hu was not a stubborn man.

A wise man knows when to act.

Since he couldn’t defeat the Misty Forbidden Zone, he chose to join it decisively.

Once the Sect of the Other Shore accepted the allegiance of the Luo Hu Kingdom, the kingdom immediately felt relieved.

The Sect of the Other Shore had the Misty Forbidden Zone backing it.

By joining the Sect of the Other Shore, the Luo Hu Kingdom indirectly allied itself with the Misty Forbidden Zone.

The beauty of this arrangement lay in its “indirect” nature.

By joining indirectly, the Luo Hu Kingdom would have the Misty Forbidden Zone as its backing. Its navy and merchant fleets could sail through the Nanzhao Bay without worry.

And since it hadn’t directly joined the Misty Forbidden Zone, it couldn’t be accused of colluding with demons.

It was a perfect situation—benefitting from the alliance without bearing any loss.

Unfortunately, things in this world rarely turn out so perfectly.

While the ruler of the Luo Hu Kingdom was savoring his cleverness, his ministers brought troubling news.

“Your Majesty, please seek justice for the Iron Mountain Villa!”

An elder cried out in anguish.

The ruler of the Luo Hu Kingdom’s expression became serious.

The elder’s status was significant; he was the kingdom’s foremost master of crafting.

The Iron Mountain Villa he represented possessed an ancient and treasured set of armor, one of the two national treasures of the Luo Hu Kingdom.

The Luo Hu Kingdom had two such treasures.

One was kept within the royal palace, while the other resided in the Iron Mountain Villa.

“Master Huang, what has happened at Iron Mountain Villa?”

The ruler of the Luo Hu Kingdom asked gravely.

“Your Majesty, you know that a demon monkey appeared in our Iron Prefecture some time ago.” The elder replied.

“Yes, I am aware.”

The ruler nodded, “The Luo Hu Kingdom has two forbidden zones, and one of them is the Cloud Mountain forbidden zone in Iron Prefecture.”

Two years ago, a golden-furred demon monkey had appeared in Cloud Mountain.

The monkey was extremely powerful, defeating all the other beasts in Cloud Mountain and becoming the overlord of the mountain.

Since then, Cloud Mountain had become one of the two forbidden zones of the Luo Hu Kingdom.

“Your Majesty, you only know half of the story,” the elder continued. “Recently, this demon monkey has become increasingly brazen, frequently leaving the forbidden zone to wreak havoc throughout Iron Prefecture.

“And just the day before yesterday, it broke into Iron Mountain Villa and stole our treasured Iron Armor.”

“This is outrageous!”

The ruler of the Luo Hu Kingdom was furious.

That armor was one of the kingdom’s national treasures and could not be allowed to remain in the hands of a demon monkey.

“Your Majesty, please help Iron Mountain Villa seek justice.” The elder implored.

“Rest assured, Master Huang. I will send troops immediately,” the ruler declared.

Inwardly, however, he had a private agenda. He saw this as an opportunity to transfer the Iron Armor to the royal palace.

Soon, the Luo Hu Kingdom dispatched a hundred thousand troops to Cloud Mountain.

But the outcome was far from what the ruler had expected.

The 100,000 troops suffered a crushing defeat at Cloud Mountain.

Not only that.

The demon monkey seemed infuriated and led a demon beast army from Cloud Mountain directly toward the Luo Hu Kingdom’s capital.

“This is not good! Quickly, send for reinforcements from the Sect of the Other Shore!”

The ruler of the Luo Hu Kingdom decided immediately.

Ruan Huian, upon hearing of the situation, knew she could not afford to take it lightly.

The Luo Hu Kingdom was the first country to submit to the Sect of the Other Shore; she could not ignore this.

If she did, the Sect of the Other Shore would lose its authority and the trust of the various nations.

She promptly led three thousand elite cultivators from the Sect of the Other Shore to the Luo Hu Kingdom.

Upon arrival, Ruan Huian realized the situation was more severe than she had anticipated.

The cultivator army of the Luo Hu Kingdom was not weak.

After all, it was a medium-sized nation on par with the Nanzhao Kingdom.

However, the demon beast army outside the capital was incredibly fierce.

Particularly the golden-furred monkey in the center.

The golden-furred monkey was not large, about the size of an adult, standing six feet tall.

Yet, its demonic aura surged straight into the heavens.

“Peak of the fourth tier,” Ruan Huian noted with a look of surprise.

The golden-furred monkey was already strong, and with the enchanted Iron Armor, it was now invulnerable to both blades and fire.

On the battlefield, it was a true war machine.

“Demon monkey, cease your rampage!”

A minister of the Luo Hu Kingdom shouted, “The Holy Maiden of the Sect of the Other Shore is here, and you dare to cause trouble!”

“Holy Maiden of the Sect of the Other Shore?”

The golden-furred monkey laughed. “I’ve heard of the Sect of the Other Shore, but today, no one can stop me!”

As it spoke, it lifted a small mountain and hurled it at the city gates of the Luo Hu Kingdom’s capital.

Boom!

The city gates were shattered.

The golden-furred monkey charged into the city.

Panic spread like wildfire.

“Hahaha,” the golden-furred monkey laughed loudly, its voice like thunder, shaking the heavens.

At this moment, it appeared like an unparalleled demonic force descending upon the world.

“Holy Maiden!”

The people of the Sect of the Other Shore were in a state of panic.

Now the question wasn’t whether they could save the Luo Hu Kingdom but whether they could even hold back this golden-furred monkey.

Ruan Huian, though surprised, remained calm. “Send someone to the Misty Forbidden Zone.”

Meanwhile, the golden-furred monkey was unstoppable.

It charged all the way to the palace of the Luo Hu Kingdom, where the ruler and the people of the Sect of the Other Shore stood.

“You are the Holy Maiden of the Sect of the Other Shore?”

The golden-furred monkey looked at Ruan Huian. “From now on, I am the new leader of the Sect of the Other Shore!”