Nine Venoms Sect Founder

The news of the Sage Kings' death spread like candy boxes in an assembly of hyperactive children. And so, as the mutant hordes carried on with their ceaseless faction pillage, the leaders of the higher Ranges unanimously contacted their superiors in Heaven to ask for guidance. 

"24 Emperor-level plaguebringers of alien features have risen in the Second Range, subdued it at blitzkrieg speed, and set sight on the third. At this pace, it won't be long before they topple our bases in the Sixth Range." Though framed somewhat differently, depending on the faction, this message reached all Holy Lands' headquarters. Clearly, the branches in the Mountain Edge World couldn't see through the 24 Heralds' abilities and just gave the most alarming assessment they could to prompt their bosses into immediate actions. 

But having witnessed the terror of the alien beasts firsthand, the Truth Scrying Grotto wisely chose to sit this one out, giving celestials and monsters the opportunity to defend their homeland's cultivation world. Unfortunately, as leaders of enemy forces, the Holy Lands each had their own load of skepticism and selfish interests to consider. And so, this happened:

"24 Emperors? One faction overnight produced 24 Emperors? Equipped of what Mandate? The Mandate of Bullshit?" The World Beast Emperor, muscle-boss of the seven Beast Emperors leading the Monster Paradise, asked his Mountain-Edge World subordinates through a transmission mirror. In his white lynx ears, the news was simply not credible. If producing Emperor-level expert had gotten simpler than farming peas, shouldn't the Holy Lands all disband their factions to start tilling the land? Unless the 24 ambushed and beat him till he stood half-an-inch from death, he would never believe it. And who could blame him? In those aged monsters' ears, the Emperor-level was the mythical altitude they chased for a lifetime. If not for the Devil Stones, none of the Beast Emperors would have broken through the final hurdle. 

More importantly, the Truth Scrying Grotto aside, the Holy Lands knew very well of their rivals' Emperor-level experts. The Saint-Empress Court had Dilnaz, two Grand Empyrean Princesses, and two outsiders that all broke through thanks to the Devil Stones. In sheer Emperor numbers, this placed them at the bottom of the Holy Lands, equal to the Slaughter Syndicate. However, in the Heavenly Dream Land's Imperial Hierarchy, Dilnaz ranked third. Her strength plus the Empyrean clan's vast resources enabled the Saint-Empress Court to outpace the Monster Paradise. 

The Slaughter Syndicate excelled at vice and murder. A pity that the various branches had too much independence, with their five Emperors bound only by the desperate need to resist the other Holy Lands. 

Thus, from bottom to top, we have the Slaughter Syndicate, the Monster Paradise and the Saint-Empress Court, all ranking below the Serpent Domain and its 18 Emperors. It therefore comes as no surprise that those factions were often forced to cooperate to restrain the Serpent Domain's conquests. Now, in a matter of weeks—days even—a faction with more Emperors than Heaven's most-spoiled clan had risen…who could believe such a tale? The World Beast Emperor didn't. 

Fortunately for the Monster Paradise, he was only the muscle-boss. The White Fox Emperor, brain of the organization, took the matter a lot more seriously. "The Mountain-Edge World has become the capital of the Ten-Thousand Sects War, most accessible inheritance grounds gather there. Its environment changes are the fastest of all mortal worlds, and in just a few centuries, the resources our subordinate branches produce there will exceed what we grow here in Heaven. Regardless of how we handle this Plague Worshiping Cult, this is a world we cannot afford to lose," the White Fox started. But as his six brothers nodded to support his words, his tone changed drastically. 

"However, what's the point of controlling the richest land if we do not have the manpower to administrate it? When the Truth Scrying Grotto emerged from the shadows and spread its knowledge to our world, how many refused to believe them? If not for that Soul Emperor's demonstrations, we would still not be taking them seriously. When the Devil Stones descended and granted us the chance to break through to the Emperor level, how many couldn't believe their eyes. This world hides a plethora of ancient forces, tools and principles we do not understand, so what gives us the audacity to dismiss this new threat as 'Bullshit?'" Unable to refute the White Fox's words, the World Beast Emperor snorted, and left all handling of the situation to his wiser brother's hands. 

"They scour the cultivation world to exterminate all non-deities. Meanwhile, they capture and force Gods to build statues of a young man they dub the Holy One. At first glance, this seems to be a gaudy and unrefined herd of over-buffed sheep. But anyone or thing that can unleash 2.4 billion experts of God-level strength or above, isn't what we can single-handedly challenge. Immediately withdraw all our troops in the Mountain Edge World. We must contact the Slaughter Syndicate, Saint-Empress Court and Serpent Domain for…a coalition. If need be, we must not hesitate to obliterate the Mountain-Edge World," the White Fox ordered through the transmission mirror, scaring his fellows and subordinates out of their wits.

"Aren't you overreacting? Such a coalition will put us right under the Serpent Domain's leadership. Assuming that 24 Emperor-level plaguebringers lead those hordes, this matter is likely connected to the Son of Heaven. With the relationship we've built, shouldn't we exploit this chance to dispose of our enemies?" The Barrier-Breaking Millipede's high-pitched voice echoed, but as he stared at a projection of mutant packs tearing through celestial cities, the White Fox thought otherwise.

"I sure as hell hope it's not. These folks don't look open to discussion to me. If this is indeed our Extreme Yin Sir's work, we've been treating our worst enemy as an ally," he whispered, then dispatched a series of mental message. Driven by self-interest, the Slaughter Syndicate agreed to the coalition, but refused to abandon its base. In the two other factions, however, the situation wasn't that simple.