The experts who had followed them to the city lord’s residence to watch the excitement were disappointed to find that the anticipated fierce battle did not break out.

In just a moment, the two people who had rushed into the city lord’s residence walked back out.

This was undoubtedly disappointing to them.

However, only Ji Leng knew that as long as Lan Jiao was not dead, Vibrant Mulberry City would be controlled by Senior Daoyuan from now on!

"Don't worry, I won't use the Nightmare Dread on you."

After leaving Vibrant Mulberry City, Lin Xun glanced at Ji Leng, who looked detached and uneasy, so he couldn't help laughing.

This guy had obviously been frightened by what had happened just now.

Ji Leng mumbled and laughed awkwardly, but he was actually relieved after hearing that.

As a cultivator, the most taboo thing was to have problems with one’s state of mind. Nightmare Dread could actually influence someone’s state of mind, which made this kind of secret technique undoubtedly too terrifying.

In fact, Nightmare Dread was indeed a mysterious dao art as it had come from the Great Genesis Heart Sutra taught to him by Third Senior Sister Ruo Su.

This inheritance, like the Sacred Combat Art of his eldest senior brother and Extreme Absolute of his forty-ninth senior brother, was regarded as one of Fangchun Mountain’s nine great inheritances!

Unlike the other arts, the Great Genesis Heart Sutra was extremely obscure, and it contained many secrets for the cultivation of one’s state of mind and dao heart.

It was with this inheritance that Ruo Su had embarked on a heart-refining path that was very different from most other cultivators in the heavens pursued!

Therefore, almost all of the dao arts recorded in this scripture aimed at a cultivator’s heart and state of mind.

For example, Nightmare Dread could allow someone to sneak into their opponent's heart and brand it with a shadow, causing them to have boundless fear when facing the caster.

In addition, there was the Big Autumnal Dream, which could make targeted cultivators fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again.

Then there was the Sword of Heart Punishment, the Genesis Heart Seal and so on…

In short, these magical methods that targeted the heart and state of mind often had incredible power, killing people invisibly while being hard to guard against.

"It's still early, so which city should we go to next?" Lin Xun asked.

Ji Leng said without hesitation, “Boulder City."

Before the action started, Ji Leng had made all kinds of plans and preparations, so he had also finalized their route of action and the goals to be conquered.

"Okay." Lin Xun nodded.

...

Two hours later.

Lin Xun arrived at Boulder City.

The lord of this city was named Lei Zhong, who had the cultivation of the first level of the Quasi-Emperor Stage. Among the many cities controlled by Region Lord Xuening, Lei Zhong's strength was already considered quite good. ℝ𝔞ŊồᛒĚȘ

Despite that, when Lin Xun suddenly appeared, Lei Zhong knelt immediately. His mind had been shrouded by Nightmare Dread’s shadow brand.

Until Lin Xun and Ji Leng left, no one noticed that Boulder City, located in the territory of Region Lord Xuening, had already fallen.

"What is the next target?"

"Crimson City."

"Let's go."

Lin Xun did not stop.

For him, even if some Emperors appeared, he would not be afraid. Therefore, why would conquering a few cities phase him?

In fact, this whole operation was completely effortless.

...

After a whole day, the nine cities on the territory of Region Lord Xuening that were adjacent to Region Lord Heikong’s lands, fell into Lin Xun's hands one after another without any fanfare.

Throughout this entire time, the outside world knew nothing about it, and it didn't even cause much sensation!

It was only late at night that Lin Xun felt a little tired.

It was not because of the battle. Instead, the journey they had taken was too long. The nine cities he had conquered were located in different areas and were far away from each other.

It only took a moment for him to deal with the enemy, but traveling all the way was rather torturous.

"Take a break and we will leave early tomorrow morning."

On the top of a mountain, Lin Xun casually set up a large formation and began to meditate.

Ji Leng sat quietly on the side, his eyes dazed.

Before setting off today, he was full of confusion and anxiety. Even when he finally decided to act with Lin Xun, he didn't have the confidence at all.

How could Region Lord Xuening be so easy to deal with?

After today though, he was shocked to the point of numbness.

What Lin Xun revealed was too terrifying, and it was still difficult for him to imagine how there could be such a powerful person in the world.

Within seconds he could suppress the lord of a city, making them feel fear and kneel down in submission!

Such strength was even more terrifying than that of the legendary ancient demon!

What Ji Leng found most mind blowing was that, in one day, nine cities had fallen without causing any movement or disturbance...

If this continued, by the time Region Lord Xuening reacted, how many cities would still remain in his grasp?

When he thought of this, Ji Leng's heart trembled.

The means displayed by Lin Xun made him suddenly realize one thing. If Lin Xun had used this method to invade the territory of Region Lord Heikong...

How could Region Lord Heikong detect it?

The more he thought about it, the more Ji Leng became in awe of Lin Xun. Who exactly was this senior?

"Let's go."

At dawn, Lin Xun stood up from his meditation session.

After a night of thinking, when Ji Leng looked at Lin Xun again, there was a touch of awe in his eyes that he himself did not even notice.

...

Seven days had passed quickly.

"It's almost time for us to go back."

When Lin Xun said this, Ji Leng let out a long breath as if relieved, and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, it's time to go back."

In the past seven days, he followed Lin Xun, working day and night, almost non-stop between different cities, and successively conquered one city after another.

Now, fifty-four cities have fallen in Region Lord Xuening’s territory as the city lords had been suppressed by Lin Xun and completely surrendered.

Seven days!

Fifty-four cities!

This number made his heart tremble just thinking about it.

Ji Leng couldn't help but suspect that when Region Lord Xuening noticed such a "big change", he would be so angry that he would vomit blood.

"How happy would Region Lord Heikong be if he found out suddenly that the lords of fifty-four cities chose to surrender to him?" Lin Xun asked.

Ji Leng was stunned for a moment and said, "I'm sure he'll be happy, but I doubt whether Region Lord Heikong will really send people to take over these cities. After all, when Region Lord Xuening realizes what's happening, he will be furious and put the blame on the Region Lord Heikong."

Lin Xun laughed, "That is none of our business. Let's go."

Ji Leng was stunned for a moment, and suddenly an irresistible thought came to his mind.

The fact that Senior Daoyuan did all this... Could he be planning to trick Region Lord Heikong?

With a hiss, Ji Leng sucked in a breath of cold air. If his speculation was true...then it would be too scary!

On the day Lin Xun and Ji Leng left, a shocking upheaval suddenly occurred in the territory controlled by Region Lord Xuening.

"Lan Jiao, the city lord of Vibrant Mulberry City, announced that he is willing to obey the orders of the Sword Demon Daoyuan and submit to Region Lord Heikong!"

"Lei Zhong, the city lord of Boulder City, announced that he is willing to obey the orders of the Sword Demon Daoyuan and submit to Region Lord Heikong!"

"Fei Lengzhen, the city lord of Bright Underworld City, announced..."

"Dragon Bone City..."

One after another explosive news swept across the vast territory controlled by Region Lord Xuening like a hurricane,.

For a time, this territory was plunged into turmoil, and countless uproars rang out.

"Who is Sword Demon Daoyuan? How could he have such incredible means to make so many cities choose to betray Region Lord Xuening in one day?"

"Oh my god, are those city lords crazy?"

"It's not that those city lords are crazy. Instead this is clearly an attack by Region Lord Heikong, who is planning to completely break off relations with Region Lord Xuening!"

"In the next period of time, between the forces controlled by the two major lords... I'm afraid there will be an unpredictable bloody massacre..."

"Sword Demon Daoyuan? Humph, how could an unknown guy have such great power? He is obviously a puppet, and the mastermind behind the scenes must be Region Lord Heikong hiding in the dark!"

...

Tianwu Mountain.

Region Lord Heikong, who was cultivating in the hall, suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "Lie Guang, seven days have passed, and there is still no news about Sword Demon Daoyuan?"

Outside the hall, a figure that seemed to be bathed in a thunder and lightning waterfall appeared out of thin air, and said in a deep voice, "No, my lord, according to what I have seen, this person may have escaped."

Region Lord Heikong frowned, and a cold light flashed in his eyes as he said, "Escape? If so, I am very disappointed in him..."

"My lord, just received news that the lords of fifty-four cities on the territory of Region Lord Xuening have expressed that they have submitted to you!"

Suddenly, an exclamation full of ecstasy sounded outside the hall. It was followed by an old servant who rushed into the hall happily, his face full of excitement and pure joy.

"What?" Region Lord Heikong was stunned and stood up, "Say it again!"

The old servant took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and repeated the news he had just received.

"Fifty-four cities had surrendered together?"

Outside the hall, the man named Lie Guang, who was bathed in thunderbolts, was also stunned. His eyes flickered, and he almost couldn't believe his ears.

In the territory of Region Lord Xuening, there were only two hundred and forty-nine cities under his control.

Now one-fifth of the cities have chosen to betray and surrender to Region Lord Heikong, which was undoubtedly too incredible.

It was like pies suddenly falling from the sky!

When it was finally confirmed that the news was true, Region Lord Heikong couldn't help laughing, "Sword Demon Daoyuan... What a Sword Demon Daoyuan! I didn't expect that you would give me such a big surprise in just seven days!"

Even as an Emperor, when he learned that more than fifty city lords in his enemy's territory had chosen to surrender to him, he couldn't help but feel elated and extremely happy.

"My Lord, if the fifty-four cities have truly defected together, Region Lord Xuening will likely be furious, and he might even point the finger at you. Do we...really have to break all relations with him and take over these fifty-four cities?"

Outside the palace, Lie Guang spoke in a deep voice.

This sentence startled the Evil Emperor Heikong, who gradually calmed down from his previous excitement. He frowned, saying, "The fifty-four city lords chose to surrender… If I refuse to take them, wouldn't it chill their hearts? Who will dare to surrender to me in the future?"

"But if I accept, I will have to break off all relations with that old bear, Xuening, and a full-scale conflict may break out… What a pain in the arse!"

At this moment, Evil Emperor Heikong was extremely conflicted and agitated.