Chapter 12: The looming war between two factions!

Shi Yun yearned to return to his master, but the chubby dragon, Long Yi, had other ideas. Hyperactive and mischievous, Long Yi insisted on dragging Shi Yun from one place to another, promising endless fun and adventure. Reluctantly, Shi Yun followed, knowing that trying to argue with the exuberant dragon was futile.

Long Yi's sharp tongue and unfiltered insults only added to their troubles. It seemed like wherever they went, someone would get offended, and the duo would end up fleeing the scene. A month passed in this chaotic routine, and Shi Yun's patience wore thin.

"Long Yi, I've had enough. I'm going back to Master, no matter what," Shi Yun said firmly, his hand already on his sword hilt, prepared to take flight.

"Wait, wait! Just one last stop, I promise!" Long Yi pleaded, flapping his wings anxiously. "We're so close to hooking a big fish! Two more days, that's all I need!"

Shi Yun's glare was unwavering. "You've said that a dozen times already. I'm leaving. Do whatever you want."

With that, Shi Yun soared into the sky, leaving the chubby dragon scrambling to catch up. "Wait for me! Fine, we'll go back together after this!" Long Yi grumbled, his earlier bravado replaced by frustration.

Outside, tensions in the Dahong Wilderness region had reached a boiling point. The looming war between the righteous sects and the evil sects was no longer a distant threat but an imminent reality. News of massacres, kidnappings, and destruction by evil cultivators spread like wildfire. Each encounter between disciples of the opposing factions ended in bloodshed, further fueling the animosity.

Shi Yun and Long Yi, despite their chaotic adventures, adhered to their creed: "If I see injustice, I'll immediately draw my sword." Along their journey, they eliminated any evil cultivators they encountered. Long Yi, always energetic, made sure to rain down curses on the evildoers before Shi Yun struck them down.

Far to the south, in a dark, silent chamber, a masked woman draped in crimson robes sat regally on a throne. She exuded an aura of malice and authority—the Holy Maiden of the Dark Holy Church.

A tall, masked man knelt before her, his voice steady but tinged with apprehension. "Holy Maiden, we've lost contact with our disciples in the central forest area. None have returned. It seems they've been eliminated, most likely by righteous cultivators."

The Holy Maiden's voice dripped with venom. "Ever since that old crone died, everything has gone awry. But this doesn't sound like the work of ordinary cultivators. Someone powerful is targeting us." She paused, her eyes narrowing behind the mask. "Send word to the intelligence unit. Find out exactly who's responsible. And summon all the small and large sects under our banner. The righteous sects are our common enemy—we'll crush them together."

"As you command, Holy Maiden," the man replied, vanishing into the shadows.

The Holy Maiden leaned back, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Once Father emerges from seclusion, these righteous fools will finally understand the futility of their resistance. Absolute power renders all tricks meaningless. The Dark Holy Church will rule this region unchallenged."

Meanwhile, Shi Yun and Long Yi's exploits had not gone unnoticed. Righteous sect disciples spoke of the mysterious boy and his peculiar companion, whose appearances always spelled doom for evil cultivators.

"I heard the boy is incredibly powerful. It is good that he is on our side and he doesn't hesitate to fight for justice," one disciple said.

"Yeah, and that fat bird with him? He's got a mouth on him," another remarked. "I'd like to roast him just to shut him up!"

"Careful. That 'fat bird' has a temper," someone warned. "Besides, his master is said to be even more terrifying."

"Master? You mean the so-called 'Dark Celestial Sovereign'? I've never heard of such a title," another scoffed.

"Maybe not, but if he can train someone like that boy, he must be extraordinary," someone else chimed in.

These rumors reached the ears of the Dark Holy Church's spies, who, after days of futile searching, returned to the Holy Maiden with only fragmented information.

The Holy Maiden's fury was palpable. "What kind of nonsense is this? You're telling me you couldn't even confirm their identities? All you've brought me is gossip and half-truths? You useless fools!"

The spies trembled under her wrath, bowing deeply. "We will uncover the truth, Holy Maiden. Please give us another chance!"

"See that you do," she snarled. "If you fail again, you won't return to grovel at my feet—you'll return in pieces. Now go!"

The spies fled, their fear driving them to work harder, while the Holy Maiden sat back, her mind racing. "A boy and a bird... mysterious and powerful? Whoever you are, I'll make you regret meddling in the Dark Holy Church's plans."

Back on their journey, Shi Yun remained resolute, despite Long Yi's half-hearted attempts to distract him with more detours.

"Long Yi, enough. The world is falling into chaos, and we've wasted too much time. Master needs to hear about the Dark Holy Church's movements."

Long Yi sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But don't forget, you're the one who owes me a proper adventure next time!"

As they flew, the oppressive tension in the region seemed to thicken with every passing moment, like a storm waiting to break. News had spread that all the evil sects had joined forces under the Dark Holy Church's banner. Their coordinated attacks wreaked havoc across the land, plunging the Dahong Wilderness region into chaos.

The ones who suffered the most were the ordinary people. Entire villages were razed, families torn apart, and countless lives lost. The cries of the helpless echoed through the ravaged land, their tears turning into blood as they mourned their loved ones. The evil cultivators, emboldened by their newfound alliance, grew even more savage and uncontrollable. They spared no one—men, women, and children alike became their victims.

Back at the home, Liu Haoyu's senses picked up an overwhelming surge of dark and malevolent energy permeating the air. Every time he closed his eyes, the cries of the innocent resounded in his mind like an unrelenting nightmare. He saw visions of burning homes, pleading faces, and shadowy figures looming over the weak. The sheer despair in their voices clawed at his heart. He looked very oppressive and more and calm. Seeing his expression, Yu Miao could only remain quiet feeling concerned for him.

Half a day later, Shi Yun and the chubby dragon reached home. The two immediately went to Liu Haoyu.

"Master, the disciple is back after completing the mission." Shi Yun bowed his head and slowly lifted his head looking at Liu Haoyu.