The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Ordinary martial arts sects and wandering heroes often elevate the names "Heavenly Alliance" and "Nameless" to the same level as, or even higher than, legendary forces such as the Four Great Clans and Cihang Jingzhai.

In the teahouses and taverns, discussions arose, filled with awe and curiosity.

"Have you heard? Sichuan has been brought under the control of the Heavenly Alliance!"

"My God, how long has it been? From Jiangnan to Lingnan, and then to Sichuan... Who can stop this momentum?"

"That 'nameless' alliance leader, is he perhaps a deity descended to earth?"

"From now on, you'd better follow the rules in Sichuan. I've heard that the Heavenly Alliance's laws are extremely strict, and they can easily lead to execution..."

For ordinary people and merchants in Sichuan, after the initial bewilderment, they felt a tangible change. The streets were more peaceful, the corrupt officials who arbitrarily collected taxes were gone, the army's drills, though strict, no longer disturbed the people, and the newly established clinics offered fair prices for medicine…

Although the future is still unknown, at least for now, a long-lost sense of order and stability is quietly growing in this land.

The Heavenly Alliance is no longer a powerful force confined to the south, but has become a behemoth capable of conquering the world and terrifying all directions.

...............

The news of Sichuan's official change of control spread like winter rain, causing various forces to react with fear, vigilance, or calculation. However, in the areas already under the rule of the Heavenly Alliance, a completely different scene unfolded among the people.

Xiangyang City.

The early winter sun, unusually bright, pierced through the clouds and shone on the shimmering canal.

The largest teahouse in the city, "Yan Yu Lou," was packed to capacity today, bustling with activity. The storyteller slammed his gavel, but instead of reciting the usual tale of talented scholars and beautiful women, his voice booming with excitement:
"Ladies and gentlemen! Great news! Huge news!"

"Our Heavenly Alliance! Without shedding a drop of blood or firing a single shot, has officially brought the Sichuan region, the Land of Abundance, under our control!"

"it is good--!"

The cheers from the audience were deafening, almost lifting the roof off. The tea drinkers rose to their feet, their faces beaming with pride and excitement.

"My God! How long has it been? Our Alliance Leader is truly a god!"

"I knew it! Following the leader is the right thing to do! Look at us now, taxes are clear, officials are honest, and there's not even a petty thief on the streets! Our brothers and sisters in Sichuan are blessed!"

"Not a single soldier was moved! This is the true army of a king, the sword of a benevolent ruler! It is far superior to those who wage war and cause widespread suffering!"

An elderly scholar stroked his beard, tears welling in his eyes, and exclaimed to his deskmate, "Sun Tzu's Art of War says, 'To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence.' The leader's actions have deeply grasped the essence of the ancient sages! This is a blessing for all people and a fortune for the world!"

In the streets and alleys, among the common people, the news spread like wildfire. Peddlers, shop assistants, weavers... regardless of their social status, everyone was excitedly discussing it.

"Manager Zhang, have you heard? Sichuan is now under our control! Your Shu brocade business will be much easier from now on, won't it?"

"It's not just easier to travel! I heard that the alliance is integrating trade routes, and tax cards will be unified in the future. We won't have to be exploited by layers of bureaucrats anymore! There's really hope for the future!"

A porter who had just finished delivering goods wiped his sweat and grinned, "That's right! Our lives are getting better every day! Before, we worried about war and oppressive government, but now? We just hope that the Alliance Leader will bring the whole world under his control soon so that everyone can live a good life!"

A small town in Lingnan.

The local people also felt the tangible changes brought about by the Heavenly Alliance. In the market, people gathered around the wall where notices were posted, listening to literate people loudly reciting news from Sichuan.

"Good heavens... Even 'Martial Arts Judge' Xie Hui has yielded? And even handed over his military power?" A man dressed as a hunter stared wide-eyed, clicking his tongue in amazement: "Our alliance leader's prestige is truly unparalleled!"

The old farmer selling mountain products next to him smiled broadly, his wrinkled face smoothing out: "Great! Great! The bigger the territory, the farther our medicinal herbs and hides can be sold, and the fairer the prices will be! My son is learning to read at the new school in the alliance; who knows, he might even be able to go to Sichuan and become an accountant someday!"

A woman carrying a vegetable basket nodded repeatedly: "That's right! We used to be afraid of war, but now it's all good. With the leader so powerful, Lingnan is much more secure! I heard that winters are cold in Sichuan, so our sugarcane and fruit will definitely sell well if we transport them there!"

The news also spread along the official roads and post stations, reaching every village that had just finished the autumn harvest. Farmers resting in the fields listened to the news brought by village elders or passing caravans, their faces beaming with simple yet radiant smiles.

"It's good that we don't have to fight, it's good that we don't have to fight!"

An old farmer with white hair murmured, having experienced too much war and knowing the preciousness of peace: "The leader is a good man, a very capable man! After he came, our land rent was reduced, the children were able to go to school, and there were doctors to treat the sick... Now he can also enable the people of Sichuan to live in peace. He has accumulated great virtue!"

The young farmers were even more excited: "Our Heavenly Alliance is getting stronger and stronger! Let's see who dares to bully us now!"

"I heard that the alliance is promoting new rice varieties and farming tools. Once Sichuan is stabilized, we might be able to use them too. When there is more food in the country, won't our lives be better?"

A strong sense of pride welled up in the hearts of the people of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. They had personally experienced the improvement in their lives and the establishment of order after joining the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and they were filled with almost blind trust and worship for the mysterious "nameless" leader.

Sichuan's peaceful surrender was not seen as a conquest, but rather as an expansion of their own ranks, and the imminent liberation of more compatriots from suffering to share in peace.

This widespread, grassroots jubilation contrasted sharply with the shock and apprehension of various factions.

This demonstrates that the Heavenly Alliance's foundation is not solely built on martial arts and political maneuvering, but also on tangible improvements in people's lives and the support of the people. This vibrant, bottom-up support may be more decisive in determining the ultimate ownership of this land than any elite army.

The will of the people is the general trend.

……………… Luoyang.

As the year draws to a close, a chilly north wind sweeps across the gray sky above Luoyang. Lead-gray clouds hang low, as if ready to unleash a snowfall at any moment.

The once bustling and vibrant eastern capital, under the years of war and Wang Shichong's harsh rule, showed an undeniable desolation and bleakness. Pedestrians on the streets hunched their shoulders and hurried along, most shops were half-open, and shop assistants leaned listlessly against the door. Only the heavy footsteps and clattering armor of the patrolling Zheng soldiers occasionally broke the silence.

In the south of the city, near the South Market, lies a grand mansion that, from the outside, appears no different from the residences of other wealthy merchants in Luoyang: high walls, deep courtyards, and tightly closed vermilion gates, with a plaque bearing the inscription "Rong Mansion" hanging above the entrance. However, the interior is a completely different world. Deep courtyards, winding corridors, and intricately designed rockeries and ponds, seemingly ordinary, actually subtly embody the principles of Qimen Dunjia (a form of divination and strategy), making it easy for an ordinary person to lose their way.

At this moment, deep within the mansion, in a secluded room entirely constructed of heavy bluestone and devoid of any windows, the atmosphere was even more somber than the cold winter outside.

The walls of the secret chamber were lit by huge tallow candles as thick as a child's arm. The flickering flames cast several elongated, twisted, and swaying shadows onto the cold stone walls, adding to the eeriness of the place.

Seated at the head of the table was Rong Fengxiang, dressed in a brocade robe, with a wealthy and prosperous appearance, resembling an ordinary, amiable, and wealthy merchant. His thick fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the rosewood chair, his face bearing his usual smile, but his eyes were deep and unfathomable.

Besides his public identity as the "President of the Luoyang Chamber of Commerce," Rong Fengxiang's true identity is the successor of the Lao Jun Temple, a branch of the True Transmission Dao—the demonic Daoist Pi Chen.

To the left of Bichen sat a tall, thin Taoist priest with a withered face, but whose eyes gleamed with a sharp light. He was Zuo Youxian, the "Midnight Sword," an elder of another branch of the True Transmission Taoism and the true lineage of the Taoist Ancestor.

Zuo Youxian held a long sword with its sheath still attached, and his body faintly exuded an energy that alternated between yin and yang, and was sometimes bright and sometimes dim, making the candlelight beside him seem to flicker.

Opposite Zuo Youxian stood a short, stocky man with an ugly face and an air of savagery. He sat askew in his chair, his legs even crossed in an unseemly manner, his strange eyes occasionally sweeping over the crowd. This was none other than You Niaojuan, the leader of the four disciples of the Evil Emperor Xiang Yutian, who had turned against his fellow disciples over the Evil Emperor's relic and was infamous for his "perverse actions."

Besides these three, a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe, with a thin face and a slightly effeminate demeanor, sat quietly in the shadows inside the secret room.

The man's slender fingers were slowly and deliberately fiddling with the lid of his teacup, seemingly indifferent to everything around him. He was Yin Zuwen, a hidden master of the Extinction Path. Although not listed among the eight great masters of the Demonic Sect, his martial arts were in fact no weaker than the deceased "Heavenly Lord" Xi Ying. He was now Yin Zuwen, who had infiltrated the side of Li Jiancheng, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, and become his confidant.

Yin Zuwen gently put down the cup lid, breaking the silence in the secret room: "Gentlemen, there's no need for formalities. Today, I, Yin, have come here on the orders of the Crown Prince, not for any other reason than to discuss with you how to deal with the 'Heavenly Alliance' and... the Yin Gui Sect."

When mentioning the "Heavenly Dao Alliance" and the "Yin Gui Sect," his tone became slightly more forceful, and his gaze swept over the crowd.

You Niaojuan snorted coldly, his voice hoarse and unpleasant: "Heh heh, Li Jiancheng is quite impatient. What, seeing that others took Sichuan without lifting a finger, he can't sit still anymore? He wants our Holy Sect to be his tool?"

Zuo Youxian slightly raised his eyelids, his tone calm yet subtly sharp: "You Niaojuan, put away your pretense. The Heavenly Dao Alliance is powerful, no longer a matter for one family or sect. That 'Nameless' first took over the Song Clan, then Lingnan, and now he has taken over Bashu without bloodshed, with the Yin Gui Sect willingly serving as its henchmen. Its power is already established. If we allow it to continue developing, will there be any place for our sects to survive among those present here? I'm afraid we will be crushed into dust sooner or later."

Pi Chen chuckled and smoothed things over, saying, "Brother Zuo Dao is absolutely right. Brother You, His Highness the Crown Prince is also deeply worried, which is why he sent Mr. Yin here to discuss important matters. It's not about using him, but about cooperation and working together to overcome difficulties."

Then, he turned his gaze to Yin Zuwen: "Mr. Yin, what specific instructions has His Highness the Crown Prince given?"

Yin Zuwen nodded slightly and said, "Your Highness, the Heavenly Dao Alliance is too powerful, especially its leader, 'Nameless,' who is unfathomable and should not be confronted head-on. However, a fortress is most easily breached from within. Empress Yin has led her followers to join the Heavenly Dao Alliance, willingly serving as their vanguard; this is a major threat to us. If we can eliminate Zhu Yuyan and cut off 'Nameless's' arm, we can not only severely damage the morale of the Heavenly Dao Alliance but also deter others in the martial world from following suit. Furthermore..."

He paused, then lowered his voice, adding a hint of seduction: "According to palace archives and multiple sources of intelligence, the Yang Gong Treasure Vault is indeed related to the Evil Emperor's Relic. And the key to opening the treasure vault may lie in the hands of the Yin Gui Sect."

"The Relic of the Evil Emperor!"

A greedy glint flashed in You Niaojuan's eyes, his breathing became heavier, and he sat up abruptly: "Is the information confirmed?"

Zuo Youxian's eyes narrowed, and his inner energy fluctuated slightly.

Pi Chen clapped his hands and laughed, "Mr. Yin is well-informed, and what I know coincides with his own. If Zhu Yuyan didn't have something to rely on, why would she so resolutely side with the Heavenly Dao Alliance? The wealth of the Yang Gong Treasure Vault may be enough to shake the world, but for the people of our Holy Sect, the Evil Emperor's Relic is the true supreme treasure!"

Seeing that he had successfully aroused everyone's greed, Yin Zuwen continued, "Therefore, the current strategy is to take a two-pronged approach. On the surface, we must gather our strength and eliminate Zhu Yuyan before she can completely establish herself within the Heavenly Dao Alliance and gain the upper hand. On the other hand, we must find a way to obtain the secrets of Yang Gong's treasure vault. If we can succeed, both the wealth within and the Evil Emperor's relic will be important assets for us to fight against the Heavenly Dao Alliance and even contend for supremacy over the world."

Zuo Youxian pondered, "The plan is good, but Zhu Yuyan's Heavenly Demon Art has reached the seventeenth level peak for many years, and her power is unfathomable. In addition, she is cunning and intelligent, and she has a group of experts by her side. Even if we join forces, it will not be easy to keep her here, and there will be heavy casualties."

His tone carried a hint of apprehension; Zhu Yuyan's accumulated power was by no means unfounded.

You Niaojuan also spat: "Pah! That old woman is really difficult to deal with! With that madman Shi Zhixuan not around, who can be absolutely sure they can handle her? Don't end up losing more than you gain!"

Silence fell once again in the secret room. The desire to deal with Zhu Yuyan was strong, but the thought of her strength and the potential cost made everyone hesitant.

Just then, Bi Chen, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly had a strange smile on his face. He clapped his hands lightly, and the crisp applause echoed in the stone chamber.

"Your considerations are very thorough. Zhu Yuyan is indeed a rare genius, one in a hundred years for our Holy Sect, and the Heavenly Demon Great Art is infinitely powerful..."

Pi Chen drew out his words, looking at the puzzled gazes of the crowd, and slowly said, "Now, she... has broken through to the legendary eighteenth level!"

"what?!"

"impossible!"

"Bichen, what nonsense are you spouting?!"

The Eighteenth Level of the Heavenly Demon Technique!

That's a realm that no one has reached since the founder of the Yin Gui School!

If Zhu Yuyan truly breaks through, to what extent will her strength increase? Even Shi Zhixuan himself might not be able to contend with her! Their previous plans are utterly laughable in the face of such an absolute difference in strength!
The air in the secret chamber seemed to freeze. The news Pi Chen had dropped was so shocking that Zuo Youxian, You Niaojuan, and Yin Zuwen, three powerful figures in the Demonic Sect, were momentarily speechless. (End of Chapter)