Negotiating an Alliance

After the elder on the high platform finished speaking, the Qi Condensation cultivators below had already been divided into ten large teams based on the secret realms they had chosen.

Each team was led by a Golden Core cultivator heading towards the entrance of their respective secret realm.

Some secret realms were completely under the control of the Heavenly Profound Sect, so their entrances were located within the sect.

However, some secret realm entrances were only near the Heavenly Profound Sect and had to be opened by the sect's Soul Formation elders.

Yet, just as the team heading to the Green Field Secret Realm was about to set off, the leading Golden Core cultivator suddenly received a message from the Soul Formation elder responsible for opening its entrance.

The message informed them that the Green Field Secret Realm could not be opened this year.

Thus, under the sect's emergency arrangements, the disciples who had chosen the Green Field Secret Realm had to be dispersed and reassigned to the other nine normally functioning Qi Condensation secret realms to continue this year's trial.

Regarding this matter, the higher-ups of the Heavenly Profound Sect held a brief meeting.

Although it was only a Qi Condensation secret realm, some of the basic spiritual plants and medicinal herbs produced inside were one of the main sources for the sect's foundational pills.

If they could permanently no longer enter it in the future, it would be a significant loss.

During the meeting, several managing elders of the sect briefly discussed the situation and asked the Soul Formation elder, who was responsible for cooperating with another sect to open the secret realm, about the circumstances at that time.

That Soul Formation elder simply shook his head and said,

"Unlike before, not a single spatial rift can be found for the Green Field Secret Realm. It seems it already has an owner and is no longer connected to the place we previously discovered."

The First Elder of the Heavenly Profound Sect, sitting at the head of the table, remained silent for a moment before finally standing up and speaking:

"After this secret realm trial concludes, gather the disciples who entered the Green Field Secret Realm last time and carefully question them about what they encountered inside. Leave the rest to the Law Enforcement Hall to investigate."

After saying that, he left the meeting hall.

Seeing this, the other elders politely exchanged farewells and also departed.

Naturally, someone would arrange the subsequent matters.

For these elders, their concern for a Qi Condensation secret realm ended right there.

Meanwhile, far away in Yuanling City, it was closing time at the ticket office for the Talisman Master Convention's ship. After hanging up the sign with tomorrow's opening hours outside, the middle-aged cultivator packed up and stood up.

A young cultivator beside him handed him a cup of spiritual tea and said,

"You've worked hard, Senior Brother."

The middle-aged cultivator took the spiritual tea, took a sip, shook his head, and walked inside while saying,

"Guanyu, aren't you going back to the sect yet? The secret realm trials have started. Didn't you want to exchange for more Spirit Gathering Pills earlier?"

If Lin Xiao were here, he would definitely recognize that the person standing beside this middle-aged cultivator was actually Hu Guanyu, whom he had met in the Ice Field Secret Realm.

"I'll head back after helping you finish the registry, Senior Brother. The secret realm I chose isn't too far from here," Hu Guanyu replied.

Hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator nodded.

"Then keep an eye on the time, don't delay for too long. Once you're packed up later, I'll escort you there."

Saying that, he suddenly remembered how Hu Guanyu had abruptly spoken up to remind a customer during ticket sales today, and asked,

"Did you know that customer from today?"

Hu Guanyu poured himself a cup of tea as well. He was currently looking down and drinking. Upon hearing the question, he didn't look up, only voicing his denial:

"I don't know him. I just thought that fellow Daoist looked kind-hearted, so I spoke out of turn. Please don't mind it, Senior Brother."

Hu Guanyu's popularity within his sect was decent, mainly because Senior Brother Xi looked after him. Under normal circumstances, others wouldn't easily cause trouble for him.

Hearing him say this, the middle-aged cultivator didn't say anything more. After all, it was just a trivial matter of no importance.

Late at night, after Hu Guanyu packed up his things, the middle-aged cultivator used his own spiritual boat to transport Hu Guanyu and several other Qi Condensation junior brothers who were helping out here to the entrance of their secret realm.

At this time, within the Imperial City of the Pusi Kingdom's capital, Li Zhanying had already returned with the captured Golden Crow Sect cultivators, his newly accepted disciple, and a follower.

The cultivators were imprisoned in the royal family's private dungeon deep within the Imperial City.

Meanwhile, Wang Goudan and Niu Xiaoxue followed Li Zhanying and moved into the side hall of the Feather Ascension Palace.

When she was brought all the way to the capital and entered the Imperial City, Niu Xiaoxue felt that her choice this time was indeed correct.

She never expected that one day she would actually be able to live in the imperial palace!

She settled in here with great delight.

Li Zhanying, on the other hand, brought the Ji Stone he had also taken from that mine and sought out Li Zhouxuan. He wanted him to use the hazardous nature of this Ji Stone to contact the Clear River Sect, Cloud Smoke Cult, and Sunrise Sect—the original top three sects—to jointly discuss a crusade against the Huanyou Kingdom.

Regarding the hazards of the Ji Stone, before leaving, Lin Xiao had already informed Mo Yuanjiao of the information he had appraised, asking him to relay it to the imperial court.

As for how he knew, he didn't say.

Originally, Li Zhouxuan was still somewhat hesitant, but after Li Zhanying returned and Li Zhouxuan told him the message passed on by Lin Xiao, Li Zhanying said directly:

"The Lingxian Sect is trustworthy."

Seeing his ancestor so certain, Li Zhouxuan naturally didn't hesitate anymore and immediately arranged everything.

Originally, they had also wanted to invite the Lingxian Sect to participate.

However, Mo Yuanjiao, who clearly understood that almost all the sect's main forces were currently absent and the remaining people must be extremely busy, refused.

Li Zhanying also knew somewhat about the Lingxian Sect's situation, so he didn't force the issue.

Meanwhile, the three sects had always had people stationed in the capital.

Even the Sunrise Sect, which had just returned to rebuild their sect, was no exception. Their station in the capital was still maintained, and they still arranged personnel here to receive news from the imperial court.

Therefore, the imperial court's request to join forces was soon transmitted back to each sect.

Within the Clear River Sect, Sect Leader Han Shangyi, who had only recently discovered that his daughter had sneaked out again, was anxiously and furiously searching for her.

Then, at this very moment, he received the message sent from the capital.

Looking at the message in his hand, Han Shangyi ultimately paused his search for Han Weishu and instead summoned the sect's elders to the main hall to discuss the matter.

At this time, the elders of the Clear River Sect were all sitting in the main hall, discussing this issue.

After discussing for a long time, the majority of the elders did not approve of supporting the imperial court in joining forces with the other sects.

After all, aside from the neighboring Huanyou Kingdom crossing over to capture people within their borders, this so-called Ji Stone mine had little to do with them.

Most of the elders felt that there was no need to waste manpower and resources to handle this transnational matter.

Anyway, whatever Ji Stone that devoured spiritual energy was within the territory of the Huanyou Kingdom, and it wouldn't devour its way into their Pusi Kingdom.

However, after waiting for everyone to discuss for a while, Sect Leader Han Shangyi spoke up and made the final decision:

"Our Clear River Sect must intervene in this matter!"