63: Baili comes to your home

The hundred-mile wide giant pit in the Star Palace, which Chu Xinghe had just leveled with his engineering team using mountain-moving and sea-filling techniques, was now covered with a smooth, mirror-like Star Steel floor, and even had a defensive reinforcement rune carved into it for good measure.

Millions of disciples were performing their duties, with the patrol Immortal Light of the Inner Sect Disciples streaking across the sky like meteors, and Outer Sect Disciples bustling through the medicinal fields, artifact halls, alchemy rooms, and mission halls, presenting a scene of bustling activity yet orderly efficiency.

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger was dozing in a corner of the main hall's plaza, its tail unconsciously sweeping the ground, the occasional spatial ripples it stirred up causing passing disciples to walk around it.

Jin Bao was chasing a group of transformed Immortal Ginseng children around the newly built Spirit Beast Garden, their dragon might scaring the little radish heads into yelping.

Yu Lin was gnawing on a piece of a newly dismantled formation core fragment, crunching loudly, with a small stack of similar snacks piled beside her.

A Zi, meanwhile, was being pulled by Mu Ling Nannan, carefully practicing control over the mischievous wisp of purple electric arc at her fingertips by the medicinal fields, afraid of accidentally igniting the nirvana vermilion bird grass that had been painstakingly ripened.

Lin Xuan himself was sitting cross-legged on the polished Star Steel steps at the entrance of the main hall, steps so reflective they could show a person's reflection, casually munching on a handful of chaos spiritual rice like melon seeds, looking at the scene of new life in his new home, feeling utterly content.

This was what it felt like to be the boss!

Disciples handled the fights, breakthroughs relied on returns, Qing Yao managed, and Huang Yan handled logistics—perfect!

Just then, an extremely subtle yet undeniably majestic aura, like mercury spilling across the ground, silently enveloped the entire ten-thousand-mile dojo of the Star Palace.

This aura was not overbearing; instead, it carried a sense of cool purity, nobility, and a power that seemed to cleanse the soul, but the hierarchical pressure it contained caused all disciples below the True Immortal realm to feel a sinking sensation in their hearts, and their breathing subconsciously slowed.

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger suddenly opened its tiger eyes, looking vigilantly towards the sky at the edge of the dojo.

Jin Bao also stopped chasing, its small head turning in the same direction, its golden vertical pupils slightly contracting.

Yu Lin paused her gnawing, her silvery-white eyes indifferently glancing once before she lowered her head and continued to gnaw.

You Ye's figure appeared a few steps behind Lin Xuan, as if merging with the shadows, her deep purple eyes gazing into the distance.

“They're finally here,” Lin Xuan tossed the last few grains of spiritual rice into his mouth, clapped his hands, and stood up, a playful smile on his face, “Quite the grand entrance, but they arrived faster than I expected.”

At the edge of the Star Palace's ten-thousand-mile dojo, beyond the boundary enveloped by the Chaos Starlight Grand Formation, space rippled like water.

A small but exceptionally elite team appeared.

There were not many of them, about a hundred people.

Each one exuded a profound aura, with the lowest being at the peak of the True Immortal realm!

The leader, dressed in a simple white palace gown with a trailing skirt, had a graceful and exquisite figure.

Her face was covered by a thin white veil, revealing only a pair of eyes as clear asColored Glaze but as profound as a star sea.

As those eyes gazed around, they seemed to contain infinite wisdom and the weariness of ages.

She did not deliberately exude pressure, but the naturally emanating life-grade aura, transcending all beings, silently proclaimed her identity: peak Immortal Lord realm, Immortal Alliance Leader, Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox Bai Li!

Behind her, closely followed three elders whose auras were equally vast and profound, all of them powerful beings at the early Immortal Lord realm!

Further back were nearly a hundred elite Immortal Alliance members at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, each with eyes as sharp as an eagle's and an aura as refined as steel, clearly seasoned warriors.

Compared to Lin Xuan's side, with its millions of disciples and soaring Immortal Light, giving off the impression of a nouveau riche, Bai Li's team was more like battle-hardened elites with deep foundations, small in number but high in quality.

Especially Bai Li herself, with her cool, noble, yet weary and resolute demeanor, made it difficult for one to feel any ill will.

“Immortal Alliance Leader Bai Li, accompanied by three elders, has come to pay respects to the Star Palace Master, Daoist Lin Xuan,” Bai Li's voice, clear and pleasant like a mountain spring, yet carrying an undeniable authority, resonated through the Star Palace from behind her veil.

The entire Star Palace instantly fell silent.

All the busy disciples stopped their work, and countless gazes simultaneously turned towards the edge of the dojo.

There was curiosity, awe, scrutiny, and also vigilance.

The lingering prestige of a million True Immortals' arrival was still present; the Immortal Alliance Leader personally visiting was absolutely a headline event that would shake the entire Immortal Realm!

Liu Ruyan's figure instantly appeared beside Lin Xuan, whispering, “Palace Master, it's Alliance Leader Bai Li and three Grand Elders of the Immortal Alliance! Those behind them are the Immortal Alliance's most elite Heavenly Punishment Guards!”

Her tone was solemn, with a hint of tension.

Peak Immortal Lord!

Three early Immortal Lords!

This lineup was enough to sweep aside most forces in the Immortal Realm!

Yun Qingyao's figure appeared silently on Lin Xuan's other side, her cool eyes calmly observing Bai Li and her group, her early True Immortal realm aura as solid as a mountain, the ethereal image of a cold moon faintly visible behind her, subtly seeming to contend with Bai Li's cool aura.

“What's the rush?” Lin Xuan waved his hand, signaling Liu Ruyan to calm down, then said to Yun Qingyao, “Qing Yao, open a gate and invite the guests in.

Hmm, let's invite them to the plaza in front of the main hall; it's spacious and bright.”

He specifically pointed to the newly laid, highly reflective Star Steel plaza.

“Yes, Master,” Yun Qingyao responded.

She gently raised her jade hand and pointed at the Chaos Starlight Grand Formation enveloping the dojo.

Buzz!

The thick light barrier covering the ten-thousand-mile dojo silently split open in front of Bai Li and her group, forming a massive gateway about a hundred zhang wide, like a passage opened for distinguished guests.

Starlight flowed within the passage, leading directly to the main hall's plaza.

Bai Li's clear, glass-like eyes lingered on Lin Xuan for a moment, then swept over Yun Qingyao, Liu Ruyan, and the several small figures with distinct auras on the plaza, finally resting on the newly laid plaza, which still emanated the fluctuations of a new formation.

She moved with light steps, her figure seemingly slow, yet she crossed the gateway in a single stride, appearing in the center of the plaza.

The three Immortal Lord Elders and a hundred Heavenly Punishment Guards followed closely, appearing behind her as if teleporting, their movements uniform and well-trained.

Up close, one could better perceive Bai Li's captivating cool demeanor, as well as the heavy weariness etched between her brows.

Her gaze swept around the plaza, taking in Yu Lin gnawing on a pillar, A Zi playing with electric sparks, Jin Bao chasing the Immortal Ginseng, and the Lie Tian Divine Tiger dozing on the side.

Finally, her gaze settled on the young man in black robes, with a somewhat lazy smile on his face, sitting on the steps.

“Daoist Lin Xuan,” Bai Li spoke again, her voice still clear, “I apologize for this uninvited intrusion.”

“Alliance Leader Bai, you're too polite,” Lin Xuan chuckled, walked down the steps, and stood a few zhang opposite Bai Li, his attitude casual, as if he were facing not the supreme leader of the Immortal Alliance, but a neighbor dropping by.

“Having distinguished guests grace my humble abode is an honor.

Please, have a seat.”

With a wave of his hand, several ancient and grand-looking chairs, condensed from Chaos Starlight, appeared on the plaza.

Bai Li nodded slightly and elegantly took her seat.

The three Immortal Lord Elders stood behind her like iron towers, their sharp gazes sweeping the surroundings, lingering particularly on Yun Qingyao, the Lie Tian Divine Tiger, and the fiercely powerful Inner Sect patrolling disciples, with undisguised surprise and doubt in the depths of their eyes.

They could clearly feel that this newly emerged Star Palace, with its profound foundations and formidable strength, far exceeded their previous estimations!

The millions of powerful auras were by no means a bluff!

Especially that cool-as-the-moon woman, who even made them feel a subtle threat!

“Daoist Lin,” Bai Li did not engage in much small talk, cutting straight to the chase, her glass-like eyes fixed on Lin Xuan, “Elder Hu Buwei and his five thousand Heavenly Punishment Guards disappeared in the Flowing Fire Desert.

Elder Zhao Wuji perished here.

Can Daoist Lin provide an explanation to the Immortal Alliance for this matter?”

Her voice was calm, betraying no emotion, yet it carried an invisible pressure.

Lin Xuan picked his ear, looking innocent: “Explanation?

Oh, Hu Buwei?

And those five thousand people?”

He pointed to the newly paved area at the edge of the plaza, “See, there was a pit here before, they made it.

As for the people…” He grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, “This Venerable One found them too noisy and dirtying my newly built place, so I tidied them up.

Their ashes have been scattered clean, saving space.”

“You!” Behind Bai Li, an Immortal Lord Elder with a fiery temper, clad in crimson battle armor, his face changed drastically, and terrifying Immortal Lord pressure erupted like a volcano, crashing down on Lin Xuan!

“Arrogant junior!

How dare you disrespect an Immortal Alliance Elder like this!

You're courting death!”

Boom! That oppressive aura, like a tangible mountain, carrying the fire-elemental law power that could incinerate all things, instantly enveloped Lin Xuan! The temperature on the square surged, and the air twisted! Liu Ruyan's face turned pale, feeling it difficult to even breathe. Yun Qingyao snorted coldly, stepped forward, and the phantom of a cold moon behind her glowed brightly. A bone-chilling power of moonlight fiercely met the Immortal Lord's pressure, actually resisting it head-on! Although her figure swayed slightly and her face was also somewhat pale, her eyes remained cold and resolute!

"Immortal Lord Elder Huoyun, please calm down." Bai Li's voice sounded at the right time, carrying a gentle yet irresistible force that instantly smoothed the turbulent pressure. She looked at Lin Xuan, and a trace of unusual fluctuation flashed in her glass-like eyes for the first time, seemingly a little surprised that Yun Qingyao could directly resist an Immortal Lord's pressure. "Daoist Lin, even if Hu Buwei had countless faults, he was still an Immortal Alliance Elder, representing the Immortal Alliance's prestige. For you to kill him and five thousand Heavenly Punishment Guards without a word, isn't that a bit too overbearing?"

"Overbearing?" Lin Xuan seemed not to have felt the previous conflict, still smiling. "Alliance Leader Bai, your words are unreasonable." He extended two fingers. "First, that old man, under the banner of the Immortal Alliance, tried to forcibly seize my foundation and slandered me as a parasite, wanting to arrest me for trial. My self-defense isn't excessive, is it?"

"Second," Lin Xuan's smile turned cold, "the five thousand people he brought were full of murderous intent, clearly intending to flatten my Star Palace. I struck first to gain the upper hand and eliminate future troubles, saving myself from bother later. This is very much in line with the survival rules of the Immortal Realm, isn't it?" His gaze swept over the powerful Heavenly Punishment Guards behind Bai Li. "Alliance Leader Bai, you wouldn't have brought these elites here just to flatten my small place, would you?"

Lin Xuan's words were impolite, even laced with barbs. The atmosphere on the square instantly dropped to freezing point. The three Immortal Lord Elders behind Bai Li had ashen faces, their eyes burning with rage. The hundred Heavenly Punishment Guards, even more so, erupted with aura, their hands resting on their weapons, and a murderous aura permeated the air.

Bai Li was silent for a moment. The veil concealed her expression, but the weariness in her glass-like eyes seemed deeper. She slowly said, "Hu Buwei falsely conveyed orders and embezzled funds; his crime deserves death. The Immortal Alliance will investigate this matter and give Daoist Lin an explanation. However, he was still an Immortal Alliance Elder. Even if he was guilty, he should have been dealt with by the Immortal Alliance's laws. For Daoist Lin to directly kill him, where does that leave the Immortal Alliance's laws?"

"Immortal Alliance laws?" Lin Xuan sneered, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears. "Alliance Leader Bai, let's be frank. Whose actions can your Immortal Alliance's laws control now? Can they control those parasites who feign compliance and embezzle military funds on the front lines? Can they control those aristocratic families who scheme for power and profit and stand by idly while others die in the rear? Or can they control this one" He pointed at Immortal Lord Elder Huoyun, who had just erupted in anger, "this Supreme Elder who constantly tries to crush people with Immortal Lord's pressure?"

"You're presumptuous!" Immortal Lord Elder Huoyun's hair stood on end, and the fire laws around him surged, almost making him unable to resist attacking.

"Huoyun!" Bai Li's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an undeniable authority. Immortal Lord Elder Huoyun's aura choked, and he reluctantly retreated half a step, but his eyes were fixed on Lin Xuan, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

Bai Li's gaze returned to Lin Xuan, her glass-like eyes profound: "Daoist Lin seems to have a deep prejudice against the Immortal Alliance."

"Prejudice?" Lin Xuan shook his head, the flippant look on his face receding somewhat, replaced by a nearly cold clarity. "It's not prejudice, it's fact. Alliance Leader Bai, I, Lin Xuan, admire you for enduring the pressure from the Asura Clan and the Mother of World-Devouring Insects for tens of thousands of years for the sake of the Immortal Realm. But this Immortal Alliance is rotten to its core!"

He pointed to this newly established, vibrant Star Palace dojo, and then to the distant, seemingly decaying direction of the Immortal Alliance Headquarters: "Look at my Star Palace! Millions of disciples! The lowest are Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcenders are everywhere! Now look at your Immortal Alliance! Boasting eighty million cultivators, which sounds impressive! But how many of them are useless individuals who rely on family patronage and piled-up resources? How many are parasites like Hu Buwei and Zhao Wuji, who only know how to scheme for power and profit and embezzle funds? Soldiers on the front lines fight bloody battles, resources are scarce, and even immortal medicines for healing are hard to come by! What about the rear? Those so-called prominent families, immortal herbs and spiritual fruits rot in their blessed lands with no one to collect them!"

Lin Xuan's voice grew louder and louder, carrying an unforgiving exposé: "Cultivating a True Immortal consumes countless resources? Heh, that's your Immortal Alliance's inefficiency and unfair resource allocation! More than half has been devoured by parasites! In my Star Palace, as long as one is willing to put in the effort, resources are abundant! Top-tier cultivation techniques! Pills and immortal artifacts! Look at them!" He pointed at the powerful, sharp-eyed, and energetic disciples on the square. "How long has it been? They came out of a hellish place like the Heavenly Abyss..."

"Your Immortal Alliance can't do it, not because the Immortal Realm's resources are truly depleted to that extent, but because you've trapped yourselves! Trapped by those entrenched interests, by those decaying rules, by those greedy parasites!" Lin Xuan's words were like heavy hammers, striking hard at the hearts of Bai Li and the three Immortal Lord Elders.

Bai Li's body swayed almost imperceptibly. Under her veil, her lips seemed to be pressed even tighter. The three elders behind her turned red and then pale, wanting to refute, but found that every word Lin Xuan said pierced their hearts! The accumulated ills of the Immortal Alliance, how could they not know? They were simply powerless to change them, or being within it, unwilling to change!

The square was utterly silent. Only Lin Xuan's unforgiving words echoed.

"So," Lin Xuan's voice returned to calm, even carrying a hint of playfulness, "Alliance Leader Bai, you've come today to pressure me with the Immortal Alliance's laws? Or to pressure me with the fists of these three Immortal Lords and one hundred Golden Immortals behind you?" He spread his hands, looking around at his vibrant, strong-filled dojo. "If it's the former, I apologize, my Star Palace doesn't fall for that. If it's the latter—"

The corner of Lin Xuan's mouth curled into a cold arc. A vast, profound chaos aura, as if capable of devouring all the myriad laws of the heavens, slowly awakened from his body like a slumbering primordial beast. The pressure of his Mid-stage Heavenly Immortal realm was no longer restrained, mixing with the dominance of the Chaos Undying Body and the insight of the Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes, erupting with a boom!

Boom!

The space of the entire square seemed to freeze! The three Immortal Lord Elders' faces drastically changed, feeling that their proud law domains were like flickering candles in the wind before this chaos aura, on the verge of collapsing! The hundred Heavenly Punishment Guards groaned, all taking a step back, their eyes filled with horror! This pressure was definitely not that of an ordinary Heavenly Immortal!

Lie Tian Divine Tiger stood up, letting out a low roar, its tiger eyes locked onto Immortal Lord Elder Huoyun. Behind Yun Qingyao, the cold moon's light surged, and the icy moonlight domain was ready to be unleashed. Jin Bao transformed into a golden light and landed on Lin Xuan's shoulder, dragon might permeating. Yu Lin put down the metal she was gnawing on, her silver-white eyes indifferently scanning the entire scene. A Zi's fingertips crackled with purple lightning, her small face taut. You Ye's figure seemed to merge into the void, ready to unleash a fatal illusion at any moment!

"Although I don't like fighting," Lin Xuan's voice was like the cold ice of the Nine Nether, "if anyone thinks my Star Palace is easy to bully and wants to speak with their fists, then I don't mind letting you all witness what true overbearing power is!"

Threat! A naked threat!

But this threat was built upon terrifying strength capable of overturning the entire existing structure of the Immortal Alliance!

Bai Li sat quietly on the starlight throne, her glass-like eyes, through the veil, gazing deeply at the sharp-edged, unruly, yet incisively critical young man in black robes who had exposed the Immortal Alliance's accumulated ills. The three Immortal Lord Elders behind her had ashen faces, yet no one dared to easily release their pressure again. The hundred Heavenly Punishment Guards were like facing a formidable enemy, their palms covered in cold sweat.

The Immortal Alliance's impoverished state was fully highlighted in contrast to the Star Palace's million-strong army, top-tier resources, and Lin Xuan's unfathomable chaos pressure.

Bai Li was silent for a long time, so long that the solidified air on the square was almost suffocating. Finally, she slowly spoke, her voice carrying an indescribable hoarseness and a decisive tone after exhaustion:

"Daoist Lin, what you said is not without reason."

Lin Xuan looked at Bai Li and slowly said:

"Alliance Leader Bai, my All Heavens Star Palace is not here to contend with you. With the Asura Clan running rampant and World-Devouring Insects wreaking havoc, I have no energy for such internal strife among our own kind. I hope your Alliance feels the same."