264: alliance

Tiannan Pavilion.

Inside Huaqing Palace.

Since moving into this place, Zhou Leren had not ventured out much.

He had been cultivating in the pavilion.

He had remained in the Early Golden Core Stage for twenty-seven years.

Now,

with the Zhou Family's resource supply and his own talent,

his magical power had accumulated to Perfection.

Just one more step,

and he would reach the Mid Golden Core Stage.

Therefore, Zhou Leren had been diligently cultivating,

hoping to Breakthrough soon.

A month passed in a flash.

While Zhou Leren was diligently cultivating in Huaqing Palace,

Cultivators dispatched by the various large and small Nascent Soul-level forces of Nancang Domain's Nine Prefectures all arrived at Tiannan Peak within a month.

Qingzhou was the furthest from Zhongzhou,

but Zhou Leren and his companions were among the first to arrive.

On this day,

“Dong ~ Dong ~ Dong ~”

A deep, ancient bronze bell sound echoed and spread throughout Tiannan Peak.

Inside Huaqing Palace,

Zhou Leren, who was sitting cross-legged, was startled awake by the bell.

The slightly fluctuating aura around him quickly settled down.

After steadying himself,

Zhou Leren stood up.

He already knew in his heart that this bell sound was Tiannan Peak's command to gather the Cultivators from various sects.

Zhou Leren tidied his robes,

ensuring there was nothing disrespectful.

Only then did he confidently push open the pavilion door.

Outside the pavilion,

True Person Lian Xin, True Person Xichun, and Immortal Master Gu Li were already waiting together.

Seeing Zhou Leren's figure,

True Person Lian Xin's eyes lit up.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, your cultivation has increased even further in just over a month; your talent is truly astonishing.”

Among the four, True Person Lian Xin had the most profound cultivation.

Therefore, he immediately noticed the faint aura remaining on Zhou Leren's body.

“Fellow Daoist Lian Xin overpraises me. Although there has been some progress, I still haven't managed to Breakthrough, unlike the two Fellow Daoists.”

Zhou Leren smiled slightly.

Beside him,

Immortal Master Gu Li's gaze was resentful.

Among those present,

his cultivation was not as profound as the two Immortal Masters from Yuefu,

nor could his talent compare to Zhou Leren's.

This left a bitter taste in his heart.

“Let's go.”

True Person Xichun saw that the two were about to start praising each other again.

He quickly interrupted them and led the way out of Huaqing Palace.

Immortal Master Gu Li immediately followed,

leaving Zhou Leren and True Person Lian Xin behind.

Zhou Leren touched his nose, and after inviting True Person Lian Xin,

the two also followed.

Outside Huaqing Palace,

a Foundation Establishment Stage Steward Elder from Tiannan Pavilion was already waiting.

Seeing the four emerge together,

he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

Then, he led the four upwards.

Tiannan Hall.

When the four arrived,

there were already quite a few Cultivators in Tiannan Hall.

Most of them were Disciples and Steward Elders wearing Tiannan Pavilion attire.

The others were Cultivators sent by various families,

all of Golden Core Stage cultivation.

They were either alone or in groups of a few,

gathered in one place.

When Zhou Leren and his companions entered,

they politely greeted the other Golden Core Immortal Masters in the hall.

Then, led by the Steward Elder, they found a spot and sat down cross-legged.

On the Dao platform in front of them,

spiritual fruits and spiritual liquids were already laid out.

However, none of the Golden Core Immortal Masters present touched them.

Zhou Leren looked at this scene and thought of something.

He laughed in amusement.

Immediately, he began conversing with the other Golden Core Immortal Masters.

After some time,

inside Tiannan Hall,

the gathered Golden Core Cultivators numbered forty to fifty people.

Among them were the Immortal Masters from the Jiang Family of Qingzhou and the Spirit Void Sect, whom Zhou Leren knew.

Additionally, the Immortal Masters sent by the Jiang Family of Guanghan Prefecture were also present.

“The Pavilion Master arrives!”

At this moment,

a voice announced.

Everyone in the hall became solemn.

“Om ~”

The space seemed to flow.

Everyone's vision blurred.

When they looked closely again,

they saw a young female Cultivator standing with her hands behind her back at the head of Tiannan Hall.

“Tiannan Pavilion Master, Jin Yan!”

Looking at this sweet-looking female Cultivator,

Zhou Leren's heart was solemn.

Some information about Jin Yan flashed through his mind.

The Zhou Family was different from other forces.

With Li Shuwu present,

they had a deeper understanding of this new Tiannan Pavilion Master.

If anyone were to be deceived by this new Pavilion Master's appearance,

they would certainly suffer a great loss.

This was corroborated by Li Shuwu's personal experience.

Moreover, over so many years,

the dilapidated Tiannan Pavilion could still maintain its superficial rule over Nancang Domain.

Although there were external factors involved,

her methods could not be denied either.

“We respectfully greet the Alliance Leader!”

Seeing Jin Yan appear,

the many Golden Core Immortal Masters in the hall quickly rose.

They bowed in unison,

their attitudes respectful.

Jin Yan looked at their respectful attitudes.

She was slightly pleased.

She smiled sweetly and said,

“Fellow Daoists, there is no need for such ceremony.”

A gentle breeze swept through, lifting everyone up.

“Thank you, Alliance Leader!”

Everyone expressed their gratitude.

Jin Yan sat cross-legged in the principal seat.

Everyone sat down again.

“Alliance Leader, we are late; please forgive us!”

Before Jin Yan could say anything,

a hearty laugh suddenly came from outside the hall.

Then, five Golden Core Immortal Masters, dressed in various robes, arrived together.

Among them was the Right Protector Elder of Yin Yang Harmony Hall who resided in Yijing Palace.

“Hehe ~”

“No matter, please take your seats quickly.”

Immortal Master Jin Yan was not bothered in the slightest.

She smiled gently,

and even stood up to greet them.

“Hahahaha!”

“Thank you, Alliance Leader!”

These five people were indeed not modest.

They casually sat down in front of everyone in Tiannan Hall.

Five seats had already been reserved there.

The Golden Core Immortal Masters in the hall watched this scene.

They kept their eyes downcast, as if observing their nose, then their mouth, then their heart.

No one spoke.

They all looked as if it had nothing to do with them.

Zhou Leren's peripheral vision was fixed on Jin Yan and the five Golden Core Immortal Masters.

Yet, he couldn't discern any change in Jin Yan's expression.

“Truly formidable!”

Zhou Leren dared not look further.

He sighed with emotion in his heart.

Five Golden Core Cultivators dared to be so arrogant.

One could imagine the current status of Tiannan Pavilion.

But even with such humiliation, Jin Yan, as the Alliance Leader, could remain expressionless and greet them with a smile.

Zhou Leren asked himself, he would not be able to do it.

Immortal Master Jin Yan smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the five.

Everyone finally began to pick up the wine cups on the Dao platform.

Some picked up spiritual fruits and savored them carefully.

Finally,

Jin Yan's pleasantries with the five concluded.

At the head of the hall, a female Golden Core Immortal Master standing behind Jin Yan stepped forward.

She spoke in a clear voice,

“Fellow Daoists, in these ten years, under the leadership of the Alliance Leader and the six Grand Elders, our domain...”

“...”

This female Golden Core Immortal Master babbled on for a long time.

Zhou Leren ultimately summarized it in two words:

“Pay up!”

Fortunately, this was the very purpose of this alliance meeting.

The Golden Core Immortal Masters present were already mentally prepared.

They all held their Storage Pouches in their hands.

At this moment,

the Steward Elder of Tiannan Pavilion, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward.

He took the Storage Pouches from the hands of the various Golden Core Immortal Masters.

Then, he went into a separate room in Tiannan Hall to verify them.

The Storage Pouches contained not only the revenue offered this time but also the account books of each sect and family.

What was unexpected was that the five individuals also handed over their Storage Pouches.

Verification required time.

Everyone in the hall was not idle.

They conversed with each other, and Jin Yan also did not leave.

However, the five individuals,

after sitting for a while, departed early.

Jin Yan personally saw them off.

Several days later,

the Steward Elders emerged one by one from the separate room and nodded to Jin Yan at the head of the hall.

Jin Yan smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoists, for waiting so long. This alliance meeting concludes here.”

After speaking, Jin Yan's figure vanished from her original spot.