464: Commander

Just as Xuyuan Island and several other forces jointly issued a summons.

A piece of news spread to an immense island in the western Li Luan Sea Region.

In the center of the island, there was a towering, colossal mountain of fire. On its peak, fierce flames burned brightly, erupting forth.

Like a volcanic eruption, streams of fiery-red molten rock flowed down from the mountain peak, sliding down the high mountain towards the base.

Within that fiery-red molten rock, which emitted endless heat,

figures in shackles were vaguely seen collecting something.

In the air,

streaks of light flashed by, monitoring everything below.

Outside the flaming mountain,

stood grand, profound palaces and halls, inscribed with mysterious patterns.

Among these buildings,

a majestic and spectacular fiery-red palace stood tall.

Above it, four flame-like characters were hung:

"Xiwu Divine Hall."

At this moment,

a figure entered from outside,

landing outside the magnificent fiery-red palace.

He quickly walked inside.

The palace was immensely grand, and along the way, figures in uniform robes emblazoned with divine bird patterns stood as attendants everywhere.

This figure headed directly for the inner court.

"Palace Master."

Xiwu Divine Hall, inner court.

A solemn man, appearing to be in his thirties or forties, sat high on the main throne of the inner court, deep in thought.

The figure who had entered from outside arrived, bowed, and saluted.

His voice startled the figure seated on the grand throne.

"What is it?"

"This is the summons from the Alliance."

In the inner court, below the throne, the bowing figure presented a Jade Slip with both hands.

On the throne, the solemn man in his thirties or forties reached out slightly,

gently drawing the Jade Slip into his hand.

"Hmph."

Not long after,

the solemn man on the throne finished reading the message in the Jade Slip and let out a cold snort.

He gently squeezed with his right hand, crushing the Jade Slip to dust.

"They actually refused us..."

The solemn man's face turned cold.

"Palace Master, what happened?"

Below, the bowing figure asked softly.

"The Zhou Family of Guizhou Island refused our friendship."

The man on the throne spoke with a cold tone.

"How ignorant of what's good for them."

The bowing figure below spoke with anger.

"Is there anything that needs to be done?"

The figure continued to ask.

On the throne,

the solemn man did not answer.

His fingers gently tapped the throne beneath him.

Within the vast inner court, silence reigned for a time.

A moment later,

"No need."

The man on the throne stopped tapping the throne and slowly shook his head.

"Xi Heng, you represent the Divine Hall and make a trip to Thousand Star Island."

"Also..."

The man on the grand throne instructed the person below, pausing slightly, then continued,

"Have someone investigate the disappearance of Gui Zhou Island back then."

"Yes, Palace Master."

Xi Heng, a Soul Transformation Elder of Xiwu Divine Hall on Xi Wu (West Crow) Island, accepted the order and left.

On the throne, the Palace Master of Xiwu Divine Hall, the Void Refining mighty figure Xi Mian, looked up, his gaze directed out of the hall.

Although Gui Zhou Island had rejected them, it had also rejected Cen Ling Dao Palace.

"Trying to be like those old ghosts and hide their heads like turtles."

"Hmph."

Palace Master Xi Mian scoffed slightly.

Although this was not the worst outcome,

it was not what he wanted... In the central Li Luan Sea Region.

Cen Ling Island, within Cen Ling Dao Palace.

"Palace Master."

"This is the message from the Alliance."

Venerable Yuan Chen, who had previously gone to Gui Zhou Island to deliver the token, arrived in a grand hall.

He bowed to a white-haired Elder seated at the head of the hall, dressed in a black and white interwoven Daoist robe.

"It seems a choice has been made."

At the head of the hall, the seated Elder smiled faintly, awakening from his contemplation.

He drew the Jade Slip from Venerable Yuan Chen's hand.

Before even looking, he already had a guess.

"Is it the Zhou Family of Gui Zhou Island?"

Venerable Yuan Chen asked, listening to the Palace Master of Cen Ling's soft laugh.

"Mm."

The white-haired Elder in the black and white Daoist robe nodded, glancing at the message within the Jade Slip.

"That's not bad either."

There was no great surprise.

It seemed this was already within his expectations.

The white-haired Elder casually pointed.

The Jade Slip fell back into Venerable Yuan Chen's hand below.

Venerable Yuan Chen's Divine Sense swept over it.

Inside, it was precisely the summons jointly issued by Xuyuan Island and several other forces.

"Palace Master, this alliance meeting convened by these families must be for Gui Zhou Island's return to the Alliance and its command of the thousand star token."

"Should we obstruct it?"

It was an agreement made at the beginning of the Alliance's formation that a Void Refining force would command the thousand star token.

Venerable Yuan Chen finished reading, pondered for a moment, then asked the white-haired Elder in the black and white Daoist robe.

"Haha~ Why should we obstruct it?"

The white-haired Elder chuckled softly.

"This..."

Venerable Yuan Chen paused.

"Alright, you go on this trip."

"There's no need for much obstruction."

At the head of the hall, the white-haired Elder did not explain, waving his hand to signal Venerable Yuan Chen to leave.

"Yes, Palace Master."

Venerable Yuan Chen did not ask further, put away the Jade Slip, turned, and left the grand hall, flying towards Thousand Star Island... On this day.

Thousand Star Island, within Thousand Star City.

Envoys dispatched by various islands and forces were all heading towards Thousand Star Island at this time.

This movement stirred up waves in the Li Luan Sea Region.

After all, the Thousand Island Alliance had not seen such a major event, requiring the summoning of all large and small forces within the Alliance, for a long time.

On the various islands of the Li Luan Sea Region, speculation ran rampant.

However, some well-informed Cultivators had already guessed the purpose of this alliance meeting.

Several days later.

Thousand Star City, within the Thousand Star Grand Hall.

Figures of varying attire, cultivation, and age sat in rows.

Some whispered to each other, some closed their eyes in meditation, and some looked towards the thirty-six circular seats in the center of the hall.

Powerful figures were already seated there.

"Fellow Daoists of the Alliance, I am Zhang High Peak of Xuyuan Island."

A moment later, among the thirty-six seats in the center of the hall,

a figure flew up, arriving at the center of the circle.

He cupped his hands in greeting to the surroundings.

"The purpose of gathering everyone here today is regarding Gui Zhou Island."

"Gui Zhou Island was originally a member of our Alliance, making outstanding contributions to the stability of the sea region and the development of the Alliance."

"It just suffered an unexpected change in the past and disappeared. Now that the change has passed and Gui Zhou Island has reappeared, it must return to the Alliance..."

"..."

"Furthermore, Gui Zhou Island now has a mighty figure presiding over it. According to the Alliance's agreement, it should command the thousand star token, with the authority to summon the entire Alliance."

"I wonder if any Fellow Daoists have any opinions?"

Zhang High Peak eloquently listed Gui Zhou Island's achievements, then proposed the suggestion, asking the figures in the hall.

"Agreed."

"Agreed..."

"..."

After Zhang High Peak finished speaking, voices of agreement rang out.

These were precisely the Nascent Soul Venerables dispatched by forces such as Junyu Island and Li Luo Island.

"Wait, this Hall has no objection to Gui Zhou Island rejoining the Alliance, but the matter of commanding the thousand star token still needs further discussion."

Xi Heng, clad in a fiery-red robe, spoke in a deep voice.

When Xi Heng spoke, other figures echoed his sentiment.

These were the Cultivators from the forces supporting the Xi Wu (West Crow) Island faction.

Across from Xi Heng of Xi Wu (West Crow) Island,

Venerable Yuan Chen, the envoy from Cen Ling Island, felt a stir in his heart.

He had already understood his Palace Master's thoughts.

"With the domineering nature of Xiwu Divine Hall,"

"they certainly wouldn't allow Gui Zhou Island, which rejected them, to so easily command the thousand star token."

"The Dao Palace doesn't need to do anything; as long as it doesn't obstruct, it can easily gain a favor..."

Venerable Yuan Chen thought, then chuckled softly:

"Cen Ling Dao Palace has no objection."

"You..."

At these words,

Xi Heng's expression changed.

Venerable Yuan Chen smiled, nodding slightly towards Venerable Xi Heng.

Cen Ling Dao Palace agreed.

With the push from several forces like Xuyuan Island, the Xi Wu (West Crow) Island faction alone could no longer prevent it, and the matter was already decided.

It wasn't until all thirty-six families in the grand hall had stated their positions

that the other large and small forces in the hall spoke up, either agreeing or disagreeing. However, they could not change the already decided outcome.

After this day,

the Thousand Island Alliance issued an announcement to the entire Li Luan Sea Region.

Gui Zhou Island rejoined the Thousand Island Alliance.

It commanded the thirty-seventh thousand star token!

From then on, within the Thousand Island Alliance, another giant was added.