Immortal Alliance Assessment
The morning mist over Qinglan Sect had yet to dissipate, but the Hall of Gathering Sages was already filled with core personnel.
Amidst the curling sandalwood smoke, Sect Master tapped his fingers against the Jade Desk. The Immortal Alliance Promotion Regulations spread out on the desk emitted a faint golden light—they were profound characters written with Spirit Ink mixed with gold foil, each word imbued with the solemn authority of the Immortal Alliance.
“Everyone, the Immortal Alliance Assessor will arrive in three days.” Sect Master’s voice carried barely contained excitement. The Late Stage Soul Transformation aura around him fluctuated slightly, making the air in the hall heavy. “The Sect Protecting Grand Array, 'Myriad Clouds Returning to the Sect Array,' has been improved by White Night and reached the peak of the seventh rank; the Grand Elder and Qiu Xuan have both stabilized their Late Stage Soul Transformation cultivation; and we have over fifty Nascent Soul Stage inner disciples—the first two conditions are firmly within our grasp.”
Red-Robed Elder Lie Yangzi clapped his hands and laughed heartily: “Congratulations, Sect Master! Our Qinglan Sect has waited three hundred years, and this day is finally upon us!” Having recently broken through to the Late Stage Soul Transformation, he spoke with youthful excitement, his phoenix eyes sweeping over the crowd before finally resting on White Night in the corner. “Elder Bai is already at the Middle Stage Deity Transformation at such a young age. You deserve the greatest credit for this promotion!”
White Night sat upright on his Prayer Mat, his fingers tracing the edge of the four symbols token. The wind pattern on the token flowed gently in his palm. He didn't reply, simply gazing calmly at the regulations on the desk, as if studying some interesting runes.
Qiu Xuan noticed his unusual demeanor, stroked his beard, and asked, “White Night, do you seem preoccupied?”
As soon as he spoke, the hall instantly fell silent. All eyes focused on White Night—this young elder could always pinpoint the crucial flaw at the critical moment, and his trip to the Star Shattering Abyss half a year ago had proven his foresight.
White Night lifted his gaze, letting his eyes fall on the third clause of the regulations: “A High-Grade Spirit Stone Mine is required, with an annual output of no less than 100,000 catties, and must be independently controlled by the Sect.” His voice was calm, yet it was like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone’s heads. “Our Qinglan Sect’s ‘Cloud Pattern Mine’ is only Mid-Grade, and its annual output is less than 30,000 catties. How can we meet this third condition?”
The jubilation in the hall instantly froze. Lie Yangzi’s smile stiffened, and he subconsciously retorted, “Didn’t the Immortal Alliance rules state ‘renting or cooperation is permissible’? We have always had dealings with the Black Stone Sect in the Northern Continent. Their ‘Black Wind Mine’ is High-Grade, so at worst...”
“At worst, what?” White Night interrupted him, flicking out a streak of spiritual light that condensed into a map in the air. The Northern Continent territory on the map was circled by a bloody red line. “Three months ago, the Black Stone Sect was annexed by the Heavenly Extreme Sect. Now, seventy percent of all High-Grade Spirit Stone Mines across the entire Eastern Continent are in the hands of the Heavenly Extreme Sect.”
Sect Master’s face darkened. “The Heavenly Extreme Sect? They dare interfere with our Qinglan Sect’s promotion?”
“Why wouldn’t they dare?” White Night displayed intelligence about the Heavenly Extreme Sect, information he had compiled from remnants of Blood Shadow Sect scrolls. “Sect Master Mo Tianxing of the Heavenly Extreme Sect is already half a step into the Void Refining Realm, and he has seven Late Stage Soul Transformation Elders under him, double the number we have. They have coveted the position of Overlord of the Eastern Continent for years. How could they tolerate us being promoted to Fifth Rank and taking a share of the Immortal Alliance’s resource quota?”
Qiu Xuan’s brow furrowed into a knot. “Then... should we look for other mines?”
“Difficult.” White Night shook his head, and the light spots on the map extinguished one by one. “High-Grade mines are scarce in the Eastern Continent to begin with. Aside from the seven controlled by the Heavenly Extreme Sect, the remaining three are either abandoned or located in forbidden lands overrun by demonic beasts.”
Dead silence descended upon the hall; even the faint crackle of the sandalwood burning was clearly audible. Lie Yangzi clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. “Are three hundred years of waiting going to be ruined by a single mine?”
Sect Master closed his eyes and pondered for a long time, then suddenly opened them, a flash of determination in his gaze. “Go to the Heavenly Extreme Sect to negotiate. Qiu Xuan, lead the team yourself. Take our treasured ‘Nine-Turn Spirit Ginseng,’ and ask only to rent the Black Wind Mine for three years—as long as we pass the Immortal Alliance Assessment, we can plan for other mines later!”
Qiu Xuan accepted the order and rose, but just as he reached the hall entrance, he was called back by White Night.
“Elder Qiu, wait.” White Night stood up, his green robe glowing softly in the morning light. “The Heavenly Extreme Sect has wolfish ambitions; negotiations are bound to end in humiliation. This trip requires sharpness.”
A look of confusion flashed in Qiu Xuan’s eyes. “Are you suggesting...”
“Bring the ‘Mountain Suppressing Guards’ from the Law Enforcement Hall,” White Night’s voice carried undeniable authority. “And prepare a hundred ‘Boundary Breaking Talismans.’ If negotiations fail, we’ll talk with our fists.”
Lie Yangzi clicked his tongue. “Is Elder Bai crazy? The Heavenly Extreme Sect is far stronger than us. Confronting them head-on is like throwing an egg against a rock!”
White Night ignored his skepticism and simply looked at Qiu Xuan: “Elder, you only need to remember that while the Heavenly Extreme Sect seems powerful, its internal factions are rife. Sect Master Mo Tianxing’s direct disciple and the collateral line elders have long harbored resentment. We only need to...” He leaned close to Qiu Xuan’s ear and whispered a few words.
Qiu Xuan’s eyes widened further and further. Finally, he clapped his hands and laughed, “Good! What an excellent 'Driving the Tiger to Devour the Wolf' scheme! I will go prepare immediately!”
Three days later, early in the morning, outside the mountain gate of the Heavenly Extreme Sect.
Qiu Xuan was riding an Azure Luan Beast, followed by a hundred Mountain Suppressing Guards. These guards were all at the Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, clad in Dark Iron Armor. The long spears in their hands gleamed coldly, and the Boundary Breaking Talismans at their waists emitted faint spatial fluctuations—this was the Qinglan Sect’s most elite force.
Mo Jingfeng, the Heavenly Extreme Sect’s Welcoming Elder, was already waiting outside the mountain gate. He was Sect Master Mo Tianxing’s cousin and had always been arrogant. Seeing that Qiu Xuan had only brought a hundred people, he couldn't help but sneer, “Elder Qiu is certainly cautious. Did you bring so few people because you feared our Heavenly Extreme Sect couldn't afford to host them?”
Qiu Xuan dismounted the Luan, cupped his hands, and said, “Elder Mo is joking. We are here to discuss cooperation, not to start a war.” He handed over a Jade Box. “This small gift, please pass it on to Sect Master Mo.”
Mo Jingfeng opened the Jade Box and, seeing the three-foot-long Nine-Turn Spirit Ginseng inside, a flicker of greed crossed his eyes, yet he feigned disdain: “The Qinglan Sect certainly spared no expense. However, regarding the matter of renting the Black Wind Mine...” He deliberately dragged out his tone. “Our disciples require a large amount of spirit stones for cultivation recently, so I’m afraid...”
“Elder Mo,” Qiu Xuan interrupted him, his tone abruptly turning cold. “The High-Grade Spirit Stones produced by the Black Wind Mine every month are more than ten times enough for your sect's disciples’ cultivation. Why play dumb when you know the truth?”
Mo Jingfeng’s face sank. “Qiu Xuan, how dare you be presumptuous in front of my Heavenly Extreme Sect’s gate?” The guards behind him all stepped forward, their Early Stage Deity Transformation aura surging out like a tide.
The Mountain Suppressing Guards behind Qiu Xuan simultaneously raised their long spears. The spiritual light from the spear tips resonated with the Boundary Breaking Talismans at their waists, actually forming a faint spatial barrier that blocked the opposing aura.
“Presumptuous?” Qiu Xuan sneered. “Our Qinglan Sect came with sincerity, yet your sect uses every means to make things difficult. Do you truly think our Qinglan Sect is easily bullied?” He suddenly raised his voice so that the surrounding Heavenly Extreme Sect disciples could hear. “I heard that Sect Master Mo’s chief disciple recently failed his breakthrough to the Void Refining Realm and urgently needs High-Grade Spirit Stones to stabilize his cultivation—does your esteemed sect lack even that small amount of resources, forcing you to monopolize the Black Wind Mine?”
These words struck a nerve in the Heavenly Extreme Sect. The failure of Sect Master Mo Tianxing’s chief disciple, Mo Chenyue, to break through to the Void Refining Realm, causing a massive drop in cultivation, was no longer a secret in the Eastern Continent, but no one dared mention it publicly.
Mo Jingfeng’s face instantly turned ashen. “Qiu Xuan! You are courting death!” He raised his hand to strike, but was halted by a commanding voice.
“Jingfeng, step down.”
Sect Master arrived, stepping on a Black Cloud. He wore a Black Python Robe and had a gaunt face, but his eyes were like those of a hawk, carrying undisguised killing intent as they swept over Qiu Xuan. “Elder Qiu certainly has a sharp tongue. You may rent the mine, but you must exchange it for your ‘Wind Spirit Crystal Mother.’”
The Wind Spirit Crystal Mother was the Qinglan Sect’s Mountain-Guarding Treasure, containing the purest Wind Law, and was key to cultivating the Heaven Wind Sword Scripture. Using it to trade for the mine rental rights was tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin.
Qiu Xuan’s face darkened. “Sect Master Mo, you are making an impossible demand.”
“Difficult?” Sect Master sneered. “Either hand over the Virgin Crystal Mother, or get back to the Qinglan Sect. Want to be promoted to Fifth Rank? Wait another three hundred years!” The seven Late Stage Soul Transformation Elders behind him simultaneously released their auras, surrounding Qiu Xuan and his group.
The Mountain Suppressing Guards’ faces instantly turned pale, and their hands gripping their long spears trembled slightly—facing seven Late Stage Soul Transformation cultivators, their strength was like that of ants.
Qiu Xuan took a deep breath, just about to speak, when a streak of green light shot down from the horizon, landing in the field like a shooting star.
As the green light dissipated, White Night’s figure appeared. He held the Wind Howling Silver Wolf in his arms, his green robes flapping loudly in the strong wind. Nine Law Halos slowly revolved behind him, forcefully pushing back the auras of the seven Elders.
“Sect Master Mo certainly has imposing prestige.” White Night’s voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered everyone’s ears. “Forcibly occupying mines and bullying neighboring sects—is this the demeanor of a Fifth Rank Sect?”
Sect Master narrowed his eyes. “White Night? You actually dared to show up. You were lucky to escape the Star Shattering Abyss last time; today, leave your life here!” He waved his hand and struck out with a palm, the palm wind carrying the pressure of the Void Refining Realm, warping the surrounding space.
White Night sidestepped to avoid it. The Wind Howling Silver Wolf simultaneously spat out Silver Sound Waves. When the sound waves collided with the palm wind, they produced a metallic clanging sound.
“Sect Master Mo, there’s no need for sparring.” White Night flicked out a copy of the Black Wind Mine contract. “I came to tell you that three days ago, the Immortal Alliance Inspector found a Blood Shadow Sect Altar at the Black Wind Mine—your esteemed sect colluding with Demonic Cultivators. If this matter gets exposed...”
Sect Master’s face suddenly changed. He had indeed secretly funded the Blood Shadow Sect, intending to use the Demonic Cultivators to restrain the Qinglan Sect, but he never expected White Night to seize this leverage.
“You dare threaten me?” Sect Master’s voice was laced with ice shards.
“It’s not a threat, it’s a transaction.” White Night looked at him calmly. “Rent the Black Wind Mine for three years, 100,000 catties of High-Grade Spirit Stones annually. In return, I can help you destroy the evidence of the altar.”
Sect Master stared intently at White Night, the killing intent in his eyes nearly solidifying. The elders behind him whispered amongst themselves, advising him to temporarily avoid confrontation—making an enemy of the Immortal Alliance was definitely not a wise move.
After a long while, Sect Master squeezed two words through gritted teeth: “Deal.”
The moment the contract was signed, a system notification sounded in White Night’s mind:
[Side Quest triggered: Obtain Mining Rights]
[Mission progress: 10%]
[Reward: High-Grade Spirit Stones x 1,000 catties]
...