Governor

"Sect Master will not let you go!" This was his last sentence in the world.

White Night ignored him, merely waving his hand to send out a wind blade, thoroughly ending his pain.

Having dealt with Mo Jingfeng, he began to assess the situation at the Black Wind Mine. Most of the miners in the tunnels were still alive, but they were controlled by a formation and had fallen into a coma.

White Night took out spirit condensing pills and had the Silver Wolf distribute them to everyone, while he himself went to the core area of the ore vein.

The high-grade spirit stones here were exposed, gleaming with a faint white light. As the intelligence stated, the annual output indeed far exceeded 100,000 catties.

He took out a communication mirror from his system space and said into it, "Sect Master, the Black Wind Mine has been secured. Please send disciples to take over quickly."

Sect Master's excited voice came from the mirror: "Good! Good! Elder Bai has worked hard! I will arrange it now!"

After hanging up the communication, White Night looked at the four symbols token in his hand; its luster was even more brilliant than before. The system prompt sounded at the appropriate moment:

[Side quest "Acquire Mining Rights" has been completed]

[Mission Evaluation: Perfect]

[Reward: High-grade Spirit Stones x10,000 catties, Incomplete Map of the Nine Heavens Realm x1]

The map marked several blurry light spots, one of which coincided with the location of the Star Shattering Abyss, clearly indicating the coordinates of other Nine Heavens Realm ruins.

White Night put the map into his system space and was about to leave when he noticed the Wind Howling Silver Wolf growling towards the depths of the mine.

His heart stirred, and he followed the Silver Wolf to a hidden stone chamber. The walls of the stone chamber were carved with patterns similar to those in the Star Shattering Abyss.

On a stone platform in the center of the chamber lay a black box. Opening it, he found three black jade slips and a bottle of pills inside.

The jade slips recorded the transaction history between the Heavenly Extreme Sect and the Blood Shadow Sect, detailing how they colluded to persecute other sects, and even including the truth behind the demise of a Grand Elder of the Qinglan Sect three hundred years ago.

As for the bottle of pills, they were "Deity Transformation Pills," capable of increasing the success rate for Golden Core Realm cultivators to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, and there were as many as ten of them.

"An unexpected bonus." White Night put the items away. These evidences were enough to doom the Heavenly Extreme Sect before the Immortal Alliance.

Three days later, the disciples of the Qinglan Sect took over the Black Wind Mine. When White Night returned to the Qinglan Sect with the Deity Transformation Pills and transaction records, the entire sect was abuzz with excitement.

Inside the Gathering of Sages Hall, Sect Master looked at the jade slips, trembling with rage: "What a Heavenly Extreme Sect! The blood feud from three hundred years ago finally has a conclusion today!"

Lie Yangzi roared even louder: "Sect Master, this matter must not be left unresolved! We should hand over this evidence to the Immortal Alliance and make the Heavenly Extreme Sect pay the price!"

The other elders echoed their sentiments, their eyes burning with the fire of revenge.

White Night, however, shook his head: "Now is not the time."

Everyone looked at him in confusion.

"The Immortal Alliance assessment is imminent; our primary task is to be promoted to fifth-grade," White Night calmly stated. "This evidence can be used as leverage in the future.

The Heavenly Extreme Sect has many enemies; we don't need to act, someone else will deal with them naturally."

A hint of admiration flashed in Sect Master's eyes: "White Night is right. Impatience spoils great plans. Pass on the order: fully prepare for the Immortal Alliance assessment, and no one is to mention this matter."

In the following days, the entire Qinglan Sect dedicated itself to intense preparations.

The Mountain Protection Great Formation, "Myriad Clouds Returning to Sect Formation," was reinforced again, and the disciples all cultivated with full vigor, presenting a thriving scene throughout the sect.

White Night, meanwhile, spent most of his time on the seventh floor of the Scripture Depository Pavilion, studying the "Treatise on Space Law" and the Nine Heavens Realm map.

He discovered another ruin marked on the map, located at the junction of the Eastern Continent and the Southern Continent, where clues related to the grand void divine boat seemed to be hidden.

"After being promoted to fifth-grade, I'll go there to take a look," White Night thought to himself.

The day before the Immortal Alliance assessment envoy arrived, Qiu Xuan suddenly came to Wind Listening Peak. He looked at White Night, who was instructing the Silver Wolf in cultivation, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke: "White Night, there's something this old man isn't sure whether to say or not."

"Please speak, Elder."

"The Heavenly Extreme Sect has been making frequent moves recently. It's said that Sect Master personally went to the Immortal Alliance headquarters, seemingly plotting something." A hint of worry flashed in Qiu Xuan's eyes. "I'm afraid they might try something during the assessment."

White Night stopped what he was doing and looked towards the eastern horizon, in the direction of the Immortal Alliance headquarters.

"When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we cover it with earth." His voice was calm yet confident. "If they dare to come, I will make sure they never return."

Qiu Xuan looked at his tall back, and the worry in his heart gradually dissipated. He knew that with White Night present, the Qinglan Sect would surely overcome this difficulty and successfully be promoted to a fifth-grade sect.

In the night sky, stars twinkled, as if foretelling the approaching storm. The fate of the Qinglan Sect was about to be revealed in the Immortal Alliance assessment.

And White Night, this young Deity Transformation elder, would be the key to deciding everything... The mountain gate of the Qinglan Sect was enveloped in a faint green light, a sign that the "Myriad Clouds Returning to Sect Formation" was operating at its peak.

On the Main Peak plaza, five hundred inner disciples, dressed in uniform green daoist robes and holding long swords, stood in neat formation. The sword spines reflected the golden light of the morning sun, their momentum soaring—this was an honor guard specially arranged by Sect Master to welcome the Immortal Alliance assessment envoy.

White Night stood under the corridor of the Gathering of Sages Hall, watching the scene on the plaza, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the railing.

The Wind Howling Silver Wolf lay at his feet, its tail occasionally sweeping the ground, its wolf eyes vigilantly fixed on the direction of the mountain gate.

Ever since the trip to the Black Wind Mine, this spirit wolf had become particularly sensitive to the aura of the Heavenly Extreme Sect.

"What are you thinking about?" Qiu Xuan's voice came from behind him. He had changed into a brand new purple robe, his beard and hair meticulously combed. "Envoy Li is a mighty expert in the Void Refining Realm. When you meet him later, do not lose your manners."

White Night turned around: "I'm wondering if Sect Master will come in person."

"How dare he?" Qiu Xuan frowned. "With Envoy Li here, even if he had ten times the guts, he wouldn't dare cause trouble."

No sooner had he spoken than a violent spiritual energy fluctuation suddenly came from the mountain gate.

The disciples on the plaza looked up, only to see a purple streak of light, like a meteor, streaking across the sky. Nine golden law halos encircled the light, and everywhere it passed, the flowing clouds in the air were dyed purple—this was the unique "Purple Mansion Aura" of a Void Refining Realm cultivator.

"Envoy Li has arrived!" someone exclaimed.

Sect Master led the elders to quickly greet him, bowing at the mountain gate: "Qinglan Sect's Sect Master, respectfully welcomes Envoy Li!"

The purple streak of light dissipated, revealing an old man in a purple robe. His face was lean and refined, with three long strands of beard beneath his chin. He held a jade whisk in his hand, and his eyes, though seemingly calm, appeared to see through people's hearts.

It was none other than the Chief Assessment Envoy of the Immortal Alliance's Eastern Continent branch, Li Xuanzhou.

"Sect Master does not need to be so polite." Li Xuanzhou's voice was gentle yet authoritative. His gaze swept over the lined-up disciples, and he nodded slightly, "The Qinglan Sect indeed has many talented individuals."

Just then, another black streak of light followed closely, landing behind Li Xuanzhou.

Sect Master, dressed in a black robe, had a gloomy expression, followed by four Late Stage Soul Transformation elders, clearly uninvited.

"Envoy Li, this old man heard that the Qinglan Sect is to be promoted to fifth-grade, so I specially came to offer congratulations." Sect Master said with a fake smile, his gaze sweeping over Sect Master with hostility.

Sect Master's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm: "Thank you for your kind intentions, Sect Master, but I'm afraid the assessment of our sect will trouble the Envoy."

How could a figure like Li Xuanzhou not immediately perceive the undercurrents between the two? He said faintly, "Since you're here, let's observe together." He turned and walked towards the Gathering of Sages Hall. "Sect Master, please lead the way."

The first stage of the assessment was to inspect the Mountain Protection Great Formation. Li Xuanzhou stood atop the Main Peak, looking at the green light enveloping the entire sect, and stroked his beard: "Is this the improved 'Myriad Clouds Returning to Sect Formation'?"

"Precisely." Sect Master nodded. "This formation was improved by our sect's Elder Bai, and has reached the peak of seventh-grade."

Li Xuanzhou's gaze fell on White Night, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Is this Elder Bai, who, with Middle Stage Deity Transformation cultivation, slew the Sect Master of the Blood Shadow Sect? Truly young and promising." He nodded slightly at White Night, "Could you demonstrate the formation's power for this venerable one?"

White Night stepped forward, taking out the four symbols token: "Please enlighten me, Envoy."

He tossed the token into the air, and four colored lights—green, red, blue, and yellow—merged into the Mountain Protection Great Formation.

In an instant, the green light in the sky suddenly became dense, and countless wind blades shot out from the clouds, forming a massive sword net above the plaza. In the center of the sword net, a giant green wolf, condensed from spiritual energy, raised its head and roared—this was a killer move of the formation, fused with the bloodline of the Wind Howling Silver Wolf.

"Good!" Li Xuanzhou clapped his hands in praise. "Using the four symbols as a guide and integrating the spirit beast's bloodline, the power of this formation is probably close to eighth-grade!"

Sect Master, from the side, said sarcastically, "It's just a showy display; it might not be effective against a true strong enemy."

White Night gave him a cold glance: "If Sect Master doesn't believe it, you can try it yourself."

"You!" Sect Master's face turned ashen with rage, but he dared not actually make a move.

The second stage of the assessment was to verify the number of high-level cultivators. When Sect Master, the two Grand Elders, and Qiu Xuan simultaneously released their Late Stage Soul Transformation auras, Li Xuanzhou nodded in satisfaction: "Three Late Stage Soul Transformation cultivators meet the standard for a fifth-grade sect."

Sect Master suddenly spoke: "Envoy Li, you might not know, but the Grand Elders of the Qinglan Sect have been in secluded cultivation for many years and no longer concern themselves with worldly affairs, so they cannot be considered true combat strength!"

"Oh?" Li Xuanzhou looked at Sect Master. "Is this true?"

Before Sect Master could speak, a white-haired Grand Elder stepped forward, his aura erupting like a dormant volcano: "Although this old man is aged, I can still slay a Late Stage Soul Transformation cultivator! If Sect Master doesn't believe it, do you dare to fight me?"

The old man's aura was violent and scorching, even more powerful than Sect Master's. Sect Master's face instantly turned ugly; he hadn't expected this seemingly frail old man to be a hidden expert.

Li Xuanzhou waved his hand: "No need to get angry. Grand Elders are naturally included." He looked at Sect Master, "The third stage is the high-grade spirit stone mine."

Sect Master took out the Black Wind Mine contract: "Envoy, please see, this is the lease contract we signed with the Heavenly Extreme Sect, for a term of three years."

Li Xuanzhou took the contract, but his brows furrowed slightly: "A leased ore vein is ultimately not as stable as an owned one."

Sect Master immediately echoed: "Precisely! Although the Immortal Alliance's rules permit leasing, the Qinglan Sect's action here inevitably carries a suspicion of opportunism!"

...