616: Chapter 616 Forming Cliques

At the same time.

In the back garden of another residence, the pavilion and its surroundings were filled with elegant seats, where dozens of people sat in a circle—all were contestants in the Soul Transformation arena.

Xuanyuan Ming of Xuanyuan Immortal Clan, Yun Xiaozi, Shen Tongtong, Saintess of Canglan Holy Land, Mo Yangming of Boundless Immortal Sect... they came from Immortal Sects, Holy Lands, academies, and other first-rate powers.

There were also a dozen or so unfamiliar faces, with Chu Yiyi, Tang Zhan, Jingkong, and Gu Lingshuang among them.

The four of them, including Jingkong, had come here to make connections with the major powers, never expecting to get dragged into this dispute.

Xuanyuan Ming of Xuanyuan Immortal Clan sat in the main seat with a gloomy expression, several Jade Slips lying beside him.

He stood up, glanced around, and spoke slowly: "Everyone, I presume you have all heard about what happened today."

Some nodded, some frowned, and some remained expressionless.

"The Heavenly Palace is unjust and bullies others too far." Xuanyuan Ming of Xuanyuan Immortal Clan's voice sank. "A Disciple of my Xuanyuan Immortal Clan was humiliated in the streets of Nanyang City, and Star Lord of Nanyang not only failed to uphold justice but instead attacked them. Today it is my Xuanyuan Clan, but what about tomorrow? What about the day after?"

The area inside and outside the pavilion fell silent for a moment.

"This young master has long been unable to stand the way the Heavenly Palace acts." Yun Xiaozi crossed his legs. "But is all this necessary? This young master could deal with them all by myself."

Yun Xiaozi had entered as a Loose Cultivator, and no one knew he was the Dean's Disciple.

Jingkong pressed his palms together and whispered: "Amitabha."

Gu Lingshuang rolled her eyes. "You dead bald donkey, why are you chanting sutras at a time like this?"

"This poor monk is chanting for the salvation of those benefactors from the Heavenly Palace." Jingkong said solemnly. "If they don't die today, they will die during the Grand Competition anyway. Dying early means being reincarnated early; this poor monk is merely acting out of compassion."

Gu Lingshuang couldn't be bothered with him and turned to look at Xuanyuan Ming of Xuanyuan Immortal Clan. "This is the Heavenly Palace's territory. Aren't you afraid of retaliation afterward?"

Xuanyuan Ming of Xuanyuan Immortal Clan looked at her and smiled. "We haven't broken any rules. Do you think the Heavenly Palace would dare?"

Mo Yangming of Boundless Immortal Sect nodded. "Brother Xuanyuan, just speak plainly. What should we do?"

Xuanyuan Ming of Xuanyuan Immortal Clan's tone leveled out. "The Soul Transformation Cultivators of the Heavenly Palace mainly come from the Yan Clan, the Liu Clan, the Qi Clan, and the Sima Clan. As for those from vassal forces, they wouldn't dare to risk their lives."

He paused and straightened up. "Therefore, our goal is clear—once the Grand Competition begins, whenever we see people from the Heavenly Palace, we will join forces to surround and kill them. First eliminate the Heavenly Palace, then decide the victor among ourselves."

"First eliminate the Heavenly Palace, then decide the victor among ourselves." Yun Xiaozi repeated, then suddenly laughed. "Interesting. This young master agrees."

"Amitabha, this poor monk also agrees." Jingkong pressed his palms together.

Gu Lingshuang flicked her whip. "I have no objections."

Chu Yiyi glanced at Tang Zhan, and Tang Zhan nodded slightly.

"Then it is decided."

"First eliminate the Heavenly Palace, then decide the victor among ourselves."

Everyone responded one after another.

Outside the pavilion, the wind blew, and the bamboo leaves rustled.

There was no fear on anyone's face; instead, there was excitement—a thrill akin to pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.

If they were to face the Heavenly Palace alone, many would at most grumble a few words in their hearts; but when it came to a siege, everyone was eager to step in and take a kick.

Even those who had no grudge against the Heavenly Palace wanted to take this opportunity to stomp on them.

This was probably human nature—since someone else was leading the charge, if the Heavenly Palace came to settle scores later, they would only target the leader.

In fact, such banding together for warmth was everywhere. Cultivators from second and third-rate powers gathered in groups of three or five, and Loose Cultivators formed small teams of two or three to look out for one another.

However, only the Xuanyuan Immortal Clan was leading such a collaboration specifically targeting a top-tier power.

The same scene was playing out among the Void Refining Cultivators.

Inside a quiet manor, Xuanyuan Mu sat in the main seat with a calm expression, but his gaze was like a blade. Behind him stood two Void Refining Cultivators from the Xuanyuan Immortal Clan, their auras steady and silent.

Xie Changkong, Yun Miao, Sword Nameless, Lu Xihe, Patriarch, Yu Tiankuo, Huangfu Zhanming, Zhao Wufeng... dozens of Void Refining Cultivators sat on both sides.

"Everyone." Xuanyuan Mu set down his teacup and looked around. "You may now state your positions regarding what I just said. Either you stand on the side of my Xuanyuan Immortal Clan, or... you are the enemy of my Xuanyuan Immortal Clan."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"Nonsense, is there even a choice?" Patriarch spoke first, his voice booming. "I will definitely stand on your side, Brother Mu. I have long found that bunch from the Heavenly Palace an eyesore; they hold their noses in the air all day as if they are the biggest thing in the Immortal Domain."

Lu Xihe glanced at him and said indifferently: "I listen to my father."

Xuanyuan Mu nodded without asking further.

"I have long been unable to stand the Heavenly Palace." Huangfu Zhanming set down his teacup, his tone cold and hard. "Even if I don't get a ranking this time, I want to give the Heavenly Palace a bitter lesson, to avenge the debt of them killing my Disciple."

Xie Changkong glanced at him. "Brother Huangfu, that was over two hundred years ago. You still remember it?"

"So what if it's been over two hundred years?" Huangfu Zhanming sneered. "My Disciple's bones haven't even gone cold yet. The people from the Heavenly Palace killed him and didn't even offer an explanation. I will remember this debt for a lifetime."

Zhao Wufeng laughed heartily and turned to look at Xuanyuan Mu. "Brother Mu, the Heavenly Palace has been acting more and more excessively over the years. For this Grand Competition, I, Zhao Wufeng, will be the first to support you."

Xuanyuan Mu nodded, his gaze falling on Yun Miao.

Yun Miao was dressed in white, her expression cold and aloof, and she had not spoken from the beginning to the end. Her original intention was to make connections, never expecting to be dragged into this mess for no reason.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Miao, what is your opinion?"

Yun Miao lifted her eyelids and glanced at him. "I do not want to get involved in these matters. But if you ask for my opinion on the Heavenly Palace... the people of the Heavenly Palace are indeed too excessive."

Xuanyuan Mu smiled slightly and then looked at Xie Changkong and Sword Nameless.

Xie Changkong pondered for a moment. "I have no grudge against the Heavenly Palace, but I, Xie Changkong, am willing to contribute."

Sword Nameless only said one word: "Agreed."

Xuanyuan Mu stood up and looked around.

"Since that is the case, it is decided."

"First eliminate the Heavenly Palace, then decide the victor among ourselves."

"First eliminate the Heavenly Palace, then decide the victor among ourselves."

Outside the hall, the night wind blew, and the bamboo leaves rustled.

Of course, it was not just the Xuanyuan Immortal Clan that was forming factions.

Everyone was forming factions—including the Heavenly Palace lineage, which was also trying its best to win over Loose Cultivators and second or third-rate powers.

After all, there were too many participants; no matter how strong an individual was, they could not withstand a siege of a hundred or even a thousand people.

Even the number one Mahayana in the Immortal Domain would not dare to claim they could fight against a hundred opponents in the same realm.

At the same time,

On an immortal mountain floating in the sky, a magnificent hall was filled with hundreds of elegant tables.

The guests who came to the banquet sat fully packed, with cultivation levels ranging from Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, to Void Refining; all three realms were present.

Yan Wendao, sitting at the head of the table, looked around. "Thank you all for honoring me with your presence today. With the Grand Competition approaching, I hope everyone will work together and offer your full support."

Yan Wendao was at the Peak of Void Refining and was the number one Void Refining Cultivator of the Heavenly Palace.

Why was he said to be the number one?

Because he had originally achieved a Breakthrough into Body Integration, but for this Grand Competition, he had lowered his own cultivation back to the Peak of Void Refining.

He did this, naturally, not for rankings or prizes—but to kill.

This time, he would lead the Yan Clan into battle.