30: Five Cities Conference, Tianyuan Secret Realm!

The reason the Zhang Family was so excited was due to a piece of incredibly good news.

Ling Tian, representing Qing Xuan Prefecture, one of Qingxuan Sect's seven prefectures, formed an Alliance with the Zhang Family!

The Zhang Family became the first Family to form an Alliance with Qingxuan Sect after its rise.

Although the Alliance was only with one of the seven prefectures, everyone knew that Qingxuan Sect's current status was entirely due to Qing Xuan Prefecture.

The Prefecture Lord's cultivation was at the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul Stage, with thousands of Foundation Establishment Disciples and hundreds of Core Formation Cultivators.

Most importantly, Qing Xuan Prefecture's Senior Brother, Prefecture Lord Ling's Disciple, Lu Hao! He was the only Soul Transformation Expert in Nansu City!

Lu Hao alone already held more weight than the entire Qingxuan Sect.

Therefore, the Zhang Family being able to form an Alliance with Qing Xuan Prefecture was, in essence, forming an Alliance with Qingxuan Sect, or even better.

Why was the Zhang Family able to form an Alliance with Qing Xuan Prefecture?

The main reason was that Zhang Family Head Zhang Qixiu and Qing Xuan Prefecture's Prefecture Lord Ling Tian had a life-and-death friendship during their youth!

Initially, Zhang Qixiu thought about whether his Zhang Family could benefit from Qing Xuan Prefecture, sending some Disciples to cultivate there, and having Lu Hao guide them if he had time, after which their Zhang Family would obey Qingxuan Sect's commands.

This was similar to the relationship between the Hong Family and Heaven Sword Sect, essentially a superior-subordinate relationship.

So, taking advantage of a drinking session, he brought up his idea to Ling Tian.

However, Ling Tian was a person who valued loyalty and righteousness greatly; how could he treat the Zhang Family as his subordinate force?

When Zhang Qixiu finished expressing his intentions, he directly refused on the spot and said:

"Senior Brother Zhang, this is absolutely not permissible. If this gets out, wouldn't it make others laugh at your younger brother?"

After Ling Tian refused, he pondered for a moment and then said:

"How about this: I will represent Qing Xuan Prefecture and form an Alliance with you. This way, people from your Zhang Family can also come to my Qing Xuan Prefecture to cultivate."

Hearing Ling Tian's words, Zhang Qixiu naturally had no reason to refuse and immediately agreed.

After the two parted ways, Zhang Qixiu immediately returned to the Zhang Family mansion and announced the news. All the Zhang Family members were incredibly excited, to actually be able to cling to Qing Xuan Prefecture's thigh!

However, Zhang Qixiu also emphatically stressed:

"Qing Xuan Prefecture is giving me, Zhang Qixiu, some Face by forming an Alliance with my Zhang Family. Do not think that you can truly consider yourselves allies with them. The Zhang Family's strength is too weak!"

"When you are cultivating in Qing Xuan Prefecture, remember not to bring your bad habits from home. If I find out anyone actively provokes someone from Qing Xuan Prefecture, they will be dealt with by Family law!"

...

The news of the Hong Family's submission to Qingxuan Sect not only caused a huge sensation throughout Nansu City but also created quite a stir outside Nansu City.

Under Heaven Sword Sect's territory, there are five major cities, each managing a portion of the land.

They are Dong Ying City located in the east, Xi Guan City in the west, Bei Ling City in the north, and the strongest, Zhongyi City, located among the four cities!

Nansu City's strength has always been at the bottom among the five major cities, so in every Five Cities Tournament, Nansu City has always ranked last!

But now everything has changed. The Hong Family's submission to Qingxuan Sect has caused a huge shift in Nansu City's overall power structure, and at the same time, it has brought many unstable factors to the Five Cities Tournament half a year later!

The Five Cities Tournament is the grandest event within Heaven Sword Sect's dominion, held once every ten years!

At each tournament, Cultivators from the five cities will do their best to compete for rankings, simply because the final ranking will determine how many rewards their respective cities receive.

The rewards of this Five Cities Tournament are the participation slots for the Tian Yuan Secret Realm!

The Tian Yuan Secret Realm is located at the center of the territory governed by Heaven Sword Sect, like a dazzling pearl hidden deep within the clouds and mist, emitting an alluring yet mysterious aura.

Every ten years, this Secret Realm opens once. And only Cultivators at the Jie Dan Stage and below can enter. Those above the Nascent Soul Stage who try to force their way in will be obliterated by the Secret Realm!

Legend has it that this Secret Realm was formed when a Heaven-Defying Great Master, whose cultivation had reached the Undergoing Tribulation Stage, passed away.

At the time of his passing, this peerless Expert used supreme Divine Ability to Seal all the rare treasures, exotic Materials, and Sharp Weapons he had collected throughout his life within this Secret Realm.

Therefore, the treasures within the Tian Yuan Secret Realm are truly abundant.

Over thousands of years, people have continuously found rare Materials such as thousand-year-old ancient Ganoderma, thousand-spirit Heaven Leaves, blazing demon crystals, and Phoenix Immortal Vines from it. Some individuals with Heaven-Defying Opportunity have even found ancient precious pills and Heaven Rank Magic Treasures!

It can be said that within the Secret Realm, there is nothing that isn't a rare treasure seldom seen in the world. Just taking out one piece could drive everyone mad! To fight for!

However, acquiring these treasures is not easy; one must pass the assessment set by the fallen Great Master.

Despite this, every ten years when the Secret Realm opens, it remains the biggest event in the hearts of all Cultivators from the five cities.

However, the number of entry slots for each Secret Realm opening is limited, only one thousand two hundred slots. So, how are these slots distributed?

Thus, the Five Cities Tournament came into being. The reason for this competition between cities is to better distribute these slots.

The first-place winner of the tournament will receive four hundred slots, second place will receive three hundred slots, third place two hundred, fourth place one hundred, and fifth place will only receive fifty slots!

Heaven Sword Sect will distribute these slots to the various Sects in each city according to their tournament ranking, while the remaining one hundred and fifty slots will be distributed by Heaven Sword Sect in the major cities for Loose Cultivators to compete for. Sect members are not allowed to participate in this competition.

Those who obtain a token can enter the Secret Realm with the token when it opens, gaining the Opportunity to acquire treasures.

There was once a Loose Cultivator who obtained the Legacy of a Sword Immortal in the Secret Realm, and also received a Heaven Rank Ling Jian (Spirit Sword)!

It caused a sensation throughout the entire Northern Barren!

As soon as he exited the Secret Realm, that Loose Cultivator was immediately taken in by Heaven Sword Sect as the Sect Master's Disciple.

It is said that he has now become one of Heaven Sword Sect's Elders, possessing at least Soul Transformation cultivation!

Therefore, the Tian Yuan Secret Realm is a place that drives all Cultivators wild. The entry slots for the Secret Realm naturally became everyone's target to compete for.

Each opening means a storm of blood and gore is about to arrive.

Xingluo Sect is a Sect within Bei Ling City, ranked alongside Yu Xiao Immortal Sect and Jiuli Sect as the Three Great Sects of Northern Spirit!

At this moment, Xingluo Sect's Sect Master, Xing Chengling, was pacing back and forth, somewhat agitated.

The Vice Sect Master next to him saw the Sect Master's demeanor and asked:

"Sect Master, what is troubling you?"

"What else could it be? The Hong Family in Nansu City announced their submission to Qingxuan Sect not long ago. I'm worried about this!"

"Originally, Nansu City was last in the tournament, but now a Qingxuan Sect has emerged. Won't this make our Bei Ling City come in last!"

"Bei Ling City is already weak. Everyone in the city is hoping to enter the Secret Realm to gain an Opportunity. If those slots are snatched by Nansu City, what are we to do?"

Such worries naturally existed in other Sects as well.

As for the other cities, they were not too concerned about Qingxuan Sect. Their strength far exceeded Nansu City's, so they were not worried that their ranking would be affected by Nansu City!

Even Soul Transformation Experts are not exclusive to Nansu City!