Han Yu trailed behind Elder Lu, skirting the massive bronze cauldron that dominated the square, until they reached the entrance of the Main Peak’s Great Hall.

Just as they arrived, the heavy doors swept open. Sect Leader Qi and Elder Mou emerged, flanked by several deacons and over a dozen elite Inner Disciples.

Elder Lu stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Sect Leader. Senior Brothers Yan and Bai have already gone ahead to welcome the guests.”

Sect Leader Qi nodded, his gaze drifting past the elder to the young man standing respectfully in his shadow. “Is this your new disciple, Han Yu? How did he fare in the Outer Disciple Grand Competition?”

“The competition just concluded,” Elder Lu replied, his face wrinkling into a beaming smile. “He secured first place by a stroke of luck.”

Sect Leader Qi’s eyebrows rose in mild surprise. He gave a curt nod of approval. “Not bad.”

Elder Mou, standing beside him, let out a chortle. “Luck? You old fox, you just managed to snatch him up before anyone else could! How is that Lu Yun that Senior Sister Wen picked?”

“He made the top ten. He isn’t bad,” Elder Lu said, his grin widening. ” just a fair bit worse than Han Yu.”

Elder Mou shook his head, amused by the blatant gloating. “Keep talking like that. I dare you to say those exact words to Senior Sister Wen when she comes out of seclusion.”

Elder Lu’s smile vanished instantly. He snapped his mouth shut.

Elder Wen was not known for her patience or her sense of humor.

At that moment, streaks of light descended through the clouds. Elder Yan and Elder Bai guided three figures through the Main Peak’s defensive formation, landing softly in the plaza before the Great Hall.

Sect Leader Qi, Elder Mou, and Elder Lu immediately straightened their robes and led the congregation of deacons and disciples forward to receive them.

Elder Bai quickened his pace to bridge the gap, performing the introductions.

The leader of the visiting delegation was a Golden Core powerhouse from the Spirit Sword Sect—Supreme Elder Yin Hong. He was a striking figure with snow-white hair and a long beard, an ancient, unadorned longsword strapped to his back.

Flanking him were Deacon Fang Shiyi and a young cultivator with a sharp aura—Li Tonghai, the direct disciple of Ye Guxing.

“Please,” Sect Leader Qi gestured, inviting Yin Hong, Fang Shiyi, and Li Tonghai inside.

The grand doors closed behind the seniors. The deacons and disciples of Wanchun Valley were left to wait in the plaza.

Han Yu didn’t recognize many of the Inner Disciples, and given the gravity of the occasion, he wisely chose to stand at the very back, blending into the silence. His mind, however, was active.

First the Spirit Beast Sect, Little Sky Net Sect, and Mystic One Sect came knocking with ill intentions. Now the Spirit Sword Sect is here…

The five great sects of the Southern Region seemed to be fracturing into two hostile camps.

Inside the Great Hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

After the requisite pleasantries, Sect Leader Qi bowed deeply to Supreme Elder Yin Hong. “First, I must offer my thanks. Without Sect Leader Ye’s assistance during the previous crisis, Wanchun Valley might not have survived. The entire sect owes him a debt of gratitude.”

He then transitioned smoothly into business, explaining the urgent reason for their contact.

“The Spirit Beast Sect is running rampant,” Qi began, his voice grim. “They are forcibly relocating mortals into the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range and hosting a suspicious ‘Immortal Destiny Grand Ceremony.’ The Little Sky Net Sect and Mystic One Sect are moving in lockstep with them. Their intentions are clearly malicious.”

He detailed Wanchun Valley’s response: splitting their forces to maintain order in the Xiyue and Nanli Kingdoms while sending envoys to the Spirit Sword Sect.

“We have disciples stationed in the mortal capitals now,” Qi continued. “Aside from rogue cultivators and scattered demon beasts, order is returning. However, we have confirmed that the populations of ten destroyed cities were not killed—they were abducted by the Spirit Beast Sect.”

Yin Hong stroked his white beard, his expression darkening. “Abducting populations… This reminds me of the Demon Blood Sect. They used to ravage mortal cities in much the same way.”

He looked up, his eyes sharp. “Has the Spirit Beast Sect fallen into the demonic path? For a righteous sect, millions of mortals are nothing but a burden. Only those treading the path of evil have use for so much living flesh.”

“Exactly,” Sect Leader Qi agreed. “I suspect they are either cultivating a forbidden demonic technique or feeding these people to their beasts. But the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range is vast and forbidden to outsiders. We lack concrete proof. It is also possible they are simply trying to forcefully expand their sect’s population base.”

Yin Hong’s white brows furrowed. “Before we departed, Sect Leader Ye received intelligence that the demonic cultivator known as ‘Saint Blood Perfected One’ is not dead. He has orchestrated a massive blood sacrifice scheme in the Donghai Kingdom. Sect Leader Ye has already gone to intercept him.”

The Wanchun Valley elders exchanged worried glances.

“Knowing his temperament,” Yin Hong sighed, “he will not return until he has slaughtered every last demon involved.”

“This complicates matters,” Yin Hong continued. “We have signs of demonic activity in the Spirit Beast Sect, and they are backed by two other sects. With Sect Leader Ye absent, our combined strength is insufficient to fight a war on three fronts.”

“To strike rashly would only invite disaster,” Sect Leader Qi murmured. “Elder Yin is prudent. Your assessment is correct.”

Qi paused, weighing the options. “Should we wait for Sect Leader Ye’s return to discuss this in detail? Or should we activate the Sword Talisman immediately and recall him?”

Yin Hong pondered for a long moment before shaking his head.

“The Spirit Beast Sect is merely suspicious. The situation in Donghai Kingdom is an active calamity. If we recall Sect Leader Ye now, the Saint Blood Perfected One will be left unchecked, and the suffering of the Donghai mortals will be unimaginable.”

“Let the Sect Leader finish his hunt,” Yin Hong decided. “In the meantime, we watch the Spirit Beast Sect closely.”

“If they cease their abductions, we can maintain the peace until he returns. But if they continue… then they have truly fallen to the devil, and we will have no choice but to summon the Sect Leader back early.”

“I will order my disciples to increase their surveillance,” Yin Hong added. “The Great Zhou Dynasty will be under strict watch.”

“Agreed,” Sect Leader Qi said. “Wanchun Valley will secure the Nanli and Xiyue Kingdoms. We will establish a perimeter.”

The two leaders finalized the arrangement. They exchanged high-grade communication artifacts, establishing a direct line between the sects.

Wanchun Valley had disciples near the Spirit Sword Sect, and the Spirit Sword Sect would station disciples near Wanchun Valley. Between these envoys, the artifacts, and the emergency Sword Talisman, they now had three layers of communication.

Business concluded, Yin Hong’s tone softened.

“The founders of the Southern Region’s five sects all hailed from different origins,” he mused. “Over the last thousand years, names have changed, and sects have fallen. The Demon Blood Sect and Thousand Illusions Sect were once titans here; now they are dust.”

He looked at Sect Leader Qi. “Our ancestors forbade formal alliances for their own reasons. But given the current climate… I believe our two sects should be closer.”

Yin Hong let out a dry chuckle. “My Sect Leader has a temperament like a towering sharp sword—straight, rigid, and unyielding. He cares little for diplomacy or external affairs. Sometimes, he can be…”

He trailed off, but the meaning was clear. Ye Guxing was a weapon, not a politician.

Sect Leader Qi nodded understandingly. If Ye Guxing hadn’t so bluntly rejected their previous offer of alliance, Wanchun Valley might not have been forced to become so self-reliant.

In a way, that rejection had been a blessing.

Now, Yin Hong’s offer of friendship was welcome, but it felt different. It was no longer sending charcoal in snowy weather—a desperate lifeline for a dying man. It was merely adding flowers to brocade—a nice decoration on something already strong.

Wanchun Valley no longer pinned its survival on the charity of others.

After the meeting adjourned, the Spirit Sword Sect delegation moved to leave.

As they stepped out of the Great Hall, Elder Yan spotted Han Yu in the back. He waved him over with a smile. “Li Tonghai, do you remember Han Yu?”

Li Tonghai’s eyes lit up. He smiled and cupped his hands. “Greetings, Senior Brother Han!”

Han Yu realized Elder Yan’s intention—he was facilitating a connection between the younger generation. He returned the gesture with a warm smile. “Senior Brother Li, there is no need for such formality. The titles we used back at the Spirit Field Department were just for convenience.”

“I must thank you again for the sword and your willingness to help us back then,” Han Yu added sincerely.

“You’ve entered the Inner Sect now?” Li Tonghai asked, looking him over. “How is everything going?”

“It is going well,” Han Yu replied modestly. “I am currently at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. I placed first among the Outer Disciples and was fortunate enough to be accepted by Elder Lu.”

“Huh?”

Li Tonghai blinked. He had been chatting so enthusiastically that he momentarily forgot where he was—and who was listening.

The words tumbled out of his mouth before his brain could catch them. “Is Wanchun Valley’s Outer Sect that loose? A fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator can take first place?”

The air froze.

Supreme Elder Yin Hong and Deacon Fang Shiyi turned pale. They shouted in unison, their voices thundering across the plaza:

“Cease your nonsense!”