"Shadow Daoist sees through things clearly," Tian Jizi sighed and appeared to be enlightened.

Then, he turned his head to look at Luo Zhu.

"I was so engrossed in speaking with the Shadow God Envoy that I neglected Fellow Daoist Luo. There is something that must be communicated in advance now. Under the current circumstances, we can no longer afford to fight individually. In this meeting, I plan to propose the formation of the Cloud Desolate Alliance. I shall serve as the interim Alliance Hierarch and take charge of unified command and coordination. I hope for your support, Fellow Daoist Luo," Tian Jizi said, bowing slightly.

"You are rather forthright," Luo Zhu said with a light laugh.

"Haha, with our level of cultivation, there is little need to hide our intentions here in Yunhuang, and moreover, I believe everyone must have guessed my intentions upon receiving the invitation to this alliance. If I were to now put on a reluctant front, it would simply be laughable," Tian Jizi shook his head.

"Since that's the case, you should also be aware of our response," Luo Zhu crossed his arms and suddenly laughed coldly.

Tian Jizi just smiled faintly, without replying.

"Enough, after traveling such a long distance and standing here talking for so long upon arrival, I'm tired. Ming Quan, right? Where is our lodging arranged? Lead the way," Luo Zhu changed the subject, gesturing towards Ming Quan.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, please rest well. I won't bother you further," Tian Jizi said as he prepared to leave.

But Luo Zhu suddenly called out to him.

"Don't celebrate too early. Even if we acknowledge you as the Alliance Hierarch, it's only temporary," Luo Zhu stated bluntly.

"That's only reasonable," Tian Jizi left just one sentence behind, and then his figure completely vanished from everyone's view.

Soon, under the guidance of Ancestor Ming Quan and Liu Hanyu, the group from Pan Si Island arrived at their specially arranged accommodations at Chang Chun Temple.

Luo Zhu casually dismissed the Core Formation elders to set up defensive formations, and her whole demeanor relaxed immediately, sprawling unceremoniously onto the bed in her quarters.

"Ah, so we're really going to let Tian Jizi 'unify Yunhuang' now," she complained.

"It sounds nice, but it's just him being pushed out to take the fall," Xi Ying was not particularly concerned.

Just then, outside the room, a Core Formation elder suddenly announced.

"Island Master, the Alliance Hierarch of the East Sea Alliance, Wan Tianren, and the Clan Leader of the Water Ape Clan, Hou Chou, seek an audience."

Luo Zhu and Xi Ying exchanged a glance, then responded.

"Have them wait in the reception room for a moment; we'll be right there."

Thirty minutes later.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, it's been years, and your cultivation has improved," Wan Tianren greeted Luo Zhu with a bow and a smile as soon as he saw her in the reception room.

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhu immediately rolled her eyes.

"Cut the small talk. What are you here for?" she said impatiently.

Wan Tianren chuckled awkwardly, then noticed Xi Ying standing behind Luo Zhu.

"And this fellow Daoist is..." he asked politely.

"Shadow God Envoy of the Moon Sect, in charge of affairs in the Southern Border," Xi Ying answered calmly.

"Oh, so it's the Shadow God Envoy. It's a pleasure. Are you here representing the Moon Sect at the alliance? Did Divine Envoy Yuan come with you? Where might he be now?" Wan Tianren exchanged pleasantries, then asked.

"He hasn't contacted me, and since we are in charge of different areas, even if he were to come, it should be with the East Sea Alliance," Xi Ying replied.

Wan Tianren felt a bit awkward, not expecting the Shadow God Envoy to be so aloof, but he found it hard to say much more.

As they took their seats, Wan Tianren did not continue with small talk but got straight to the point, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I've come, in fact, to form an alliance with you."

"Isn't the purpose of this gathering organized by Chang Chun Temple to form such alliances? What does it mean for you to come knocking on my door personally?" Luo Zhu asked, puzzled.

"I just feel there are some situations we must consider. After all, the strength of the Wuyue Sect is far greater than we imagined. The difficulty of the battle in the East Sea is something I experienced firsthand. If not for Divine Envoy Yuan's help, the East Sea might now be under the Wuyue Sect's control. Honestly, I don't have much confidence in this alliance meeting," Wan Tianren immediately said.

Luo Zhu heard this and did not say a word, just looking at Wan Tianren expressionlessly.

"Ahem, it seems to me that with the Wuyue Sect advancing from Black Wind, the Central Plains and the Western Region are the front lines, then the East Sea and the Southern Border become the main rear of the entire alliance. If Tian Jizi genuinely intends to share lifetimes with the Central Plains, that's one thing, but if not, he might make arrangements in advance to relocate some disciples to these regions in preparation for a retreat," Wan Tianren coughed lightly and continued.

"Are you worried about them pulling off a nest takeover?" Luo Zhu asked.

"Not just that. In this confrontation with the Wuyue Sect, nominally it's about defending Yunhuang, but on a smaller scale, it's actually about protecting the Central Plains and the Western Region. Both of us have already been harmed by the Wuyue Sect, and entering this battle is like putting our all on the line. If Tian Jizi has any ulterior motives and has our forces take the brunt of the attack in exchange for an overall victory, even if we win, it would still be a loss for both our groups. Thus, I think it best that our two groups form a small alliance to share information and prepare against being exploited," Wan Tianren explained.

Xi Ying, standing nearby, immediately understood his implication. In plain terms, this was also a factional struggle. As the frontliners, the Western Region and the Central Plains, along with the Eastern Sea Region and Southern Border situated at the rear, surely did not share the same heart. Though their overall direction was aligned, there were definitely differences in some minor interests entanglements.

Wan Tianren had formed the East Sea Alliance and naturally had a deeper understanding of these matters than anyone else. Part& of a s!erie+s h$osted+ by My Virt^ual- Lib*r+ary E-m*pi#r&e+ (%MV%&$LE!MP&*Y$R^).&

"Moreover, Divine Envoy Yuan once conveyed a message to me, stating that Fellow Daoist Luo, you had reached an agreement with the Ming Yue Sect, willing to join hands with the East Sea to combat Wu Yue Sect. I had been thinking of meeting with you, Fellow Daoist Luo, to discuss this matter in detail, but due to being busy with various affairs, I couldn't find the time. I didn't expect Chang Chun Temple to send out an invitation to the alliance meeting before us," added Wan Tianren.

Luo Zhu glanced at Xi Ying, recalling the late-night secret discussion in the Bamboo Sea Square, and her heart eased slightly.

"What you said is right; a private alliance, I agreed," she decided.

"Then, may the Shadow God Envoy serve as a witness?" Wan Tianren smiled and turned his head to give Xi Ying a signal.

Xi Ying naturally had no reason to refuse.

Thus, under her witness, Wan Tianren and Luo Zhu clapped hands and took a step before Tian Jizi, forming an alliance.

...

Several days later.

All Major Sects gradually arrived at Yuhua City. Since the military situation was urgent, Chang Chun Temple skipped all other complicated formalities and immediately announced the formal commencement of the alliance meeting once the sects guarded by Nascent Soul cultivators were all present.

And the location for the first Nascent Soul discussion was selected to be in a floating grand hall at the center of Yuhua City.

It was said that the last time Chang Chun Temple convened All Major Sects for a meeting to encircle and suppress the Wu Yue Sect, it also took place in this grand hall.

Thousands of years had passed since then, and now, once again, the doors of this grand hall opened, the attending Nascent Soul cultivators were entirely different from the last time, but the enemy they faced remained the same.

As the congregation of Nascent Souls entered the grand hall, they all simultaneously nurtured a thought.

One could not help but wonder if the next time this grand hall is utilized, will it also be for the same reason?

Chang Chun Temple's preparations before the start of the meeting were very thorough. The hall had already been divided into different areas for cultivators from the same regions to take their seats.

When Luo Zhu arrived at the grand hall with Xi Ying, many people were already seated.

Her gaze first swept over the Nascent Souls sitting in the East Sea Region, Wan Tianren, Hou Chou, Old Man Hei Zhu, Queen Ming Kong, Golden Transformation Master, and so on, all of whom were familiar faces to Xi Ying.

Next were the Nascent Souls from the Southern Border. Perhaps because the Wu Yue Sect had not stirred up large-scale conflicts in the Southern Border, there were not many Nascent Soul cultivators from there. Seeing Luo Zhu, they all stood up and saluted, showing considerable awe.

The Nascent Souls from the Western Region were even fewer, and almost all were burly men who seemed worried for some reason.

Sitting in the foremost position on the Western Region side was a muscular bald man, his robust muscles covered by coarse hemp cloth, and a dark black brand on the left side of his face that seemed to contain some unique power.

"Huh, that's strange. Why didn't Old Man He himself come? His disciple came first," Luo Zhu muttered with curiosity upon seeing the robust man.

Xi Ying took the opportunity to inquire about the identity of the bald man.

"His name is Gu Yali, from the Western Region's Vajra Sect. Their sect's ancestor is called He Cha, the only Great Cultivator in the Western Region," Luo Zhu introduced through a voice transmission.

Xi Ying nodded, then turned her attention to the Nascent Soul cultivators from Central Plains.

The contingent from Central Plains was the largest. Notably, Fairy Jin Xi from Zhao Country's Spirit Talisman Sect was also seated in the hall. She seemed to have felt Xi Ying's gaze and turned her head to look back. Their eyes met and Fairy Jin Xi, not recognizing Xi Ying, merely nodded politely.

Xi Ying, for now, had no intention of recognising her and shifted her gaze, observing other Central Plains Nascent Souls.

Just then, a disheveled middle-aged male cultivator with hair like a bird's nest hurried into the hall, looking left and right. He quickly found the seating area of Yue Country, walked over, then suddenly frowned.

"Fellow Daoist, it seems you are sitting in the wrong spot. This is the seating for Yue Country's sect," the middle-aged male cultivator tapped another plump-faced male cultivator on the shoulder.

Noticing the commotion, and seeing that Xi Ying was also paying attention, Luo Zhu took the initiative to introduce the situation.

"That bird-nested fellow is Xia Shang, from Yue Country's Hundred Machine Sect, specializing in puppet making. Although his personal cultivation is not high, only at the early stage of Nascent Soul, the puppets he makes are extremely potent一there's a rumor that he hides a puppet capable of rivaling a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, but whether it's true or not is uncertain," Luo Zhu chuckled.

"And the plump male cultivator?" Xi Ying focused on the man, sensing an inexplicable aura from him.

"Him? I don't know him. Maybe he really is in the wrong seat. Yue Country is close to Southern Border, and the only sect with Nascent Souls there is Hundred Machine Sect. What other forces could there be?" Luo Zhu shrugged.

Just then, the plump male cultivator stood up, smiling amiably at Xia Shang, and said,

"Fellow Daoist Xia, I've long admired your name. I am Cao Xiangqing, my family resides in Mist Mountain and rarely interacts with the outside world. I left the mountain because I heard that a major event concerning Yunhuang was happening, so please don't take offense, Fellow Daoist Xia."