Cold Jade Valley.

Sect Leader Leng Qianqiu sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Meditation Mat, her eyes sweeping over Granny Ling Shuang and Xiao Bieli, who stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.

"Xiao Bieli, how is your progress?" Leng Qianqiu asked.

Xiao Bieli bowed and said in a deep voice, "Reporting to Master, I have polished my True Qi to a state of perfect harmony. I’m on the verge of opening the last of the Twelve Orthodox Meridians. In one month at the soonest, or two at the latest, I will undoubtedly achieve Embracing Pill Power Perfection!"

He was sharp and brimming with confidence in front of others, but not so when facing his master.

"Mm."

Leng Qianqiu nodded slightly, a rare hint of satisfaction in her eyes. "Your talent is outstanding, and your foundation is extremely solid. This is a great fortune. However, the barrier to the Astral Force realm is a heavenly chasm on the path of Martial Arts—it’s no small feat. The process of True Qi Transformation, drawing upon the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to temper your body, is fraught with peril."

"Countless prodigies have built their power for years and charged the barrier multiple times, only to exhaust their potential and live with lifelong regret. Some even damage their foundations, their martial path severed forever. You must be exceedingly cautious. Wait until your Essence, Qi, and Spirit have all reached their absolute peak. You must not be greedy for quick success and recklessly advance, lest you create hidden troubles for yourself."

"I will remember your teachings, Master!" Xiao Bieli’s expression turned solemn as he nodded firmly.

He knew the immense weight behind his master’s every word.

Even for someone of his caliber, the Astral Force realm was a colossal hurdle.

Leng Qianqiu’s gaze shifted to Granny Ling Shuang. "Elder Ling Shuang, according to reliable intelligence, the whereabouts of ’Heart Devourer,’ the Altar Master of the Demon Sect’s Yunlin Sub-Pavilion, remain erratic. They have yet to appear in the Prefecture City. The Demon Sect has been lying dormant for too long; such abnormal behavior signals that something is afoot. This is the perfect opportunity for us to consolidate the forces of the Yunlin Righteous Path and prepare for the future!"

Granny Ling Shuang understood at once. "Sect Leader, you mean to revive the proposal for an alliance of the four sects? To resist the threat of the Demon Sect?"

"Exactly."

Leng Qianqiu’s voice was as sharp as steel. "The demonic flames may be temporarily extinguished, but they could reignite at any moment. The Yunlin Martial World is a tray of loose sand—how can it possibly resist? Only by forming an alliance under a unified command can we gather our strength to fend off a powerful enemy! In two months, once Xiao Bieli’s training is complete, I will personally take him to the gates of the Wutai Sect once more. First, to conclude the final battle of his Lifeng trial. And second... to discuss the great matter of an alliance with He Yuzhou, Shi Kaishan, and Duan Yisheng!"

A sharp glint flashed in Granny Ling Shuang’s eyes as she grasped the plan. "Sect Leader, this is an overt plot! You’re using the prestige from Xiao Bieli’s challenge to suppress the Wutai Sect’s reputation, forcing them to enter the alliance negotiations at a disadvantage. When that happens, you’ll have the upper hand in securing the position of Alliance Leader!"

Leng Qianqiu said coolly, "A reputation can sometimes be sharper than a fine sword. If the Wutai Sect suffers repeated defeats at the hands of my disciple, what standing will He Yuzhou have to compete with me for the position of Alliance Leader?"

"Duan Yisheng of Qixia Manor keeps a low profile, and Shi Kaishan of the Xuanjia Sect is stubborn and quick to anger—neither is a real concern. Only this He Yuzhou... For decades, he has governed with great effort, and the Wutai Sect has flourished under his hand, to the point where it threatens to challenge Cold Jade Valley’s supremacy. If this man isn’t put in his place, the alliance will be difficult to form. And even if it is formed, he is guaranteed to become a threat from within!"

Her gaze was electric as she looked straight at Xiao Bieli. "Xiao Bieli, on this trip to the Wutai Sect, the challenge is merely a pretense; subjugation is the true goal! You must not only win, but you must win in spectacular fashion—a victory so complete that it shatters the morale of the Wutai Sect’s younger generation! Are you confident you can do it?"

Xiao Bieli puffed out his chest, radiating immense confidence. "Rest assured, Master! I am well aware of the Wutai Sect’s chief disciples. Yan Yaoyang was recently defeated, so his edge is gone and he’s no longer a concern. As for the likes of Li Wang and Li Lei, their foundations are mediocre. They wouldn’t last ten moves against me."

"Chen Qing may be a genius of the Spear Path, but he’s only at Mid-stage Embracing Pill Power. Only Nie Shanshan of the Gui Water Institute, who has opened the Eleven Orthodox Meridians and keeps her true strength hidden, might put up a decent fight. But I will reach Embracing Pill Perfection within two months. By then, with the sheer power and purity of my True Qi, defeating her will be as easy as turning over my hand!"

"Good!"

The approval in Leng Qianqiu’s eyes deepened. "Issue the order immediately. Use my authority as Sect Leader of Cold Jade Valley to send gilded invitations for an alliance summit to He Yuzhou of the Wutai Sect, Shi Kaishan of the Xuanjia Sect, and He Qianshan of Qixia Manor! State clearly that in two months, I will personally visit the Wutai Sect to discuss our grand cause of resisting the Demon Sect! At the same time... release the news that Xiao Bieli intends to visit the Wutai Sect again to complete his ’Lifeng’ trial! Make sure it generates enough buzz!"

"Yes, Sect Leader!" Granny Ling Shuang accepted the order with a solemn bow.

Xiao Bieli also bowed deeply. "I will not disappoint you, Master!"

...

Deep within Lake Heart Island, the water was still.

He Yuzhou stood by a window, a gilded invitation in his hand.

The invitation’s message was concise, yet every word was heavy with meaning: In two months, Cold Jade Valley’s Sect Leader, Leng Qianqiu, would personally visit the Wutai Sect to discuss an alliance between the four major sects to stand against the Demon Sect.

Addendum: Xiao Bieli, a disciple of Cold Jade Valley, grateful for the abundance of talent at the Wutai Sect and feeling his last visit was left wanting, will once again visit your esteemed sect. He wishes to meet friends through martial combat, test his skills, and fulfill his desire to complete his Lifeng trial.

"Heh..."

He Yuzhou let out a soft, inscrutable chuckle. "Leng Qianqiu... you’ve really gone to great lengths for the position of Alliance Leader, pressing your advantage at every turn."

The alliance was real, and so was the fight against the Demon Sect, but it all had to be done under her, Leng Qianqiu’s, direction!

Suppressing the Wutai Sect’s prestige and undermining his—He Yuzhou’s—authority was simply the red carpet she was rolling out for her own ascension to the Alliance Leader’s throne.

Xiao Bieli was merely a sword in her hand.

"The Alliance Leader’s seat..."

He Yuzhou muttered to himself, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.

That position was just as crucial to him, He Yuzhou, as it was to the Wutai Sect, which he had spent decades tirelessly building up!

Once he became the Alliance Leader of the Four Sects Alliance, the resources he could mobilize and the influence he would wield would far exceed those of a single sect leader.

The Wutai Sect’s power would truly soar, completely eclipsing Cold Jade Valley and making it the undisputed hegemon of Yunlin Prefecture!

This was his lifelong ambition!