For this reason, they could not possibly sever their connection to Prince Qinghe.

And to gain more resources, they had to contend with Zhong Ming, who had allied himself with Prince Qinghe and become the public face of Qinghe County. He was now an obstacle they were required to overcome. As long as Zhong Ming remained undefeated by Prince Qinghe’s side, the Prince would have a source of confidence, giving him a greater advantage in the coming negotiations.

Thus, they had to defeat Zhong Ming.

This was not about right or wrong, good versus evil. It was a critical conflict of interests.

"Everyone, the time has come for us to truly unite."

"I agree. But an ordinary alliance is completely useless against Zhong Ming. We can’t just dispatch our disciples to besiege him, can we?"

"There’s no need for that. We just need to summon our sects’ Daoists," said a black-robed elder from the Yin Mountain Sect. "In our sect, the criterion for becoming a Daoist is to defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator while still at the Qi Cultivation stage. I imagine the rules in your sects are quite similar, my brothers?"

"They are indeed similar... but even so, a Daoist might not be able to secure a victory against Zhong Ming!"

Zhong Ming’s previous battle record was simply too brilliant. The Void Moon Sect, Qianqiu Valley, and the Celestial Sound Sect had all come to take him extremely seriously. Therefore, instead of simply dismissing him, they considered the possibility that even their own Daoists might not be able to handle him and began brainstorming countermeasures.

After a few moments, they had indeed devised several strategies.

"It will take some time for our Daoists to arrive. Barring any surprises, the next duel with Zhong Ming will be when the Star Secret Vault opens—that will also be the last demonstration of strength before the alliance is formed."

"Once we’re inside the Treasure Vault, we can have ordinary True Disciples challenge Zhong Ming first to drain his Magical Power and wear down his Heart Spirit. After his condition has weakened, our Daoists can make their move."

This approach was undoubtedly dishonorable. However, even though sects like the Void Moon Sect, Celestial Sound Sect, and Qianqiu Valley proclaimed themselves to be Renowned and Righteous Sects...

...to have grown into Major Sects within the Prefecture City, not one of them was purely benevolent, much less soft-hearted or merciful.

Using such schemes for their sects’ interests, and even for their very survival, was something they had long grown accustomed to.

In fact, to ensure their success was foolproof, the elders of these major Prefecture City sects had even prepared some backup plans.

"That’s still not foolproof. Zhong Ming... his Talent is simply monstrous." After glancing at Zhong Ming with a mix of awe and envy, the Guardian Elder from the Void Moon Sect gritted his teeth and said, "Your sects must have True Disciples on the verge of a breakthrough... Have them enter the Star Treasure Vault as well. If the Daoists fail, have those disciples challenge Zhong Ming, break through in the middle of the battle, and crush him with the power of Foundation Establishment!"

Although Zhong Ming had the strength to fight a Foundation Establishment cultivator, not all Foundation Establishment cultivators were the same.

The True Disciples from the major Prefecture City sects almost all had at least one attribute that had reached the Extreme Realm; some even had two or three.

When cultivators like them formed a Dao Foundation, it would be Earth Grade at a minimum.

With such a Dao Foundation, combined with their qualitatively transformed Magical Power, Divine Soul, and physical body, as well as the Divine Techniques granted by the foundation itself, they could fight ten ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators at once.

And Mingya, the one he had defeated, was comparable only to an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Therefore, in the Void Moon Sect elder’s opinion, a True Disciple who advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage would be able to completely suppress Zhong Ming.

The other elders agreed. Following him, the Guardian Elder from the Celestial Sound Sect spoke. He had the dignified air of a celestial sage, yet his words left the other elders speechless:

"Breaking through mid-battle is ultimately not a sure thing. They won’t be familiar with Foundation Establishment techniques, and against someone like Zhong Ming, there’s a chance of an unexpected failure. Only a cultivator who has been at the Foundation Establishment stage for a while can guarantee a victory against him."

"However, our sect possesses a Secret Technique that can seal a cultivator’s cultivation base, making them appear to be only at the Qi Cultivation stage."

"Therefore, we can also summon cultivators who have recently broken through. When the time comes, we can have a cultivator who reached Foundation Establishment some time ago disguise themselves as a Qi Cultivation disciple. Then, during the battle, they can unseal their cultivation and feign a breakthrough on the spot. It’s guaranteed to catch him completely by surprise!"

It could only be said that for sects like the Void Moon Sect, Celestial Sound Sect, and Qianqiu Valley to grow into Major Sects within the Prefecture City, none of them were pushovers.

To deal with Zhong Ming and extract more benefits from Prince Qinghe, they had resorted to numerous schemes.

And this was them holding back considerably, all because Zhong Ming had Prince Qinghe’s backing. A "mid-battle breakthrough," after all, was still technically within the rules of a same-level duel.

Otherwise, Zhong Ming would have learned the true meaning of the saying: ’When dealing with villains and heretics, there’s no need for honor. Everyone just attacks together.’

...

The six major sects were Zhong Ming’s rivals. Facing the overwhelming power he had displayed, they were wary and vexed, racking their brains for a way to defeat him.

But for Zhong Ming’s friends and those close to him, his powerful performance was a cause for ecstasy.

"He won! Senior Brother Zhong Ming won!"

"He’s our Senior Brother! He’s from our Seven Profound Sect!"

"Hahaha, I knew it! Eldest Senior Brother is the strongest..."

As Zhong Ming’s junior brothers and sisters, Xue Yao, Han Yu, Yan Chen, Su Lingya, and the others who had accompanied him to Qinghe Commandery Mansion had naturally come to watch him fight.

Now, seeing Zhong Ming’s resounding victory, Han Yu clenched his fists and shouted, his voice trembling with emotion.

Yan Chen also stood tall, his chest puffed out, his face a mask of pride and deep admiration.

Even the normally indifferent Xue Yao’s eyes were wide with shock.

"?!"

Han Yu’s excited shouts in public were hardly dignified, but none of the cultivators gathered around him looked down on him or laughed.

On the contrary, the gazes everyone directed at their group were filled with unconcealed envy and awe.

"Fellow cultivators, are you truly from the same sect as Lord Zhong Ming?"

"Of course we are." Han Yu puffed out his chest, his face beaming with pride. "Senior Brother has even sparred with me and given me pointers before."

At these words, the envy from the lakeside cultivators grew even stronger. Their gazes toward the group became more respectful, and their tones of voice softened considerably.

Some young women even approached Yan Chen and Han Yu’s group, asking how one might join the Seven Profound Sect.

This glory, being the focus of everyone’s attention, filled Yan Chen, Han Yu, and the others with an inexpressible pride and honor, causing them to unconsciously straighten their spines. The current situation was already enough to leave them feeling fulfilled, but they soon realized it wasn’t over yet.

SWOOSH!

After Zhong Ming’s victory over Mingya, the center of Crescent Lake remained silent for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Not a single person dared to step forward for another challenge.

Zhong Ming, standing tall in the sunlight, had truly struck fear into the hearts of Su Wanqiu, Miaoyun, and the rest. His overwhelming power left them with no hope of winning.

Under such circumstances, they certainly weren’t going to jump out and invite their own humiliation.

Just as Zhong Ming single-handedly suppressed all would-be challengers, a gilded Flying Ship slowly emerged from Prince Qinghe’s Manor. Its hull was exquisitely carved with dragons and phoenixes and wreathed in Spiritual Qi, exuding a magnificent, royal air.

The Flying Ship landed smoothly in front of Zhong Ming. The cabin door opened, and an old steward in a brocade robe with a dignified, timeless face stepped out. His expression was respectful yet steady as he bowed to Zhong Ming. "Young Master Zhong Ming, my Prince heard of your great victory and has sent this old servant to offer his congratulations. Congratulations, Young Master, on overpowering all rivals and reaching the pinnacle of Qinghe Prefecture City’s younger generation!"

"His Highness is greatly pleased by your unparalleled prowess, Young Master. To celebrate you earning this title, he has prepared a grand banquet at the Prince Mansion and invites all the cultivators in the city to attend."

"At the banquet, His Highness has also prepared a generous reward to commend you for your glorious achievements!"

The old steward’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried clearly across the entirety of Crescent Lake.

RUMBLE—

The moment he spoke, the cultivators both on the shore and in the center of the lake erupted. A wave of discussion and gasps of amazement rolled through the crowd, even more fervent than before.