Alliance Formed

Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the quiet guest hall, Lin Hai slowly opened his eyes. Floating before him were six crystal-clear jade slips. Within them, light swirled, containing incredibly profound and complex energy trajectories and information flows—these were the perfect rubbings of the Great Thousand Creation Palm and the Mysterious Underworld Heaven-Covering Seal.

Each spirit technique had been copied three times, just enough for the Gu Clan, the Flame Clan, and the Thunder Clan to distribute.

The moment he completed the final copying procedure, a gentle yet dignified voice transmission sounded in his ear: "Lord Lin Hai, Flame Clan Chief Yan Jin and Thunder Clan Chief Lei Ying have arrived at the council hall. Would you be willing to come for a discussion?"

It was the voice of Gu Yuan.

"Perfect." Lin Hai flicked his sleeves to put away the jade slips and rose to his full height.

When he arrived at the magnificent council hall with his four Seven-Star Spirit Saint attendants, the atmosphere inside was noticeably more solemn than it had been half a month ago, yet it also held a hint of irrepressible heat and anticipation.

Gu Yuan sat calmly in the main seat.

To his lower left sat a middle-aged man dressed in crimson robes. The man had a resolute face and eyebrows that looked like dancing flames; the temperature around him rose involuntarily. He was none other than the Flame Clan Chief, Yan Jin!

His strength had clearly reached the late stage of the Eight-Star Spirit Saint realm, making him extremely formidable.

To Gu Yuan's lower right sat an elder with a physique as burly as an iron tower. The elder's hair and beard stood on end, with faint lightning flickering within them, and his breathing seemed to carry the sound of muffled thunder. He was the Thunder Clan Chief, Lei Ying! His strength was likewise at the late stage of the Eight-Star Spirit Saint realm.

The Three Immortals of the Gu Clan sat in positions further down, their expressions solemn.

Lin Hai's arrival instantly drew everyone's gaze.

The eyes of Yan Jin and Lei Ying first swept over Lin Hai himself. Feeling that unfathomable aura, a flash of gravity crossed their eyes, but then their gazes were involuntarily drawn to the four silent attendants behind Lin Hai.

Four Seven-Star Spirit Saints!

The pupils of both Yan Jin and Lei Ying constricted slightly.

As clan chiefs, they naturally had Seven-Star Spirit Saint elders within their own ranks, but seeing four unfamiliar Seven-Star Spirit Saints appear as attendants all at once was a massive visual and psychological shock.

This gave them a more direct and profound understanding of the "mysterious powerhouse" and the "bargaining chips" Gu Yuan had mentioned in his previous message, causing the scales in their hearts to tilt a little further.

"Lord Lin Hai, you have arrived." Gu Yuan stood up with a smile to welcome him, his attitude even more enthusiastic than before. "Let me make introductions. This is the Flame Clan Chief, Yan Jin. And this is the Thunder Clan Chief, Lei Ying."

Yan Jin and Lei Ying also stood up and bowed slightly to Lin Hai. "We have long heard of your great name, Excellency." Their tone carried the basic respect due to a powerhouse, along with a hint of scrutiny.

Lin Hai returned the gesture calmly. "Greetings, Clan Chiefs."

Everyone took their seats again. As the host and the intermediary, Gu Yuan went straight to the point. "Two Clan Chiefs, the half-month consideration period has passed. Regarding the alliance to oppose the Soul Clan and the conditions proposed by Lord Lin Hai, what are your thoughts?"

Yan Jin and Lei Ying exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in the other's eyes.

No ancient clan could refuse the temptation of a Heaven-tier high-grade spirit technique, especially since the other party had promised that the Gu Clan would also provide two Ninth-Grade Profound Pills as alliance resources. This sincerity and generosity were enough to make them decide.

Yan Jin spoke first, his voice like surging subterranean fire. "The Soul Clan has wolfish ambitions; we have long been on guard. The Flame Clan agrees to the alliance! As long as the spirit techniques and pills are delivered, I will sign the soul contract!"

Lei Ying's voice was like rolling thunder as he followed up. "The Thunder Clan has no objections either! Rather than waiting for the Soul Clan to pick us off one by one, we might as well join forces and kick their asses! We accept the conditions!"

"Good!" Gu Yuan clapped his hands and laughed. "In that case, we shall proceed as previously discussed. To prevent the leakage of these spirit techniques, I must ask the three clan chiefs to swear by your souls and sign a contract. Aside from your own study, you must never teach these techniques to a second person within your clans; otherwise, you will suffer soul backlash and your cultivation will be completely destroyed!"

Yan Jin and Lei Ying nodded with solemn expressions.

They naturally understood the importance of Heaven-tier high-grade spirit techniques. Although this condition was harsh, it was entirely worth it for the long-term benefits.

Furthermore, having them controlled only by the clan chiefs would best ensure the improvement of the alliance's core combat power and the preservation of secrets.

"I, Yan Jin (Lei Ying), swear by my soul..."

"I, Gu Yuan, swear by my soul..."

The three clan chiefs did not hesitate, immediately swearing the most severe oaths using their own soul origins. Three invisible soul contract runes sank into their brows, and the binding was established.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan no longer hesitated. With a flip of his palm, he first took out the two Ninth-Grade Profound Pills belonging to the Flame Clan and the Thunder Clan. The fragrance of the pills instantly filled the hall, refreshing everyone's spirits.

He handed the pills to the two clan chiefs. "Two gentlemen, these are the two Ninth-Grade Profound Pills as promised, to be used as alliance resources."

The two solemnly accepted them and stored them in their storage rings.

Subsequently, Lin Hai took out four soul jade slips and sent them flying toward Yan Jin and Lei Ying respectively.

"Clan Chief Yan, this is the Mysterious Underworld Heaven-Covering Seal."

"Clan Chief Lei, this is the Great Thousand Creation Palm."

Yan Jin and Lei Ying held their breath as they carefully caught the incoming jade slips. When their soul power probed inside, the vast, ocean-like, and infinitely profound information instantly shook their minds, and expressions of wild joy surged onto their faces!

It was real! And it was a complete, Heaven-tier high-grade spirit technique!

Lin Hai handed the final two jade slips to Gu Yuan. "Clan Chief Gu Yuan, these are the rubbings of the two spirit techniques promised to the Gu Clan."

Gu Yuan accepted them, his heart also filled with excitement. The Gu Clan's foundation would gain another layer of strength because of this!

Finally, Gu Yuan took out one Ninth-Grade Profound Pill and handed it back to Lin Hai. "Lord Lin Hai, you have paid such a huge price for this alliance; this Ninth-Grade Profound Pill should rightfully belong to you."

Lin Hai glanced at it and did not decline, casually taking it and putting it away. This was what he was owed.

With this, the most critical step of the alliance had been achieved.

The atmosphere in the hall completely relaxed. All four clan chiefs wore smiles as they began to discuss the specific details of the alliance and the time to launch the war against the Soul Clan.

Lin Hai sat quietly to the side, listening to their discussion with a profound gaze.