The Cultivation Alliance Inspector, a Spirit Transformation Stage Expert, Lin Yi

As energy surged through the air, the once azure sky suddenly became blanketed in dark clouds, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Bronze-colored heavenly lightning bolts darted through the mist like dragons and serpents.

Sensing this surge of energy, everyone in the area ceased their movements, looking up in unison at the crystal-like ancient tower that had pierced through the clouds.

"This is... an inspector from the Cultivation Alliance!"

Teng Huayuan stared at the suddenly appearing tower, his heart filled with astonishment. He immediately knelt on the ground, his eyes wide with shock.

The other Nascent Soul Realm cultivators also knelt, a testament to the formidable authority the Cultivation Alliance envoys held within the Zhao Kingdom.

"I never expected a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator to appear within my Zhao Kingdom. Heh, truly a gifted talent."

A hearty voice echoed from within the tower, followed by the emergence of an old man. He was slightly stout, appearing unremarkable and plain.

He wore a long robe made of cyan satin that accentuated his protruding belly, giving him a rather comical appearance.

This man was the Heaven-Reaching Tower envoy, Lin Yi, who possessed the cultivation of the early Spirit Transformation Realm.

Lin Yi stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings before landing on Luo Chuan, who was dressed in white robes. A curve formed at the corner of his mouth as he nodded and said:

"So it is you, Luo Chuan, the founder of the Hengyue Sect. We meet again."

As the envoy to the Zhao Kingdom, Lin Yi had naturally heard of Luo Chuan, though back then, he had never truly regarded him as a threat.

After all, no one could have imagined that someone would be able to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm in their twenties.

Luo Chuan held his jade flute and smiled at the Heaven-Reaching Tower envoy, "Fellow Daoist Lin Yi, it has been a long time."

Faced with Luo Chuan addressing him as a fellow daoist, Lin Yi felt no anger; instead, he laughed heartily. "I still remember that when we last parted, you were only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. I never expected that in just over a decade, you would have already broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm."

"Truly a gifted talent."

"I had originally intended to use the spiritual roots of mortals to create gods for the Zhao Kingdom, but it seems that is no longer necessary. Fellow Daoist Luo Chuan, I wonder if you could guard this place for a hundred years? By then, our Zhao Kingdom will surely be elevated to a Level 4 Cultivation Country."

Lin Yi had racked his brains trying to increase the nation's strength. He was not a native of the Zhao Kingdom, and his duty was merely to guard the local Heaven-Reaching Tower; he had no way to elevate the Zhao Kingdom to a Level 4 status himself.

Now that Luo Chuan had returned, with his Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation, the Zhao Kingdom could be directly promoted to a Level 4 Cultivation Country, granting them access to countless resources.

Luo Chuan stood with one hand behind his back, replying in a calm tone, "We shall discuss this later. I cannot stay in the Zhao Kingdom for a hundred years, but I have already left my divine sense within the borders of the Zhao Kingdom, which can repel any attacks from below a Level 4 Cultivation Country."

Upon hearing these words, Lin Yi frowned, but he found it difficult to say anything more; after all, staying or leaving was not something he could dictate.

If he could guard this place for a hundred years, the Zhao Kingdom would be promoted to a Level 4 Cultivation Country, and the future opportunities would be immeasurable.

Lin Yi landed steadily on the ground, patted his protruding belly, and smiled. "Since you have broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, Fellow Daoist, the Hengyue Sect should also become the number one sect in the Zhao Kingdom."

Ye Zizai, the Sect Master of the Corpse Yin Sect in the crowd, frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the envoy's words.

Their Corpse Yin Sect was an incredibly powerful existence throughout the Vermilion Bird Planet; they even had a presence within Level 5 Cultivation Countries.

But now, with the Hengyue Sect becoming the number one sect in the Zhao Kingdom, wasn't this clearly asking them to hand over the resources their sect deserved?

Lin Yi looked at Ye Zizai and asked coldly, "What, do you disagree?"

Ye Zizai clenched his fists, bowed, and said, "This junior dares not."

Lin Yi snorted coldly and ignored him further. In his heart, besides other Spirit Transformation Realm powerhouses, no one else was qualified to speak with him.

"Since all the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators in the Zhao Kingdom are here, I will announce one thing in advance."

The group, led by Teng Huayuan, bowed and said in unison, "We pay our respects to the Envoy."

Lin Yi nodded and smiled. "The passage to the extraterritorial battlefield, which opens every five hundred years, is about to begin. The Zhao Kingdom has been granted the cleanup of one hundred thousand miles in the fifty-eight-degree direction of the northern suburbs."

"All high-grade magical treasures and pills collected therein shall belong to your respective sects."

Just then, the ancestor of Teng Family City, Teng Huayuan, stepped forward, bowed to Lin Yi, and asked curiously, "Envoy, may I ask how the battle for Jueming Valley will be conducted?"

"According to the regulations of the Cultivation Alliance, the Zhao Kingdom can only send three sects in, so the battle at Jueming Valley is the best method."

Lin Yi said in a flat tone, "The old rules apply: you may only arrange for Foundation Establishment Realm disciples to participate. Nascent Soul and Golden Core Realm cultivators are not permitted to intervene."

After confirming that all the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators of the Zhao Kingdom were present, the seven-colored clouds in the sky grew denser. Lin Yi floated slowly in the air, his fingers dancing as he shot a beam of golden light into the firmament.

Immediately, the clouds in the sky began to churn, and a red light descended from the heavens, striking the vast plaza of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, forming a barrier that completely enveloped the area.

"Level 3 Cultivation Country Inspector Lin Yi, respectfully welcomes the Alliance Envoy."

As the mist dissipated, a giant from the Giant Devil Race appeared out of thin air.

Surging energy spread outward like a raging tide.

Every Nascent Soul Realm expert in the Zhao Kingdom, including Wu Qingfeng and the others, felt their hearts tremble under the giant's gaze.

Their Nascent Souls nearly collapsed. They had no doubt that if the opponent stared for a moment longer, their own Nascent Souls would be unable to withstand the immense pressure and would explode on their own.

Luo Chuan stood with his hands behind his back; naturally, he could not feel any physical discomfort from the opponent's aura. On the contrary, this Giant Devil Race cultivator was only at the late Spirit Transformation Realm and lacked the ability to disturb his own aura.

"The spiritual energy in this godforsaken place is so thin it's not even worth a single breath."

The Giant Devil Race powerhouse snorted with disdain, then looked at Luo Chuan in the crowd. Upon sensing that he was also in the Spirit Transformation Realm, he merely nodded slightly.

"Listen well, all of you! One year from now, the passage to the extraterritorial battlefield will open. If anyone finds a bead like this inside, hand it over immediately!"

"Those who hand it over will be gifted a Nascent Soul Transformation-level magical treasure, but if anyone dares to keep the bead for themselves, I will slaughter every single person in your cultivation country!"

The deafening voice echoed through the crowd, as if he could wipe out every living soul here at any moment.

Even Lin Yi could clearly feel the energy radiating from the opponent, which was terrifying to the extreme.