As energy surged through the air, the once sea-blue sky suddenly filled with dark clouds. Lightning flashed and thunder roared as bronze-colored bolts of heavenly lightning darted through the clouds like dragons and snakes.
As soon as they sensed this energy, everyone present stopped what they were doing and looked up at the ancient tower, its entire body like crystal, piercing through the clouds.
"Could this be... the Cultivation Alliance Inspector?"
Staring at the ancient tower that had suddenly appeared, Teng Huayuan was startled. He immediately dropped to his knees, his eyes filled with shock.
The other Nascent Soul cultivators also knelt. This was enough to show just how formidable the Cultivation Alliance's envoys were within Zhao Kingdom.
"I never thought a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator would appear in Zhao Kingdom. Heh, what remarkable talent."
A hearty voice came from inside the tower. A moment later, an old man walked out. He was somewhat round, and looked plain and unremarkable.
His long robe was made of blue satin. It stretched over his prominently bulging belly, making him look rather comical.
This was Lin Yi, the Heaven-Reaching Tower's envoy, a cultivator at the Early Spirit Severing Realm.
Lin Yi stroked his beard and surveyed his surroundings. Then he turned to Luo Chuan, who wore a white robe, and smiled faintly. Nodding, he said:
"So it's you, Progenitor of the Hengyue Sect, Luo Chuan. We meet again."
As Zhao Kingdom's envoy, Lin Yi had naturally heard of Luo Chuan. However, back then, he hadn't taken Luo Chuan seriously at all.
After all, who could have imagined that someone would reach the Spirit Severing Realm in their twenties?
Holding the Jade Flute, Luo Chuan looked at the Heaven-Reaching Tower's envoy, Lin Yi, and smiled. "It's been a long time, Fellow Daoist Lin."
Lin Yi wasn't angered by Luo Chuan addressing him as a fellow cultivator. Instead, he laughed heartily. "The last time we parted, you were only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, as I recall. I never imagined you'd reach the Spirit Severing Realm in just over a decade."
"What remarkable talent."
"I'd originally planned to use ordinary people's spiritual roots to create a god for Zhao Kingdom, but it seems there's no need for that now. Fellow Daoist Luo, would you be willing to guard this place for a hundred years? By then, Zhao Kingdom would surely advance to a Level 4 Cultivation Country."
Lin Yi had racked his brains trying to improve his country's strength. He wasn't a native of Zhao Kingdom, and his duty was to guard the Heaven-Reaching Tower here. There was simply no way for him to raise Zhao Kingdom to a Level 4 Cultivation Country.
Now that Luo Chuan had returned, his Spirit Severing Realm cultivation would allow Zhao Kingdom to advance directly to a Level 4 Cultivation Country, gaining resources beyond count.
With one hand behind his back, Luo Chuan replied calmly, "We can discuss that later. I can't stay in Zhao Kingdom for a hundred years, but I've left my divine sense within its borders. It can repel attacks from any country below Level 4."
Hearing this, Lin Yi furrowed his brow, but couldn't say anything more. After all, whether Luo Chuan stayed or left wasn't for him to decide.
If Luo Chuan guarded this place for a hundred years, Zhao Kingdom would advance straight to a Level 4 Cultivation Country, and the opportunities it gained in the future would be beyond measure.
Lin Yi descended smoothly to the ground, patted his rounded belly, and smiled. "Since Fellow Daoist has reached the Spirit Severing Realm, the Hengyue Sect should become Zhao Kingdom's number one sect."
Ye Zizai, the Corpse Yin Sect's leader, furrowed his brow slightly among the crowd. Clearly, he wasn't pleased with the envoy's words.
The Corpse Yin Sect was a formidable presence across the entire Vermilion Bird Planet. It even had influence in Level 5 Cultivation Countries.
But now, with the Hengyue Sect becoming Zhao Kingdom's number one sect, wasn't that just handing over the resources their sect deserved?
Lin Yi looked at Ye Zizai and asked coldly, "What, do you disagree?"
Ye Zizai clenched his fists and cupped them in salute. "This junior wouldn't dare."
Lin Yi snorted and didn't bother addressing Ye Zizai again. In his eyes, only Spirit Severing Realm experts were qualified to speak to him. No one else had that right.
"Since all the Nascent Soul cultivators within Zhao Kingdom are gathered here, I'll tell you something in advance."
The crowd, led by Teng Huayuan, bowed in salute and spoke in unison. "We pay our respects to Your Excellency, Envoy."
Lin Yi nodded and smiled. "The passage to the Outer Realm Battlefield, which opens once every five hundred years, is about to open. Zhao Kingdom has been assigned to clear an area stretching a hundred thousand li in the direction of fifty-eight degrees northeast."
"All high-grade magical treasures and pills collected there will belong to your respective sects."
Just then, Teng Huayuan, the ancestor of Teng Family City, stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Lin Yi. He asked curiously, "Your Excellency, Envoy, how will the battle at Jueming Valley be conducted?"
"However, according to the Cultivation Alliance's regulations, Zhao Kingdom can send only three sects. Therefore, a battle at Jueming Valley is the best solution."
Lin Yi spoke calmly. "As usual, you may send only Foundation Establishment disciples to participate. Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators are forbidden from taking action."
Once it was confirmed that all of Zhao Kingdom's Nascent Soul cultivators had arrived, the seven-colored clouds in the sky grew denser. Lin Yi slowly floated into the air and moved his fingers, sending a streak of golden light into the heavens.
The clouds overhead immediately began to churn. A red light descended from the sky and struck the vast plaza of the Heaven-Reaching Tower. A barrier formed, completely enclosing the plaza.
"I, Lin Yi, Inspector of the Level 3 Cultivation Country, respectfully welcome the arrival of the Alliance Envoy."
As the clouds dispersed, a giant of the Giant Devil Race appeared out of thin air.
Surging energy spread in every direction like a raging sea.
All of Zhao Kingdom's Nascent Soul experts, including Wu Qingfeng and the other two, felt their hearts pound at the giant's mere glance.
Their Nascent Souls nearly shattered. They had no doubt that if the other man continued staring for even a moment longer, the tremendous pressure would overwhelm their Nascent Souls and make them burst apart.
Luo Chuan stood with his hands behind his back. The other man's aura naturally caused him no discomfort. On the contrary, this Giant Devil cultivator was only at the Late Spirit Severing Realm—not powerful enough to throw Luo Chuan's aura into disarray.
"The spiritual energy in this lousy place is so thin it's practically nonexistent—not even enough for me to take a single breath."
The Giant Devil expert gave a contemptuous snort. Then he looked toward Luo Chuan in the crowd. After sensing that Luo Chuan was also at the Spirit Severing Realm, he merely nodded slightly.
"Listen up, all of you. The passage to the Outer Realm Battlefield will open in one year. If anyone finds a bead like this in the battlefield, hand it over immediately!"
"Whoever turns it in will receive a Yingbian Realm magical treasure. But if anyone dares keep the bead for themselves, I'll slaughter every last person in your Cultivation Country!"
His deafening voice rang through the crowd. It seemed as if he could wipe out every living thing here at any moment.
Even Lin Yi could clearly feel the energy radiating from the other man. It was terrifying beyond compare.