That was picking a fight.
Everyone had thought the Alliance, with its thick brows and big eyes, was a good brother in the business of earning spirit stones together. Who would have expected this good brother to turn around and stockpile weapons meant to take lives?
What, business had become too hard, so they wanted to play at war?
"Please, everyone, remain calm."
Facing the ill-looking cultivators from the major sects, An Dongcheng showed not the slightest sign of panic.
The Alliance's position was actually quite a sensitive matter.
It stood between independent cultivators and sects, maintaining the balance among human cultivators in this increasingly chaotic world.
It stood on the side of independent cultivators, yet still managed to coexist harmoniously with the sects.
That was, in truth, a rather awkward position.
Everyone understood it in their hearts: one day, as the times changed, the Alliance would ultimately choose a side and completely lean toward it.
But before that day came, because of the enormous benefits it brought, either side could continue tolerating its practice of betting on both horses;
provided that it did not take the initiative to seek change itself.
After An Dongcheng had previously laid out the Alliance's plans, the sects had already understood that the Alliance was planning to expand again.
But expansion had to have limits.
Quite a few people stared intently at An Dongcheng before them, while several highly cultivated Purple Mansion realm cultivators secretly turned their gazes toward Ye Xiu.
They wanted to know whether this was merely the radical action of the younger generation, or whether Ye Xiu, the great hand behind the scenes, had grown dissatisfied with the Alliance's current state.
Sensing the faintly hostile spiritual power, Ye Xiu had no intention of indulging these people.
If he showed weakness now,