The Ceremony Drew Near

"You Gu Clan friends arrived quite quickly!" Xiao Ding said calmly.

Unlike the former, Gu Qingyang and the other two looked at the person in front of them with serious expressions.

Nine-Star Dou Zun!

Upon meeting, they were able to sense each other's cultivation level.

If that's all there is to it, then it's nothing special. They're just Nine-Star Dou Zun, and that's not something they don't possess.

What truly made them extremely cautious was the opponent's method of concealing their cultivation level. Everyone entering the Gu Clan was secretly tested by a powerful Gu Clan from within, yet even so, the opponent had not revealed their true cultivation level. Such a method was truly terrifying!

They exchanged Gu Qingyang and saw the seriousness in each other's eyes. They all guessed, to varying degrees, that the Xiao Clan's entry into the Heavenly Tomb was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a long-planned scheme.

Their purpose was almost certainly to target Xiao Xuan's Tomb within the Heavenly Tomb.

However, despite these thoughts, Gu Qingyang and the others were all composed individuals. Suppressing their surprise, they smiled and said after hearing Xiao Ding's greeting:

"The three of us just arrived too; Brother Xiao Ding is quite fast!"

Immediately, Gu Qingyang started making conversation.

"So, Brother Xiao Ding was also forced here by this Energy Storm?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ding wore a helpless expression. "The Energy Storm in this Heavenly Tomb is too dangerous and has a wide range of impact, so I have no choice but to go to the third level to avoid the storm."

"But I didn't expect..." Glancing at the magnificent Energy Crystal Wall ahead, "It'll take quite a bit of effort to get into this third level!"

Gu Qingyang laughed heartily, "Brother Xiao Ding, you may not know this, but the entrance to the third level has been like this since the time our Ancient Eight Tribes first entered the Heavenly Tomb."

"Opening up a passage is not something that can be done by one person alone."

"All we can do now is wait for the others to enter together."

"Thank you for informing me." Xiao Ding nodded, then fell silent, closing his eyes to wait.

Gu Qingyang and the other two stopped talking.

Before long, several slightly disheveled figures appeared in the field of vision, behind them was the Energy Storm that made people tremble at the mere mention of it.

On the opposite side, they saw the entrance to the third floor. The group, who had been traveling for several days, were overjoyed and quickened their pace, rushing towards the entrance.

However, compared to the others who had survived the ordeal, Hun Ya, his face looking as if he had swallowed a dead fly.

It was only because his gaze fell upon a figure that was giving him a malicious smile.

However, thinking about the relentless Energy Storm chasing behind him, Hun Ya gritted his teeth and accelerated again, rushing towards the entrance to the third level.

"Big brother, you're fast!" Xiao Yan chuckled.

However, after hearing this, Xiao Ding's face darkened. He took a few steps forward, hooked his arm around Xiao Yan's neck, and said with a "gentle smile," "Third brother, I'll give you another chance. Refine your words."

Seeing Xiao Ding's narrowed eyes and the faint killing intent emanating from him, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shiver and immediately changed his words:

"Big brother, you're here so early!"

"Hmm." Xiao Yan felt the pressure on his body ease. Xiao Ding had stopped what he was doing at some point and said:

"I just arrived recently; those were probably the first people to arrive."

As he spoke, Xiao Ding gestured towards Gu Qingyang and the others.

At that moment, the two felt a gaze of hatred and fear fall upon them. Following the gaze, they saw Hun Ya's venomous eyes.

When the latter noticed that the two were looking at them, they unconsciously shifted their gaze.

"Does Brother know what's going on at Hun Ya?" Xiao Yan asked telepathically, though he had some guesses and wanted a definitive answer.

"Just as you expected," Xiao Ding said with a smile.

"Did you really do this, brother?" Xiao Ding's words shocked Xiao Yan. One against two! Such a feat was simply unimaginable.

As the two were talking, the others also gradually sensed Xiao Ding's unusually high cultivation level and cast surprised glances at him.

However, when they thought about the Energy Storm that was about to hit them, they all buried their surprise deep in their hearts.

Subsequently, Gu Qingyang's proposal to cooperate in breaking through the materialized third level of entry was also approved...

Central Plains, in the Southwestern Region.

The headquarters of the Ten Thousand Puppets Sect.

"Sect Master, everything is arranged and we are just waiting for the opening ceremony in three days." A middle-aged man respectfully reported to the pale-faced man in front of him. This man was none other than the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Puppets Sect — Puppet Saint Jiang Yu.

"Hmm." Jiang Yu nodded slightly, his voice calm. "Have those restless fellows made any moves?"

As an emerging force, the Ten Thousand Puppets Sect unsurprisingly encountered obstruction from established powers, even though Jiang Yu 'Dou Sheng strength made many forces extremely wary.

However, the development of a sect is not a matter of one strong person fighting alone; often, strength is only one aspect.

However, Jiang Yu was not so reckless as to annihilate all the sects that opposed the establishment of the Ten Thousand Puppets Sect. He needed to use other methods to deal with unfriendly actions.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man nodded, swallowed hard, and said, "They seem to be preparing to join forces with other powers to blockade us."

"At the founding ceremony, there may be very few forces coming to congratulate our sect."

Sometimes, the power of numbers is not just an empty phrase. Especially when it comes to the development of a sect, once a sect shows signs of being isolated by other forces, it will be extremely difficult to recruit members and will be quite inconvenient in many aspects of its operations.

Just when the middle-aged man thought his Sect Master would have a hard time, the latter chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned, "These are all the tricks they can use."

In the past year, Jiang Yu did nothing but visit all the powerful sects in the Central State, Southwestern Region, engaging in one-on-one battles or group fights, and eventually subdued them all.

However, these seasoned veterans only abandoned their idea of forcing the emperor to abdicate under Jiang Yu's intimidation, but they still came up with a variety of other underhanded tricks.

But these actions were seen as extremely naive by the latter. It was only because he still wanted to stay in Central Plains that he couldn't make any big moves; otherwise, he would have sent them all to meet their powerful predecessors long ago.

"Don't worry, these are minor issues. We can proceed as normal." Jiang Yu's expression remained unchanged.

Although he doesn't have many helpers, they are not a bunch of rabble who can be compared to him. They are just frogs in a well and not worth worrying about!

"Yes!" The middle-aged man showed respect. As the first powerful person Jiang Yu had subdued, he had a clearer understanding of the former.

Jiang Yu's calm demeanor and formidable strength naturally inspire trust in people, as if nothing is a problem as long as he is present.

And so, time drew ever closer to the inauguration ceremony.