Qingxue's visit, a proposed alliance

Within Chen Hall, the Luminous Pearls cast a soft glow.

Ye Chen sat in the seat of honor, his expression calm. Below him, Lin Qingxue stood with graceful poise.

Compared to their last parting, her aura had grown more concentrated, and her cultivation had stabilized at the late Nascent Soul stage. The coolness and resolve between her brows remained, but a barely perceptible trace of weariness and worry seemed to have entered her eyes. She still wore that pale blue-green dress, though a subtle ice lotus pattern now adorned its cuffs—clearly the mark of the Mystic Maiden Palace.

"Young Master Ye, I trust you've been well." Lin Qingxue bowed slightly, her clear voice carrying just the right measure of respect. Neither of her two guards, Uncle Chen and Uncle Li, had accompanied her. Clearly, she had come for a private meeting.

"Please sit, Miss Lin." Ye Chen gestured, his gaze lingering briefly on the subtle ice lotus pattern at her cuff. "It seems your journey to the Northern Border went rather smoothly."

A maid served Spirit Tea, still the variety cultivated by Ye Ling, its delicate fragrance curling through the air.

Lin Qingxue sat as invited and lifted her teacup, her fingertips tightening slightly around it, betraying her inner unrest. "Thanks to you, Young Master Ye, I reached the Mystic Maiden Palace safely and secured Senior Ice Soul Immortal's promise to lend aid should the Heavenly Sword Pavilion face a crisis. Everyone in the Heavenly Sword Pavilion will remember this kindness." Once again, she offered her solemn thanks.

"It was no more than lifting a hand. There's no need to dwell on it, Miss Lin," Ye Chen said evenly. "Your jade slip mentioned the Sacred Emperor Palace and the Fallen Star Sea. What are the details?"

At the mention of business, Lin Qingxue's expression grew solemn, and she set down her cup. "This matter is of grave importance, so I dare conceal nothing. On my return to the sect, I passed a secret outpost established by the Sacred Emperor Palace. Through a chance opportunity, I intercepted a set of their orders transmitted in a special cipher."

She paused to gather her words. "The orders stated that His Majesty the Holy Emperor had personally commanded the Star Guards and several elders in secluded cultivation to proceed secretly to the Fallen Star Sea. They seemed intent on opening an ancient ruin called Starfall Hall. The orders repeatedly emphasized 'the key,' 'the opportunity,' and 'no room for failure.' They even hinted that this concerned whether the Sacred Emperor Palace could... 'break the chains of fate and advance another step.'"

"Break the chains of fate and advance another step?" A sharp light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. How closely that resembled transcendence! The Sacred Emperor Palace did indeed know something, and they were acting with such speed and decisiveness.

"Yes." Lin Qingxue nodded, deep concern filling her beautiful eyes. "Beyond that, the orders mentioned that, to ensure Starfall Hall opened smoothly, they needed to keep all parties in check for the time being. In particular, they said... to monitor the Heavenly Star Pavilion and your movements closely, Young Master Ye, and, if possible, win you over or... suppress you."

She looked at Ye Chen, a note of earnestness entering her voice. "Young Master Ye, the Sacred Emperor Palace commands enormous power and deep reserves. Their ambitions certainly extend beyond ruling the Primordial Wilderness. Given how much importance they place on the Fallen Star Sea and Starfall Hall, a secret capable of shaking the heavens must lie within. Their attention is focused on the Fallen Star Sea for now, giving both my Heavenly Sword Pavilion and your Heavenly Star Pavilion a chance to catch our breath. But this may also be the calm before the storm. Once they gain something in the Fallen Star Sea, their strength will surely soar. When that happens..."

She left the rest unsaid, but her meaning was clear. If the Sacred Emperor Palace grew stronger, the first ones they would deal with would be the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, which refused to submit, and the unfathomably mysterious Heavenly Star Pavilion.

Ye Chen listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his chair. Lin Qingxue's news corroborated the information he had obtained from the Star Map. The Fallen Star Sea, Starfall Hall, the key... everything pointed toward that ancient secret of transcendence.

"Miss Lin, I imagine you haven't shared such important intelligence merely to warn me?" Ye Chen raised his eyes and regarded Lin Qingxue calmly.

Lin Qingxue met his gaze without the slightest evasion, determination etched across her lovely face. "You see clearly, Young Master Ye. I came first to repay you for saving my life, and second... to represent the Heavenly Sword Pavilion in seeking an alliance with the Heavenly Star Pavilion!"

"An alliance?" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, unsurprised. With the Heavenly Sword Pavilion facing immense pressure from the Sacred Emperor Palace, seeking powerful outside support was inevitable. The mysterious and formidable Heavenly Star Pavilion, which had just established its might, was undoubtedly an excellent choice.

"Yes!" Lin Qingxue's voice was firm. "The Sacred Emperor Palace acts against all that is right, driven by ruthless ambition. They are no blessing to the Primordial Wilderness. My Heavenly Sword Pavilion and the Mystic Maiden Palace uphold the righteous path and wish to safeguard this world's peace, but our strength is limited. Your power reaches the heavens, Young Master Ye, and the Heavenly Star Pavilion's potential is boundless. If we join forces and support each other like the horns of a beast, we may be able to stand against the Sacred Emperor Palace and wrest a thread of survival from these troubled times!"

Her words were sincere, carrying a determination to spare nothing for her sect's survival.

Ye Chen did not answer immediately. Whether to form an alliance would shape the Heavenly Star Pavilion's future strategy. The Heavenly Sword Pavilion was a standard-bearer of the righteous path. An alliance would swiftly raise the Heavenly Star Pavilion's prestige and win support from some righteous factions, but it would also place them directly against the Sacred Emperor Palace, leaving no room for maneuver.

After a moment's reflection, he spoke slowly. "Miss Lin, an alliance is no trifling matter. Do you realize that my Heavenly Star Pavilion's foundations are still shallow, while our enemy may be the Sacred Emperor Palace, which rules the Primordial Wilderness? Is your Heavenly Sword Pavilion truly willing to bear such a risk?"

Lin Qingxue answered without hesitation. "The risk is indeed enormous, but if we allow the Sacred Emperor Palace to keep growing, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion's destruction will only be a matter of time. Rather than sit and await death, we should stake everything on a fight! As for the Heavenly Star Pavilion..." She looked at Ye Chen, an inexplicable trust in her eyes. "I believe that with your abilities and the Heavenly Star Pavilion's potential, you will never stop here! Walking beside the strong may be dangerous, but it is also an honor!"

Her words reflected practical considerations as well as admiration and trust in Ye Chen himself.

Looking into her clear, resolute eyes, Ye Chen suddenly smiled. This woman had no shortage of courage, and her judgment was good, too.

"Very well." At last, Ye Chen nodded. "Since you and the Heavenly Sword Pavilion have shown such sincerity, Miss Lin, my Heavenly Star Pavilion will accept this alliance."

At his words, delight instantly lit Lin Qingxue's eyes. She hurriedly rose and bowed solemnly. "Thank you, Young Master Ye! The Heavenly Sword Pavilion will never betray this pact!"

"However," Ye Chen said, shifting the subject, "the details still require discussion. Intelligence sharing, mutual assistance with resources, and... acting together when facing the Sacred Emperor Palace, whether advancing or retreating."

"Of course!" Lin Qingxue replied at once. "I can represent my sect in discussing and settling the specific terms with your subordinates."

Ye Chen nodded and called to Ye Yun outside the hall. "Ye Yun, you will be responsible for coordinating this matter with Miss Lin."

"Yes, young master." Ye Yun bowed and accepted the order.

With their business settled, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed considerably.

Lin Qingxue looked at Ye Chen and hesitated, but could not resist asking, "Young Master Ye, forgive my presumptuous question, but... are you also interested in the Fallen Star Sea?"

Ye Chen glanced at her and made no attempt to hide it. "I happened upon some clues. I do indeed need to make a trip there."

Lin Qingxue's beautiful eyes brightened. "In that case, might we travel together? The Heavenly Sword Pavilion has some records concerning the Fallen Star Sea that may prove useful to you. Besides, with the Sacred Emperor Palace's forces infiltrating the area, another companion means another person to watch your back." Her words were half for the common good and half for herself. Publicly, traveling with Ye Chen would greatly increase her safety and help her keep better track of the Sacred Emperor Palace's movements. Privately... she had discovered that she was full of curiosity about this mysterious, powerful Young Master Ye and hoped for more opportunities to spend time with him.

After a brief consideration, Ye Chen understood Lin Qingxue's intentions. He did not object. The Heavenly Sword Pavilion's records might indeed prove useful, and having Lin Qingxue along as a "banner of the righteous path" would make many things easier.

"Agreed," he answered succinctly.

Joy filled Lin Qingxue's heart, though she did not let it show on her face. She bowed again. "Then I shall take my leave and discuss the alliance's details with Guardian Ye. I won't disturb your cultivation any longer."

After seeing Lin Qingxue off, Ye Chen sat alone in the hall, a wisp of primordial chaos purple qi winding around his fingertips.

"An alliance... the Fallen Star Sea... Starfall Hall..." he murmured, a calculating gleam flickering in his eyes.

"This game of chess is becoming more and more interesting. Sacred Emperor Palace, let me see just how many hidden cards you hold as the rightful ruler of the Primordial Wilderness."

His figure slowly grew faint as he once again entered deep meditation. He still needed time to absorb what he had gained from fusing the fragments and contemplating the Star Map. Before heading to the Fallen Star Sea, he also needed to prepare for every eventuality.

The alliance between the Heavenly Star Pavilion and the Heavenly Sword Pavilion was like a massive stone cast into a lake. It would surely stir fresh waves across the Primordial World, where dark currents surged beneath the surface.