Chapter 300: Four Houses Gather, Alliance Grand Competition?

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

When Zhang Cang brought Xu Gu back to the sect's main hall.

Qingshan Sect Master hurriedly asked, "How did it go? Did Clan Leader Jiang agree to the alliance?"

This matter was significant enough to alter the fate of the entire Qingshan Sect, so naturally his heart was uneasy.

However, as Zhang Cang recounted, the Qingshan Sect Master was instantly overjoyed!

He had no objections whatsoever to Zhang Cang taking the initiative to build Cangwu City on behalf of the Jiang clan.

On the contrary, he greatly admired the other's ability to adapt on the fly.

After all, the matter of Cangwu City held tremendous benefits for all four great powers.

Then, the Qingshan Sect Master inquired, "Elder Zhang, you once met the White-Robed Sword Marquis in person. How did his presence feel?"

Zhang Cang deliberated for a moment.

Recalling that overwhelming pressure, he said with lingering awe, "Like an abyss, like the heavens, unfathomably deep. He seemed even more powerful than the feeling Sima Nan gave me."

"Oh? It seems all of us have somewhat underestimated this White-Robed Sword Marquis. He is far more terrifying than we imagined."

A look of astonishment crossed the Qingshan Sect Master's face.

If that were the case, then the alliance would be a tremendous blessing for their four powers!

As for the truth of it, he harbored no doubts.

He knew Zhang Cang's character was steady, his mind agile, and his ability to handle affairs extremely strong.

If he said so, he naturally had full confidence.

A big tree provides good shade.

Thinking that his own sect would one day have such a powerful backer, the Qingshan Sect Master grew even more ecstatic.

He looked at the surrounding Elders and hurriedly instructed, "Quickly go notify the other three houses. Invite them here to discuss this great matter. We need to put the construction plan for Cangwu City on the agenda as soon as possible..."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

The crowd exchanged glances, a rich shade of joy filling their eyes.

Not long after.

The Bihai Zhao Clan Leader, the Heavenly Elixir Sect Master, and the Crimson Soul Sect Master arrived.

The leaders of the three great powers gathered with the Qingshan Sect Master at the peak of Qingshan Sect!

The four powers engaged in a heated discussion regarding the White-Robed Sword Marquis.

Such a smooth agreement to the alliance was beyond everyone's expectations.

But with such a powerful figure presiding over the alliance, it was enough to make the surrounding powers wary!

Facing the matter of Cangwu City, everyone understood the pros and cons and readily agreed.

They resolved that upon returning to their base, they would immediately mobilize personnel and dispatch them to the foot of Cangwu Mountain to begin constructing this cultivator city.

Then, the Zhao Clan Leader suddenly said, "Now that the alliance is a foregone conclusion, but if we wish to deter our Lord Sima and the surrounding powers, it is still somewhat insufficient."

The Heavenly Elixir Sect Master's gaze shifted slightly: "You mean?"

The Zhao Clan Leader faced the crowd and said unhurriedly, "Recently, our Old Ancestor is about to visit Cangwu Mountain. Why not go with the flow and hold an Alliance Grand Competition for the younger generation?"

"Using the Alliance Grand Competition as a pretext, we can broadly invite various powers to observe. Once it concludes, we can then ask the White-Robed Sword Marquis to step forward and exchange a few moves with whichever family's Old Ancestor, thereby demonstrating martial prowess and deterring the various powers?"

"After all, the principle of 'hearing is false, seeing is true'—I trust you all understand. Only by truly witnessing the White-Robed Sword Marquis's power can this alliance truly solidify its reputation as a top-tier power!"

At these words, everyone's eyes lit up at once.

They couldn't help but sigh that the Zhao family truly lived up to being a clan that ran a merchant guild—truly flexible in their thinking.

The Qingshan Sect Master laughed, "What a case of 'the drunkard's intent is not in the wine.' Zhao Clan Leader, this idea of yours is excellent. I imagine once this Alliance Grand Competition concludes, our Lord Sima will probably lose sleep tonight..."

As his words fell, the entire hall burst into laughter.

At this moment, the Crimson Soul Sect Master said, "Although the competition among the younger generation is merely a pretext, the proper rewards must still be present, lest the Cangwu Jiang family think us stingy and we lose face for no reason."

The Heavenly Elixir Sect Master nodded slightly: "Clan Leader Jiang is the Alliance Leader of the five-power alliance, a noble status. If we were to produce some broken trinkets, it would inevitably show some disrespect. This old man is willing to offer four Longevity Pills as rewards!"

At these words, everyone was immediately shocked.

The Longevity Pill, an Earth-grade upper-tier elixir.

Consuming one grants an additional ten years of lifespan.

One person may consume at most three.

The ingredients are rare, the refinement extremely difficult—a single furnace is hard to produce in several decades!

It is the signature treasure pill of the Heavenly Elixir Sect!

On ordinary days, even if they wished to purchase them, they were turned away at the door!

Yet unexpectedly, for the sake of the alliance, the other party would actually offer this item as a reward!

Seeing this, the Crimson Soul Sect Master laughed heartily: "Since even you have brought out the Longevity Pills, if this Sect Master were to offer some common goods, I would only be shaming myself. In that case, for this occasion I am willing to offer five Heart-Refining Stones from my sect!"

As his words fell, everyone immediately understood that the other party was also going all out.

The Heart-Refining Stone is a peculiar mineral unique to the Crimson Soul Sect, its grade conspicuously reaching Earth-grade mid-tier.

Its output is scarce; each one can temper a cultivator's mind and spirit, condensing their will—the effects are extraordinary!

At this moment, seeing both the Heavenly Elixir Sect Master and the Crimson Soul Sect Master offer such rewards.

The Qingshan Sect Master's mouth twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but admire the grand gestures of both sides.

But at this moment, not wanting to lose face, he could only forcefully suppress his heartache and say, "Ahem, my Qingshan Sect once, five hundred years ago, accidentally obtained a black ruler measuring five chi in length. Its specific grade is unknown, but it is extraordinarily heavy, able to slightly suppress primeval force, and is indestructible. It is a rare and wondrous treasure."

"For the upcoming Alliance Grand Competition, I shall offer this as the reward."

As the Qingshan Sect Master finished speaking.

Everyone immediately looked toward the Zhao Clan Leader, curious what he was preparing to offer.

The Zhao Clan Leader chuckled lightly: "Our Zhao family's Tongbao Merchant Guild recently just obtained a Mysterious-grade supreme-tier strange flame. If we offer this item along with a jar of Golden Body Liquid long treasured by our Zhao family, as well as an Earth-grade upper-tier spiritual herb, as rewards for this grand competition, how does that sound?"

Golden Body Elixir is a specially formulated external ointment of the Zhao family.

It reaches the Mid-Class Earth Rank.

As long as it is applied to the skin and absorbed and refined with Yuan Power, it strengthens the body and flesh!

It is a treasure beyond the reach of many Body Refinement cultivators!

Upon hearing this, the crowd could not help but sigh: "The Zhao family is truly wealthy—what a grand gesture."

"To invest so heavily, the Zhao clan head must have complete confidence in his own juniors."

"It is said that not long ago, the Zhao family's prodigy Zhao Yuqing has already broken through to Yuan Sea Stage Five; his combat power is astonishing—he slew a Yuan Sea Stage Nine expert immediately upon breakthrough. He will surely claim first place in this Grand Competition."

The crowd understood why the Zhao family was willing to pay such a heavy price.

It was simply because, over the years, the Zhao family had produced talent after talent and held absolute confidence in the Alliance Grand Competition.

They were confident these resources would ultimately return to their own clan members.

However, none of the others paid much attention to this.

They merely thought it was time to take some disciples out to see the world.

Afterwards, the leaders of the four factions chatted briefly, then bid each other farewell and returned to their bases.

They had not yet announced anything regarding the Alliance Grand Competition.

They merely assigned Elders to accompany the construction team heading to Cangwu Mountain.

To consult with Lord Jiang's opinion.

If he approves of the Alliance Grand Competition, then announcing the news would not be too late.