Chapter 281: Alliance Invitation

After a hearty meal, Ye Liuyun, accompanied by the Grand Elder, hurried to the training arena.

Elders of the Divine Sword Palace were already there and led the two of them into a Grand Hall.

"Where are the others?" Ye Liuyun asked curiously.

The elder replied, "Our Divine Sword Palace's Secret Realm is unique; it can only teleport to fixed points. Since you and they are destined for different locations, the transports are separate."

After ushering them into the hall, the elder left immediately.

In the hall sat the Palace Master of the Divine Sword Palace and the Black-clothed Person.

Ye Liuyun paid his respects to the Palace Master and waited nearby. He sensed that the black‑robed man had a non‑trivial background; his appearance now was not merely to glance at him.

The Palace Master examined Ye Liuyun and found he could not see through him. His Sea of Consciousness and Qi Sea were both shrouded by a mysterious force, and he laughed, "Not simple indeed, a hero truly emerges in youth!"

"Master, you overpraise me! May I ask why you summoned me, what orders you have?" Ye Liuyun, seeing the Master avoid the point, asked directly.

"Hahaha!" the Black-clothed Person laughed suddenly. "The kid is clever! I won't beat around the bush, let me tell you my purpose."

Then the Black-clothed Person explained: "On the Cangyun Continent there are several Alliances that, whenever foreign tribes or demonic forces invade, appear in the world to lead Martial Cultivators in defending their homes. Now those evil corpses have become a matter of destiny. Not only the Northern Territory has them; other realms are also seeing them in batches. Consequently, the Alliances across the lands have become active again."

He paused, then continued: "I am the Guide of the Northern Territory Alliance. In view of your outstanding performance, I, on behalf of the Alliance, invite you to join. However, the Alliance only accepts saints, so you must reach the Holy Realm before you can join. With your talent, that should be soon."

While speaking, he handed Ye Liuyun a black Token. "When you reach the Holy Realm and decide to join us, crush this Token and I will come to escort you into the Alliance. I know you'll have many questions; after you return you can ask the Dean of your Holy Martial Academy. I won't waste more of your time. Regardless of whether you join, this matter must not be spread outside; remember that."

The black‑robed man gave that instruction and vanished instantly.

The Palace Master also said, "Alright, this matter is concluded. Return and discuss it with your Dean! Now, it's time for you to receive your reward."

The Grand Elder transmitted a voice to Ye Liuyun: "I've heard of the Northern Territory Alliance; it should be a good thing for you. For now, keep the Token safe and seize the opportunity before you."

Although full of doubts, Ye Liuyun still pocketed the Token, intending to ask the Dean when he returned.

The Palace Master also infused True Essence into a Formation and kindly told him, "Step into the middle of the Formation. Once inside, you must rely on yourself to seize the chance!"

Ye Liuyun nodded, then stepped into the center of the Formation. Immediately, a whirlwind of sky and earth spun, and he was transported to another space.

This space differed from the Secret Realms he had entered before; it was a vast, hall‑like emptiness, only enormously large. Inside stood nine towering stone pillars, each coiled with a dragon statue dozens of yards long.

"Huh! It's a youngster not yet in the Holy Realm!" a voice suddenly emerged.

Ye Liuyun followed the sound and found it came from within a dragon statue.

He activated his Golden Pupil and looked at the statue, discovering a true dragon's soul inside. Scanning the other statues, each pillar housed a true dragon's soul, each of a different hue—red fire dragons, white water dragons, and so on.

As Ye Liuyun probed them, the giant dragons also scanned him with Divine Sense.

"Kid, what is the golden‑light thing emanating from your Sea of Consciousness? Why does it block Divine Sense's probing?" a golden dragon asked.

"That thing seems very powerful, even we are no match! Looks like this kid has a great opportunity," a white dragon said.

"Kid, release the little thunder dragon in your Storage Ring and let her play with me for a while; I'll give her some benefits," a purple dragon suddenly said.

"Wait, wait, one at a time. Each of you says a line, I can't keep up," Ye Liuyun hurriedly called for a halt.

Suddenly, the Ten Thousand Gods Command within Ye Liuyun's Sea of Consciousness flared with golden light, passing through his Sea of Consciousness and enveloping the nine dragons.

Ye Liuyun's expression changed drastically. "This Ten Thousand Gods Command isn't trying to devour the nine true dragons' souls, is it!"

He tried to stop the Ten Thousand Gods Command, but it ignored his command.

However, he also noticed the Command wasn't devouring them; it was communicating with them. So he paused, observing silently.

After a while, the Command withdrew its golden light. The true dragons' gazes toward Ye Liuyun became cautious.

Ye Liuyun awkwardly asked, "How are you? It didn't hurt you, did it?"

The golden dragon replied first, "No, it only conveyed some information. From now on we'll do everything to help you advance. Release the companions in your Storage Ring; we'll make an exception and try to boost them as well."

Although Ye Liuyun didn't know what information the Command had relayed, the outcome now seemed positive.

"First tell me what this place is, and whether there's any danger," Ye Liuyun asked.

"This is the burial ground of our nine dragons; there's no danger!" the golden dragon, seemingly the leader of the nine, answered first.

Then Ye Liuyun released the others along with Lei Ming, Bai Hu, and Shi Yuan.

"If you have any weapons you wish to enhance, bring them out as well!" the golden dragon said.

So Ye Liuyun took out the Demon Slaying Sword, the Jiangshan Cauldron, and the Mountain-flipping Seal. These were items he used frequently or found handy; he left the rest.

"Then what inheritance will I receive?" Ye Liuyun asked again.

"Each of our nine dragons has different abilities. You possess lightning and fire attributes, have refined your body, your bloodline is special, but your realm is low. Which aspect do you most wish to breakthrough in?" the golden dragon asked again.

"My Immortal Overlord Body and Bloodline Power are already maxed, my techniques have nothing lacking; just raise my realm," Ye Liuyun replied.

"Hahaha!" Ye Liuyun finished, causing the previously silent dragons to laugh.

"What's wrong?" Ye Liuyun asked, puzzled.

"Kid, I thought my skin was thick enough, but didn't expect you to be even thicker! Your Physical Body is already maxed?" an earth‑colored giant dragon roared with laughter.

"Indeed, your Bloodline Power is only top‑tier among mortal levels; it's still far from fully unlocking all power."

Then the dragons disparaged Ye Liuyun mercilessly, rendering him worthless.

The golden dragon finally spoke, "Enough. He is a human of this low realm, confined to such a small region; short‑sightedness is natural. Boy, demonstrate all your body techniques and martial methods so we can better understand you…"