Chapter 357: News of the Ancient Battlefield

"Shocking news!"

"Heavenly Azure Prefecture has officially been renamed Azure Dragon Prefecture. The Xu Family and all factions at the Golden Core stage and above have established the Azure Dragon Alliance, using the Heavenly Azure Sect as its predecessor. The Heavenly Azure Mountain Range has also become the Azure Dragon Mountain Range!"

"Golden Core Rogue Cultivators can also join the alliance and become alliance elders, enjoying the same cultivation conditions as the former Heavenly Azure Sect elders."

"In one month, the Azure Dragon Alliance will hold its first public disciple recruitment in the four cities of Cloudstream, Jade Bamboo, White Cloud, and Azure Dragon City."

"True Lord Withered Glory will serve as the First Elder of the Azure Dragon Alliance!"

"The Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Mo Family has become a Grand Elder of the Azure Dragon Alliance!"

"True Monarch Leiji has been appointed as the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall!"

"The Family Head of the Cang Family will take the position of Alliance Leader!"

In just over a day, the news had spread throughout the entire Heavenly Azure Prefecture.

Azure Dragon City.

A private room on the second floor of a teahouse.

Several young disciples from different Foundation Establishment Clans were conversing excitedly. They were mostly elites in their families, with cultivation bases ranging from late-stage Qi Refining to Early Foundation Establishment.

"True Lord Withered Glory truly possesses immense boldness!" A youth in green robes exclaimed, his eyes shining. He kept his voice low but couldn't hide his excitement. "To actually directly have all Golden Core factions join the Azure Dragon Alliance.

This is something not even the Xi Family managed to achieve at their absolute peak!"

"I heard that it's primarily because the Mo Family, the Lei Family, the Cang Family, and the former Heavenly Azure Sect all support the Xu Family. Along with the four great aristocratic families of Cloudstream City, they form a united front.

Coupled with the deterrence of True Lord Withered Glory forcefully driving away the Xi Family and personally slaying the Xi Family's Nascent Soul Ancestor, who would dare to disobey?"

"Are you going to the first disciple recruitment?"

"No, I am not. Everyone knows the nature of large sects. It is much more comfortable to stay in our own families."

"Exactly."

"That's right!"

Several others echoed in agreement.

The green-robed youth rolled his eyes and smiled faintly. "Since you Daoist friends aren't going, then this younger brother won't go either."

In the blink of an eye, these individuals returned to their families and frantically applied for resources, all wanting to join the Azure Dragon Alliance.

The family elders all had a premonition that the Azure Dragon Alliance would prosper for at least a thousand years. The earlier they joined, the better it would be for their families.

Therefore, they all voiced their full support.

If the minor Foundation Establishment Clans were acting like this, the disciples of the Golden Core Aristocratic Families were even more eager.

After all, their Ancestors had personally experienced the formation of the Azure Dragon Alliance, so they knew the details much more clearly.

Setting aside how the disciples within the alliance might fight amongst themselves, other factions would absolutely never dare to easily target Azure Dragon Alliance disciples. If a disciple was killed without cause, it would inevitably draw the alliance's fury.

And the alliance represented the entire Azure Dragon Prefecture!

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would have to carefully weigh the consequences, unless they could single-handedly resist the entire Azure Dragon Alliance.

Cloudstream City.

A tavern.

Several acquainted Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivators were sitting around a table, their topic of conversation naturally inseparable from the Azure Dragon Alliance.

"Brother Li, Brother Wang, the Azure Dragon Alliance has released news that they are recruiting disciples without restricting their backgrounds. Are you going to give it a try?"

A weather-beaten middle-aged Rogue Cultivator had hope in his eyes, yet remained somewhat in disbelief.

"Since True Lord Withered Glory led its creation, the credibility is naturally high. However, I don't know how difficult the assessment will be. I plan to go and participate," the cultivator surnamed Li replied.

"After all, if we can join the alliance, at least our cultivation will be much more stable. We might even come into contact with inheritances and immortal cultivation arts that we normally cannot access."

"Daoist Friend Li's words make sense. Why don't the three of us go together?"

"That would be perfect!"

Several Golden Core Rogue Cultivators in Cloudstream City were also moved upon hearing this news. They prepared to visit the Azure Dragon Alliance in a few days to see what the treatment would be if they became elders, and whether there would be significant restrictions.

There were more than just one or two Golden Core Rogue Cultivators who harbored such thoughts.

After all, all the Golden Core Aristocratic Families had moved into the Azure Dragon Alliance. If these scattered Golden Core Rogue Cultivators did not join, it would likely be very difficult for them to survive in the Azure Dragon Prefecture.

They either had to join or leave the Azure Dragon Prefecture.

A few days later.

Many spies from Greedy Wolf Prefecture arrived in Azure Dragon Prefecture.

It had not been long since they last checked, but the original Heavenly Azure Prefecture had actually been changed to Azure Dragon Prefecture.

The former hegemon, the Heavenly Azure Sect, had also transformed into the Azure Dragon Alliance.

The Xu Family of Cloudstream City had driven away the Xi Family and slain the Xi Family Ancestor, becoming the undisputed number one aristocratic family in Azure Dragon Prefecture!

With just a slight inquiry, they made all this news crystal clear.

Especially when they learned that the Azure Dragon Alliance actually encompassed all factions at the Golden Core stage and above in the entire Azure Dragon Prefecture, the shock in their eyes was undeniable.

Even the Greedy Wolf Sect could not compare to such a colossal entity.

That is, unless the Greedy Wolf Sect could also unite all the factions in Greedy Wolf Prefecture.

But the situation in Greedy Wolf Prefecture was different. The vast majority were demonic cultivators, so how could they easily agree? If the Greedy Wolf Sect pushed too hard, it would definitely cause the other factions to unite and oppose them.

"Hurry and send a message back to the sect to inform the Sect Master. I will stay behind to continue gathering intelligence on Azure Dragon Prefecture."

"Yes, Lord Deacon."

Because the Greedy Wolf Sect had established communication points in many places within Greedy Wolf Prefecture, the news reached the Greedy Wolf Sect in just over a day.

Inside the grand hall of the Greedy Wolf Sect.

"Sect Master." True Lord Heavenly Wolf rushed into the main hall with a worried look on his face.

"What are you so panicked about?" Qi Tianxiong frowned slightly. "Have you investigated the matter regarding the Xi Family?"

True Lord Heavenly Wolf nodded with a grave expression. "The Xi Family has been defeated. They were driven out of Heavenly Azure Prefecture by the Xu Family."

"Driven out of Heavenly Azure Prefecture? That old ghost Xi could actually endure that?!" Qi Tianxiong revealed a look of surprise. "His Xi Family has been entrenched in Heavenly Azure Prefecture for thousands of years. Their heritage is profound."

"According to the news sent back, it seems the Xi Family did not want to clash head-on with the Xu Family. They had long prepared to leave, but the Xu Family noticed and forced them to depart early."

Qi Tianxiong fell silent.

True Lord Heavenly Wolf paused for a moment before adding, "Also, Xi Daoyun died Outside Yunxi City's East Gate seven or eight days ago!"

"What?!"

"That's impossible!"

Qi Tianxiong suddenly stood up, his Nascent Soul pressure erupting completely. Caught off guard, True Lord Heavenly Wolf was forced back several steps.

"Countless people witnessed this matter, so it shouldn't be false. Moreover, it was Xu Chuan who personally killed him!"

"Of course, that Shapeshifting Great Demon of the Xu Family was also involved. The exact details are unknown, but it seems Xi Daoyun and the Shapeshifting Great Demon fought until both sides suffer utter defeat. Added to his already severe injuries, Xu Chuan was able to take advantage of the situation.

After all, his sword formation indeed possesses Nascent Soul power."

Hearing this, Qi Tianxiong's expression flickered gloomily. After a moment, he suddenly burst into loud laughter. "Old ghost Xi, oh old ghost Xi. We fought for half our lives, and in the end, you actually died at the hands of a Golden Core junior.

You really lived your life as a joke!"

"Sect Master, now is not the time to care about the Xi Family. Apart from this, there is another major event that recently occurred."

"What is it?"

"Heavenly Azure Prefecture has been renamed Azure Dragon Prefecture. Both the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range and the Heavenly Azure Sect have also become the Azure Dragon Mountain Range and the Azure Dragon Alliance."

"The Azure Dragon Alliance? Was this created by that brat from the Xu Family? However, occupying the Heavenly Azure Sect is not out of my expectations. But changing it to some Azure Dragon Alliance, so flashy and impractical.

He is just a shortsighted junior who is probably getting carried away right now."

"Sect Master, you guessed incorrectly."

"What? Was the Azure Dragon Alliance not created by him?"

"It was, but the Azure Dragon Alliance is not the Xu Family's faction. It is a faction of the entire Azure Dragon Prefecture." True Lord Heavenly Wolf sighed slightly. "This is a faction created by Xu Chuan uniting all the aristocratic families at the Golden Core stage and above in Azure Dragon Prefecture.

Xu Chuan serves as the First Elder of the alliance, Mo Wentian as the Nascent Soul Grand Elder, Lei Wuji of the Lei Family as the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, and the Family Head of the Cang Family as the Alliance Leader.

There are also the Four Halls of Pills, Artifacts, Formations, and Talismans, and the former Seven Peaks have also re-elected their peak masters.

Rumor has it that the peak masters of the Seven Peaks all possess Late-Stage Golden Core strength."

"If he truly integrated all the Golden Core factions and found seven or more Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators, it naturally wouldn't be a major problem. However..."

Qi Tianxiong's gaze turned solemn. "How exactly did he achieve this?"

"The specifics are unknown."

"That brat from the Xu Family really has some skill, accomplishing what the Xi Family failed to do in a thousand years. It seems I have underestimated him."

"Sect Master, now that the factions of Azure Dragon Prefecture have been twisted into a single rope, it will not be easy to target them in the future. Even though it was just founded, the heritage of the Azure Dragon Alliance already far surpasses our Greedy Wolf Sect.

If allowed to develop for several decades or a century, I feel that our Greedy Wolf Sect might also be in danger.

Do you think our Greedy Wolf Sect should follow suit?"

Qi Tianxiong pondered for a moment. "It is indeed necessary, but there is no rush for now. In a few years, it will be time for the Ancient Battlefield to open.

That is a major event for both the Heavenly South and Black Water domains.

When the time comes, you should make a trip inside. If you can find an opportunity, you might be able to step into the Nascent Soul realm."

"The Ancient Battlefield?" True Lord Heavenly Wolf revealed a puzzled expression. "What place is this? How come I have never heard of it?"

"You are only slightly over five hundred years old, so how could you have heard of it?" Qi Tianxiong looked at him and said, "The Ancient Battlefield opens once every five hundred years. The top factions of both domains have an agreement that no one above the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul realm is allowed to enter.

The primary entrants are at the Foundation Establishment, Golden Core Stage, and Early-Stage Nascent Soul realms.

When the time comes, all parties will gather, led by the top Nascent Soul sect factions.

I acquired a true demonic fortune inside there, which allowed me to break through to the Nascent Soul realm shortly after."

"There are Nascent Soul opportunities inside?!" True Lord Heavenly Wolf exclaimed.

"Far more than just Nascent Soul opportunities!" Qi Tianxiong chuckled. "You don't need to ask about the rest. If you have the chance to step into the Nascent Soul realm, you will naturally learn more.

That is all I can tell you.

However, there are great opportunities inside, as well as great dangers. If you do not wish to enter, I will not force you."

"Heavenly Wolf is willing!" True Lord Heavenly Wolf immediately clasped his fists and bowed.

"Very good. I will lend you a helping hand. This is a Mid Grade Connate Spirit Object that matches your cultivation method. It might be able to help you achieve Divine Ability Perfection.

When the time comes to fight for opportunities, it will also provide an extra boost in strength."

"Thank you, Sect Master!"

"Mhm." Qi Tianxiong nodded slightly. "For the time being, hand over the sect affairs to others. Focus entirely on your secluded cultivation."

"Understood."

Having received the spirit object, True Lord Heavenly Wolf cupped his hands and exited the hall.

A sharp gaze flickered in Qi Tianxiong's eyes. "Cloudstream City, the Xu Family... If the Ancient Battlefield wasn't approaching so soon, I truly would go and see just what abilities you have to kill old ghost Xi.

During the last Connate Secret Realm, if I hadn't been wary of the three of you from Heavenly Azure Prefecture joining forces, how could I have let a demonic dragon that just entered the Shapeshifting Stage ride on my head?"

A moment later.

Qi Tianxiong sat cross-legged on his throne once more, closing his eyes to continue his cultivation.

The Azure Dragon Alliance began its operations.

Most of the Ancestors of the Golden Core Aristocratic Families had recently arrived at the alliance, opening up Grotto-Residences on spiritual peaks that possessed Tier 3 spirit veins.

Only the Seven Peaks possessed Tier 3 High Grade spirit veins in the Azure Dragon Alliance. The other spiritual peaks merely had Tier 3 Low-Grade or Mid Grade spirit veins.

Even these conditions were much better than those of ordinary Golden Core Aristocratic Families.

Most of them only had Tier 2 High Grade spirit veins to supply their cultivation.

Family affairs didn't require these Ancestors to manage, so naturally, they were more willing to cultivate within the Azure Dragon Alliance.

The stronger they became, the more beneficial it was for their families.

Moreover, under the current circumstances, all the families would live in peace with one another for at least a decade.

The peak masters of the Seven Peaks and their selected vice peak masters gathered in the Azure Dragon Hall to discuss the disciple assessment.

Those they selected were all their own Golden Core clansmen or close friends.

This was understandable.

Even within a family sharing the same surname, there could be three to five factions, let alone in an alliance as massive and complex as the Azure Dragon Alliance.

Xu Chuan established the Azure Dragon Alliance precisely to force the factions of Azure Dragon Prefecture to conduct all their power struggles within the alliance.

It was as if he had placed a restrictive ring on them.

The alliance had its own laws, so things wouldn't go too far.

No matter how they fought, this alliance, which involved the interests of all factions, would remain unshaken.

To break free from it, a faction would have to develop to an extremely powerful state.

Even the Xu Family was currently far from capable of doing so.

"Elders, let's all speak our minds. How should the disciple assessment in half a month be arranged?" Bai Yan asked with a smile.

Liu Yunshan said, "For the disciple recruitment assessment, the first criterion is talent and aptitude. A True Spirit Root Aptitude is the minimum standard. The second is an unwavering Dao Heart, which can be tested by setting up an Illusory Array."

"I feel that is somewhat inappropriate," Cang Fengheng said. "Under normal circumstances, that would naturally be fine, but this is the alliance's first recruitment, which is also the time to replenish our manpower on a large scale.

Handyman Disciples are needed, Outer Sect Disciples are needed, and even the Inner Sect and true disciples are needed.

Therefore, we must differentiate them."

Zhao Huai looked over. "Elder Cang, how do you think we should differentiate them?"

"For Handyman Disciples, those with aptitudes below the Earth Spirit Root Aptitude and without special bloodlines or bone structures can be directly recruited as Handyman Disciples as long as their cultivation meets the requirements. We can set a quota and stop recruiting once it's full."

Hearing this, Bai Yan, Liu Yunshan, and Zhao Huai all nodded slightly.

"Outer Sect Disciples are similar, but the aptitude requirement is below the Heavenly Spirit Root Aptitude and above the True Spirit Root Aptitude. After all, the First Elder stated that only geniuses with aptitudes like the Heavenly Spirit Root Aptitude will be given preferential treatment.

They will be directly accepted as Inner Sect Disciples."

"As for the Inner Sect and true disciples, besides the aptitude test, there must also be an assessment of combat strength, disposition, and Dao Heart. After all, for our Azure Dragon Alliance, Inner Sect Disciples and true disciples are the foundation.

Naturally, we need to select the best of the best.

To groom them to challenge the Golden Core stage in the future."

"I think that works," Lei Wuji stated.

"I have no problem with it either," Mo Wenshang agreed.

Lei Wuji and Mo Wenshang spoke one after another.

The others pondered for a moment before expressing their agreement.

As for testing spiritual roots, bloodlines, and bone structures, the former Heavenly Azure Sect already possessed extremely comprehensive testing methods.

"Regarding the numbers, three thousand Handyman Disciples. For Outer Sect Disciples, considering the current number in the Azure Dragon Alliance, we can recruit two thousand to make it an even five thousand.

We will recruit three thousand Inner Sect Disciples to reach a total of ten thousand.

As for true disciples, there will be no limit."

Bai Yan scanned the crowd and asked, "What do you elders think?"

"Agreed!"

"Acceptable."

Everyone agreed in succession.

Next was the frequency of external recruitments. After their discussion, they set it at once every ten years.

Additionally, regarding the Handyman Disciples, if they were unable to reach the 4th Layer of Qi Condensation within ten years, they would be sent down the mountain to forge their own paths.

After the Seven Peaks reached an agreement, they reported the matter to Alliance Leader Cang Fengyan.

After reviewing it, Cang Fengyan had no objections and approved it.

If it involved the rules and affairs of their own peaks, the peak masters had the authority to decide for themselves. But if it involved external matters, such as recruiting disciples, it had to be reported to the Alliance Leader.

This was the authority of the Alliance Leader.

When the First Elder wasn't active, the Alliance Leader was the person with the highest authority in the alliance.

Cang Fengyan was at the Golden Core Perfection stage and had achieved Great Accomplishment in his divine ability, making him powerful enough to control the situation.