The Three Star Sect was considered a rising power in the Wanxiang Domain, having climbed to prominence over the span of just a few hundred years. In that brief period, it had surged to the forefront of the domain's major factions.
The secret behind its meteoric rise was none other than the backing of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect.
The Nine Yang Heavenly Sect had its branches spread far and wide across the land. The Three Star Sect bore that name only in title—in reality, it was nothing more than one of the Nine Yang's many halls.
If Zuo Lan hadn't suffered his humiliating defeat at the Treasure Tree Sect, these high-ranking envoys would never have come here, let alone gathered at the Three Star Sect.
After all, the Three Star Sect was a secret branch of the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect. Unless absolutely necessary, the Nine Yang had no desire to expose this hidden connection.
This tenth-rank Patrol Envoy hailed from the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect's main headquarters and held a position of great authority. To put it bluntly, a single word from him could decide whether the Three Star Sect lived or died.
Thus, despite the sharpness of his tone, the Three Star Sect's masters submitted meekly without a hint of displeasure on their faces.
The Grand Sect Master offered an obsequious smile. "Lord Feng, please calm yourself. The Danqian Palace overestimated its own strength and dared to stand against the Heavenly Sect—they are courting their own destruction. In this subordinate's humble opinion, since the Danqian Palace is eager to die, why not grant their wish? If the Heavenly Sect dispatches a few more powerful experts, we can crush the Danqian Palace in one stroke. It would also serve as the perfect moment to lay our cards on the table in the Wanxiang Domain. Destroying the Danqian Palace would kill the chicken to scare the monkey—let's see which other sects still dare to act out."
The tenth-rank Patrol Envoy sneered. "Kill the chicken to scare the monkey? Do you think the Danqian Palace is some helpless chicken or duck waiting to be slaughtered? If they dare act this brazenly, do you really think there's no one backing them?"
The Grand Sect Master of the Three Star Sect had his own selfish motivations behind this proposal. Crushing the Danqian Palace would allow the Three Star Sect to step forward openly as the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect's representative in the Wanxiang Domain. The Three Star Sect would then become the domain's supreme power, able to roam unchecked.
For the Three Star Sect's development, this would be an extraordinary opportunity.
However, his proposal was flatly rejected by the tenth-rank Patrol Envoy.
Moving against the Danqian Palace wasn't beyond the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect's capabilities, but doing so would inevitably draw in whatever forces stood behind the Danqian Palace. That could very easily spiral into a full-scale conflict.
Though the Nine Yang Heavenly Sect was expanding rapidly, there was no reason to start a war and make enemies on all fronts over something as trivial as the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance.
"Gather all intelligence on the Danqian Palace, along with everything you have on the Treasure Tree Sect. Deliver it to me within three days. The alliance must be disrupted—no exceptions, not even for the Danqian Palace. The strategic situation in the Sixteen Kingdoms may not seem critical, but our superiors take it very seriously. If we fail in this matter, every person in this room will face punishment."
With that, the tenth-rank Patrol Envoy swept his sleeves and departed.
His displeasure was obvious. Whether it was the Three Star Sect or Zuo Lan and the others, he was thoroughly dissatisfied with their competence.
As a major power in the Wanxiang Domain, the Three Star Sect's influence over the factions beneath it was far too weak. When trouble arose, they had almost no way to intervene.
Of the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance's four great sects, the Three Star Sect hadn't managed to win over a single one. There was no denying it—their performance in this matter had been a complete failure.
…
The major powers throughout the Wanxiang Domain were naturally incredulous at the Danqian Palace's decision.
In truth, within the Danqian Palace itself, there were quite a few who held dissenting views.
At this moment, inside the Danqian Palace, the Palace Master was holding a private meeting with two elders of great authority.
Both were leading figures of the Palace's Elder Council—one the Chief Elder, the other a former Chief Elder now serving as Supreme Elder.
These two represented the collective will of the Danqian Palace's Elder Council.
The Palace Master wore a pale green robe. He was tall and slender, with a face as flawless as jade—features so delicate and youthful they might belong to a newborn child. He possessed a pair of naturally phoenix-shaped eyes, lending him an extraordinarily gentle appearance. At first glance, he might easily be mistaken for a woman.
Yet when those phoenix eyes opened and closed, a piercing gleam flashed within them, conveying a depth as profound as the stars.
This man was Dan Chi, the Palace Master of Danqian Palace.
He was also the undisputed strongest fighter in the entire Danqian Palace. Even those reclusive old monsters who never showed themselves had to concede that Dan Chi's martial talent was first among all in the sect.
And Dan Chi had barely passed the age of one hundred.
At his age, many martial artists in the Wanxiang Domain were still struggling in the middle ranks, desperately pursuing an opportunity to rise.
But Dan Chi had already controlled the Danqian Palace for over forty years.
In other words, when Dan Chi took command of the Danqian Palace, he was only around fifty years old.
In the martial world, that age could be considered nothing more than childhood compared to the span of ordinary human life.
Yet Dan Chi had assumed control of the Danqian Palace at such a young age—a testament to his extraordinary talent and promise.
At this moment, Dan Chi's eyes were slightly narrowed, and he sat in silence as the two elders spoke earnestly, spittle flying with their impassioned arguments. He merely smiled without a word.
It wasn't until both elders had talked themselves hoarse that Dan Chi finally opened his phoenix eyes, a composed smile gracing his face—one that carried the quiet confidence of a man who already held the answer in his grasp.
"Elder Changfeng, Elder Jingu—everything you have spoken of, I have naturally considered. The matter of the alliance is something I have deliberated on at great length as well. If you two elders would rather not go, you may remain here to guard the Danqian Palace. I will personally lead the delegation to the Treasure Tree Sect to forge the alliance."