They swore a blood oath, pledging by the Heavenly Dao.
The alliance ceremony was conducted with great formality—both sides swore oaths and paid homage to Heaven and Earth.
"Heh heh, the Treasure Tree Sect really stumbled into luck. Who knows what the Dan Qian Palace even sees in them?"
"I heard it's some genius disciple named Jiang Chen?"
"What genius disciple? Have you actually seen any genius in the Treasure Tree Sect?"
"Maybe that so-called genius is just an excuse? The Dan Qian Palace's real target could be the Canxia Sacred Fruit."
"Heh heh, when you think about it, that makes sense. The Dan Qian Palace is supreme in the art of alchemy. If there's anything the Treasure Tree Sect has that could attract them, it'd be the Canxia Divine Fruit."
"The fools in the Treasure Tree Sect think heaven just dropped a pie in their lap, but they don't realize they're inviting wolves into their home."
"Heh heh, sheep allying with tigers and wolves—askin' for death if you ask me."
"Well, don't be so sure. Maybe the Dan Qian Palace really is interested in that genius? I heard the guy killed the Purple Sun Sect's Innate Body and crushed an inspector from the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect."
"Hah! Crushed a Heavenly Sect inspector? Says who? Did you see it yourself? The Treasure Tree Sect could easily be blowing it out of proportion to save face."
"Doesn't sound like exaggeration to me. I've looked into that Jiang Chen's background—his rise has been incredibly strange. He started as the heir of some third-rate kingdom in the Sixteen Kingdoms, and in just a few years he shot up like a rocket. It's almost uncanny."
"Hmph! I still think the rumors are overblown. If he really were that much of a genius, wouldn't he show up today so we could all have a look?"
Similar murmurs rippled through every corner of the guest area.
Clearly, no one had much faith in this alliance. Most believed the Dan Qian Palace had ulterior motives.
And just then, the blood oath ceremony to Heaven finally came to an end.
The leaders of both sects exchanged tokens, signifying the alliance was official.
Danchi's face was brimming with joy, and he laughed heartily. "From this moment forward, my Dan Qian Palace and the Treasure Tree Sect are allied. All our fellow cultivators here today may bear witness. Henceforth, the Treasure Tree Sect and my Dan Qian Palace are brother sects. When their disciples walk the world, I trust you will all treat them with due care."
The words were gentle, but the message was clear: the Treasure Tree Sect's people were off-limits from now on. The Dan Qian Palace had their back. Anyone who bullied the Treasure Tree Sect was picking a fight with the Dan Qian Palace.
Everyone caught the subtext.
Patriarch Qianye and Ye Chonglou exchanged a glance, a flicker of joy in each other's eyes. At the very least, judging from Danchi's attitude, the sincerity was unquestionable.
From the guest area, a voice called out. "Saint Danchi, the alliance between the Dan Qian Palace and the Treasure Tree Sect is certainly a fine thing, but with all the rumors circulating lately, everyone is curious—why would the Dan Qian Palace choose to ally with the Treasure Tree Sect at this particular juncture?"
"Exactly, Palace Master Danchi—I hear the Treasure Tree Sect is prey the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect has its eye on. Is the Dan Qian Palace deliberately trying to go against the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect?"
"Heh heh, I've heard that Palace Master Danchi did this for the sake of some genius youth, summoning tremendous boldness to forge this alliance. Palace Master Danchi, why not bring this genius out for us to have a look? Let's see whether your decision was worth it."
The people speaking up were all powerhouses of the Myriad Phenomena Region—heavyweights from its six first-tier forces.
Only people of their stature would dare speak this way at such an occasion. Clearly, quite a few were none too happy about the Dan Qian Palace's alliance with the Treasure Tree Sect.
They instinctively viewed this as the Dan Qian Palace's expansion. As fellow first-tier forces in the Myriad Phenomena Region, any expansion on the Dan Qian Palace's part was a latent threat to the rest of them.
Compared to these sect giants, Danchi was lacking in both age and seniority. But seated in his high position, he carried the bearing of a true leader.
Regarding these provocative questions, Danchi simply smiled with cool indifference.
"Whether my decision was worth it—only the Dan Qian Palace will bear the consequences. I know whether it's warm or cold; I hardly need your evaluation. As for the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect—the Myriad Phenomena Region is our territory. Do you really think keeping the Nine Sun Heavenly Sect out is solely my Dan Qian Palace's responsibility? If we let them expand here, within a hundred years every sect present will become their vassal. If you'd like to laugh at my Dan Qian Palace, sooner or later you'll be laughing at yourselves."
Palace Master Danchi laughed out loud, clearly unbothered by the world's praise or scorn. Alliance or not, he would do as he pleased.
"Palace Master Danchi is certainly a man of spirit, but still—everyone has traveled thousands of miles to attend this ceremony. Surely you can give us a show? Just how extraordinary is this genius that caught your eye?"
"Exactly! Look at all the young talents from across the Myriad Phenomena Region who've come on word of this, hoping to see what kind of prodigy the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance can produce. Palace Master Danchi, you can't disappoint the younger generation!"
"I heard that genius killed an Innate Body and crushed a Nine Sun Heavenly Sect inspector?"
"Those rumors sound so exaggerated—aren't they a bit much?"
Seeing that Danchi was impervious to their barbs, they shifted their aim toward Jiang Chen. The legendary genius Danchi had taken a fancy to—surely he was fair game for a little scrutiny?
If he turned out to be a fake genius, then the real purpose of the alliance would be suspect, and they could use that to make their move.
And if he did have some real talent, they could send their own sects' elite disciples under the guise of friendly sparring, crush the boy, cut short his brilliant future, suppress the alliance's momentum, and ultimately derail the whole thing.
Just as Danchi was mulling things over, a sharp scream suddenly rang out across the venue.