Chapter 700 - 280: Spear Intent

Chen Qing continued to ponder. ’If the two great Upper Sects ally, what form will it take?’

’Will they just share intelligence and coordinate defenses, or will they go a step further and dispatch experts to jointly purge the forces colluding with the Demon Sect in the Thousand Reefs Sea Region?’

An alliance of this scale would inevitably disrupt the balance of power throughout the northeastern region of Yan Country. The combined strength of the Celestial Treasure and Cloud Water Upper Sects would be enough to crush any single faction.

And the Infinite Demon Sect, the Celestial Star Alliance, and the other factions would never just sit back and watch.

However, such high-level machinations and strategic layouts were still too far removed from him at his current stage.

He took a deep breath, pushed aside his stray thoughts, and calmed his Heart and Spirit once more.

In the courtyard, Chen Qing held the Profound Dragon Spear and once again began to practice the True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear.

The wind from his spear howled as brilliant Righteous Qi filled the air. He immersed his entire Heart and Spirit in comprehending the Spear Technique.

He planned to focus all his energy on the True Martial Seal and the True Martial Demon-Vibrating Spear. He wanted to master these two Martial Arts as soon as possible; when he did, his strength was bound to rise to a whole new level.

The news that experts from the Cloud Water Upper Sect had arrived at the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect caused quite a stir within the Sect.

All sorts of speculation and discussion spread among the various peaks. Combined with the recent announcement of the Dubhe Pavilion’s opening, everyone could feel the tension in the air, and the atmosphere within the Sect instantly grew intense.

Time flew by in arduous cultivation.

The delegation of experts from the Cloud Water Upper Sect stayed in the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect for several days. During their stay, they held multiple rounds of secret talks with Sect Leader Jiang Lishan and the core members of the Dubhe Position, the specific contents of which remained unknown to outsiders.

Several days later, the members of the Cloud Water Upper Sect departed. Their arrival had been sudden, and their departure was just as clean.

「The very next morning after their departure—」

DONNNNNNNG—

The great warning bell, symbolizing the Sect’s highest summons, once again let out a thunderous, prolonged ring!

The toll of the bell instantly spread across all thirty-six peaks, penetrating deep into the Heart and Spirit of every disciple.

The Dubhe Pavilion was officially opening for the very first time!

In an instant, the entire Celestial Treasure Upper Sect erupted into a frenzy.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

One after another, incomparably powerful auras shot skyward, erupting like dormant volcanoes. They surged from the Outer Twenty-Seven Peaks, the Inner Nine Peaks, and even from Hidden Peaks usually shrouded in mist and seldom visited by anyone!

Brilliant streaks of light tore across the sky!

The True Essence surging from these figures was so immense it stirred the very clouds in the sky.

Without exception, all of them converged on the Sect’s core region, heading for the Dubhe Pavilion—the hall symbolizing the supreme authority of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.

Chen Qing stood in his small courtyard, gazing up at the sky.

The sky was a tapestry of light as one reclusive figure after another emerged—cultivators who were normally as elusive as a dragon’s tail.

The clouds stirred from all four corners of the world as champions gathered!

At this moment, the foundation the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect had built over hundreds of years was on full display.

The auras of the True Essence Realm experts intertwined, forming an invisible yet immense pressure that enveloped the Sect’s entire core region.

The first-ever opening of the Dubhe Pavilion sent a shockwave like a tsunami sweeping through all thirty-six peaks of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.

The great assembly did not last long, but it was enough to determine the Sect’s direction for a long time to come.

When the brilliant light enveloping the Dubhe Pavilion dimmed slightly, it signified that the meeting had come to a temporary close.

Just as Chen Qing was practicing his Spear Technique, a familiar voice called out from outside his courtyard.

"Brother Chen!"

Chen Qing reined in his Heart and Spirit, walked out of the Quiet Chamber, and saw Zhu Yu standing outside the courtyard gate.

"Come in and have a seat."

Chen Qing gave a slight nod and led him into the main hall.

After Qing Dai served the Spirit Tea, she quietly withdrew.

Zhu Yu dispensed with the pleasantries and got straight to the point, lowering his voice. "Brother Chen, the scale of this Dubhe Pavilion opening far exceeded all expectations! Not only were all the official Peak Masters, senior Elders, and current True Inheritance disciples in attendance, but even many of those old monsters from the Hidden Peaks showed up—the ones rumored to have long since forsaken worldly affairs to focus on breaking through to higher Realms! It was truly a gathering of the Sect’s finest, accumulated over hundreds of years. I heard the only ones who didn’t appear were the old predecessors whose lifespans are nearly exhausted, whose vitality has completely withered, or who are in death seclusion seeking a life-extending breakthrough."

He paused for a moment. "Although the specific resolutions are confidential, two earth-shattering pieces of news have already started to spread!"

Chen Qing picked up his teacup, motioning for him to continue.

"First,"

Zhu Yu’s voice grew deeper. "The Sect has resolved to make the purge of the Infinite Demon Sect its highest priority! We’re no longer confining our efforts to the Soul-Breaking Gorge front or a few scattered strongholds. Instead, we are to rally all the prefectures and Earth Sects within the Land of the Three Paths under our jurisdiction and launch a massive, joint-purge operation. The targets are the Demon Sect’s Sub-Pavilions everywhere! We’ve vowed to uproot their power entirely, or at the very least, cripple their foundations!"

’Uniting all affiliated powers for a large-scale purge... This is no longer an ordinary Sect mission.’

’This means that from now on, everyone within the Sect’s sphere of influence will be drawn into this intense confrontation with the Demon Sect.’

"Second."

Zhu Yu took a deep breath, his face still holding a trace of disbelief. "Our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect has officially formed an offensive and defensive alliance with the Cloud Water Upper Sect!"

"An alliance!?"

Even though Chen Qing had already suspected as much, he still felt a stir in his heart.

’The Celestial Treasure and Cloud Water Upper Sects are both overlords of northeastern Yan Country. Though they both belong to the Righteous Path, their territories are adjacent and their interests are entangled. Friction and disputes were common between them; their relationship could hardly be called amicable.’

’To think they could actually set aside their past grievances and form an alliance now?’

’But then again, considering the complex situation in the Thousand Reefs Sea Region, the rampant activity at Yanzi Dock, and the looming threat of the Celestial Star Alliance and the Demon Sect pulling strings from behind the scenes, the external pressure on the two great Upper Sects must be immense.’

’United, they both benefit; divided, they risk being picked off one by one.’