Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

Although the process may be slow, and the scattered fragments of laws may be extremely minute and chaotic, this is laying the most basic "seeds" and "raw materials" for the law system of the Great Qin world! In the long run, its value may even exceed the combat power of these cultivators themselves.

Moreover, with these cultivators skilled in using magical artifacts and possessing rich combat experience working alongside the Qin soldiers, the efficiency of sweeping away the goblins in the wasteland will undoubtedly increase exponentially. Furthermore, the "legacy" of the laws they leave behind after their deaths will benefit the world itself.

"Let's stay here a little longer and expand the array's water area to our satisfaction. As for the Heavenly Star Sect... let those Nascent Soul cultivators handle it."

Ying Xuan withdrew his gaze and ignored him.

He believed that, under the righteous pretext of "a Nascent Soul cultivator going out to sea to find a void passage," no one would dare to actually attack the Tianxing Sect in the short term.

Obstructing someone's path to enlightenment, especially hindering a Nascent Soul cultivator's ascension, is a blood feud that cannot be easily settled, and no Nascent Soul cultivator would readily commit such an act. Furthermore, Nascent Soul forces, without the backing of a Nascent Soul cultivator, dare not provoke such a powerful force.

However, while Ying Xuan's prediction was correct, it wasn't entirely accurate.

His voyage to find a passage was a momentous event in the eyes of most cultivators, and no one dared to easily disturb or obstruct him. But for certain forces, it was also a rare "opportunity"—an opportunity to test, or even weaken, the newly emerging overlord of the Tianxing Sect.

While Ying Xuan was devouring vast seas and refining waters in the open ocean, far away within the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, in a beautiful valley brimming with spiritual energy, the atmosphere in the council hall of a sect called "Luoxia Sect" was somewhat subtle.

The Luoxia Sect is considered a mid-to-high-level sect within the Nine Kingdoms Alliance. It has a Nascent Soul stage elder in charge and more than ten Golden Core cultivators, making it a formidable force.

At this moment, the main seat at the head of the hall was empty, while in the most prestigious position to the lower left of the main seat sat an old man dressed in the robes of a Tianxing Sect elder, with a cold face and an aura that clearly reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

He was one of the elders sent by the Tianxing Sect to "make contact" with the Nine Kingdoms Alliance and carry out Ying Xuan's expansion orders. His surname was Ge, and he originally belonged to the Huadaowu of the Yue Kingdom. Now he is the deputy hall master of the Tianxing Sect's Battle Hall.

Seated on either side below were the sect leader of the Luoxia Sect, several Golden Core elders, and two Nascent Soul cultivators from other nearby minor sects. Each wore a respectful smile, but deep within their eyes lay a hint of wariness and helplessness.

Elder Ge picked up the spiritual tea, took a slow sip, slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at the crowd below, and spoke with a condescending indifference.

"Sect Leader Wang, Fellow Daoist Li, Fellow Daoist Sun, I have come here today on the orders of Sect Leader Ying of my Tianxing Sect to discuss the matter of 'merging sects'. This is an opportunity of immense value. If it weren't for our past relationship with your sect's patriarch and the strategic location of your sect, we would not have given you such an opportunity so easily."

The sect leader of Luoxia Sect quickly put on a smile.

"Yes, yes, it is an honor for our Luoxia Sect to have Senior Ge here in person. The Tianxing Sect is renowned throughout the south, and Sect Leader Ying is a Nascent Soul cultivator. We are naturally delighted to receive your favor. However... this matter of merging sects concerns the sect's thousand-year heritage and the future of thousands of disciples. We still need to consider it carefully and consult with our ancestor..."

"Let's take a longer-term view?"

Elder Ge snorted coldly and placed the teacup lightly on the coffee table, making a crisp "clunk" sound, which startled Sect Leader Wang.

"Sect Leader Wang, don't pretend to be ignorant. Although our Tianxing Sect leader has temporarily left to pursue the Great Dao and seek the passage, the sect has a solid foundation, with more than ten Nascent Soul cultivation techniques, nearly ten Nascent Soul cultivators, and more than fifty Nascent Soul cultivators!"
"Over a thousand magical treasures, hundreds of spiritual veins! With such resources, let alone the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, how many in the entire Tiannan region can compare?"

His tone turned sharp, filled with undisguised contempt.

"When the sect leader is alive, the Tianxing Sect is undoubtedly the number one in the world! Even if the sect leader ascends to heaven one day, with the foundation left by our sect, as long as there is no new Nascent Soul cultivator deliberately targeting us, our Tianxing Sect will still be a top power in this world, enough to protect our disciples in their search for the Great Dao!"
"You small sects, struggling and incomplete in your traditions, with limited resources, have the opportunity to join our sect, receive our protection, and share our resources and techniques—this is a blessing you could never ask for! What is there to 'discuss at length'? Do you expect me to bring my army to your borders before you finally realize your mistake?"

These words were extremely domineering and a blatant threat. The faces of the Luoxia Sect members in the hall turned pale and then red. The two Nascent Soul stage cultivators accompanying them also showed resentment, but they dared not speak out due to the prestige of the Tianxing Sect and Elder Ge's late Nascent Soul stage cultivation.

Just then, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the nearby "Flowing Cloud Valley," sitting at the far right, seemed young and impetuous and couldn't help but mutter something under his breath. Although his voice was soft, everyone present was a cultivator and could hear him clearly.

"That sounds impressive... but the Tianxing Sect has gathered tens of thousands of cultivators and searched for so long, yet they haven't found many reliable void passages. Even the Nascent Soul Sect Leader himself has gone out to search..."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into an instant silence!
Sect Leader Wang and the others turned pale and looked at Elder Ge in horror.

Elder Ge's face suddenly darkened, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and a sharp sword intent instantly locked onto the rude Nascent Soul cultivator from Flowing Cloud Valley! The cultivator felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his whole body stiffened, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

"Humph!"

Elder Ge withdrew his gaze, but the temperature inside the hall seemed to drop a few degrees.

He said coldly.

"Finding a passage is a matter against the will of Heaven; how could it be easily accomplished? The sect leader possesses great supernatural powers and has his own plans. How dare you presume to speculate and speak so rudely?"

He paused, his tone softening, but becoming even more sinister.

"However, your words have reminded me. It seems that you all still have some doubts about the sincerity and strength of my Tianxing Sect... Well then, since that's the case, I'll stay here for a few more days."

"As it happens, I recently sent several Nascent Soul cultivators to the Nine Kingdoms Alliance to 'visit' other fellow cultivators. I expect 'good news' will arrive soon. At that time, I hope you can all maintain your current 'calm' and carefully 'discuss' the matter."

As soon as he finished speaking, Elder Ge ignored the ugly expressions on everyone's faces, stood up, flicked his sleeves, and walked straight to the quiet room that had been prepared for him at the back of the hall, leaving behind a hall full of cultivators with different thoughts, looking at each other in bewilderment, the air filled with a suffocating atmosphere of impending storm.

Elder Ge of the Tianxing Sect's words, a mixture of threats and inducements, were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in the main hall of the Luoxia Sect. As the news spread, it stirred up a storm in the hearts of the high-ranking members of the various sects in the Nine Kingdoms Alliance.

"A Nascent Soul cultivator's guidance... is equivalent to hundreds of years of arduous cultivation..."

Sect Leader Wang of the Luoxia Sect murmured, repeating the most tempting part of Elder Ge's words, his eyes flickering. For cultivators like them, stuck in the early or middle stages of the Nascent Soul realm, with a bleak future and relying entirely on painstaking effort and elusive opportunities, this was an irresistible temptation!
The value of a living, breathing Nascent Soul cultivator willing to guide his disciples is immeasurable! Often, a single word or a single insight can enlighten someone, saving them decades or even centuries of wasted time on detours! In this vast world, Nascent Soul legends are not uncommon, but there is absolutely no one like Ying Xuan who openly establishes a sect and seems so generous with his guidance!

A Nascent Soul stage elder from the Blazing Fire Sect, another medium-sized sect within the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, who seemed to have some connection with a former Yue Kingdom elder of the Heavenly Star Sect, couldn't help but lower his voice and say to his companion, "This might not be untrue... I've heard that within the Heavenly Star Sect, there was indeed a disciple who spent a huge amount of points to exchange for a chance for the sect leader to personally enlighten him. It's said that the disciple was stuck at the Golden Core bottleneck for many years, but after receiving a few words of guidance from the sect leader, not only did the bottleneck break through immediately, but his understanding of the cultivation technique also improved by leaps and bounds, saving him at least two cycles of hard work!"

"Is there such a thing?"

The surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators' breathing quickened, and the wariness and hesitation in their eyes began to be replaced by intense longing. If they could exchange the resources accumulated by their sect for such guidance, or even just to listen to a Nascent Soul cultivator's discourse, that would be an incredible opportunity!
Even more so, the Nascent Soul stage elder of the Luoxia Sect, who had been in seclusion and was now being disturbed, was observing secretly with his divine sense, and his mind was racing with thoughts.

"If I could receive guidance from a Nascent Soul cultivator, perhaps my cultivation, which has stagnated for three hundred years, could truly break through to the later stage... or even... if this Sect Leader Ying could stay in this realm for a while longer, and wait for many of us fellow cultivators to make breakthroughs, then perhaps we could explore the void passage together and ascend to the Spirit Realm together? That would be the true path to immortality!"

Thinking of this, the old ancestor's long-dormant heart began to pound.

However, not everyone was blinded by the "guidance from the Nascent Soul stage." Several other cultivators from different minor sects, all at the early Nascent Soul stage, exchanged subtle glances, each seeing a hint of worry deep in the other's eyes.

One of the elderly men, with a gaunt face and the Taoist name "Yun Song," secretly transmitted his voice to several familiar fellow practitioners using a secret method.

"The power of a Nascent Soul cultivator is beyond our comprehension. For a Nascent Soul cultivator to face a Nascent Soul cultivator is like a mortal facing us cultivators—the difference is like heaven and earth. The strength of the Heavenly Star Sect today lies solely in its sect leader."

If he's there, everything will be as stable as a mountain. But if he's not there, or... what if his mind changes?

Another person spoke up, their tone heavy.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Song is absolutely right. The Tianxing Sect has swallowed up the Yue Kingdom and its power over the nine kingdoms seems to be infinitely glorious. However, its foundation is mostly based on the sect leader. Most of the Nascent Soul cultivators are newly joined and their hearts have not yet been won over. Although the Nascent Soul cultivation techniques in the library are tempting, they are all sealed with powerful seals and cannot be read without the sect leader's personal understanding."

Although the treasure vault contains many magical artifacts, the most powerful ones have likely already been taken by the sect leader or used for his own purposes. To put it bluntly, for the sect leader, the Heavenly Star Sect… might not be indispensable. He could easily rebuild one, or even ten, Heavenly Star Sects at any time, leveraging his Nascent Soul cultivation!

These words were like cold water, calming them down slightly, but their gazes towards Elder Ge's departing direction only deepened their worry. They couldn't fathom the thoughts of a Nascent Soul cultivator, nor did they dare to.

Elder Ge wasn't truly in seclusion in the meditation room; his divine sense enveloped the entire Luoxia Sect, naturally taking in everyone's reactions. He sneered at those who were tempted; he was even more disdainful of those who were worried.

A few days later, Elder Ge appeared in the council hall again, getting straight to the point, his tone even more direct than before, and even a little impatient.

"What have you all decided? I am busy with official duties and have no time to linger here. The sect leader's decree has been issued, and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance is to be incorporated into the Heavenly Star Sect. This is an inevitable trend."

"The sect leader is benevolent, mindful of the difficulties of cultivation, and grants you all this opportunity—those who sincerely submit will retain a portion of the inheritance, disciples can cultivate in various halls of the Heavenly Star Sect, and you can also exchange your contributions for cultivation techniques, resources, and even… the chance to hear the sect leader's profound teachings."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over the crowd below with their varied expressions.

"If you remain stubborn and cling to wishful thinking... hehe, I, Ge, will turn and leave. But next time I come, I'm afraid I won't be alone, and those who come with me won't just be 'discussing' things."

A blatant ultimatum! Coupled with the news of the Tianxing Sect's recent "visits" to other regions of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance and the use of some harsh measures, the last shred of hope in the Luoxia Sect, including that mid-Nascent Soul ancestor, was completely shattered.

The allure of guidance from a Nascent Soul cultivator lies before you, while the intimidating force of the Heavenly Star Sect's thunderous methods is behind you. The choice seems self-evident.

"Our Luoxia Sect... is willing to lead all its disciples to merge with the Tianxing Sect! From now on, we will respect Sect Leader Ying and obey the orders of the Tianxing Sect!"

Sect Leader Wang was the first to bow and express his stance, his voice bitter yet firm.

The divine sense of that mid-Nascent Soul stage ancestor also let out a sigh, which can be considered as tacit agreement.

With the Luoxia Sect taking the lead, representatives from the other smaller sects in the hall exchanged glances and stepped forward one after another to express their willingness to submit.

Within a month, similar scenes unfolded repeatedly throughout the Nine Kingdoms Alliance. The Tianxing Sect used "divine guidance" as its ultimate lure, its formidable military might and the precedent of annexing the Yue Kingdom as its deterrent, supplemented by strategies of divide and conquer, and targeted attacks. Like an unstoppable torrent, it swept across the entire Nine Kingdoms Alliance!

There were resistance fighters, but against the combined efforts of several or even a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Star Sect, any resistance seemed pale and powerless.

These newly joined Nascent Soul cultivators of the Heavenly Star Sect are ruthless in their pursuit of points and performance.

A month later, within the territory of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, all sects with Nascent Soul cultivators in charge announced their merger into the Heavenly Star Sect! Countless inherited books, treasured resources, and spiritual vein medicinal gardens were labeled and continuously transported to the Heavenly Star Mountain Range.

The Tianxing Sect's treasure vault and library have ushered in their second "great harvest" after annexing the seven sects of Yue Kingdom, and its foundation has surged again at an astonishing speed!

……

Meanwhile, deep within the Mulan Grassland, beneath an ancient altar eroded by wind and sand over the years.

Hundreds of powerful Nascent Soul auras converged here, surrounding a gray-robed old man sitting cross-legged in the center of the altar, whose aura was extremely weak and who looked like a candle flickering in the wind.

This old man was the only remaining Nascent Soul cultivator in the cultivation world of the Mulan Grassland—the Supreme Elder of the Mulan people! But at this moment, his lifespan was coming to an end, his blood and energy were depleted, and even maintaining consciousness was quite difficult.

The Nascent Soul cultivators surrounding them did not show much sorrow on their faces. Instead, most of them wore undisguised fear, anxiety, and a hint of... uncertainty about the future.

"Elder, the Heavenly Star Sect has already annexed the Yue Kingdom and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance. Their momentum is unstoppable. Their next move will inevitably be aimed at our Mulan Grassland! What should we do?" (End of Chapter)