Chapter 313: Heavenly Alliance

"I've also seen Junior Brother Yu's efforts, but unfortunately, fate is not in our hands..."

Yu Yangzi, having encountered countless cultivators during his time in the Hanging Skull Guard, spoke to Qin Sang in a very calm tone. "Most cultivators are like Junior Brother Yu, and our sect disciples are no exception. Their ultimate fate is either to realize their path to immortality is hopeless and give up, returning to the sect for an idle job, or going back to their hometowns to start a family. Some even manage to establish a foundation; many immortal cultivation families attached to the sect were founded by such cultivators. Or, they refuse to give up, spending years entering and leaving the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, searching for an elusive opportunity, only to suddenly vanish one day. Those who succeed are very few..."

Yu Yangzi suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I've only managed to take one more step than them. What right do I have to judge? Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore..."

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. Neither of them had the same desire to chat as before, and they remained silent on their way to see Senior Brother Qi.

At this moment, there was another person in the room. His surname was Rong, and he was also a senior brother from Shaohua Mountain, with a cultivation level clearly at the late Foundation Establishment stage, only slightly inferior to Senior Brother Qi.

This person was a square-faced middle-aged man with bronze-colored skin and a stern expression. When Qin Sang and Yu Yangzi greeted him, he returned the salute formally and meticulously.

"You've come at a good time. Junior Brother Rong has just arrived from the sect, and he will be responsible for matters concerning Hanging Skull Pass from now on." Qi Yuanshou pointed to Qin Sang and Yu Yangzi, introducing them one by one to the cultivator surnamed Rong. He then informed Qin Sang and Yu Yangzi that he was returning to the sect and that they should consult Junior Brother Rong for any future affairs.

Yu Yangzi had just learned this news himself. He was initially surprised, then suddenly remembered something and said with a look of pleasant surprise, "Senior Brother Qi has sensed an opportunity to break through? Junior Brother Qin just broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and Senior Brother Qi is about to break through to the Core Formation stage. Today is a double blessing!"

Qi Yuanshou gave a wry smile. "Junior Brother Qin's breakthrough is indeed good news. However, I am returning to the sect not for a breakthrough, but for another important matter."

Yu Yangzi asked with a somewhat serious expression, "Senior Brother Qi, has something happened within the sect?"

The relationship between these disciples and Shaohua Mountain was like that of branches and a main trunk. If the skin is gone, what can the hair attach to? If something happened to Shaohua Mountain, even if they managed to save their lives, losing the sect's support would leave them as rogue cultivators, and their future cultivation path would undoubtedly become much harder. At the very least, they wouldn't be able to occupy such excellent cave dwellings outside Hanging Skull Pass. Shaohua Mountain had a Nascent Soul Grandmaster presiding over it, as well as a Core Formation stage Martial Uncle in secluded cultivation within the sect. For Senior Brother Qi to be summoned back from such a distance now, it couldn't help but make them think wildly.

Qi Yuanshou shook his head. "Junior Brothers, there's no need to worry. The sect is fine. With Grandmaster present and the sect-protecting formation, it's as solid as a rock. It's just that the atmosphere in Sky-Rupturing Mountain and Cloud Cang Great Marsh feels a bit unusual, and Master urgently summoned me back to begin an investigation."

"Sky-Rupturing Mountain and Cloud Cang Great Marsh..." Yu Yangzi's expression showed understanding, and he said with a resentful tone, "Is the Sky-Roamers Alliance starting again?"

Qi Yuanshou hummed in affirmation. "The Spirit Tide is approaching. Whenever this happens, the Sky-Roamers Alliance becomes restless. Whether they will truly make a move is still unknown. This isn't just Shaohua Mountain's responsibility; it concerns the entire Minor Cold Domain. However, Shaohua Mountain's location is unique, placing us on the front lines, so we must be cautious. I will return to conduct an investigation, and once the information is confirmed, I will send messages to the major sects for a joint defense against the enemy. You two should also prepare yourselves early, because if a major war truly breaks out, no cultivator in the Minor Cold Domain will be able to stand alone."

Qin Sang listened silently to Qi Yuanshou and Yu Yangzi, generally understanding the situation. The Sky-Roamers Alliance was another major power outside the Minor Cold Domain, bordering it. Sky-Rupturing Mountain and Cloud Cang Great Marsh served as natural boundaries, clearly separating the two cultivation worlds. The Minor Cold Domain and the Sky-Roamers Alliance had been at odds since ancient times; it was not an exaggeration to call them sworn enemies. The several major wars Qin Sang knew of had mostly occurred between them. At the most brutal times, the Minor Cold Domain was even half-overrun, and only when the righteous, demonic, and monstrous forces united were they able to repel the Sky-Roamers Alliance.

However, it had been a very long time since the last major war. For centuries, the Minor Cold Domain had been very stable, with both sides coexisting peacefully and maintaining an unspoken understanding. Previously, Qin Sang's cultivation level was low, and he was solely focused on breaking through. With so many high-level cultivators in the Minor Cold Domain, he didn't feel it was his turn to bear the burden if the sky fell, so he had never learned the details thoroughly. He hadn't expected that during his cultivation journey, he might actually experience a war between the two domains! This made Qin Sang frown deeply, secretly worried.

He had experienced mortal wars, and some of the horrific scenes were still fresh in his memory. A cultivator's war would certainly be even more terrifying! Once a war began, the momentum would be like a raging flood, surging forward. Only Nascent Soul stage grandmasters at the pinnacle of power could withdraw at any time. Even Core Formation Venerables could be swept into the waves if they were careless. As Foundation Establishment cultivators, they shouldn't even dream of overestimating their abilities; they could only follow the general trend and drift with the current. There might be opportunities amidst it, but more often there was danger. The most frightening thing was that he would be completely unable to control his own future and life or death! Although he had entered the Dao through killing, he did not wish to be caught in a killing tribulation. The path he had chosen did not require him to enter a killing tribulation to gain insights; he only needed to cultivate steadily in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield to reach the False Core stage safely.

Thinking this, Qin Sang hurriedly asked for more details.

"When the Spirit Tide arrives, we must allocate manpower to Seven Heroes Pass to defend against the frenzied Cloud Beasts. If the Sky-Roamers Alliance invades at that time, the Minor Cold Domain would be attacked from both front and back, presenting the best opportunity for the Sky-Roamers Alliance. Therefore, historically, almost every major war has occurred when the Spirit Tide appeared." Qi Yuanshou sighed softly. "As for the cause of the war, it's nothing more than competition for cultivation resources. Although the Ancient Immortal Battlefield is dangerous, it's a treasure trove, monopolized by our Minor Cold Domain cultivators. Do you really think others aren't envious? What's more, deep within the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, there's also..."

At this point, Qi Yuanshou paused, then changed his tone, saying, "You two don't need to worry too much. The last time the Spirit Tide appeared, the Sky-Roamers Alliance did make a move, but they ceased their activities before we could even organize a counterattack. It seemed more like reluctant harassment. I imagine the lesson from that thousand-year-old war was deep enough for them. This time will be similar; they might not truly dare to act, but necessary precautions must still be taken."

Next, Qi Yuanshou briefly explained and then assigned some necessary tasks. Qin Sang still planned to return to the Heavenly Crystal Secret Realm to cultivate. He declined Senior Brother Rong's invitation to stay at Hanging Skull Pass and, after a short conversation, left on his own.

Qin Sang walked towards the Taiyi Pill Pavilion, his heart heavy with worry. He knew that his meager power could not change anything. Regardless of how the situation unfolded, he could only accept it. The only thing he could do was to quickly improve his strength.