Chapter 576: Alliance

The Ancient Creation Realm has two restrictive rules.

First, those who have entered the Ancient Creation Realm once cannot enter a second time.

Second, those who have entered the Ancient Creation Realm cannot reveal the content of the trials within.

The purpose of both rules is to ensure the fairness of the realm's trials to the greatest extent possible. Therefore, neither the demon race nor the pure-blooded human race present knew anything about the Ancient Creation Realm.

These two rules aren't absolute restrictions, however. If the Grand Senior Sister were here, she likely wouldn't face any hindrance entering or exiting the realm. But this approach is too difficult for Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to emulate.

"This ancient realm comes from antiquity; it must be quite extraordinary. Should we find an ally?" Lu Yang suggested.

The Golden Core stage offers the most potential for growth. How one cultivates during this stage and the quality of their core formation will influence a cultivator's entire life. A prime example is Immortal Fairy, whose Invincible Core, though shattered into a Nascent Soul, continues to have profound lasting effects. For this reason, the Ancient Creation Realm restricts entry to those in the Golden Core stage.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou are outsiders in the entire Demon Realm. Even if they are formidable fighters, if the Demon Realm's prodigies were to gang up on them, even possessing an invincible core wouldn't be enough. The safest approach would be to find an ally.

"That's a good idea," Meng Jingzhou nodded steadily. Not only are they human, but they also carry the dual identities of the Wen Dao Sect and the Meng family. If their identities were truly exposed, the Demon Realm's prodigies might find themselves in deep trouble.

"How about the Phoenix Clan? They have some ties with the Wen Dao Sect, and I know some people there," the Third Senior Sister suggested from the side. She currently had a pair of tiger ears, her eyes were blindfolded, and a tiger tail swayed behind her. She was temporarily impersonating a Qiongqi Clan member.

"The Phoenix Clan, huh... Senior Sister, do you know who wrote *Dragon-Phoenix Transformation*?"

"No, I don't."

"Our master wrote it."

The Third Senior Sister froze for a moment; she truly hadn't known that. She was once again reminded of her master's innumerable wicked deeds, which were impossible to fully record, with a new one seemingly surfacing at any moment. She then sighed, "If I had known, I wouldn't have been so heavy-handed when I fought the Dragon and Phoenix clans last time."

"...How heavy-handed were you?" Meng Jingzhou asked cautiously.

"I'm afraid their cultivation's inner demons will take on my appearance in the future."

"Let's not talk about that; it's irrelevant to our current situation. The Dragon and Phoenix clans probably don't know about Master's misdeeds yet, so we can still ally with them."

"What about the Dragon Clan?"

"The Dragon Clan isn't ideal. Back when I sought breakthroughs through combat, I often challenged individual dragons, so our relationship isn't very good. At the time, I was at the peak of the Soul Transformation stage. To seek a breakthrough, I'd circle around the Dragon Clan's territory. If I met someone roughly my level, I'd challenge them; if I couldn't beat them, I'd hide. It wasn't just the Dragon Clan; I fought the White Tiger Clan, the Zhu Yan Clan, the Taotie Clan, and others too."

Both Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou felt that the Third Senior Sister's bounty was still too low.

"The time with the Phoenix Clan, I was captured, so I had to ask Grand Senior Sister to help me out. She took care of the elders, leaving me to fight those of my generation. The Phoenix Clan knows my identity and has never leaked it, so they're quite reliable."

"Then let's cooperate with the Phoenix Clan." Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou both nodded, trusting the Third Senior Sister's judgment.

The three approached the Phoenix Clan and their avian followers, who regarded them warily.

"Stop right there. Who are you?" Jiang Shan called out, eyeing the trio cautiously. He felt particularly dangerous looking at the Third Senior Sister.

"It's me, Gan Tian," the Third Senior Sister stated coolly, identifying herself. Upon hearing the name, Jiang Shan stumbled back several steps. Not only Jiang Shan, but two other Phoenix Clan members, recalling the day the Third Senior Sister had pinned them down and beaten them, turned pale and also retreated several steps.

The Phoenix Clan elder escorting their prodigy, Jiang Shishi, had previously exchanged insights on cultivation with the Grand Senior Sister and knew the Third Senior Sister's identity.

"We wish to discuss something with the Phoenix Clan. Could we find a quieter place?" The Third Senior Sister was referring to the Phoenix Clan's followers. The Phoenix Clan itself could be trusted, but their followers were another matter.

"Very well."

The Phoenix Clan elder, Jiang Shan, and Jiang Shishi were called aside by the Third Senior Sister.

"Allow me to introduce my junior brothers, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou."

Jiang Shishi was visibly moved upon hearing their names, curiously scrutinizing both of them. As a Phoenix Clan prodigy and future clan leader, she always held herself to the highest standards. Consequently, she was very interested in the prodigies of the Great Xia, especially those of her own generation. These two were mentioned most frequently in the intelligence she had gathered. Lu Yang's spellcraft was unparalleled, and it was rumored he was also a sword cultivator, though no one had ever seen his sword unsheathed. Meng Jingzhou possessed a Pure Yang physique, capable of warding off evil spirits. He had diligently practiced body cultivation, unifying his fist techniques, but his true trump cards remained unknown. Though she considered her own talent exceptional, she wasn't confident she could defeat either of them.

"What do you wish to do?" the Phoenix Clan elder asked.

"Form an alliance and enter the ancient realm with you all."

The Phoenix Clan elder did not immediately refuse. Instead, he considered it carefully, weighing the pros and cons. These two were the Great Xia's strongest Golden Core stage duo, and their combat power was undoubtedly far superior to that of the Phoenix Clan's followers. Furthermore, these two were from the Wen Dao Sect. Jiang Shishi, having been carefully nurtured and lauded since birth, was too innocent and thin-skinned to be a clan leader. It was a good opportunity for them to 'learn' from the Wen Dao Sect's ways. Although the Wen Dao Sect had a notorious reputation in the Demon Realm, the Phoenix Clan elder knew that the Wen Dao Sect did not harm its own people, thus offering a guarantee of trustworthiness.

"Agreed."

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, please guide us," Lu Yang said with a smile, cupping his hands.

Jiang Shishi was a beat slow before returning the gesture. "Fellow Daoist Lu, please guide us."

"Senior Brother Jiang Shan, we meet again," Meng Jingzhou said, clasping his fists. Since an alliance had been formed, it was customary in Great Xia to address each other as senior and junior brothers.

"Long time no see. The last time I saw you two, you were still in the Foundation Establishment stage. I knew you would excel in the Golden Core stage, but I never imagined you'd become this powerful," Jiang Shan remarked with emotion.

"Shishi, who are these two?" A hearty laugh rang out. It was the Young Master of the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan, followed by their protector, who emanated a subtle yet palpable pressure. Though his laugh was hearty, a hint of gloom lurked in his eyes as he swept his gaze over Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Jiang Shishi frowned, displeased with the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan's Young Master. "Qin Feng, I've told you many times, our relationship isn't that close. Don't address me so intimately!"

"Who is this?" Lu Yang whispered to Jiang Shan.

"Qin Feng, the Young Master of the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan. He was taken as the last disciple by a Tribulation Transcending ancestor of his clan, and his status is no less than that of the clan leader. Since his debut, he has been pursuing Shishi, but without success. He's probably seeing you two as rivals, so you should be careful."

"Understood."

Qin Feng didn't linger with Jiang Shishi. After giving Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou a warning glance, he departed. The Nine-Headed Serpent Clan's protector didn't speak a word from beginning to end, but the deliberate pressure he exuded spoke volumes.

The Third Senior Sister, sensing this, frowned slightly.

Two more hours passed, and the ancient realm opened. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou followed Jiang Shishi into the realm. The protectors of various clans remained outside the ancient realm.

Once her two junior brothers had entered the realm, the Third Senior Sister left the Phoenix Clan's group. Before leaving, she told the Phoenix Clan, "When I return shortly, pretend you don't know me."

Another half hour passed. The Third Senior Sister flew back from a distance on a beast hide, swaying unsteadily. Blood was still dripping from the hide – her own blood. The Third Senior Sister was heavily wounded.

"Look quickly, that's the Demonic Sound Heavenly Lady!" A sharp-eyed expert recognized the Third Senior Sister.

"It's her! How did she get injured?"

Severely injured, the Third Senior Sister bit her lip, flying there purely on willpower. She angrily shouted:

"Qiongqi Clan! You are untrustworthy! You invited me to explore the ancient tombs of various clans to uncover their secrets, but now you discard me like a worn-out millstone, sending people to assassinate me! Even if I die, I will drag you down with me!"