Chapter 961 - 401: Stirring Winds and Rising Turmoil

Chu Ning brought Cen Zijin quickly to the council hall, and the other Golden Core Elders also arrived one after another.

Yu Changge wore a solemn expression at this moment and slowly addressed everyone.

"Just received news within the alliance, the Celestial Extreme Alliance attacked the Bailu Sect yesterday. When the cultivators from Cloud Peak City rushed over, almost the entire sect had been annihilated, with only one Golden Core Late Stage cultivator and a few others escaping."

Upon hearing this, everyone present immediately turned pale.

The Bailu Sect was considered only mid-tier in strength within the Cloud Peak Alliance, yet they also had several Golden Core Cultivators. Unexpectedly, they were annihilated in just one night.

"Why did the Celestial Extreme Alliance suddenly make a move against our Cloud Peak Alliance sects? Aren’t they afraid of forcing us to collaborate with the Demon Alliance?"

Ge Liuyang was the first to shout.

"We do not know yet, but we cannot rule out another possibility," Yu Changge said in a somber voice.

"Although it’s unlikely for these two alliances to join forces, the fear is they might have reached some kind of understanding."

"Divide the Cloud Peak Alliance?" Gong Yuyuan suddenly spoke up at this moment.

Yu Changge nodded, and the atmosphere in the council hall immediately grew heavier.

The Celestial Extreme Alliance and the Demon Alliance rank first and third among the Ten Great Alliances, respectively. If these two alliances both target the Cloud Peak Alliance, it indeed is a troublesome matter.

"Currently, there’s no movement from the Demon Alliance, but the alliance must prepare for any eventuality."

Yu Changge continued at this moment.

"We just received the Alliance Leader’s Order; all sects need to send personnel to station at Cloud Peak City.

Our sect needs to dispatch one Nascent Soul Cultivator and three Golden Core Cultivators to lead some Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

Cloud Peak City, located in the southeast of the Cloud Peak Mountain Range, is the main entrance into the Cloud Peak Mountain Range.

Not far to the east is the Celestial Extreme Alliance’s area of influence, and not far to the northwest is the Demon Alliance’s territory.

The location of the Bailu Sect is to the east of the Cloud Peak Alliance, closest to the Celestial Extreme Alliance’s area of influence.

In Cloud Peak City, there have always been Nascent Soul Cultivators stationed year-round with other cultivators, taking turns going there from various sects.

This sudden request for every sect to send cultivators is naturally due to the relatively tense situation.

"It should be me going!"

At this moment, Tang Xuan chuckled.

"If the Celestial Extreme Alliance is indeed invading our alliance, if I, this old man, can take one down with me, it won’t be a loss."

Yu Changge pondered slightly at this time, then turned to Chu Ning.

"Junior Brother Chu, this conflict likely won’t be resolved in the short term, and you have yet to visit Cloud Peak City.

I intend to ask you to go along with Senior Brother Tang to get familiar with the situation; in the future, we may have to take turns stationing there.

What do you think?"

Upon hearing Yu Changge’s words, Chu Ning immediately nodded and said:

"I have no objections. Senior Brother Tang will lead me there to get familiar with the route first. I haven’t been in the Nascent Soul stage long, and it would be good to meet other fellow Daoists."

"Chu Ning is going too?" Tang Xuan, upon hearing this, slightly frowned.

He then relaxed his brow.

"Fine, after all, the conflict is just starting, and the Celestial Extreme Alliance can’t possibly launch a large-scale attack on Cloud Peak City yet.

Letting Junior Brother Chu go first is also fine."

The matter was quickly settled, with Tang Xuan and Chu Ning heading to Cloud Peak City.

As for the Golden Core Cultivators, Gong Yuyuan, Fu Lihong, and Qi Guangshou would accompany them.

Cen Zijin originally wanted to go along as well.

However, both Yu Changge and Tang Xuan disagreed.

According to Yu Changge, Cen Zijin and others hadn’t been with the sect long, so they shouldn’t be sent into danger.

Chu Ning also advised Cen Zijin to focus on cultivating within the sect to improve her cultivation realm as soon as possible.

After all, heading to Cloud Peak City, the specific situation was still unknown.

As for which Foundation Establishment Cultivators would participate, it was arranged by the sect, and Chu Ning did not involve himself too much.

On Celestial Mist Peak, Cen Zijin watched as Chu Ning collected the Spiritual Liquid just condensed by the Snow Crystal Ganoderma, and advised:

"On your way to Cloud Peak City, be extra careful. Although you’ve advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage, you’re still facing other Nascent Soul Cultivators.

You’ve only recently formed your Nascent Soul, which may draw unwanted attention."

Chu Ning smiled at her after hearing this and said:

"Don’t worry, though my cultivation journey has been shorter than others, my experiences are not lacking compared to them.

You know very well, in my mind, preserving my life is the priority.

If I can’t win, I can always run."

Hearing Chu Ning say something hardly fitting a Nascent Soul Cultivator, Cen Zijin couldn’t help but smile as well.

The worry in her heart subsided somewhat.

In terms of caution and practicality, Chu Ning indeed surpassed her in rationality.

At this moment, Chu Ning took a handful of Talismans from his Storage Bag and handed them to Cen Zijin.

"This Snow Crystal Mushroom Spiritual Liquid is greatly beneficial for both of our cultivations. These are Talismans I made, with effects similar to the Profound Spring Youth Technique.

I’ll take Bai Ling with me. In urgent scenarios, she can be of help. You can use these Talismans daily to hasten the condensation of Spiritual Liquid."

"Okay!" Cen Zijin took the Talismans and, after a moment’s thought, pulled out the turtle shell of the Cangxuan Spirit Turtle from her Storage Bag.

"You should carry this; I don’t need it while staying within the sect."

Though Chu Ning intended to leave it for Cen Zijin’s protection, he knew she wouldn’t feel comfortable unless he accepted it, so he took it without refusal and kept it with him.

After reluctantly parting, Chu Ning commanded Bai Ling to bring the two Golden Thunder Eagles into the Spirit Beast Bag, then soared away.

Not long after, a flying boat took off from Jiuhua Mountain, heading towards Cloud Peak City.

Such treasures as the Jiuhua Starship naturally wouldn’t be used at this time; this flying boat was just an ordinary flying magical treasure.

Although it didn’t possess strong attack or defense functions, its flying speed was rather fast.

The flying boat was driven by Gong Yuyuan, while Tang Xuan took this opportunity to tell Chu Ning about some famous Nascent Soul Cultivators within the alliance, and some Nascent Soul cultivators from the Celestial Extreme Alliance that he knew of.

Previously, although Chu Ning had shown the ability to withstand attacks from Nascent Soul cultivators, he was still a Golden Core cultivator at the time.

In his usual interactions, it was mostly with Golden Core cultivators.

But now that he had promoted to Nascent Soul stage, he would have to deal with Nascent Soul cultivators.

The Nascent Soul cultivators within the Celestial Extreme Alliance needed no further mention; given the current situation, if cultivators from both sides met, the chance of conflict was quite high.

Within the Cloud Peak Alliance, although there was unity against external threats, internally it wasn’t entirely harmonious.

For instance, the Daluo Sect had vendettas with the Jiuhua Sect.

As for other sects, although they didn’t have as long-standing grievances as the two sects, there were some relatively closer and more distant relationships.

"Within our Cloud Peak Alliance, the strongest is, of course, our alliance leader Qin Changkong.

Fellow Daoist Qin has been in the late Nascent Soul stage for several hundred years.

Besides him, there are eight middle-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, with two hailing from the Guiyuan Sect..."

After Tang Xuan’s words, Chu Ning had a general understanding of the Nascent Soul cultivators within the Cloud Peak Alliance.

At this point, Chu Ning couldn’t help but ask:

"Senior Brother Tang, in our Ten Great Alliances, are there many ancient treasures?"

"Not many!" Tang Xuan quickly shook his head.

"The refining method and materials for powerful ancient treasures have long been lost on our Western Alliance Continent.

Although each sect has inherited some ancient treasures, after years of damage and wear, what remains is very scarce."

Speaking of this, Tang Xuan paused, then continued:

"Apart from those the sects might be hiding as a backup, within our Cloud Peak Alliance, the known ancient treasures do not exceed ten pieces."

"Ten pieces?"

Hearing this number, Chu Ning was a bit surprised.

Seeing Chu Ning’s expression, Tang Xuan thought he found it a lot, and quickly said:

"Though sects within the Cloud Peak Alliance have changed, they have inherited for so many years.

Like our Jiuhua Sect, although it was in decline for a time, we still have one complete and one incomplete piece.

The Daluo Sect has been targeting our Jiuhua Sect, likely with intentions coveting those ancient treasures."

Upon hearing Tang Xuan’s words, Chu Ning knew the other might have misunderstood him.

He didn’t bother to explain, but became quite certain in his heart.

The data Tang Xuan provided was naturally inaccurate.

Every sect likely had some hidden treasures, but even if doubling the numbers, among the dozens of sects in the Cloud Peak Alliance, there would be about twenty pieces.

In his own possession, he had two pieces.

Thinking this way, in terms of self-protection, his means were quite numerous among Nascent Soul cultivators.

Chu Ning then inquired further and came to know about several renowned ancient treasures in the Cloud Peak Alliance and Celestial Extreme Alliance.

With such idle chatter, time passed quite quickly.

Several days later, the spiritual boat had come within a thousand-mile radius of Cloud Peak City.

"After flying a bit further, we’ll reach Cloud Peak City. The buildings and arrays within have significant contributions from our Jiuhua Sect during its heyday."

When Tang Xuan spoke of this, his tone inevitably carried pride.

Chu Ning nodded, ready to respond, but his gaze turned towards the western side.

"What’s wrong?"

Tang Xuan’s divine sense was not as keen as Chu Ning’s; seeing Chu Ning’s expression, he couldn’t help but ask.

Soon, he sensed something too, a look of seriousness flashing across his face.

"Cultivators from Spirit Beast Valley, Junior Brother Chu, be cautious."

Spirit Beast Valley.

Chu Ning was unfamiliar with these sects within the Cloud Peak Alliance, which was why he didn’t recognize them at first.

But hearing Tang Xuan’s words, he understood why the other was so serious.

The Spirit Beast Valley lacked young outstanding Golden Core cultivators, so last time during the Guiyuan Sect competition, they didn’t send anyone.

Chu Ning naturally had no interactions with people from this sect.

However, the two Nascent Soul cultivators from this valley are quite reputable within the Cloud Peak Alliance.

Especially one of them, who is one of the eight middle-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in the alliance.

Of course, this alone wouldn’t suffice for Tang Xuan’s serious expression.

More importantly, the valley has maintained good relations with the Daluo Sect for hundreds of years.

It is one of the sects within the Cloud Peak Alliance that is not very friendly to the Jiuhua Sect.

As Chu Ning was pondering this, the people from Spirit Beast Valley were already approaching.

Soon, a voice came over.

"Are those in front fellow Daoists from Jiuhua Sect?"