Chapter 670 - 340: Forcing a Negotiation

Chapter 670: Chapter 340: Forcing a Negotiation

The Celestial Sword Immortal grew impatient. "Those clans and factions are getting bolder. We can’t just sit by and do nothing before it’s found, can we?"

Lingxi Zi said, "Simple. We’ll divide and conquer. We can send people to the Nine-Star, Eight-Star, and Seven-Star Level Cultivation Immortality Influences first. If we give them a few entry slots, they won’t dare cause trouble. Then, we’ll have them sow division further down the ranks, and this whole affair will naturally fall apart."

After some discussion, they decided to send disciples to the major clans and factions to deliver the Five Great Immortal Sects’ message.

However, the disciples’ efforts had little effect. The clans and factions agreed enthusiastically on the surface, but secretly, they continued their preparations.

The reason was simple: they no longer wanted to live under the thumb of the Sects.

The High-Star Level clans and factions had Nascent Soul Cultivators of their own, and they too coveted the Divinity Transformation Opportunity within the Secret Realm. Naturally, they wouldn’t be placated by such a small token.

「Another half a month passed.」

In Ice City, Cheng Zongyang was leisurely drinking tea on the second floor of a teahouse. He watched the snow-filled sky, the increasingly crowded streets, and the occasional conflicts that broke out. None of it caused the slightest ripple in his heart.

Over the past month, he had taken in every change within Ice City.

Based on all that had transpired, he knew things had reached a critical juncture.

If the Five Great Immortal Sects couldn’t handle the situation properly, chaos would erupt in Ice City and spread outward from there.

The entire Cultivation Immortality Realm would fall into chaos!

「Two more days passed.」

Cheng Zongyang was in his inn room, his consciousness observing Area Two from within the Realm of Dominator in the Hall of Ten Thousand Races, when the situation in Ice City finally came to a head.

Cheng Zongyang received a message from an attendant and immediately withdrew his consciousness from the Hall of Ten Thousand Races.

"Immortal Master, there’s a commotion in the square! The allied forces have gathered and are demanding that the Five Great Immortal Sects come out to negotiate."

The attendant hurriedly reported the news to Cheng Zongyang.

Cheng Zongyang had given him special private instructions to alert him to any major news or developments. Of course, there was a reward.

This wasn’t the first time the attendant had done so. Over the past month, he had earned more than a dozen Spirit Stones from Cheng Zongyang.

After listening, Cheng Zongyang took out a Spirit Stone, handed it to the attendant, and smiled. "Alright, I understand."

The attendant took the Spirit Stone, overjoyed. After a quick cupped-fist salute, he immediately left.

Cheng Zongyang returned to his room, walked to the western wall, and opened the window. As it happened, he had a clear view of the nearby square.

After more than a month of maneuvering, the leaders of the united clans, factions, and Loose Cultivators decided to formally present their demands to the Five Great Immortal Sects.

However, to guarantee their own safety and avoid being entrapped by the Immortal Sects, they gathered in the central square of Ice City.

They were numerous and their presence, imposing. Yet, the allied forces had dispatched people to direct the flow of pedestrians, clearing out an area and keeping everything in perfect order, without a hint of chaos.

By acting so publicly, under everyone’s watchful eyes, they first ensured their own safety.

Second, it was a demonstration to show everyone that their actions were for the benefit of the entire Cultivation Immortality Realm, not just for themselves. This allowed them to claim the moral high ground and win the support of countless common people, Martial Artists, Loose Cultivators, and Middle and Low Star Cultivation Immortality Forces.

And third, it gave them a just cause for their actions.

The stage was set. They were just waiting for the Five Great Immortal Sects to show up.

Upon receiving the report, the upper echelons of the Five Great Immortal Sects were furious.

This was tantamount to forcing the Five Great Immortal Sects to make a choice: go to war, or open up the Realm of Ten Thousand Races!

"Five Great Immortal Sects, you cannot monopolize the Realm of Ten Thousand Races! We demand a fair chance to enter the Secret Realm!"

Seeing that no one from the Five Great Immortal Sects had yet appeared, an Elder from a Four-Star Family stepped forward from the crowd and shouted.

Soon, the rest of the crowd responded, and cries of "Open the Secret Realm!" rose and fell in waves.

Gradually, nearly everyone in Ice City—save for the members of the Five Great Immortal Sects—was pumping their fists and shouting at the top of their lungs. The deafening roar converged into sonic waves so powerful they momentarily halted the falling snow, even causing the flakes to sweep back up toward the sky.

The atmosphere in Ice City grew incredibly tense. The crowd’s emotions were like a volcano on the verge of eruption—fiery and potent. Their gazes were firm, fixed on the direction from which the Five Great Immortal Sects might appear, awaiting a fair response.

However, as the seconds and minutes ticked by, there was still no movement from the Five Great Immortal Sects, as if they were deliberately testing everyone’s patience.

At the center of the square, on the Magic Artifact Platform beneath an ice sculpture, twelve representatives of the allied forces, all possessing Nascent Soul Great Perfection Cultivation, sat cross-legged and waited with calm expressions. However, they exchanged glances among themselves.

They were keenly aware that the day’s events were of immense significance. If not handled properly, the situation would surely escalate into a catastrophe that would be impossible to contain.

One of the representatives frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "What exactly do the Five Great Immortal Sects intend to do by stalling for so long?"

Another representative sighed. "Perhaps they are weighing the pros and cons. The matter of the Secret Realm is of great importance, after all."

The crowd’s shouts continued to swell, and the tense atmosphere in Ice City showed no sign of easing.

The twelve representatives dared not make a rash move. They understood that at this critical moment, any wrong decision could lead to irreversible consequences.

Just as the crowd’s patience was about to wear thin, a faint ripple suddenly spread across the sky. Revitalized, everyone looked up.

Five brilliant rays of light streaked across the sky like shooting stars, rapidly approaching Ice City.

The people from the Five Great Immortal Sects had finally arrived.

The Sect Leaders of the Five Great Immortal Sects slowly descended upon the square. Their expressions were cold and stern, their gazes like lightning as they swept over the agitated crowd.

Xiaoyaozi of the Carefree Immortal Sect tilted his chin up slightly and asked in a cold voice, "Why all this clamor?"

The Elder from the crowd stepped forward again, responding fearlessly, "For the Five Great Immortal Sects to monopolize the Secret Realm in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races is utterly unjust. We demand a fair opportunity to enter!"

The Sect Leaders of the Five Great Immortal Sects exchanged a glance. The Sect Leader of the Celestial Sword Sect’s face darkened as he stared at the clan Elder who had just spoken.

"Say that again. I didn’t hear you clearly."

His tone was nonchalant, but it radiated a murderous aura. The oppressive might of his Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivation billowed out.

As his gaze swept over them, everyone couldn’t help but lower their heads. The clan Elder fell silent, not daring to make another sound.

The notion that the Immortal Sects were not to be provoked was deeply ingrained in the hearts of countless people.

Although the appearance of this immortal opportunity had made countless individuals and forces restless, they couldn’t help but feel fear when faced with the real thing.

"Is this the Immortal Sects’ response to our request?"

Just then, on the platform, a clan representative rose to his feet, using his own imposing presence to counter the aura of the Celestial Sword Sect Leader.

In that instant, the very air seemed to freeze, and the tense atmosphere became almost tangible.

This clan representative’s expression was equally cold and severe, but inwardly, his thoughts were churning.

’This is incredibly risky,’ he knew, ’but I have to step forward for my own future and the future of my clan. Because of the Sects, my clan’s development has stagnated, unable to advance any further.’

’Just like the old patriarchs of the Immortal Sects, my Cultivation has stagnated. This immortal opportunity is my chance as well, and I will not miss it!’

At the same time, he was secretly calculating his options. ’If the people from the Immortal Sects refuse to yield, what’s my next move?’

’In terms of Cultivation, all twelve of us are superior to the five visiting Immortal Sect Leaders.’

’But their status and position are enough to crush all twelve of us.’

The twelve of them stood on the Magic Artifact Platform, appearing calm and composed, but inwardly they were filled with apprehension. They understood the gravity of the day’s events; the slightest misstep could trigger a bloodbath.

One of the representatives frowned, worrying to himself. ’I’m afraid today’s matter won’t be resolved peacefully. The people of the Immortal Sects have always been tyrannical; getting them to compromise seems impossible.’

Another representative stared intently at the Immortal Sect Leaders, wondering how to secure the greatest benefits for his own faction during this negotiation.

But they were here to negotiate, not to start a war. Thus, the Celestial Sword Sect Leader merely shot the representative a glance, sneered, and did not respond.

Though the Celestial Sword Sect Leader was displeased, he knew this was not the time for impulsive action.

He narrowed his eyes, a hint of disdain in his gaze as he swept it over the twelve representatives.