The Unseen Architects of Alliance

This alliance pact, astonishingly, resonated with heaven and earth, earning the very recognition of this realm!

Yet, the pact’s contents merely stipulated that the Northern cultivators should unite against the demon race, guarding against any potential betrayal. What, then, truly motivated Qin Yan, who stood before them, to take the lead in signing such an agreement?

Could it genuinely be for some grand, abstract notion of human righteousness? To slay demons and eradicate evil?

The general situation had become clear: presumably, Sect Leader Murong had uncovered intelligence about an impending demon assault on the Sword Sect. Consequently, she sought out Qin Yan, hoping he would rally the Northern cultivators to join forces with the Sword Sect in repelling the demonic invasion.

This was far from a simple demon hunt; it was an act of war. A single misstep could spell their demise, their very spirits dissolving within this perilous secret realm.

No, that wasn’t right. Perhaps they were overthinking the entire affair.

Qin Yan, the male cultivator from the Yanqing Sect, had only recently garnered renown throughout the Northern lands. His initial rise to prominence stemmed from the news of his annulled engagement—a decision by the Yanqing Sect itself, which implicitly affirmed that Qin Yan had not spurned Miss Xiao despite her cultivation regression.

Subsequently, he claimed first place in the sect competition, establishing himself as a preeminent figure among Yanqing Sect’s new generation.

Following that was the Demon City incident in Zhao Kingdom. Considering these occurrences, Qin Yan’s character was undoubtedly one of unwavering integrity, making such noble, righteous ideals entirely consistent with his nature. Furthermore, the Demon City incident must have entailed some profound experience for him, fueling his intense hatred for the demon race. When viewed through this lens, his agreement to Sect Leader Murong’s proposal appeared perfectly logical.

Should Qin Yan ever learn of the elaborate theories concocted by these Northern prodigies, he would likely erupt into peals of laughter.

Astute minds often complicate matters unnecessarily. In truth, the situation was remarkably straightforward: the Sword Sect stood no chance against the demonic invasion. If the Sword Sect fell, everyone would be doomed. Given this, when Fangyuan presented him with such an alliance pact, Qin Yan naturally took the necessary action.

This was, fundamentally, a disparity in information. Qin Yan and Fangyuan possessed the crucial knowledge that the Sword Sect was destined to fall during the demon invasion, a truth entirely unknown to the cultivators gathered before them.

But what, then, was Fangyuan truly seeking?

With the demon invasion looming, the Sword Sect’s paramount concern was its own survival. The Northern cultivators, conversely, aimed to slay demons and accrue merit. In the face of the Sword Sect’s resistance against the demon race, these cultivators essentially faced two options: either assist the Sword Sect, or remain spectators, withdrawing immediately once the secret realm’s entrance reopened.

Any individual with even a modicum of wisdom would readily choose the latter, for at all times, survival remained the foremost priority, with development following only thereafter.

Qin Yan had opted to aid the Sword Sect precisely because he understood its inability to withstand the demon race. However, this crucial insight was lost on others. Who could have foreseen that a sect, seemingly secure within a secret realm teeming with demons, would prove so fragile, shattering at the first touch of adversity?

What, then, was Fangyuan’s true objective?

If her sole motivation were survival, she would have had no reason to enter this secret realm, which was nothing short of a monstrous meat grinder.

Had she truly expended such immense effort to enter this secret realm, merely to prevent the Sword Sect’s demise? This involved currying favor with Qin Yan, revealing her identity as a reborn individual, paying a significant price to secure the Sword Sect’s cooperation, and finally, producing such a pivotal alliance pact.

Much like the Northern cultivators were speculating about Qin Yan’s motives, Qin Yan himself had arrived at a distinct conclusion—

‘Fangyuan is an extraordinarily benevolent soul. She couldn’t bear the thought of the Sword Sect within this secret realm being annihilated and humanity suffering a brutal massacre. Thus, she selflessly entered the secret realm, and subsequently, to ensure the Sword Sect’s survival, she dramatically revealed her identity as a reborn individual, thereby earning Qin Yan’s trust. Following this, she paid a substantial price to secure the Sword Sect Leader’s confidence, then prompted Qin Yan to produce the alliance pact, uniting with the Northern cultivators to collectively confront the impending doom of the Sword Sect.’

‘Considering this young woman’s ruthless and unscrupulous demeanor, such a conclusion was utterly preposterous.’

As Qin Yan observed the diverse expressions among the Northern prodigies before him, he noted that two individuals were conspicuously absent from the gathering: a cultivator from the Tiancheng Sect, and one fewer cultivator than expected from the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

****

Moments earlier.

Within the Thousand Birds’ Lair.

This formidable location served as one of the demon race’s power bases within this realm, uniting all avian cultivators under its banner. Its leader was a Great Roc demon, formidable at the peak of the Golden Core stage.

Her gaze fell upon a human cultivator, kneeling below and trembling uncontrollably. This was a prisoner she had recently captured. Lately, whispers had reached her ears of foreign human cultivators roaming the vicinity, slaughtering demons indiscriminately at the slightest provocation. Even her most esteemed disciple had perished by human hands.

Furthermore, the wounds on her beloved disciple suggested that the human cultivator had audaciously attempted to frame those from the Myriad Insect Hall.

The human cultivator now shivering was a prodigy from the Northern Heavenly Dao Alliance. Having learned that other cultivators from her alliance were bound for the Sword Sect, she had detached from the main group to pursue a bird demon. To her misfortune, she had unexpectedly stumbled upon a Golden Core peak demon.

“You cannot kill me!”

Perhaps sensing her imminent demise, she shrieked.

“Hmph!”

The Great Roc demon merely scoffed, then immediately unleashed a soul-searching technique. In that instant, the human cultivator let out a horrifying, shrill scream, her entire face contorted as if enduring unimaginable torment.

Moments later, the human cultivator was irrevocably dead.

The Great Roc demon sifted through the fragmented information within the human cultivator’s soul. The Soul-Searching Great Law was, after all, a rather sinister technique, and her mastery of it was far from complete, hence the broken memories.

‘The Northern lands…’

‘The Sword Sect inviting these Northern cultivators…’

‘There must be some intricate conspiracy at play here,’ the Great Roc demon mused. She was certain her disciple had perished at the hands of a Northern cultivator. Knowing the Sword Sect Leader’s cultivation level, her beloved disciple, even if outmatched, should have been able to escape. Therefore, the Sword Sect was undoubtedly concocting some sinister plot.

Whether considering the interests of her faction or her own personal vengeance, she found herself compelled to mobilize her forces and ascertain the Sword Sect’s true intentions and vulnerabilities.

****

Within the Myriad Insect Hall.

Nestled within a secluded mountain valley, the air was exceptionally frigid, with a delicate layer of frost clinging to every tree and blade of grass.

The Hall Master of the Myriad Insect Hall observed the human cultivator standing before her. This individual, claiming to hail from the Tiancheng Sect, had journeyed far to propose a discussion of cooperation.

“Speak,” the Hall Master commanded, her gaze piercing. “Provide me with a reason not to kill you.”

“Does the Hall Master happen to know the tale of the Figure in the Painting?” The Tiancheng Sect cultivator inquired, a faint smile playing on her lips as she met the gaze of the formidable demoness. Though her outward demeanor appeared relaxed, a storm of tension churned within her.

‘No one ever stipulated that cooperation with the demon race was forbidden within this secret realm,’ she reasoned internally.

‘Provided the great demon received sufficient recompense, wouldn’t these demons practically queue up for her to slaughter? After all, the demon race was hardly a unified front. Even within this very Myriad Insect Hall, among the myriad insect species, the inherent dynamic was one of predator and prey.’

With that, she began to recount the tale of the Figure in the Painting.

She then retrieved a jade slip from her storage ring, extending it towards the great demon. The demoness, still pondering the human’s words, accepted the item. Her gaze swept over it, and in an instant, her eyes gleamed with wild ecstasy.