The Unveiling of Truth and an Unexpected Alliance

At these words, Sect Leader Murong’s heart jolted with surprise.

The Northern cultivators present reacted similarly, their gazes converging on Sect Leader Murong, for such information clearly seemed to be something only she would know.

Having learned of this matter, Sect Leader Murong had then contacted Qin Yan of the Yanqing Sect, entrusting him to spearhead the alliance between the Northern cultivators and the Sword Sect.

Thus, the truth of everything was laid bare.

Sect Leader Murong now looked towards Fangyuan, observing the young woman who smiled back at her, and a plan began to form in her mind.

Regardless of Fangyuan’s motives concerning these Northern cultivators, it was not her concern; her objective was simple: to depart this ‘world within a painting.’

“Indeed, what you say is true, and it is precisely why I invited all of you to my Sword Sect,” Sect Leader Murong declared.

All the cultivators present fell silent.

Qin Yan glanced at Fangyuan; from start to finish, the young woman had remained beautifully inconspicuous, yet she was the instigator of this entire affair.

No Northern cultivator seemed to care about Fangyuan’s identity, likely assuming she was a member of the Sword Sect.

No one would have guessed that she was a cultivator from the Northern Lands herself.

“If what Fellow Daoist Qin says is true, then we Northern cultivators are naturally willing to unite with the Sword Sect to overcome this crisis, for everyone understands the principle that under a toppled nest, no egg remains unbroken.”

The aloof young woman named Wen was the first to speak.

“How am I to… trust you? And on what grounds should I believe these words?”

The young woman named Bai countered, her gaze moving from Sect Leader Murong to Qin Yan, then to the aloof young woman named Wen.

Who could truly predict what would transpire in two days? Moreover, she had detected no intelligence of large-scale demonic gatherings during this period.

Rather than collaborate with the Sword Sect, it would be better for their Heavenly Dao Alliance to stand alone.

This would prevent them from being ensnared in another’s scheme, becoming mere stepping stones for someone else’s triumph.

From Sect Leader Murong’s perspective, she desired to leave the Northern Lands, with the key resting on Fangyuan.

From Qin Yan’s perspective, he wished to survive within the secret realm and, incidentally, achieve some success.

From the aloof young woman named Wen’s perspective, she had been invited to the Sword Sect, and the answers she received had satisfied her immensely; thus, she was naturally willing to cooperate with the Sword Sect.

After all, with only two days remaining, the truth of this matter would be confirmed in less than two days.

From the young woman named Bai’s perspective, she was the leader of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and the cultivators around her were all prodigies; they could entirely form an independent force.

At worst, they could simply evade the demonic invasion when it came, and once the secret realm reopened after five days, they could escape this place entirely.

Why should they exert themselves and sacrifice their lives for the Sword Sect?

The male cultivator named Qin Yan and the cultivator named Wen were both prodigies from major sects, yet they were isolated.

Cooperating with the Sword Sect was their only viable course of action.

However, no one bothered to look at Fangyuan, who stood off to the side.

This young woman was probably also a member of the Sword Sect, wasn’t she?

She and Sect Leader Murong were likely playing the benevolent role and the stern taskmaster respectively, hoping to manipulate these Northern cultivators.

“Report!”

Just then, a shout echoed from outside the hall, and a cultivator rushed in, their expression visibly flustered.

“What is it? Why such panic?”

Sect Leader Murong, standing above, looked at the cultivator who had burst into the hall, a hint of displeasure in her eyes.

“The demons from the Thousand Bird Cave and the Myriad Insect Palace have gathered their armies and are attacking our Sword Sect!” the cultivator reported, gasping for breath as they addressed Sect Leader Murong.

“What?!”

Sect Leader Murong’s face was filled with astonishment at the news.

She had initially believed these words were merely a ploy to intimidate the Northern cultivators, but she had never anticipated that such an event would truly transpire, and from the two great demonic factions of the Thousand Bird Cave and the Myriad Insect Palace, no less.

For years, these two factions had been at odds, which had offered humanity a glimmer of hope.

Now, they were actually attacking together.

Fangyuan, upon hearing this, frowned slightly; indeed, plans often go awry.

Was this a butterfly effect stemming from her return through rebirth?

However, she had somewhat anticipated such a development, as it had occurred once before during her previous visit to the Demonic City.

The other Northern cultivators, hearing this, also became flustered.

Qin Yan looked at Fangyuan, an expression of contemplation on his face; this situation was truly a blend of truth and falsehood, seven parts truth, three parts deception.

The events were real, but what Fangyuan was truly seeking remained a mystery.

“At a time like this, why are you Northern cultivators still such a disorganized rabble!”

Sect Leader Murong’s temper flared.

After all, this concerned their very survival, and these younger generation cultivators truly seemed to be deteriorating with each passing era.

However, these words only made everyone exchange uneasy glances.

Getting them to cooperate was an insurmountable task, as the grudges between their sects had festered for far too long.

Fangyuan, of course, recognized that their unwillingness to cooperate stemmed from mutual distrust.

Then, Fangyuan’s gaze shifted to Qin Yan.

At that moment, Qin Yan stepped forward, retrieving a jade-like paper from his storage ring – an alliance pact.

The content of the pact was simple: to swear an oath in the name of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Heavenly Venerate, uniting to collectively resist the demonic race!

This Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Heavenly Venerate was the cultivator who had led humanity to the Northern Lands millennia ago.

Such an alliance pact, in ancient times, would have carried significant weight, but in the eyes of current cultivators, it was likely nothing more than a mere scrap of paper.

“I know there are rifts among us Northern cultivators, but at this critical juncture, can we not set aside our grievances?”

Qin Yan spoke slowly, an expression of righteous conviction on his face.

“Let me take the lead and draft this alliance pact.

For now, let us forget our past enmities and collectively resist the demonic race.

What do you all think?”

Such an endeavor seemed reminiscent of the cultivators from millennia past.

This Qin Yan was truly a cultivator of a classical mold.

The young woman named Wen looked at Qin Yan; nowadays, every person was for themselves.

She had heard about Qin Yan’s exploits, how he had traveled to Zhao with his senior sister to investigate the demonic race, only to nearly meet his demise.

“Since that is the case, then I shall join Fellow Daoist Qin in overcoming this ordeal together!” the aloof young woman named Wen declared.

She knew that when the demonic race launched a major offensive, she had already intended to cooperate with the Sword Sect.

The young woman named Bai was about to speak, but the scene before her left her without grounds to refuse.

Leaving aside the Sword Sect’s power, the Yanqing Sect and the Divine Spirit Sect of the Northern Lands had also united.

Seeing that it was entirely possible for the cultivators present to eliminate them, she had no choice but to agree.

With that said, everyone signed their names on the alliance pact.

Then, something unexpected occurred: the alliance pact floated into the air, and an ethereal and profound sensation filled everyone’s hearts, as if they were being watched by some great cultivator.

If anyone violated the alliance pact, a great terror would surely befall them.

Fangyuan noted everyone’s expressions.

As expected, everything unfolded precisely as she had predicted.

Five hundred years prior, she had returned to the Qingmiao Relic.

Although the treasures within were no longer useful to her, she had come to understand some of its inherent rules.

The deceased Void Refinement realm cultivator, within their minor world, had imbued it with certain ‘Heavenly Dao’ rules.

Perhaps during their lifetime, they had detested the infighting and betrayal among cultivators, and now, within this minor world, they had added a rule that once an alliance pact was formed, it absolutely had to be upheld.

As for why the Northern cultivators were unaware, it was because no one had ever thought of signing some worthless alliance pact, for such things were akin to scrap paper in the current Northern Lands.

Moreover, each iteration of the secret realm was different.