The Alliance Council convened swiftly. Grand Elder Zhong presided from the center, while dozens of Council members sat casually around him on the floor, unrestrained.

Ye Qin sat unobtrusively near the back on a meditation cushion. Surrounded by these Nascent Soul cultivators, he tensed whenever a curious glance from an elder swept over him, feeling quite uncomfortable. Yet, the majority of the elders’ gazes held goodwill, showing no signs of malice.

The Palace Masters of the four Immortal Palaces—Purple Sword Palace, Upper Tang Palace, Ten Thousand Luo Palace, and Manuer Palace—sat respectfully opposite the Grand Elder. Until one of them ascended to the position of Sect Master, they lacked the standing to sit as equals with the Grand Elder and could only listen as ordinary Palace Masters while Grand Elder Zhong discussed the overall strategy of the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

Ye Qin listened intently.

Decades ago, the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Heavenly Banner Alliance had jointly established a grand strategy to expand their territories into the Sea of Blood—each lineage was to construct an Immortal City within the Sea of Blood as a foundation for expansion. The Immortal City constructed by a lineage would fall under its jurisdiction.

Erecting an Immortal City was no simple feat.

Especially when building one in the Sea of Blood, which would inevitably provoke fierce counterattacks from the Demon Race cultivators, making a brutal blood war unavoidable.

Today’s Council meeting had summoned the elders and Palace Masters primarily to discuss the minor details concerning the Northern Lineage's construction of an Immortal City in the Sea of Blood.

“Today’s Council meeting should ideally have been chaired by the Northern Sect Master. However, since Sect Master Yu’s passing, there hasn't been a Palace Master with sufficient prestige to inherit this great position. Therefore, I, as the Chief Elder, preside,” Grand Elder Zhong’s voice carried a slight tremor of age. “Besides constructing the Immortal City, our Northern Lineage must also select a Northern Sect Master as soon as possible to lead the great war against the Demon Race. Esteemed members, please deliberate and present a proposal!”

The members of the Elder Council within the hall quickly began to discuss amongst themselves.

Soon, several elders put forward a suggestion.

Since the four Northern Immortal Palaces all vied for the position of Sect Master, they should each be responsible for building a small-scale Immortal City and luring out Demon Race cultivators to kill. The timeframe would be five years.

After five years, the ranking of the four Immortal Palaces based on their merits would determine who claimed the great seat of the Sect Master.

As for the specifics of city construction and luring the Demon Race cultivators, the four Immortal Palaces would rely on their own capabilities.

Rewarding based on merit was a tradition in the cultivation world. This time, however, the reward was enormous: the position of the Northern Sect Master.

“This proposal is sound. Our Elder Council will act only as arbitrators, not interferers. Do the Palace Masters agree to this?” Grand Elder Zhong inquired.

The four Palace Masters exchanged glances.

“The method is good, but determining the magnitude of merit is tricky. Should the merit be based on the number and rank of Demon Race cultivators slain, or on the scale of the Immortal City constructed?” Palace Master Wang asked after a moment of contemplation.

“How about this! Firstly, if within five years, none of the four Palace Masters manage to build an Immortal City, then the merit will be decided by the quantity and rank of Demon Race cultivators slain by the four Palaces. Secondly, if any Palace Master successfully constructs an Immortal City, the merit will be determined solely by the size and scale of the built city, disregarding the kill count of Demon Race cultivators. Furthermore, for the sake of fairness, the Elder Council will not offer any support for five years; everything depends on your own strength. How you slay the Demon Race and build the city will test the comprehensive command ability of the respective Palace Masters; only the most capable among you will qualify to contend for the high seat,” Grand Elder Zhong mused with a faint smile.

“This method is fair. Manuer Palace has no objections,” said the Palace Master of Manuer Palace, a graceful middle-aged beauty whose appearance was strikingly similar to Fairy Meng Ling, only possessing the mature charm of a woman.

The Palace Masters of Purple Sword Palace, Upper Tang Palace, and Ten Thousand Luo Palace pondered, offering no explicit opposition.

“Since there are no other objections, let us now proceed according to the customs of our Heavenly Dao Alliance and cast the Alliance Tokens to formalize the agreement! White tokens signify agreement, and black tokens signify opposition. If the white tokens exceed the black ones, the Council motion passes. If the black tokens exceed the white ones, the discussion must restart,” Grand Elder Zhong’s expression turned solemn.

An officiating Elder from the Elder Council solemnly presented an ancient jade cylinder and a batch of black and white tokens.

Every member of the Elder Council present drew a jade token and cast it into the cylinder.

Ye Qin watched the proceedings curiously. After considering for a moment, he drew a white token.

The elders cast their tokens.

Finally, with thirty white tokens in agreement and five black tokens in opposition, the covenant was passed through this very primitive method of voting by token.

This covenant, enacted by the Elder Council of the Northern Lineage, meant the outcome was irrevocable. Several hours later, the members of the Northern Lineage’s Elder Council and the four Palace Masters gradually departed the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s branch headquarters in Linhai City, leaving on their spirit beast mounts. The cultivators from the four Immortal Palaces and the major forces who had gathered outside the hall awaiting news also departed quickly once they received the latest intelligence.

This Council meeting would have a profound impact on the Immortal Palaces of the Northern Lineage, yet it garnered little attention from the outside world.

“Elder Ye, are you free? Shall we get together?” Palace Master Zhou Yu called out to Ye Qin with a smile after the Council adjourned.

“That would be fine.”

Ye Qin considered it, bid farewell to Jiang Zhenyuan, with whom he had recently communicated mentally, and left the grand hall with Palace Master Zhou Yu. After all, he was still the Fifth Elder of Purple Sword Palace, and Purple Sword Palace’s affairs required his contribution.

A spirit beast mount bearing the insignia of the Purple Sword Palace, piloted by several Golden Core cultivators from the Palace, moved slowly down the main road of Linhai City.

Inside the mount, only Palace Master Zhou Yu, the Grand Elder Zhou Hong, Ye Qin, and the Young Palace Master Zhou Yi were present.

Palace Master Zhou informed Zhou Hong and Zhou Yi about the general situation of the Council meeting.

“The Council decided that our Purple Sword Palace must build an Immortal City on our own? How is that possible? Just constructing a small-scale Immortal City comparable to Linhai City would consume immense manpower and spirit stones just to set up the protective formation, and it would take at least three to five years to complete. With the strength of Purple Sword Palace, and even with the Alliance support, we could never gather enough resources to build such a city. Unless we integrated the strength of all Immortal Palaces in the Northern Lineage, we lack the financial capacity to construct a sufficiently powerful defensive city.”

A hint of alarm surfaced on Zhou Yi’s face, but he quickly calmed down. “Even if we manage to build it, such an Immortal City would immediately become a primary target that the Demon Race cultivators would strive to eliminate first. Relying solely on the power of Purple Sword Palace and our allies, we could never withstand the fierce assault of a large number of Demon Race cultivators! Palace Master, Grand Elder, what exactly does the Elder Council intend?”

“The Elder Council knows perfectly well that an Immortal Palace cannot build a city on its own strength, nor can it withstand the ferocious attacks of the Demon Race, yet they still proposed this plan. Their true intention is likely to have us use a fake Immortal City as bait to lure and kill Demon Race cultivators, ultimately determining the merits based on the quantity and rank of those slain,” Grand Elder Zhou Hong stated calmly, unfazed.

“But what if the Demon Race cultivators don't take the bait?” Zhou Yi asked after thinking it over.

“That depends on how convincing our bait is. Therefore, this Immortal City must be built, and it must be convincing enough to attract the attention of the Demon Race. Of course, it cannot be a large Immortal City, as that would draw too many Demon Race cultivators, which would be tantamount to seeking death. We can only build a small Immortal City to attract smaller attacking forces of the Demon Race. The balance required here must be carefully managed,” Zhou Hong chuckled.

“With the strength of our Purple Sword Palace and some allied Immortal Palaces, undertaking the construction of a small, fake Immortal City is achievable. Using the fake city to lure attackers and encircle small bands of the Demon Race is the best way to earn merit,” Palace Master Zhou nodded in agreement. He then turned to Ye Qin. “Elder Ye, what are your current plans?”

“I plan to cultivate in Linhai City for the time being, striving to reach the peak of the Ninth Layer of Core Condensation as soon as possible to prepare for the great tribulation. However, I estimate it will still require twenty years or so of dedicated cultivation; there is no need to rush. If the Palace Master requires my assistance for anything, please just ask. If Purple Sword Palace can secure the position of Northern Sect Master, my role as the Fifth Elder will also become significantly more convenient,” Ye Qin mused with a slight smile.

“Elder Ye having such intentions is most welcome,” Palace Master Zhou chuckled. “For this expedition into the Sea of Blood, we require a vanguard from Purple Sword Palace—someone to undertake the construction of the Immortal City and take on the crucial role of bait.” As he spoke, he paused, looking at Ye Qin, Zhou Hong, and Zhou Yi.

The selection for this crucial role would undoubtedly fall among these three.

“My lifespan is nearing its end. This old body will exert its final effort for Purple Sword Palace before I die. I will lead the vanguard team to the Sea of Blood to build the city,” Zhou Hong declared before the Palace Master could choose. Even if he died in battle, it would only be a few decades sooner, and it would not deplete Purple Sword Palace’s vitality.

Bait was, in essence, no different from cannon fodder—a life-risking adventure undertaken at the cost of one's own life. Besides Grand Elder Zhou Hong’s sufficient strength and experience battling the Demon Race, perhaps no other cultivator was more suited for this vital responsibility.

Palace Master Zhou looked at Zhou Hong silently, finally nodding heavily.

“Good. Grand Elder Zhou Hong will lead a vanguard team to the Sea of Blood to construct a fake Immortal City and lure the Demon Race to attack. I, along with Elder Zhou Xuan and Elder Zhou Rui, will personally lead the main contingent of Purple Sword Palace, along with the Alliance forces, to set an ambush and hunt down the Demon Race cultivators. Yi’er, you and Elder Zhou Rong will remain in the rear to prepare supplies for the front lines. Furthermore, Elder Ye, you will lead a detachment specifically responsible for transporting Purple Sword Palace’s wartime provisions. This task does not require you to be on the direct front lines, but you must guard against Demon Race attacks along the way, and even potential sneak attacks from other ill-intentioned Immortal Palaces; it will not be easy,” Palace Master Zhou’s gaze finally settled on Ye Qin.

Ye Qin showed a slight flicker of surprise. Assigning someone to transport Purple Sword Palace’s vital supplies meant this individual must be someone utterly trusted. Palace Master Zhou’s action demonstrated that he did not view Ye Qin as an outsider.