Chapter 446: The Heavenly Alliance
"Everyone, if I may propose myself as leader of our alliance, what do you think?" Lin Langtian asked, hands clasped behind his back as he surveyed the room with a calm smile. He had his sights set on creating a powerful faction, and the Southriver Alliance was precisely the force he needed.
His self-recommendation caused murmurs of hesitation among the assembled faction leaders. Though they recognized Lin Langtian's impressive talent and strength, he was still young, and winning the complete trust of these leaders would take more than a single speech.
As the leaders debated silently, a chilling gaze swept over them, silencing their doubts. They glanced up to see Qingtan standing beside Lin Langtian, her cold stare clearly revealing her position. The yellow-robed elder's throat tightened, suddenly realizing they weren't just speaking with any upstart; Lin Langtian was a shadow guard of the Tribunal. If they refused him now, it wouldn't take much for the Tribunal to force their compliance.
Realizing this, the elder understood that agreeing to Lin Langtian's leadership was perhaps the best choice they had. Swallowing his pride, he stepped forward.
"Since it has come to this, my Greenwater Sect will join the alliance and accept Young Master Lin as our leader," he said, glancing around for support. He knew that with this pledge, his sect's fate would be tied to Lin Langtian's leadership. But it was better than the alternatives.
The other leaders exchanged glances. The elder held a respected position, and he was the only one present who had reached Lesser Saint's peak. If he was willing to pledge allegiance to Lin Langtian, what choice did they have?
"My Shura Sect will join the alliance and support Young Master Lin!" announced another leader.
"The same for Blood Shark Sect…"
"And the same for our Longspear Clan…"
In less than a minute, twenty-four of the twenty-seven factions had agreed to join the alliance and pledged loyalty to Lin Langtian. As for the remaining three who stayed silent, Lin Langtian's eyes flicked over them briefly before he dismissed them. Such narrow-minded people, unwilling to seize a rare opportunity, were unlikely to go far. By the time the alliance made its mark on the continent, they'd be left far behind.
"Since you've all joined the alliance, I'll make sure to treat you well. Elder Yan," Lin Langtian turned to the yellow-robed elder with a smile. "I'll make you a promise here and now—within three years, I will help you break through to the Death Saint stage."
A ripple of astonished gasps swept through the hall. A promise like that was explosive news, and the elder himself appeared stunned. The room filled with murmurs of disbelief. Achieving the Death Saint level required more than mere skill; it was a formidable leap, one most of them only dreamed of.
The elder seemed dazed. "Young Master Lin, while your words are tempting, I am old, and my strength has been diminishing with age. Achieving the Death Saint stage within three years feels... unlikely."
"Why so doubtful?" Qingtan scoffed, her voice firm. "Three years ago, my brother Langtian was merely a junior member of a minor clan in East Mystic. Now he's strong enough to defeat a half-Death Saint Blood Puppet. Even my teacher believes his future is limitless. So, tell me, Elder Yan, what is there to doubt?"
The elder's eyes widened at this revelation, realizing for the first time that Lin Langtian was not the product of a privileged background. He had risen from a modest beginning, achieving his strength through sheer talent and determination. With Qingtan's testimony, coupled with the respect she commanded as the Dark Hall Master's disciple, the elder found his hesitation fading. If Lin Langtian's potential was truly as extraordinary as she said, then this was an opportunity not to be missed.
Finally, he nodded slowly, meeting Lin Langtian's gaze. "If Young Master Lin truly can help me reach the Death Saint stage within three years, then I pledge my loyalty to him and will follow wherever he leads."
Lin Langtian smiled, feeling his grip on this new faction solidify. The path to growing his alliance, his own influence, had started strong. Soon, this wouldn't be just any alliance—it would be a force capable of standing toe-to-toe with the most powerful factions on the continent.
"Everyone, as long as you remain loyal to the alliance, I assure you that within three years, you'll each see your own strength rise significantly," he said, glancing around. "With some commitment, each of you will reach new heights, perhaps enough to see a significant boost in power—one that could otherwise take decades."
Relief and excitement swept through the room as the faction leaders exchanged hopeful glances, visibly encouraged by the prospect of steady advancement. Only the three factions that had declined looked regretful, though they tried to hide it. They still clung to their independence, certain they'd be better off without alliance ties.
Seeing the relief around him, Lin Langtian smiled. "We're all allies here, and our strength only grows the stronger we are together," he continued. "This is my responsibility to all of you."
Though his words sounded simple, the leaders could see his dedication and resolve. For the first time, they truly felt as though they were aligning themselves with someone capable of turning the alliance into a powerful force.
At last, the elder smiled and spoke again, his voice full of respect. "Now that the alliance has formed, what should we call it?"
Lin Langtian looked around the room, letting the question hang in the air before responding.
"Oh, a name…?" Lin Langtian was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't yet given much thought to what they would call this alliance.
Seeing his pause, Qingtan offered a gentle smile. "Brother Langtian, I actually have a suggestion for the name—though I'm not sure if it's fitting."
"What's the name?" Lin Langtian responded with a smile, open to hearing her idea.
"Tianfu...The Heavenly Alliance!"
"The Heavenly Alliance?" The elder in the yellow robe repeated thoughtfully, then nodded with admiration. "Lady Qingtan, that's an excellent name—grand and bold, evoking the strength of the skies themselves."
Upon hearing this, many others voiced their agreement. Tianfu, The Heavenly Alliance, seemed to resonate well with everyone.
Qingtan smiled as she explained, "I didn't think too deeply about it. It just seemed fitting since Brother Langtian has the character 'Tian' (Heaven) in his name. And since names like 'Sect,' 'School,' or 'Order' felt too ordinary, I thought 'Alliance' might fit better."
Repeating the name in his mind, Lin Langtian couldn't help but smile to himself, finding the coincidence amusing. In the past, during the Battle of the Hundred Dynasties, he had formed a group called the Flame Alliance with Lin Dong. Now he had created a new faction called The Heavenly Alliance. What a strange twist of fate!
"Brother Langtian, is something wrong? Do you not like the name?" Qingtan asked, noticing his pensive expression.
"Oh, it's nothing," Lin Langtian chuckled, shaking his head. "I was just making sure this name hadn't been used in the Eastern Mystic Domain yet. It's a great choice—I believe the name 'The Heavenly Alliance' will echo across the continent one day!"
"Salute to our Alliance Leader!"
The elder in the yellow robe and the others caught on quickly. With the name chosen, they addressed Lin Langtian as "Alliance Leader" in a show of respect and submission.
Twenty-some Essence Soul stage powerhouses, in unison, bowed to him, pledging their allegiance. At that moment, a powerful new faction was born on the continent: The Heavenly Alliance.
Lin Langtian accepted their gestures without unnecessary modesty and spoke with confidence. "The Heavenly Alliance belongs to all of us, and our achievements will depend on every one of you as the founding elders."
Seeing that all had gone according to plan, Qingtan signaled to an attendant, who brought out drinks for the occasion.
"Today marks a significant event—the establishment of the Heavenly Alliance. Let us raise our glasses to its success!" Lin Langtian said, lifting his cup with a smile.
Laughter filled the hall as everyone cheered, "To our success!" in unison. And with that, the Heavenly Alliance—the largest coalition in the Southriver Domain—was quietly yet decisively formed. Before long, the name of this alliance would resound across the continent.
The three factions that had refused to join had no choice but to leave the gathering in quiet disappointment. Little did they know that someday they might deeply regret this decision. The Heavenly Alliance would one day not only become the mightiest faction across the Tianxuan continent but would even extend its reach into the Great Thousand Worlds, rising to be a supreme power in the realms beyond.
Of course, that was a vision for the future. Back in the present, after the celebrations had ended, the elder in the yellow robe seemed to recall something and respectfully addressed Lin Langtian.
"Alliance Leader, now that the alliance is established, when do we depart for the Eastern Mystic Domain, and where will our headquarters be located?"
Their purpose in forming the alliance was to relocate and find refuge in the Eastern Mystic Domain, following the Tribunal's order to vacate North Mystic. They had banded together for strength and were relying on Lin Langtian to lead them forward.
Lin Langtian pondered briefly before answering. "I've arranged with Commander Zhong to secure a brief grace period. Use this time to select only the core disciples and essential members of each faction to bring along. There's no need to relocate everyone to the Eastern Mystic Domain."
Currently, Lin Langtian's priority was to obtain the Life-and-Death Reincarnation Pill and revive Zhou Tong. Though the Heavenly Alliance had been founded, it would have to remain in its early stages for now, as his attention was still needed elsewhere.
The leaders nodded in agreement. Moving an entire faction across the vast mountain ranges that separated North and Eastern Mystic Domains was no simple task, let alone coordinating such a relocation for twenty-some factions. Selecting only essential members was indeed practical, and they accepted his decision.
"Elder Yan, from now on, you will serve as the Heavenly Alliance's first chief elder. While I'm away, you will be in charge of all Alliance matters," Lin Langtian instructed, looking toward the elder.
"Understood, Alliance Leader!" the elder responded, caught by surprise but clearly delighted. Although the Heavenly Alliance was new, it held great promise, and he was honored to serve as chief elder. Should it grow into a powerful faction one day, his name would be etched in its history.
The other faction leaders looked at him with envy, recognizing the prestige of his title. He was now the Chief Elder of the Heavenly Alliance—a position of considerable influence.
Lin Langtian turned to address the group. "All of you are the founding elders of this alliance. The greater we grow, the more we all gain. Let's make this endeavor a shared success."
"Understood, Alliance Leader!" they responded as one.
With Lin Langtian's encouragement and assignments, the leaders began to feel a growing sense of unity and purpose for the Heavenly Alliance.
One by one, the faction leaders departed to make preparations, and soon, the once-bustling hall grew calm.
After the last elder left, Lin Langtian let out a sigh, acknowledging the effort it took to establish even a fledgling faction. "Building a faction is no small task. I only hope the alliance can pull itself together smoothly."
"Brother Langtian, I'll notify the local Tribunal branch here in the Southriver Domain. If any issues arise, they'll provide support," Qingtan said, coming over to reassure him.
Lin Langtian smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Qingtan."
He then looked to the distant horizon, feeling a surge of ambition. One day, the name "Heavenly Alliance" would echo through every corner of the continent!
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