"Exactly!"
Zhao Baiyang lets out a sigh and speaks.
When he first met him in the Wild Mountain Ancient Temple, he thought Pei Xuanjing would be a good opponent, someone who'd accompany him on his future cultivation journey as a Taoist friend.
However, the growth shown by Pei Xuanjing exceeded his expectations. The other man's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, ascending rapidly.
Even today, while he still considered Pei Xuanjing as a friend in the path of Tao, he knew that he was no longer a match for him.
In the decades they'd been apart, despite his own power progressing significantly, and even gaining an undefeated strength against the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, the gap between him and Pei Xuanjing was still significant.
Thirty years ago, Pei Xuanjing's display of power had already shocked all the Heroes. Just by manifesting himself through spiritual consciousness, he was able to suppress cultivators of the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm. The disparity between them was clear.
"What a being! Truly a celestial person descended to earth!" A complex emotion flickers in Zi Tianxiong's eyes.
When he first heard of Pei Xuanjing, the latter was still a rising name on the run from the Great Ming Empire. Zi Tianxiong considered him a recently emerged peer, and while Pei Xuanjing did exhibit some abilities, Zi Tianxiong did not take him seriously.
Everything that transpired later, however, left Zi Tianxiong astounded. Pei Xuanjing's meteoric rise saw him reach Zi Tianxiong's level and ultimately surpass him, reaching heights that were hard to match.
Hence, Zi Tianxiong had to admit: when the goods are compared, the inferior goods are thrown away. Even though he was a hero of his time, compared to Pei Xuanjing, he was barely worth mentioning.
Tie Qianshan answers with a light smile, "We always say that because of the constraints of Heaven and Earth, we were unable to pursue our cultivation journey continuously, delaying the optimal time for cultivating. We believe we are nothing less compared to most of the strong ones in Sky Wasteland, and it's just bad luck that keeps us from stepping up."
"However, this revival of Heaven and Earth has also compensated for our time. Being able to personally experience the revival process, isn't it a kind of compensation for us?" Tie Qianshan wondered aloud, "After the revival of Heaven and Earth is complete, how far can we go on our own, can we really support those behind us?'
At his words, the two become silent, immediately understanding why Tie Qianshan's attitude has changed so drastically.
Indeed, at the beginning, when Heaven and Earth hadn't revived, these local powerhouses were constrained by them, stuck at the peak of Mortal Realm and unable to break into the Spirit Realm, making it a huge regret.
But didn't this constraint also grant them a chance? It allowed them to lay solid foundations and accumulate power for future cultivation breakthroughs.
Especially when Heaven and Earth began to revive. Although the intensity of the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi couldn't match that of Sky Wasteland at first, the gradual manifestation of the Ultimate Principles and Laws during the revival provided an optimal opportunity for cultivation – an experience the cultivators of Sky Wasteland could never have. This was also a form of compensation for them.
This opportunity allowed them to make rapid progress, covering in decades the distance that cultivators from Sky Wasteland would need hundreds or even thousands of years to cross, and to reach the Spirit Realm Sixth Level in such a short time.
Thus, it's hard to describe whether the initial constraints of Heaven and Earth were good or bad.
However, now that Heaven and Earth had fully revived, and the external manifestation of the ultimate principles and laws were gradually hidden, the boosts they received for their cultivation began to disappear.
From now on, their cultivation progress would be the same as other cultivators in the Sky Wasteland; without a significant opportunity, they could only rely on their own efforts and painstaking cultivation.
The Seventh Level of Spiritual Realm was one hurdle which had stopped numerous great heroes. Even though they had advanced to the Spirit Realm Sixth Level with the aid of the revival of Heaven and Earth, Tie Qianshan knew that it wouldn't be easy for him to advance to the Spirit Realm Seventh Level. Without special opportunities, it might take a very long time for him to make further progress.
If it were any other time, him having the current realm and strength would already be considered as fortunate. But it's not the right time now. They weren't alone; there were countless people relying on them for protection.
With numerous Sky Wasteland forces returning, conflicts would inevitably arise unless they're willing to give up everything they have now.
Zhao Baiyang felt tremendous pressure and difficulty in supporting everything by himself, but wasn't the same true for Tie Qianshan?
He'd already had a rough idea before coming to see Zhao Baiyang. So when Zhao Baiyang proposed this suggestion, Tie Qianshan accepted without hesitation.
"In this case, if I continue to hesitate, I'll seem indecisive." Zi Tianxiong laughs and speaks up from the side.
Tie Qianshan's words had been clear: the present situation was that they would benefit from union, but if they went their separate ways, they would all fight alone and sooner or later be targeted by other forces.
So since Tie Qianshan had agreed, he, of course, wouldn't continue to hesitate, but decisively made up his mind.
"Rest assured, the two of you. If you join the Underworld Alliance, all matters within the alliance will be discussed collectively. I am not someone who doesn't listen to opinions." Zhao Baiyang assures them with a smile.
As both of them agreed without requiring Zhao Baiyang to waste too many words, or present the lavish terms he had prepared for them, it didn't mean that he considered everything as being granted and didn't mention his prepared terms.
Instead, to demonstrate his sincerity and attitude, he proactively explained his previously planned course of action, enabling them to state their demands. As long as they weren't excessive, he was willing to agree instantly.
With the alignment already formed between the three, everything else became quite straightforward. Even though there were minor issues, they wouldn't impact their overall strategy.
Half a month later, when the Vajra Sect Leader emerged, his realm might only be at the Spirit Realm Fifth Level, but with his strong physical body from the Way of Essence Refinement, he was a match even for common cultivators at the Spirit Realm Sixth Level. This brought significant strength to their side.
Their cooperation signaled a further strengthening of the Underworld Alliance. With them holding down the fort, even though none of them had broken through to the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm yet, they were still able to handle many situations.
Among the many second-tier forces in Sky Wasteland, most only had one or two cultivators at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm to rely on. Comparatively, the top power of the Underworld Alliance was even stronger.
Pei Xuanjing, who was far away in the Taoist Academy, was unaware that Zhao Baiyang had invited Tie Qianshan and Zi Tianxiong to join the Alliance of Heretics. Nonetheless, even if he knew, he was not surprised.
After all, in the past decades, the cooperation among these three parties had been nothing short of spectacular. Given the current situation, it was not surprising that they would merge.
The Alliance of Heretics led by Zhao Baiyang was not the only one making such moves. With the rejuvenation of Heaven and Earth, the return of the powerhouses from the Sky Wasteland, and the alliances of various forces in the Daming World were all taking corresponding measures.
Take the Demonic Cult for example. Even though Xue Wuheng's killing of the Hell Demon Sect's expert had drawn attention from all over the world, the Demonic Cult did not seize this excellent opportunity to expand its power. Instead, it seemed to be contracting somewhat.
This was because Xue Wuheng was fully aware that the current situation was only temporary and that the upcoming period would be the most unbearable for the Demonic Cult. He needed to tread lightly, or else he might not survive this tribulation.
After all, the Demonic Way differed from the Righteous Path. While the forces of the Righteous Path might need excuses to take action after their return, the Demonic Way didn't need such formal reasons. They would seize any opportunity to strike fearlessly.
Especially after he had killed the Hell Demon Sect expert, it was as if he had handed over the initiative to the enemy, who would not even need to find an excuse.
The Demonic Cult was one example, and the Clan Alliance was another.
These clans were all powerful factions that had risen in the Tang Dynasty. They also had their own main branches in the Sky Wasteland and could be considered as having some support.
However, were the people from these clan alliances willing to let those people return?
Probably not!
After all, they were the ones who had been left behind, the ones who had been discarded. How could they now be willing to hand over everything they had to the people who had abandoned them?
No matter what reason was given, what flowery language was used, one undeniable fact was that the ones left behind had been discarded.
Merely based on this, reconciling was difficult. Therefore, the members of the Clan Alliance were discussing what to do and how to treat the people from the Sky Wasteland.
…
In this upcoming Great World, every cultivator had his own plans and dreams, his own preparations.
As the time for Heaven and Earth's rejuvenation drew closer, the conflicts between the various forces gradually subsided. Everyone was waiting, waiting for the full return of all forces.
At this moment, in the Daming World, there seemed to be a calm before the storm.
However, just when everyone thought that this would be a peaceful time, waiting for all forces to return and usher in the Great World, a sudden occurrence shocked everyone, causing an uproar throughout the entire Ancestral Land.
Pang Hong, who was the disciple of Pei Xuanjing, the National Taoist of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, the current leader of Shenxiao Sect affairs, killed the heir of the Canglang Palace outside the Great Ming territory. This angered the strongmen of the Canglang Palace, who wanted to suppress him but unexpectedly summoned Pei Xuanjing himself. Pei Xuanjing not only rescued his disciple but also suppressed a cultivator at the seventh level of the Spiritual Realm from the Canglang Palace.
It's necessary to know that although the Canglang Palace was not a top-notch force in the Sky Wasteland, it was a very powerful existence among the first-class forces. There were several cultivators at the eight-fold Spirit Realm within their ranks, among whom, an old ancestor was said to be only half a step away from the Strongest Realm. He even had a record of defeating them in battle.
The incident of Pang Hong killing the heir of such a massive power and suppressing their strong men was indeed earth-shattering. All sides focused their attention here, eager to see how the Canglang Palace would react.
Even though Pei Xuanjing had suppressed and killed several cultivators at the seventh level of Spirit Realm in the past to establish authority, those forces either provoked him intentionally or had no time to react due to timing. Therefore, they could only tolerate it for now.
However, circumstances were entirely different now. First of all, it was Pei Xuanjing's disciple who killed the heir of the Canglang Palace.
Moreover, now that all forces were gradually returning, Pei Xuanjing's title as the number one person was somewhat nominal. His current actions were perceived as a lack of respect towards other forces, possibly in an attempt to establish authority.
"Even if one wants to establish authority, choosing a second-rate force would suffice. Coincidentally, he chose the Canglang Palace, so it remains to see how this will end." Some people thought maliciously.
After all, the Canglang Palace was a recognized powerful faction in the Sky Wasteland, controlling a territory and renowned throughout.
Led by the reputation of the old ancestor of the Canglang Palace, its disciples were arrogant, domineering, and somewhat tyrannical.
Having just arrived in the Ancestral Land and encountering such an incident, they surely wouldn't let it go easily. If they swallowed their anger quietly, it would damage the reputation of the Canglang Palace. It would affect their relationship with the other forces in the Ancestral Land and how they were perceived by others in the Sky Wasteland.
Therefore, many people believed it was a difficult situation to handle. A slight carelessness might lead to a war between the two sides. Perhaps it would escalate the contradiction between the people in the Ancestral Land and the newcomers, which could trigger a massive war.
"What exactly happened? Why did Pang Hong kill the heir of Canglang Palace?" Someone was extremely curious.
As the disciple of Pei Xuanjing, the invincible powerhouse of the era, and the one handling Shenxiao Sect's affairs, Pang Hong didn't have high cultivation, but he was well-known.
Many forces returning from the Sky Wasteland had dealt with Pang Hong overtly or covertly and knew him as someone who, despite having a great master, neither was arrogant nor overbearing, but rather, was very peaceful and stable in temperament.
For him to kill the disciple of the Canglang Palace, it was evident that he was pushed to the limit, or else such a consequence would not have arisen.
It must be said that creating such an image was beneficial. Even though Pang Hong acted ruthlessly, due to his usual behavior, many didn't perceive it as ruthless but felt that there was more to it.
Of course, regardless of what those people thought, what had happened had happened. Especially after Pei Xuanjing's incarnation suppressed a Canglang Palace cultivator at the seventh level of the Spiritual Realm, it was impossible for the two sides to make peace easily.
This conflict between the two sides drew much attention, everyone wanting to see where this situation would lead.
The various forces of the Great Ming Realm wanted to know the attitude of the forces in the Sky Wasteland towards them, and how Canglang Palace would respond.
The numerous forces in the Sky Wasteland also wanted to know if Pei Xuanjing still had the power to suppress the world and whether his cultivation realm had further advanced during these thirty years of retreat. This would determine how they would treat him.
In short, after this incident, it wasn't just a matter between the two sides, but a matter of great concern to countless people.
"Master, I have caused trouble for you by taking action myself. Please punish me," Pang Hong knelt before Pei Xuanjing, his face heavy as he begged for forgiveness.
He naturally knew the current situation and that the best approach was to quietly observe the movements of all sides. But his action this time had brought major troubles for his master.
No matter what the reason for his action was, whether right or wrong, he knew that disturbing his master's plan was certainly wrong. So Pang Hong chose to accept guilt without any explanation.
"Rise," Pei Xuanjing gently waved his sleeve and with a gentle force, he lifted Pang Hong, who was kneeling on the ground.
Pei Xuanjing understood his disciple's character well. Over the years, Pang Hong had served him without fault and had never created any major troubles. If anything managed to anger him to the point of lashing out, it would surely have a reason.
As for getting into trouble with that so-called Canglang Palace, Pei Xuanjing didn't care about it at all. He reasoned that if a mere Canglang Palace could disrupt his plans, then there was no point in him making these painstaking efforts.
"It's just a minor matter. A mere Canglang Palace is of no concern to me and it's not worth worrying about," Pei Xuanjing looked at Pang Hong, whose face was heavy, then laughed dismissively without any worry.
Given Pei Xuanjing's current strength and realm, the only forces and powerful cultivators capable of intimidating him were the top forces and those who had already advanced to the Nine Realms of Spirit.
He had heard of the reputation of Canglang Palace, with several powerful cultivators in the Spirit Realm Eightfold, which indeed made it a dominant force among first-class powers. But it was not worth Pei Xuanjing treating them seriously.
So, when he found that they wanted to take action against his disciple, Pei Xuanjing didn't hesitate to take action and suppress the cultivator from Canglang Palace.
"Even if my disciple has made a mistake, the punishment should be administered after my approval. This is a disrespect and disregard for me," Pei Xuanjing thought, his outward calm hiding his ruthless pride.
The incident happened without him being aware of the cause, yet he considered that Canglang Palace took actions against his disciple without his consent, thus disrespecting him. This made Pei Xuanjing very unhappy.
"Thank you, Master," Pang Hong thanked Pei Xuanjing respectfully.
He was prepared for his master's punishment, but to his surprise, his master appeared magnanimous without any intention to punish him immediately.
Pei Xuanjing waved his hand and said, "Tell me, that person must have forced you to take action. If you were not wrong, then I naturally won't blame you."
He needed to first understand what happened in order to establish his stand and decide on his next move.
"Yes," Pang Hong nodded.
In front of Pei Xuanjing, Pang Hong hid nothing, recounting the incident calmly and objectively, even though he was directly involved.
With the revival of Heaven and Earth, the territory of the Great Ming World kept expanding, and the newly emerged unowned land became objects of desire for returning forces from the Sky Wasteland and local forces.
As the strongest alliance in the Great Ming World, next to the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, and having Pei Xuanjing as the invincible powerhouse, the Taoist School naturally didn't miss out on these new unoccupied lands. They immediately dispatched people to occupy and divide their own territories.
The Shenxiao Sect's affairs were primarily managed by Pang Hong, its junior head, since Pei Xuanjing never involved much. Under Pang Hong's guidance, the Shenxiao Sect acquired a considerable territory, providing resources for the disciples to cultivate.
Since the revival of Heaven and Earth, people from Canglang Palace had also returned. The place they had chosen to land was conveniently not far from the territory occupied by Shenxiao Sect, inevitably leading to friction during their rapid expansions.
The Shenxiao Sect, led by Pei Xuanjing, the top cultivator in the world, and Canglang Palace, the dominant force from former Sky Wasteland, clashed in these frictions, refusing to back down easily.
Of course, in the early stage, although occasional frictions occurred between the two sides, neither allowed the conflict to escalate.
However, not long ago, after leaving the Taoist Academy, Pang Hong received news from his disciples. Recently, Canglang Palace seemed to be deliberately targeting them, seizing spiritual medicine and treasures from the disciples of Shenxiao Sect. Although no one was hurt, their treasures were taken away.
The numerous disciples of Shenxiao Sect were mostly at the early stage of the Spirit Realm and not comparable to the disciples of Canglang Palace. They had no ability to resist the latter's actions.
Facing Canglang Palace's continuous provocations, the disciples dared not disturb Pei Xuanjing, but they reported to Pang Hong.
As the junior head of the school, Pang Hong felt obliged to stand up for his disciples. He brought several elders from the Spirit Realm Third Level to deal with this matter.
In the initial phase of the negotiations, Pang Hong was aware of the situation and didn't want to bring trouble to his master. He wanted to deal with the matter properly, without bothering his master.