Mount Qingshui returned to tranquility.
The incense had completely burned out. There were no further attacks.
Yunxihua stood where he was for a moment, then finally sat down slowly.
His injuries were severe, blood still flowing, yet his breathing gradually stabilized.
The three sects did not move.
Lingfeng was the first to sheath his sword.
"Your realm is far below ours," he said frankly, "but you endured. That is enough."
The Sword God Sect Master nodded slightly.
"If you continue to live, one day my sword may no longer stand above you."
Ghulai stepped forward one pace.
"You have passed the trial," he said calmly. "Not because you are strong, but because your heart did not collapse."
Loufeng stared at Yunxihua longer than the others.
His gaze was deep, as if piercing through body and soul.
"That aura…" he said softly.
"It was no coincidence."
The Holy Maiden Yafei wiped the blood from her lips.
She no longer looked at Yunxihua with cold indifference, but with caution—and a trace of fear.
"Your soul is dangerous," she said briefly.
Yunxihua lifted his head.
His face was pale, his silver-white hair disheveled, yet the light in his eyes remained clear.
"I already said," he spoke softly,
"I do not wish to stand beneath anyone."
No one refuted him.
Ghulai smiled faintly.
"Then not a disciple."
Luoshen continued,
"Not a subordinate."
Loufeng grinned.
"But rather… an ally."
Silence followed.
Yunxihua did not answer immediately.
In another dimension, his ancient god body stood motionless, its aura slowly subsiding.
It neither rejected nor agreed.
It only observed.
"I share the same enemy as you," Yunxihua finally said.
"The Soul Refinement Sect."
Loufeng let out a short laugh.
"And the Ancient Fu Clan."
Yunxihua nodded.
Ghulai closed his eyes briefly.
"Then our cause and effect have begun to intertwine."
In the distance, the mountain wind resumed its gentle flow.
In a place unseen,
the Soul Refinement Sect sensed something they did not like—not an attack, not a threat,
but a meeting.
Yunxihua drew a deep breath, then slowly stood up despite his body still being riddled with wounds.
He looked at them one by one.
"The Devouring Star Alliance is not a sect," he said flatly.
"Not a kingdom. Not a power."
He pointed toward the sky.
"It is a vessel."
"A vessel for a world that will collapse if it remains divided."
The atmosphere fell silent.
"I invite you to join," he continued,
"not as subordinates of another sect."
"But as the three main pillars."
He paused briefly, then stated firmly,
"With your positions beneath me."
There was no threat in his voice.
No pressure.
Only a declaration.
Ghulai looked at him for a long time.
"If we agree, what do you offer?"
Yunxihua replied concisely,
"A war against the Soul Refinement Sect."
"And a world not controlled by a single ancient sect."
Luoshen crossed his arms.
"You speak like a ruler."
Yunxihua shook his head.
"No."
"I speak like someone who knows who his enemy is."
Loufeng chuckled softly.
"And if we refuse?"
Yunxihua met his gaze directly.
"Sooner or later," he said calmly,
"the Soul Refinement Sect will devour you one by one."
"And when that happens…"
"You will stand alone."
Silence.
The mountain wind blew gently.
Yafei looked at Loufeng, then back at Yunxihua.
"He is not lying."
Ghulai let out a breath.
"An alliance… three pillars… beneath you."
Luoshen closed his eyes for a moment.
"This is not a small decision."
Loufeng gazed at the sky, then laughed quietly.
"The world has indeed already changed."
He turned to Yunxihua.
"The Sacred Demon Sect agrees."
Ghulai opened his eyes.
"The Buddhist Sect agrees."
Luoshen nodded lightly.
"The Sword God Sect agrees."
There were no oaths.
No ceremonies.
Only a decision.
Yunxihua nodded once.
"From today onward," he said,
"the Devouring Star Alliance has three pillars."
"And from today as well…"
"The Soul Refinement Sect is no longer a future threat."
"It is a target."
In the distance, clouds drifted slowly.
The world still appeared calm.
But its balance had already shifted.