Chapter 530

Chapter 530: Allow Me to Congratulate the Saintess in Advance
The news that the Great Thousand Alliance Selection would officially begin in three months spread like a whirlwind, sweeping through every corner of the Middle World.

Besides the cultivators who would actually be taking part in the selection, other busybodies also got excited and prepared to go to the Daqian Alliance to watch the grand event.

Although the Daqian Alliance only allowed participating cultivators to enter, in order to ensure fairness they would project the entire selection process outside the alliance for all cultivators to watch, so even cultivators who were not joining the selection could still go join the crowd.

The Nan Gong Clan and several family clans in the east were the first to receive the news, and they began making their final sprint of preparations for the selection. The Tu Clan and the other Eight Great Clans were in about the same situation.

However, when they received word from the Auspicious Palace and learned that the Auspicious Palace would also send people to take part in this selection, they could no longer sit still. On the surface, their relationship with the Auspicious Palace was one of equal trade, but they all knew the palace actually held an absolutely overwhelming advantage. All these years, they had never managed to figure out how deep the Auspicious Palace’s foundations really were, and they had not even seen the face of its Palace Master. Besides, this was the first time the Auspicious Palace had ever sent people to the selection, so there had to be some other scheme behind it.

After worrying over it for a while, the Eight Great Clans decided to wait and see. The Great Thousand Alliance Selection had always been a place where the capable rose to the top; one more or one less competitor did not make much difference to them. What they really cared about were the other family clans who were also counted among the Eight Great Clans.

In the Bi Fang Realm, Lu Jiu Yuan stood on the edge of a cliff, looking into the distance. With a flick of his wrist, the folding fan in his hand brought a soft breeze as a voice sounded behind him: “What are you thinking about?”

Lu Jiu Yuan put away his fan, turned around, and bowed: “Master.” The Wending Gate Master of Qingxu Sect stood behind him, gently stroking his beard as he asked: “Are you nervous?”

Lu Jiu Yuan raised his head, his bright blue eyes shining with burning light, and said: “No, this disciple is very much looking forward to it.” He was very glad that he had met Yu Zhao before the selection; she had made him understand that there are always people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens. In the Bi Fang Realm, he, Lu Jiu Yuan, was a peerless genius, but geniuses like him might exist in every world, perhaps even several in one. Standing in an arena with the entire Middle World as the backdrop, he could not look down on any opponent. Of course, that did not mean he would feel afraid. He would only face the challenge with the best mindset he could.

The Wending Gate Master read his thoughts from his eyes and nodded with a smile: “Very good. But as your teacher, I still need to remind you of something.” Lu Jiu Yuan bowed again and said: “Please teach me, Master.”

The Wending Gate Master said: “The death rate of the Great Thousand Alliance Selection has always been very high. If you encounter a life and death crisis, you can ask Su Qing Wan and the others for help. Of course, if they ask you for help, you should also lend a hand as long as you can guarantee your own safety. Cultivators from the same Bi Fang Realm should help one another when away from home.” Lu Jiu Yuan answered: “Yes.”

The Wending Gate Master patted his shoulder and said: “Whether Qingxu Sect can continue its glory will depend on you.” Lu Jiu Yuan declared: “This disciple will do his best!”

At the same time, in another small world within the Middle World, ghostly flames floated everywhere and cold winds howled. On a huge, gloomy, and sinister altar, a young woman suddenly opened her eyes.

She had a seductive face and lips red like blood; even a gorgeous purple robe could not hide the heavy smell of blood on her. She burst into loud laughter and shouted: “I did it, I did it!” Her wild laughter echoed again and again through the dark space. The ghostly fires around her trembled with her laughter, flickering between bright and dim. Only after a long time did her laughter finally die down.

She took out a token. Her blood-red fingernails slowly traced the patterns on it, and the corners of her lips lifted in a faint smile as she murmured: “The Great Thousand Alliance Selection is the grandest event in the Middle World. Yu Zhao, if you are here, you will definitely go, right? Do not let me down…” Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Just then, faint footsteps suddenly sounded outside. A man dressed in black robes knelt before the altar and spoke respectfully: “Saintess, the Saint Lord asks you to come over.”

A flash of coldness quickly passed through the young woman’s eyes, but she still stood up and walked down from the altar. The man quickly got up to lead the way and stopped in front of a palace built from blood jade, saying: “The Saint Lord is waiting for you inside.”

As soon as the Saintess stepped into the hall, the doors suddenly closed. She did not even blink and asked calmly: “Why have you called me here?” A dark figure flashed to her front and then knelt piously at her feet, saying: “Saintess, the Daqian Alliance’s selection has been moved up. It will take place one month from now.”

The young woman was furious at his words and slapped him without mercy: “This is such important news. Why are you only telling me now?” The Saint’s cultivation level was deeper than the Saintess’s, so in theory this slap should not have hurt him at all, but he deliberately did not defend himself, and his cheek quickly swelled red.

He acted as if he did not feel it at all and explained fearfully: “This time your closed-door cultivation was in order to break through to the Void Refining Stage. I really did not dare to disturb you rashly. I weighed it over and over and only when I was sure this news could not be delayed any longer did I rush here to tell you, so that your great plans would not be held up.”

The Saintess was not appeased by his words. She said coldly: “If this happens again, our deal will be canceled immediately.” He promised again and again: “I would not dare, I would not dare. There definitely will not be a next time.” The Saint kept bowing and scraping in a way that would make anyone want to laugh, and only then did the Saintess’s expression ease slightly.

Seeing this, the Saint hurried to take advantage of the moment and asked cautiously: “Saintess, with abilities that reach the heavens, why do you still need to take part in the Daqian Alliance’s selection?” The Saintess swept him with a cold glance and said: “My business is not something you get to ask about.” He bowed his head and answered: “Yes, yes,” not daring to ask again.

The Saintess understood well the principle of giving a sweet date after a stick. She softened her tone and said: “I have my own reasons for joining the selection. As long as I pass it, I will naturally fulfill what I promised you.” The Saint said happily: “Thank you, Saintess. I will first offer my congratulations in advance that you get what you wish for. May everything go smoothly for you!” The Saintess gave a faint nod and turned to leave the hall. As soon as she left, the fawning smile on the Saint’s face disappeared at once, and a cruel look appeared in his narrow eyes.

Daqian Alliance.

Fang Cheng Lang sensed a powerful aura approaching. He looked up, saw Nan Gong Yu of the Nan Gong Clan walking toward him, and quickly stood up to salute: “Elder.”

Nan Gong Yu of the Nan Gong Clan nodded and glanced at the somewhat messy table in front of him: “How are the preparations going?” Fang Cheng Lang replied: “Everything is ready. We are only waiting for the assessment to begin.” Nan Gong Yu said: “You are very confident.” Fang Cheng Lang answered modestly: “I would not dare to say that. I am just stating the facts.”

Nan Gong Yu chuckled softly: “It is rare to hear you say something like that. I have seen your performance during this time. After the selection ends and we return to the Bei Ming Realm, I will keep my promise and take you as my disciple. Of course, that is on the condition that no accidents occur during the selection.”