With ten days left until the Grand Conclave of All Races, Joe Di decided to set up a protective array around his own territory. The Human Clan was not just the servants remaining in Allclan Sanctuary, but also those living in remote settlements. The human cultivators in these regions had long been oppressed by other clans, losing any spirit of resistance, yet the Human Clan still persisted elsewhere.
Allclan Sanctuary was, after all, the center of this universe and the place where rules were most complete. By leaving a piece of territory here, he ensured that one day, a powerful Human Clan cultivator would come to inherit it.
Saint Henry Yi and Rowena Meng, having both stepped into the Fourth Step, wished to contribute their efforts. Following Joe Di’s instructions, they transformed the area he had claimed into a multi-level commercial street.
This commercial street was divided into two layers: one on the ground and one in the air. At its center was a plaza, and on the edge of the plaza stood a skyscraper that soared into the clouds, connecting both the ground and aerial levels.
On the skyscraper, Joe Di had inscribed three large characters: Human Clan Hall.
Because the territory Joe Di claimed was vast, the streets around the Human Clan Hall were not only interconnected but also exceptionally spacious. On both sides of these streets stood top-tier commercial buildings, rest inns, and various cultivation venues.
In just six days, Joe Di finished setting up the protective array around the Human Clan territory, while Saint Henry Yi and Rowena Meng, following his plans, completed the construction of all the buildings and shops.
"Brother Di, if you remain here, this place will surely become the most prosperous center of this universe," Saint Henry Yi said, gazing in awe at the splendid new shops and cultivation abodes.
Rowena Meng sighed inwardly. She too knew how prosperous this place would one day become, but she also understood that if Joe Di ever left, it would make no difference whether this place was built or not.
As long as Joe Di was here, she would not leave. But if he left, she would certainly go as well. Without Joe Di, this territory would soon be targeted, and anyone remaining here would be courting death.
Joe Di pointed to the floating inscription 'Human Quarter' and said, "Within my abilities, I do what I can and what I believe I should do. Whether this place endures or not in the future is beyond my prediction or interference."
Joe Di's meaning was clear: if a powerful Human Clan cultivator appeared in the future, they would naturally claim this territory, giving future generations both a reason and a legacy. If no such strong cultivator emerged and no one claimed this land, that too was beyond his control.
But now, since he could secure a territory for the Human Clan, he felt it was his duty to do so.
Just as Joe Di had expected, the Human Clan of this universe were not only the servants of Allclan Sanctuary, but also those living in independent human territories.
Although called independent, most of these territories were still subordinate to powerful clans. As vassals, they had to offer tribute. The places occupied by the Human Clan were usually at the wild edges of the universe, where cultivation resources were scarce. After handing over their best treasures to the ruling clans, resources were even more limited, resulting in fewer top-tier cultivators over time.
There were many such subordinate human territories. For example, the Grand Yin Divine Court that Joe Di had encountered earlier was ruled by Eugene Zhi and served as a vassal to the Redlin Clan.
There were many regions like the Grand Yin Divine Court, but truly independent human territories did exist as well.
The Frontier Human Realm was one such territory. It was also located near the wild edges, but unlike Trirobe Sanctuary or the Grand Yin Divine Court, half of the Frontier Human Realm was already established within the wilderness itself.
The Frontier Human Realm was founded by countless human cultivators unwilling to submit to other clans. Its name reflected the hope that by pioneering the wilderness, the Human Clan could once again flourish and establish themselves in this universe—no longer living as vassals or shrinking away at the edges.
Dean Yin, the Domain Lord of the Frontier Human Realm, had once been a servant in Allclan Sanctuary before founding his own territory. Unlike others, he was forced into servitude. Unable to endure the oppression, Dean Yin and two companions killed the Divine Clan cultivator enslaving them, escaped Allclan Sanctuary, and established the Frontier Human Realm at the edge of the wilderness.
After millions of years of development, scattered human cultivators migrated here, and now the Frontier Human Realm had become the largest human settlement in this universe. Dean Yin himself had stepped into the Fourth Step, achieving Edict Saint status.
Even though he had become an Edict Saint, Dean Yin knew very well that their strength was insignificant in Allclan Sanctuary—still as insignificant as ants.
Fully aware of their lack of strength, Dean Yin also understood that he must attend the Grand Conclave of All Races at Allclan Sanctuary this time. After millions of years, he had realized that relying solely on the Human Clan to struggle at the edge of the wilderness would never allow them to truly stand tall.
So even though most people opposed the Frontier Human Realm’s participation in the Grand Conclave of All Races at Allclan Sanctuary, Dean Yin still gathered all the realm’s top cultivators to discuss the matter.
"Domain Lord Yin, I don’t agree with going to Allclan Sanctuary this time. With our current strength, we’d only be humiliated. Besides, you killed a Divine Clan shopkeeper back then—if the Divine Clan finds out, it would spell disaster for the Frontier Human Realm."
The speaker was Quentin Fan, the other Fourth Step Edict Saint in the Frontier Human Realm besides Dean Yin. The entire realm had only these two Edict Saints.
"That's right. The Frontier Human Realm has developed cautiously over the years, sacrificing countless lives and enduring endless hardship to achieve what we have today. If the Divine Clan targets us, we might face annihilation in the end," another cultivator spoke up.
"Exactly. We don’t yet have the strength to participate in the Grand Conclave of All Races."
Not a single person in the hall supported Dean Yin’s decision to go to Allclan Sanctuary for the Grand Conclave of All Races.
After everyone had spoken, Dean Yin stood up, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. He said slowly, "Since the Human Clan migrated to the Frontier Human Realm, millions of years have passed. In all this time, only I have reached the Fourth Step. Brother Qin Xuan is also a Fourth Step cultivator, but his breakthrough has nothing to do with the wilderness. To put it plainly, if we continue without change, no matter how vast our territory, we will always be hiding here with our heads down."
Pausing here, Dean Yin took a deep breath. "Hiding at the edge of the wilderness is no different from serving other clans—even being their servants. That’s why we must go to Allclan Sanctuary this time. Even if we gain nothing, we must show that the Human Clan deserves to participate in the Grand Conclave. One day, a powerful cultivator will emerge and have a voice at this gathering. If we don’t go today, in years to come, no one will remember the Human Clan exists in this vast universe."
Dean Yin’s words left everyone silent. They all knew he was right. If they went, they might gain nothing or even invite disaster. But if they didn’t, the Human Clan would disappear from the ranks of all clans, and in the future, who would know if the Human Clan still existed?
As for those Human Clan territories subordinate to other clans, they had no right to participate in the Grand Conclave of All Races. As vassals, even if they attended, it would only be as representatives of their overlord clans.
Quentin Fan stood up. "Domain Lord Yin is right. I’ll lead a group to attend the Grand Conclave. You should stay in the Frontier Human Realm, so that if anything happens, our people still have you."
Dean Yin shook his head. "No, as Domain Lord, I must go. Qin Xuan, you stay here. If anything happens to me, you will lead the Human Clan of the Frontier Human Realm."
Quentin Fan laughed. "Domain Lord, in that case, let’s go together. As you said before, if we keep hesitating, how can the Human Clan ever stand tall?"
Dean Yin laughed as well. "Good, then let’s go together."
Allclan Sanctuary.
Every teleportation array was operating constantly. Compared to when Joe Di first arrived, Allclan Sanctuary was now thousands of times more bustling.
No clan was willing to forgo the Grand Conclave of All Races in Allclan Sanctuary. After all, this event concerned the future development of every clan—who would dare not attend?
A teleportation array lit up at the edge of Allclan Sanctuary, and eight figures stepped through: two were Fourth Step Edict Saints, and six were Third Step cultivators.
"Hey, they're Human Clan... They're from the Frontier Human Realm..." As soon as Dean Yin and the others stepped out of the teleportation array, someone recognized where they were from.
"Wait, look at the one in front—isn’t he the one who killed the shopkeeper in Feather Ring Tower years ago...?" A three-eyed cultivator immediately recognized Dean Yin.
Before the cultivator could finish, someone covered his mouth and dragged him away. "Hurry up and report to the Divine Clan! If they find out now, they'll escape!"