The Immortal‑Dao Alliance’s Punishment for the Yanhuang Republic

At that moment, Master Mingxiang lifted his head slightly, gazing at the endlessly swirling Tribulation Cloud brewing its final strike in the sky. His eyes were bright and sharp, but a faint, confident smile played on his lips.

A kilometer away.

Master Qingyan clenched his fists, silently praying that his master would survive the Heavenly Tribulation.

Just then, eight streaks of light shot over and landed beside Master Qingyan.

"Daoist Brother Qingyan, what's going on?"

The eight sect masters stared in surprise and shock at Master Mingxiang, who was hovering in midair.

"That's my master, Master Mingxiang. Only one more bolt of heavenly lightning and he'll become a Golden Core Zhenren!" Master Qingyan declared proudly.

At these words, the eight sect masters looked both delighted and worried.

They were delighted because the Immortal-Dao Alliance would gain a Golden Core Zhenren, greatly boosting its power and influence. The Yanhuang Republic, which had long suffered under their oppression, was finally starting to push back, but they lacked the strength to suppress it.

But with a Golden Core Zhenren on their side, they could crush the Yanhuang Republic with a snap of their fingers. Especially that Secret Realm they discovered—now they could seize it all and turn it into the Alliance's private garden.

What worried them most was that, although the Immortal-Dao Alliance was divided into nine major sects with similar power and shared interests, now that Highspring Valley had suddenly produced a Golden Core Zhenren, would they still be willing to split everything equally?

Soon, the entire Immortal-Dao Alliance might be dominated by a single sect.

Just then, after nearly a quarter-hour of buildup, the final bolt of heavenly lightning descended.

Boom!

The thunder was deafening—a bolt of lightning as thick as a bucket, laden with immense power, crashed down onto the five-colored folding fan. At the same time, Master Mingxiang rapidly formed several hand seals, channeling energy into the fan, causing it to blaze with light and release waves of multicolored ripples that steadily weakened the force of the lightning.

After a tense two minutes, the five-colored fan finally dissipated most of the lightning's energy. Its power spent, the fan suddenly dropped into Master Mingxiang’s hand.

Bang!

The remaining lightning struck Master Mingxiang directly, driving his body several meters into the ground.

Seeing this, Qingyan and the others tensed up, their hearts pounding.

Fortunately, after sinking a few meters, Master Mingxiang steadied himself. A wave of awe-inspiring energy erupted from within him.

Crackling thunder echoed endlessly around him, lasting a full quarter of an hour before finally dissipating to reveal Master Mingxiang's figure.

His entire body was charred black, looking thoroughly battered and miserable.

He glanced at the crowd with cold eyes, then instantly turned into a stream of light and vanished.

Half an hour later, in a courtyard within Highspring Valley, Qingyan stepped out and addressed the eight waiting sect masters: "Fellow Daoists, my master invites you in!"

The eight sect masters tensed up, their expressions solemn—this was a Golden Core Zhenren, after all. Supposedly, no new Golden Core Zhenren had appeared since the last one passed away two hundred years ago.

Now that one had finally emerged, he was nothing short of a living legend, capable of suppressing the entire world.

Led by Qingyan, the eight sect masters carefully entered the courtyard and bowed deeply to the blue-robed figure seated within, greeting in unison: "Greetings, Master Mingxiang!"

Master Mingxiang now wore a fresh blue robe, his black hair newly restored and falling to his waist, his face youthful—barely in his twenties—yet radiating authority.

"We of Highspring Valley have long been united with you all—no need for such formality. Please, rise!" Master Mingxiang said warmly, raising his hand.

"Thank you, Master!"

The eight sect masters relaxed slightly and straightened up, but kept their gazes lowered out of respect, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Please, be seated!"

With a casual wave of his hand, Master Mingxiang summoned eight stone stools, which floated over and landed behind each sect master.

"We dare not sit before the Master!" the eight replied, faces filled with nervousness.

"It's fine, please have a seat!"

"Yes, Master!"

Once everyone was seated, disciples from Highspring Valley came in and served fragrant tea.

Taking a sip, Master Mingxiang sighed, "Fifty years in seclusion... I never imagined the world would change so much. Everything is different now."

"Indeed!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

After some conversation, Master Mingxiang's expression grew serious: "I've heard from Qingyan that the secular Yanhuang Republic is growing stronger, and seems unwilling to pay tribute to the Immortal Gate!"

"It's true!" Master Conrad Cole of Grandmount Taiqing Sect exclaimed angrily. "That Yanhuang Republic has indeed become powerful enough to resist us. Just a few months ago, Brother Qingxu was killed by them, and Sister Lydia was crippled—her cultivation destroyed!"

At this, Conrad Cole suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Master Mingxiang: "Master, please take charge for the Immortal Gate!"

"Please, Master, take charge for the Immortal Gate!"

Immediately, Master Jinguang rose and bowed as well.

The remaining six sect masters also stood up one after another, asking Master Mingxiang to take charge.

"Please rise, fellow Daoists. I am also a member of the Immortal Gate, so I cannot ignore such matters. However, though we are united, there are still sectarian divisions, so..."

As he spoke, Master Mingxiang's eyes flashed. Now the only Golden Core Zhenren in the Immortal Gate, he had no intention of remaining on equal footing with a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Knowing Yanhuang had rebelled, he decided to consolidate the Immortal Gate under his control.

The eight sect masters were all shrewd; they immediately caught the hidden meaning in Master Mingxiang's words. Their hearts sank—just as they'd suspected, Master Mingxiang wasn't content to be their equal.

They quickly exchanged sound-transmission messages, urgently discussing their options.

But after a round of discussion, they realized they simply didn't have the strength to oppose Master Mingxiang, and couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow.

Just then, Master Mingxiang spoke again: "I'm a bit tired today. You may leave now."

At that, the eight sect masters' faces changed—they knew Master Mingxiang was expressing his displeasure.

Finally, Conrad Cole moved first, kneeling down and declaring, "Master, Grandmount Taiqing Sect is willing to recognize you as our lord!"

"Jadepure Palace is also willing to recognize Master as our lord!"

"Azure Dragon Sect is also willing to recognize Master as our lord!"

In no time, all eight sect masters knelt, submitting to Master Mingxiang's overwhelming power. Qingyan, witnessing this, could barely contain his excitement, his face glowing with joy.

Master Mingxiang's lips curled in satisfaction, though he pretended to decline at first.

The eight sect masters pleaded twice more before Master Mingxiang finally agreed.

Master Mingxiang then discussed with everyone how to punish the Yanhuang Republic.

After some proposals, they decided to first send envoys to warn the Yanhuang Republic, demanding they resume their tribute, hand over eighty percent of the resources gained from the Secret Realm to the Immortal Gate, and surrender the culprit who killed Qingxu and crippled Lydia—Song Ian—to be dealt with by the Immortal Gate!

The sect masters all nodded, their faces set with determination as the meeting ended, setting the stage for the coming confrontation.