By the time Chen Jinshu returned to the sect with Xiao Yin, the start date for the Five Realms Alliance had been officially announced.
"Junior Sister! You weren't around for a few days, and the whole cultivation world's been buzzing about it!" Zheng Shaosi greeted her excitedly.
"It's sooner than I expected. How many days from now?"
"Two months," he replied.
"How long does it take to get there from here?"
"At least half a month. The distance is massive," Zheng Shaosi recalled the time they'd traveled to Huangsha Prefecture, the venue for the alliance. Even aboard a fourth-grade spirit vessel, the journey had taken nearly two weeks.
"Then we'll need to finalize the participants ahead of time," Chen Jinshu noted.
"The sect's already making preparations. Our master is a newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator, so of course he'll be going to represent us. As his disciples, we're guaranteed a spot. No need to worry about not getting picked."
Chen Jinshu nodded in relief.
With Xiao Yin having just advanced in cultivation, she wanted to test its strength.
Now that it had reached the Golden Core stage, it was strong enough to reveal its true form. At this stage, a spirit beast's soul contract with its master was deeply imprinted, immune to any external interference.
"Where did you go these past few days?" Zheng Shaosi asked.
"To Master's Yuqiong Island. The sect doesn't have a suitable place for tribulation breakthroughs. Last time, we used the island, and it worked well."
"Your spirit beast… you mean that little sparrow? It needs to undergo a tribulation? That's impressive."
Chen Jinshu smiled with pride. "You're mistaken. The Yinshan Sparrow isn't some ordinary bird. It carries the bloodline of the Azure Luan—a divine beast."
As she spoke, she lightly tapped her bracelet. A streak of teal and crimson burst out from her storage space, and Xiao Yin appeared in midair.
Clang—!
The bird let out a joyful, resounding cry, its wings shimmering with multicolored light.
Now back to its full size, Xiao Yin spanned nearly three zhang, casting a wide shadow on the ground.
Zheng Shaosi stood speechless. Even after breaking through to Golden Core himself, he had never seen through the bird's disguise. Now, witnessing its majestic form, a trace of envy flickered in his eyes.
"Where did you find such a rare Azure Luan? Why don't I ever have that kind of luck…" he sighed.
Many disciples in the sect had spirit beasts, but none of them had ever left him as spellbound as this one. Even the beasts held by their master paled in comparison to this divine creature.
"I thought some reckless beast had barged into the sect," came a voice from above.
Second Senior Brother, Xie Mofeng, descended with several Golden Core elders from the sect. Ever since his breakthrough, he had taken on internal responsibilities—tracking demonic cultivators and managing conflicts between disciples.
Earlier, he had felt a powerful surge of beastly energy and rushed over, fearing an invasion. But once he sensed familiar auras—his senior brother and Chen Jinshu—he relaxed.
"Junior Sister's fortune truly is remarkable."
The others echoed his praise.
"You're planning to rely on your spirit beast to make a strong showing at the Alliance, aren't you?"
"I do hope so. But the Five Realms Alliance is full of powerful contenders. I might not make it far. Just reaching the semifinals would be a good result."
"There's a compiled list of strong participants over at Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion in Pingwu Market," someone said. "But it's restricted to limited buyers, and the price is steep."
…
Half a month passed quickly.
During that time, Chen Jinshu focused on honing her whip techniques and refining her zither skills, while also training in tandem with Xiao Yin.
After ten joint practice sessions, she discovered that the Qingluan Spirit Pendant she wore could replenish the bird's stamina during battle. While it only restored about ten percent each time—and could be used a maximum of three times before requiring a recharge—it was still a valuable lifeline. In a life-or-death battle, it could make all the difference.
Soon, her communication token lit up with a transmission from her senior brother.
"Junior Sister! The sect is gathering. Come to the rear mountain!"
Without hesitation, Chen Jinshu rose to her feet.
A moment later, she arrived at the rear peak, where the sect's enormous spirit vessel dominated the landscape, stretching across the entire mountainside.
"Over here, Junior Sister!"
Her senior brothers waved from the deck. They had already assembled together.
"Where's Master?" she asked.
"Master and the other Nascent Soul elders are maintaining the ship's core formations. They're cultivating at the center of the vessel. Not easy to get a moment with them," First Senior Brother sighed.
"Don't listen to him," Xie Mofeng cut in with a grin. "They're just discussing the rotation schedule for keeping the ship steady. Master will be free soon."
Chen Jinshu smiled softly.
"Junior Sister! I developed a new spirit dish. Come eat with me. You too, Senior Sister!" Dai Yuzhu pulled her and Senior Sister along toward a private dining chamber.
"Wait, why not invite us?" Xie Mofeng called out, flustered.
"You were teasing Junior Sister earlier. You're lucky she didn't roast you."
"I want some too! I've missed your cooking for ages!"
"Fine, come along. I even made a portion for Master."
As the group settled into their private suite, Shui Huanmeng finally arrived, wearing a solemn expression.
"I need to tell you something in advance. The rules for the Five Realms Alliance have changed."
Her voice turned the cheerful mood into a moment of stillness. Everyone looked at her in surprise.
"Don't worry. Though the rules have changed, the rewards have increased."
"The Grand Elder of the Holy Sword Sect—soon to ascend—has developed an Illusion Trial Platform. Because of that, the format for Golden Core participants will be different."
"The first round is no longer direct combat. Instead, all Golden Core cultivators will enter the Thousand Mechanisms Illusion Realm. You'll face inner demons and fight illusory beasts. Those who survive will move on to the arena rounds."
As the others listened closely, their initial anxiety shifted into curiosity.
They had expected raw duels, but now it would be a trial of strength and will. That meant fewer victories based on luck. Only those with true skill would make it to the end.
As for the Foundation Establishment division, it remained a solo format, but there was now a new team-based challenge. Each sect would send a trio to either dismantle ancient formations or hunt down third-rank beasts within a time limit, with rewards given based on performance.
Of course, Shui Huanmeng didn't go into too many details—they would only be participating in the Golden Core bracket.
"Master, does this make it harder or easier for us?" someone asked.
"Tell me, has anyone ever broken into Golden Core through an easy path?" Shui Huanmeng replied. "This trial from the Holy Sword Sect is not to be underestimated. We won't know the full picture until we reach Huangsha Prefecture."