Demonic energy surged to the heavens, darkness swallowed the light—the apocalyptic scene pressed down like heavy lead blocks on the hearts of every living being that sensed this aura. Panic spread like a plague throughout the cultivation world at lightning speed. Small and medium sects barricaded themselves behind closed doors, living in constant fear; rogue cultivators either fled to hidden caves or frantically rushed toward those forces that seemed powerful enough to offer protection; mortal kingdoms fell into chaos, their dynasties' fortune wavering under the erosion of demonic energy.
At this moment of survival, a voice rang out like the first light of dawn piercing through the darkness, rapidly spreading from Qingxu Temple to all corners—urgently forming the Three Realms Alliance, jointly resisting the demonic catastrophe!
The alliance meeting was set at Tianxing City, located at the heart of the Central State, symbolizing order and prosperity, and also serving as the largest trade and information hub of the cultivation world.
In an instant, countless streams of light shot out from every corner of the continent, from beneath the rolling waves of the four seas, from deep mountain forests, and even from some isolated small secret realms, carrying gravity, determination, or a final trace of hope, converging toward Tianxing City.
Within Qingxu Temple, Tang Xiaoqi entrusted all sect affairs to Eldest Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng, ordering Third Senior Sister Liu Yun to guard the mountain gate, vigilantly preventing demonic energy erosion and sabotage by villains. He only brought Zhao Tiezhu and Aunt Su along, riding his escape light, hurrying to Tianxing City at the fastest speed possible.
Now Tang Xiaoqi was a Nascent Soul True Lord, and the legitimate Temple Master of Qingxu Temple—his status and standing were no longer comparable to the past. His arrival immediately became the focal point of the entire Tianxing City, and indeed the entire alliance meeting.
When his escape light, not ostentatious yet profound as the sea with its inherent aura of purification and tranquility, descended before the majestic city gates of Tianxing City, officials from the City Lord's Mansion, representatives of various factions, and countless cultivators who had come of their own accord had already packed the inside and outside of the city gate.
"It's Temple Master Tang!"
"The True Lord of Purification has arrived!"
"The Qingxu Temple Master is here!"
The crowd stirred; countless gazes focused on him, filled with anticipation, reverence, and a kind of fanatical fervor that regarded him as their savior. With the demonic catastrophe looming, this young Temple Master who had already achieved Nascent Soul at such a tender age, and had repeatedly struck heavy blows against the demonic entity while summoning auspicious signs from heaven and earth, was almost everyone's hope for leading them through this crisis.
Xiao Qi wore a calm expression. He gave the crowd a slight nod, then followed the respectful guidance of City Lord's Mansion officials into that giant city symbolizing the pinnacle of human cultivation civilization, directly heading for the core of this alliance meeting—the Tianxing Hall.
Inside Tianxing Hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it could solidify.
On the human side, led by the Imperial Uncle of the Central State (a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator), representatives from all major first-rate sects and aristocratic families had nearly all arrived, each with a grim expression. On the demon beast side, the representative was the Golden-Winged Peng King from the Ten Thousand Demon Valley—fierce in aura, sharp in gaze, with several demon beasts of various forms standing behind him. On the aquatic side, Crown Prince Ao Qin of the East Sea Dragon Palace personally attended, his expression grave, dragon might concealed yet evident, representing the will of the four seas' dragon clan and countless aquatic beings.
In addition, there were representatives from ancient hidden families or secret realms—mostly silent and reticent, but no one dared to underestimate them.
Xiao Qi's arrival drew the gazes of everyone in the hall.
"Temple Master Tang!" Ao Qin rose first, a trace of relief at seeing an old friend crossing his face, but far more gravity.
The Imperial Uncle and other human powerhouses also stood to pay their respects, their attitudes quite courteous, even carrying an indefinable hint of deference. This was the status brought by strength and prestige.
The Golden-Winged Peng King's sharp gaze swept across Xiao Qi, carrying scrutiny, but he also gave a slight nod—a greeting. The demon beasts revered strength, and Xiao Qi's Nascent Soul cultivation along with his past battle achievements had earned his basic respect.
After the pleasantries, they immediately got to the point.
The Imperial Uncle spoke with heavy sorrow: "Everyone, I'm sure you're all aware of the situation. The seal at Ten Thousand Poison Marsh has shattered; the demonic lord is about to emerge, and its might... far exceeds any previous records! This is a common catastrophe for all three realms. If we cannot unite as one, when the nest falls, how can the eggs remain intact?"
A family patriarch worriedly said: "The alliance should certainly be formed, but how? How should resources be allocated? How should forces be commanded? Who takes charge? There has been much friction and discord between various races in the past. Now we're hastily uniting—I'm afraid..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear—lack of trust and each fighting separately would be a recipe for disaster.
The Golden-Winged Peng King coldly snorted: "My demon beast warriors are fierce and courageous; we can certainly hold our own! Just assign defensive zones—no need for others to give orders!" His words carried considerable resistance to human command.
Ao Qin also frowned: "The four seas are vast; aquatic soldiers' habits differ greatly from those of humans and demon beasts. Unified command truly has difficulties. And the demonic energy's erosion of the sea areas cannot be underestimated."
The hall immediately erupted in heated discussion. Representatives from all sides argued, each insisting on their own views. Some advocated electing someone of high moral standing as leader; some suggested dividing defensive zones by strength; some worried about being used as cannon fodder; some demanded priority for their own interests... seemingly all for resisting demons, but behind it all were countless interests and old grudges. This fragile alliance, before even being formally established, already showed signs of falling apart.
The Imperial Uncle repeatedly coughed, trying to maintain order, but with little effect.
Just as the chaos continued, Tang Xiaoqi slowly stood up.
He didn't speak, merely gazing calmly across the entire hall.
An invisible, gentle yet unquestionable pressure, accompanied by a faint aura of purification, spread outward. Not tyrannical, yet it mysteriously soothed the restless spiritual energy within the hall and caused those arguing voices to involuntarily lower. Everyone felt a heart-mind tranquility and peace, as if even the depression brought by that distant demonic energy had lessened somewhat.
Everyone's gaze focused on him once again.
Only then did Xiao Qi speak, his voice calm yet clearly reaching each person's ears: "Everyone, with the demonic catastrophe before us, is arguing about these things meaningful?"
He looked toward the family patriarch who had raised doubts: "Resources? If the demonic lord arrives, mountains and rivers will shatter, spiritual veins will wither—how can we talk of resources?"
He looked at the Golden-Winged Peng King: "Holding your own? Who among you is confident you can resist the demonic lord's power alone? In ancient times, ten thousand races withered—wasn't that lesson profound enough?"
He looked at Ao Qin, his tone slightly softened: "Different habits can mean divided cooperation. Aquatic beings excel at water; guard the sea borders, purify demonic energy, block the demonic lord's spread through water veins."
Finally, his gaze swept across the entire hall, his voice suddenly rising with a force that pointed directly to everyone's hearts: "Today we gather here, not to vie for power and profit, not to divide territories, but for—survival! To fight for a single thread of hope for the countless sects, clans, and even the billions of living beings behind us in this realm!"
"Where does trust come from? From fighting side by side! From the hot blood we shed together!"
He raised his hand; a wisp of pure Green Lotus source power appeared at his fingertip. That warm, peaceful, purifying aura made all the cultivators present, whether human, demon beast, or aquatic, feel their spirits lift, and even their spiritual power seemed to grow more active.
"I, Tang Xiaoqi, Temple Master of Qingxu Temple, hereby swear! If the alliance is formed, my Qingxu Temple and I shall charge at the front, never retreat! The purification power I wield, I am willing to share with the allied forces, to resist demonic energy erosion! Past grievances, until the demonic catastrophe is calmed, may all be set aside! If I violate this oath, may heaven and humans together destroy me, and my dao foundation be eternally severed!"
Each word rang like thunder, exploding in everyone's heart!
Looking at his young yet resolute face, feeling his unsparing oath and that source of purification power capable of opposing demonic energy, the hall fell into a brief silence.
Ao Qin stepped forward first, dragon eyes blazing: "The East Sea Dragon Palace is willing to recognize Temple Master Tang as the core of the allied forces, form the alliance, and jointly resist the demonic catastrophe! If we harbor treachery, may the dragon clan together abandon us!"
The Golden-Winged Peng King deeply gazed at Xiao Qi. That sharp gaze held less scrutiny, more recognition. He said heavily: "The Ten Thousand Demon Valley agrees to form the alliance. Willing to accept... reasonable deployments." He was after all proud, not directly saying he would serve Xiao Qi as master, but those four words "reasonable deployments" were already a tremendous concession.
The Imperial Uncle exchanged a glance with the other human powerhouses, then also stood: "The Central State Imperial Court, all major sects and aristocratic families, are willing to obey Temple Master Tang's commands and form the alliance!"
With these major powers taking the lead, the other faction representatives had no more objections. They all rose one after another to declare their positions.
Facing the impending doom brought by the demonic lord, and seeing Tang Xiaoqi's strength, prestige, and selfless attitude, an unprecedented alliance spanning all three realms—humans, demon beasts, and aquatic beings—though still fragile, was urgently formed in Tianxing City at this moment of crisis!
Tang Xiaoqi, with his Nascent Soul cultivation, his position as Qingxu Temple Master, and more importantly, his purification source power and determination to turn the tide, was jointly elected by all factions as the first Vice-Alliance Leader of this "Three Realms Sky-Patrol Alliance" (the Alliance Leader position remained vacant, carrying more symbolic than practical meaning), becoming the core figure actually responsible for allied military command and strategic decisions!
He knew this was merely a beginning; the road ahead was still strewn with thorns and sacrifice. But at least, the flame of hope had been rekindled in this apocalyptic darkness.
The forces of the three realms, for the first time truly, began converging toward the same direction. And on his shoulders now rested an even heavier burden than that of Temple Master of Qingxu Temple—the hopes of all living beings under heaven.