The Ice Jade Flying Ship where Mu Xue resided and the dark red star fragment where Xiao Qi resided formed a temporary and subtle balance point in the void. The disciples of the Xuanji Holy Land were well-trained, each finding a spot on the edge of the flying ship or fragment to sit cross-legged, silently adjusting their breathing, or vigilantly observing their surroundings. Although they were cold by nature, they all maintained basic respect and curiosity toward this "wandering cultivator" who had been actively invited by Senior Sister Mu and whose strength was unfathomable.
Xiao Qi and Mu Xue stood at the highest point of the fragment, where the view was broad and they could clearly observe any movement within dozens of miles. In the void, there were several similar temporary strongholds, separated by great distances and with hidden energy signatures, clearly indicating teams of considerable strength waiting and watching.
"The Central Plains Imperial Clan suffered a loss and will not take it lying down." Mu Xue swept her gaze across the conspicuous golden pavilion ship in the distance, her voice cold and clear. "They are vindictive, especially the Thirteenth Prince. He is narrow-minded. Although temporarily intimidated by your spiritual sense, it is hard to guarantee that his family elders or other high-powered experts he has recruited will not come to provoke trouble."
Xiao Qi's expression was calm as he nodded. "Expected. When the soldier comes, the general meets him." He paused, looking at Mu Xue. "As for you and your sect, the Xuanji Holy Land is an obvious target and has probably already been eyed by multiple forces, right?"
Mu Xue did not deny this. Her slender fingers gently brushed the hair blown by the void's gentle wind, speaking calmly. "The reputation of the Holy Land is both a reliance and a burden. Those who covet the inheritance of Xuanji, or who wish to make a name for themselves by oppressing the Holy Land, have never been few. On this journey, besides the Central Plains Imperial Clan, we must pay special attention to the Golden Armor Protectors from the Great Thunder Sound Temple in the Western Regions, the Young Lord from the Golden Family of the Northern Wastes, and several old hermit cultivators with mysterious methods."
All the names she listed were forces or powerhouses renowned in their respective regions. Hearing this, Xiao Qi's gaze also grew heavier. The Great Thunder Sound Temple possessed profound Buddhist teachings, their Golden Armor Protectors had powerful fleshly bodies and great magical abilities. The Golden Family of the Northern Wastes had ancient heritage and were said to possess the bloodline of the Barbarian God, with savage battle prowess. Those who could be called "old hermits" were even more unpredictable, experienced, cunning, and extremely troublesome.
"It seems the waters here are deeper than imagined." Xiao Qi took a slight breath, feeling the increasingly tense atmosphere in the air. In the distance, occasionally a powerful spiritual sense would sweep across this area, carrying probing and evaluative intent, but when it touched where he and Mu Xue were, most retreated cautiously. Clearly, the merging of these two forces had formed a deterrence not to be underestimated.
"So," Mu Xue turned her head, her clear eyes gazing directly at Xiao Qi, her tone becoming formal and clear, "Cultivator Tang, the Star Ruins are fraught with danger and surrounded by strong enemies. Acting alone, one will inevitably fall short and easily be taken advantage of by others. My Xuanji Holy Land is willing to form a temporary alliance with you, to assist each other in exploring the opportunity of the Heavenly Palace. What do you think?"
Her proposal was exactly what Xiao Qi had anticipated, and also the most wise choice under the current circumstances. Xiao Qi did not answer immediately but pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "An alliance is naturally acceptable, with mutual benefit and win-win. However, what are the terms of the alliance? And how should the opportunities be distributed?"
He did not distrust Mu Xue, but involving an against-heaven opportunity such as the Heavenly Palace, some matters must be spoken of in advance to avoid future disagreements and turning against each other. This was also responsible for both parties.
Clearly, Mu Xue had already considered this carefully and answered without hesitation. "During the alliance, both parties must watch and assist each other, jointly resist external enemies, and share information. If we find the entrance to the Heavenly Palace, we enter together. As for the opportunities within the palace, each obtains them according to their own luck and ability. Neither party may maliciously compete for or secretly scheme against the other. If we both need something, we may negotiate an exchange or compensate in other ways. If we encounter an overwhelmingly strong enemy that cannot be withstood, or the situation becomes untenable, each party may decide independently whether to stay or leave. The other party shall not obstruct or blame them. Do you agree to these terms?"
The terms were clear, fair, and reasonable. They guaranteed the foundation for cooperation while preserving each party's independence and flexibility. There was no forced binding and no empty promises, fully demonstrating Mu Xue's sincerity and wisdom.
After hearing this, Xiao Qi's face showed satisfaction as he cupped his hands. "Your thoughts are thorough and the terms fair. I have no objections."
"Excellent." Mu Xue's lips curved slightly, revealing a faint and elegant smile. She also extended a jade-like slender hand, forcing out a drop of crimson blood from her fingertip. That blood drop did not fall upon leaving her body but instead floated in the air, emitting a faint chill and mysterious runes. "Let us use this blood as the guide to establish a Heart Demon Oath, temporarily setting the alliance until we leave the Star Ruins or until one party takes the initiative to dissolve it."
The Heart Demon Oath had extremely strong binding power on cultivators, especially for Core Formation cultivators like them. Once violated, the backlash from heart demons would ruin their cultivation path.
Seeing this, Xiao Qi did not hesitate either. He also forced out a drop of blood containing his pure spiritual power. The two blood drops slowly approached each other in the void, eventually merging into one complicated and mysterious rune. After a flash, it split into two subtle lights, each entering the brows of Xiao Qi and Mu Xue respectively.
The oath was complete!
An invisible connection was established between the two. Though not close, it gave each other a bit more trust and assurance.
After establishing the alliance, the atmosphere seemed even more harmonious. The disciples of Xuanji Holy Land behind Mu Xue, their gazes toward Xiao Qi had less scrutiny and more acknowledgment.
"Now that we are allies, some intelligence should be shared with you." Mu Xue's expression turned serious as she began tonarrated in detail the intelligence she knew about the core area of the Star Ruins and the possible appearance of the Heavenly Palace entrance. This included the specific characteristics of the "Ten Thousand Stars Aligning" phenomenon recorded in the ancient texts of Xuanji Holy Land, several possible spatial traps, and several particularly noteworthy and bizarre phenomena that had appeared historically when the Heavenly Palace manifested.
Xiao Qi listened carefully, occasionally raising his own questions or supplementing some information he had obtained from the Qingxu Temple texts and Tianjizi. Through their exchange, many unclear points became clear, and they had a more sufficient judgment of the unknown dangers ahead.
"...According to my observations, the fluctuation cycle of the star force tide is shortening, and the energy convergence points are also shifting toward the southeast." Mu Xue pointed to a patch of void in the distance that seemed no different from other places, but upon careful observation, one could detect slightly twisted starlight. "If the ancient records are accurate, there is a seventy percent probability that the entrance to the Heavenly Palace will appear in that area."
Xiao Qi looked in the direction she pointed. With his spiritual sense carefully probing, he indeed discovered that the spatial structure there seemed more fragile, with vast energy faintly surging in the depths. He nodded. "My perception is similar. It seems we need to move toward that direction in advance to occupy a favorable position."
"That is appropriate." Mu Xue agreed. "However, that area now seems calm, but it is actually the eye of the storm. Once we approach, it will inevitably attract the attention and follow-up of other forces, and conflicts may even break out."
"No matter." Xiao Qi's eyes were sharp. "Since we have formed an alliance, we must display corresponding strength to deter the lesser enemies and avoid some unnecessary trouble. If someone is unlucky enough, it would serve well to establish our prestige."
His words were calm but carried a powerful confidence and the decisiveness to kill when necessary. Mu Xue deeply glanced at him, and her last trace of doubt about Xiao Qi stemming from his "minor sect" origins completely dissipated. She understood that this ally beside her, in terms of heart and strength, was no inferior to any Holy Land genius or Imperial Prince.
"Good!" Mu Xue no longer hesitated. She turned and instructed her fellow disciples. "Retract the flying ship. We will go with Cultivator Tang to the Southeast Star Domain!"
Upon the order, the disciples of Xuanji Holy Land acted immediately with high efficiency. The Ice Jade Flying Ship transformed into a stream of light and was retracted. All disciples drove their escape lights individually, guarding around Mu Xue and Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi also rose to his feet, with the energetic rabbit spirit standing on his shoulder. He did not bring out the Liuyun Boat again. He exchanged a glance with Mu Xue, and both simultaneously transformed into two streaks of startling brilliance, one cyan and one white, leading the Xuanji Holy Land team toward the Southeast Star Domain deemed most likely to have the entrance, flying swiftly!
Their movements immediately drew the attention of all forces in the surroundings. Gaze after gaze, some surprised and suspicious, some grave and solemn, some greedy, was cast over.
On the Central Plains Imperial Clan pavilion ship, the Thirteenth Prince's face wasgloomy, his fists tightly clenched as he stared fixedly at the direction where Xiao Qi and Mu Xue were departing. An elderly man beside him sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the Xuanji Holy Land has teamed up with that person. Their strength has greatly increased. Now is not the time to start another conflict."
In another place, several Western Region monks, dressed in ragged monk robes but with muscular, dragon-like qi and blood, opened their half-closed eyes, their eyes sparkling with sharp light.
In the shadows farther away, several faint and ethereal bizarre auras also quietly moved, following like ghosts.
The temporary alliance between Tang Xiaoqi and Mu Xue was like throwing a large stone into a calm lake, instantly shattering the brief equilibrium of the core area and kicking off the prelude to the final contest! Everyone knew that the true storm was about to erupt violently in that Southeast Star Domain!