Luo Cheng avoided attracting anyone's attention by leaving through the back door of Misty Cloud Pavilion. He searched for an isolated area and immediately changed his get-up. Holding the spatial ring containing the spirit stones, he snickered in a silly manner. This was the first chunk of money that he had earned by himself, so he felt very excited.
Going to the herbal market, he purchased a hundred sets of ingredients for each of both of the pills he intended to refine. After this, he still had quite a lot of spirit stones left.
After purchasing everything, he returned to the Leng Mansion.
......
......
Meanwhile, In the extreme north of the Heaven Desolate Region, lay the territory of the Divine Dao Alliance. There were snow-capped mountains in all directions as far as the eye could see!
In the middle of the vast and misty uninhabitable peaks was a magnificent, mysterious and unpredictable city of pure ice, seemingly overlooking the entire world from the secrecy of the clouded snow-covered peaks!
It was not yet day break, and the sky was still dark when the bell to convene rang out, the loud echoes of the bell disrupted the seemingly perpetual tranquility of the place, and the many pure-white birds which were sitting in the area suddenly shot up like rockets, scared away by the sudden bell chimes, their cries filled the sky as they circled above for a very long time without coming down.
The base of the main building was made of pure ice, and inside the hall, on a wall of snow white bricks, was a portrait of people in white clothes, the posture of each of them was different, however, each of them revealed the same look on their face, one of pride and cold power!
Their eyes were 'God-Like' and full of murderous aura, and it seemed like they had power over life and death, and could seize anything they wanted, in fact, they seemed so powerful that they considered everyone else below them! They were the Divine Dao Alliance ancestors!
The hall was quite big, so much so that even if hundreds of people were to dine in it, still no one would feel that the place was over crowded.
A white clothed old man, with white hair and beard, stood in front of the incense table with his hands behind his back, silently looking at the portrait of the ancestors, and on his face was an expression as tranquil as calm water and as cold as ice.
And even though his hair was white, he had a straight back and a proud chest. He stood erect like a shaft of a formidable blade, all the while emitting a cold sword-like aura! No one could doubt that this old man was hiding immense power within him! In fact, it seemed that his strength could shake the earth, surpassing all his peers!
Then, the swishing sound of many robes overcame the silence in the hall as many white clad people entered it rapidly from all directions, and assembled in a manner which indicated that each already had a predetermined position to stand on. And even in that huge crowd no one bumped into each other and only a word or two could be heard being spoken.
In a short while, everyone settled down in their respective positions and all eyes turned towards the old man standing in the center. And though they were all a bit surprised at being called like this, no one uttered a single word there after.
Powerful auras emanated from their bodies! There were at least a hundred people there, and the weakest of them were Golden Core Realm experts!
Just then, sound of approaching footsteps was heard as seven old men entered in a line, walking unhurriedly on the floor made of the ten thousand years old mysterious ice, each and every step of these seven elderly men was very calm when they walked in, and they stationed themselves behind the old man who still stood quietly in the center.
An individual clad in white was standing at the door in graceful poise, his eyes twinkled and a power radiated all around him as he appeared at the door and stood proudly. It seemed that all the land under the heavens, including everyone in the hall, existed solely to be his dominion!
At his side, his partner, a beautiful middle-aged woman, was nestled against him like a frail willow, their looks were unrivalled, the man looked like a confident hero who stood above everyone else and the woman had a grace and style unlike anyone in her generation!
The bystanders were admiring the couple, looking at them with envy for their perfect-match!
Everyone inside the hall turned to the couple the moment they entered, and bowed, "Welcome, Alliance Head and Mistress, it is a pleasure to see you!"
"You needn't be so polite." The two replied with a hint of a smile on their faces as they unhurriedly proceeded to the middle of the hall, and sat down on the only two high throne-like chairs in this huge space. Only these two were qualified enough to sit on such chairs inside this hall!
These two were the lords of the Divine Dao Alliance, the Frost Sword Overlord, Huang Xiang, and his wife, the Soaring Frost Overlord, Fang Qing.
The old man then waved his hand and said, "You have been invited here because of a matter that is extremely important for this alliance's future, everyone below the Jade Soul Realm may go outside and stand guard, allow no one to come closer than a hundred meters of this hall. If anyone tries, kill them without exception!"
"Yes, we will sincerely obey the Grand Elder's command!" They answered in a chorus, and after cupping their hands, slowly left the hall, less than eighty of the initially addressed were left, and suddenly the hall seemed quite empty with less than eighty people present at the moment.
"Does this matter concern North Snow Domain?" Huang Xiang smiled at the Grand Elder, "Otherwise, Grand Elder Huang Yun would not have taken such precautions!"
"It is just as the Alliance Head has guessed, there is news from Great Zhou Empire...., the Sixth Elder has sent a message, and one of our snow eagles has flown through the night to deliver to us this news!" the Grand Elder replied as he opened a roll of parchment and
handed it over.
Huang Xiang shook his head lightly and chuckled as he took the snow white parchment, while Fang Qing leaned in close to him to read as well, both curious to see what this news really was..
But as the two people sitting read the message, their calm expressions slowly turned serious, and soon their smiles also vanished as well. Fang Qing's smile faded and was replaced by a worried expression, and she could not help but grasp her husband's hands, as if to warn him about something.
"This is unexpected news, everyone, have a look and give your opinion." Huang Xiang finished reading and closed his eyes as he felt Fang Qing grabbing his arm, seemingly cautioning him of something as he waved the letter for everyone to read.
"The scouting team we sent to Great Zhou Empire's Bloodstone Forest to search for the Ancient Tomb successfully found it but, they were massacred by Ye Guhan, Prince Lengs Protector. Ye Guhan also severely injured Sixth Elder Huang Wu, and the latter also stationed Blood Soul Guards at the entrance to the Ancient Tomb!?" An Elder exclaimed in bewilderment.
"So many events have taken place in these past few days!" Grand Elder Huang Yun smiled coldly, "also, that arrogant Prince Zhou Leng, who thinks too much of himself...."
Huang Xiang sat silently for a moment before looking at the Grand Elder, and asked, "The Grand Elder has called everyone here today...thus, l'm presuming he has a plan?"
"This person could formulate many plans, but the final decision has always been up to the Alliance Head, and he decides how to act on such plans." The Grand Elder bowed respectfully and retreated half a step.
"Grand Elder is a very important member of this Alliance, what does he suggest?" Huang Xiang did not beat around the bush and directly came to the point.
"Despite his status as a candidate to the throne, Prince Zhou Leng overlooked the peace treaty agreed on by the nine major powers of the Heaven Desolate Region. He killed members of the Divine Dao Alliance and also seriously injured the Sixth Elder for no reason, this act must be punished severely! If this news got out, then what would happen to the prestige of our Alliance? We cannot take this matter lightly!" The Grand Elder said in an unhurried manner.
The Grand Elder had, shockingly, suggested punishing a prince of the Great Zhou Empire! However, all those present nodded in agreement because in the eyes of the Elders of the Divine Dao Alliance, even the Prince of the Great Zhou Empire, including his protector were not very important. This clearly showed how terrifyingly powerful the Divine Dao Alliance thought they were!
"This is a given, do you have another plan in mind?" Huang Xiang nodded lightly, with a blank expression on his face.
"Yes, the Ancient Tomb is extremely important for the progress of our Divine Dao Alliance. It holds something extraordinary and can be considered to transcend the mortal realms, therefore, it must certainly not fall into the hands of the Great Zhou Empire! The acquisition of that supreme item is absolutely necessary, and there can be no compromise on this! It is of supreme importance that we obtain it!" The Grand Elder's eyes flashed as he spoke.
"We must take our time to consider this point, because if what the Sixth Elder says is true then we will also require the assistance of at least a Purple Cloak Rune Master. And if such is the case, then even if all of us go together to break the sealed entrance, we may still not necessarily be able to obtain the Supreme Item. Thus, we must be careful not to jeopardize so many lives for such a mission." Huang Xiang lightly knocked on the chair's armrest, his eyelids half-closed as he said this.
"The Alliance Head's concern in this regard is justified! We must certainly not give caution to the wind while deploying our people, and we should also avoid conflict with the Great Zhou Empire for now!" The Grand Elder knit his white eye brows as he slowly spoke these words.
He then continued, "In any case, we should send a group of four elders to negotiate with Prince Leng so we can explore the Ancient Tomb together. Even if it means giving up most of the treasures discovered within the Ancient Tomb for the Supreme Item."
"Grand Elder is truly wise, and his suggestion is the best option in this matter." Huang Xiang said while looking at the elder appreciatively.
"In that case, i would like to make some arrangement. This time, the capable second Elder will lead the fourth, fifth and the eighth Elder." The Grand Elder calmly said
"Good! It is decided then! As for the remaining matters, I give the Grand Elder full authority to make arrangements." hearing this, Huang Xiang rubbed his forehead, got up, and started to move out of the hall with his wife. But just as he had reached the gate, he turned his head and warned, "In any case, no one is to provoke the Great Zhou Empire, and if anyone disobeys this order, I will make sure to send a report to Divine Ancestors. And I can promise, that man, will be expelled from the Divine Dao Alliance! Without any exceptions!" after saying this, the two leisurely walked away.
This left the Grand Elder standing there expressionless for a moment. And though he continued standing calmly rooted to his spot, a trace of dissatisfaction could be seen flashing in his eyes. Then, he suddenly turned towards the Second Elder, Huang Ling, "You will make preparations to descend the mountains, act immediately and without fail!"
"Elder brother so... what about the 'Prince Leng' issue?" Huang Ling asked wrinkling his eyebrows.
"There will be many opportunities for you to make use of in order to complete that task." Great Elder Huang Yun took a deep breath and replied in an expressionless tone. "And after you get down, do what you think is necessary!"
"Yes!" Huang Ling replied as he walked out of the hall along with three other Elders.