The next morning, the golden sunlight bathing the Radiant Zenith Peak was disturbed by the arrival of "guests."

A procession of elders and elite disciples from the Myriad Swords Sect strode into the Sect Master’s Grand Hall.

They moved with an arrogant, sharp grace. Their robes fluttered like unsheathed blades. Ostensibly, they were here to "congratulate" the Radiant Sky Sect on the recent Heavenly Blessing that had illuminated the night sky. In reality, they were a pack of wolves circling a supposedly wounded lion.

Sect Master Li Xuanzong sat upon his high jade throne. His expression was as calm and unreadable as a still lake.

"Brother Li!" greeted the lead envoy, offering a polite but shallow bow.

This was Elder Jian Wuchen, famously known in the cultivation world as the "Smiling Viper." He was a man who wore immaculate white robes and a warm smile that never quite reached his sharp, calculating eyes. He was a master of wrapping daggers in silk.

Though Li Xuanzong was a Sect Master and Jian Wuchen was merely an Elder, the Smiling Viper addressed him casually, treating him like an equal rather than a superior. It was a calculated, subtle slight meant to test the waters.

Li Xuanzong did not react. He simply gestured for the guests to be seated. He treated them with the flawless, detached courtesy of a perfect host.

Internally, however, Li Xuanzong was highly amused.

He remembered a time, decades ago, when the Myriad Swords Sect wouldn’t even dare to breathe too loudly in this hall. Back then, Su Qingshan’s sword suppressed the heavens, and Lu Canghai’s might terrified the continents.

But ever since Su Qingshan vanished and Lu Canghai sacrificed his foundation, the world convinced itself that the Radiant Sky Sect had lost its fangs.

Because Li Xuanzong had spent his youth quietly cultivating in the overwhelming shadows of those two peerless monsters, the outside world assumed he was mediocre.

They were gravely mistaken. If Su Qingshan and Lu Canghai had never existed, Li Xuanzong would have been universally hailed as the supreme genius of his generation. But unlike the arrogant swordsmen sitting before him, Li Xuanzong did not care about ’face,’ prestige, or rumors.

After all, rumors did not advance a cultivator’s realm.

So, he let them feel superior.

For the first hour, the Grand Hall was filled with excruciatingly polite small talk. They drank premium spiritual tea, discussed the weather, debated local trade routes, and reminisced about ancient history. Neither side mentioned the massive Dao Manifestation. It was a tense game of patience.

Finally, Jian Wuchen placed his teacup down with a soft clink. The Smiling Viper was ready to strike.

"Sect Master Li," Jian Wuchen began. "As you know, the Mystic Realm is set to open in three months. I heard your esteemed sect managed to secure five entry tokens. A glorious achievement."

"We were fortunate," Li Xuanzong replied neutrally.

"Indeed," Jian Wuchen smiled as he leaned forward. "Which is why the Myriad Swords Sect wishes to propose a joint venture. A partnership between our disciples inside the realm. To show our utmost sincerity... my sect is willing to shoulder one hundred percent of the Spirit Stone costs required to stabilize the entrance portal."

A heavy silence fell over the hall.

Opening a portal to a Mystic Realm cost millions of high-grade Spirit Stones. It was a massive financial burden. Offering to pay for it was incredibly generous... suspiciously so.

"Furthermore," Jian Wuchen continued. He produced a sealed jade slip from his sleeve, "we have recently unearthed an ancient, highly accurate map of the realm’s deepest core. If you agree to this alliance, we will share this map equally with your disciples."

It was a brilliant, venomous trap. An "Unrefusable Offer."

If Li Xuanzong said no to free money and a priceless map, it would immediately send a terrible message to the public. It would scream that the Radiant Sky Sect was so weak and paranoid they were terrified of even friendly cooperation.

But if he accepted? It was a blatant slap to the face. It was the Myriad Swords Sect publicly treating the ’righteous’ Radiant Sky Sect like a beggar in need of charity.

Jian Wuchen watched Li Xuanzong closely. He was waiting for the Sect Master’s face to flush with anger or pride.

Instead, Li Xuanzong simply nodded.

"That is a very generous offer, Elder Jian," Li Xuanzong said calmly. "The Radiant Sky Sect gladly accepts your financial support and the map. We will leave the portal stabilization entirely in your capable hands."

Jian Wuchen blinked. His smile faltered for a fraction of a second. The other Myriad Swords elders exchanged bewildered glances.

’Did he just agree? Just like that? Has the Radiant Sky Sect truly lost all its pride and backbone?’

Li Xuanzong almost chuckled at their poorly concealed mockery. These arrogant swordsmen thought they were master schemers, but they were hopelessly shortsighted.

’You want to slap my face with charity?’ Li Xuanzong thought pragmatically. ’Go ahead. Millions of free Spirit Stones will fund my disciples’ resources for a decade. Why would I reject free money because of my ego?’

As for the supposed "alliance" inside the Mystic Realm? Once the disciples crossed the threshold, whatever happened inside would remain a complete mystery to the outside world. They could simply ignore the Myriad Swords disciples entirely.

And as for the map? It was almost certainly fake, or intentionally altered to lead them into a death trap. But Li Xuanzong didn’t care. He would just tell his disciples to throw the map away.

Even better, if the Myriad Swords Sect tried to betray them inside and later accused the Radiant Sky Sect of breaking the alliance, who would the public believe? The aggressive, arrogant swordsmen, or the notoriously flawless, squeaky-clean "Righteous" Radiant Sky Sect?

Li Xuanzong had just accepted millions of free Spirit Stones with zero actual obligations. He had completely out-cunninged them by simply having no shame.

Believing they had firmly established their dominance over a fallen sect, Jian Wuchen’s smile returned. It was wider and more predatory than before.

"Excellent. Such a grand partnership requires a strong foundation of trust and respect," Jian Wuchen sighed dramatically as he shook his head. "I hear the Radiant Sky Sect has produced an incredible new generation. In fact, rumors speak of a heaven-shaking talent... Why don’t we have our disciples exchange pointers to celebrate this new alliance?"

The air in the room instantly crystallized.

’There it is,’ Li Xuanzong thought. A strange, sharp glint flashed in his deep eyes.

This was the true objective. The millions of Spirit Stones, the fake map, the supposed alliance... It was all just expensive bait to force this exact moment. They wanted a sparring match so their Nascent Soul elders could closely analyze the Radiant Sky juniors, desperately searching for the anomaly that caused the Dao Manifestation.

"An exchange of pointers?" Li Xuanzong repeated slowly. He let the silence stretch just long enough to make the guests hold their breath.

He thought of Su Bai, who was currently hundreds of miles away, safely galloping toward a mortal city.

"A wonderful idea, Elder Jian," Li Xuanzong smiled, and this time, the smile was genuine. "Let us move to the sparring grounds. Our disciples would be delighted to... learn from you."