In the blink of an eye, another three years had passed.

After the Great Heat solar term passed, the Beginning of Autumn solar term arrived.

This is also quite a unique solar term among the 24 solar terms, because, during this phase, various Spiritual Qis enter a relatively peaceful and stable period lasting for twenty years.

Just like the twenty-four solar terms in the Mortal World were summarized to observe the changes in celestial phenomena.

The twenty-four solar terms in the Cultivation Realm were summarized based on the changes in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

The types of Spiritual Qi between Heaven and Earth are numerous, and conflicts among them can cause significant changes.

Therefore, treating the Beginning of Autumn solar term as the moment of transcendence is pursued by all Earth Immortals and Taiyi True Immortals, especially crucial realms where one’s choice of solar term is even more important.

Those who dare to advance during the Great Cold and Minor Cold, or Great Heat and Minor Heat solar terms, are either warriors or geniuses.

Of course, some Earthly Immortals or Taiyi choose the Beginning of Spring or Beginning of Summer solar terms to break through, which depends on their respective cultivation situations and needs individualized approaches.

Thus, it is only natural that the Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect chose to transcend during the Beginning of Autumn solar term.

Moreover, as early as three hundred years ago, the Profound Celestial Sect had notified all major powers about the timing of this transcendence and hoped that other fellow practitioners would not attempt breakthroughs during this time to avoid interference and so on.

Of course, ordinary Earth Immortals or cultivators below the First Grade don’t need to concern themselves, as it doesn’t really relate to them.

It’s worth mentioning that the Profound Celestial Sect and the Cyan Cloud Sect, as two special existences within the Nine Alliances, Three Conferences, and Two Sects, are indeed quite unique because they are two powerful Immortal Sects established purely by the Human Race Da Luo.

Above them, the Profound Celestial Sect has two Da Luo, and the Cyan Cloud Sect has one Da Luo. They have a long history and belong to the most ancient and pure Human Race territories.

They’re roughly equivalent to representatives of the Human Race, or akin to Paris, Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, Guangzhou. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Moreover, they recruit only Human Race disciples, and the masses they protect are entirely of the Human Race, not accepting other Demon Races, Monster Races, Spirit Races, or the like.

Until now, the heartlands of the two major Immortal Sects have always been closed to the Demon Race’s approach.

However, because the Cultivation Realm has no upper limit on combat power, after fighting countless times, the two major Immortal Sects can only form a fragile but barely manageable loose alliance with other forces, establishing nine points of consensus.

The first of these is that when impacting Da Luo, Outer Heaven is uninvolved, but within the Cultivation Realm, war must be halted without disruptive interference.

In short, everyone must maintain a basic level of decency.

Even if conflicts arise, as long as other forces mediate, then essentially conflicts must not escalate to death.

Anyway, those who understand, understand.

Besides these two major Human Race Immortal Sects, there are, of course, Demon-led forces equally exclusionary to the Human Race, known as the Nine Alliances.

Among these, based on the different levels of exclusion towards the Human Race, they form three sub-camps.

For example, the Taiyi Immortal Alliance was formed by the White Tiger Race allied with numerous auxiliary Demon Races, and their exclusion of humans is not inferior to the exclusion of the Demon Race by the two major Immortal Sects.

Then there’s the Divine Wood Immortal Alliance formed by the Phoenix Race with other Demon Races, and the Divine Dragon Immortal Alliance led by the Cyan Dragon Race.

These three groups harbor considerable animosity towards the Human Race and always ally to fight against the two major Immortal Sects, whether in the Cultivation Realm or in Outer Heaven, where they continue their intense battles.

These five major forces essentially form the first tier of powers, akin to the five permanent members; each is guarded by one or two Da Luo, unparalleled by other forces.

Of course, on critical issues, the three Immortal Alliances and two Immortal Sects still adhere to agreed consensus, meaning that at this time, they cease fire.

Aside from these three alliances and two sects, there are three Immortal Alliances relatively friendly towards the Human Race, which include the Great Wilderness Immortal Alliance led by the Mang Mountain Ancient Bear Race, the Vast Sea Immortal Alliance led by the Black Tortoise Race, and the Nine Demon Immortal Alliance, composed of several strong Demon Races like the Vermilion Bird, Qilin, and Cyan Fox.

However, these three Immortal Alliances, while friendly, maintain a cordial distance from the Human Race.

They are considered the second tier.

Then there are the Dubhe Immortal Alliance, Mountain and Sea Immortal Alliance, Myriad Phenomena Immortal Alliance, Hidden Origin Association, Enlightenment Association, and Causeless Association, which make up the third tier. They are more open, not placing much importance on whether one is a Demon or Human Race; as long as one is Taiyi and capable, they are freely usable.

Of course, perhaps it’s because of this openness that they are more easily perceived as consumables?

These Nine Alliances, Three Conferences, and Two Sects have essentially divided up everything within the Cultivation Realm, while other forces are either their subordinates or puppets.

Complete monopoly means no opportunity will be given to other forces.

Anyone wishing to find forces unrelated to them must venture to Outer Heaven, but that place is even more chaotic, brutal, and dark.

At this moment,

Wang Wu and Qingxue sat side by side on the mast at the stern of the Spirit-Catching Ship, which had already set off for the Profound Celestial Sect. At the current speed, the journey would take three months because the position of the Profound Celestial Sect’s mountain gate is extremely distant, fifty billion miles away.

However, there was no rush, as the boundary breakthrough process of the Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect would last at least fifteen years, or even twenty years, and sometimes even as long as fifty years.

After all, the Bailu Solar Term following the Start of Autumn is still quite mild.

In short, this indeed counts as a major event in the Cultivation Realm.

Moreover, to ensure everything goes smoothly, the Frost Monarch has issued a strict order that no one is allowed to enter meditation during this period!

So there’s no other way, everyone just scattered in threes and fives, drinking, playing chess, tasting tea, playing the guqin, listening to tunes, sparring, having fun with small bets, enjoying the scenery, flirting, all sorts of activities.

Hence, Wang Wu and Qingxue came here to chat and fool around, developing a friendship beyond the ordinary.

"You sure know a lot, I was planning to tell you in detail."

Qingxue laughed.

"Not too bad, the travelogues of Lu Tong, Zhuang Bufei, Feng Muhai, and Qu Shenglian have been a big help to me. Of course, I still want to hear your perspective, or any strange tales. It seems you are quite familiar with my past, yet I know very little about yours; that’s not fair."

"Alright!"

Just as Qingxue was about to speak, a figure silently appeared at the other end of the mast, it was Frost Monarch’s sister, Shuang Liuyun.

"Wang Wu, you made it so hard for me to find you, hiding here enjoying the favor of a beauty!"

Shuang Liuyun smiled slightly and glanced at Qingxue, not really considering her, just saying, "I’ve heard my sister intends to have you compete for the Chief of Dragon Head City. It’s quite a lucrative post. Logically, I should not go against my sister’s decision, but I can’t help it because I think there is someone more suitable than you for the Chief of Dragon Head City. So, as my sister said, the capable rise, the mediocre fall. This journey is long, why don’t we settle this with a result?"

Understood, it seems the position of Chief of Dragon Head City has truly become a hot commodity.

"What’s the specific procedure?"

Wang Wu actually had no interest in being sent as Chief of Dragon Head City. He just wanted to go into seclusion, but for the next fifty years, he can’t even think about it.

"A literary competition and a martial contest, the winner gets the opportunity, the loser has to apologize."

"Alright."

Wang Wu didn’t think much and directly agreed.

"Refreshing! Meeting on the Spirit-Catching Ship in three days."

Shuang Liuyun nodded, very satisfied, seeming to appreciate Wang Wu’s attitude, fully ignoring Qingxue the entire time.

After she left, Wang Wu looked at Qingxue and saw her quietly watching him, as if he were glowing.

"What? Is there a bug on my face? And you don’t seem worried at all."

"What’s there to worry about? You don’t even want to go to Dragon Head City, what’s the point in competing." Qingxue said casually, lazily looking into the distance, where a very beautiful and pure Wind Spiritual Qi was floating, spanning several thousand miles, like a blue sky, only visible during the Start of Autumn Solar Term.

The Wind Spiritual Qi is very light, easily torn and blown away by the agitation of other Spiritual Qi. It only gathers together when everything is quiet.

That pure beauty, once seen, is unforgettable.

Wang Wu looked at Qingxue’s profile, finding it the most beautiful, so much that he forgot the previous topic. Just staying silent and dazing quietly like this was delightful.

And he hoped this moment could last forever, that so-called eternal path, that Daluo Golden Immortal, all couldn’t compare to this scene.

"Had enough looking?"

After a long while, Qingxue turned to smile and said, "Although it’s nothing much, you still need to understand the rules of this literary and martial competition."

"I know them all." Wang Wu nodded.

"That’s good, but this time, it’s equivalent to all the core forces of the Frost Domain gathering together in such an environment, with such a background, already giving these two contests a special significance. I think you should know, my mentor — her father, and stepmother are here, right?"

Wang Wu was stunned, regarding Frost Monarch’s father, he really didn’t know much, and in fact, he didn’t know much about the entire Shuang Family either. After all, Lu Tong’s travelogue wouldn’t write about these.

"So, you mean, invisibly, I became Frost Monarch’s spokesperson, and now, Shuang Liuyun wants to take this opportunity to undermine Frost Monarch’s face, after all, I was the Lord of the Frost Realm not long ago."

"Though not right on, it’s not far either. I hope I’m overthinking it. In any case, it’s up to you. My mentor, she doesn’t actually care about these things. You just make your own decision."

Qingxue said indifferently, as if she didn’t care, but that’s a lie. Frost Monarch might not care, but she obviously does.

"Then I got it."

Wang Wu smiled slightly, not continuing on this topic, nor did he inquire about Frost Monarch’s father’s and Shuang Family’s situation. Speaking of which, Qingxue seemed to be part of the Shuang Family too, having some unspeakable secret, whether to ask or not, he almost dared to be sure, if he asked, Qingxue would definitely answer truthfully.

But actually, those things don’t matter, past events are like clouds and smoke, having the present and future is good enough.

However, whom did Shuang Liuyun send?

Could it be Xu Taiping!