Su Wenxuan said with great satisfaction, "One is Spirit Base Grass, and the other is Spirit-Building Flower. These are the two most important ingredients for refining the Dust-Settling Pill. The Dust-Settling Pill is the best elixir pill for those in the Spirit Martial Realm to raise their cultivation and solidify their realm."

Shen Lang nodded. "Although these two ingredients don’t have many other uses, they are the most crucial for refining the Dust-Settling Pill, and they are exceptionally rare. In that case, the Yumu Cave Blessed Land must be full of them. Otherwise, the major Sects wouldn’t be fighting tooth and nail to get inside."

Su Wenxuan smiled faintly, his face full of praise. "You’ve guessed correctly. But you could never imagine just how much of these two ingredients are inside..."

’The Sect Leader always spoke in a roundabout way, constantly trying to build suspense or act mysterious.’

’Something that could be explained in two sentences would take him half an hour to muddle through.’

’Comparatively, Shen Lang felt that talking with Wang Dashu was much simpler and more refreshing.’

’But the man was a Sect Leader, after all. It wouldn’t be good to make him lose face.’

Shen Lang, finding this all rather dull, leaned back in his chair with an expression that clearly said, ’Say what you have to say, or don’t say it at all.’

Su Wenxuan saw the "murderous" gazes from the other Sect Leaders at his side. He gave an awkward cough and said, "These two types of Spirit Grass are very difficult to find. Even in the Barbaric lands, they are extremely rare. But inside the Yumu Cave Blessed Land, for some unknown reason, they are incredibly abundant."

"In certain areas, they even cover the mountains and fields like common weeds!"

Shen Lang raised an eyebrow. "To think such a thing exists. This Pocket World Blessed Land is truly strange."

"These two Spirit Grasses are vital for refining the Dust-Settling Pill; they are the two most critical ingredients. As long as there’s no shortage of them, refining the pill isn’t a major issue. And the number of Dust-Settling Pills a Sect possesses has a tremendous and far-reaching impact."

"The Spirit Martial Realm is a hurdle that no Sect can avoid. It is the true threshold to the path of Martial Arts. The more disciples who can enter the Spirit Martial Realm, the more powerful a Sect becomes."

Shen Lang nodded. "I understand."

Su Wenxuan continued, "Although your cultivation is formidable, you can’t let your guard down. The ones entering the Yumu Cave Blessed Land aren’t just from the righteous and demonic paths, but especially the Demon Cultivation Alliance from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm, which is closest to the Dragon Scale Forbidden Land."

"The Demon Cultivation Alliance from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm?" Shen Lang was slightly taken aback. "The Yumu Cave Blessed Land is a matter for the Purple Chu Country. How did the Celestial Defying Demon Realm get involved? That realm is a region caught between countries like the Purple Chu Country and the Yunfeng Country. What gives them the right to enter the Yumu Cave Blessed Land?"

Su Wenxuan sighed. "A Demon Cultivation Alliance appeared in the Celestial Defying Demon Realm just over a decade ago. Their power likely surpasses that of an ordinary Spirit Copper Level Influence. Because their location is very close to the Dragon Scale Forbidden Land, they found out about the Yumu Cave Blessed Land and contacted the Imperial Dragon Sect."

"The people of this Celestial Defying Demon Realm are all bloodthirsty and murderous. They see Low Tier Martial Artists as ants, killing them with a single blow over the slightest disagreement. Even with Martial Artists of the Same Tier, once a feud begins, it won’t end until one side is dead!"

"Many of them are Demons wanted by the Sects of various countries. Unless the Imperial Dragon Sect and the other two Sects can annihilate this Demon Cultivation Alliance, they have no choice but to agree to their terms."

"Otherwise, if their people came to cause trouble... for example, by ambushing and killing members of the major Sects on the road, this trial would be impossible to hold. How could these dozens of Profound Iron Level Sects possibly contend with a Demon Cultivation Alliance that is frenzied with bloodlust and filled with powerful experts?"

Shen Lang nodded. "The brutish fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who have nothing to lose. Since the Imperial Dragon Sect and the other two of the Three Sects aren’t completely confident they can handle these desperados, they really have no choice but to agree to their terms."

Su Wenxuan nodded in agreement. "The people of the Celestial Defying Demon Realm are extremely vicious, and they have many masters among them. So, aside from the threat of the other Sects, they might be the greatest danger within the Yumu Cave Blessed Land."

"The cultivation process for Demon Martial Artists is inherently sinister and vicious. The environment they grow up in is incomparably cruel, and the bloodshed and brutality they experience far exceed that of disciples from ordinary Sects. Compared to them, many Sect disciples are just flowers raised in a greenhouse."

"The vast majority of Demon Martial Artists are extremists who have lost their human nature, becoming utterly bloodthirsty and murderous. It’s even common to hear of them becoming Fallen Demons, their Divine Sense collapsing in the end."

At this moment, Mei Yingxue suddenly interjected, "Sect Leader Su is right. In fact, it’s not just the Demon Martial Artists from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm. Even those so-called Renowned and Righteous Sects often commit villainous deeds under the banner of vanquishing demons and defending the Dao. Take the Holy Light Sect, for example, who were originally our allies at the Xiu Hua Sect. Their shamelessness has reached an intolerable level..."

"Since I, Yingxue, have brazenly come to the Profound Dao Sect today, I’m not afraid of being laughed at by the other Sect Leaders. The Xiu Hua Sect has truly suffered great losses during our years of alliance with the Holy Light Sect. Those people are insidious, cunning, vile, and shameless. Even when dealing with an ally like us, they can break faith at any moment and turn on us without mercy."

"Just a short while ago, we discovered through certain channels that the majority of the Xiu Hua Sect disciples who died during the last few trials in the Yumu Cave Blessed Land were actually killed in plots orchestrated by the Holy Light Sect..."

Shi Yanbin, with his impulsive nature, could no longer control himself upon hearing this. "What? Those bastards are really that malicious?"

Mei Yingxue gave a bitter smile. "For so many years, the Xiu Hua Sect has run with wolves, even making enemies of your Sects and doing many things to harm you for a pittance of profit... Thinking back on it now, the guilt in my heart is beyond words. I, Yingxue, offer my sincerest apologies for the Xiu Hua Sect’s past actions against your Sects. I hope the Sect Leaders can give the Xiu Hua Sect another chance..."

As she spoke, she stood up, faced Su Wenxuan and the other two, and bowed deeply.

Su Wenxuan quickly rose to help her up.

Shi Yanbin snorted coldly. "A mere apology can’t prove your sincerity. Wenxuan is easygoing, but you should know my, Shi Yanbin’s, temperament very well! It won’t be so easy to get me to agree to you joining us!"

Ye Xiangmo said nothing, but his cold expression made his stance clear.

"I know a simple apology is not enough to show our sincerity. The Xiu Hua Sect has decided to cede the entire Profound Iron Vein in the Spirit Prison Abyss of the Celestial Profound Mountain Range. The people of the Xiu Hua Sect will withdraw completely from the Spirit Prison Abyss," Mei Yingxue said softly, her posture extremely humble.

This single sentence immediately moved the other three.

The Profound Iron Vein in the Spirit Prison Abyss had only been discovered a short time ago. It was the largest vein among their several Sects, and the Xiu Hua Sect was actually giving it up...

At this moment, Shen Lang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up. "Since the Xiu Hua Sect is sincere about allying with the Three Sects, I see no reason for the Three Sects to refuse. In chaotic times, banding together for warmth is a very sensible course of action."

"Chaotic times..." Seeing how seriously Shen Lang spoke, Su Wenxuan couldn’t help but ask, "On the Star Continent, though the strong are revered and the major powers are constantly fighting, there hasn’t really been talk of ’chaotic times.’ You said earlier that you had something to tell us. Is it related to this?"

Just then, Nalan Ziyun, Shen Moran, and Chu Qingcheng walked in.

After paying their respects, the three of them sat down next to Shen Lang.

Chu Qingcheng tried to speak several times, but Shen Moran glared her into silence.

Shen Lang nodded slightly. "It is indeed related to what I wanted to say. But let’s talk about that later. Sect Leader, please continue with the previous topic."

Su Wenxuan gave him a quizzical look and said, "We were just discussing the dangers in the Yumu Cave Blessed Land. As Sect Leader Mei said, it’s not just because the Demonic Cultivators from the Celestial Defying Demon Realm are participating this time. Even the other so-called Renowned and Righteous Sects are extremely dangerous."

"Even Sects that have had no conflicts of interest with us in the past could become our enemies inside! The temptations within the Yumu Cave Blessed Land are too great, and the stakes are too high. Killing for treasure has become almost commonplace."

"The law of the jungle is on full display there. The strong survive, and the weak perish. It’s that simple."

Seeing Shen Lang remain silent, Su Wenxuan continued, "To put it simply, among the major Sects, they might say nice things, but in reality, they all operate by the law of the jungle. Therefore, aside from the few Sects in our alliance, you must be wary of everyone else. What’s more, the Yumu Cave Blessed Land is overrun with Demon Beasts, and the number of High Tier Demon Beasts is not much less than in the Barbaric lands."

"After entering the Blessed Land, our allied Sects must all gather together. Only then will we have the strength to contend with the other Sects head-on. Otherwise, you’ll be beset by crises and unable to move a single step."

"And you will be the Commander of all the disciples from these Sects who enter the Yumu Cave Blessed Land! Once inside, everyone will move toward your position based on the display on their Celestial Secret Token."

"You’ll not only need to lead them in dealing with the other Sects, but you’ll also need to do your utmost to ensure their safety... Others can’t do it, but you, Shen Lang, absolutely can. I am certain of this."

The other Sect Leaders at his side, including Ye Xiangmo, also nodded repeatedly.

There was simply no one more suitable than Shen Lang for the position of Commander.

Even Jun Qiluo of the Xiu Hua Sect might find it simple to protect one or two people, but leading all the disciples of four Sects and guaranteeing their safety would be an almost impossible task.

But Shen Lang was different...

’Never mind that he was still holding back a great deal of his power. Even if he wasn’t, with the strength he’d already shown, what Martial Artist below the Xuanwu Realm could possibly pose a threat to him?’

’Having someone like him in the alliance’s team would absolutely guarantee a much higher survival rate for the disciples of these Sects!’

’In any case, the ones entering the Yumu Cave Blessed Land were the elite disciples of the major Sects.’

’No one wanted to see these elite disciples go in and never come back.’

Shen Lang was silent for a moment before saying, "I know what to do."

Just then, Shi Yanbin, who had been trying to think of a way to get closer to Shen Lang, suddenly noticed a pitch-black, gleaming scale on the table beside him. He brazenly stepped forward and picked it up.

"This... Nephew Shen Lang, what is this scale? Is it for Artifact Refining?"

As he spoke, Shi Yanbin reached out and tapped the scale twice.

CLANG! CLANG!

The scale emitted a crisp, metallic ring.

Shi Yanbin stared at the patterns on the scale for a long time but couldn’t figure out what it was.