Other than Feng Mingyou, who joined purely of his own free will, Qu Qingxian was essentially coerced, Qu Qizhong joined with a request attached, and Li Shifan was... hmm... arranged to volunteer?

All in all, while the latter three did eventually volunteer, there was an element of intimidation and slight coercion involved.

If the Alliance was to truly develop, this sort of thing had to be avoided in the future.

Previously, there had been an urgent need to get things started, so desperate times called for desperate measures.

But going forward, for the Alliance to grow in a healthy way, not only did this have to be avoided, but he also needed to make it so that people would be fighting tooth and nail to get in.

Otherwise, it would inevitably become a hidden danger—a fundamental one at that.

Zhang Deming contemplated for a long while before finally exiting the Space.

A moment later, the Identity Card in his pocket began to vibrate.

Zhang Deming took it out and looked, his expression turning to one of surprise. It was a message from Li Shifan, requesting to meet tomorrow.

’Why does he want to meet?’

’Has he discovered something?’

’That shouldn’t be possible. My identity has nothing to do with any of this; there’s no way he could have made the connection.’

He shook his head, deciding not to overthink it. He would find out when they met tomorrow.

「...」

The next morning, Zhang Deming rose to do his exercises, which had now changed to sword practice.

After finishing his daily routine, Zhang Deming got ready, planning to return to the Sect to meet up with Li Shifan.

But just as he set out, his Identity Card buzzed with another notification.

"Sect Notice: For opening the Cyan Wood Secret Realm, Inner Sect Disciple Zhou Zhiwei is hereby awarded one Grotto Heaven Blessed Land advanced study token.

The Cyan Wood Secret Realm: A part of the Ancient Five Elements Blessed Land. As the Cyan Wood of the Five Elements, it was hidden away when the Five Elements Blessed Land fell, and has been opened due to the recent Demon Beast incident.

The Array Department preliminarily estimates that entry will be possible for a maximum of five days. As for Cultivation level, anyone from the Apprentice realm up to those beneath the Three Lives Tai Chi realm may enter. Recommended Cultivation: at least Advanced Apprentice.

As this is not a Sect-owned Secret Realm and was opened by chance, the Sect will impose no restrictions. All Sect Disciples, whether from the Inner or Outer Sect, Noble Families or the Sect proper, may participate.

The Cyan Wood Secret Realm has not been opened for several thousand years. Please consider the internal situation and proceed at your own discretion.

The path of Cultivation is bitter, the road to the Dao arduous;

Opportunity is rare, and fortune is fleeting;

Through the endless ages, which of the flourishing shall find eternal life?

Value your life, and take good care!

----Issued by the Resources Department!"

’This is... a Sect-wide notification?’

’Entry into a Secret Realm with no Sect Contribution restrictions?’

’My goodness, the last time the Celestial Spirit Sect made such a big deal of something was several hundred years ago!’

Zhang Deming stared at the message, lost in a daze.

He came to his senses after a moment. No matter what, he had to get back to the Sect first.

Light Wings materialized at his heels, and Zhang Deming departed from his Cave Mansion.

But as soon as he reached the city, Zhang Deming discovered just how immense the Celestial Spirit Sect’s influence was on Celestial Spirit City.

A single Sect notification had set off a tidal wave in Celestial Spirit City.

The road back to the Sect was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was like a market day, with an endless stream of people.

Some were fellow disciples returning to the Sect, some were young masters from Noble Families heading for the Hengduan Mountain Range, but most were Loose Cultivators who had caught wind of the news.

The crowd formed a continuous line. Those who knew the Agility Technique were sprinting at full tilt. The sight was truly spectacular.

Zhang Deming also hurried back to the Sect. When he arrived at Qingyou Pool, Zong En was already waiting anxiously.

Although Zhang Deming didn’t officially hold the title of Steward, it was just a formality. Everyone knew he was in charge.

Therefore, they still knew to report their plans to him.

Zhang Deming assessed the situation and found that quite a few of these servants, who didn’t even have Identity Cards, also wanted to get in on the Secret Realm.

’I really don’t know whether to praise their courage or call them brainless.’

’They don’t stop to think. Did the Sect post the recommended Cultivation level and the warnings because they were bored and had nothing better to do?’

Zhang Deming couldn’t be bothered to interfere. This was clearly a wider trend, not just limited to the servants at Qingyou Pool. In that case, what did it have to do with him?

Zhang Deming looked at Zong En with the standard attitude of a hands-off manager and said,

"If you want to go, I won’t try to talk you out of it. Just think it through carefully. But you have to make proper arrangements for Qingyou Pool’s maintenance."

Upon receiving Zhang Deming’s approval, Zong En was overjoyed and immediately turned to make the arrangements. Among the servant disciples, those left behind were dejected, while those who could go were ecstatic.

Zhang Deming could only shake his head. It was truly hard to say who was the luckier party.

He was on a completely different level now and couldn’t possibly mingle with them, so he didn’t need to concern himself with their affairs.

After getting his things in order, Zhang Deming went to the location he’d agreed upon with Li Shifan. Li Shifan was already waiting for him.

"You said you had something to discuss yesterday?" Zhang Deming asked, looking at Li Shifan.

Li Shifan nodded. "My original plan was to invite you to explore a ruin with me.

But now that the Cyan Wood Secret Realm has opened, it looks like we’ll have to put that on hold. We can discuss it after we get out of the Secret Realm. By then, it might not even be necessary anymore."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming said, "You’re planning to go to the Cyan Wood Secret Realm too?"

Li Shifan replied, "It’s a Secret Realm left behind by a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, how could I not go? I have no desire to be a slacker!"

Zhang Deming said, "Then... want to team up?"

A rare smile touched Li Shifan’s lips. "I was just thinking the same thing!"

Having gone through a life-and-death experience together, and getting along reasonably well, they could be considered life-and-death friends, to a degree. Both had been planning to team up.

It was only "to a degree" because, while Li Shifan was sincere, Zhang Deming was more interested in fleecing his new friend than anything else.

’At least, for now, he’s my one and only Golden-Haired Sheep.’

Once they had decided, they set off directly for the back mountains, as both had already made preparations.

The Hengduan Mountain Range was vast and sprawling.

But a single Sect notice from the Celestial Spirit Sect had brought a massive influx of people.

The once-desolate back mountains were now teeming with an endless stream of people.

This was especially true in the direction they were heading. An endless stream of Cultivators—Loose Cultivators, scions of Noble Families, and Sect Disciples alike—filled the path.

The entire back mountain area was starting to resemble a marketplace. It really gave him the feeling of a packed tourist destination during a national holiday from his past life.

This scene alone was enough to show just how powerful an Upper Sect’s influence was.

As Zhang Deming and Li Shifan traveled deeper, the crowds began to thin out. The main throng of people couldn’t match their speed.

However, there were no Demon Beasts along the path, a marked change from the last time Zhang Deming had entered the back mountains.

Evidently, the Sect had expended considerable effort over the past six months, but in doing so, had also disrupted the balance of the back mountains.

After traveling at full speed for the better part of a day, they were no longer in the outer regions.

The two of them stopped to recover their Spiritual Power.

To be precise, it was Li Shifan who needed to recover his Magical Power.

Zhang Deming pulled a small book from his pocket and tapped it, bringing up a Light Screen. Li Shifan looked over.

"Is that... a map Magical Artifact?" Li Shifan asked.

Zhang Deming nodded. "That’s right. I loaded the map data from the Sect notification onto it. Judging by the distance, we should be able to get there by this afternoon."

Li Shifan stared in fascination at the smart map in Zhang Deming’s hands. After a moment, he asked in surprise, "A One-Star Magical Artifact?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "I guess you could call it that."

Li Shifan gave a wry smile. "Senior Brother, you’re really wealthy. I only have a Magical Artifact because I’m coasting on my ancestor’s legacy. And here you are, using a Magical Artifact just for a map."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming glanced at Li Shifan. ’Does that ancestor of yours count as a Magical Artifact? Or is he not talking about that?’

"Heh, it was just a fortunate coincidence," Zhang Deming said with a smile. "Otherwise, I wouldn’t have spent so extravagantly."

"Aren’t you going to do some Qi Replenishing, Senior Brother?" Li Shifan asked while restoring his own Magical Power, watching Zhang Deming fiddle with the device.

Zhang Deming just smiled. "I’m fine."

Hearing this, Li Shifan glanced at Zhang Deming but didn’t press the matter further. He understood Zhang Deming’s unspoken message.

"Oh, right. Take this," Zhang Deming said, detaching a small, bookmark-like charm from the little map book.