TL: Cassia Valley will be changed to Jue Ming Valley starting now, as it is the official translation.
Only Foundation Establishment cultivators could participate in the battle at Jue Ming Valley, and the number of tokens determined how many sects from Zhao Country would qualify to enter the extraterritorial battlefield for clearing. Therefore, a token-snatching event was to be held. Without any Nascent Soul Stage expert, the Heng Yue Sect was originally unqualified to participate.
Fortunately, Lin Che had returned and taken charge, possessing the cultivation level of the Soul Transformation Stage, which naturally qualified him to enter Jue Ming Valley and compete for the token.
At this moment, a special energy enveloped the sky above the entire Zhao Country. Almost simultaneously, all Nascent Soul Stage experts sensed this energy and understood that the time for token distribution had arrived.
Lin Che placed one hand behind his back, looked into the distance, and said, "It seems the Envoy of Tong Tian Tower has come out of seclusion. I haven't seen him in a hundred years. I wonder how he's doing."
"Master, I'll be back soon."
After bidding farewell to Master Huang Long, Lin Che quickly flew toward the Tong Tian Tower. With his speed, he arrived at the tower's location in just a few breaths.
Huang Long stroked his beard, narrowed his eyes, and muttered to himself, "Lin Che, Lin Che… if you one day reach the Ascendant realm, perhaps you truly can inherit my legacy."
At the same time, brilliant streaks of light flew from various locations across Zhao Country, converging rapidly toward the Tong Tian Tower.
The Tong Tian Tower was a landmark structure symbolizing a country's entry into the Cultivation Alliance. After a country became a member, the Alliance would construct the tower on its behalf.
The tower housed a resident envoy of the Cultivation Alliance year-round. These envoys would not interfere in a country's internal disputes but would step in during major events.
The first to arrive was Ye Zi, leader of the Corpse Yin Sect, accompanied by his corpse puppet. Despite his presence, his tone was full of arrogance.
"If it weren't for our Huangquan Sect's interest in Zhao Country, how could the Cultivation Alliance have bothered to build the Tong Tian Tower here or offer your youths the opportunity to enter the extraterritorial battlefield?"
Ye Zi's face darkened, his tone cold. "Don't forget—you're still my corpse puppet."
"Hehe, that's only temporary."
The corpse puppet, cloaked in evil aura, let out a strange laugh, then dissolved into black mist and returned to its coffin.
Ye Zi sighed inwardly. The Corpse Yin Sect was a highly mysterious sect, mostly due to its cultivation method.
Each disciple had to sacrifice a corpse in their lifetime. If successful, that corpse would become their life-bound puppet and never change. The puppet was akin to their life-bound magic weapon. In fact, cultivating the puppet was often more important than cultivating themselves.
Hundreds of years ago, a Foundation Establishment Stage disciple had been seen with a Nascent Soul Stage corpse puppet. Though the disciple later vanished mysteriously, the event caused an uproar in the cultivation world.
Even as sect leader, Ye Zi understood the vital role of the Corpse Yin Sect.
There were frequent wars among cultivation nations ranked level 4 or higher, especially in battles over extraterritorial lands, where casualties were inevitable.
Once a cultivator reached the Nascent Soul Stage, careful maneuvering could preserve their Nascent Soul. It was here the Corpse Yin Sect proved invaluable.
Countless cultivators who lost their bodies or sought to possess new ones turned to the Corpse Yin Sect for help.
Most of the bodies they provided had extraordinary aptitudes, and when cultivated using the sect's secret techniques, one's cultivation would rise rapidly.
To speed up the body possession process, many high-level sects signed treaties with the Corpse Yin Sect, designating special areas—"flesh fields"—for them to gather bodies.
Because of this, corpse puppets often longed to devour their own hosts from the start, seeking to break free from their control.
"Mr. Envoy, I am Ye Zi from the Corpse Yin Sect have arrived."
"Ye Zi, we're old acquaintances. Don't be so formal. After all these years, your corpse puppet has already reached the late Nascent Soul Stage."
A hearty voice echoed from the tower, followed by the appearance of an old man. Slightly plump and plain in appearance, he wore a robe of green satin that accentuated his round belly, giving him a rather comical appearance.
Ye Zizai replied modestly, "Mr. Envoy, please don't tease me."
Soon, Chen Yue and Chen Huan of the Hehuan Sect arrived, followed by Punnan Zi of the Xuan Dao Sect, who respectfully bowed to Lin Yi, the envoy of the Tong Tian Tower.
One after another, other Nascent Soul cultivators of Zhao Country arrived, including Gao Qiming of the Piao Miao Sect and Teng Huayuan, the ancestor of the Teng family.
However, Teng Huayuan appeared unusually grim, his gaze ice-cold, as if something significant had recently occurred.
Lin Yi, the envoy of the Tong Tian Tower, stroked his beard and smiled. "Have all Nascent Soul Stage cultivators of Zhao arrived?"
Led by Punnan Zi, everyone bowed and said in unison, "Greetings, Envoy."
Lin Yi nodded and said, "The passage to the extraterritorial battlefield, which opens every hundred years, is about to begin. Zhao has secured a 100,000-mile clearing in the northern sector, latitude 58."
"All high-grade magic weapons and elixirs gathered within shall belong to your respective sects."
At that moment, Punnan Zi of the Xuan Dao Sect stepped forward and bowed. "Envoy, may I ask how the battle in Jue Ming Valley will proceed?"
"As per the Cultivation Alliance's rules, Zhao may only send three sects to participate, which is why the battle at Jue Ming Valley is so critical," Lin Yi replied calmly.
"The old rules still apply: only Foundation Establishment disciples may compete—Nascent Soul and Core Formation cultivators are strictly forbidden from interfering."
As Lin Yi finished speaking and prepared to summon the alliance envoy, he suddenly sensed a powerful energy rushing toward them.
His brows furrowed in surprise. He knew every Nascent Soul Stage cultivator in Zhao, and they were already present. Could it be a newly advanced Nascent Soul master? But this energy...
Before Lin Yi could react, Lin Che descended, and the energy he exuded instantly shattered the surrounding space. The sheer force distorted the air, collapsing the void around him.
Lin Yi was stunned. He exclaimed internally, "This is... the Soul Transformation Stage!"
The Zhao Country cultivators immediately knelt in reverence, even more deferential than they had been toward the Tong Tian Tower's envoy. "Greetings, Senior!"
Lin Che stood with one hand behind his back. His long silver-white hair flowed in the wind, and the scent of blood radiating from him made all who beheld him feel as if they were plunging into an abyss with no escape.
At that moment, Lin Yi finally recognized him and exclaimed, "You... You're that Heng Yue Sect disciple who was sucked into the space crack a hundred years ago—Lin Che?"