494: Northern Star Palace and Alien Races

North Domain Star Palace.

"Palace Master Qin, I wish us a pleasant cooperation this time."

"Clan Head Han, your clan is getting quite the bargain in this cooperation."

"Hahaha, how could that be? We Foreign Tribes are merely struggling for survival in the Xichen Domain, just trying to get by."

"Eh, my North Domain Star Palace knows a thing or two about your clan's strength. Clan Head Han, there's no need for modesty."

In my view, your clan's strength is likely already on par with the Zhengyuan Sect, excluding Chang Qi."

"You flatter me. No matter how strong we are, we cannot compare to the vast foundation of your North Domain Star Palace, Brother Qin."

Indeed, of the two currently conversing, the one addressed as Palace Master Qin was none other than the master of the North Domain Star Palace—Qin Lie!

As for the other, he was Han Tian, the patriarch of the Han Clan, the strongest among the five major foreign tribal powers.

No one could have imagined that these two powers, which should have been hostile toward each other, were currently chatting so congenially.

Furthermore, from their conversation, it seemed they had reached some sort of cooperation.

If word of this got out, it would likely trigger a massive upheaval throughout the entire Xichen Domain.

Qin Lie calmly sized up Han Tian and suddenly lowered his voice, whispering, "Brother Han, to be honest, has that person in your clan already broken through..."

Before Qin Lie could finish, Han Tian hurriedly waved his hand. "Brother Qin, those are serious words. If that person in my clan had truly broken through, why would we still be keeping such a low profile?"

Qin Lie smiled. "I see. I thought Brother Yan's talent far surpassed mine, and that he might have broken through long ago."

Han Tian couldn't help but give a bitter laugh. "The path of the immortal is difficult. The hardest part is the elevation of the Rhyme of Law."

"Even those as strong as the one from my clan, you, Sect Master Qin, and that Shi Li from the Zhengyuan Sect."

"In terms of cultivation, it's long since been enough—more than enough, even. But as for why there's been no breakthrough, isn't it because we're all stuck at this step?"

"I truly wonder how that Grand Elder of the Zhengyuan Sect managed to break through."

As he said those final words, Han Tian couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

It was that Grand Elder who, single-handedly, suppressed all the Foreign Tribes in the Xichen Domain so thoroughly that they couldn't hold their heads up or dare to make a single move.

Although, judging by the current situation and the results, the other party seemed to have no intention of taking action against the Foreign Tribes.

But what if? What about the future? Once he acted, even if all the Foreign Tribes joined forces, they wouldn't be able to stop him.

Some experts, by their mere existence, without needing to lift a finger or even speak, are already an incomparable deterrent.

No matter what these Foreign Tribes wanted to do, they first had to consider that powerful existence in the Immortal Law Realm Second Transformation.

Hearing Han Tian's words, a trace of loneliness and envy also appeared in Qin Lie's eyes.

Many people didn't know that Qin Lie was actually an expert from the same era as Chang Qi.

Before they became immortals, they had competed many times.

Speaking of becoming an immortal, Qin Lie had achieved it several thousand years earlier than Chang Qi.

After becoming immortals, the two had also clashed many times.

In the beginning, Qin Lie held the upper hand. Later, they became evenly matched, and eventually, Chang Qi gradually gained the advantage.

Watching someone who was once inferior to him surpass him step by step, reaching a height where he now had to look up to him.

How could anyone who hadn't experienced it personally understand such a feeling?

As for the one from the Han Clan, his full name was Han Yan, and his era was even more ancient than that of Qin Lie and Chang Qi.

Before those two were even born, he was already an Immortal Law Realm expert whose name shook the Xichen Domain.

Yet even now, he had failed to break through to the Immortal Law Realm Second Transformation.

Helplessly watching latecomers catch up to him and even surpass him.

His mood was likely even more miserable than Qin Lie's.

But having lived for so many years after all, he still possessed significant capability.

It was said that even the Chang Qi of back then, before he broke through to the Immortal Law Realm Second Transformation, might not have been his match.

With such strength, how could Qin Lie not suspect Han Yan's progress toward the Immortal Law Realm Second Transformation?

But the expression in his eyes was quickly and inconspicuously hidden.

He also let out a sigh of emotion. "Yes, I wonder how that Chang Qi did it."

Han Tian sighed. "I remember back then, you and Chang Qi were experts of the same era. To think of where things are now, it truly is sigh-worthy."

Qin Lie didn't get angry upon hearing this; instead, he revealed a meaningful smile. "So, what are you trying to say?"

These words of sowing discord were as obvious as they could be.

Never mind an old fox like Qin Lie who had lived for countless years; even an ordinary person with a bit of experience could sense it.

Han Tian trying to drive a wedge between him and Chang Qi was something Qin Lie could understand.

After all, they were both human powers, and no one wanted their enemies to be on friendly terms with each other.

However, to make such divisive remarks so obviously meant he was either intentionally provoking or had something else to say.

Therefore, Qin Lie wasn't angry at Han Tian's words; instead, he asked with great interest.

"Sect Master Qin, you and I have traded countless times, and we understand each other quite well."

"So, I won't waste time with pleasantries, nor do I want to play any more riddles."

The smile on Han Tian's face faded slightly, and his voice dropped lower. "Perhaps we could take our trade a step deeper."

To be honest, for the Foreign Tribes, there weren't many parties they could trade with in the Xichen Domain.

The Zhengyuan Sect was a famous orthodox sect, a paragon of righteousness; they wouldn't engage in such sordid affairs.

If they encountered these Foreign Tribes trying to collude, they would likely act on behalf of heaven and strike them down on the spot.

Besides, who was the greatest enemy of these Foreign Tribes? Wasn't it the Zhengyuan Sect and their Grand Elder?

Unless their brain was fried, they wouldn't agree to a trade with them.

Thus, cooperating with the Zhengyuan Sect would be like seeking a quick death.

The Moyuan Sect was rotten to the core and constantly opposed the Zhengyuan Sect.

But it wasn't just an enemy of the Zhengyuan Sect; it could be called the public enemy of the Xichen Domain, hated by everyone.

Since its emergence, detailed records showed that it had never done a single decent thing whenever it acted.

None of the powers that had tried to cooperate with it had come to a good end; they were either backstabbed, used as shields, or turned into cannon fodder.

It wasn't just the human powers; even these foreign tribal powers had suffered greatly, losing countless resources to them.

That group of people had absolutely no morals, no bottom line, and no integrity. Cooperating with them would only lead to a faster death.

One could say that however upright and glorious the Zhengyuan Sect was, the Moyuan Sect was just as evil.

Many people secretly referred to the Moyuan Sect as the dark side of the Zhengyuan Sect.

Therefore, the Foreign Tribes chose to keep a respectful distance from such a sect.