305: Return to the Wilderness

Xie Nanqiao looked at the three envoys from Yuan Ling Sect below, raised her wine cup, and said with a smile, "It is an honor to have the esteemed envoys from Yuan Ling Sect visit. The Great Barren World has not been a gracious host, and I hope you will forgive us."

Although Xie Nanqiao was not old, her cultivation was undoubtedly at the True Saint Realm, and she was a very powerful True Saint.

The three envoys, who had been arrogant and overbearing towards Zhuge Lun, had reined in their behavior significantly when facing Xie Nanqiao. Moreover, there was a strange Heavenly God sitting over there.

The leading envoy was named Cao Yun, a True Saint.

Cao Yun stood up and politely said to Xie Nanqiao, "Even I, from Yuan Ling Sect, have heard of Palace Master Nan Qiao's great name. This time, my two junior siblings and I have come to the Great Barren World for only one purpose: to confirm the true realm of World Lord Xun Xiuyuan."

Xie Nanqiao nodded, "The one sitting there is Xun Xiuyuan's clone. Isn't his realm obvious?"

The three couldn't help but exchange glances. The man sitting there like a stone statue was actually Xun Xiuyuan's clone.

The three couldn't help but recall the terrifying feeling they experienced when that clone opened his eyes and looked at them, sending shivers down their spines.

Cao Yun spoke even more respectfully, "A clone's realm can be controlled, after all. It would be difficult for the three of us to explain ourselves back at the sect. Let's wait for World Lord Xun to return."

Xie Nanqiao nodded indifferently, "That's fine. He went to Lieyang Great World. As soon as he arrives at the Extraterritorial Battlefield, he will receive the message."

Seeing that Xie Nanqiao's words were consistent with Zhuge Lun's earlier statements, the three said no more.

They simply sat quietly in the main hall, waiting.

For such cultivators, waiting for a year or even half a year was a common occurrence.

Although the three envoys appeared calm, their spiritual communication was already fervent.

The only female envoy transmitted, "Senior Brother Cao, why haven't you mentioned the Heavenly Palace Alliance? The main task the Elder assigned was about the Heavenly Palace Alliance."

Cao Yun's expression remained unchanged as he transmitted back, "Junior Sister Liu, the Elder's task is indeed the Heavenly Palace Alliance, that's correct. If this World Lord Xun Xiuyuan is truly in the Heavenly God Realm, I estimate he will soon be invited to Yuan Ling Sect. A Heavenly God slaying a True Saint—if he enters Yuan Ling Sect, he will likely become a core disciple. We core disciples should leave some room for maneuver. We'll discuss it after Xun Xiuyuan appears."

Liu Ruyu understood Cao Yun's thoughts and said no more.

The other envoy was naturally aware of their conversation, as they hadn't bothered to shield their spiritual senses from his detection.

Although Xie Nanqiao didn't know what these three were discussing, she knew they were secretly communicating, but she didn't expose them.

After all, they were three True Saints, so Xie Nanqiao didn't leave and stayed in the main hall to accompany them.

Xun Xiuyuan was very fast and did not make the three envoys from Yuan Ling Sect wait long.

When Xun Xiuyuan entered the main hall, he glanced at Xie Nanqiao, who was in the main seat, and said, "Nan Qiao, you should send Ji Yunshu back to Xiuyuan City. You should also rest more and stay in Xiuyuan City when you have nothing to do."

Xie Nanqiao was, after all, pregnant.

Xie Nanqiao nodded and left the main hall with Ji Yunshu.

Only then did Xun Xiuyuan sit in the main seat and look at the three envoys from Yuan Ling Sect who were seated.

"May I ask what business the esteemed envoys from Yuan Ling Sect have in my Great Barren World?"

Cao Yun saw Xun Xiuyuan's demeanor and felt extremely frustrated. The three of them were True Saints, after all, considered top-tier combatants in the Extraterritorial Battlefield.

But this World Lord Xun didn't even put the three of them in his eyes.

Cao Yun took a deep breath and said, "There are two main matters for our visit. The first is concerning World Lord Xun's realm, which we need to confirm. The other matter is about the Heavenly Palace Alliance."

Xun Xiuyuan could guess the envoys' purpose; Yang Dingtian's guess was correct.

"My realm is obvious. Perhaps due to my talent, I have always found it difficult to break through to the God King Realm."

Xun Xiuyuan said directly. He knew his own realm.

If it were an ordinary person, with such an inner world, let alone a God King, they would probably have already advanced to the True Saint Realm.

But he could control his exotic beast value. As long as the exotic beast value did not meet the standard, he naturally could not advance.

The Heavenly God Realm, with combat power far exceeding a True Saint, and crucially, the system's recovery function, meant minimal consumption for a Heavenly God.

In this way, Xun Xiuyuan's combat power was the strongest, allowing for infinitely sustained combat.

Cao Yun took out a jade pendant-like object and controlled it to fly towards Xun Xiuyuan.

"I hope World Lord Xun doesn't mind. Please infuse spiritual power into the jade pendant, so I can give a proper account."

Xun Xiuyuan took the jade pendant, knowing it was a small item from Yuan Ling Sect for testing realms. He unhesitatingly infused his spiritual power into it.

The jade pendant emitted a yellow glow.

However, the yellow light grew brighter and brighter until the jade pendant shattered.

Cao Yun and the other two were utterly shocked. It was indeed the Heavenly God Realm. This jade pendant could not be faked. The intensity of his spiritual power far exceeded that of an ordinary Heavenly God Realm cultivator. Just a trace of spiritual power for the test actually caused the testing jade pendant to burst.

After Cao Yun exchanged glances with the other two, he said, "World Lord Xun, I have tested your strength, and it is indeed the Heavenly God Realm. As for the matter of the Heavenly Palace Alliance, what are your plans, World Lord Xun?"

Xun Xiuyuan asked in confusion, "Is there a problem with the Heavenly Palace Alliance?"

Cao Yun nodded, "Yes, there is. Yuan Ling Sect does not permit such an alliance in the Extraterritorial Battlefield. The Battlefield Alliance is the only alliance led by Yuan Ling Sect. Such privately formed alliances are not allowed by Yuan Ling Sect. If World Lord Xun wishes for the Great Barren World to join the Battlefield Alliance, I can introduce you."

Xun Xiuyuan found Yuan Ling Sect's actions increasingly incomprehensible. Not wanting to completely fall out with them, he could only smile and say, "Alright then. I will hold a meeting with all members of the Heavenly Palace Alliance to discuss it. As for what to do, I will give you three envoys an answer after the meeting. Does that work for you?"

Xun Xiuyuan's amiable demeanor gave Cao Yun and the other two a slight sense of accomplishment. This was the treatment disciples of Yuan Ling Sect should receive.

Cao Yun nodded, "Then we will await World Lord Xun's news."

Xun Xiuyuan then spoke to his clone, "Take these three to rest. You must protect the three envoys well."

The clone only obeyed Xun Xiuyuan's commands and then led Cao Yun and the other two out.

Seeing this, Cao Yun knew that the three of them had temporarily lost their freedom. What was called protection was, in fact, surveillance.

Liu Ruyu immediately spoke, "Is World Lord Xun trying to detain us?"

Xun Xiuyuan shook his head, "No, merely protection. Don't overthink it. Of course, don't try to test this clone; he's very rigid."

Xun Xiuyuan was also helpless. Because he couldn't discern Yuan Ling Sect's true intentions, he didn't know whether Yuan Ling Sect was benevolent or malicious towards him.

He could only resolve it this way for now. He would make a judgment after he understood more.