POV XINSU YUN - ISLAND MOUNTAIN SECT LEADER

  “You show up right before the meeting? Despite your age, you haven't changed, Xinsu,” said an old acquaintance, the leader of the friendly sect Lei Chao.

  Leaders didn't have many friends; their position didn't allow for it, especially outside their own borders. Lei, however, was a relative of his. The Wooden Crane Sect had fought side by side with the Island Mountain Sect in many wars. It was a rare kind of friendship. Of course, the main reason was that both sects were not in a very good position, so it was ultimately an alliance of necessity.

  “I set off as quickly as I could, but I had to take longer breaks. Those days are gone,” he replied with a loud sigh, causing Lei to frown.

  “You don't have to talk about it so loudly, who knows who's listening. We shouldn't show weakness, we have to stick together.”

  “I know. I'm only saying this to you,” he said, stroking her cheek. However, she pushed his hand away and turned away.

  Xinsu felt stupid.

  “I'm sorry,” she replied uncertainly. “But this isn't the right time.”

  “No, it's my fault,” he replied, looking up at the sky. “Let's get going. Do you know when the meeting starts?”

  “In a few hours. Like I said, you barely made it on time,” she said, walking away. “I still remember the first meeting of the region... I hope this time it will end differently.”

  “It's hard to forget something like that,” he replied, walking right behind her and admiring the view of the largest lake in the region. “It all depends on the topic of the meeting. Do you know anything about it?”

  Lei just shook her head. Xinsu had expected that. Her sect was only slightly better off.

  “But you must have noticed the changes that have taken place recently... An epidemic broke out in my sect, and we had to destroy and burn down more than five cities. The goblin invasion of your sect, all of it... It's no coincidence.”

  Xinsu agreed. Since he became the leader of the sect, there had never been so many incidents on such a scale. Everything seemed to have its source in the Swamp Monster Area. However, he would only learn more details at the meeting of all the leaders of the region.

  The entire surrounding city was closed off. They were completely alone there. The arrival of the leaders of all the sects and other organizations in the region. An absurd event that had been unattainable for hundreds of years.

  But what situation could have brought us all together? I just hope it's not the return of the witch... If she has returned, we can only pray for a painless death.

  Although she had disappeared, the memory of her was still alive. The person who destroyed an entire continent and caused the greatest crisis in history in millions of years. Even the primordial continents were on high alert.

  “Only when we walk these streets do I understand the difference between our sects and the real powers,” Lei said suddenly.

  “Ultimately, we are just small fish in a big ocean. Even in this region, our presence is so insignificant compared to others,” he said regretfully.

  Although he ruled over thousands of cultivators and his sect numbered in the millions, he ultimately occupied only a small fragment of the region's map, a dot on the continent's map, and on the world map? He’s sect was not visible at all.

  Suddenly, both Xinsu and Lei froze, sensing someone's presence. Someone much stronger than them. They may have been the leaders of their sects, but here they were at the bottom. Xinsu looked in the direction of that person.

  He knew this person and understood well that he wanted to intimidate them. The leader of the Blue Dragon Sect named Li Shida. A neighboring sect with whom they had never had good relations. Worse still, Li Shida was no longer at the same stage as them - Nascent Soul - and had climbed to the next stage: Body Transformation! This was a rarity in the entire region, and most people at this stage were old monsters.

  He moved closer. Xinsu was extremely irritated by Shida's arrogant gaze, but he knew that in his case, the arrogance was justified. He also realized that if it weren't for the circumstances, the leader of the Blue Dragon Sect would probably attack him immediately. However, he had to overcome his aversion.

  “Honorable Li Shida, I have heard of your progress in cultivation, my sincere congratulations.” He said, trying to sound sincere, even though he knew no one would be fooled.

  “I also offer you my congratulations, esteemed Li Shido,” Lei Chao said shortly after him, causing him to snort.

  If Li Shida hated anyone more than him, it was Lei Chao. Xinsu never had the courage to stand up to him, even hundreds of years ago when their strength was comparable. Lei, however, was different, more courageous. She did not allow herself to be pushed around, which unfortunately meant serious consequences for her sect. But at least she was not a coward like Xinsu.

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  “Thank you.” He smiled, coming closer and closer.

  His aura was growing in intensity! It was a show of strength they couldn't win. Both Lei Chao and Xinsu Yun wore grim expressions. However, they had to keep their cool.

  Shida may have been arrogant, but he wasn't stupid. He could intimidate them, but he couldn't do anything to them here or on the way back. Virtually all the region's leaders were present. Should he lay a finger on them, he would condemn himself to destruction.

  Xinsu clenched his fist tightly and tensed all his old muscles. The closer he got, the more he felt the difference between himself and him. If only he hadn't prematurely broken through the Golden Core stage, would they perhaps be on the same level now? There was no answer to that, but he knew he had made the right choice.

  Li Shida was getting closer and closer, and their suffering gave him obvious pleasure. He was the worst type of person who could gain such power. He was only a few steps away from them now. Xinsu was not afraid of him, but he was worried that he might lose consciousness at any moment.

  “Li Shida. I think that's enough.” As if out of nowhere, a new person appeared behind the leader of the Blue Dragon Sect, and none of the three of them could even perceive the moment he appeared.

  Li Shida froze. He knew this aura from before, and turned his head slightly in terror. In his immense fear, he hid the pressure he was exerting. The man holding his shoulder smiled.

  Xinsu breathed a sigh of relief. The leader of the Celestial Sect Of The Fire God, the leader of the strongest sect in the region, and also the current organizer of this meeting. An absolute power whose word was final.

  “The leader of the Blue Dragon Sect bows before the Honorable Hong Ren,” Shida said in a trembling voice, bowing.

  Xinsu and Lei also bowed, offering their greetings. Shida, despite his power, was still a whole stage lower. Hong Ren was the undisputed most powerful cultivator in the region and was said to be just a step away from the next stage!

  However, a popular joke said that Hong Ren was “one step” away from the next stage for over a hundred years.

  “I'm glad we've cleared up the situation.” He winked at Shida, mocking him slightly. “Let's not waste any more time on such childish squabbles. The meeting will begin soon, so shall we go together?”

  It was not an offer they could refuse. Although Hong Ren was known for his kindness and easygoing personality, he was still the only cultivator at the Body Integration stage in the entire region.

  Xinsu remembered his grandfather's words hundreds of years ago when he spoke of Hong Ren. Even his grandfather's grandfather considered him an old monster in his childhood. There was not a single person in the region who could match him.

  They all followed the organizer. Shida walked clearly next to Hong Ren, wanting to appear more important. It was quite ironic considering that just a few moments ago he had menaced him. Ren, however, did not seem to care.

  They began to climb the stairs to the top of the palace. Soon they reached the very top of the palace, which seemed to reach up to the sky. From there, they could see the entire Saniqa Lake, which, due to its vastness, seemed more like a sea or an ocean than the lake it actually was.

  However, it was not the lake that was most important, but the people who were currently sitting on this floor. Xinsu swallowed hard. Although it was not the first time he had stood before all the leaders of the region, it still made him feel uncertain.

  Most of these people were stronger than him, not to mention that since the last meeting, most of them had advanced in their cultivation, while he had remained stagnant.

  However, he did not show any weakness and put on a stony face. He represented his sect and had to present himself well. The fact that he had arrived with the organizer helped his image a little.

  Lei Chao tapped him on the shoulder unnoticeably. She showed him where they could sit. He nodded. The presence of a familiar face calmed him down a little, and he followed her to sit down.

  The meeting was about to begin. The whole room was quiet and calm. Although there were many people there, they were sect leaders who wanted to show themselves in the best light, so everyone tried to maintain an appearance of seriousness and composure. However, Xinsu knew that almost everyone, like him, was nervous.

  Hong Ren stepped forward to the center, all eyes focused on him. Xinsu thought that he was the only person who could bring together all the leaders of the region. Everyone gathered there respected him.

  “I think that's everyone. Let's start with the organizational matters...” He began his speech by personally thanking everyone who had come.

  Finally, it was his turn.

  “... And also Xinsu Yun, who came to us from the Island Mountain Sect, thank you for coming.” Xinsu stood up and bowed to everyone.

  He carefully observed all the people who had come. He already knew most of them from the previous regional meeting, but there were many new faces. Some leaders had died, and others had been replaced. New sects had appeared, and some had disappeared from the map.

  The stagnation mainly affected the larger sects, while in the smaller ones, everything was constantly changing. Internal conflicts and wars broke out among themselves. Xinsu fell into a slight reverie.

  As he thought, Ren continued to thank the other attendees. After a few minutes, he finally finished and got to the point.

  “So, this is everyone gathered at this meeting. It is with great pleasure that I announce that we have representatives from all the major factions except for the North Martial Fist Sect, the Giledia Clan, and the Independent Separation Fraction,” said the man, stroking his beard. “We can now move on to the official reason for this meeting.”

  The tension was at its peak. Yun already knew that the difference between small and large sects was enormous. Representatives of the larger ones already knew what the meeting would be about. Most, however, still knew nothing. Few could afford such advanced intelligence.

  “The Yumin clan,” he said briefly, and murmurs spread throughout the room.

  Xinsu looked at Lei, but she just shrugged. She also had no idea what was going on. So he was somewhat comforted by the fact that he was not completely alone in this.

  “Some of you probably know the details, others may only know the basics, but judging by your expressions, it's clear that most of you don't realize the seriousness of the current situation,” he said with a serious expression, walking around the room.

  He walked to the very end of the room. He took something out of the bag at the far end. It was a map of the continent. Although Xinsu had seen similar ones before, this one was extremely accurate, a rare kind. It seemed to be a faithful representation, although it was impossible to say for sure.

  “An immortal has been born in the Yumin clan,” he said, and whispers spread throughout the room.