The main hall of Qingxu Temple was hosting an unprecedented grand occasion. Human sects' sect leaders, demon clans' chieftains, and sea clans' dragon kings, every major figure had gathered, and even several secluded ancient primordial lineages had sent representatives. This was the most complete assembly in the cultivation world in ten thousand years, and what made this all possible was the catastrophe that had just passed, and the person who had turned the tide during it.
Tang Xiao Qi sat at the main seat, his expression tranquil. He did not deliberately emit pressure, yet the Dao rhythm of the Deity Transformation stage naturally flowed, making all cultivators in the hall feel instinctive reverence. The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword and Creation Universe Wok floated silently behind him, the qi of these quasi-immortal treasures harmonizing with his Dao rhythm, adding to his majesty.
"Gentlemen," the Eastern Sea's Old Dragon King Ao Guang spoke first, his voice like a large bell. "During this Demon Calamity, had Sect Master Tang not turned the tide, the three realms would have overturned long ago. Now with a hundred matters awaiting attention and the demonic threat not eliminated, the old man proposes establishing the Three Realms Alliance, and recommending Sect Master Tang as its first Alliance Leader, to oversee reconstruction and demon-suppression matters!"
As soon as his voice fell, the Phoenix Clan's patriarch Feng Jiutian immediately seconded: "The Phoenix Clan seconds! Sect Master Tang bears the purification origin, his cultivation is the finest of this era, and his heart holds all living beings under the heavens. The Alliance Leader position belongs to none but him!"
As the host, Qingxu Temple, Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng stood and cupped his hands toward representatives from all parties: "We thank you for your high regard. However, the position of Alliance Leader carries heavy responsibility and concerns the survival of three realms..."
"Elder Mu need not be overly modest." The abbot of Jingangmen spoke with a deep voice. "Had it not been for Sect Master Tang, this old monk and his disciples would have long since transformed into demons. The Jingangmen is willing to follow Sect Master Tang's commands!"
"The Xuanji Holy Lands seconds."
"Ten Thousand Demon Valley seconds."
"The Northern Sea's Xuanming Palace seconds."
"The Penglai Immortal Sect seconds."
Representatives from major forces that held decisive influence in the cultivation world expressed their support one after another, and the voices of agreement surged like a tide. Even the few sects that had held grudges with Xiao Qi remained silent in the face of this overwhelming momentum.
Xiao Qi slowly stood, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall. His voice was not loud, yet clearly entered every person's ears: "Trusting me with such honor, Tang is undeserving. Yet the demonic entity is not extinguished, and its origin still lurks in the shadows, watching covetously. For the sake of all living beings, for the sake of the three realms' future, Tang is willing to shoulder this heavy responsibility."
He paused, then continued: "However, the position of Alliance Leader is not for power, but for responsibility. I, Tang, hereby make this oath: I will act impartially and uphold righteousness, viewing all living beings of the human race, demon race, and sea race as one, all under my protection. If I harbor selfishness, may heaven and earth together destroy me!"
"Alliance Leader ten thousand years!"
Some unknown person was the first to shout, and immediately the entire hall erupted with mountain-and-sea-like cheering. At this moment, the barriers between races seemed to all vanish, leaving only heartfelt reverence for this powerful person who had saved the world.
Next was the tedious process of drafting the covenant. Under Xiao Qi's presiding, representatives from all sects engaged in three days of intense discussion, finally establishing the basic framework of the Three Realms Alliance Covenant:
Article 1: Establish the Three Realms Sky-Patrolling Alliance Leader as the alliance's supreme leader, with a term of three hundred years and eligibility for reappointment;
Article 2: Establish an Elder Council, composed of representatives elected by each race; major decisions require consultation with the Elder Council;
Article 3: Establish a Joint Law Enforcement Team, responsible for maintaining order within the three realms;
Article 4: Share partial cultivation resources and techniques, promoting exchange among the three realms;
Article 5: Establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism, jointly guarding against the demonic entity's return.
These clauses seemed simple, yet they broke the three realms' pattern of independent governance of ten thousand years. Particularly the resource sharing clause created an unprecedented historical precedent.
At the covenant signing ceremony, Xiao Qi held a specially forged Alliance Leader Token, a jade plaque engraved with the mountains and rivers of the three realms, and formally accepted the title of Three Realms Sky-Patrolling Alliance Leader. At the instant he accepted the token, auspicious signs faintly appeared in heaven and earth, as if even the heavenly Dao recognized the legitimacy of this newborn alliance.
Immediately after the ceremony ended, Xiao Qi convened the first Alliance Leader meeting. His first decision shocked everyone.
"Effective immediately, open the first three volumes of the Scripture of World Purification from Qingxu Temple. Any alliance member may come to study them."
This declaration caused the entire hall to gasp. The Scripture of World Purification condensed the essence of Xiao Qi's lifetime of learning and was the key to countering demonic energy. Its value was inestimable. Yet he was willing to make it public, such breadth of spirit made everyone bow in admiration.
"The Alliance Leader is highly righteous!" Everyone praised from their hearts.
Yet Xiao Qi said: "With the Demon Calamity before us, if we still cling to sectarian biases, it is no different from seeking our own destruction. Only by pooling the strength of the three realms can we respond to the future crisis."
His second decision was to establish the Three Realms Reconstruction Department, with Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng as its Chief, to coordinate reconstruction work in various regions. This decision also received widespread support, as Qingxu Temple's capabilities in resource allocation were evident to all.
His third decision was even more earth-shattering: "Effective immediately, make the Spirit Demon Engine technology public to the entire alliance. All sects may send disciples to come and learn, jointly perfecting this technology."
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng immediately jumped up from his seat: "Sect Master! This is something we worked so hard to..."
Xiao Qi raised his hand to stop him: "The demonic energy pollution is a shared problem of the three realms. This technology should logically be shared. Moreover, gathering many wits will make this technology more perfect."
This series of decisions completely solidified Xiao Qi's prestige within the alliance. Those forces that initially harbored ulterior motives now truly submitted their hearts. This new Alliance Leader was not only powerful but also possessed the breadth to accommodate others, indeed the most suitable person to lead the three realms.
As night fell, representatives from all parties departed one after another. Mu Qingfeng came to Xiao Qi's side and said quietly: "Sect Master, your actions today may provoke dissatisfaction among conservative factions."
Xiao Qi gazed at the distant starry sky and spoke softly: "In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary actions. If we cling to old ways, when the next Demon Calamity comes, it will be the day the three realms perish."
He knew that the position of Alliance Leader seemed glorious, but was actually walking on thin ice. Not only did he need to balance the forces of various parties but also confront the demonic entity in the shadows. Yet since he had chosen this path, he would unwaveringly follow it to the end.
That night, Qingxu Temple's lights burned all through the night. The establishment of the Three Realms Alliance marked the opening of a new era. And standing at the forefront of this era's wave was the youth who had walked out from Xu Lan Manor.
But no one knew that, while everyone was immersed in the joy of the alliance's establishment, within Xiao Qi's sea of consciousness, the demonic entity's whisper sounded once more:
"Excellent... the higher one stands, the harder one falls. I await the day you plummet from the clouds..."