"Disciple greets the master."

    The three celestial dignitaries of the Heavenly Master's Mansion gathered together. Upon seeing Zhang Tianlin, they all bowed and saluted. Both of them maintained a normal expression, but only Zhang Huanzhi seemed out of place in every gesture and movement he made.

    Zhang Tianlin looked at Zhang Huanzhi for a moment before turning to the remaining two people and asked, "Why did I call you three of you here this time?"

    After exchanging a glance, they answered without hesitation, "Master, isn't it for the Grand Martial Arts Competition of the Heavenly Star?"

    The Grand Martial Arts Competition of the Heavenly Master is a grand event at the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

    It is the inheritance of the position of a Heavenly Master.

    Zhang Daocheng, who succeeded the position of a Heavenly Master, has been in power for over a thousand years. During this period, everything in the Heavenly Master's Mansion has been in accordance with the rules and there have been no major events.

    Now, a millennium has passed, and although Zhang Daocheng appears vigorous, he has reached old age. It is time to step down and pass the heritage of the Heavenly Master position to the younger generation.

    This is the rule of the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

    In the Heavenly Master's Mansion, any young generation has the right to compete for the position of a Heavenly Master. However, there are countless high-level masters in the Heavenly Master's Mansion. Among the young generation, only the three people in front of Zhang Tianlin have this strength to compete for it.

    Now, with the Grand Martial Arts Competition approaching, the three of them are all preparing for this major event. The only reason they can think of for Zhang Tianlin summoning them is the Grand Martial Arts Competition.

    Zhang Tianlin gently shook his head and said, "Although the Grand Martial Arts Competition is getting closer, it's still some time away. My reason for summoning you three is for something else."

    After speaking, all three of them looked puzzled, especially Zhang Huanzhi, who stared at Zhang Tianlin with a deep and profound expression.

    Zhang Tianlin did not beat around the bush. He cut to the chase and said directly, "There is something I need to inform you of... Some time ago, I divined a hexagram and found that the boundary that has protected the Jiuzhou Continent for ten thousand years is beginning to loosen. Many alien tribes have already infiltrated into our Jiuzhou Continent, causing significant losses..."

    After speaking, the faces of the three people were all shocked.

    Zhang Lingzhi, the oldest among them, raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Master's meaning is that he wants me and the other two to go and expel those alien tribes that have invaded?"

    Zhang Tianlin shook his head gently, his expression serious, "For ten thousand years, our Heavenly Master's Mansion has guarded the Jiuzhou Continent. The loosening of the boundary is not an accident; it may be a sign, a sign that the boundary will be completely broken. Calling you all here today is to prepare for the future when the Jiuzhou Continent will suffer from an alien invasion."

    "Master's meaning is..."

    "A thousand years ago, our race was invincible and unstoppable. Do you know the reason?"

    After Zhang Tianlin spoke, his gaze swept over the three, and they all shook their heads.

    Zhang Tianlin explained, "That was ten thousand years ago. Our ancestors obtained the seven treasures of the earth during that time, which is why they were invincible."

    "Later, the ancestors of our race perished, and these seven treasures fell into an alien realm. Recently, I sensed that this alien realm is about to open..."

    "There will definitely be many high-level masters in the Jiuzhou Continent who will go to the alien realm to compete for these seven treasures. I want you all to go... This is a test for you."

    Zhang Tianlin's words made the three of them look serious.

    Challenge, meaning that going to the alien realm to compete for the treasures is related to their performance in the Grand Martial Arts Competition.

    Thinking of this, the three of them chorused, bowing their hands respectfully, "We will comply with your orders."

    ……

    The Central State is the greatest among the Jiuzhou Continent, with its territory so vast that none of the other eight states can be compared to it.

    Moreover, among the experts in the Central State, there are countless talented people. Any small sect there is capable of dominating eight states.

    Of course, Yuexiu State is the exception.

    Because in the eight states, Yuexiu is the only place that has produced a first-tier master.

    Moreover, this first-tier master is not an ordinary first-tier master. Even among the high-level masters in the Central State, he is also an elite existence.

    The factions in the Central State are complex, with thousands or even tens of thousands of large and small sects. However, those that can reach the pinnacle are only fifteen in number.

    They are respectively known as one mansion, two academies, three pavilions, four sects, and five mountains' gates.

    The "one mansion" refers to the Heavenly Master's Mansion, which has been in existence since the beginning of Jiuzhou Chronicles and is said to be a place where it teaches people about martial arts.

    In the Central State, all martial arts experts regard the Heavenly Master's Mansion as the supreme, and during these ten thousand years, it has suppressed the entire Central State, as well as the entire Jiuzhou Continent, so much so that no one dares to look up.

    The "two academies" refer to the Xuan Yin Academy and the Fei Yun Academy.

    The Xuan Yin Academy is the domain of scholars, while the Fei Yun Academy is the domain of martial artists under the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

    The Xuan Yin Academy is said to have been founded by the Sage Xu Changqing, so this saint's presence ensures that even if the Heavenly Master's Mansion has a lofty status in the Central State, this sage's influence endures as long as he remains, and even the Master of Heaven himself would need to show some respect.

    As for the Fei Yun Academy, it is associated with the word "mysterious." Like the Xuan Yin Academy, the Fei Yun Academy does not interfere in the struggles of the Central State. It remains quiet and more like a small invisible entity.

    Years ago, there was some friction between the Heavenly Master's Mansion and the Fei Yun Academy. Eventually, it even caused the intervention of the high-ranking Heavenly Master, who descended from the mountain.

    This figure of such fright in the Central State must have descended with bloodstains on his sleeves.

    However, when faced with the Fei Yun Academy's president, he was stopped.

    The two fought for three days and three nights, and in the end, they did not win or lose.

    Although the Fei Yun Academy's president admitted later that he was not the Heavenly Master's opponent, this event also made the Fei Yun Academy famous and put it among the top forces in the Central State.

    The "three pavilions" refer to the Tianji Pavilion, Danxin Pavilion, and Xingxiu Pavilion.

    The Tianji Pavilion has always been low-key, much like the Xuan Yin Academy. It is a power that was established in the Central State for only a few hundred years, but it has dominated many other forces.

    However, because of its expertise in predicting the flow of destiny, it has helped many powers overcome difficulties, and thus it has a significant following. In the Central State, it commands a large following and has many helpers.

    The Danxin Pavilion is the paradise of alchemists, and within its ranks are all strong masters who have entered the realm of alchemy. No one has ever seen them strike a blow, but the spiritual pills they forge are highly sought after by many strong masters in the Central State. Just like the Tianji Pavilion, it also has many followers.

    The Xingxiu Pavilion is a group of wizards who are adept at using the power of celestial omens. It is said that they moved from the Miao State.

    The "four sects" refer to the Qicai Sect, Wulei Sect, Baili Sect, and Qianzhen Sect.

    The "five mountains' gates" refer to the Shuiyue Gate, Jinding Gate, Biyun Gate, Zhenwu Mountain, and Duandong Long Mountain.

    The fifteen sects occupy their respective territories, and the other forces that are not part of these fifteen sects can only bow down and surrender.

    There are only some minor forces that dare to shout a few times after leaving the Central State.

    For example, there are the Zhēnhuǒ Tang, Qiān Rèn Zōng, Fēng Léi Yuàn, and Hánfēng Gǔ.

    On that day, the Tianji Pavilion and the Xuan Yin Academy jointly requested to save the Tianmu Temple. However, these four leading forces showed no respect at all.

    The Xuan Yin Academy is filled with scholars, and they are not willing to bother with these minor forces. However, the Tianji Pavilion is different. After the four powers retreated back to the Central State, the president of the Tianji Pavilion personally intervened, and in one night, they were erased from the Central State's map.

    In one night, the Central State was shaken to its core. The heads of small sects that had previously supported the four major powers, went to the Tianji Pavilion to plead for mercy and atonement. Only then did they narrowly escape with their lives.

    "Although the Tianji Pavilion has always been very low-key, it has incurred the discontent of many small sects. However, since that incident, no one has dared to take on the Tianji Pavilion again..."

    In a certain inn in the Central State, a waiter was excitedly telling stories about what he had heard.

    In front of the waiter was a customer, who were Chen Mo and Zhao Hu, two men who had come from the Yuexiu State...