After a moment of thought, Dong Taining added,

"Once the Wind Ling Sect is eliminated, it will be much easier for your Celestial Demon Sect to receive our aid. With the Wind Ling Sect out of the way, we will fully support you in annihilating the Celestial Cloud Sect."

The Spirit Destruction Hall Master nodded lightly. "Tell me about the other benefits. Even if we help you and you manage to annihilate the Wind Ling Sect, you won’t be able to help us annihilate the Celestial Cloud Sect anytime soon."

Dong Taining was speaking of future gains, but the Spirit Destruction Hall Master wanted to hear about more immediate and tangible benefits.

Even if the Dragon Demon Palace truly intended to support the Celestial Demon Sect in the future, such promises were intangible and unreliable.

"After we annihilate the Wind Ling Sect and occupy their Earth Realm, we can cede a portion of our Dragon Demon Palace’s original Earth Realm to you—the part that borders your sect’s territory." Dong Taining began by stating the most substantial, tangible benefit.

"How large a portion?" the Spirit Destruction Hall Master asked directly.

"Around ten percent."

"Only ten percent!"

"Hall Master Xue, ten percent is a great deal. Our Dragon Demon Palace’s original Earth Realm is not the same as the Wind Ling Sect’s."

Dong Taining refused to believe the Spirit Destruction Hall Master was unaware of the difference between a Spirit Refiner’s Earth Realm and their own.

The Earth Realms of Spirit Refiners have very few Demon Veins.

Typically, Demon Veins only exist in places where Demon Beasts dwell.

After truly annihilating the Wind Ling Sect, for the Dragon Demon Palace to make full use of the Spirit Veins in the Wind Ling Sect’s Earth Realm, they would need to spend a great deal of time and effort cultivating Demon Veins.

The transformation would only be considered complete when the Demon Qi produced by the Demon Veins overwhelmed the Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Veins.

In contrast, a piece of the Dragon Demon Palace’s Earth Realm given directly to the Celestial Demon Sect would be ready for immediate use.

"Hall Master Xue, if the Celestial Demon Sect isn’t afraid of the hassle, you could ask for a piece of the Wind Ling Sect’s Earth Realm instead. These things are all negotiable."

"We’ll pass on the Wind Ling Sect’s Earth Realm." The Spirit Destruction Hall Master shook his head.

Taking the Wind Ling Sect’s Earth Realm would be more than a little troublesome. Setting aside the transformation process, even if they succeeded, the territory would be separated from their own by the Dragon Demon Palace, which would be a constant source of problems.

"Ten percent is too little. What is the most you can offer?"

"That... is not for me to decide." Since he was the one asking for aid, Dong Taining’s words remained polite. "However, Hall Master Xue, I know this much: the more you ask for, the greater the support you will be expected to provide. Let’s leave the specific details for the higher-ups to decide."

Dong Taining hadn’t come to the Celestial Demon Sect to finalize the entire deal, but rather to get a decision from them.

Would they or would they not support the Dragon Demon Palace?

If they agreed to help, then further negotiations could proceed.

For matters of this magnitude, Core Formation experts would have to be the ones to take charge.

Aside from the enormous benefit of ceding territory, any other offered benefits were just minor additions.

After understanding the full picture, the Spirit Destruction Hall Master said to Dong Taining,

"Fellow Daoist Dong, please wait here while I go to see our Supreme Elder. I will come to inform you the moment I have news."

"Then I must trouble you, Hall Master Xue."

"Mm."

With that said, the Spirit Destruction Hall Master departed.

He was going to find their Supreme Elder, Lu Yaoling.

Lu Yaoling, already at the peak of the mid-stage Core Formation Realm, had attempted to break through to the late stage ten years ago. However, the attempt had ended in failure.

Unlike breaking through to a new major Realm, attempts to advance within a minor Realm were generally not life-threatening.

However, failure in such an attempt could still potentially damage one’s foundation.

Lu Yaoling, having failed his attempt to reach the late-stage Core Formation Realm, was in relatively good condition. His strength had not regressed, but he would likely need to recuperate for twenty or thirty years before he could attempt the breakthrough again.

"Supreme Elder, I have important news."

The Spirit Destruction Hall Master now stood before Lu Yaoling.

"Speak."

"Yes!"

After acknowledging, the Spirit Destruction Hall Master gave Lu Yaoling a concise summary of his entire discussion with the Elder from the Dragon Demon Palace.

His summary contained only the most essential points.

After listening, one point became very clear to Lu Yaoling.

"It seems the Dragon Demon Palace’s determination to annihilate the Wind Ling Sect is immense this time. They’re even willing to cede a portion of their own Earth Realm to us."

This alone revealed the Dragon Demon Palace’s determination. It was a rare occurrence for Core Formation Sects to cede a part of their own territory as part of an alliance.

Typically, when one sect requested aid, the compensation offered was in the form of resources, not land.

"Supreme Elder, your intention is...?"

"If the Dragon Demon Palace is willing to cede their Earth Realm to us, then this is worth a serious discussion."

"Understood."

"You may go."

"Yes!"

After the Spirit Destruction Hall Master left, Lu Yaoling began to think about the Celestial Cloud Sect.

If they were to aid the Dragon Demon Palace, based on his judgment, the Celestial Cloud Sect would very likely take action.

In that case, they would need the Demon Spirit Sect to help distract the Celestial Cloud Sect.

After he spoke with the Core Formation expert from the Dragon Demon Palace, he would probably need to have a serious talk with the Demon Spirit Sect’s Supreme Elder.

...

「Celestial Cloud Sect, Cloud Summit.」

Inside a cave abode provided for disciples to attempt their breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The aura of a disciple attempting a breakthrough shifted, signifying his advancement from the peak of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer to the early Foundation Establishment Stage.

His name was Wu Ruiyang. He was the disciple who, after reaching the peak of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, had gone to the Dan Cloud Pavilion on Dan Cloud Peak to buy a Lower Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, only to be told that none were in stock and that only Middle Grade Foundation Establishment Pills were being sold.

Five years ago, through his own hard work, he had exchanged his points for a Middle Grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

As a cultivator with Three Spirit Roots, and with the help of a Middle Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he should have had a high chance of succeeding. But his breakthrough failed.

Fortunately, thanks to the help of the Middle Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he suffered no injuries. In fact, his Cultivation even progressed, and he became a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Today, five years later, without a Foundation Establishment Pill and without the Spirit Stone Contribution Points to buy one, he was attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage again from his Half-Step Foundation Establishment Realm.

Although his chances this time were considerably lower than the first, he succeeded.

’I’ve finally reached the Foundation Establishment Stage!’

Wu Ruiyang was ecstatic!

He was already fifty-nine this year. Waiting another year would have made the breakthrough even more difficult.

This was both his second and his last chance to attempt the breakthrough. Fortunately, he had succeeded and would now become a sect Elder.

As Wu Ruiyang left the breakthrough chamber, the smile never left his face.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, Elder Wu!"

The Steward’s form of address for Wu Ruiyang had already changed, reflecting his new status.

Wu Ruiyang smiled and nodded lightly just as the Steward said,

"Elder Wu, you need to wait here for a moment."

"Why?" Wu Ruiyang asked, confused.

"The Sect Leader wishes to see you," the Steward replied.

’The Sect Leader wants to see me?’

Wu Ruiyang pointed to himself, completely bewildered.

He didn’t understand why the Sect Leader would want to see him. He’d never even met the Sect Leader, and their paths had never crossed.

As Wu Ruiyang pointed to himself, a streak of spiritual light flew from the Steward’s hand.

"Why?" Wu Ruiyang pressed, seeing that the Steward clearly knew something.

’Meeting the Sect Leader is a good thing,’ Wu Ruiyang thought, ’but I need to find out why he wants to see me so I can be better prepared.’

"It seems you aren’t aware, Elder Wu. You are the one-hundredth Elder of our Celestial Cloud Sect. This is a very significant occasion."

"So that’s why!"

Wu Ruiyang nodded in understanding. He felt incredibly fortunate to have become the sect’s one-hundredth Elder.

The Steward then added another explanation.

"Since the founding of the Celestial Cloud Sect, the number of active Elders has never reached triple digits before."

"My successful breakthrough is also thanks to Elder Fang," Wu Ruiyang said sincerely.

Without Fang Yun, he would never have been able to purchase the Middle Grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

Even though the Middle Grade Foundation Establishment Pill didn’t lead to his success on the first try, it allowed him to reach the Half-Step Foundation Establishment level and gain the experience of a failed attempt.

If he had used a Lower Grade Foundation Establishment Pill and failed, it was doubtful he would have even reached the Half-Step Foundation Establishment Realm.