"Indeed, we cannot just sit and wait for death," Qiu Yuanfeng murmured.
He had poured so much effort into the Formation Heaven Alliance, and he wouldn't let it crumble at the most crucial moment.
Qiu Yuanfeng suddenly stood up. "Tianying, go inform the several vice-alliance leaders and have them all come over."
"Alright!"
Watching Qiu Tianying's hurried departure, the ferocity in Qiu Yuanfeng's eyes was no longer concealed.
He had countless enemies accumulated over the years. If anyone dared to cause trouble at the exchange convention, he would ensure that person would never return.
No outsider knew what Qiu Yuanfeng and the vice-alliance leaders discussed that night.
All they knew was that from that night on, the venue for the exchange convention was brightly lit day and night, with highly respected vice-alliance leaders occasionally making appearances.
As the atmosphere within the Formation Heaven Alliance grew more tense with each passing day, the date for the Formation Cultivator Exchange Convention finally drew near.
At first light, Xu Yi had just emerged from meditation when she heard urgent footsteps and excited chatter outside her door.
"It's finally starting, my backside is about to smoke from waiting."
"Brother Li, please watch your words. At the exchange convention, do not speak so crudely, lest you offend senior experts."
"Brother Chen, it's been a long time. I never expected to meet you here."
"Hahaha, the exchange convention, here I come!"
"..."
Xu Yi's gaze was complex. The formation cultivators outside likely represented the attitude of most formation cultivators on the Kyushu Continent towards the Formation Heaven Alliance.
Not opposed, or rather, accustomed to it.
They were used to the Formation Heaven Alliance's ways, their subtle exploitation, and even obediently followed the alliance's demands.
Her interference to disrupt the exchange convention might be seen by them as incomprehensible, heinous, and a violation of public morality.
As the critical moment approached, Xu Yi actually felt a flicker of hesitation.
Fortunately, at that moment, a sudden sigh drifted in from outside the door.
The sigh, filled with helplessness and indignation, flashed through Xu Yi's mind like lightning, causing her bewilderment to dissipate instantly.
The Formation Heaven Alliance had become a dictatorial domain for the Qiu family. With it in power, the development of the formation path would only become increasingly distorted.
Whether for past grievances or for the long-term prosperity of the formation path on the Kyushu Continent, the Formation Heaven Alliance needed a thorough cleansing.
Xu Yi's eyes shone brightly, and she no longer hesitated, pushing open the door.
Zhang Tao, who had been itching to go and full of readiness, quickly opened the door as soon as he heard movement from Xu Yi's room, not daring to delay for a moment.
"Senior Su, how have you been resting these past few days? Has everything been satisfactory?"
Zhang Tao's face was beaming with fawning.
"Passable," Xu Yi replied. "We should depart."
"Yes, yes!"
Zhang Tao nodded repeatedly, his excitement almost causing him to stumble over the threshold as he exited.
His clumsy act was too much for Gongyang Hao to bear.
Seeing Zhang Tao about to walk out with Xu Yi, Gongyang Hao, with courage he didn't know he possessed, suddenly called out to them.
"Wait a moment."
Xu Yi turned her head, her eyes inquiring the reason.
Gongyang Hao hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Senior Su, I hope you will take good care of my friend."
Gongyang Hao didn't know what Xu Yi would do at the convention, but he sincerely hoped it wouldn't implicate the innocent Zhang Tao.
After all, if something happened to Zhang Tao, where would he find another friend like him who was willing to lend him spirit stones without complaint and indulge his pastimes?
Xu Yi was somewhat surprised.
After a moment, she nodded and said, "I will."
With that, she strode away.
Zhang Tao gratefully gave Gongyang Hao a meaningful glance, then immediately caught up with Xu Yi, his departing figure exuding a sense of joy.
Gongyang Hao sighed, wiping his face, and without hesitation returned to his room to pack his belongings, immediately fleeing Fei City.
He knew that a storm was coming.
Although the exchange convention was held in Fei City, its specific location was not within the city itself.
Given that over two thousand cultivators were participating, a separate area had to be established to accommodate everyone.
The Formation Heaven Alliance had found a desolate island in the sea and set up a teleportation array there.
Cultivators participating in the exchange convention could then be directly transported from Fei City to the designated desolate island via the teleportation array.
Xu Yi and Zhang Tao arrived relatively early, but a long queue had already formed at the teleportation array.
Zhang Tao looked expectantly at Xu Yi, ready to enjoy Senior Su's special privilege.
Unexpectedly, Xu Yi led him to obediently join the end of the line, much to his disappointment.
He then recalled Gongyang Hao's words from yesterday and consoled himself, thinking that Senior Su was participating in the exchange convention in disguise, so of course, she wouldn't reveal her identity.
He suppressed the unease in his heart through self-brainwashing.
Although the queue was long, the progress was swift, and it was their turn before long.
"Your formation cultivator identification plates?" the round-faced cultivator sitting before the teleportation array asked impatiently.
"Here, here."
Zhang Tao took the formation cultivator identification plate that Xu Yi produced and handed it to the round-faced cultivator along with his own.
"Level Four Formation Cultivator." The round-faced cultivator let out a meaningless scoff, then casually patted the box in front of him. "Three high-grade spirit stones per person."
Just as Xu Yi was about to take out spirit stones, she was drawn to a surprised exclamation beside her.
"Three high-grade spirit stones? Why is it so expensive? I don't have that many spirit stones?"
Xu Yi followed the sound and saw a boy with a youthful appearance in the queue next to her staring blankly at the box for spirit stones, looking utterly bewildered.
"No money? If you have no money, why come to the exchange convention? Go, go, go!"
The cultivator responsible for collecting money in that section of the queue was burly and fierce-faced. Upon hearing the boy's words, he immediately waved him away.
He was already regretting having acknowledged the boy's sect disciple status earlier.
Fire Talisman Sect?
He hadn't even heard of it.
He figured it must be a subordinate sect from some border town.
"Is that him?" Zhang Tao's eyes flickered, and he blurted out subconsciously.
Xu Yi asked, "Do you know him?"
Zhang Tao chuckled awkwardly. "No, no, I don't."
"Hmm?"
Under Xu Yi's scrutinizing gaze, Zhang Tao said guiltily, "Cough, the room where Gongyang Hao and I are currently staying was given up by this boy. Of course, we compensated him with spirit stones."
Xu Yi's eyes showed understanding. It was no wonder Zhang Tao heard the commotion as soon as she left her room.
It seemed this boy truly had no background, otherwise, Gongyang Hao and Zhang Tao wouldn't have been able to snatch his room.
The boy's face was flushed red, a mixture of shame and annoyance, yet he stubbornly stood his ground, refusing to leave.
Seeing this, the fierce-looking cultivator's eyes widened, and he stood up, ready to drive the boy away.
"I'll pay for him."
Xu Yi casually tossed three high-grade spirit stones into the box opposite. The cultivator, who had already stood up, let out a cold snort and sat back down.
He didn't care who paid, as long as someone paid.
After paying the spirit stones for the boy, Xu Yi took out six more high-grade spirit stones, paying for herself and Zhang Tao.
Zhang Tao's face was flushed with excitement.
Did Senior Su paying his entrance fee signify her approval of him?
He was determined to keep working hard.