Compared to those geniuses on the field who were born in the Inner Ring of Star Ruins Realm,

he was, in the truest sense, someone who had clawed his way up from the very bottom.

In his view, though Xuanxing was small, if it could be given sufficient resources, naturally it could also produce quite a few genius powerhouses.

Even if these so‑called genius powerhouses would find it hard to, like true peerless geniuses, step into the Tenth Realm with ease.

As long as they could step into the Ninth Realm, they wouldn’t have been, back then, tossed around by a few so‑called Lower Gods until their civilization nearly perished.

In the span of a few breaths, Jiang Shu’s thoughts were crystal clear in his mind.

Ever since he began his Cultivation, he no longer knew how long it had been since he last returned to Xuanxing.

Once the matters of Cang Mang Domain and Star Ruins Realm are settled.

With his current status, he would be fully able to move Xuanxing’s Star Gate into the Inner Ring of Star Ruins Realm.

In this way, in the future, as long as the geniuses from Xuanxing performed brilliantly enough, they would all have hope of stepping into higher Realms.

Within a breath, Jiang Shu took a step forward.

As cups clinked and toasts under various pretexts came one after another.

An Ancient Times war general, battle‑scarred and white‑haired, lifted his cup of Netherworld Brew, his gaze blazing as he looked at Jiang Shu and said, "Elder Jiang’s talent shakes the heavens; even if you do not become a Saint in the future, you can still become the Strongest among the Venerables."

"Why not simply remain in the War Alliance and take the reins of true authority?"

Although Jiang Shu had already expressed his stance many times.

Within the War Alliance, there were still some powerhouses who wanted to completely draw Jiang Shu into the War Alliance.

In their eyes, only when Jiang Shu truly joined the War Alliance would they be considered truly standing on the same front.

Though over these tens of thousands of years, the War Alliance had always been one of the Strongest forces within Star Ruins Realm.

But to powerhouses like them who had lived for tens of thousands of years, they had seen too many rises and falls.

If a faction wanted to be eternal.

Aside from having Saints and Venerables, an endless stream of geniuses was also especially important.

The meaning in this old general’s words was extremely blunt, attempting to directly pull Jiang Shu into the core decision‑making level of the War Alliance.

Another Core Elder in charge of the War Alliance’s resource allocation spoke with an even warmer and more tempting tone.

"How profound is the Space Law— even a Venerable has only roughly grasped and comprehended it. The difference between Venerables is greater than the difference between a Venerable and someone in the Tenth Realm."

"Geniuses from ordinary forces, even if they are lucky enough to break through and become Venerables, their strength thereafter progresses extremely slowly."

"But in my War Alliance there is a core Secret Realm called the Void Source Sea, which is in fact the ruins of a great faction. It is filled with all kinds of Space Laws; its value for comprehension may not compare to the depths of the Deep Space Sea, but it wins in safety and in allowing long‑term seclusion. If Elder is willing to reside here long‑term, this Secret Realm will be opened to you with priority!"

Similar words, some blunt and some subtle, were conveyed to him from different channels.

The War Alliance’s ambition and eagerness for talent were plain to see.

Facing these invitations and promises of extremely heavy weight, Jiang Shu always wore a faint, courteous smile.

He raised his cup in response, his words gentle yet watertight.

"I thank all you seniors for your great favor; it truly makes this junior feel unworthy. The bond between Uncle Zhan and the War Alliance, Jiang Shu will always keep in mind."

"However, my foundation lies in the Jiuyu Commerce Alliance, and the elders in the Business Association have also bestowed kindness upon this junior as heavy as a mountain."

"Now that the Doomsday Sect is stirring restlessly, Jiang only wishes to improve my Cultivation, to contribute a meager effort in the great calamity that is soon to come."

"Being able to serve as an Outer Elder of the War Alliance is already a favor as vast as the sky; I dare not covet more."

He refused tactfully, yet his stance was unmistakably firm.

He brought up Luo Venerable and the ties with the Jiuyu Commerce Alliance as a buffer, and between the lines he emphasized that our primary task now is to raise our Cultivation and oppose the Doomsday Sect, blocking all those further promises of substantial power.

His words revealed satisfaction with his current position and a valuing of personal ties, leaving others unable to press him, nor to find any major fault.

"Ai, then it’s as you wish. In any case, the doors of the War Alliance will always be open to you."

Zhan Jiuxiao, seated at the head, took all this in without speaking. Only a trace of hard‑to‑detect disappointment flashed through the depths of his eyes, then was replaced by satisfaction and even deeper deliberation.

He understood very well in his heart that with Jiang Shu’s current standing and potential, forcing him into shackles would only backfire.

Maintaining this close connection and letting him wear the honorary title of the War Alliance was already the best strategy for now.

The banquet lasted until the stars shifted in the sky, then finally drew to a close amid lingering music and exotic fragrances.

Before this banquet, Jiang Shu had only been an outer Disciple of the War Alliance, but now that he had become an Outer Elder, his place of residence naturally had to be changed.

Jiang Shu followed Zi Ling to the guest hall prepared for him, located on the fringe of the core region, with its own independent space and extremely spacious.

The furnishings within the hall were lavish to the extreme; the floor was paved with warm Star Marrow Stone, Dao Rhyme flowed along the walls like water, and the Cultivation chamber within even drew upon a small Primordial Qi spring of the War Alliance, with Spiritual Energy so dense it was almost liquid.

He did not rest, but sat quietly regulating his breath, sorting through today’s gains and the undercurrents hidden beneath them.

That Star Token lay by his hand, heavy and solid.

Before long, Zhan Feng’s figure appeared outside the hall; he pushed the door open in his usual straightforward manner, still carrying a trace of the crisp scent of Netherworld Brew.

"Brother!"

He came over and sat cross‑legged beside Jiang Shu, a sincere smile on his face, without the slightest hint of the distance that might have been born from the attitudes of others at the banquet.

"It really comes down to your mental state— seeing you unmoving as a mountain during the banquet, tsk tsk, even I was tempted by the conditions those old fellows offered."

"It’s all Uncle Zhan and the War Alliance’s generous favor."

Jiang Shu smiled and poured him a cup of Spiritual Tea.