ALL NOVEL Chapter 52: Join the Heavenly Seal Sect?
Wan Wuying regarded Chu Xuan with great interest, seeing him as a piece of uncut jade. Such promising young disciples were rare these days. After the destruction of the Infinite Sect, it was likely that all the promising immortal cultivators in the Yu Kingdom were under the control of the five orthodox sects.
Chu Xuan, with his potential, could very well advance to the Golden Core in the future. Such a disciple should be kept close and nurtured carefully.
Wan Wuying smiled warmly, "Chu Xuan, would you like to take me as your master?"
Chu Xuan immediately performed the ritual to acknowledge a master, respectfully saying, "Elder Ancestor above, accept your disciple's bow."
Wan Wuying laughed heartily, "Very good, very good! Having a disciple like you brings great comfort to my heart!"
Xu Ming, Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and Bai Feng all watched this scene with envy. This was a Golden Core elder, a figure as elusive as a dragon, rarely seen by anyone.
Yet now, he personally offered to take Chu Xuan as his disciple because of his talents and strength. In the past, Chu Xuan was merely a minor cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining—such treatment was unheard of!
Li Xuanming watched this and felt a mix of emotions. Chu Xuan's exceptional talents and strength clearly surpassed his own in Wan Wuying's eyes, which was why he offered to take him as a disciple first. His own position might be threatened in the future. He recalled how he used to call Chu Xuan 'junior brother' and arrogantly assigned him tasks like standing guard. Little did he know, Chu Xuan's abilities were now on par with his own. He had been too proud and had underestimated Chu Xuan.
Wan Wuying chuckled, "Xuanming, now that the Infinite Sect is down to just one Golden Core cultivator, would you like to take me as your master?"
Li Xuanming did not hesitate; he knelt on one knee and performed the ritual, "Disciple Li Xuanming, greets Master!"
Wan Wuying turned to Wu Teng.
Wu Teng understood immediately, "Disciple Wu Teng, greets Master!"
Wan Wuying nodded in satisfaction.
He then looked towards Chu Xuan. "Xuan'er, you have the best potential, but Xuanming, Wuteng, and Zhenxiong have more seniority than you. From now on, Li Xuanming is your eldest senior brother, Liu Zhenxiong will be your second senior brother, and Wu Teng will be your third senior brother."
Wan Wuying chuckled, "Now, come and greet your three senior brothers."
"Yes."
Chu Xuan paid his respects to the three men in turn. With this, he was truly inducted under the banner of Wan Wuying, alongside his three senior brothers, led by Li Xuanming.
Chu Xuan had no intention of positioning himself above Li Xuanming as the eldest senior brother. He had long known that Li Xuanming desired this role. Besides, his own experience was relatively limited compared to that of Li Xuanming and the others, and he lacked the authority that the role of eldest senior brother would require. Forcing the issue would only lead to unnecessary complications.
Liu Zhenxiong asked, "Master, what are your plans now?"
Wan Wuying didn't answer immediately; instead, he smiled and countered, "The five orthodox sects, which are they?"
This was a question every cultivator in Yu Kingdom knew.
Liu Zhenxiong immediately responded, "Divine Star Sect, Golden Dragon Temple, Mystical Sound Palace, Imperial Spirit Mountain, and Heavenly Seal Sect."
Wan Wuying then asked, "Who now controls the three states originally belonging to our Infinite Sect?"
Liu Zhenxiong was taken aback, not knowing the answer to this.
Li Xuanming spoke solemnly, "I know. Divine Star Sect has swallowed Tong Province, and Jiang Province has been split between Golden Dragon Temple and Mystical Sound Palace. The northern third of Wu Province, a populous and fertile land, went to Imperial Spirit Mountain. The southern two-thirds of Wu Province, a wilderness, was taken by the Heavenly Seal Sect."
Wan Wuying smiled slightly, "The southern part of Wu Province, a sweltering jungle teeming with snakes, insects, rats, and ghosts, was of no interest to the other four sects and was simply handed over to Heavenly Seal Sect. What do you think is the attitude of Heavenly Seal Sect now?"
The three disciples looked enlightened. The five orthodox sects had all contributed to the attack on Infinite Sect, but the division of the spoils was clearly uneven. Divine Star Sect, being the strongest, took the lion's share. Golden Dragon Temple, the second in strength, only received half a state. Heavenly Seal Sect fared the worst with the wild lands of southern Wu Province.
Heavenly Seal Sect must be harboring resentment.
Chu Xuan had already guessed Wan Wuying's target.
Wan Wuying squinted his eyes and smiled, "Exactly, Heavenly Seal Sect! During the great battle against our Infinite Sect, two of Heavenly Seal Sect's Golden Core cultivators fell. Now they must also develop the wild lands of southern Wu Province, which requires more manpower. Joining Heavenly Seal Sect now is an excellent choice."
Wu Teng expressed concern, "But Master, we are demonic cultivators, will Heavenly Seal Sect accept us?"
Wan Wuying chuckled, "There will be those who oppose recruiting us. But what of that? Do they not want the techniques and spells of the Infinite Sect? A Golden Core cultivator, four Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, and these Qi Refining stage cultivators, don't they want them?"
Li Xuanming and the others nodded in agreement. The benefits were too apparent to be simply looked over. Moreover, other sects had also accepted surrendered cultivators from the Infinite Sect.
Golden Core cultivators are the result of years of arduous cultivation, and to produce another would take four to five hundred years. Thus, when such cultivators willingly offered their allegiance, enhancing a sect's strength at no additional cost, it was an opportunity not to be missed.
One day later, under the leadership of Wan Wuying, the group headed straight for the nearest Heavenly Seal Sect branch.
...
The main base of the Heavenly Seal Sect is located in Jin Province in the western part of Wu Province. Only after the fall of the Infinite Sect did the Heavenly Seal Sect dare to expand eastward and swallow up Wu Province.
Despite the region being rife with evil spirits, ghosts, an abundance of snakes, insects, rats, and ants, and some local minor sects banding together to create obstacles, the expansion process was incredibly difficult.
However, over the years, the Heavenly Seal Sect managed to establish two branches in Wu Province. The one Wan Wuying and his group arrived at was one of these, known as "Flying Mountain Hall."
Flying Mountain Hall was nestled among green mountains and clear waters, with lush cypresses and bamboo growing around it, presenting an elegant appearance at first glance. In reality, only this spot was considered serene. The surrounding area was infested with poisonous creatures and evil spirits. Without the efforts of the Heavenly Seal Sect's cultivators to clear the way, no mortal would dare establish a branch in such a place.
From a high vantage point, there didn't seem to be many cultivators inside Flying Mountain Hall, mostly Qi Refining stage cultivators. The Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were almost all immersed in their cultivation practices.
The arrival of Wan Wuying immediately shook all the monks present.
"Who is in charge here? Bring him out," Wan Wuying demanded, looking around calmly.
Moments later, a middle-aged cultivator hurried forward. "Senior, you are..."
He immediately felt an immense pressure emanating from Wan Wuying, guessing at a glance that this might be a Golden Core cultivator. He dared not delay and bowed respectfully, addressing him as "senior."
"I am Wan Wuying, a Golden Core cultivator," declared Wan Wuying. "Tell the elders of the Heavenly Seal Sect that I wish to lead my Extreme Yin Cave lineage to join the Heavenly Seal Sect."
With a grand wave of his hand, Wan Wuying spoke calmly.
The middle-aged cultivator was momentarily stunned. Wan Wuying? The name sounded familiar. Wait... wasn't Wan Wuying the Golden Core cultivator from the Infinite Sect who was reportedly slain by a coalition of the Divine Star Sect and the Golden Dragon Temple some time ago? Could this be the same Wan Wuying, a Golden Core demonic cultivator from the Infinite Sect?
The middle-aged cultivator's eyes widened in shock.