Sect Development

After hearing Xuanyangzi's account of the situation, Gu Changge nodded slightly.

"Senior Brother is right to consider this. Sect disciples indeed need to experience the wind and rain of tempering. A greenhouse can only raise delicate flowers, not towering trees."

As he spoke, from the corner of his eye, he casually glanced toward the martial arts arena of Purple Bamboo Peak, thinking to himself: It really is time for those brats to go out and take a walk.

Bringing his thoughts back, Gu Changge thought of something and looked at Xuanyangzi. "The disturbances in the outside world are nothing but petty squabbles. A solid foundation for the sect is the true basis for our existence. How is the Cangyun Secret Realm operating nowadays?"

Hearing this, Xuanyangzi immediately perked up. His back involuntarily straightened a bit, a smile instantly bloomed on his face, and his eyes shone brightly.

"Good! Exceptionally good!"

He rubbed his hands together, so excited he was almost dancing with joy.

"Those hundred disciples entering the secret realm was simply like dragons entering the sea! Their progress is so fast it defies imagination! Those originally in the Foundation Establishment Realm have all successfully formed their cores, and many have already reached the middle stage of the Core Formation Realm or higher!

Of those originally in the Core Formation Realm, nearly half have touched the threshold of the Purple Mansion Realm. There are even seven or eight with exceptionally outstanding talent who have successfully broken through and officially stepped into the Purple Mansion Realm!"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, his voice rising higher. "Although the resource consumption is quite high, the results... are worth it! Absolutely worth it! At this rate, the overall strength of our Qingxuan Sect will soon multiply several times over! The future is promising, truly promising!"

The look he gave Gu Changge was full of gratitude and admiration. It was all thanks to his junior brother's profound blessing! To be able to bring out such a heaven-defying secret realm...

Gu Changge listened with a placid expression. These astonishing results were well within his expectations.

He set down his teacup and gently tapped the smooth rim with his fingertip. "Not bad. But the foundation must be solidly built. Do not blindly seek speed. Cultivation realms are illusory; only true combat power is real."

Xuanyangzi quickly reined in his excitement and solemnly replied, "Rest assured, Junior Brother. I will definitely pay attention to this and strictly supervise them, absolutely not allowing the disciples to rush for quick success."

"As for the core true disciples of the various peaks right now," Xuanyangzi's face filled with pride.

"After taking the Marrow Cleansing Pills you provided, their aptitudes have vastly improved, and their cultivation is progressing at a thousand miles a day! Now, they have basically all reached the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm, only a hair's breadth away from the Cave Heaven Realm!"

Reaching the most crucial point, Xuanyangzi's voice carried a slight tremble of excitement. He looked at Gu Changge with burning eyes, full of boundless gratitude and earnest expectation.

"Most importantly, the peak masters of the major peaks are now only one final step of accumulation and comprehension away from attempting to trigger the Sage Tribulation!

They are making their final preparations, adjusting their physical and mental states, planning to find an absolutely secure time and place in the near future to enter secluded cultivation and charge at the Sage Realm!"

Speaking of this, as if recalling something particularly amusing, the corners of his mouth could not help but turn up, revealing an expression of exasperated amusement.

"Oh my, I just have to laugh whenever I think about it!" He slapped his thigh.

"Junior Brother, you have no idea. Those old fellows usually hide their abilities better than anyone else! They wish they could suppress their cultivation down to the Purple Mansion Realm. But now? Seeing that the heavenly tribulation is approaching, every single one of them has exposed their fox tails!

Junior Brother Shi, that reckless brute, used to dare to fight people carrying just a broken sword. Now look at him! He hides in the Qingyue Peak treasury every day, wishing he could weld the ancestral Immovable Mountain King Armor onto his body!

A few days ago, he even beat around the bush asking me if he could borrow the ten-thousand-year black tortoise shell from the back mountain to wear on his head for emergencies...

They clearly all have incredibly profound accumulations, their cultivation practically overflowing from their pores, yet they simply refuse to undergo the tribulation! They are still constantly searching for all kinds of treasures, wishing they could hang every defensive artifact in the world on themselves to feel at ease!"

He laughed and shook his head. "The warehouse elder has complained to me several times, saying they are about to borrow all the good stuff from the sect's treasury!"

At this point, Xuanyangzi's expression slowly turned solemn again, and his tone returned to its previous earnestness.

"Sigh, jokes aside, the heavenly tribulation is incredibly perilous. Without a ninety-nine percent certainty, how is it any different from throwing one's life away? It is only human nature for them to be so nervous; this concerns the survival of our Qingxuan Sect's top-tier combat power in the future.

Therefore, Changge, when they undergo their tribulation, could I ask you to go and watch over them a bit? With you there holding the fort, my heart will finally be at ease."

Listening to Xuanyangzi's vivid description, Gu Changge pictured the nervous yet somewhat comical appearances of the peak masters in his mind and could not help but chuckle softly and shake his head.

"These old children. Senior Brother, rest assured. This is a major matter for the sect, and I naturally ought to contribute. When they are ready to make their breakthrough, just inform me of the time and place in advance, and I will be there on time."

His tone was steady, carrying a reassuring sense of reliability.

Hearing this definitive answer, Xuanyangzi felt as if a massive boulder had been lifted from his chest. An immense joy and a feeling of profound relief surged in his heart.

He let out a long, deep sigh of relief, stood up excitedly, and was about to bow deeply to Gu Changge. "Good! Good! Excellent! Changge, with your words, I am completely relieved! On their behalf, I thank you in advance!"

Gu Changge quickly reached out to support him invisibly, stopping him from bowing, his tone carrying a helpless smile. "What is Senior Brother doing? There is no need for such formalities between fellow sect members. They are also my senior brothers and sisters. If I can help, I naturally will not decline."

He picked up the teapot again, refilled Xuanyangzi's hot tea, and softened his tone. "Tell them to relax, prepare well, and not put too much pressure on themselves. I will handle things when the time comes."

After finishing the discussion about the secret realm, Xuanyangzi's face revealed a complex expression, a mix of amusement and emotion. He leaned in a bit closer. "Junior Brother, there is another amusing matter. It is about that... Lie Tianxiong from the Burning Heaven Palace."

"Oh?" Gu Changge raised an eyebrow slightly, recalling the scene he had witnessed a few days ago.

"Ever since that old fellow returned from the secret realm, it is as if he has become a completely different person! Now, he is vigorously promoting some strategic concealment policy within the Burning Heaven Palace!

He ordered all disciples to restrict their activities and strictly forbade them from causing trouble outside. He wishes the entire palace could turn into shrinking turtles, euphemistically calling it preserving one's life is the Great Dao of Immortality!"

He tapped the stone table gently, his tone somewhat helpless.

"Lie Tianxiong suddenly shrinking back like this actually caught us a bit off guard. In the past, with him baring his fangs and brandishing his claws in the front, attracting everyone's attention, it was actually more convenient for us to do many things. Now that he has chosen to hide, Xuan State has lost a target that can draw fire."

Listening to Xuanyangzi's analysis, Gu Changge thought that the sect master was indeed always worrying about the sect.

"This Lie Tianxiong... at least he knows to learn from his mistakes. These recent beatings have actually beaten out a sect that pursues the path of staying hidden." He picked up his teacup and spoke unhurriedly.

"With one less person baring their fangs and claws, and one more shrinking turtle, the waters of Xuan State might actually become clearer. As for the attention..."

He paused, his tone still relaxed: "When our Qingxuan Sect acts, why should we care about the opinions of others? We should just do what we always do. Let him lay low, and we will go about our own business. It is quite fine if we just do not disturb each other."

Hearing this, Xuanyangzi was taken aback for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "Hahaha, you are absolutely right! I was looking at it the wrong way! Let him keep a low profile all he wants; it matters as little as a clear breeze brushing over the hills! We will just keep doing what we need to do! Come, Junior Brother, drink your tea!"