Tianyan Sect, Zhuji Peak.
Lv Xuan, the sect master of Tianyan Sect, along with Yanyun—who was silently regarded by him as the next sect leader—and the relaxed Bai Xuanling stood together.
Luo Yue remained silent on the side, realizing it had underestimated humanity.
Back then, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had indeed explained things to Luo Yue, but hearing about it and witnessing it firsthand were entirely different experiences.
This was a situation beyond even the wildest imagination.
Only after stepping into Tianyan Sect and personally witnessing the interception of the towering spiritual vein did Luo Yue deeply understand—the world today was truly no longer what it once was.
The highest powers in the world had already been divided.
No wonder the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had been willing to pay such a steep price back then. Indeed, no cultivator could resist such temptation.
What a masterful move…
To monopolize an entire spiritual vein—this was truly a legacy that could last for millennia.
And now, it sought to claim a long-standing promise from a sect of this caliber.
If the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect honored it, all would be well. But if not…
Fairness and promises seemed so feeble in the face of power and force.
And the worst-case scenario had come to pass—the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect claimed they had investigated and found no such promise.
Regardless, this was their stance.
So now, Luo Yue fully understood—this promise was likely lost.
Even with the Tianyan Sect, one of the Eighteen Immortal Sects, advocating on its behalf, what could be done if the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect refused to budge?
Would the entire Tianyan Sect really go to war with the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect over an unrelated tree spirit?
Still, Luo Yue was grateful.
At least Tianyan Sect had tried—that alone was a kindness.
It had already passed the method to lift the sealing ritual to Chu Xingchen.
In a way, they had kept their word.
Luo Yue clasped the teacup with both hands, feeling the scalding heat.
Lv Xuan glanced at Luo Yue and spoke softly:
"To accomplish anything worthwhile, there must be some difficulty."
Bai Xuanling nodded slightly. Naturally, though the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had kept a low profile in recent years, that didn’t mean they lacked resolve.
A sect that had once dared to lead the world would never allow itself to be pushed around now.
Yanyun remained expressionless. This matter wasn’t hers to handle yet—she could offer opinions, but right now, she had none to give.
She was only here because her master had dragged her along to fill the space.
But privately, she suspected her master just didn’t want to get beaten up by Bai Xuanling.
"The matter has only just begun. Since the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect denies it, a direct confrontation isn’t the best approach. The key to resolving things lies in leaving room for negotiation."
As Lv Xuan spoke, he cautiously glanced at Bai Xuanling.
In the past, Bai Xuanling would have scoffed at such tactics, but today, his expression remained calm, devoid of the usual disdain that came with his long years of experience.
Lv Xuan relaxed slightly. Bai Xuanling wasn’t a fool—when facing an opponent worthy of respect, he knew when to hold back.
"The Immortal Sect Conference is already being arranged. Due to prior pressure, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect has agreed to attend."
"I’ve spoken with three other Immortal Sects. They’re willing to support us against the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect, but as we discussed earlier, their condition remains…"
Bai Xuanling chuckled and replied:
"I understand. They just want to see the hidden prodigy our Tianyan Sect has been concealing, don’t they?"
Every one of the Eighteen Immortal Sects nurtured their most elite cultivators—varying in strength and age, but such prodigies were always few in number.
The most exceptional among them received even greater resources, shaping the future of their sect.
For example, Tianyan Sect’s Yanyun, or Taidao Sect’s Daoist Yuyang.
These disciples, cultivated at nearly any cost, represented the direction their sects would take.
Most of these prodigies rarely appeared in public, leaving their names unknown to much of the Central Continent—this was the norm.
Secrecy was always wise.
Of course, exceptions existed. Taidao Sect’s Daoist Yuyang had chosen to display his brilliance, defeating every Golden Core cultivator in the world and earning a reputation as invincible within his realm.
Taidao Sect’s prestige soared as a result—but Daoist Yuyang’s capabilities were now an open book.
A double-edged sword.
Among the Eighteen Immortal Sects, however, the future pillars of rival sects were all on a shared watchlist.
So when Tianyan Sect suddenly produced Chu Xingchen—a previously unknown figure who could hold his own against Daoist Yuyang in battle—the other sects were baffled and immediately launched investigations.
Nothing in this world remained hidden forever, and there was little these factions couldn’t uncover.
But… convincing them that a "wild man" from the Southern Continent, having never trained in Tianyan Sect, could reach the level of a top-tier prodigy nurtured by an elite Central Continent sect through sheer self-cultivation?
Sometimes, the gap between two Golden Core cultivators was far greater than that between Golden Core and Nascent Soul—prodigies were no exception.
Rather than believe such a fantastical tale, they preferred the idea that Chu Xingchen was Tianyan Sect’s ultimate hidden trump card!
And that Tianyan Sect had gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal his existence.
After all, Chu Xingchen’s origins, upbringing, and whereabouts were untraceable—no records, no leads.
Divination techniques yielded nothing but emptiness.
Such mastery over obscuring fate was, of course, Tianyan Sect’s specialty.
The conclusion was clear—Chu Xingchen had to be Tianyan Sect’s final ace!
Picking a fight with the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect was one thing, but uncovering Tianyan Sect’s secret prodigy was another prize entirely.
Adding this hidden talent to their intelligence archives meant no future conflicts with Tianyan Sect would catch them off guard.
For the other Immortal Sects, this was a win-win.
And for Tianyan Sect? Also a win-win.
First, they intended to pressure the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect anyway.
Second, Chu Xingchen wasn’t actually one of theirs—let the others scrutinize him all they wanted. Since he’d be active in the Central Continent, an early association with Tianyan Sect wasn’t a bad thing.
It offered him protection, and if he ever reached unparalleled heights, Tianyan Sect—as his first backer—would reap immense benefits.
Plus, it would make rival sects more cautious—forcing them to think twice before acting.
After all, Tianyan Sect now had two such prodigies!
Bai Xuanling understood the game well and added:
"I’ve already sent word to Chu Xingchen. Once he wraps up his urgent matters, he’ll come to Tianyan Sect and accompany us."
Lv Xuan nodded, then turned to his disciple:
"Yanyun, your efforts will be needed this time as well."
Yanyun, who had spent the entire time as part of the "atmosphere team" and had since drifted into a daze, suddenly snapped back to attention, blinking in confusion at her master.
What did this have to do with her?
Lv Xuan grinned and explained, "Since we're putting on a show, let's make it grand. Let them witness the might of Tianyan Sect's twin peerless prodigies."
"What Daoist Yuyang, what Master Haohua—our Tianyan Sect will crush them all!"
Hearing this, Bai Xuanling couldn't help but smile faintly.
Today, the sect leader finally showed a glimpse of his former brilliance.