The Stone Ford Sect actually had some history with the Perceptive Moon Sect. Its Founding Master, the Stone Ford Daoist, was a disciple under the Mount Zenith Predecessor. He later bid farewell to his master and elders and established this sect in the north of the Southern Region.
So, in a way, the Stone Ford Sect was an orthodox branch of the Perceptive Moon Sect. However, in terms of sect strength, it was still a far cry from the main sect, simply incomparable. The True Spirit Sect's performance this time was dazzling.
Liu Xuan and Du Fanzhi alone were enough to defeat many of the Foundation Establishment cultivators of that sect, to say nothing of Jiang Yun, the sword cultivator who was most skilled at overpowering and attacking enemies.
When the results of the battle came in, the True Spirit Sect could be said to have won a great victory, displaying a dominant stance. Their opponents, defeated by Jiang, Liu, and Du, were all convinced of their loss. The two sects exchanged courtesies, unlike the sect battles on the other platforms which were fraught with tense, saber-rattling hostility.
Since it was a battle, there was naturally a prize. The winner of the sect battle received a small spirit vein embryo. If placed within the sect's territory and nurtured well, it could be cultivated into a branch spirit vein.
After the True Spirit Sect's decline, the sect possessed one main spirit vein and five or six branch spirit veins. This was the foundation of the sect, and naturally, the more the better.
Every ten years, the Perceptive Moon Sect would separate an embryo from its own main spirit vein and bestow it upon the various sects, showcasing the grace of a leader and also revealing the depths of its own resources. Looking back at previous Hundred Sects Assemblies, the True Spirit Sect had mostly ended in failure.
To regain this prize now gave Li Su a feeling of great satisfaction and pride. On the return journey, with a grand wave of his hand, he personally took control of the great boat. He even took out Spirit Pills and Spirit Jade from his personal savings to reward the disciples, showing that he was in an excellent mood.
Upon returning to the True Spirit Sect, just as the great boat came to a stop, they saw a sea of disciples below, shoulder to shoulder, all having come out to welcome the returning party. Fortune comes from the Heavenly Dao, how profound it is!
That day, a wisp of clear qi had suddenly drifted over, heading into the Heaven-Piercing River. The inner and outer sect disciples, and even the menial laborers, all felt their bodies become as light as clouds and mist, as if they were floating immortals. The cultivation shackles that were once untouchable in the past now showed opportunities for a breakthrough.
After the clear qi dissipated, everyone was greatly astonished to discover that their cultivation bases had advanced significantly, and their magical arts had also become much more profound. Before they could even ask, four more light orbs of varying sizes descended, once again plunging everyone into that previous state of profound enlightenment.
After everything settled down, the various Outer Sect elders came forward to explain to the new disciples: "This is a nurturing from our fortune, a gift from the Heavenly Dao. It happens once every ten years. This year's is especially abundant, likely because our sect's disciples performed exceptionally well at the Southern Region Grand Assembly."
The disciples were not aware of the Hundred Sects Assembly, so the elders referred to it as the Southern Region Grand Assembly. Everyone immediately understood that this was something earned through the strenuous efforts of the genius disciples who had been on the great boat, and their hearts were filled with immense gratitude.
Seeing the great boat return, they poured out of their residences and came to the sect gate to catch a glimpse of the inner sect geniuses' elegance. However, after the great boat docked, the disciples aboard had other arrangements. They had to go to the Upper Strict Hall to meet the Sect Master, so there was no time to rest.
Among them, besides the three elders, all the disciples, just like Zhao Chun, were likely seeing Master Tusheng for the first time, and they were indeed very much looking forward to it. The Upper Strict Hall was located above the headwaters of the Heaven-Piercing River. It was built against the mountain cliff, suspended in mid-air.
Below it was a plunging waterfall that stirred up white waves, and the surroundings were all hidden in water mist, giving it the feel of a fairyland. Clinging to the spaces between the palace halls were thousands of pine and cypress trees, each with a unique shape, their branches and leaves all exceptionally verdant.
Zhao Chun felt less like she was inside a hall and more like she was in a lush pine forest. Water mist and clouds coexisted, and a blur of haze filled her vision. Finally, amidst the vast expanse, a hunched-over old man sat on the ground.
The small blade in his hand moved ceaselessly, meticulously carving a pinewood statue in his other hand. It was faintly visible as a chubby, endearingly naive doll.
"Sect Master, the disciples from this Hundred Sects Assembly have arrived."
The three elders all cupped their fists in a salute and then stood respectfully to the side. There were a total of thirty people, from both Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining. They stood in six mighty rows of five.
Zhao Chun stood at the head of the Qi Refining group. After she defeated a Foundation Establishment cultivator, everyone had come to recognize her ability and admire her. However, what she was thinking about was unrelated to these matters.
Fang Dunián from the Perceptive Moon Sect, plus the four Profound Division cultivators later on—she had already seen five of the top figures in the Drifting Clouds World. Yet not a single one of them was similar to Master Tusheng. He held a small knife in one hand and a piece of pinewood in the other.
There was no sign of spiritual qi around his body. He didn't look like the master of a sect, but rather an old, weather-beaten carpenter. After a cultivator reaches Foundation Establishment, they no longer suffer from aging.
Even if some cultivators choose to appear old, they mostly have the appearance of crane-white hair and a youthful complexion. Master Tusheng, however, was not like this. It was as if he had not escaped the way of physical aging.
A heavy twilight aura hung about him, truly like an old man in his twilight years, his body hunched and his face covered in age spots.
"Good... good..."
His eyes revealed a look of loving-kindness as he praised them repeatedly.
"It has been a long time since the sect has shown such signs of revival..."
Master Tusheng hugged the pinewood doll to his chest, raised his eyes slightly to size everyone up completely, and smiled, "Where are Jiang Yun and Du Fanzhi?" Hearing the Sect Master call their names, the two immediately stepped forward and saluted, "Disciple is here." Master Tusheng nodded and said, "Good children... good children...
This seat has a copy of the 'Hundred Solutions to Swordsmanship,' left behind by the founding sword elder. Jiang Yun, since you cultivate the Way of the Sword, you may come to the Scripture Pavilion of the Upper Strict Hall to have a look."
He paused for a moment, then added, "But there is another disciple, Zhao Chun, who also cultivates the sword?" Hearing this, Zhao Chun spoke up, "Replying to the Sect Master, that is correct."
"Mm, good, you may view it with him as well. The Way of the Sword is pure and sincere, and its cultivation is not easy. That the two of you could cultivate to the second realm shows the earnestness in your hearts."
He singled out the two of them, then looked at Du Fanzhi.
"You are Elder Li's disciple. He mentioned to me that you have quite a bit of talent in the way of illusion arrays. Since that is the case, you may go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and retrieve a copy of the Yellow Grade High-Tier technique, 'Triple Mirror Technique'. Cultivate it diligently, and you will surely achieve major accomplishment."
The three of them gave their thanks. Master Tusheng then called out Huang Li and also gave him a reward, then said to everyone, "You are all pillars of the sect. All Foundation Establishment cultivators may take one volume of a Yellow Grade Mid-Tier magical art.
As for those in the Qi Refining Stage, if you have reached perfection, you may request a Foundation Establishment Item from the sect. If you have not yet reached perfection, you may also go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and take one volume of a top-grade, Mortal Rank magical art."
Thus, it could be said that everyone's needs were met. Zhao Chun was puzzled. There were so many rewards, yet the one at the very top, Liu Xuan, was the only one left out.
Her expression was normal, showing no reaction, but the other disciples' eyes flickered slightly. Master Tusheng then addressed Qiu and Huo, saying that if the two of them needed anything, they could take it directly from the Sect Treasury. Glancing around at the many disciples, he held the pinewood doll before him again.
"Alright, after such a long journey, you all must be very tired. You may all return to your residences and rest... Disciple Liu Xuan, stay behind."
No one dared to say more and they silently withdrew. Only Zhao Chun dared to raise her eyes to look at her. She saw that Liu Xuan was still smiling, but the smile did not reach her eyes; it was mostly distant.
After the three elders and all the disciples had left, Master Tusheng placed both the small knife and the pinewood doll on the ground. He held his hands in front of him, straightened his body, and said with a serious expression, "I, Yi Yun, Sect Master of the True Spirit Sect, have a matter to entrust to you.
I implore you, little friend, to convey it to the ears of the Venerable One." For a single breath, Liu Xuan was surprised. She looked at the hunched old man, her eyes filled with melancholy.
"Now... it has finally been discovered by Senior."
Her gaze held respect, pity, and most of all, guilt.
"But please speak plainly, Senior. This junior will naturally transmit the message to the Venerable One."
(End of Chapter)