The Sect's Hidden Crisis

After the Ancient Wood Hidden Qi Art broke through to the Perfection Level, the Random Buff Multiplier triggered, just as expected.

A fourfold buff effect!

Under normal circumstances, anyone more than one major realm above him could not see through his concealment. Now, anyone fewer than four major realms above him could not see through it. Of course, if battle broke out or a powerful expert seriously examined him, the risk of exposure would naturally increase. Nothing in the Cultivation World came with absolute guarantees.

But his safety had indeed improved greatly.

He could now fake a cultivation level up or down by twelve minor realms!

What surprised him was that he still could not fake a Foundation Establishment cultivation level!

It was as though the Qi Refining Realm were a bottomless pit, capable of swallowing all twelve minor realms!

A little careful thought made it clear: how was the Qi Refining Realm truly divided?

By the number of times one's Dantian expanded!

If the Dantian could continue expanding, one's realm could naturally continue rising.

In theory, there was no limit.

That was why, in ancient times, there had been a cultivation system known as Qi Cultivators. They continuously opened up their Dantians, constantly raising the upper limits of both the quantity and quality of their spiritual power.

But that path was no longer popular, because Becoming an Immortal required comprehending the Dao, and one could better comprehend the Dao only after cultivating a Nascent Soul.

Han Yuan tidied himself up and quietly flew out from above the cave mansion.

Once he had left the cave mansion's perimeter, he indeed spotted several figures near its entrance.

He quietly approached them without drawing their attention and listened to their conversation.

A few minutes later, one disciple said helplessly, "The President told us to keep watch over Cangming Cave Mansion. How long are we supposed to keep watching? I want to take missions and earn Spirit Stones!"

Another disciple with a beard said, "Just keep watching. Do you think the President would short you on Spirit Stones?"

"He's already become a True Disciple. What's the point of keeping watch?"

"Heh, the position of True Disciple isn't one just anyone can hold onto. He's ranked seventh!"

The third person hurriedly covered the mouth of the disciple who had just spoken without restraint and whispered, "Shut up! What nonsense are you talking about? If someone hears us, we're finished!"

The few of them promptly fell silent.

Han Yuan listened for a while longer. Once he was sure there was nothing more to gain, he quietly departed.

Along the way, he pondered the matter.

His public identity as a True Disciple was indeed ranked seventh, and four True Disciples had already kicked the bucket.

Every True Disciple possessed decent talent, aptitude, and strength. How had they died?

It was generally impossible for it to have happened within the sect. That meant they had died while venturing outside, exploring, or carrying out some mission.

So he could not be reckless. Nor could he display too high a realm outside. If it was too high, he would be sent out to gain experience. Like that Fourth Senior Sister, who was currently training outside with a cultivation at the Qi Refining Peak Stage.

"Come to think of it, Fourth Senior Sister only just went out to train? Yet Fifth and Sixth Senior Brothers and Sisters had already been dead for ages. It seems this Fourth Senior Sister saw through it too. She suppressed her realm until she could no longer hold it down."

Han Yuan was thoughtful. He was different. He did not need to suppress his realm, because he could fake a lower realm perfectly.

Before long, he arrived at Ancient Wood Peak.

By concealing his aura, he quietly made his way to the Scripture Repository in the outer sect area.

A purple-haired old man sat behind the desk, watching him with a smile.

"You've come?" Ancestor Ziyun said with a smile.

"This disciple pays respects to Ancestor!" Han Yuan saluted.

"No need for formalities."

Ancestor Ziyun said calmly, "I thought you would come looking for me very soon. I didn't expect you to be patient enough to consolidate the cultivation you had just broken through to. Not bad."

"Thank you for your praise, Ancestor." Han Yuan smiled faintly. He had not delayed in order to consolidate his cultivation. He had wanted to master the Ancient Wood Hidden Qi Art before coming over. If not for the fortunate coincidence that had allowed him to comprehend it to the Perfection Level in a single day, he would have had no problem enduring for two or three years!

Ancestor Ziyun nodded. This brat had quite the thick skin too.

He waited for a moment, but Han Yuan did not ask first. Unhurried, he picked up his tea and drank.

Only then did Han Yuan catch the faint, leisurely fragrance of tea. His eyes could not help secretly glancing over.

Ancestor Ziyun chuckled. "This is tea from the sect's only Five-thousand-year-old tea tree, a spiritual tea refined through thirty-seven processes. It can stabilize one's foundation. Would you like a cup?"

Han Yuan's eyes lit up. "Wouldn't that be too embarrassing?"

As he spoke, he reached out his hand.

However, Ancestor Ziyun blocked him, his smile warm. "Drinking it is simple. Complete the mission, and you will receive your reward."

Han Yuan stopped pretending and asked, "Ancestor, what exactly are the benefits of being a Secret Legacy Disciple? There's still no sign of them! You wouldn't be deceiving me, would you?"

Ancestor Ziyun glared at him. "What are you so anxious for, brat?"

Han Yuan said nothing and simply stared at Ancestor Ziyun.

After a moment, even Ancestor Ziyun felt somewhat uncomfortable, so he began, "Our Earth God Sect descended from the Heaven God Sect of the Middle Ages. Later, the Heaven God Sect was destroyed, and our branch moved here to Northern Yuan Continent and established the Earth God Sect. At that time, a Nascent Soul Stage ancestor presided over the sect, and our territory covered half of Northern Yuan Continent."

The Heaven God Sect?

Why did that name sound like it was asking to be beaten? No wonder it got destroyed!

Han Yuan grumbled inwardly.

"Later, that Nascent Soul ancestor's lifespan ran out, and his injuries flared up. He ultimately fell. After that, the Earth God Sect never produced another Nascent Soul expert. Our territory gradually declined. Today, we occupy only forty kingdoms and four empires, merely one-twentieth of Northern Yuan Continent."

Han Yuan frowned slightly, a foreboding feeling rising in his heart. "In other words, the territory originally belonging to our Earth God Sect has been occupied by other sects. They can't possibly sit by and watch us produce another Nascent Soul expert and take that territory back, can they?"

Ancestor Ziyun looked at him in surprise, then nodded. "You are very clever. That's right. Although our Earth God Sect and the nearby sects are roughly equal in strength and appear peaceful on the surface, the nearby sects faintly show signs of joining forces to suppress our Earth God Sect. However, our Earth God Sect still possesses Nascent Soul foundations, so they do not dare tear all pretense aside."

"Then wouldn't it be very dangerous for our Earth God Sect disciples to venture outside?" Han Yuan muttered.

"Which great expert did not carve their path through mountains of corpses and seas of blood? This situation may look like a crisis, but it is also your opportunity. Only under pressure from disciples of other sects will you have a greater chance to break through your bottlenecks. The reason Nascent Soul Cultivators continuously emerge from our Earth God Sect is precisely because of this!" Ancestor Ziyun said calmly.

Han Yuan did not dare agree. No wonder four True Disciples from Spirit Script Peak had died. Once they left the sect, enemies were everywhere. Even True Disciples could not withstand that!

"Ancestor, after saying all that, you still haven't told me what benefits a Secret Legacy Disciple receives?" Han Yuan asked curiously.

Ancestor Ziyun glared at him. "You still haven't figured it out? Why are you so foolish this time?"

Han Yuan's expression froze.

"Our Earth God Sect has a long heritage. Though we may now appear to be a Nascent Soul sect, we possess Nascent Soul inheritances, and inheritances of even higher levels. Once disciples of other sects reach the Nascent Soul realm, there is no path forward, but our Earth God Sect has one! The benefit of being a Secret Legacy Disciple is naturally the ability to cultivate the true inheritance methods all the way onward!" Ancestor Ziyun said proudly.

Yet Han Yuan's palms broke out in sweat as he said in alarm, "If I belonged to another Nascent Soul sect, I would definitely unite with the others and attack the Earth God Sect. Other sects with Nascent Soul inheritances are not easy to attack, while we possess a Nascent Soul inheritance yet are merely a Nascent Soul sect. This..."

Ancestor Ziyun said evenly, "Naturally, we understand this. But those sects all have their own dirty laundry, and cultivation methods are difficult to convert between. Why would they ever truly stand united? Besides, could attacking our Earth God Sect really obtain Nascent Soul Cultivation Methods? Heh, if it were that easy, they would have acted long ago. Could we have remained at peace for thousands of years?"

Hearing this, Han Yuan slowly nodded. Indeed, they had remained at peace for thousands of years. It seemed fine, but who was he? A Transmigrator!

A Transmigrator had already entered the Earth God Sect. By convention, it was only to be expected that three or five sects would soon join forces to besiege the Earth God Sect!

A sudden sense of urgency rose within Han Yuan.

Ancestor Ziyun watched his slightly agitated expression and smiled faintly. This had been his purpose as well. Without giving this brat some pressure, how could he grow quickly?

"Enough. You are only a minor Qi Refining cultivator now. These matters between sects will not fall upon your shoulders. Since you want the benefits of being a Secret Legacy Disciple, I'll give them to you!"