"So that's how it is. There's actually a Five-Sect Affairs Hall within the Nine Sects, handling all their schemes and intrigues. In that case, can I understand the matter of splitting our Fallen Sword Immortal Sect this time as something decided by the Five-Sect Affairs Hall?" I said with a laugh.
"This... you could put it that way. In truth, we have no idea what they discussed, but once they reach an agreement, most of it will be carried out by the immortal disciples of the Five Sects. And among the Nine Sects, those who can enter the Five-Sect Affairs Hall are naturally the strongest. At least, there might be some changes in the rankings before the next sixty-year cycle, but these five great sects have all managed to remain in the top five without exception... After all, the Five-Sect Affairs Hall can do far too much. For example, it decides how resources are allocated in every region, which places can be explored and developed, and which cannot. And if an expedition against Dao Calamities is needed, it must also pass through them for adjudication..." Song Ruo explained.
"Heh, so among the Nine Great Sects, only five have the final say. No wonder the Star Heaven Sword Sect's veto carries so much weight. Yao Xingtian is still fairly impartial, so it's been hard on him. But the other four are indeed troublesome; they can't possibly obey Yao Xingtian in everything." I recalled how the eight great sects had forced the Fallen Sword Immortal Sect into submission before, and finally understood why the eight great sects had bypassed the Fallen Sword Immortal Sect and decided the fate of the other sects themselves. So it turned out there really was a permanent council sect like this.
This was much like the United