Dragon Pool Mountain, Gaze-Spirit Immortal Valley.
Three cultivators met outside a temporary cave abode in the valley, then walked slowly along the mountain path.
Their Daoist robes shared a similar cut and the same color, but they were not disciples of the Six Great Sects.
"Senior Brother Li, of the thirty places allotted to the minor sects for this gathering, our Zhongmiao Sect holds fourteen."
One of them followed close beside their leader, matching his steps. "This time, we might just unseat the Dongyuan Sect and return our Zhongmiao Sect to the ranks of the Six Great Sects."
Their leader was named Li Xuan, the man leading the Zhongmiao Sect's delegation to this Dragon Pool Gathering.
Hearing his junior brother's words, he nodded inwardly.
The minor sects across the entire Chu Kingdom had thirty places in total, and their Zhongmiao Sect occupied fourteen, nearly half.
When all was said and done, the Dongyuan Sect was merely a small sect founded fewer than three hundred years ago.
As several groups of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators exceeded the age limit, the Dongyuan Sect had declined year after year following the last few competitions.
Their Zhongmiao Sect, meanwhile, had concealed its brilliance and bided its time, building deep reserves for a powerful resurgence, with the Xuanyuan Sect's overt and covert "cooperation and mutual assistance."
This year was the perfect opportunity to reclaim their place among the Six Great Sects before the eyes of cultivators everywhere.
It was not just this junior brother who thought so; the sect's elders shared the same view.
Still, as a show of humility, he adopted a reprimanding manner and frowned slightly. "Attend to your own duties. Do not reach for lofty things beyond your grasp."
"Hehe, yes, senior brother."
They strolled across a covered bridge over a stream