Chapter 992: The Great Void Sect Is No Longer the First Choice
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Among the four from the Great Void Sect, apart from the Intermediate Nascent Soul Dan Xiang, the other three were all Advanced Aurous Core cultivation. Although there were differences between observed age and actual age, none of them were particularly old.
Looking at them, Yang Tie asked, "Friends, what are your plans for now?"
Dan Xiang and the others scanned the surroundings, and then looked at Yang Tie and co. "You are going to open up a path and explore outwards?"
Yang Tie nodded calmly. "That's right."
Dan Xiang and the other three met each other's gazes for a moment. Pensively, Dan Xiang spoke again. "The direction you are heading in now is where we were separated from Elder Cai and the others. We wish to reunite with our Sect elders as soon as possible, so we hope that we can travel ahead together with you…"
Hearing these words, a peculiar look came across all of the Celestial Sect of Wonders party's faces as they smiled slightly, causing Dan Xiang and co. to be baffled as well as slightly irritated.
It used to be that wherever they go, they would take over the leadership of their party without question.
Especially since Dan Xiang was the only Nascent Soul cultivator among those present; however, facing Tang Jun and other Celestial Sect of Wonders disciples, it was inappropriate for them to do this.
The relations between the two sides were not really harmonious, and Tang Jun and co. weren't here on their own either. One look at the Four Appearances Sky Formation they were in now, and tone could tell that Tang Jun, Yang Tie and the others have not strayed from Zhu Yi and the rest. Now, they were all under the protection of Zhu Yi, Li Yuanfang and co.
Unlike Mount Shu disciples, who were commonly caustic and intractable, Great Void Sect disciples were mostly well mannered, as well as being far more mild and gentle in their ways. However, in reality, the pride in their hearts was only stronger than that of the Mount Shu disciples.
It's just that the outward appearance of this pride was rather special, such that it was easy to cause others to have to wrong impression.
Their pride was not disdain, not insolence, not arrogance. In contrast, it was being unassuming, it was politeness and patience.
It was a deep-rooted sense of superiority; because your level was so far away from mine, I will tolerate your ignorance and clumsiness, and not sink to your level.
Just like how a human would not be angered by the provocations of an ant, or try to demonstrate his superiority or strength to one.
Since the Modern Age, whenever Great Void Sect disciples walked in the outside world, even when they faced Mount Shu Sword Sect cultivators of similar level, or when they used to face the Buddhist disciples of the Great Thunderclap Temple, this psychological high ground was always present.
However, today, when they faced Celestial Sect of Wonders disciples, this psychological high ground had already been gradually crumbling.
Even without mention of the score for skirmishes between the top echelons of the two, solely for the younger generation disciples category, the Great Void Sect had never had the advantage when facing the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
In Xiling City, in the battle of fates between the two Shis in the Dragon Battle Arena, the Nascent Soul Shi Tianyi was slain by the then-Aurous Core Shi Tianhao.
Before the battle of the two Shis, the Advanced Aurous Core Great Void Sect disciple Bai Xiqian was felled by the spear of the then-Beginner Aurous Core Yue Hongyan, being crippled outright.
During the Spiritual Conference of the Kunlun Mountains of the Celestial Sect of Wonders, Chen Xingyu - the Great Void Sect's up-and-coming talent, one of the finest masters of the younger generation – was already Aurous Core stage then. Although he was lowered to Advanced Foundation Establishment by the Celestial Sect of Wonders' Dharma Hall, he was still stronger than when he was originally at Advanced Foundation Establishment.
However, even so, Chen Xingyu was still defeated by the Celestial Sect of Wonders second-generation successive disciple, Zhou Yuncong, who was Advanced Foundation Establishment as well then. The Yin-Terminating, ultimately, fell to the Yang-Incinerating.
One did not even need to go too far back – there was an example right there.
Not long ago, the Advanced Aurous Core Wan Zhenglun had just been defeated by the Intermediate Aurous Core Liu Xiafeng, adding another notch to the scoreboard for the Celestial Sect of Wonders disciples.
Today, although the overall strength of the Great Void Sect was still supreme in the Divine Lands, but in terms of the performance of younger-generation disciples, it was already being gradually surpassed by the Celestial Sect of Wonders. The name of the First Holy Land was already shaky.
Each power in the Divine Lands had its own sphere of influence; in the surrounding areas, it had the absolute advantage when selecting talents and disciples. Once those with potential show themselves, they will be inducted into the Sect.
The major powers would also frequently venture out to seek talents, to prevent those with potential from falling through the cracks.
Meanwhile, the young men and women who lived in the mortal world, but long for the Way of cultivation would also yearn for the great powers whose names and stories they have been hearing from infancy.
However, there was an exception. The Three Great Holy Land of the old days – the Great Void Sect, the Mount Shu Sword Sect, and the Great Thunderclap Temple.
Their sphere of influence radiated outwards to cover the entire Divine Lands. When selecting talents, they were doing so from the pool of the entire human world; every single person who sought the Way of cultivation longed for them, wishing that they could one day be inducted into their Sects.
Among them, the most influential was the Great Void Sect, being way stronger than that of the Mount Shu Sword Sect and the Great Thunderclap Temple. Every young talent, as well as their families, who was accepted by the Great Void Sect would regard it as an enormous honor.
At the same time, because the Great Void Sect took the elite, quality-oriented approach when selecting disciples and the threshold for entry was ridiculously high, the test of time had proved that the disciples it accepted were all incredibly talented cultivators of great potential. Therefore, in the eyes of many teenagers, being accepted by the Great Void Sect in itself was a sort of affirmation of themselves.
However, today, this had already begun to change subtly.
With a reputation accumulated over the years, there were still many young talents who yearned to be inducted into the Great Void Sect. However, with the rise of the Celestial Sect of Wonders, as well as the growth of its influence in the Divine Lands, more and more people started to turn their attention to the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
The first choice of many was still the Great Void Sect, but there were also many for whom the first choice had became the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
Particularly, some who might not be outstanding in terms of innate talent can also be inducted into the Celestial Sect of Wonders. In time, their achievements were not only not little, but possibly even greater than if they had entered the Great Void Sect.
Unlike the Mount Shu Sword Sect, who only valued Way of the Sword talents, or the Great Thunderclap Temple, whose ascetic Buddhist way of cultivation caused many to hang back, right now, the Celestial Sect of Wonders had really impacted the talent recruitment of the Great Void Sect severely, and the impact was only getting greater.
Just like how the overall influence of the two sides were equal in the Divine Lands, now, even their ability to attract young talents appeared to be equally matched.
Therefore, when facing others, Great Void Sect disciples can still keep up the pride within them. However, facing Celestial Sect of Wonders disciples, they were no longer able to maintain their psychological high ground.
Looking at Tang Jun, Yang Tie, and the others in front of him, Yang Zhao's face grew even paler and his gaze even colder. Dispassionately, he asked, "With all due respect, friends of the Celestial Sect of Wonders, who is the leader of you all now?"
His gaze swept past the symbols on Tang Jun and the other five's sleeves, and finally, stopped on Tang Jun, Yang Tie, and Liu Xiafeng.
Hearing this, Yang Tie's expression did not change, but his brows furrowed slightly. Liu Xiafeng did not speak either, but his eyebrows rose lightly.
This question…was not intended to be harmless.
Tang Jun smiled coldly. His gaze swept past Yang Zhao's face without halting, finally stopping on Dan Xiang as he said calmly, "Four friends from the Great Void Sect, if you wish to come along, it would not be a problem. It's just that the formation we are in right now was set up by our Sect's elders, so please do not use your Mana frivolously to prevent being targeted by the formation."
Dan Xiang looked around at the surrounding environment and nodded instantly. "Rest assured."
Tang Jun grunted in affirmation. "There is no time to lose. We should continue moving."
Yang Zhao looked at him, his cold gaze becoming deep and forbidding instead, and even more daunting.
No one answered his question, but what Tang Jun did just now was an intangible reply.
You did not need to ask who was our leader here, because anyway, you were not the leader for your side.
Yang Zhao did not speak any further and followed after Dan Xiang calmly together with Wan Zhenglun and Zhao Mingxiu, along with the Celestial Sect of Wonders party.
The team was still led by Han Yang, who cleared the way at the front. However, the sword he was using now had already transformed back to its original, ordinary appearance; the simple, nondescript Foundation Establishment stage sword, once seen by the Great Void Sect disciples, attracted some attention as well.
After all, the lavish conditions and arsenal of Celestial Sect of Wonders disciples was no longer a secret across the Divine Lands. There were many who were in agreement, but also many who feel that this would not be beneficial for the improvement of the cultivator's own skills, leading to much controversy in the Divine Lands.
Han Yang's position as the second-generation First Disciple of Qingwu Pavilion was not exactly a secret in the Divine Lands. After all, he was already Advanced Aurous Core cultivation; however, with his current cultivation level, it was naturally rather surprising that the sword he used was only Foundation Establishment stage.
Han Yang, though, did not care much about the opinions of others. Instead, now, he was teasing Yang Tie. "Senior Yang, they say that five centuries ago, those with the same surname are all of the same family. That Yang Zhao of the Great Void Sect, he does not seem to be very close with you."
Yang Tie smiled. "Maybe the split back then wasn't so amicable."
Li Xingfei, quietly, said, "That man isn't ordinary. His Mana and his mind are both rather deep and enigmatic."
Liu Xiafeng nodded. "Although I did not actually clash swords with him before, but my impression is, at the very least, he is stronger and more dangerous than Wan Zhenglun."
Stronger and more dangerous. They seemed to be similar in meaning, but Li Xingfei and the other all knew that, a lot of times, stronger was not the same as more dangerous.
Danger was always worthy of vigilance.
"If he does not have an Immortal Soul magic treasure with him, I would not worry about it," Tang Jun said calmly. "Unless he takes advantage of the spiritual energy turbulence in the Crucible of the Divine Lands world now to make trouble."
Han Yang said, "I myself are more interested in that Zhao Mingxiu, Ms. Zhao."
Liu Xiafeng started chuckling, "Oh, Junior Han is finally maturing."
Han Yang shook his head, laughing. "What? I'm interested in her because she's one of the rare sword cultivators in the Great Void Sect."
With this sentence, the interest of Tang Jun, Yang Tie, and the others was piqued. Even Zhou Yuncong, who had been silence all this while, turned and looked over.
Han Yang nodded. He slashed with his sword again, clearing a path forward, as he spoke. "Although she had not drawn her sword, or discharged her sword will or Mana, but I could feel it vaguely."
Pensively, Yang Tie spoke. "The Great Void Sect's Way of the Sword was derived from their two Mantras, the Mantra of the Great Oblivion and the Yin Yang Mantra of the Void. It is not an independent Way of the Sword; according to rumors, it is rather intricate as well, just that it is indeed rarely seen."
"What we do not know is, whether this Ms. Zhao cultivates the Heavenly Sword of Oblivion or the Great Void Dual Polarity Mystic Sword Mantra?"
As they were speaking, Han Yang, Tang Jun, and Zhou Yuncong's expressions suddenly changed. The faces of Yang Tie and the others suddenly turned grave as well as they raised their heads and looked, to see, outside the area of the formation, an exceptionally violent spiritual energy tide smashing towards where they were standing.