Chapter 652: Hidden Troubles of the Celestial Sect of Wonders
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Lin Feng retracted his gaze and turned to look at a charming youth who wore a tight-fitting, black robe.
The youth was very sharp and mature, and had developed the temperament of a Master. He was Lin Feng’s most senior disciple, Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan said, “Besides a few of the smaller sects, and including the Samsara Sect’s Path of the Heaven-Born, there are already nine huge powers that have arrived on Yun Peak.”
“They are the Royal House of the Northern Tribes, Purple Clouds Sect, Lightning Sword Sect, Great Barren Sword Sect, Sword of Radiance Sect, Samsara Sect’s Path of Hell, Path of Humanity and Path of Heaven-Born, as well as the Scarlet Clouds Sect.”
The Scarlet Clouds Sect came from the north foot of Mount Kunlun. After the Aeolus Sect was destroyed, they were one of the earliest ones to stand on the side of the Celestial Sect of Wonders at the north foot of Mount Kunlun. After the Celestial Wonders World was developed, they were the earliest one to express their wholehearted support too.
The powers of this sect were not that great. Although there were no Immortal Soul Stage Elders, there were many Nascent Soul Stage Grandmasters. Their overall strength and potential were decently good enough. They were quite similar to the Ethereal Mountain Sect. Basically, they were one of the biggest supporters of the Celestial Sect of Wonders in the Mount Kunlun region.
Xiao Yan followed by saying, “The guests from the Path of Hell and the Path of Humanity of the Samsara Sect have been allocated to their rooms. They will be staying separately from the Path of the Heaven-Born.”
The internal conflict within the Samsara Sect was never-ending. As the Path of the Heaven-Born was the strongest, they were always targeted by the other Paths. While the other Paths might have on and off alliances with one another, there were times when some of them would stand on the side of the Path of the Heaven-Born. But the Path of Asura and the Path of Heaven-Born were arch-enemies. The Path of Humanity and Path of Hell were usually closer to the Path of Asura.
“You shall settle all this.” Lin Feng smiled. Xiao Yan nodded his head and pondered for a while before asking, “Master, the internal competition this time and the interaction with the other sects are conducted separately?”
Lin Feng laughed, “It’s a little different than at the Spiritual Conference of Huanghai. Let’s change the style of doing things.”
Xiao Yan’s eyes brightened, “Oh? That’s interesting.”
“This competition is a test for all of you as well as the Successive Disciples of the Celestial Sect of Wonders. For those who perform well, not only will they be given rewards, they will be allowed to become their own Masters too.” Lin Feng laughed, “Outstanding second-generation Successive Disciples can then start to accept disciples.”
Xiao Yan laughed, “Are you hinting that our sect will have a third generation?”
Lin Feng said, “If there’s anyone with potential that all of you spot, you can accept that person under you. The Successive Disciples will have the autonomy to choose. Firstly, they will choose between all of you. As to how all of you want to arrange, I shall leave all of you to decide on your own.”
As he said, he looked at Xiao Yan and said, “This Sect-Opening Ceremony involves many guests and it is a gathering of the elites. Besides the competition between the junior disciples, all of you must also buck up. There are things for all of you to do.”
Xiao Yan smiled. Xiao Yan, Wang Lin, Shi Tianhao and the rest naturally knew what he meant.
This gathering was just like an alliance that the Celestial Sect of Wonders organized together. He used a more peaceful method to display his prowess and shock the others. He wanted to deepen the status of the Celestial Sect of Wonders in the Divine Lands.
Besides the competition between the junior disciples, there was also bound to be some sparring between the more powerful elders.
Lin Feng looked at Xiao Yan and laughed, “Your girlfriend must come too.”
As Xiao Yan heard this, he started laughing, “She should be here soon.”
“Then go and fetch her.” Lin Feng gestured and Xiao Yan bowed towards him before leaving.
Xiao Yan descended Mount Yujing and proceeded towards the southern direction of Yun Peak. As he passed by the Cloud Mirror City, his expression changed and he lowered his head. He saw something walking over at the Cloud Mirror City.
“Ethereal Mountain Sect?” Xiao Yan could recognize Wu Yunliang and Meng Chaoran.
Under normal circumstances, external guests would be brought to Yun Peak directly. Those who were fit to meet Lin Feng would be brought up to Mount Yujing. After Lin Feng met them, they would then return to Yun Peak to settle down.
But there were some guests who wanted to roam the Cloud Mirror City and see the Mirror Lake. This was also allowed. The Celestial Sect of Wonders dedicated some people to do this job.
A young man who was around 20 plus years old was following the cultivators from the Ethereal Mountain Sect as they roamed around the Cloud Mirror City.
This young man wore a tight-fitting costume and there were Taiji diagrams sewed onto his costume. There were white lines on the cuffs of it that formed the image of a huge tornado.
Although he was only in the Foundation Establishment Stage, Wu Yunliang and Meng Chaoran did not dare to despise him. They talked to him very politely.
While the young man was not that old, he received the guests with courtesy.
Xiao Yan looked at this scene and laughed in his heart, “Xiao Huanzi has grown up. When I first saw him, he was still a kid.”
The young man following Wu Yunliang and Meng Chaoran was Zhao Huan, the Immediate Disciple of Yue Hongyan. He was held captive by the Hundred Herbs Sect in the past and was almost cultivated into a Mortal Spiritual Elixir.
After receiving Lin Feng’s help and he joined the Celestial Sect of Wonders, he passed the test and became a Successive Disciple.
His potential was over drafted. Although he had the guidance of Lin Feng, Kang Nanhua and the rest, he could at most form the yellow pill. There was no more progress for him in the future. This was the outcome that most expected.
There were very few people whose Determination and Intelligence were outstanding such that they could change fate.
Zhao Huan was an outstanding person. As his cultivation realm increased, it would be faster than Xu Yunsheng and the rest. But fortune and disaster were closely connected. If he increased his cultivation blindly, he might face a disaster.
That was why under Yue Hongyan’s guidance, he intentionally repressed the development of his powers. He proceeded slowly. Although he seemed slow now, he changed his fate.
Zhao Huan promoted to the Intermediate Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage and established a spiritual altar, which was in the second-grade. If there were no errors in his cultivation of the crucible in the next step, he might be able to attain a purple pill when he formed the Aurous Core.
Right now, Zhao Huan had shaken away all his shadows and grew up. He was no longer the weak self that he used to be. In front of Wu Yunliang and Meng Chaoran, he was not submissive.
Behind Meng Chaoran, a well-built and sharp youth followed the group as they moved forward. Except for the slight radiance flashing in one of his pupils, he seemed normal in other aspects.
But Xiao Yan felt a weird feeling as he saw this youth. It was as if the youth was like a hidden sword in the sword casket.
It was Chu Yang. He looked into the sky oddly and did not seem to make any discovery. He could not help but ponder in his heart, “Are my instincts wrong?”
He shook his head and placed his attention on the Cloud Mirror City.
Right now, the Cloud Mirror City did not look as barren as it used to be. There were many buildings that were constructed and looked very prosperous.
The streets were filled with people, animals and carts. There were shops on both sides of the streets.
“It is a new and prosperous city now.” Chu Yang observed the pedestrians, “Not only are there cultivators, there are also many people in the streets who are normal people.”
Although it was deep in the mountains, the formation that Lin Feng set up to transport people through space prevented this place from being isolated. The transport was very smooth.
There were two formations, one in the northern and one in the southern direction. They were connected to Shazhou County and the Celestial Wonders World. As the three places were connected, the movement of people and things was very integrated.
The west of the city had another formation. It was a spiritual formation that gathered the spiritual energy of the Heavens and Earth into this place. Although it was not as powerful as the formation on Yun Peak, its effects were obvious too. The spiritual energy gathered nourished everyone in the city.
Cultivators could use it to cultivate while the normal people could live longer because of its natural nourishing effect.
Besides the families of the disciples of the sect, there were many others who also moved over here to live. After the Celestial Sect of Wonders screened them, they were allowed to settle down here.
Over these years, the development of the Cloud Mirror City had given it a new look. Because the Celestial Sect of Wonders was in charge of the place, many people from Shazhou County started to move over here. The Pavilion of Heavenly Trade also set up another branch of theirs in this city, causing it to become more prosperous.
Many medium-sized and small-sized sects in Mount Kunlun also liked coming over here and socializing with the outside world. As they exported the resources of Mount Kunlun, they also imported resources from the outside world.
Everything progressed smoothly and gave these smaller sects more insurance while reducing the problems they faced. Without even leaving Mount Kunlun, they could engage in trade and did not have to be bullied by other great powers.
This also allowed them to unite closer to the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
“However, the most annoying thing of the Celestial Sect of Wonders was the imprecise location of Mount Yujing. Many people could not find them easily.”
“But now, with the Cloud Mirror City and the Celestial Wonders World, although there was rapid development and their influence was growing, they also presented a target that their enemies could act on. If someone wanted to cause destruction, there is a way now.” Chu Yang thought, “Although the core of the Celestial Sect of Wonders is still on Mount Yujing, the destruction of the Cloud Mirror City and the Celestial Wonders World will waste their efforts over the past few years.”
Chu Yang observed the pedestrian streets of the Cloud Mirror City, “This is the path that made the sect become even stronger and powerful, but this path will present to them many hidden troubles too. The overall gains or losses can’t be determined now, but we shall see how they will manage things.”
As he thought till here, Chu Yang was a bit lost. As he looked into the skies, although he knew Mount Yujing might not be there, he could not help but stare into the skies.
“Qingwu…” Chu Yang took in a deep breath and looked at a middle-aged man whose back just flashed past him.
That was his Second Elder Uncle, who was a core figure in the Ethereal Mountain Sect.
Previously, he was a pawn placed in the Ethereal Mountain Sect by Wu Qingrou. In Chu Yang’s memory, the destruction of the Ethereal Mountain Sect had something to do with him.
And now…
Chu Yang continued to follow him. As his scanned the streets of the Cloud Mirror City, there were only pure appreciation and curiosity in his eyes.