Chapter 281: Chapter 228 Departure!
The meeting adjourned.
Chen Jichuan returned to Qingniu Peak from Flame Light Peak and summoned twelve disciples, including Li Ji and Gu Zhengyang, as well as twenty-two late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators like Ding Xuan and Lu Daren.
These people were all recruited by him during his time at Nine Yang Island.
Among them, Li Ji, Gu Zhengyang, and the others were selected from the Heaven Mending Sect Outer Disciples. They possessed decent talents, were diligent in learning, and cultivated arduously.
Promising talents deserving cultivation.
However, each of them had only joined the sect recently, with most of them cultivating for merely thirty to forty years. The majority remained stuck in the Innate Realm, except for Li Ji, Gu Zhengyang, Liu Han, and Chu Zhongyou, who had distinguished themselves by breaking through and becoming Qi Refinement cultivators.
But unfortunately.
These four individuals were merely at the Early Stage of Qi Refinement and were unlikely to reach late-stage Qi Refinement before the age of a hundred. Achieving True Inheritor status seemed out of reach.
Yet this was fairly typical.
In the vast Heaven Mending Sect, with tens of thousands of disciples, only over four hundred managed to make it onto the Immortal List. Even though Chen Jichuan had carefully selected twelve disciples, the number was too small to produce a True Inheritor easily.
He wasn’t too demanding, however.
Besides these disciples.
Ding Xuan, Lu Daren, and others were already in the late-stage of Qi Refinement. Some of them were previously Heaven Mending Sect True Inheritors but couldn’t break through to Second-order before turning two hundred, and so transitioned to stewards within the sect.
Take Ding Xuan, for example.
Others, like Lu Daren, failed to advance to late-stage Qi Refinement before reaching a hundred years old, unable to qualify for True Inheritor ranking, ending up as miscellaneous disciples or third-class stewards.
The Heaven Mending Sect was structured into Six Halls and Thirty-Six Peaks, with even more detailed hierarchies below, operating under a rigid system.
Sect Master, Grand Elder, and the Six Hall Masters naturally held the highest positions.
Below them were the Thirty-Six Peak Masters and Six Hall Chamber Elders, such as Luo Pu from the Five Directions Hall and True Person Jiulong from Danyi Hall, possessing high cultivation and lofty status.
Further below were regular Second-order cultivators.
This included figures like Chen Jichuan, Cui Xiong, Zhu Yu, and Li Yun’ai, all acting as Dharma Protecting Elders. Similarly, at the subordinate levels of the Peak Masters were various Transmission and Law Enforcement Elders.
Their cultivation and status were equally significant.
Separate from the Six Halls and Thirty-Six Peaks system were auxiliary sects like the Nine Refinement Immortal Mansion, whose sect leaders and masters often had statuses equivalent to the Heaven Mending Sect Dharma Protecting Elders or Thirty-Six Peak Elders.
These positions were all occupied by Second-order True Persons.
Below them were the Qi Refinement cultivators.
Including Hall Masters, Deacon Elders, Third-class Stewards, Third-class Chiefs, miscellaneous disciples, etc.
Take Chen Jichuan, for example.
As a Dharma Protecting Elder of the Five Directions Hall, he was entitled to oversee five ’Hall Master’ positions and twenty-five ’Deacon Elder’ roles. This brought him not only substantial stipends but also numerous privileges.
However, whether Hall Masters or Deacon Elders, competition was fierce.
Consequently.
Many late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators like Ding Xuan and Lu Daren could only hold Second-class or even Third-class Steward titles. Forget Hall Masters or Deacon Elders; even reaching First-class Steward was out of reach.
Thus.
When Chen Jichuan ascended to Second-order, was promoted to Dharma Protecting Elder of the Five Directions Hall, and took charge of Nine Yang Island, many late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators eagerly sought to serve under him.
Everyone knew that as a newly promoted elder, Chen Jichuan had few capable subordinates. The earlier they pledged loyalty, the more promising their future prospects.
...
Leaving the cave mansion.
Ding Xuan, Lu Daren, and others traveled in groups of twos and threes, gathering to quietly discuss. Among them, some were doubtful, others apprehensive, but a few were visibly enthusiastic.
Ding Xuan belonged to the latter category.
"Brother Lu,"
"It’s said that treasures abound in the ’Earth Cave,’ and the sect has reaped substantial gains in recent years. However, the control over it is too strict, so we haven’t been able to access it. Who would have thought this time True Person Dai would personally venture into the Earth Cave? This could be a monumental opportunity for fortune! Perhaps we might even stumble upon a chance to soar upward and achieve True Person status!"
Fire burned in Ding Xuan’s heart.
Although he had spent years on Nine Yang Island, he was far from isolated and kept himself well-informed about the sect’s happenings.
Surviving for people like him meant always being sharp to the sect’s news.
Day and night, he yearned to ascend to Second-order or achieve wealth and status, making him highly alert to every piece of information. And the Heaven Mending Sect was precisely where all kinds of intelligence converged. Without it, given their cultivation level, they would merely be minor overlords wherever they went. Those without ambition had long petitioned for transfers outside the sect.
Thus.
The news of the ’Earth Cave,’ though not yet widely spread, had already been meticulously investigated by eager disciples like Ding Xuan.
Lu Daren undoubtedly was no exception.
"The ’Earth Cave’ is indeed a rare opportunity for us. However, I’ve heard that it’s fraught with dangers. Plus, the Earth Cave we’re heading to this time is of Second-order, meaning it will undoubtedly be populated by Second-order Evil Gods and Demon Kings. This won’t be like the low-level Earth Caves mentioned in the sect rumors. We must stay utterly vigilant."
Lu Daren’s eyes gleamed as he viewed this expedition as a chance to ascend to Second-order.
Unlike Ding Xuan.
Lu Daren was slower to grasp the path early on, stuck at the Early Stage of Qi Refinement before turning one hundred and unable to become a True Inheritor of the sect. It was only after a century that he started truly progressing, his cultivation advancing rapidly. Now, at a little over two hundred years, he had reached the Qi Refinement Tenth Layer, no weaker than Ding Xuan, with only one last step remaining to Second-order.
Yet this final step trapped countless talents, and Lu Daren lacked confidence.
If he could enter the ’Earth Cave’ and spend nearly a century in rigorous cultivation, his hopes of breaking through would significantly increase, fueling his anticipation.
The more hopeful he felt, the more cautious he became.
Having missed becoming a True Inheritor, unlike Ding Xuan and others who once enjoyed prominence, Lu Daren spent the past century experiencing the ups and downs of interpersonal dynamics, which shaped a more reserved personality.
"Brother Lu is correct."
"True Person Dai instructed us to recruit some more chiefs and miscellaneous disciples for contingency. I might as well take this chance to visit a few friends for assistance, borrow some Magical Treasures and Pills, just in case we’re underprepared when the time comes."
Ding Xuan smiled at Lu Daren, visibly eager.
"Precisely my thought."
Lu Daren nodded with a smile.
The two were brimming with anticipation and immediately descended the mountain, each going their separate ways to contact allies.
...
The Heaven Mending Sect ranked among the Seven Immortal Sects of Central Continent, truly a behemoth.
This time.
The sect’s high-ranking members placed great emphasis on the ’Earth Cave.’ Once mobilized, the Heaven Mending Sect demonstrated terrifying power.
It wasn’t just the Heaven Mending Sect, though.
All Seven Immortal Sects were captivated by the ’Earth Cave’ and mobilized jointly, turning the vast Central Continent and even the entire Slaughter Ring Sea upside down.
Certainly, Chen Jichuan operated orderly.
He managed the affairs of Qingniu Peak, left behind eight disciples who hadn’t reached the Qi Refinement Realm, and took the other four disciples along with Ding Xuan, Lu Daren, and other twenty-two Second-class and Third-class stewards, heading to Flame Light Peak, where they joined Luo Pu and others. Gathering together at the mountain gates, they joined forces with True Person Jiulong of Danyi Hall, accompanied by several Dharma Protecting Elders from Danyi Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, and Examination Hall, embarking upon Mount Tailao in mighty formation.
...
A fleet sailed through the skies majestically.
Standing on the deck of a ship, Chen Jichuan gazed at the surrounding scenery, processing information about the ’Earth Cave.’
"According to the intelligence distributed by the sect, the Second-order Earth Cave contains numerous Evil Gods and Demon Kings, each occupying a mountain or a plain, commanding hundreds or thousands of minions and claws, along with tens of thousands of devotees—a chaotic interplay of forces."
"Moreover, the area is vast and sparsely populated, making it difficult to investigate thoroughly in a short time."
"The sect’s current plan is for each Dharma Protecting Elder to secure a mountain, offering mutual support, and then gradually extend outward. On one hand, solidly tapping into various Earth Cave resources while, on the other hand, probing intelligence."
This time, Chen Jichuan brought plenty of subordinates.
Including four Qi Refinement disciples, Ding Xuan, Lu Daren, many stewards, miscellaneous disciples in the Early Stage of Qi Refinement, and mid-stage managers.
Altogether, his team of Qi Refinement cultivators amounted to nearly two hundred.
This was just under his command alone.
Among Luo Pu’s six Dharma Protecting Elders, the other five were more senior, commanding even more capable and elite subordinates, surpassing Chen Jichuan both in number and quality.
"What incredible depth."
Witnessing the Heaven Mending Sect’s mobilization left Chen Jichuan in awe.
Under his jurisdiction alone, he rivaled the sizeable Nine Refinement Immortal Mansion. As one of the Seven Immortal Sects, the sect’s enormity was indisputable.
...
"True Person Dai,"
"Come quickly! Luo Pu has some seniors to introduce."
Chen Jichuan was engrossed in thought when Luo Pu summoned him. On arrival at Luo Pu’s ship, it was bustling with activity.
Among them, Chen Jichuan recognized the Five Directions Hall personnel, led by Luo Pu, followed by Dharma Protecting Elders Zhu Yu, Li Yun’ai, Sun Ji, Sima Han, and Wu Yunshan.
Yet several others were unfamiliar.
Luo Pu introduced him enthusiastically, from the Dharma Protecting Elders of Danyi Hall, Examination Hall, and Law Enforcement Hall to one vibrant old man: "This is True Person Jiulong of Danyi Hall, a master of formations. Although you haven’t met, since you’ve spent thirty years on Nine Yang Island, you must be familiar with his work."
"Honored to meet Senior Jiulong."
"I’ve long admired your ’Nine Dragons Embrace Nine Yangs Burning Truth Formation’ on Nine Yang Island."
Hearing the introduction, Chen Jichuan immediately gave the elder a respectful bow.
True Person Jiulong was affiliated with Danyi Hall yet specialized not in alchemy but in formations, achieving Formation Master-level expertise. In the Heaven Mending Sect, fewer than ten individuals could surpass him in this field.
Chen Jichuan had personally experienced the formidable formation on Nine Yang Island.
The very formation was something Jiulong True Person had arranged in his younger years. With his formation skills further advanced, redoing it would undoubtedly heighten its power substantially.
Although Chen Jichuan primarily focused on cultivation, alchemy, and artifact refining now and had no time for formation studies, befriending a formation master was unquestionably advantageous.
From what he learned.
True Person Jiulong was in his twilight years. Building a connection with him now might even lead to pivotal insights when he eventually departed.
"True Person Dai, you’re too kind."
Despite his advanced age, True Person Jiulong’s voice was robust and full of vitality. Cheerful and approachable, he smiled at Chen Jichuan. "Though I’ve been grounded in formation studies, I’ve heard of how our sect produced a real talent like you—dominant on the Immortal Leaderboard for a hundred years and capable of killing five Second-order demons while still in the Qi Refinement Realm. Truly remarkable!"
True Person Jiulong looked at Chen Jichuan with eyes and demeanor filled with admiration.
As someone close to his lifespan limit, with no contention left in his heart, he harbored goodwill toward promising newcomers like Chen Jichuan.
"I dare not accept such praise."
"Senior’s formations are transcendent, a match for thousands. You’re renowned far and wide, while I’m just a lone cultivator. I’ll surely seek your guidance in the future."
Chen Jichuan, adept at handling interactions, flattered appropriately.
Having ascended to Second-order recently, he lacked many established relationships.
This time, the opportunity to travel alongside esteemed sect members, coupled with Luo Pu and Jiulong True Person’s deliberate intent to foster camaraderie among them, became an opportune moment for building rapport.
As conversation flowed.
They bonded quickly.
Time flew by.
Two months passed in a flash.
...