"A union of sects, a fusion of the Righteous and Demon Paths! This is absurd!" declared Ding Chaomu, his expression grim.
He never imagined the Supreme Sword Sect would issue such an order. More significantly, the Western Region now recognized the Grand Heaven Sect as supreme. This meant his Hengtian Sect would be subject to the Grand Heaven Sect's rule. How could he possibly accept that?
Their relationship was already strained. Now, he was expected to unconditionally bow to them and obey their commands. With the flimsiest excuse, they could hinder the Hengtian Sect, even to the point of complete dissolution.
If the power struggles among Demon Path Sects were brutally barbaric, then the conflicts between Righteous Sects were rife with insidious plots and schemes—the kind where one could be devoured without a trace, all under a veneer of civility.
"Sect Leader, we must send a letter to the Supreme Sword Sect! We cannot let the Grand Heaven Sect succeed!" the Great Elder exclaimed, equally displeased. The merger of Righteous and Demon Paths was a secondary concern; after all, they were already competitors, their struggles overt. If they united, they would likely just ignore each other. However, the Grand Heaven Sect ascending above them posed a grave danger.
"The Supreme Sword Sect wouldn't care," Ding Chaomu said, quickly regaining his composure. Although their Hengtian Sect had developed rapidly, becoming a major sect in the Western Region within just a few thousand years, and he himself, an Immortal Emperor under ten thousand years of age, was already considered a prodigy, it was precisely because their history was so short that in the eyes of the Supreme Sword Sect, they lacked true foundation. They were seen as upstarts—too inexperienced and unreliable to be taken seriously.
The truth is, the Hengtian Sect is not inferior to the Grand Heaven Sect at all. Given another thousand years, the Hengtian Sect would have claimed the Grand Heaven Sect's status. Unfortunately, a thousand years is a luxury we don't have.
"Then... what should we do?" Hearing Ding Chaomu's words and explanation, the Great Elder understood the Hengtian Sect's disadvantage compared to the Grand Heaven Sect in this regard.
"There is a way. If I break through to the Immortal Sovereign Realm, then even if the Grand Heaven Sect is supposed to govern the Hengtian Sect, that authority will be nullified," Ding Chaomu declared, gritting his teeth. He knew the key to resolving this wasn't the Supreme Sword Sect. Even if he personally went to lobby them, it would be futile.
However, if he were an Immortal Sovereign, no matter how strong the Grand Heaven Sect was—limited as they were to the Immortal Emperor Realm—they would be powerless against him. By then, even if the Supreme Sword Sect's directive stood, the Grand Heaven Sect's authority would be an empty shell.
The Supreme Sword Sect didn't care who administered the sects of the Western Region, as long as those sects obeyed the Supreme Sword Sect's orders.
"Is... is the Sect Leader certain?" The Great Elder was somewhat dazed. An Immortal Emperor under ten thousand years old is already an immense talent. If he truly succeeds in breaking through, an Immortal Sovereign under ten thousand years old... there are probably few such individuals in the entire Central Territory. This is simply monstrous!
"I have seventy percent confidence!" Ding Chaomu stated. According to my original plan, I would only attempt a breakthrough once I had ninety-nine percent certainty. After all, I'm still young. But the current situation has forced my hand; there's no other choice.
"Truly!" The Great Elder snapped out of his daze, his expression filled with joyous surprise. Seventy percent! If I had even a ten percent chance of a breakthrough, I'd gamble on it. The Sect Leader's seventy percent confidence is practically a guarantee. It seems our Sect Leader is just overly cautious.
"Since the Sect Leader possesses such confidence, then I shall lend you my strength," the Great Elder said, gritting his teeth, a pained look on his face as he spoke.
This puzzled Ding Chaomu. How could the Great Elder, who was at the peak of the initial stage of the Immortal Emperor Realm and had reached Great Fulfillment, possibly help him?
"A month ago, I chanced upon a scroll titled 'Xuandu One Breath Skill.' It can channel the Wisdom of Heaven and Earth, increasing the probability of breaking through to the Immortal Sovereign Realm by twenty percent."
"Initially, I intended to verify its authenticity myself and present it to you before your breakthrough. Unfortunately, the timing is a bit off; I haven't yet validated this method."
The Great Elder handed a scroll detailing the cultivation technique to Ding Chaomu.
Ding Chaomu accepted it without refusal. He knew this was likely just an excuse from the Great Elder, who probably never intended to give it to him. However, his own decisive stance had prompted this timely offer—a gift in a time of need is far better than one given when things are already flourishing. That's why he's offering it now. Whether it's genuine or not doesn't matter too much; the Great Elder wouldn't dare deceive me with a fake.
He quickly scanned the "Xuandu One Breath Skill," his face alight with excitement. Indeed, the Great Elder had underestimated this secret method. The 'Xuandu One Breath Skill' not only increased the breakthrough probability by twenty percent but, if the breakthrough was successful on the first attempt, it also granted an infusion of the Wisdom of Heaven and Earth. Comprehending this would allow one to obtain a Heavenly Law, and an exceedingly powerful one at that. The Great Elder, due to his own limitations, hadn't grasped this hidden aspect. Ding Chaomu's ability to reach the Immortal Emperor Realm at such a young age was a testament to his exceptional comprehension.
"This method is indeed mystical. There's an eighty percent chance it's genuine. If the Great Elder is willing, please allow me to study it for some time. I will return it after my breakthrough," Ding Chaomu said, having only given it a cursory read without deep comprehension yet.
"It's merely a secret scroll; it's no trouble at all to gift it to the Sect Leader," the Great Elder said with magnanimity.
He wasn't worried Ding Chaomu would covet the secret method. Once Ding Chaomu broke through to the Immortal Sovereign Realm, this technique would be useless to him. By then, it would be worth less than a scrap of cloth in Ding Chaomu's eyes. Besides, I've already memorized its contents. As long as I deepen my understanding, possessing the physical scroll makes little difference.
"A gift is unnecessary. This item is mystical. If I accepted it, wouldn't it seem like I'm coveting your fortuitous encounter?" Ding Chaomu declined directly. It wasn't that he didn't value it, but accepting it could tarnish his reputation. As a Sect Leader, reputation was paramount, even if only superficially.
"Hahaha, Sect Leader, you worry too much," the Great Elder said, not pressing further. Truthfully, he was also afraid Ding Chaomu might take him at his word and not return it, which would be a huge loss for him.
Seeing Ding Chaomu put away the secret method, he then asked, "Sect Leader, while you are away for your breakthrough, how should our Hengtian Sect handle the provocations from the Grand Heaven Sect?"
If Ding Chaomu went into seclusion to break through to the Immortal Sovereign Realm, he naturally couldn't manage the Hengtian Sect's affairs. That responsibility would fall to him, the Great Elder.
As for a Supreme Elder, the Hengtian Sect, being a relatively new sect, didn't have one. When Ding Chaomu, the sect's strongest power, eventually stepped down as Sect Leader, he would become the Supreme Elder. Most Supreme Elders were the Founding Ancestors of their sects, hence the title "Ancestor." If Ding Chaomu later successfully retired to become the power behind the scenes, one who would extract every possible advantage for the sect, then he would also become the Hengtian Ancestor.
"This is indeed a challenge. If all goes smoothly, I will certainly break through within three months. During these three months, the Hengtian Sect is to maintain a low profile. If they come provoking, endure it as much as possible."
"If it becomes unbearable, wait for me to emerge from seclusion and take charge!"
Ding Chaomu outlined his strategy: essentially, to bide their time.
"But what if they go too far...?" the Great Elder asked again.
"No matter. In that case, you can feign great anger and spread the news that I've gone to the Supreme Sword Sect in the Central Territory to seek their judgment. Use this to stall them," Ding Chaomu continued.
The crux was to delay. Whether by enduring silently or by making the other party wary with false information, they just needed to buy three months. Once he emerged, all problems would be resolved.
"Yes, Sect Leader," the Great Elder replied. Enduring for a while—I can do that.
"Good. Then I entrust the Hengtian Sect to you." After speaking, Ding Chaomu departed from the Hengtian Sect. He naturally wouldn't choose to break through within the sect grounds but would find a secure location.
He was the strongest in the entire Hengtian Sect. If he attempted his breakthrough here and news leaked, the Grand Heaven Sect might try to sabotage him. If they attacked at a critical moment, not only would his breakthrough fail, but he could also suffer a severe backlash and be gravely injured. Therefore, the best approach was to find an unknown, safe place—a location unknown even to his closest confidants within the sect. Only then would it be truly secure.
"The Sect Leader is truly decisive, commanding our admiration," the Great Elder couldn't help but sigh. Three months to break through? That's incredibly fast! If it were me, it would probably take years, even decades—and that's just for the breakthrough process itself. The preparations beforehand would likely take hundreds of years. "No wonder the Sect Leader is such a prodigy, while I'm still stuck at the initial stage of the Immortal Emperor Realm. Alas."
He then mused internally, Perhaps it's precisely because I've lost that courageous spirit of relentless advancement that I'm still meticulously refining my cultivation, unable to break through to the middle stage of the Immortal Emperor Realm even now.
