The weight of Xu Tianran's decree settled over the grand hall like an unshakable mountain.
The declaration that Jiang Feng, Tie Shan, and Yan Ruyue were now elders of the Void Immortal Sect sent ripples of unease through the other elders. Wei Qingfeng, Song Bai, and Huang Zhenhai exchanged sharp glances. Even though the Void Immortal Sect had changed drastically in recent days, this decision was difficult to accept.
Wei Qingfeng stepped forward, his expression composed but his tone carrying an unmistakable edge.
"Sect Master," he began, bowing slightly, "these three were once notorious bandit leaders. Making them disciples was already a bold move, but elevating them directly to elders—this is unprecedented. Should we not first observe their loyalty and capabilities?"
Song Bai, known for his bluntness, grunted in agreement. "I have no issue with strength, but being an elder isn't just about power. It's about responsibility. Trust. Can we trust them yet?"
Huang Zhenhai, remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Sect Master, I do not doubt your wisdom, but such a sudden shift will be difficult for the sect to accept. Some may question whether our traditions are being abandoned."
The hall grew tense. The bandit leaders themselves remained silent, their expressions unreadable. They knew their pasts made them unworthy in the eyes of these long-established sect elders. But they also knew that defying Xu Tianran here would be foolish beyond measure.
Xu Tianran's gaze remained calm, yet the pressure in the hall grew suffocating. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the weight of absolute authority.
"The Void Immortal Sect is no longer the same sect you once knew." His tone was unwavering, and his piercing eyes silenced any further protest. "Strength rules the cultivation world, and I do not have the patience for outdated sentiments. They have already proven their worth on the battlefield. If they intended to betray us, they had ample opportunity. Instead, they fought and bled for the sect. That is all that matters."
The air was thick with unspoken thoughts.
Xu Tianran leaned back slightly, his presence filling the hall. "You ask if they are trustworthy. I ask in return—who among you can stand against them if they were not?"
That statement silenced even the most stubborn dissent. The truth was undeniable. Tie Shan alone, with his brute force, could overpower most elders. Jiang Feng's swordplay was precise and deadly. And Yan Ruyue, despite her playful demeanor, was the most terrifying of them all when she chose to be.
Huang Zhenhai sighed, bowing his head slightly. "I understand, Sect Master. If this is your will, we will accept it."
Wei Qingfeng and Song Bai exchanged glances before nodding as well. They were elders, yes, but they were not reckless enough to challenge their Sect Master's authority.
Xu Tianran nodded. "Good. Then let this matter be settled."
Now turning to Jiang Feng, Tie Shan, and Yan Ruyue, he added, "Even as elders, your subordinates will remain under your command. The bandit forces that have sworn loyalty to you will remain your direct responsibility. Their strength will bolster our sect, but it is your duty to ensure they do not stray from our path."
Jiang Feng bowed slightly, his voice calm. "Understood, Sect Master."
Tie Shan grinned, pounding his chest. "You can count on me!"
Yan Ruyue smirked, eyes gleaming. "Oh? A personal army? How delightful."
Xu Tianran turned his attention back to the matters at hand.
Yan Ruyue stepped forward, pulling out several storage rings and tossing them lightly into the air. They floated toward Xu Tianran, who caught them effortlessly. "Everything we looted from the battle is in there," she said casually. "Weapons, artifacts, and of course… quite a few spirit stones."
Xu Tianran swept his divine sense through the rings. His brow lifted slightly—there were far more low-grade spirit stones than he expected.
"A decent haul," he remarked. "But this confirms something—the Ironwood Sect was truly weak."
His gaze shifted to Huang Zhenhai. "Tell me everything about the sects involved in this empire. Their structure, their rankings, and the empire's true power."
Huang Zhenhai nodded, stepping forward.
"The Cangyuan Empire (苍原帝国) is vast, and while sects compete for dominance, the Imperial Family holds supreme authority. Even the most powerful sects do not dare to defy them directly. The empire controls its strength through a combination of military might, elite enforcers, and secret imperial techniques."
He continued, "Sects are ranked according to their strength.
10 Supreme Sects (Rank 1-10): The true rulers of the cultivation world, second only to the empire itself.
13 Higher Sects (Rank 11-23): Respected, but they still answer to the empire.
17 Mid-Tier Sects (Rank 24-40): Powerful, but lacking direct imperial connections.
20 Lower Sects (Rank 41-60): Weak, replaceable, and often used as pawns in larger conflicts."
"The Ironwood Sect was Rank 59. Almost at the very bottom."
Xu Tianran leaned back, deep in thought.
"So the empire has grown stronger, not weaker, during my time in seclusion. Before, they were not so dominant… but now, they rule with an iron grip. And for them, the destruction of a single Lower Sect is insignificant."
His gaze swept the hall. "We will destroy the Ironwood Sect later. But first, our own strength must rise. The empire will not care if a single Lower Sect disappears, but if we show true power—if we make them acknowledge us—then our path will truly begin."
The elders and disciples in the hall straightened, their eyes burning with determination. "Understood, Sect Master!"
Xu Tianran then waved his hand, summoning several jades. "Before we take our next step, you must all become stronger. I will not tolerate weakness in my ranks."
He distributed them carefully.
Wei Qingfeng, Song Bai, and Huang Zhenhai each received a Profound Rank martial art, causing their eyes to widen in disbelief.
Jiang Feng, Tie Shan, and Yan Ruyue each received an Earth Rank technique—something that could reshape their combat styles entirely.
The Seven Elite Bandits were given Profound Rank techniques, making them even deadlier.
The moment they accepted their arts, silence filled the hall. The weight of these gifts was not lost on them.
Song Bai exhaled sharply. "These… are treasures that even Mid-Tier sects would fight over."
Xu Tianran's voice was calm but commanding. "Learn them well. Only then can we move forward."
Just as the crowd began to disperse, Xu Tianran raised a hand once more.
"Wait."
The hall fell still again. Even the air seemed to tighten.
From his sleeve, a dozen jade slips floated into the air—sleek and faintly luminous, their glow revealing traces of dense, refined energy sealed within.
Unlike martial techniques, these were different. Cultivation arts—the kind that determined a person's potential, their ceiling, their very strength.
Xu Tianran did not speak of their names. He gave no long explanations. Instead, the jade slips shot through the air, landing in the hands of those he had chosen.
To Wei Qingfeng, Song Bai, and Huang Zhenhai—veteran elders with sharp instincts.
To Jiang Feng, Tie Shan, and Yan Ruyue—newly appointed, yet already pillars of might.
To the Seven Elite Bandits, each now more soldier than brigand.
To Lin Shaoyang, who caught the slip in stunned silence.
And finally, to the three disciples who had stood beside Lin Shaoyang in battle, now clutching the slips with solemn hands.
"These," Xu Tianran said, his voice like rolling thunder in a quiet storm, "will shape your strength. Train well."
No one moved. The weight of the jade slips in their hands was more than just spiritual—it was symbolic. A challenge. A responsibility.
They all lowered their heads. And accepted.
With that, the meeting was adjourned, and the hall slowly emptied.
In Ling Hua's Quarters
Ling Hua sat cross-legged, recovering from her poison. Though her body was healing, her mind was restless.
"I was too weak… If I had been stronger, I would not have fallen to such a pathetic poison. As the First Direct Disciple of the Sect Master, I must not allow such weakness."
As she was deep in thought, the door opened.
Xu Tianran entered, his gaze calm. "You performed well in battle."
Ling Hua bowed. "But I was still too weak."
Xu Tianran studied her for a long moment before raising his hand. A slender, radiant sword emerged from his storage ring.
The air shifted. Moonlight coalesced around the blade's surface, flowing like mist over water. The temperature in the room seemed to dip, and the faint hum of suppressed power filled the silence.
Lunar Veil (月华纱剑) – Sky-Grade.
Ling Hua's breath caught. The blade was elegant yet deadly, exuding an aura of ethereal sharpness.
Xu Tianran extended it toward her. "This is yours now. Wield it well."
The moment her fingers brushed the hilt, an unfamiliar sensation surged through her veins. Cold. Silent. Limitless. Like the moon cutting through eternal night.
Her grip tightened. This was not just a weapon—it was a burden, a test, a promise.
Xu Tianran's gaze lingered. "Prove yourself,"
With a flick of his wrist, another jade slip appeared—this one delicate, with a faint silvery gleam, as though infused with the essence of moonlight itself.
He turned to face her again.
"I created this for you," he said.
Born from my own path—but refined for yours. It carries a fragment of my foundation, woven into a form you can cultivate safely."
Ling Hua's eyes widened slightly, her hands moving slowly as she received it.
"Moonveil Flow Scripture (月纱流经) — Heaven Rank."
His voice was calm, but carried with it an unmistakable finality.
"A cultivation method that mirrors the moon—graceful, flowing, serene. It tempers the spirit like moonlight on water—calm, fluid, ever-flowing."
As she took it into her hands, the weight of it settled into her bones.
A sword.
A method.
Both given by him.
Xu Tianran's gaze lingered for a moment. "You fell once. That ends here."
And with that, he turned and vanished, his presence fading like a wind passing through silk.
The room fell quiet once more.
Ling Hua sat still, staring down at the jade slip. Her fingers slowly tightened around it.
She pressed it to her forehead—and in a rush, Moonveil Flow Scripture flowed into her mind. Its diagrams were delicate, like calligraphy made of moonlight. The structure was fluid, beautiful, endlessly precise.
The trembling in her heart calmed.
She looked down at the Lunar Veil sword beside her, then back to the jade slip.
"I won't need saving again."