A complete path is far easier to walk than an incomplete one. This is especially true for a path that others have already trodden.
For those with few options, obtaining such a complete path was exhilarating. This was the source of the excitement filling the Council Pavilion.
"For this, you all have the Merak Sacred Land to thank, along with Sect Leader Liu and Elder Lü!"
Gu An continued.
A single word of thanks, however, drew a clear line between them.
Within the Sect, one didn’t speak of thanks, but of contributions.
Some didn’t notice anything amiss, but others had already grasped the underlying meaning of his words.
"Sect Leader Gu is far more courteous than he used to be!"
Lü Zhenghai replied with a smile.
He, of course, understood the implication.
Before, they were all part of the Cyan Yuan Sect, but now they represented different parties.
Ostensibly, nothing had changed between them, but where their interests were concerned, a shift had already occurred.
It wasn’t a matter of who was right or wrong. It was simply that they now represented different factions.
One was concerned with the development of the Cyan Yuan Sect, the other with advancement within the Merak Sacred Land. Their perspectives were different, so naturally, their choices would differ as well.
Otherwise, the Cyan Yuan Sect wouldn’t have suffered such heavy losses before—losses from which it still hadn’t recovered. Of course, this was the case for all the major sects within the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty; none had escaped lightly.
Even with reparations from the Great Zhou Imperial Family, such compensation couldn’t make up for the sects’ losses. Cultivating Martial Arts Experts and Pharmacists took time. It required carefully selecting candidates from a vast pool of people.
It would take a very long time for the Cyan Yuan Sect to recover.
"I’ve gathered you all here today for a second matter."
"Elder Lü will be sharing some information about the situation within the Merak Sacred Land, which I’m sure you are all eager to hear."
"Elder Lü has spent a considerable amount of time there, so I trust he has much to report."
Gu An moved on to the second topic.
He wasn’t the only one paying attention; many within the Cyan Yuan Sect were just as focused on this.
The Holy Lands resided within Grotto Heavens. Their status was transcendent and shrouded in mystery, so few knew much about them.
Even the information shared through letters was sparse.
"With an introduction like that from Sect Leader Gu, if I don’t say enough, you’ll all think I’m just going through the motions!"
"Allow me to share what I’ve experienced during my time in the Merak Sacred Land."
Lü Zhenghai gave a wry smile and began to speak slowly.
He had, of course, returned to the Cyan Yuan Sect for a reason.
"The Holy Land is not a place of pure tranquility, nor is it the paradise one might imagine."
Lü Zhenghai said, noticing the confused looks on everyone’s faces.
"The Merak Sacred Land is built upon a Grotto Heaven. The Spiritual Qi is incredibly abundant, making it perfect for cultivating all sorts of Spirit Medicine and beneficial for Cultivation. However, beneath the Grotto Heaven, there also lies immense danger!"
"Beneath the Grotto Heaven exists an Alien Race, which the great Holy Lands call the Earth Demons!"
"They are intelligent beings born deep underground who contend with the Holy Lands for control over the Grotto Heavens. Large-scale battles break out frequently!"
Lü Zhenghai revealed a piece of information that stunned everyone.
Earth Demons... These creatures were completely unrecorded in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, and the Cyan Yuan Sect had no records of them either.
"Are they Demons?"
The Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall hurriedly asked.
"They are a type of humanoid creature. They are intelligent, with dark skin, two feet, and four hands. Their eyes can see clearly in the darkness; they are creatures of the night that frequently attempt to emerge from the underground."
"Sect Leader Liu previously sent a letter requesting that the Sect dispatch people to the Merak Sacred Land. It was precisely to deal with these Earth Demons."
"The Underground World is vast, and the number of these Earth Demons is immense. While most of them do not have high Cultivation, a defense is still necessary."
"Not long after becoming the Peak Master of Chiyu Peak in the Merak Sacred Land, Sect Leader Liu was assigned to guard a region, so he needed a great deal of manpower."
"As you know, we have only just joined the Merak Sacred Land and have yet to establish a firm foothold, which is why we need support from the Cyan Yuan Sect."
"Sect Leader Liu then took his people to stand guard. He only recently completed his assignment and learned of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s situation, at which point he specifically arranged for me to return."
As Lü Zhenghai slowly recounted the situation in the Merak Sacred Land, he also explained why no one had replied to their letters or sent support.
This explanation was also meant to quell the anger in the hearts of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s members.
The Merak Sacred Land had made a request, and the Cyan Yuan Sect had fulfilled it. But when the Cyan Yuan Sect sought protection, the Merak Sacred Land completely ignored them. This naturally bred resentment.
Furthermore, why should the Cyan Yuan Sect subordinate itself to a power that couldn’t even offer protection?
If being a subordinate was no different from being independent, why would they willingly put a yoke around their own necks?
Anyone could understand this reasoning.
Adults learn to weigh pros and cons, and those in power within the sects were masters of it.
"The situation within the Merak Sacred Land is not as simple as it seems; it’s quite complex."
"Sect Leader Liu’s appointment as the Peak Master of Chiyu Peak is related to the appearance of Taiyin Heaven within the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. It’s said that besides seeking opportunities for breakthroughs, the major Holy Lands were also searching for something else—something related to the realm above Martial Saint."
"I don’t know the specifics yet, as my current status doesn’t grant me access to that information. Sect Leader Liu might know something, but I imagine it’s because our Cultivation isn’t high enough that we don’t need to know. Perhaps we’ll be told in the future."
Lü Zhenghai continued.
He had revealed a great deal of information but had been sparse on the details.
"Hall Master Lü, we could have guessed some of what you were facing in the Holy Land, but we never imagined it would be this difficult!"
"Sigh... With the Great Zhou Imperial Family acting as they did, it was inevitable that the Cyan Yuan Sect, as part of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, would face this calamity."
Gu An heaved a long sigh, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
His expression was incredibly convincing.
Listening to all this, Yang Chan’s heart skipped a beat.
’This Holy Land seems even more turbulent than the Cyan Yuan Sect.’
’An Alien Race of Earth Demons... dark-skinned, four-handed, humanoid creatures of the night. That doesn’t sound simple at all.’
’And the Holy Land assigns people to deal with and suppress this Alien Race of Earth Demons. It must be incredibly dangerous, or they wouldn’t need to assign so many people.’
’Lü Zhenghai didn’t mention the number of casualties, but the very fact that he omitted it made it seem like the losses were even greater than one might imagine.’
’If the casualties were negligible, he would have surely mentioned it.’
’Entering the Holy Land right now doesn’t seem like a good choice. It would be better to stay in the Cyan Yuan Sect and continue my development for a while.’
’If I were assigned to fight these Earth Demons every day, I probably wouldn’t even have time for Refining or consuming Elixirs. Even if I did, the disruption would be significant, and my Daily Potential Point Collection would surely decrease.’
’Since I have the complete Bone Marrow Cleansing Technique, there’s no need to rush. My main priority is to contribute more to the Cyan Yuan Sect. It’s not like I’m afraid of the trouble in the Merak Sacred Land, of course.’