Born with immortal seed

Chapter 351 Inner Palace Ranks
Inside the inner hall, jade railings surround the steps, adorned with colorful dragon heads.

Unlike the grand and imposing outer hall, it is more exquisite and beautiful, with only a dozen or so private seats, nearly half of which are empty.

"Master Zhu, please rest for a moment. Uncle Bai will be here shortly."

The aloof and elegant female cultivator was neither arrogant nor haughty; her slender, fair wrists were as white as snow as she gracefully bowed and guided the way.

"Palace Master Long truly lives up to his reputation as a pillar among the rising stars of the Qingfeng Sect. You can't find a disciple with such a bearing and demeanor in the Danxia Sect."

Master Zhu slowly sat down, treating all Foundation Establishment juniors with great courtesy, showing none of the arrogance of a Core Formation cultivator.

In recent years, the Danxia Sect has faced considerable difficulties in its operations due to the Blood Demon Sect's indiscriminate and frenzied extermination campaigns.

Fortunately, Danxia Sect possesses more than half of the third-tier alchemists in the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world, giving it a special status within the Demon Extermination Alliance, ensuring that its disciples are not pushed into the most dangerous positions.

However, the Danxia Sect, which had already reached a private agreement with the Qingfeng Sect, had been using the cooperation between the two sects as a pretext to send dozens of disciples to live in the Black Mountain under the guise of exchanging alchemy techniques for several years.

Although Long Long, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, she held a high position and great power in the Qingfeng Sect and was also known for her beauty.

Even Master Zhu had long heard of her reputation and deliberately condescended to befriend her.

Now that True Monarch Ge Cang has successfully transformed into a Nascent Soul cultivator, he has changed his sect and established his own school, becoming the fourth Nascent Soul cultivator in the cultivation world of Liang Kingdom.

The Danxia Sect has made a decision to fully align itself with the Qingfeng Sect, even if it means becoming a subordinate alchemy sect.

Otherwise, if they were in the Demon Extermination Alliance, fighting against the Blood Demon Sect every day, and were constantly losing blood without a replenishment of fresh blood, such a large sect would soon weaken.

The Demon Extermination Alliance, which was initially very powerful, has been fighting fiercely for decades. Although several of its sects have not been breached, it can no longer withstand such brutal sect warfare.

More than half of the sect's core members were killed in battle, and the young disciples had no time to grow before being thrown into the battlefield like cannon fodder.

They are incorporated into the battle formation, serving as the foundation for providing magical power, operating numbly and mechanically.

Perhaps a casual strike from a Core Formation cultivator could overturn the entire battle formation and kill all the disciples.

The sects that suffered the most severe losses even had nearly zero newly established Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As a sect with a monopolistic advantage in alchemy, it is relatively easy for Danxia Sect to find a way out.

Compared to other Core Formation level sects, they even have room for negotiation.

Not only does it possess the most third-tier alchemists in Liang Kingdom, but it also boasts a vast collection of pill formulas and various common or rare spiritual herbs.

More importantly, it has a complete set of methods for training alchemists, as well as unique insights into the cultivation of spiritual herbs.

In addition, through the Pill King Conference and similar exchanges of high-level spiritual pills, the Danxia Sect has established a network of connections that spans the entire Northern Region.

Although it may not necessarily play a significant role, compared to the vast majority of Core Formation level sects that only have the vision of their own small plot of land, Danxia Sect's foundation and knowledge are far superior. Its disciples can usually find friendly sects with decent relations to help them when they travel to the four kingdoms.

When sect cultivators want to purchase rare spiritual items, this network of connections can also come in handy.

Aside from the few Nascent Soul factions in Liang Kingdom, Danxia Sect in other kingdoms can also find allies, and they would be willing to provide a third-tier spiritual vein and resolve all their worries for the arrival of an alchemy sect.

However, after unanimous discussion among the sect's elders, Master Zhu made the final decision, as described above.

Firstly, they are reluctant to leave their homeland and do not want to leave Liang Kingdom. On this basis, the reputation and credibility of Qingfeng Sect are definitely the best, so there is no need to worry about the phenomenon of crossing the river and then destroying the bridge or taking the opportunity to annex it.

Moreover, besides True Monarch Ge Cang, the Qingfeng Sect also has True Monarch Bai, whose talent and ability are equally outstanding.

This ensures that the Qingfeng Sect is not the kind of sect that suddenly rises to prominence by producing a genius cultivator, only to have no successors after hundreds of years, experiencing a brief period of brilliance that is just a flash in the pan.

Ice Soul Palace fits this situation perfectly. The reason why it doesn't have many allied forces is that everyone is worried that if True Lord Suihan were to pass away, would there be no cultivators in Ice Soul Palace who could stand up to support the family?

The Qingfeng Sect obviously doesn't have this problem; no one would think that Master Bai, who could reverse the Nascent Soul stage with his mid-stage Core Formation cultivation, would fail to transform into a Nascent Soul.

Even the most conservative cultivators have to admit that this True Man Bai has the potential to grow into a Great True Monarch and fill the current vacancy in the Northern Region.

"Which sect does that cultivator in front belong to?"

Master Zhu took his seat in the second private room. The head seat was occupied by a Foundation Establishment cultivator whose attire was unfamiliar.

Even with Master Zhu's extensive knowledge, he couldn't have imagined which sect in the Northern Region was like this.

The fact that this cultivator, with only Foundation Establishment cultivation, could sit in the chief position only indicates that the sect behind him is extraordinary, likely a representative of a Nascent Soul sect.

He didn't think that the locations where Longlong led the way were chosen randomly.

Looking back, apart from the man at the head of the table, all the other guests were Core Formation cultivators, and several of them looked familiar.

Master Zhu secretly estimated that, given his status as a peak third-tier alchemist and his mid-stage Core Formation cultivation, no one else could rank ahead of him.

“That’s Junior Brother Ma, from the Five Elements Sect… You probably haven’t heard of the Five Elements Sect, but it’s located far away in the Southern Region. It’s a brother sect of our sect, sharing the same lineage.”

Long Long didn't try to hide anything and spoke directly.

Apart from the Qingfeng Sect, the Five Elements Sect has absolutely no dealings with the Northern Region, and the Dian Kingdom is a desolate country even in the Southern Region.

It was in a similar position to the Liang Kingdom in the northern regions, a desolate borderland.

"I see……"

Master Zhu's heart stirred. Despite being from a Core Formation level sect and only representing Foundation Establishment disciples, the Qingfeng Sect still arranged for him to be placed at the head of the inner hall, ahead of all the other Core Formation masters.

This only shows that the relationship between the Five Elements Sect and the Azure Maple Sect is extraordinary and cannot be summarized as mere ally.

Even though this arrangement might provoke dissatisfaction among some Core Formation cultivators, the fact that the Qingfeng Sect still did it reveals something about their intentions.

The phrase "sharing the same breath and branches" is not something that just any two sects can use.

Especially for a sect like Qingfeng Sect, which adheres to the orthodox Taoist tradition, acts with integrity, and keeps its promises, its value is even more extraordinary.

Subsequently, several more cultivators were led into the inner hall, with half being Core Formation cultivators and half being Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were all assigned to the last few positions, without any exceptions, and were placed in front of the Core Formation cultivators.

Before the main figure arrived, several familiar Core Formation cultivators began chatting with each other or exchanging telepathic messages.

"Junior Brother Mao, Uncle Bai invites you."

A quarter of an hour later, Long Long returned to the inner hall and asked the Foundation Establishment cultivator sitting in the chief seat to leave alone.

As the unassuming, stiff-faced cultivator followed Long Long step by step into the depths of the inner hall, a murmur of noise immediately arose.

Everyone speculated about who this person was.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, I saw you talking with Young Friend Long from the Qingfeng Sect for quite a while. Do you know what kind of background that Foundation Establishment cultivator has... It's one thing for him to be ranked ahead of me, but you are the top alchemy master in Liang Kingdom. Even if he is a direct disciple of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he shouldn't be ranked ahead of you!"

Master Zhu glanced at him. The person who spoke to him had a pointed mouth and monkey-like face. He was a well-known rogue cultivator in the cultivation world who had reached the Core Formation stage and called himself Jin Yang Sanren.

He, Huang Ping, and Gu Chang were known as the three great Dan-forming rogue cultivators of Liang Kingdom, and their reputation was considerable.

Ever since Huang Ping Sanren participated in the Danwang Gathering and died mysteriously not far from Danxia Gate, Master Zhu has kept the matter a secret and never said a word about it to anyone, for fear of getting into trouble.

"Master Bai must have his reasons for making such arrangements... Fellow Daoist, why don't you go and ask him? Submit your name card; perhaps Master Bai doesn't know you've arrived yet. Otherwise, you would have been the first one called in by Young Friend Long."

Such shallow provocations will easily provoke Master Zhu into anger.

Furthermore, having learned from Long Long that the Five Elements Sect and the Azure Maple Sect had an extremely close relationship, they no longer cared about this point.

"Hehe, I don't have that kind of face. I'm just standing up for you, fellow Daoist..."

Jin Yang Sanren, realizing he had made a fool of himself, chuckled twice, sat back down, and said no more.

……

Deep within the inner palace, there was also a secret chamber.

After Ma Tuo entered, he saw a handsome young man standing at a table inside, browsing a huge map.

His demeanor was free and easy, making people feel as if they were walking on a gentle breeze, without any sense of pressure from a high-level cultivator.

“Ma Tuo, a disciple of the Five Elements Sect, pays respects to Ancestor Bai.”

Ma Tuo has only been in Black Mountain for a few years and has not yet paid an audience with the several Core Formation elders of the Qingfeng Sect, but he can still tell which one they are based on their appearance and temperament.

Both the Five Elements Sect and the Azure Maple Sect would each send a Foundation Establishment cultivator to be stationed at the other's mountain gate for an extended period, with all cultivation resources provided by the local sect.

Basically, one person will be replaced every sixty years.

He also carries a communication artifact that allows him to transmit messages even when separated by two different realms.

Of course, it only has the most basic color changing function.

However, the previous requests for help were all communicated to the other party in this way, informing them of the level of difficulty they were facing and offering corresponding assistance.

"Are you a disciple of Master Qingmu?"

Bai Zichen raised his head and carefully examined the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Reporting to the Ancestor, it is indeed my master."

Among Master Aoki's disciples, Mataku wasn't among the most outstanding, but he wasn't bad either.

The main reason they were willing to travel thousands of miles to set up a post in Black Mountain was for the benefits of both sect subsidies and cultivation resources from the Qingfeng Sect.

Staying in the Five Elements Sect is fiercely competitive; only the strongest survive.

Even Ma Tuo couldn't stand out on the top spot on Qingmu Peak, let alone enjoy the best training conditions in the entire Five Elements Sect.

It is highly likely that he will stop at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

It would be better to go to the Black Mountain. Judging from past experience, this job is not dangerous. At the same time, the two cultivation resources have enabled several seniors to cultivate to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

At the very least, there's a slight increase in the possibility of breaking through to the Core Formation stage, even if it's still slim.

Unexpectedly, after arriving in Black Mountain and completing the handover procedures, Ma Tuo discovered that the Qingfeng Sect was completely different from what he had learned.

A sect that needed the Five Elements Sect's rescue a hundred years ago and almost lost its sect has actually made a leap forward in a short period of time, and its overall strength has surpassed that of the Five Elements Sect.

(End of this chapter)