How can simply creating a sect make you invincible?

Inside the main hall of the Wanfa Sect.

After listening to Jun Xiaoyao's report, Lu Chen's lips curled up slightly, and he said, "Interesting. It seems that the Xiao family has quite the ambition. If they behave themselves, that's fine, but if they dare to make any small moves, I wouldn't mind wiping out an imperial clan for fun."

Hua Ruoxi, dressed in a secretary's uniform and brewing tea, trembled slightly as she held the teapot upon hearing Lu Chen's words. She pondered to herself, "A powerful imperial clan, and the sect leader dares to say he'll just play around with wiping them out? Just how unfathomable is this sect leader's strength?"

She was afraid to think any further.

"Elder Jun,"

Lu Chen continued, "You elders at the peak of the Great Saint realm should also break through to the Quasi-Emperor realm as soon as possible. You can take turns guarding Wanfa City, and those who are free should return to seclusion for cultivation."

Jun Xiaoyao bowed and replied, "Sect Master, rest assured, many of us are already half-step Quasi-Emperors. Given some more time, we will be able to break through to the Quasi-Emperor realm."

"Yes, very good." Lu Chen nodded. "Then you may all leave now."

Suddenly, a loud "crack" rang out as a teacup shattered. Hua Ruoxi froze in shock, her mind reeling: "What? Quasi-Emperors? And so many of them? These elders are all half-step Quasi-Emperors?"

Seeing Hua Ruoxi standing there in a daze, Lu Chen coughed lightly.

Hua Ruoxi suddenly came to her senses and noticed the spilled tea and broken cup on the ground. She immediately knelt down and said in a panic, "Sect Master, I'm sorry. It was my clumsy mistake that broke the teacup. Please punish me, Sect Master."

"Alright, just be more careful next time," Lu Chen said calmly.

"System, open your personal panel."

[Ding! Name: Lu Chen. Age: Twenty-three. Cultivation: Late Great Emperor Realm. Physique: Innate Divine Demon Body. Cultivation Technique: "Divine Demon Technique". Martial Skill: "Myriad Treasures Sword Manual". Weapon: World-Destroying Sword (Ultimate Emperor Weapon). Disciples: Ning Tian (Supreme Bone), Ning Yun (Double Pupils), Mu Qingcheng (Reincarnation Body).]

Looking at the information on the panel, Lu Chen smiled with satisfaction.

Southern Region.

The outer edge of the Monster Forest.

In the misty, demonic forest, the young Ling Yunzhi gripped the hilt of his iron sword tightly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The decaying leaves rustled beneath his feet, and vines coiled around the massive trees like venomous snakes, filling the air with a damp, sweet, and pungent scent. He had come to train himself and search for spiritual herbs to improve his cultivation, but unexpectedly, he had encountered a third-tier red-eyed demonic wolf.

The monstrous beast suddenly pounced from behind the ancient tree, the foul stench of which almost froze the air. Ling Yun's pupils contracted sharply, and in the instant he rolled to the side, the wolf's claws tore through his robes on his left shoulder, splattering blood onto the rough, stone-like bark. He spun around and drew his sword, the bronze blade slicing a half-arc of cold light in the dim light, but only managing to sever a tuft of grayish-black wolf fur.

The red-eyed wolf lowered its body, saliva dripping from its sharp fangs, its amber vertical pupils filled with a violent aura.

The boy gasped for breath, his left hand pressing hard against the bleeding wound, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. He knew the power of this third-tier demonic beast; if he delayed any longer, he would surely die. He had to use his most precious breakthrough talisman to have any chance of survival.

The wolf's howl shook the branches and leaves. The demonic wolf pounced again, its stench assaulting his senses. Ling Yunzhi didn't retreat but advanced, using the momentum of his charge to duck and slide forward, his sword grazing the wolf's belly and drawing a spray of blood. The intense pain drove the demonic wolf into a frenzy, its long tail lashing out like a steel whip at the boy's back.

"Pfft—" Ling Yun's blood churned from the blow, a metallic taste rising in his throat. He suppressed the dizziness, plunging his sword into the ground to steady himself, while simultaneously pulling out the last talisman from his robes. The Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf's gaping maw was already inches away; he slammed the talisman onto the spine of his sword and roared, "Break!"

The golden talisman instantly burned away, and the sword energy suddenly surged three inches. The boy used his last bit of spiritual power to thrust the sword forward, the blade precisely piercing the demon wolf's left eye. A mournful howl echoed through the forest, and the red-eyed wolf crashed through several small trees before collapsing to the ground, the red light in its eyes gradually dimming.

Ling Yunzhi slumped to the ground, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. His entire body was soaked in cold sweat, and blood was still gushing from the wound on his left shoulder. He stared at the gradually cooling corpse of the demon wolf, only then realizing that the back of his clothes was already stuck together with cold sweat and bloodstains.

Ling Yun slowly sat up, intending to meditate and heal his injuries, but he sensed a pair of eyes staring intently at him from afar. Sensing something amiss, Ling Yun whirled around—and there it was—another red-eyed demon wolf!

"It's over," his heart sank. "This one and the one from before must be a pair. I'm severely injured, and I've used up all my talismans... I'm not reconciled! I haven't proven myself yet!"

Lu Chen, far away in the Eastern Region.

He was leisurely lying on a recliner, with Hua Ruoxi gently massaging his shoulders from behind. Suddenly, the system's voice rang in his ears, and Lu Chen sat up abruptly.

[Ding! System has issued a mission: Go to the Southern Monster Forest to recruit a disciple. This person is currently in mortal danger. Please go to the Monster Forest to recruit a disciple as soon as possible. Mission reward: One disciple recruitment gift pack.]

"Taking on apprentices?"

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow: "The system is asking me to take on another disciple? My fourth disciple is finally about to appear, not bad."

"Sect Master, what's wrong? Did I press too hard just now?" Hua Ruoxi asked with concern.

"It's none of your business," Lu Chen waved his hand. "I'm going out to take on a disciple now."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Chen casually tore open the space in front of him and stepped inside.

When he reappeared, he had arrived at the location indicated by the system. Lu Chen hovered in mid-air and saw the wounded boy below, as well as a demonic beast that was approaching him step by step.

Seeing the crimson-eyed wolf closing in, Ling Yunzhi gripped his iron sword tightly and roared, "Beast, I'll fight you to the death!"

Just as he was about to rush forward, a gentle voice suddenly rang out: "Young man, I have seen countless people, and I observe that you possess extraordinary talent, pride, and a remarkable spirit. Would you be willing to become my disciple and ascend to the heavens with me?"

Upon hearing the sudden sound, both the Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf and Ling Yun stopped in their tracks and looked at Lu Chen standing in mid-air. The Crimson-Eyed Demon Wolf warily sized up this suddenly appearing human, but finding it impossible to discern his true strength, it began to retreat step by step.

Ling Yunzhi snapped out of his daze and quickly bowed respectfully to Lu Chen, saying, "Junior Ling Yunzhi greets senior."

"Hmm, not bad." Lu Chen nodded. "System, check Ling Yun's information."

[Ding! Name: Ling Yunzhi. Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 1. Age: 18. Physique: Taixu Sword Body (Unactivated). Potential: 10 stars. Background: Second son of the Ling family head in the Southern Region. Because the Taixu Sword Body requires absorbing a large amount of spiritual energy to activate, he was mistakenly considered a useless body by his clan and ridiculed. Later, the Ling family head expelled him and his mother from the Ling family. After his mother's death not long ago, he came to the Demon Beast Forest alone to train and find spiritual herbs to break through his cultivation level.]

Looking at Ling Yun's information, Lu Chen thought to himself, "Another child with a pitiful background."

"Well, are you willing to become my disciple?" Lu Chen asked.

Ling Yunzhi smiled wryly, "I was born with a weak body, how could I have extraordinary bones? Senior, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"You're not some useless body," Lu Chen corrected, "You possess the Taixu Sword Body. Among all the physiques in the myriad realms, your Taixu Sword Body is enough to rank in the top twenty."

"Senior... are you really not lying to me? The Void Sword Body?" A glimmer of hope flashed in Ling Yun's eyes: "No wonder I have an inexplicable affinity for swords since birth."

"What good would it do me to lie to you?" Lu Chen retorted.

"Then... this junior is willing to take you as my master! Disciple Ling Yunzhi greets Master!" Ling Yun said, immediately kneeling on the ground and respectfully kowtowing three times.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the task. The apprentice-recruiting gift pack has been sent to your system space.]

"Get up, my disciple."

Lu Chen landed in front of Ling Yun and asked, "Do you still have any unfulfilled wishes in the Southern Region?"

"Master, since my mother passed away, I have had no more attachments in the Southern Region."

"Alright, let's return to the sect now."

"Master, we still haven't dealt with that red-eyed demon wolf..."

As Ling Yun spoke, he turned around and saw that the demon wolf was nowhere to be seen; it had long since vanished.

Lu Chen smiled and said, "Let's go."

Lu Chen casually tore open the space in front of him and led Ling Yunzhi inside.