High Martial Arts: Starting with a Martial Saint Peak Cultivation

The figure of Immortal Lord Youxuan stepped out from the void.

It landed steadily in front of the council hall of the Nine Nether Valley.

The Council Hall is the highest decision-making place in Nine Nether Valley, and ordinary disciples are not even qualified to approach it.

The palace was built on the top of an independent mountain peak, surrounded by cliffs on all sides, and connected to the main peak only by a stone bridge.

The entire hall is made of deep blue Nine Nether Stone, a material that naturally shields divine sense and is the foundation of the Nine Nether Valley.

Two rows of stone pillars stand in front of the hall, each pillar inscribed with the achievements of the successive patriarchs.

The palace doors were wide open, and the interior was brightly lit.

Immortal Lord Youxuan stepped in.

The hall was extremely spacious, with a high dome and a huge star map hanging in the center.

Dozens of stone chairs were arranged in a circle around the perimeter, each covered with a thick cushion of spirit beast skin.

A very faint calming fragrance permeated the air; it was a special spiritual incense made by the Nine Nether Valley, which could help cultivators concentrate and calm their minds.

The elders who arrived first had already taken their seats; some closed their eyes to rest, while others chatted in hushed tones.

Upon seeing Immortal Lord Youxuan enter, all the elders stood up simultaneously and bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Immortal Lord Youxuan nodded slightly and walked to the top seat, where he sat down as the sect leader.

He raised his hand and pressed it down.

"Please sit down."

The elders sat down again, their eyes all fixed on Immortal Lord Youxuan.

Immortal Lord Youxuan scanned the area.

Those present were all core elders of the Nine Nether Valley, with the lowest cultivation level being the early stage of Heavenly Immortal, and the highest being a few who had already reached the half-step Immortal King level.

Apart from a few elders who remained outside, almost all the influential figures in the sect were present.

"Gentlemen."

Immortal Lord Youxuan spoke, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

"I believe you have all heard the reason why I called you here."

Upon hearing this, all the elders nodded with anticipation.

Several impatient elders even leaned forward slightly.

Without wasting any words, Immortal Lord Youxuan raised his hand and waved it.

A jade slip flew into the air and then exploded, transforming into a huge screen of light.

The light screen was densely covered with star charts, power distribution, and cultivation levels.

It was precisely the information about the Purple Profound Star Region that Immortal Lord Xuanying brought back.

"Please take a look first."

The Immortal Lord Youxuan spoke in a calm and steady tone.

"This is the detailed intelligence that Elder Xuanying and his exploration team just brought back."

The hall fell silent as all the elders probed the light barrier with their divine senses.

A moment later, murmurs rose and fell.

An elder with white hair and beard spoke first, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"If this news is true, then our four major powers combined can absolutely take it over with ease!"

He stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming.

"The native inhabitants of the Purple Profound Starfield are no match for us!"

An elder who appeared to be middle-aged immediately chimed in.

"That's right! The strongest is only a Celestial Immortal; there isn't even a Celestial King on the surface!"

He snorted, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance.

"If you take any one of the forces in this place and place it in our Yunlan Immortal Realm, it wouldn't even be considered a third-rate force."

"Those indigenous creatures who think they are powerful are no different from crude barbarians in our eyes."

"Even extraterrestrial demons are nothing special!"

Another elder took over the conversation, speaking with certainty.

"If the four major powers join forces, it will only take them a few months to wipe out the Purple Profound Star Region."

"When the Heavenly Blessing descends upon us as we expand our territory, our Nine Nether Valley will receive at least 20% of it."

"Twenty percent?"

The elder beside him shook his head and corrected him with a smile.

"This exploration plan was first proposed by our Nine Nether Valley, and we also provided the intelligence about the unknown lands, accounting for at least 30%."

"........."

The discussions inside the hall grew increasingly heated, with the elders all showing excitement.

In their view, all living beings outside the Cloud and Blue Immortal Realm are barbarians and not worth mentioning.

The Purple Profound Starfield is a piece of fat meat waiting for them to cut.

Immortal Lord Youxuan sat in the main seat, listening to the elders' discussion without rushing to interrupt.

Just then.

Two powerful auras suddenly emanated from inside the council hall.

The aura was as deep and profound as an abyss, as solid and imposing as a mountain. Its appearance caused the spirit lamps in the hall to dim for a moment.

All the elders fell silent at the same time, their faces showing reverence.

Two beams of light emerged from the void, landing on either side of the main seat, one to the left and one to the right.

The man on the left has white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and a gray Taoist robe that has been washed until it is white.

The man on the right has black and white hair, a resolute face, and wears a long, dark robe.

It was none other than Ancestor Youyun and Ancestor Youquan.

The elders and Immortal Lord Youxuan immediately stood up and bowed in respect.

"Greetings to the Great Ancestor! Greetings to the Second Ancestor!"

The voices were clear and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.

Ancestor Youyun and Ancestor Youquan nodded slightly, withdrawing their oppressive aura.

"Please sit down."

Ancestor Youyun raised his hand and pressed it down, his tone gentle.

"No need for such formalities."

The two elders walked to their respective seats and sat down.

Those were two jade chairs, each a size larger than the other stone chairs, carved entirely from ten-thousand-year-old cold jade, the highest-grade seats in the Nine Nether Valley.

After Old Ancestor Youyun sat down, he looked at Immortal Lord Youxuan with obvious trust in his eyes.

"Yugen."

He spoke, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"The arrangements for this attack on that unknown land are entirely up to you."

Ancestor Youyun paused for a moment, then added another sentence.

"So that everyone may obey."

Upon hearing this, all the elders in the hall immediately responded respectfully.

"Rest assured, Ancestor! Even if you don't give the order, we disciples will absolutely obey the Sect Master's commands!"

"I would gladly face any danger, even death!"

One of the most senior elders even stood up, his tone resolute.

"Wherever the sect leader points, we'll attack!"

The other elders echoed their sentiments, their voices rising in waves.

The two patriarchs nodded slightly.

Ancestor Youyun and Ancestor Youquan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of satisfaction in each other's eyes.

"Choosing this kid as sect leader was the right choice."

Ancestor Youyun sighed inwardly.

"Over the years, Youxuan has managed the sect in an orderly manner, which has allowed us two old folks to go into seclusion in peace."

"If it were someone incompetent, would we have this good fortune coming our way today?"

Ancestor Youquan nodded slightly, a smile playing on his lips.

"Yes, once this news reached us, we couldn't even bother with our cultivation anymore."

Seeing that the two ancestors and elders trusted him so much, Immortal Lord Youxuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the two patriarchs and the other elders, and spoke in a solemn tone.

"Thank you for your trust, both ancestors, and thank you for your support, elders."

He paused, his expression turning serious.

"In that case, Youxuan will take the liberty of making the arrangements."

Immortal Lord Youxuan raised his hand and waved it, enlarging the star map on the light screen to the very center.

"For this operation, I plan to gather the elite forces of the sect."

"We formed an alliance with the three major powers of Ziyun Sect, Biyue Palace, and Taiqing Hall, signed a Heavenly Dao Contract, and will advance and retreat together."

He traced a few key points on the screen with his finger.

"The four families will jointly attack that unknown place called the Purple Profound Star Region and take it down."

Immortal Lord Youxuan looked around, his voice steady.

"In this way, even if our Nine Nether Valley army is fighting abroad, those with ill intentions who want to harm us will have to think twice about the other three families."

"To provoke one of them is to provoke four."

"Moreover, the laws of Heaven do not allow this to happen."

He paused, his tone resolute.

"Otherwise, those forces that attempt to expand the territory of the Cloud Mist Immortal Realm will have to worry about the future and will not be so proactive."

"This is something that Heaven absolutely will not allow to happen."

"I don't believe any fool would do that."

After listening, all the elders nodded in agreement.

"The sect leader is right."

"With four companies joining forces, who dares to make a move?"

"Once the Heavenly Contract is signed, the four families will advance and retreat together."

Seeing that no one had any objections, Immortal Lord Youxuan continued speaking.

"As for the specific arrangements, in order to take over that unknown land as quickly as possible and seize the greatest benefits..."

He glanced at everyone in the hall and spoke, word by word.

"For this operation, I have decided to mobilize the entire sect's forces."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"Swept out in full force?"

An elder repeated the sentence in a low voice, his expression showing a hint of surprise.

Immortal Lord Youxuan nodded.

"Two patriarchs, numerous elders, true disciples, inner disciples, and outer disciples."

He pointed to himself.

"And I, as the sect leader, will all go to war."

"Only a portion of the elders, miscellaneous disciples, and a small number of inner disciples will remain to guard the sect."

The Immortal Lord Youxuan spoke calmly.

"With the sect's protective formation and the protection of the Heavenly Dao, no one dares to lay a hand on us."

"If successful, the number of lower-level interfaces that we, Nine Nether Valley, can control in real time will increase significantly, becoming a substantial and stable source of income for us in the future!"

He looked around, his gaze calm.

What do you all think?

The elders inside the hall exchanged glances and began to whisper among themselves.

An elder spoke first.

"The miscellaneous disciples are the most numerous but the weakest; it is safest for them to stay and guard the sect."

A female elder standing nearby nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, this expedition is to seize resources and territory, and bringing along menial disciples would only slow us down."

"As for the selection of elders, not all elders are enthusiastic about war, so they can stay and guard the home."

An older elder stroked his beard, speaking calmly.

"I am willing to stay and guard the sect."

Another, younger elder smiled as well.

"I'll stay too. I've been working on a new cultivation technique lately and don't want to interrupt it."

Immortal Lord Youxuan nodded and added a sentence.

"If there aren't enough people to stay behind by then, we'll decide by drawing lots."

"To be fair, no one should be at a disadvantage."

The elders all nodded in agreement.

Just then, an elder at the early stage of the Celestial Immortal realm hesitated for a moment before standing up.

He was of medium height and had a thin face; he was one of the younger elders.

"metropolitan."

He spoke, his tone tinged with caution.

"The indigenous people of that unknown land are relatively weak, and I think..."

He paused, carefully considering his words.

"Sending one patriarch to oversee the situation is sufficient."

"How about one of the two patriarchs goes to war, while the other guards the home and deters the villains?"

After he finished speaking, he looked around at the elders and added another sentence.

"That way, even if there's an emergency, we can handle it promptly."

The hall fell silent for a moment after these words were spoken.

Immortal Lord Youxuan's brows twitched slightly, but he did not answer immediately.

He quickly began to calculate in his mind.

"Although we have the sect's protective formation and the protection of the Heavenly Dao, those forces that have grudges against our Nine Nether Valley cannot openly resort to underhanded tactics."

Immortal Lord Youxuan pondered silently.

"But they can still do some dirty and disgusting things to us behind our backs."

"If both patriarchs leave, the elders left behind will have a much harder time dealing with the situation."

"It's more conservative to leave one of the elders to oversee the sect."

He raised his head and nodded to the elder.

"Please sit down."

Immortal Lord Youxuan then turned to the two patriarchs, speaking respectfully.

"My two patriarchs, I believe this statement is reasonable."

He said earnestly.

"The foundation of the sect cannot be lost. It is indeed more prudent to leave an ancestor to oversee it."

Ancestor Youyun and Ancestor Youquan exchanged a glance.

Ancestor Youyun pondered for a moment and then nodded.

"Can."

He spoke calmly, then looked at the Old Ancestor Youquan beside him.

Old Ancestor Youquan leaned back in his jade chair, stretched, and spoke casually.

"In that case, I shall take charge of the sect."

He glanced at Ancestor Youyun and smiled.

"My elder brother is stronger; he's a whole realm higher than me."

"His expedition will allow him to secure more benefits for the sect in that unknown land."

Old Ancestor Youquan paused for a moment, then added another sentence.

"Moreover, I guess that the other three major sects will also choose to leave one of their Immortal Kings to guard their sects."

Upon hearing this, Ancestor Youyun nodded without objection.

"Then it's settled."

Seeing that the two ancestors had no objections, Immortal Lord Youxuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"it is good."

He bowed to the two patriarchs, then turned to the elders in the hall.

"Since the Ancestor and everyone else agree, let's begin to plan the specific strategy."

Immortal Lord Youxuan raised his hand and tapped the light screen several times, dividing the star map into several areas.

"In this interdimensional war, everything must be arranged properly."

He listed them one by one.

"First, before setting out, a Heavenly Dao Contract must be signed with the three major powers to clarify the proportion of troops each party will contribute, the distribution of benefits, and compensation for casualties."

"Secondly, each elder will lead a different team according to their cultivation level. True disciples will be responsible for attacking the enemy, inner disciples will be responsible for coordination, and outer disciples will be responsible for logistics and garrisoning after the capture."

"Third, the elders who remain are responsible for the daily operation of the sect and will activate the sect's protective array at its highest level. No one may enter or leave without orders."

"Fourth, before each lineage's disciples go on expeditions, they will receive pills, talismans, and array equipment in a unified manner, and will be issued according to the fixed quota. No one may take more than their share."

"Fifth, all spoils captured during the campaign shall be registered uniformly and distributed according to contribution after the war; no one may keep any for themselves..."

Immortal Lord Youxuan finished speaking in one breath, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"That's all. Please raise any objections now."

The elders in the hall listened attentively and then pondered for a while.

A moment later, an elder raised his hand.

"Sect Master, should we discuss the details of the Heavenly Dao Contract with the other three factions beforehand?"

Immortal Lord Youxuan nodded.

"Naturally, I will personally discuss this matter with the three sect leaders."

Another elder asked.

"What should be done if any of the three major powers outwardly comply but inwardly defy orders during the campaign?"

The corners of Immortal Lord Youxuan's mouth curled up slightly.

"The Heavenly Contract is not just for show."

His tone was flat.

"Whoever disobeys will be punished by Heaven."

"Moreover, the fact that our entire Nine Nether Valley has come out in full force is itself a deterrent."

"Anyone who wants to play tricks should think twice about the consequences."

The elders in the hall looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

"The sect leader has considered everything carefully."

"No further comments."

Immortal Lord Youxuan then looked at the two ancestors.

"What do you two elders think?"

Ancestor Youyun leaned back in the jade chair, closed his eyes to rest for a moment, and then opened them.

"Well arranged."

His tone carried a hint of approval.

"Do it this way."

Old Ancestor Youquan also waved his hand.

No objections.

Immortal Lord Youxuan nodded and stood up.

"Alright, this meeting is now adjourned."

His gaze swept over everyone in the hall.

"After you leave, you shall immediately begin your respective tasks."

"Those with missions should act immediately, and those without missions should prepare for battle."

"I will contact the three sect leaders of Ziyun Sect, Biyue Palace, and Taiqing Hall later."

The elders all stood up and responded in unison.

"yes!"

The voice was loud and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.

The elders left the council hall one by one, their steps quickening slightly as they had come.

Some elders were already discussing in hushed tones which disciples to take with them on the expedition, while others were calculating how much profit they could get.

Soon, only Immortal Lord Youxuan and the two patriarchs remained in the hall.

Immortal Lord Youxuan bowed deeply to the two patriarchs.

"I'm sorry to trouble you two elders this time."

Ancestor Youyun stood up and patted him on the shoulder.

"You did a great job."

His tone was unusually gentle.

"Go ahead and do it. With me here, nothing will go wrong."

Old Ancestor Youquan also stood up, stretched out a big yawn, and his joints cracked.

"Alright, I'll go back and continue guarding."

He grinned at Immortal Lord Youxuan.

"We await your triumphant return."

After saying that, Ancestor Youquan vanished from the hall in a flash.

Ancestor Youyun nodded and then disappeared.

Immortal Lord Youxuan stood alone in the council hall, gazing at the enormous star map.

On the light screen, the outline of the Purple Mystic Starfield was marked at the very edge of the star map, like a piece of fruit waiting to be picked.

"The four major forces have joined forces."

He muttered to himself, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"This time, my Nine Nether Valley is determined to take the biggest share."

He raised his hand and waved it, and the light screen disappeared.

The spirit lamps inside the hall were lit again, and the smoke from the calming incense rose gently.

Immortal Lord Youxuan vanished from the council hall in a flash.

The palace doors slowly closed.

Only the enormous star map remains, silently rotating on the dome.