Background Of The Immortal Sect, A New Beginning

"That person from before, Qi Zedong, was actually my senior brother as I'm also a former disciple of Daoist Lightspeed. However, as I didn't possess any aptitude to even breakthrough to the Body Forging Realm, I was exiled to the secular world.

You should already know that to enter the Body Forging Realm and Meridian Connecting Realm, one must have at least somewhat of a good aptitude and willpower so that they can temper their physical bodies with Spirit Qi. As for entering the Qi Refining Realm after the Meridian Connecting Realm, one needs to possess Spirit Roots, which most mortals do not.

The Azure River Alliance is one of the 3 strongest forces within the Red Dragon City, which is a city of Immortal Cultivators hidden deep within the Red Dragon Mountain Range. It was established by a senior disciple of the Immortal Sect centuries ago, so it is connected with the Immortal Sect as well. The city typically houses Loose Cultivators, who pay rent to the Immortal Sect for living inside, and the 3 strongest forces in the city are no exception as all members are Loose Cultivators.

The Azure River Alliance has more than 10 Qi Refining Realm great cultivators, while the entire Red Dragon City in total might have around 50 known Qi Refining Realm great cultivators. As for the hidden ones, I do not know about them.

My former master, Daoist Lightspeed, is a cultivator at the Meridian Connecting Realm, but he doesn't have any Spirit Roots and cannot advance to the Qi Refining Realm, thus, he's only an Auxiliary Elder of the Azure River Alliance in charge of watching over one of their businesses. The Swift Saber Technique was created by him when he suddenly gained enlightenment one day while gazing upon a faraway tornado."

As Lin Xuanhao listened to the Iron Fang Brigade Leader's explanation, he kept his index and middle fingers in a sword shape over the latter's neck to prevent him from stuttering in between.

He felt as if he had gone back in time to when he first listened to the summary of the first few cultivation realms. Back then, he was also told that reaching the Qi Refining Realm required one to have Spirit Roots, and he fortunately possessed the True Spirit Roots of Four Elements.

It was only later on did he get to know that Spirit Roots had no use after going beyond the Mortal Realms, and the later cultivation all depended on one's comprehension, Innate Talents, Providence, Fates, Bloodlines, Constitutions, opportunities, special destinies etcetera.

So, there were actually countless ways of entering the Qi Refining Realm rather than having a Spirit Root.

"And what about the Immortal Sect? What do you know about it?"

Lin Xuanhao asked calmly, staring into the Iron Fang Brigade Leader's eyes.

"I-I don't know much about the Immortal Sect as I never came into contact with its disciples, but I've heard that the Immortal Sect has countless Qi Refining Realm experts and dozens of great cultivators at the legendary Foundation Building Realm. It has an extremely long history which dates back to more than 3,000 years ago, and it has seen the rise and fall of tens of dynasties. The current National Dynasty is the 13th dynasty under the Immortal Sect. It absolutely cannot be provoked."

The Iron Fang Brigade Leader spoke fearfully, his eyes darting back and forth from Lin Xuanhao's face to his hand at his neck.

Hearing his words, Lin Xuanhao slightly narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening for a moment before turning back to normal.

"Are there any Vibrant Core Realm cultivators in this so called Immortal Sect?"

He finally asked, looking down at the Iron Fang Brigade Leader.

However, as soon as he said that, the Iron Fang Brigade Leader's eyes widened in shock as he hurriedly said, "Senior, you must be joking! The Vibrant Core Realm is basically a myth now! No such mighty figure has appeared in the Immortal Sect since almost a thousand years! It is recorded that the founder of the Immortal Sect was a supreme expert at the peak of the Vibrant Core Realm, however, after him, only a single Vibrant Core Realm expert emerged, who was the Supreme Elder of the Immortal Sect till his death a thousand years ago."

Lin Xuanhao's expression changed slightly, showing a hint of confusion. But he quickly suppressed it and felt slightly less troubled now after hearing the Iron Fang Brigade Leader's explanation.

It might have been troublesome if there were still Vibrant Core Realm cultivators in this Immortal Sect.

I can only reach the peak of Foundation Building Realm with the first Dao Fragment, and to reach the Vibrant Core Realm and beyond, I need to find the other fragments quickly.

As he thought of this, he couldn't help but recall something else as well.

Can a mere faction with no Vibrant Core Realm cultivators at the moment really control the development of an entire mortal dynasty?

There must be more to this. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. The Iron Fang Brigade Leader's position probably isn't high enough to know all of that.

He nodded slowly before bringing down his hand in a slicing motion, the head of the Iron Fang Brigade Leader rolling on the ground the next moment.

He could have spared him if he wanted to, but he didn't. It would only make the villagers' life more difficult.

I should visit the Red Dragon City soon.

Thinking of this, Lin Xuanhao stood up and started walking towards the Liu Family Village.

On the other side, Village Head Liu and the others waited anxiously and looked towards the direction of the woods where Lin Xuanhao and Qi Zedong had entered accidentally while fighting.

At this moment, Lin Xuanhao emerged from the woods, showing no signs of being tired. Even his clothes were as clean as before, as if he wasn't affected by the recent battle at all.

"Deity! Are you alright?"

As Lin Xuanhao approached them, Village Head Liu finally asked despite knowing the answer to his question deep down.

"Yes, the Iron Fang Brigade has been disbanded from today onwards. You can send people to search their base or report to the government, whatever you'd like to do."

Lin Xuanhao spoke calmly with a smile on his face as he waved his hand.

Hearing his words, the villagers heaved a sigh of relief as they welcomed him.

"I'm going to cultivate and will only come out at dinner. Don't disturb me till then."

Saying that, Lin Xuanhao entered his room and sat down cross-legged on the bed, preparing to cultivate again.

The events of today didn't matter much to him at all.

He just wanted to quickly breakthrough to the Meridian Connecting Realm and then go to the Red Dragon City to collect some more information.

He closed his eyes and quickly entered a meditative state.

...

After a few hours, the sun had almost set, casting a golden hue in the calm sky.

Lin Xuanhao slowly opened his eyes and raised his right hand, clenching his fist, which made a cracking sound.

"The Seventh Stage of Body Forging Realm, achieved."

He muttered to himself, a small smile appearing on his face as he stood up and prepared to go outside.

He only had a single night left in the village, and after that, he would leave for Red Dragon City.

From his cultivation speed, he was confident that he could breakthrough to the Meridian Connecting Realm by tomorrow.

After eating dinner, he would go back to cultivation.

Soon, he went out of the house to Village Head Liu's place.

After some time, while eating, Village Head Liu told him that he had sent some people to the nearest Prefecture City along with the heads of all the bandits, although it would take them a few days to go back and forth.

Village Head Liu, as a former government officer, still believed that he should inform the government about this incident rather than taking everything for the Liu Family Village.

Lin Xuanhao didn't object to it either, instead, he was the one who told Village Head Liu to do whatever he wanted.

Even if the government knew it was Lin Xuanhao who killed the Iron Fang Brigade Leader and Qi Zedong, what could they do about it?

Or rather, what could Daoist Lightspeed or even the entire Azure River Alliance do about it?

Lin Xuanhao was naturally not afraid of anyone. He just found things to be troublesome to deal with, which was why he was waiting till he reached the Meridian Connecting Realm and then go to the cultivation world.

After eating, Lin Xuanhao went back to his room to cultivate again.

It wasn't until the moon hung high in the sky did he breakthrough to the Eighth Stage of Body Forging Realm.

Feeling his increasing strength, he was satisfied and cleaned himself up from practically nothing and went to bed.

This was just another beginning for him.

A beginning which will lead him further than ever before.