"Chapter 13" Breaking Through (2)

Ning Binglan simply shook her head. "That may be applicable to you, Second Elder. Sometimes, even the most discerning among us can be wrong."

The Second Elder glared at Ning Binglan. "You..."

But the First Elder intervened, noticing the heated argument brewing between the two.

They had a complicated history, and it had left a lingering tension between them that persisted to this day.

"Whether that boy is the culprit or not, he will remain a suspect until his identity and innocence are proven. However, our priority should be to locate him first."

"Once that's done, we can decide on the next course of action regarding the 'Night Tower' and the implications of the 'Curse of Death'."

"But, First Elder," Ning Binglan began to protest, her voice raised, but the First Elder interrupted her.

"Junior Sister, every person, excluding you and your disciples, is a suspect in this matter. To uncover who is involved, we must first clear out the suspects." The First Elder's expression was stern.

"Furthermore, until this matter is discussed with the Sect Leader, you are forbidden from leaving the sect. I hope you understand the gravity of this situation."

The First Elder's gaze locked onto Ning Binglan, who nodded reluctantly, accepting the outcome.

As the Second Elder smiled in triumph, the Fourth Elder finally spoke up. "What about the other sects? Should we inform them, especially Heaven's Gate? We can't keep a matter of this magnitude hidden from them."

The First Elder fell into contemplative silence, weighing the possible options they have.

Finally, it was decided that they would not inform the other sects until they had concrete proof, lest they risk tarnishing the reputation of their own sect.

Instead, they resolved to inform the Sect Leader as soon as possible about the gravity of the situation. He was currently deep in cultivation, and they knew they had to interrupt him to share the urgent news.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, Xuan stood just a step away from crossing the wall. As his Qi flowed, he began to feel a transformation taking place within his body.

It took him several hours, but eventually, he felt his cultivation break through to the next level. As the Qi surged, his Meridians began to swell and expand, creating more space for the Qi to flow.

"Finally!"

With a smile on his face, Xuan opened his eyes. He had achieved a major breakthrough, reaching the 1st level of the Meridian Unlocking stage.

"It's time to check the remaining information about the sect."

Xuan took out his disciple token and held it in his hand, pouring his Qi into it. Soon, his mind was flooded with information about the sect.

"The Sky Heaven Sect comprises six peaks, each overseen by one of the Five Peak Elders, while the Sect Leader resides in the main peak at the apex of the sect."

This was one of the basic pieces of information about the sect, detailing the peaks that comprised the Core Area, where the most abundant Qi in the sect was concentrated.

Xuan proceeded to the next piece of information. "The sect is divided into three areas: the Outer Court for outer sect disciples and elders, the Inner Sect for inner sect disciples and elders, and the Core Area for Core disciples, whose status is surpassed only by the Peak Elders and equal to that of the Inner Sect elders."

"Similarly, there are three pavilions, each corresponding to one of the areas: the Library, the Disciple Hall, and the Cave Abode."

Xuan felt that most of this information was irrelevant, so he began to filter out the unnecessary details and focus on the key points that mattered to him.

"The rules," he muttered, scanning the set of regulations that caught his attention.

"Killing is strictly forbidden within the sect. Not even during duels can one kill their fellow disciples. Any dual request with the intent to kill is also prohibited."

Xuan's eyes narrowed as he thought, "So, one cannot kill inside the sect... but that doesn't mean there aren't loopholes." He suspected that many disciples and even elders had exploited such loopholes to their advantage.

Next, he read another rule. "Joining a faction is mandatory for all disciples, as it provides access to monthly cultivation resources."

"To establish your own faction, you'll need 10 Karma points, 10 faction members, and approval from one of the Peak Elders."

"So, joining a faction is compulsory," Xuan thought, moving on to the next piece of information.

"The methods for earning cultivation resources include completing sect missions, joining a faction, and submitting the finest materials and herbs gathered from the Kongtian Ridge."

Xuan's gaze lingered on the Kongtian Ridge, situated just behind the sect.

The ridge resembled a valley, stretching into a vast, forested expanse that the sect utilized as a training ground for its disciples.

Having made up his mind, Xuan decided to train in the Kongtian Ridge. "Let's see what I'll gain after today's slaughter," he muttered.

After stabilizing his cultivation, Xuan left his cave abode and headed towards the Kongtian Ridge.

His system rewards had been refreshed, and he knew this was the perfect time to focus, especially after Liu Xing's warning.

While Xuan was confident in his ability to handle Liu Xing, he suspected there were more powerful figures backing him.

He might be prepared for Liu Xing, but he wasn't ready to face those who lurked in the shadows.

The Disciple Token displayed a detailed map of the entire sect, guiding Xuan to the outer sect, which served as the gateway to the Kongtian Ridge.

He made his way down the mountain and arrived at the ridge, where he saw numerous sect disciples training and cultivating in the area.

All of them wore white uniforms, signifying their status as outer court disciples.

Some were battered and bruised, their clothes stained with blood, while others sat cross-legged in meditation, seeking to refine their Qi after a rigorous training session.

His presence didn't go unnoticed, as many outer court disciples were surprised to see an Inner Court disciple among them.

Female disciples gazed at him with awe, while some male disciples looked on with jealousy, and some of them with determination, their eyes burning with the ambition to join the Inner Court one day.

Some disciples discussed his identity in hushed tones, while others greeted him warmly. Xuan returned their greetings before entering the forest.

According to sect rules, Inner Court disciples like Xuan were forbidden from hunting the beasts within the first 50 miles of the forest, a privilege reserved exclusively for Outer Court disciples.