Chapter 0694: The Sect

These people seemed curious about the outside world. It was as if they had lived deep in the mountains for years and were only now venturing out for training—like greenhorns experiencing the world for the first time.

A group of five or six arrived at an inn called Immortal Fate Inn. The establishment offered both food and lodging. The first and second floors were for dining and drinking, while the third and fourth floors served as accommodations. There were even standalone courtyard suites for rest and relaxation. Typically, this inn catered to commoners from nearby villages and towns, focusing on meals and banquets, with top-class chefs employed.

In Xuanhuang City, Immortal Fate Inn was considered one of the highest-end restaurants—among the best.

The group of young people seemed hungry. After a brief discussion, they walked into the inn.

"Interesting, looks like they're fresh out of training," remarked Lord Emptiness (Kongxu Gongzi), his eyes twinkling with amusement as he followed them inside.

The young men and women were led by a server to a private booth on the second floor.

Lord Emptiness also went up and chose a window-side seat. He ordered a pot of Hero's Blood, a potent spirit. Though made from grains, the liquor was brewed using spring water from the Liquor Spring, infused with medicinal herbs, and transformed into a low-grade spirit wine. It contained spiritual energy, had a superior taste, and though it offered no special effects, it could expel cold, stimulate the bloodline, sharpen the mind, and slightly enhance physical strength. Once refined, it could even bolster one's cultivation.

Most notably, Hero's Blood was extremely strong—top-tier hard liquor. Even cultivators couldn't ignore its potency and would feel its burn just like ordinary people. For this reason, it was beloved not only by ordinary folks from the surrounding regions but also by cultivators. Ever since it was elevated to a spirit wine, it became wildly popular.

Alongside the liquor were several exquisite dishes:

Braised beef

Steamed Man-eating Fish

Braised rat meatEach dish was a masterpiece in taste, aroma, and presentation.

Seated by the window, Lord Emptiness sipped his wine and savored the dishes while gazing at the bustling crowd in the streets below, nodding contentedly. This is the world of humans, he thought.

Of course, his attention wasn't really on the streets. Instead, he subtly listened in on the conversation of the young people nearby.

They looked visibly excited, especially one man in a white robe with sword-like brows, who seemed to be their leader. A sharp aura and faint arrogance radiated from his face.

"Senior Brother, is this Xuanhuang City? It's worlds apart from the villages and towns we've visited. Our sect sent us to map the terrain, observe local customs, and report back. The sect would then dispatch experts to slay beasts and uphold justice—and maybe recruit gifted disciples. We thought the world had descended into chaos. Yet here stands such a flourishing city," a green-robed girl said excitedly.

"Right. Our master always said that since the fusion of the myriad realms, humanity was becoming mere blood offerings to other races. That the world was in turmoil, with death and destruction everywhere. Only disciples from our sect could slay beasts, destroy monsters, and repel foreign races—serving as guardians of humanity. This journey was to spread the name of our Xiaohan Mountain and recruit more talented disciples. But reality is nothing like the ruin we expected," added another girl in green.

"I'm really curious about the Lord of Xuanhuang City. What kind of person must he be to build such a grand and prosperous city? Everything here is more mystical than what we have back at the sect. We use crystal stones as currency, but here they use Eternal Coins. Not only do these coins contain the same kind of natural energy as crystal stones, but they're even more refined and help speed up cultivation. Everything here is extraordinary," said a blue-robed young man.

There was curiosity in their expressions—genuine fascination at a world so different from what they knew.

In just a short time in Xuanhuang City, their entire understanding of the outside world had been overturned.

The clothes made of Mist Brocade and Cloud Brocade, the pristine bowls and dishes like flawless white jade—it was all like living among legendary works of art.

"Also, the Lord of Xuanhuang City actually built a Scripture Pavilion that's open to all citizens to learn cultivation methods. That's utter nonsense! The power of cultivation should be in the hands of the strong and controlled by sects. We are the ones who should wield such strength and protect the common people. They shouldn't be cultivating! When we walk through Xuanhuang City, not a single person shows reverence toward us cultivators," said a young man, clearly indignant.

In the past, showing off their strength in villages would earn them gratitude and offerings from locals. The adoration and awe were intoxicating. But here in Xuanhuang City—perhaps in the entire surrounding territory—everyone cultivated. Most had opened their Divine Seas. Their presence sparked curiosity at best, but no fear or reverence.

That discrepancy stung.

"You can't say that. Opening up cultivation methods takes great vision. But even so, few will succeed. Becoming a cultivator is easy; becoming a true powerhouse is hard. After merging into the Eternal Continent, our sect's techniques have evolved. We've preserved our prior cultivation and advanced quickly. Yet even our Sect Master is only in the Life Diagram Realm. Reaching the Manifestation Realm? Who knows how long that will take," a girl said with a sigh.

"True. Still, during this great change, even our sect's foundational technique, the Ice Sword Canon, has evolved. It now includes the Cold Mountain Sword Peak Diagram and Life Diagrams, which can take us to the Manifestation Realm. Beyond that, we'll need higher-tier techniques. It's said there's a legendary follow-up to our canon—the Ice Soul Sword Scripture. If we can find it and cultivate it, we could become true mighty beings. That's one of the goals of our journey," the green-robed girl said longingly.

…

The group continued eating and drinking, animatedly chatting about their discoveries.

They marveled at the delicacies and the sophisticated atmosphere—this was a civilization. This was true human society.

Their voices weren't loud, but they couldn't escape the ears of Lord Emptiness.

He listened calmly, imprinting every word in his mind, a knowing look flashing across his face.

"So, they're sect disciples out on training… Judging by their words, likely from a small sect. From what I gather, these must be sects that existed in the old worlds—minor martial sects and gangs that occupied a mountain or a region and gathered disciples. That was enough to be called a sect. During the recent changes, their techniques transformed, enabling them to truly cultivate by opening the Divine Sea. With their previous foundations, they could rapidly regain their old strength—this time on the correct cultivation path. Their potential is now far greater."

These martial sects had never been powerful enough to be sealed by the heavens. Yet they had surpassed ordinary mortals.

Their martial arts were, in truth, incomplete versions of true cultivation techniques—focusing on the Dantian, not the Divine Sea. The outcomes were completely different.

Most importantly, those techniques lacked foundational visualization diagrams.

Now, with the changes in Heaven and Earth, those flawed techniques had been completed—even evolved. They could now cultivate properly and become true cultivators. These people were reestablishing their sects—claiming mountains and forming new orders.

In reality, such sects—built from former martial schools—were the lowest tier of cultivation sects in the Eternal Continent. Their top experts barely reached the Life Diagram Realm. Most elders were only at the Life Aperture Realm. Their power wouldn't exceed the Manifestation Realm.

In truth, even the Righteous Manor was one such sect.

But Lord Emptiness's foundation was unmatched. At his peak, his strength far exceeded the Life Aperture Realm. He had chosen a different path after the great changes—starting anew. But his depth was not something ordinary cultivators could compare to.

If he wanted, he could reach terrifying heights in no time.

"So, the cultivation sects have begun to appear. Unfortunately for them, Xuanhuang City will surely terrify them. This is no ordinary human settlement. Xiaohan Mountain, Cold Mountain Sword Sect—never heard of them."

He shook his head with indifference.

The rise of these sects promised a more colorful future. But if they wanted to reign supreme, that would be impossible within Xuanhuang City.