Asura Mad Emperor

The old Daoist, with an immortal's demeanor and a sage's bones, stood amidst the clouds gazing at the land below belonging to the Congyun Sect and exclaimed in admiration, "Though the Congyun Sect has declined, this blessed land remains. With such a spiritually nurturing environment and overwhelming spiritual energy, it is truly a rare treasure."

"It's a pity, such a precious land in the hands of the Congyun Sect fails to reveal its marvelous uses."

The nine young men and women in the clouds scoffed, with an arrogant young man sneering, "The Congyun Sect has degraded from generation to generation, recruiting disciples who are nothing more than useless bags of wine and rice. If there were any disciples with a bit of talent, who would join this decaying Congyun Sect? They occupy such a treasure land in vain. It would be better to seize this land and incorporate it into our Taixuan Sect, to put it to good use and not disgrace this blessed spiritual land."

"Brother Yu Jing is right; the Congyun Sect has long been in decline. Occupying such a spiritual land without making good use of it is like occupying a latrine without relieving oneself. Didn't our sect send us here to test the depth of the Congyun Sect? It seems that our sect has long intended to act against the Congyun Sect," another disciple beside the arrogant young man added.

The old Daoist with the air of an immortal and the build of a sage chided in a soft voice, "This is the Earth Realm of the Congyun Sect, you must not speak recklessly."

The disciples, however, remained indifferent to his caution.

The old Daoist smiled faintly and announced loudly, "Taixuan Sect's Zhou Yuanyi, following the edict of our sect leader, has brought disciples to visit the Congyun Sect with the intention of fostering connections and promoting exchanges between our two sects."

His voice, imbued with resonant True Qi, rolled like thunder, immediately reverberating throughout the entire Congyun Sect.

"Crack!"

Inside the Congyun Sect, immediately, powerful surges of Qi shot out and landed in front of the visitors from the Taixuan Sect headed by Zhou Yuanyi.

"It turns out to be Brother Zhou Yuanyi from the Taixuan Sect. It has been many years, and Elder Zhou seems even more distinguished than before," Elder Yan said, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yuanyi. He felt that the Qi emanating from Zhou was stronger than in previous years and even sensed a strong threat, which made him focus his attention and speak.

"Hahaha, Elder Yan jests. These years have slipped by, and compared to the other Great Elders of my Taixuan Sect, the gap has only widened, much to my embarrassment," Zhou Yuanyi replied with a laugh, but his words contained a veiled sting, causing the faces of several Great Elders of the Congyun Sect to turn sour.

The aura that Zhou Yuanyi intentionally or unintentionally exuded was incomparably stronger than before, and all the present Great Elders of the Congyun Sect felt a threat emanating from him.

It showed his rapid advancement in strength, yet he feigned modesty, declaring himself far inferior to the other Great Elders of his Taixuan Sect, indirectly implying that he was the weakest among them, thereby belittling the Elders of the Congyun Sect.

However, Elder Yan and others could ill afford to break off relations over this, merely replying with a smile, "Brother Zhou jests."

"Since Brother Zhou has come from afar, please come inside for a chat," Elder Yan added, and with a grand gesture, opened the Barrier of the Congyun Sect's inner sect to welcome Zhou Yuanyi and the nine Taixuan Sect disciples.

Entering the inner sect.

The Taixuan Sect disciples immediately sensed the rich and slightly denser spiritual energy of the Congyun Sect's inner sect compared to their own Taixuan Sect.

"Such thick spiritual energy!"

The disciples exclaimed in amazement.

Their gazes suddenly fell upon the disciples of the Congyun Sect, revealing a hint of scorn in their eyes, "What a pity that such a blessed land only produces useless individuals."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Congyun Sect's Elders immediately darkened, and they turned their gazes toward those few Taixuan Sect disciples.

Zhou Yuanyi immediately feigned a stern rebuke, "Silence!"

Seeing the grim faces of the Congyun Sect's Elders, Zhou Yuanyi put on an apologetic face and said, "My fellow Daoists, my disciples are young and ignorant, their remarks just now were thoughtless and meant no offense, I hope you will not take it to heart."

"Children speak without malice!"

Elder Yan spoke indifferently, though quite annoyed in his heart, he, as a venerable elder, could not stoop to petty squabbles with a junior disciple, lest it damage the majesty and demeanor of the Congyun Sect.

A moment later.

A group of people arrived at the Cloud Treasure Hall.

Wu Tian was conversing with a few other Great Elders.

"Taixuan Sect has actually sent people to visit our Congyun Sect, claiming it's to foster goodwill between the two sects and to promote exchanges. In reality, they are probably looking to probe the strengths and weaknesses of our Congyun Sect!"

"It seems that Taixuan Sect can no longer restrain itself and wants to make a move against our Congyun Sect."

Wu Tian took a deep breath and slowly began to speak.

As of now, the Congyun Sect's strength placed it at the bottom among the six Superior Sects, and if not for its former status as an Imperial Dao Sect, it would have been long expelled from the ranks of the Superior Sects by the other five.

At the same time.

Other Superior Sects like Taixuan Sect had long been coveting the Imperial Dao Treasured Arts and various powerful ancient artifacts of the Congyun Sect.

Although many of the Imperial Arts had ceased to be passed down after the passage of time, and some powerful ancient artifacts had been lost in the river of years.

But an Imperial Dao Sect is still an Imperial Dao Sect.

A declining Imperial Dao Sect remained a juicy target in the eyes of the major powers.

If it weren't for the concern that the Congyun Sect might still harbor some unknown foundation, these powers would have long swarmed in and gnawed the Congyun Sect to the bone.

Now.

Taixuan Sect has suddenly sent people over for a visit, proclaiming their intention to bond the sects and promote exchanges among disciples, but in truth, they are here to scout out the actual situation and test the remaining foundation and strength of the Congyun Sect.

As the Sect Master of Congyun Sect, Wu Tian was all too clear about the current plight of his sect.

Therefore, upon learning that Taixuan Sect had sent envoys, he immediately understood their true purpose.

However, he could not simply turn them away.

Doing so would make the other Superior Sects in Shanhe County, including Taixuan Sect, think he was afraid, believing that his Congyun Sect had become thoroughly weak.

The consequences of that would be unimaginable.

It was not only Wu Tian; in fact, all the elders present were well aware of this and felt a heavy unease in their hearts.

A moment later.

Zhou Yuanyi led the nine Taixuan Sect disciples, following Elder Yan into the Cloud Treasure Hall.

"Taixuan Sect's Zhou Yuanyi pays his respects to Sect Master Yun of Congyun Sect, wishing that Sect Master Yun will soon comprehend the ways of creation and ascend to the Immortal Platform Realm."

Zhou Yuanyi walked into the hall, spread his arms, then clasped his fists and bowed in greeting.

However, as soon as these words were uttered, the expressions of everyone in the grand hall immediately soured.

While Zhou Yuanyi's words seemed complimentary, they were actually laced with underlying mockery, for the masters of the other five Superior Sects in Shanhe County had all comprehended the ways of creation and stepped into the Immortal Platform Realm, with only Sect Master Yun Wu Tian still at the Myriad Manifestation Realm.

In saying this, Zhou Yuanyi intended to strike at the face of the Congyun Sect.