Arrival of the Nine Great Sects

Arrival of the Nine Great Sects

Qin Wentian was oblivious to the old man's actions. After reaching the fourth level of Heavenly Dipper, he could sense the immense growth in his physical strength. His desire now burned brightly for a challenging battle to push his newfound limits to the edge.

Recalling the showdown with the six chosen, all of whom were fifth-level Heavenly Dipper cultivators, Qin Wentian was now brimming with confidence. If he were to face such odds again, he believed he could wipe the floor with them.

"I wonder how Purgatory is holding up," Qin Wentian muttered to himself, his index finger emitting a crimson ray of light. Gradually, the outline of a vermilion bird took shape – this was none other than Purgatory.

In that fierce battle, Purgatory had nearly sacrificed itself to protect him. It had fought with unrelenting resolve and only survived thanks to a newfound ability awakened within Qin Wentian's bloodline, allowing the vermilion bird to heal within his own bloodstream.

Though Purgatory could once again take form, it was still frail, far from full strength.

As it caught sight of Qin Wentian, it let out a few ecstatic cries.

Qin Wentian was safe and had even grown stronger. His heart swelled with happiness as he watched the vermilion bird.

"Bzz!" Little Rascal materialized on Purgatory's body, extending its paw to pat Purgatory's head. In its adorable baby voice, it said, "Lit...tle Ras...cal."

Purgatory's wings, which had been flapping with excitement, froze mid-air. It seemed utterly stunned by Little Rascal's words.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but burst into laughter at Little Rascal's attempt to mimic him, patting Purgatory's head and playfully calling it a little rascal.

"Purgatory, focus on recovering for now. Pay no heed to Little Rascal," Qin Wentian chuckled. Purgatory squawked a couple of times before nodding, transforming back into a crimson ray of light and returning to Qin Wentian's body. Little Rascal, however, floated in the air, its wings beating fiercely. It bared its tiny fangs, swiping at the air with its paws, and cast a disapproving glance at Qin Wentian. "Don't...call...me...Lit...tle...Ras...cal..."

"Talk to me again when you can pronounce words clearly," Qin Wentian teased, grinning. He then walked toward Qinger, picked her up, and hugged her gently. His voice softened as he spoke, "Qinger, I'm heading to Xuan King City. It's best if you stay hidden in the shadows."

Qing`er gazed at Qin Wentian, her eyes fixed on him as he spoke with a confident smile, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Remember, I have the facial transformation art. Last time, they tracked me because there were traces of my aura left from the battle. But now, that aura is long gone. After changing my appearance, who would ever suspect I'm Qin Wentian? And if I ever truly find myself in danger, I promise I'll flee immediately."

Qing`er continued to scrutinize Qin Wentian's eyes, detecting his unwavering assurance. Finally, she nodded in agreement.

"Also, can you take care of Little Rascal for me?" Qin Wentian reached out and patted the tiny creature on the head. "Transform back to your normal self."

Little Rascal raised its head, an expression of being wronged on its face, before obediently reverting to its original form. It promptly leaped onto Qing`er's bosom. Her outstretched hands trembled slightly, but she held onto Little Rascal. Little Rascal seized this opportunity to snuggle even deeper into her embrace, eliciting a disapproving glance from Qin Wentian.

"You lecherous fellow, you're so fortunate," Qin Wentian remarked with a grin, causing Qing`er to shoot him a meaningful look.

"Um, that was just a casual comment. Pretend you didn't hear that," Qin Wentian chuckled awkwardly before soaring into the skies and flying away.

The Heavenly Mountains sprawled vast and mysterious. After three days of full-speed flight, Qin Wentian finally emerged from their depths, returning to the Heavenly Mountain where the Treasure Seizing Assembly had taken place.

Several months had passed since the assembly, and now, only a few scattered groups of people roamed the mountain. Many were adventurers or risk-takers, hoping to uncover the secrets hidden within the Heavenly Mountain.

Qin Wentian had changed his appearance, donning a different face and dressed in black attire. He exuded a cool and handsome aura, an air of prestige that kept others at bay. His demeanor was worlds apart from before, and even if he crossed paths with one of the six chosen, he was confident that none of them would recognize him.

"Hmm?" Qin Wentian's gaze shifted as he noticed something. On top of a particular mountain peak stood a young maiden, her eyes fixed on the horizon as if waiting for something.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but feel astonished as he recognized the maiden standing before him—it was none other than Ji Xue from the Qinghua Mountains Sect. Her character was decent; unlike Xie Yu, she hadn't betrayed him during the battle for the Constellation Fruits. Instead, she had chosen to assist him. Unfortunately, she hadn't been strong enough to take on the other geniuses. If she had confronted them, it would have meant certain death.

Qin Wentian bore no grudges against Xu Feng and Ji Xue for not helping him that day. He wasn't unreasonable. Under those circumstances, aiding him would have been suicidal and served no real purpose. If he had been in their position, he wouldn't have recklessly intervened either. While they were acquaintances and he had saved them from a demonic spirit, their relationship hadn't reached the point where they were willing to die for each other.

Xu Feng might have had a cold exterior, but Qin Wentian knew that he wasn't a bad person either. As for Ji Xue, she had a more passionate and gentle demeanor. Although she couldn't rival Shang Yue's beauty, Qin Wentian found her presence more comforting than Shang Yue's.

Qin Wentian took a step forward and soon stood not far from Ji Xue. She turned her head to look at him and involuntarily asked, "Sir, did you just come from the depths of the mountain range?"

"Mhm," Qin Wentian nodded.

"Hmm, have you heard about the incident where the chosen representatives from the six major powers surrounded and battled a young man?" Seeing Qin Wentian's nod, Ji Xue continued with her questions.

"I've heard about it," Qin Wentian replied.

"In that case, since you came from the mountain depths, do you know the outcome of that battle? The rumors outside claim that the experts from the six major powers were killed, but the young man who defeated them was only at the third level of Heavenly Dipper. Is that true? How did he manage to resist them? Is he still alive?" Ji Xue stared at Qin Wentian, her eyes filled with concern, causing Qin Wentian's heart to flutter. So Ji Xue had been waiting here for news about him?

Qin Wentian turned to face Ji Xue directly, locking eyes with her. "I personally witnessed that battle from a distance, so naturally, I know its outcome. But what's your connection to that young man? Why are you so worried about the battle's result?"

"I'm not particularly concerned about the outcome; I just want to know if the young man in white is still alive." Ji Xue's voice trembled upon hearing Qin Wentian's acknowledgment. "That young man is a dear friend of mine who once saved my life. Regardless of whether he's alive or dead, could you please tell me the truth?"

"You've been waiting here all this time just for his return?" A curious glint flashed in Qin Wentian's eyes. He had never expected Ji Xue to be so deeply concerned about his safety.

Ji Xue shook her head. "I only come here for a few hours every day, hoping to hear any news about him, so at least I can find some peace of mind."

"He's still alive," Qin Wentian reassured her, causing Ji Xue's eyes to light up with relief. She then bowed politely and inquired, "Thank you for the information, sir. Might I ask for your name?"

"Qin," he replied.

Ji Xue's expression faltered for a moment upon hearing his surname. Surnamed Qin? Why did he resemble the young man in white so much? However, his aura was entirely different.

Observing Ji Xue's reaction, Qin Wentian felt even more confident. Even after revealing his surname as Qin, she didn't seem to suspect his identity at all. This reassured him that the other chosen would likely not recognize him either.

"It's a pity he's not here. The nine great sects have already sent their representatives to Xuan King City for a disciple recruitment event. With his talent, there should be no problem for him to become an official disciple of the Qinghua Mountains. By then, he won't have to fear the major powers in just a King City," Ji Xue mused in a low voice.

Curiosity piqued, Qin Wentian asked, "The nine great sects you mentioned, is Qinghua Mountains one of them? Are they among the nine supreme powers under the Royal Sacred Sect's command?"

"Yes, they have already arrived. They are now in the center of Xuan King City," Ji Xue confirmed with a smile. "If Brother Qin is interested, you can participate in the test. This is the first time the nine great sects have jointly organized such an event, and coincidentally, they chose to hold it in Xuan King City."

"In that case, would the geniuses from the major powers in Xuan King City also participate in the test?" A sharp glint appeared in Qin Wentian's eyes.

"Naturally, they will. There are rumors that this entire event was proposed by the Battle Sword Sect. The Battle Sword Sect has a history of over ten thousand years and has never recruited disciples before. Although they have the fewest experts among the nine great sects, there's a saying in the Royal Sacred Region: If one enters the Battle Sword Sect, it's as good as securing a place in the Royal Sacred Sect. It's quite surprising that they made this decision all of a sudden. Moreover, I heard that as soon as the recruitment notice was issued, the experts from the Battle Sword Sect reached Grand Shang Empire within a day. Such speed is truly astonishing," Ji Xue explained.

"And the other eight sects were equally surprised by the Battle Sword Sect's actions. So, they sent their representatives to Xuan King City, and eventually, all of them agreed to jointly hold a disciple recruitment event. I wonder why the Battle Sword Sect changed their stance as well. But, in any case, they might reveal the reason during the selection event happening in a few days," Ji Xue explained in a hushed tone. Like the rest of the world, she couldn't comprehend why the Battle Sword Sect decided to break from tradition.

In her wildest dreams, she would never have imagined that the origin of this matter was the person standing right in front of her.

"Many thanks," Qin Wentian replied, concealing his true identity. He had dangerous plans ahead and didn't want to involve others.

With a flicker of his silhouette, he soared into the sky and headed for Xuan King City.

Inside the city, news was spreading rapidly. The most significant piece of news was that the nine great sects would soon arrive in Xuan King City.

These nine great sects were just a tier below the Royal Sacred Sect in terms of power. The scale of their arrival was unimaginable. As a result, members of the royal clan also visited Xuan King City in anticipation of their arrival.

Over the next few days, whether Qin Wentian was in an inn, restaurant, or walking the streets, conversations revolved around the nine great sects. The upcoming disciple recruitment event in the heart of Xuan King City was the talk of the town.

Among the nine great sects, the one name Qin Wentian heard mentioned most frequently was the Battle Sword Sect.

The Battle Sword Sect was legendary, founded by an exceptionally powerful sword cultivator. This sword character was rumored to have reached the realm beyond Celestial Phenomenon. When he was young, he roamed the world with nothing but a sword, embodying chivalry and free-spiritedness, sleeping under the open sky with the earth as his bed and the sky as his blanket.

His ideals persisted through the founding of the Battle Sword Sect. They didn't accept disciples based solely on strength and talent; many outstanding demon-level geniuses sought to join but were rejected. It was, in fact, the toughest of the nine great sects to enter. Consequently, the number of experts in the Battle Sword Sect was the lowest among them all. Despite this, the sect valued principles like individualism, autonomy, and following one's heart. Disciples enjoyed a large degree of freedom, even if they wanted to leave the sect, no one would stop them. Yet, despite their autonomy, the disciples were united, fostering strong relationships with one another. Though they might lack collective strength compared to the other eight sects, they excelled individually.

Joining the Battle Sword Sect practically ensured a foothold in the Royal Sacred Sect. However, in reality, most Battle Sword Sect disciples, due to their unique personalities, couldn't care less about joining the Royal Sacred Sect, even if they were invited.