Five Immortal Sects

Chapter 102: Gathering Together

Before the valley, two massive glowing spheres rapidly approached from the distant horizon. In mere moments, they arrived above the clearing at the valley’s mouth, then came to a halt, hovering midair.

As the radiant light slowly faded, a gigantic alms bowl and an ancient, weathered greatsword engraved with mysterious patterns appeared in the sky. From above, a solemn Buddhist chant echoed.

“Amitabha Buddha, thank you all for your patience, venerable benefactors.”

Within the glowing alms bowl, streams of light flickered and soared, falling gracefully. At the same time, figures leapt from the ancient sword like bullets, monks clad in robes descended from the sky, accompanied by a fierce-looking cohort of cultivators.

Leading them were eleven monks draped in crimson kasaya robes, each a Core Formation stage master. They were revered as the Buddhas.

Behind them followed forty-nine Foundation Establishment stage monks in yellow robes, called Chan monks. Further back, over a hundred young monks in gray robes comprised the entire Pure Land Sect group.

The group radiating sharp, intense aura were the disciples of the Ten-Step Court, each clad in white robes. Some bore massive sword cases on their backs; others wore only plain white robes. Thirteen Core Formation cultivators led them.

The Pure Land Sect spokesperson was a Buddha about thirty years old, with a burly frame and a ruddy complexion, though he paled in comparison to the towering Mountain Devouring Beast standing nearby. His solemn face bore nine faint golden rings on his crown, exuding a majestic, sacred presence.

“Xiahua greets fellow Daoists!”

Among the Ten Steps group, a slender middle-aged cultivator spoke. Around forty years old, his long beard framed a calm, indifferent expression. Unlike others, he carried no large sword case; his white robes fluttered elegantly, giving him an ethereal, extraordinary aura.

“Ah, so it’s Master Yisong and Sword King Xiahua leading. You two have certainly arrived late.”

The speaker was none other than the gaunt, dark-robed Gale Eagle, Yin Congfeng.

The jade qilin gentleman’s eyes again flicked toward three Core Formation female sword cultivators from Ten Steps, studying them closely, occasionally clicking his tongue in appreciation.

“Since everyone is present, shall we begin the harvesting expedition?”

Immortal Hang Wu ignored Yin Congfeng’s sarcasm. Looking skyward, he calmly responded,

“No rush, no rush. Master Yisong and Sword King Xiahua, some Fellow Daoists here are unfamiliar to each other. Perhaps an introduction or two is in order before we start. After all, this journey will take a full month.”

Lin Mingyu swiftly folded his fan with a smile and tapped it lightly in his palm.

The other two beast cultivators glanced his way but remained silent.

Elder Peng closed his eyes, choosing to meditate instead. Immortal Hang Wu could only helplessly glance at Yisong and Xiahua, finally resting his gaze on Sword King Xiahua. Everyone seemed to understand that the jade qilin simply wished to meet the female cultivators.

Sword King Xiahua nodded expressionlessly and began a formal, mechanical introduction.

“Little junior brother, have you noticed the Ten Steps sword cultivators? Those carrying large sword cases belong to the Outer Sword lineage, while those empty-handed belong to the Inner Sword lineage. Outer Sword cultivators can unleash countless sword strikes with overwhelming power; Inner Sword cultivators have refined sword pellets in the Niwan Palace, making them even harder to deal with.

“Sword cultivators are our greatest enemies. Their attack and speed are incredibly difficult to counter, so exercise utmost caution when engaging them. The Grand Profound Sect, located in the South Sea, mainly cultivates Taoist techniques…”

Knowing Li Yan was unfamiliar with the other four sects, Li Wuyi began a rapid introduction with voice transmission.

Just as Sword King Xiahua finished his introduction, Li Wuyi was wrapping up as well.

Li Yan listened intently, his expression grave as he glanced toward the Ten-Step Court and Pure Land Sect disciples behind, all in Qi Condensation stage.

“Did you notice something off?”

“Yes. The Qi Condensation cultivators from those two sects have vastly different auras. It seems the three sects truly have allied.”

Li Yan’s eyes flickered with insight.

Li Wuyi had noticed as well. He had been observing since their arrival but still couldn’t figure out several questions. How could the three sects cooperate to counter the Wraith Sect in the Wheel of Life and Death? Could they somehow avoid fighting each other?

For a moment, Li Wuyi was perplexed and sighed quietly. He shifted his gaze toward other Foundation Establishment cultivators and recognized many familiar faces. He smiled faintly, though the looks aimed at him were full of hatred or battle intent.

The Pure Land Sect and Ten Steps introductions finished quickly, but to Lin Mingyu’s disappointment, he gained little opportunity for socializing.

With introductions over, Sword King Xiahua immediately suggested preparations to begin the harvesting. Lin Mingyu could only sulkily accept and turned toward his fellow beast cultivators.

The Wraith Sect gathered together as Elder Peng raised a hand, casting a huge soundproof dome over everyone. The other three sects followed suit, clearly making final preparations.

Only the beasts remained indifferent, watching the four sects with their usual chaotic demeanor.

“Judging by how the three sects still guard against each other and the aura of their Foundation Establishment disciples, they will not hold back during harvesting. Each will fight independently to maximize their gains. However, during the Wheel of Life and Death, they will cooperate, that much is certain. So, what is your decision?”

Elder Peng spoke calmly, as Core Formation and Foundation Establishment cultivators turned their gazes toward the Qi Condensation disciples.

…

At last, among the 108 Qi-condensation disciples of the Wraith Sect, ninety percent chose to participate in the Wheel of Life and Death. Li Yan could tell this was likely the result of the Foundation Establishment cultivators from each peak “negotiating” with their own disciples just now.

Even if some Qi-condensation disciples were reluctant deep down, they probably dared not voice it. Only a few bold ones remained silent, but that too did not change the inevitable outcome. This time, Li Yan voiced his approval.

Once the plan was settled, Elder Peng produced information on Foundation Establishment cultivators from the other factions for all disciples to observe. This was primarily for the Foundation Establishment disciples to study, with a strict time limit of fifteen minutes to complete.

In truth, before this, cultivators from each faction had already passed all known information to their own sect’s relevant people.

Li Yan clearly understood the elders’ intention: before arrival, the four sects had sealed off the list of Foundation Establishment disciples participating in the harvest to prevent targeted countermeasures by others.

Though each sect planted spies within the others, once the participants were selected, they sealed off nearly ten thousand li of sect territory.

Massive patrols were arranged daily without pause. The patrol squads themselves mutually monitored one another. The zones of their divine sense overlapped, forming a cross-linked spiritual detection network.

It was virtually impossible to send transmission talismans or use flying spirit beasts to convey information, unless an entire patrol team was compromised by enemy infiltrators.

Now that the four sects’ forces had appeared, their Foundation Establishment disciples could no longer hide. Elder Peng and the others had already arranged for familiar Foundation Establishment disciples to supplement and cross-check this information.

As for Qi-condensation disciples’ data, it was scarce. The four sects were vast and in prior exchanges rarely involved lower-level disciples, so hardly any detailed profiles of low-rank disciples were available.

With limited time, the Wraith Sect’s collected intel mainly listed key figures from the other three sects and the beast faction, focusing on their cultivation techniques and personality traits, allowing Li Yan and others a rough understanding of the principal Foundation Establishment cultivators and second-rank beasts.

These materials were extremely valuable, many had been obtained at great personal risk. Knowing a person’s cultivation methods and temperament allowed for tailored strategic planning.

At the same time, cultivators from the other sects were doing the same.

Li Yan had already learned some details from Li Wuyi and now knew more about his opponents.

He carefully scanned through the key figures highlighted in the gathered intel.

A sword-cultivator with sharp brows and bright eyes, clad in a blue robe, stood before the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Ten-Step Court. He exuded the unique coldness and aloofness of a sword cultivator, his bearing extraordinary.

Wang Lang, Pseudo Core, elite internal sword cultivator of Ten-Step Court. He had refined a sword pellet to the level of turning a sword into strands of silk, capable of severing heads from hundreds of li away. Skilled in the Purple Star Rotating Body Technique... his attacks were sharp and his movements lightning fast!

The ability to transform a sword into silk strands was a hallmark of strong internal sword cultivators. Most Foundation Establishment sword cultivators were still at the comprehension stage of this skill, but he had already reached a minor success.

Liang Liang, Pseudo Core, internal sword lineage of Ten-Step Court, had refined a sword pellet and begun comprehending the sword-to-silk transformation…

Miao Zhengyi, Pseudo Core, external sword lineage of Ten-Step Court, carried a sword case with 360 spirit swords capable of forming the Earth-Devil Sword Formation and the Sword Rain Sprinkling Technique…

Quan Jiuxing, a rising star of the Grand Profound Sect’s younger generation, Pseudo Core, his green Taoist robe fluttering in the wind, eyes lively and observant, carrying crossed twin swords on his back. His cultivation was refined and profound. He possessed a mid-grade spirit treasure, the "Azure Flame Shield," paired with the Azure Flood Dragon Sword for offense and defense…

Qiu Jiu, tall and fair-skinned with a rosy complexion, wore a green Taoist robe that added to her heroic aura. Her hair tied into a crown, standing beside Quan Jiuxing, her imposing presence rivaled his. Her phoenix-shaped eyes gazed at Quan Jiuxing with affection, as if forgetting her surroundings.

A young monk from the Pure Land Sect quietly observed the Wraith Sect side. He looked around eighteen or nineteen, wearing a yellow kasaya, clearly a Foundation Establishment Chan monk.

Zhi Liao, Chan monk, Pseudo Core, proficient in the Eighteen Garments Buddha Transmission. It was rumored he had cultivated a trace of Mind Force, which was terrifying. Besides amplifying his power greatly, if hit by Mind Force, the vital energy inside would burn like oil on fire, nearly impossible to eradicate...

Behind Zhi Liao was another, also highlighted by Li Wuyi and the others. Zhi Wei, a Pseudo Core Chan monk, well-versed in the Great Sun Sutra. He was said to possess a Gau box artifact, capable of subduing yin creatures and ensnaring souls within. With it, he could seize a person’s spirit and ferry them forcibly to the Western Paradise…

...

The Secret Harvesting Realm lay within the valley, requiring several Core Formation-level cultivators to jointly open its gate.

Although it was said to be Five Factions, in reality, it was seven groups. The three beast teams consisted of beast races from their respective great powers, who would fight fiercely over resources once inside.

The secret realm housed countless beasts. The beasts on their side had long demanded more participation, but the four sects refused, fearing too many beasts would be a liability.

Regarding this Wheel of Life and Death opening, the four sects initially didn’t want to allocate eight paths to the beasts. However, the beasts insisted on honoring an agreement from tens of thousands of years ago, threatening to refuse to open the death wheel otherwise, so the four sects reluctantly consented.

Mainly, it was the Ten-Step Court, Pure Land Sect, and Grand Profound Sect who agreed. Wraith Sect had no choice but to acquiesce.

In less than fifteen minutes, three Core Formation cultivators stepped forward: Elder Peng of Wraith Sect, the Xiahua Sword King of Ten-Step Court, and Yin Congfeng of the beasts.

At this moment, the beasts began retreating a hundred zhang from the humans, revealing the previously blocked valley entrance.

Only then did Li Yan and the others notice that even with the beasts gone, the valley’s interior remained hidden. On both sides of the entrance stood a three-zhang-high green vine trellis covered with lush verdant leaves.

The vines drooped beneath the trellis, vibrant and glowing with a bright green light, full of spiritual energy, as if forming a shaded green passage, obscuring everything inside the valley.

Elder Peng and the other two formed a triangular formation at the entrance, standing firm. The Grand Profound Sect and Pure Land Sect did not send any Core Formation cultivators forward, nor did anyone speak.

But Li Yan could clearly see a flicker of discontent on some faces from those two sects. For a moment, he felt somewhat puzzled by the situation.

(Chapter End)