Liu Yunan and Qin Jianghe, representing the Lingxian Sect, returned to the royal palace, carefully concealing their involvement in the cultivation resource trade. This time, they donned the newly crafted sect uniforms that Lin Xiao had recently made for them.
The two wore exquisitely tailored robes, which to ordinary people might simply appear as unique and finely crafted garments. However, to other cultivators, these outfits were clearly more than they seemed. The representatives from the other three sects couldn't help but notice the young age of these two and wonder why such youths were present at an important gathering, seemingly as key figures.
Each representative of the sects was at least at the Golden Core stage, typically elders with significant experience. With just a glance, they could tell that the robes on these two young men were no ordinary attire. There was even a faint sense that, despite their own full-powered attacks, they might not be able to break through the defenses of those garments.
"High-grade magical robes!" they all thought.
They were astonished that these seemingly young men were equipped with such powerful protective gear. They couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious about their own robes, which were of far lesser quality, merely adequate for defending against Foundation Establishment level attacks—a stark contrast to what these youths were wearing.
For a moment, the representatives felt an overwhelming urge to remove their own robes, despite having specifically chosen them for this important meeting. Being outclassed by two young people felt rather humiliating. However, they quickly suppressed this impulse, realizing that such actions were impractical and would only bring further embarrassment.
Once everyone had arrived at the council hall, they were seated under the guidance of the eunuchs. After the emperor, Li Zhouxuan, introduced the attendees, the representatives of the three major sects were surprised to learn that the two young men were from the renowned Lingxian Sect.
The series of events involving the Shangyang Sect had caught the immediate attention of the Qinghe Sect and Yunyan Sect as soon as they heard about it. Both sects had focused their primary intelligence networks on gathering information regarding the situation.
Unfortunately, by the time they received the news, it was already too late to capitalize on the situation. Moreover, the unpredictable actions of Wei Hai, the Nascent Soul cultivator who had seized control of Shangyang Sect, had made them hesitant. Despite his power, Wei Hai's erratic behavior—rather than fleeing after an attack, he had assumed the position of sect leader—was unsettling.
Qinghe Sect, being slightly more powerful with a Nascent Soul Patriarch in seclusion, had conducted a thorough investigation to ensure their patriarch was safe, taking no chances after hearing of the Shangyang Sect's misfortune. It was only after confirming their own patriarch's well-being that they felt some relief.
Due to their close monitoring of the Shangyang Sect, both the Qinghe and Yunyan Sects had also heard about the Lingxian Sect's decisive defeat of Wei Hai. Though this was the first time they had heard of the Lingxian Sect, which had emerged so strongly under their very noses, they were not about to underestimate this new force. They refrained from provoking the Lingxian Sect, understanding the potential risks involved.
After the Wei Hai incident, the Shangyang Sect had significantly declined. Although they still had a respectable number of Golden Core cultivators and Foundation Establishment disciples, their resources had been depleted, largely taken by Wei Hai and lost after his defeat. Everyone knew where those resources likely ended up.
Without sufficient resources, the Shangyang Sect was on a path to further decline. While their current strength might not seem greatly diminished, it was only a matter of time before the lack of resources took its toll. The Qinghe and Yunyan Sects, as well as the royal family, no longer considered the Shangyang Sect part of the "Three Major Sects."
However, the Shangyang Sect dared not confront the Lingxian Sect. In fact, many of their members, who had suffered under Wei Hai and were abandoned by the sect's leadership, were grateful to the Lingxian Sect for eliminating him.
The emergence of the Lingxian Sect, located outside the territory of the Qinghe and Yunyan Sects, was seen as taking over the position once held by the Shangyang Sect. While they couldn't profit from this new power, it didn't pose a significant threat to them either. They accepted this outcome, recognizing that they had little choice.
The Qinghe and Yunyan Sects were more concerned with survival and progress within the mortal realm, unlike some sects in the cultivation world who might see this as an opportunity to manipulate or gain advantage. Their primary focus was on achieving sufficient cultivation to gain favor with higher sects and eventually ascend to the cultivation world.
In the council hall, Emperor Li Zhouxuan sat at the head, with the representatives from the four sects seated on either side. The Qinghe Sect and Yunyan Sect took the positions closest to the emperor, with the Lingxian Sect representatives seated next to Yunyan Sect.
Initially, the Yunyan Sect representative had intended to offer the more prestigious seat to Liu Yunan and Qin Jianghe, but Qin Jianghe had politely declined, maintaining a courteous demeanor.