Translator: CinderTL
"Yes!"
Huang Daozhen answered directly and precisely.
"But isn't it said that the Taixu Sword Sect isn't actually a true Dao Unification lineage from the Great Void, Flaming Phoenix, and Source One? And what about the Wu Ji Sect? Where did they get their Dao Unification heritage?" Li Chunjun asked.
"Flaming Phoenix and Source One never publicly acknowledged the Taixu Sword Sect as their creation, but for reasons unknown, the Great Void Dao Lord did recognize the sect's legitimacy," Huang Daozhen said gravely. "Moreover, this event happened just a thousand years ago."
"A thousand years ago..."
"Yes. At the time, the Immortal Alliance was on the verge of passing a resolution to destroy the Taixu Sword Sect. Somehow, the sect managed to contact the Great Void Dao Lord, and his intervention forced the Immortal Alliance to abandon its plans and accept the Taixu Sword Sect as a member." Huang Daozhen sighed regretfully. "If the Dao Lord had appeared just a little later, the Taixu Sword Sect might have become a footnote in the history of the Profound Yellow Great World."
Li Chunjun thought of how the Taixu Sword Sect had become increasingly cautious in its actions after joining the Immortal Alliance...
I can almost understand their high-level decision-making now.
But...
"The Taixu Sword Sect had the Great Void Dao Lord appear to protect their legacy and become a Council-level Power within the Immortal Alliance. What about the Wu Ji Sect? What right do they have to claim Council-level status?"
"That's where the Star Abyss comes in," Huang Daozhen said. "In reality, the Star Abyss is a key resource controlled by the Wu Ji Sect. To draw the Immortal Alliance into the situation, they offered this resource as a contribution, their true target being the Heavenly Principles Sect. And behind the Heavenly Principles Sect stands one of the Immortal Alliance's vice alliance leaders, the Supreme Truth Sovereign."
"The Star Abyss..." Li Chunjun's expression grew slightly grave.
"The Star Abyss is a place formed by the Dao Unification of a Star Spirit. It holds immense value. It's said that the Supreme Truth Sovereign of the Heavenly Principles Sect reaped a rich harvest after entering it. To reward the Wu Ji Sect, the Supreme Truth Sovereign personally met with Yuan Guiyi, the sect's most talented Ultimate Powerhouse with the Supreme Dharma Aspect, and accepted him as a disciple. Through this connection with the Supreme Truth Sovereign, the Heavenly Principles Sect took the lead in pushing the Wu Ji Sect into the Immortal Alliance Council."
"Wait, did the Supreme Truth Sovereign enter the Star Abyss?"
Li Chunjun was stunned. "Then why is the Star Abyss still a treasure-hunting paradise?"
"What kind of being is the Supreme Truth Sovereign? Ordinary Dao-infused materials probably wouldn't even catch his eye! Although he entered the Star Abyss once and took the most valuable treasures, the leftovers he deemed unworthy are still enough to drive countless Void Refining cultivators mad."
Huang Daozhen continued, "Moreover, it was precisely because the Supreme Truth Sovereign had entered the Star Abyss once and cleared away many forbidden areas and Array Formations that would have been fatal to Void Refining cultivators that Void Refining cultivators could venture deep inside to hunt for treasures. Otherwise, how could an ordinary Void Refining cultivator dare to set foot in a complete Dao Unification realm's fall site?"
Li Chunjun didn't ask why the Star Abyss, which couldn't even withstand the power of a Dharma Aspect, could contain the power of a Supreme Sovereign.
There was no need.
"The reason the Star Abyss didn't become the private domain of the Heavenly Principles Sect is because the Supreme Truth Sovereign had a fruitful harvest there and, in a good mood, directly declared it open to the public, sharing the spoils with the people."
Huang Daozhen sighed, "In this regard, the Supreme Truth Sovereign did a good deed."
"It seems the Starspirit Dao Venerable was no ordinary being," Li Chunjun mused. "Otherwise, the treasures left behind wouldn't have filled a Supreme Sovereign's pockets."
"The Starspirit Dao Venerable sought to merge two Daos into one, leading to self-destruction," Huang Daozhen explained. "Judging by this, they were among the most elite Dao Venerables."
"Merging two Daos..." Li Chunjun nodded thoughtfully.
"That's essentially the nature of Council-level Powers," Huang Daozhen continued. "Their Council can effectively dictate the Immortal Alliance's affairs, both major and minor. The Immortal Alliance, in turn, functions as the Bureau of Administrative Affairs for the Human Race, handling internal matters and serving as the faction we interact with most frequently."
Huang Daozhen organized his thoughts: "Within the Immortal Alliance, the most esteemed figure is naturally the chairman of the Supreme Council—the Supreme Lawbringer. However, this Ultimate Powerhouse rarely involves themselves in day-to-day affairs. Instead, the vice alliance leaders, who handle most of the alliance's internal matters, are the ones who usually take charge."
He continued, "To ensure the Immortal Alliance's policies pass smoothly through the Supreme Council, several Supreme Vice Alliance Masters formed the Council by rallying sects with seats in the Supreme Council. These sects became senior councilors, each eligible to run for chairman. Of course, the chairmanship has always rotated among the vice alliance leaders, and while other powers technically have the right to run, almost none have ever succeeded."
Li Chunjun couldn't be bothered to delve into the details.
He simply treated them as a low-budget version of the Supreme Council.
"So, there's a hierarchy among Council-level Powers? Senior councilors and ordinary councilors? And below that, ordinary members?"
"Indeed, there's a distinction between senior and ordinary councilors, but it doesn't necessarily mean senior councilors represent stronger sects. Senior councilors simply hold the additional status of Supreme Council members."
Huang Daozhen explained further, then added, "As for ordinary members... they must have a Dao Unification ancestor."
"A Dao Unification ancestor..."
Li Chunjun thought of powers like the Chiyang Sword Sect, the Xian Tian Sect, and the Piao Miao Sect. "That requirement can't be so strict, can it?"
"That's right."
Huang Daozhen nodded. "The ultimate authority to decide whether a power can join the Immortal Alliance still rests with the Council. Unless a power truly has a Dao Unification cultivator, even if your Dao Unification ancestor merely disappeared for millions of years, the Council can still deny your application."
He snorted. "Conversely, if the Council is willing, even if a power has never produced a Dao Unification cultivator, simply having one of its members become a disciple of a Dao Unification cultivator and establish a connection is enough to secure membership in the Immortal Alliance."
The Immortal Alliance...
Li Chunjun thought of the Immortal God Race's desperate efforts to join the Immortal Alliance...
He found it difficult to say anything at that moment.
"In reality, only three powers in the Profound Yellow Great World truly qualify for Immortal Alliance membership: our Profound Yellow Sect, the Wu Ji Sect, and the Taixu Sword Sect. However, the Profound Yellow Great World is rich in resources. The Profound Yellow Vast Land and the Star Abyss alone are enough to make major powers envious. To court local powers, the Immortal Alliance granted the Profound Yellow Great World over a dozen membership slots."
Huang Daozhen's tone was tinged with a complex emotion.
"Many of the Immortal Alliance's membership slots... were obtained by selling out the interests of the Profound Yellow Great World."
"How many senior councilor-level and Council-level Powers does the Immortal Alliance have? And how many members?" Li Chunjun asked.
"The number of members fluctuates slightly with each conference, but it generally hovers around thirty thousand. There are about six hundred Council-level Powers, and thirty-six senior councilors..."
"Six hundred Council-level Powers?" Li Chunjun was taken aback. "If you count it that way, there's more than enough room for each Council-level Power in the Human Territory to claim one. And the Profound Yellow Great World, with the Wu Ji Sect and the Taixu Sword Sect as Council-level Powers, is already considered a high-end configuration."
"That's true, but the resources of the ancient Great Worlds have long been exhausted. Their wealth can't compare to the Profound Yellow Great World. As a result, the Great Worlds newly discovered and incorporated into the Immortal Alliance often have a higher concentration of top-tier experts, while those within the Human Territory tend to have fewer." Huang Daozhen chuckled. "In some ancient Great Worlds where resources have been completely depleted, there are probably fewer than five Supreme Sages combined."
"One Great World... with fewer than five Supreme Sages..." Li Chunjun now understood why Void Refining and Dharma Aspect cultivators were considered the mid-to-upper echelons of the Human Race.
No wonder the Profound Yellow Sect was pulling out all the stops to recruit him, the Supreme Sovereign's personal disciple.
"Ordinary, Council-level, Senior Councilor..."
Li Chunjun glanced at Huang Daozhen. "It seems the Profound Yellow Sect is in a rather precarious position."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Huang Daozhen's face. "In terms of strength and status, the Profound Yellow Sect certainly can't compare to the Taixu Sword Sect or the Wu Ji Sect. However, our sect's foundation is unmatched by any other power. The Profound Yellow Sect boasts thirteen Supreme Sages!"
He added, "Moreover, if Heavenly Monarch Li were to join us, the Profound Yellow Sect would gain three more Supreme Sages! We could also establish friendly relations with over ten Supreme Sage-level powers!"
Li Chunjun's interest piqued. "The three Supreme Sages within the Profound Yellow Grotto-Heaven?"
"Precisely!" Huang Daozhen didn't hide the truth. "As a personal disciple of the Supreme Sovereign, your influence is undeniable. Joining us would be a powerful alliance. We're confident we could persuade those three to join us."
He quickly added, "Senior Disciple Li, please don't think that joining our sect would mean being bound by its restrictions. If you were to join, the Profound Yellow Sect would offer you the position of Supreme Elder. You would have complete control over all the sect's resources, and all disciples would be under your command as Supreme Elder."
"Supreme Elder?"
Li Chunjun looked at Huang Daozhen.
This Sect Master...
He's really willing to go all out.
"Indeed!"
Huang Daozhen said solemnly, "Every direct disciple of the Supreme Sovereign has the potential to achieve Dao Unification. The Profound Yellow Sect is willing to assist you in your Dao Unification breakthrough as if you were a Dao Unification seed!"
"Assist me in Dao Unification?" Li Chunjun's expression shifted slightly. "Sect Leader Huang, do you understand what you're saying? And has this decision been approved by the other Supreme Elders?"
"I am fully aware of what I'm saying. Before I came here, the Profound Yellow Sect held a special Supreme Elder Council meeting. Forgive our presumption, but we have thoroughly studied Senior Disciple Li's records. In just thirty years, you've risen from mortal to Void Refining—such speed and talent are unprecedented..."
Huang Daozhen paused, took a deep breath, and continued, his voice trembling slightly, "Most importantly... you became a direct disciple of the Supreme Sovereign before reaching Void Refining!"
His voice trembled slightly. "In the recorded history of the Profound Yellow Sect, the Supreme Sovereign has taken in a total of forty-six direct disciples. But you are the only one who became a direct disciple before reaching Void Refining!"
The only direct disciple who wasn't already Void Refining.
Li Chunjun was slightly taken aback.
This point...
He hadn't even noticed.
Yet the people of the Profound Yellow Sect had recognized its significance.
It was the only one that stood above the forty-six...
At least forty-six direct disciples of Supreme Sovereigns.
"The Profound Yellow Sect's current situation is neither here nor there," Huang Daozhen said calmly. "Since we see such hope in Senior Disciple Li, we might as well take a gamble. If we lose, the Profound Yellow Sect will merely squander the resources accumulated over the years. But with Profound Yellow Supreme's reputation, we won't be annihilated. However, if we win..."
He didn't finish, but his eyes shone with a palpable brilliance.
It was...
A hope and passion that even conquering new territories and achieving high office couldn't fully capture.
Li Chunjun stared at Huang Daozhen for a long moment without speaking.
Huang Daozhen met his gaze with unwavering sincerity, allowing Li Chunjun to scrutinize him freely.
After a long pause...
Li Chunjun finally spoke. "What I intend to do may not be sustainable even with Profound Yellow Supreme's reputation. Are you prepared for the possibility that it could lead to the Profound Yellow Sect's eternal destruction?"
(End of the Chapter)
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