At the same time, within the main hall of the Azure Yang Sect, Qing Yangzi gathered all the elders together.
First Elder Zhang Yan said somewhat impatiently, "Qing Yangzi! It has only been a few days. Why did you gather us again?"
Qing Yangzi was not angered as he asked with a smile, "How's Chen Mu's performance after entering the sect?"
Zhang Yan replied, "This youth is very diligent. As soon as he entered the sect, he started cultivating diligently. For half a month, he hasn't left the stone forest."
When Qing Yangzi heard this, he nodded his head.
Recalling Chen Mu's appearance when he first entered the sect, a gratified smile appeared on his face.
The moment he saw Chen Mu, he felt a sense of familiarity. He had a nagging feeling that the youth's temperament was somewhat similar to his youth.
Now that he knew that Chen Mu had been cultivating diligently ever since he entered the sect, he admired this youth even more.
When he saw Qing Yangzi chuckling foolishly over there, Zhang Yan suppressed his anger and asked, "Qing Yangzi, did you gather us here to say this?"
Qing Yangzi snapped back to his senses and said earnestly, "Junior Brother Zhang, don't send anyone to keep an eye on him in the future. Also, don't check up on his cultivation level either. Just let him do whatever he wants."
"Someone like him will find his own opportunities sooner or later. If we keep an eye on him, it will only hinder him."
"Of course I know that. I've already sent away the observer yesterday!"
"Previously, we only wanted to see his character so that we could come up with a corresponding strategy."
"Now that we know he's a diligent person, we naturally don't have to constantly keep an eye on him."
As Zhang Yan spoke, he glared at Qing Yangzi with a stance that said, 'If you don't tell us something important, I'll definitely not let this matter rest today!'
Qing Yangzi smiled out awkwardly before bringing up the main issue.
"I gathered everyone here to tell you something."
"Yesterday, I received news that a secret realm appeared in Cloud Prefecture. I heard that there might be Scarlet Flame Essence Gold inside, so I want to go and take a look."
Everyone's expressions changed upon hearing this.
Another secret realm appeared?
Starting from last year, there was already a third secret realm in Country Yan…
In the past, not a single secret realm would appear every ten years.
The impatience on Zhang Yan's face instantly vanished, and he said coldly, "Senior Brother, the person to face the calamity has already been found. You don't have to run, right?"
When Qing Yangzi heard this, he was fuming with rage.
"Junior Brother Zhang, what do you mean? Am I that kind of person?"
"You are!"
"…"
Looking at the doubtful faces of everyone, Qing Yangzi frowned as his expression turned extremely stern.
"Chen Mu's potential is mediocre. If he wants to improve his strength, he will need external help…"
Zhang Yan came to a sudden realization upon hearing this.
Scarlet Flame Essence Gold was a top-notch material for refining fire-elemental Dharma treasures. Meanwhile, Chen Mu had a fire spiritual root…
It turned out that Senior Brother decided to explore the secret realm to make plans for Chen Mu's future Dharma treasure.
This sounded somewhat exaggerated. After all, Chen Mu had just entered the sect and was still very far from using Dharma treasures.
But he knew that his senior brother was serious about it.
In fact, the Azure Yang Sect had been preparing for more than ten years.
From the various treasures for Qi Refinement to the materials for the Foundation Establishment to the Dharma treasures and pills needed for the Golden Core Realm…
All of them had been in preparation.
In fact, they already had materials for fire-elemental Dharma treasures, but they were far inferior to the Scarlet Flame Essence Gold.
After knowing of Qing Yangzi's intentions, Zhang Yan's heart was filled with complex emotions.
During this year, the outside world had changed greatly.
A year ago, Country Yan and Country Zhao had started a war with each other due to the dragon qi in the earth veins. Both sides had suffered countless casualties and the victor had yet to be decided.
The Flying Bull Prefecture was located in the middle of Country Yan. Although it was not affected by the flames of war, due to the increase in taxes and deserters, bandits and thieves were everywhere. The people were seething with anger.
Besides, the cultivation world was not peaceful either.
Within a year, three secret realms appeared in Country Yan, causing all parties to fight over them.
Many experts had perished in the secret realm in order to obtain the treasures within.
Due to the war between the two countries, there were many casualties. Many vengeful spirits, various ghostly cultivators, and evil cultivators were born.
...
Dragon qi of the earth veins, secret realm, ghostly cultivators, and evil cultivators…
No matter how one looked at it, this was a sign of chaotic times.
The destruction of a sect was more or less a sign.
Zhang Yan faintly suspected that the great calamity of the sect might be related to these changes.
If Qing Yangzi were to go out now, would he…
Qing Yangzi could tell what Zhang Yan was thinking with a single glance as he chuckled out, "In terms of strength, the sect has a supreme elder holding down the fort."
"In terms of sect affairs, Junior Brother Zhang is in charge."
"Even if I do not return, the Azure Yang Sect will not decline, much less cause a sect extermination calamity because of me."
He paused after saying this.
"I've already found the person to face the calamity. As the Sect Leader, I should do something."
"Scarlet Flame Essence Gold is only one of them. It would be even better if I can obtain other good items and bring them back to the sect."
"You should be able to feel it…"
"Over the past year, the outside world has become increasingly chaotic."
"If I do not fight for it now, how will my Azure Yang Sect survive in this chaotic world when the time comes?"
"Are you really counting on a youth?"
All the elders fell silent upon hearing this.
Would chaos really come?
Could the Immortal Alliance really not make it?
The Immortal Alliance had been established more than a thousand years ago, when the chaotic times had just ended.
They did not know the cause of the chaos. They only knew that at that time, sects were attacking each other. Small sects were in danger daily, and large sects were also in danger of being destroyed.
Later on, the attacks of the cultivation world affected mortals, causing countless mortals to die.
In the end, the Heavenly Lightning descended upon the world and exterminated the strongest sect in the world. Only then did the chaos end.
After that, a few large sects took the lead in establishing the Immortal Alliance. They included all the immortal sects in the world and implemented three rules for everyone to follow.
Firstly, cultivators were not allowed to participate in wars between mortals.
Secondly, all sects registered in the Immortal Alliance were protected by the Immortal Alliance.
Thirdly, when sects within the Immortal Alliance engaged in conflicts of interest, they would try their best to mediate. If they could not mediate, they could only settle the issue in future competitions and not start a sect war.
...
The Azure Yang Sect was established at that time. At the same time, it was also a sect registered in the Immortal Alliance.
Under normal circumstances, it was unlikely that the Azure Yang Sect would encounter a sect-exterminating calamity.
After all, whoever wanted to destroy the Azure Yang Sect would be making an enemy out of the Immortal Alliance.
No matter how high one's cultivation was, they still had to think twice.
In the past years, no one dared to think that the Immortal Alliance would fail. They would only think that the Azure Yang Sect was unlucky and met with an accident.
However, this year, chaos had broken out and the control of the Immortal Alliance seemed to be shrinking.
Everyone had to consider this question.
...
"Senior Brother…" Shui Rou wanted to say something but hesitated.
She knew that her senior brother was right, but she was also a little worried.
Qing Yangzi stood up immediately and smiled. "Alright, that's all. It's time for me to leave."
"As the Sect Leader, I can't just sit around doing nothing."
"Right now, I'm the most suitable person in the sect to head out and explore."
"Leaving now?" The elders stood up.
"Yes, a few fellow Daoists are already waiting for me outside." With that said, Qing Yangzi's body flashed as he arrived outside the main hall.
Zhang Yan could not help but feel slightly sad when he saw this.
The Immortal Alliance did not care about the life and death within the secret realms.
Furthermore, it was said that quite a number of powerful experts were buried within those two secret realms.
Although this senior brother of his was not a good person and often scammed him, they were still fellow disciple brothers.
He took a step forward upon thinking of this, "Senior Brother…"
"Yeah?" Qing Yangzi stopped in his tracks.
Zhang Yan had so many things to say in his heart, but in the end, he only said one sentence.
"Take care!"
When Qing Yangzi heard that, he burst out laughing.
"Haha, if I don't return, you will be the Sect Leader. Just don't dance on my grave!"
When he heard this, Zhang Yan was furious and said angrily, "Get lost! Quickly get lost!"
Qing Yangzi burst out laughing before turning into a streak of light and disappearing into the distance.