The Profound Sword Sect was the number one sect on the Star Bound Continent.
Though their disciples weren't a lot, each of them was talented to the extreme.
Anytime one of them left the sect and enter the Star Bound Continent to seek tempering it would set off a wave across the continent.
They were very reclusive in nature, and the only thing that interests them was meditating to comprehend the abstruse Sword Dao, so, one of their disciples leaving the sect would cause all the major sects' eyes to follow that disciple's movement.
The last time one of their disciples left the sect, a series of events took place that shook the entire Star Bound Continent.
The disciple that went out to temper himself, went on to challenge all the major sect's prodigies in the Foundation Establishment Realm. And despite being in the 1st stage, he was able to jump several minor realms and defeat 9th stage Foundation Establishment disciples.
His comprehension of the Sword Dao was so astonishing that it only took him no more than three slashes to defeat his opponents.
The other sects found this absurd and began speculating that he was the Legacy Disciple of the Profound Sword Sect.
A Legacy Disciple was the most talented person in the sect that was destined to become the next Sect Leader. All the sect's resources would be at that person's disposal so as to foster their growth.
When the sects exclaimed their suspicions of the young man being the Legacy Disciple, that disciple burst out laughing so hard that tears came to the corners of his eyes.
All the major sect's representatives just stood there staring at him in puzzlement, wondering what would cause him to laugh so hysterically that he was practically rolling on the floor.
After the young man regain his composure, he turned to the major sect's representatives and said,
"Elders and fellow disciples of the major sects, I am not the Legacy Disciple. Actually, I'm far from it. I'm merely a low-ranked outer disciple of my sect, as you can see from my outfit." Saying that the young man stretched out his arms to emphasize his red robes.
"...!!!?"
There was a period of silence before an uproar resounded from the major sects.
All though they saw his red robes, his comprehension, and skill were just too outstanding that they completely ignored it and suspected he was trying to hide his real identity.
However, if his words were true, the implications were too terrifying to think about.
A low-ranked outer disciple of the Profound Sword Sect was able to jump several minor realms in the Foundation Establishment stage to fight the top geniuses of their sects. If that was true then how powerful was the Profound Sword Sect's inner disciples, or core disciples, or even… their actual Legacy Disciple?!
The major sects became cautious and suspicious of the Profound Sword Sect.
How could they produce such an outstanding disciple, but he was merely an outer disciple in the lower ranks?
Did their strength become that shocking right under their noses?
Some of the major sects couldn't accept that fact and decided to recruit more disciples in mass. They also started to spend more resources on their talented disciples to try and compete with the Profound Sword Sect.
Two of the major sects however took a different approach.
They were convinced that the Profound Sword Sect must have obtained some heaven-defying treasure to be able to train their disciples to that extent. Maybe some secret manual from the God Era or some mystical object of unknown origins.
Thinking this, they join forces to kidnap that outer disciple to get information about the inner workings of the Profound Sword Sect and most importantly that heaven-defying treasure.
Needless to say, their decision would come around to bite them.
On the Star Continent, there were seven major sects. The three strongest were considered as 'holy lands' for cultivators.
The Profound Sword Sect was the holy land for sword cultivators, the Heaven Pillar Sect, an Alchemy Sect, was the holy land for Alchemy Masters, and the High Mountain Sect was the holy land for fleshly body cultivators.
For thousands of years those sects had been the strongest, and under them were the four 'replaceable' major sects. A derogatory title that was given to them because every couple hundred years another sect would replace one of them.
The situation was as such because the three holy lands had come to an agreement that stated that there could be no more than seven major sects on the Star Continent. This was to prevent the continent's resources from depleting as one major sect expends a lot of cultivation resources.
The four 'replaceable' major sects were currently, the Solitary River Sect, the Seven Poisons Sect, the Shifting Cloud Sect, and the Silver Moon Sect.
The Shifting Cloud Sect and the Solitary River Sect are said to be the strongest of the four and they might have a chance to compete with the three holy lands in the future.
They were precisely the two major sects that thought it was a good idea to kidnap that outer disciple from the Profound Sword Sect.
They had succeeded in their attempt and left no trace that could lead the Profound Sword Sect to them.
The Nascent Soul expert who was protecting the disciple stood no chance against several Ancestor realm experts.
During the kidnapping, the outer disciple just stood there watching as several men dressed in black clothing move around like specters in the night, knocking out his bodyguard while putting a bag over his head and sweeping him away.
The odd thing was, that outer disciple didn't resist or fight back, he even had a look that said 'so someone actually came' written on his face.
That should have been the first sign to the kidnappers that something was off.
The second was the fact that during the trip to their secret hideout, they felt as if they were being watched.
Upon entering the hideout one their formation restrictions suddenly malfunctioned.
That was their second and third sign, but they ignored it yet again.
The sect leaders of the Solitary River Sect and the Silver Moon Sect were waiting in an underground chamber and had anticipation written all over their faces, as they saw that their plan was a success.
If they could get some information from this disciple on the supposed treasure, even if they couldn't steal it from the Profound Sword Sect, they could incite the other major sects to join forces and pressure them to reveal it.
And no matter what decision they make, it would result in them being destroyed.
One, if they refuse to reveal the treasure then an all-out war would ensue, as there's no way the major sects would just let them grow more powerful. Even if they are the strongest sect, they couldn't possibly go against six major sects altogether. The only outcome is their demise.
And two, even if they do agree to reveal it, that would confirm that they indeed have a treasure and it was responsible for their disciples' rapid growth. This would lead to never-ending troubles for the Profound Sword Sect as all the major sects would attempt to steal it, which would lead to them retaliating causing war to ensue.
In all of that chaos, the two sect leaders could reap some benefits. The three holy lands could even become the four holy lands after the Profound Sect's destruction.
The two sect leaders had smiles on their faces so wide that it made them look like malevolent spirits in the slightly dark chamber.
However, that creepy smile on their faces slowly faded away when the kidnappers told them about the disciple's reaction and the feeling they got while coming here.
They instantly felt as if a cold bucket of water had been splashed on their heads.
"You imbeciles!! Why did you come here then!!"
The Sect Leader of the Silver Moon sect yelled at the seven kidnappers.
"Let's calm down, maybe it's nothing. After all, he is just a low-rank outer disciple, even if he's talented the Profound Sword Sect probably has many other talented disciples like him, so they wouldn't waste time and send a high-level expert to escort him."
The solitary River Sect leader's voice calmly echoed from the side.
When the Silver Moon Sect leader heard that, he calmed down somewhat then said,
"And if he was lying about his identity, what then?"
"We've already come this far, it's no use worrying about it. All we have to do is just ask him."
Upon saying that, the Solitary River Sect leader walked towards the disciple that was tied to a chair in the middle of the chamber, and remove the black bag covering his head.
The bag was a magic item that seal's one's auditory and visual senses, so, the disciple didn't hear their conversation.
After having the bag removed, the disciple looked around the chamber for a while before his eyes slowly focused on the two sect leaders.
His expression was extremely calm as if he didn't realize the dire situation he was in.
The two sect leaders took note of this, and it caused them to become apprehensive, however, their expression on the outside didn't give away their inner thoughts.
"You're going to answer our questions, if you refuse then we'll have to torture you until you talk."
The disciple had a lackadaisical expression as he looked at the Solitary River Sect leader that just spoke.
The sect leader ignored his expression and asked,
"What is your identity in the Profound Sword Sect? Are you really just an outer disciple?"
The Solitary River Sect leader didn't beat around the bush and immediately asked the question that worried them. If they were wrong about this disciple's identity and they had kidnapped someone of importance in the Profound Sword Sect, then their sects would face a sect exterminating disaster.
The disciple opened his mouth and slowly said,
"I'm indeed an outer disciple..."
The two sect leaders let out a sigh of relief, but, before they could fully relish the feeling, the following words from the disciple caused all the blood to drain from their faces.
"...but my brother's name is Lu Xue Feng, and he's currently the Legacy Disciple of the Profound Sword Sect."
Hearing the term Legacy Disciple wasn't the reason why the Clan Leaders took a step back in fright and had looks of horror on their faces, but because of the surname Lu. That was the surname of the family that controls the Profound Sword Sect.
'Thud!.. thud!.. thud!'
The hearts of the two sect leaders could be heard thumping wildly in the deathly silent chamber as if it were about to jump out of their chests.
*******
~Fun Fact~
For the readers who have read my other novel, The Founder Of Qi Cultivation Reincarnates, I want you to know that I wrote this chapter long before I started writing the book. And for those who don't understand why this chapter is here just skip to the next chapter and you'll get it. However, if you want a good laugh, I suggest you read the book I mentioned above and see the connection between it and this chapter.
See ya!! ~waves gb~