Chapter 1066 - 552: Centennial Upheaval (Part 1)

Chapter 1066: Chapter 552: Centennial Upheaval (Part 1)

As time went on, more and more young cultivators completed their Spirit Root, among them were unparalleled geniuses with a Celestial Spirit Root, as well as diligent talents with multiple Middle Spirit Roots.

"Senior Sister Su, isn’t Senior Brother Zhao coming over? There are quite a few talented disciples in this sect recruitment!" Liu Yuqian looked at Su Hongxiu beside her and asked with a smile.

Su Hongxiu smiled faintly and replied softly, "Although Senior Brother Zhao didn’t come in person, he is concerned about our peak and has already informed me through a Communication Talisman. If there are suitable disciples, he would like to take one or two."

"One or two! That’s so few. There are quite a few Outer Disciples participating in this competition, and their talents are quite good. This recruitment has also produced many geniuses. If it weren’t for our sect’s strict selection criteria, the number of newcomers in this square would have multiplied." Liu Yuqian’s lips curved with a confident smile, obviously proud of the sect’s current flourishing state.

Upon hearing this, a gentle smile flashed in Su Hongxiu’s eyes as she sighed, "Indeed! The current Seven Profound Sect is no longer the same as when we joined. Those disciples are either outstanding children from cultivation clans or exceptional individuals from all over who have overcome many trials with their efforts and perseverance to come here."

Su Hongxiu’s gaze swept over the young cultivators in the square, as if reminiscing about herself at this age. At that time, Seven Profound Sect didn’t have today’s splendor, making cultivation clans from the Central State Spirit Realm send their outstanding disciples, giving us so many excellently talented disciples to choose from.

A hundred years have passed, and the Seven Profound Sect has undergone earth-shaking changes. All of this is due to Master Li Mu’s influence, who not only became famous for his extraordinary Artifact Refining Skill but also elevated the Seven Profound Sect to unprecedented heights with his powerful connections, becoming the foremost sect under the Profound Celestial Sword Sect.

The overall strength of the Seven Profound Sect has undergone a qualitative leap, with countless precious Magical Treasures, Spiritual Artifacts, and even Divine Artifacts being created by him, greatly enhancing the sect’s collective strength. These treasures not only became useful aids for the disciples in their cultivation journey but also protected the Seven Profound Sect from external threats.

Besides imparting Artifact Refining techniques, Master personally set up the Sect Protection Array of the Seven Profound Sect, utilizing Spiritual Qi and special materials to construct an indestructible defense system. This array not only effectively repels external invasions but also creates a good cultivation environment within the sect, making the disciples’ cultivation process much more effective.

In summary, the Seven Profound Sect from top to bottom has undergone significant changes compared to a hundred years ago.

Sometimes, after coming out of seclusion, Su Hongxiu can’t believe how the sect could shine so brightly within such a short century.

"Remember when we first joined the sect, we were also full of longing, but at that time, we never thought that one day we would stand here as elders of the sect, witnessing the growth of a new generation of disciples." Su Hongxiu smiled at Liu Yuqian with a sigh.

"Indeed, Senior Sister Su." Liu Yuqian nodded in agreement, "Luckily we were chosen by Master."

"Actually, besides the sect’s famous reputation, the reason why so many outstanding disciples joined our sect is also related to other sects starting to isolate themselves and no longer taking on disciples!"

At this moment, Lin Maosan suddenly interjected, looking at Su Hongxiu and Liu Yuqian to explain.

"Oh? Junior Brother Lin, I just ended my seclusion not long ago. Could you please explain the reason in detail?" Su Hongxiu turned her gaze to Lin Maosan, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes, and asked.

Lin Maosan nodded slightly, gazing into the distance with a heavy heart, "Senior Sister Su, Senior Sister Liu, you may not know, but there are indeed some special changes in the external situation. Among them, the most significant point is the increasingly diminished cultivation resources in the Spirit Realm."

Lin Maosan paused and continued, "As the number of cultivators continues to increase, and the demand for cultivation resources from High-Tier Cultivators rises dramatically, the resources we had, such as the once-abundant Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, rare medicinal materials, and Spirit Stone Veins, are gradually becoming scarce. This change not only intensifies competition among sects but also prompts some ancient sects to choose to isolate themselves."

"Fifty years ago, Cloud Conceal Sect, a sect renowned for its concealment and escape techniques, suffered repeated setbacks in resource wars and ultimately decided to close its gates, hiding the sect within a misty Secret Realm and reducing interaction with the outside world."

"Thirty-seven years ago, several other major sects successively announced their isolation decisions, such as the Dan Ding Sect renowned for its Alchemy. Due to the increasingly scarce supply of medicinal materials needed for alchemy, which they could no longer sustain, they chose to close the sect, ... recently, five years ago, the Heaven-Questioning Sect famous for its Dao of Array announced its isolation."

"Besides these major sects, many smaller sects and cultivation clans also followed suit, opting for isolation. Whether for self-preservation or to seek a better cultivation environment, they closed their gates and gradually reduced contact with the outside world."

"Now, these disciples with high Spirit Root Talent come from far away seeking to join our sect, which is also a forced move." Lin Maosan finally sighed, "It is not easy for the Seven Profound Sect to remain strong in such adversity."

"Why is this happening? Could it be related to that rumor?" Xiao Qingyun’s voice suddenly interjected, carrying a hint of gravity.

"What rumor?"

Su Hongxiu furrowed her brows, looking at Xiao Qingyun and inquired.

"What Junior Brother Xiao mentioned is true; it indeed relates to a widely circulated rumor." Lin Maosan’s eyes flashed with complexity as he looked at Su Hongxiu to explain, "Recent signs indicate that the Spirit Realm is experiencing an unprecedented crisis of Spirit Vein exhaustion."

"Spirit Vein exhaustion?" Su Hongxiu and Liu Yuqian heard this, and their expressions both changed. This term is akin to a thunderbolt out of the blue for cultivators.

"Yes, Spirit Vein exhaustion." Lin Maosan spoke solemnly, "In the Spirit Realm, Spirit Veins are the places where Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi converges, the foundation of our cultivation. However, as time passes, compounded by over-extraction of Spiritual Qi by High-Tier Cultivators, and the subtle changes in the Heaven and Earth Law, many ancient Spirit Veins are gradually losing vitality, even becoming entirely exhausted. This phenomenon not only leads to extreme scarcity of cultivation resources but also fundamentally changes the ecological environment of the entire Spirit Realm."

"Currently, several Main Spirit Veins of our sect remain relatively stable because of the arrays set by Master. He is a genius deeply versed in the Dao of Array, utilizing his profound understanding of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. The Sect Protection Array he set up not only gathers and stores the surrounding Spiritual Qi but also mitigates to some extent the impact of the Spirit Vein exhaustion." Lin Maosan explained.

"Other sects, lacking the backing of Master’s arrays, find it difficult to resist this declining trend. Many sects, especially those lacking deep foundations and strong array protection, can only watch helplessly as their Spirit Veins slowly wither, ultimately heading towards exhaustion. This is what has driven them to choose isolation and stop taking on disciples from outside." Lin Maosan concluded.

"How could it be so? Then should our sect still accept so many disciples? Junior Brother Lin, have you informed Master about this matter? Does he know? What did he say?" Su Hongxiu’s voice carried a trace of urgency, extremely concerned with the sect’s future direction and Master’s attitude.

Lin Maosan nodded slightly, his gaze reflecting a hint of complexity, "I have indeed reported this matter to Master. He had already anticipated it and didn’t issue any solemn instructions. He neither stopped the recruitment of disciples nor advocated for sect isolation."

At these words, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. In their eyes, Master Li Mu is omnipotent, and since he did not explicitly oppose it, naturally there is his profound intention and consideration. Perhaps the Spirit Vein exhaustion is temporary, and maybe, he has thought of a countermeasure.

Those highly talented disciples who other sects refuse to accept might just be opportunities for us to seize.