258: Chapter 253 Joining the Ten Thousand Swords Sect

They were all dressed in black robes and wore masks. Their auras were either obscure or sharp, but without exception, they all bowed with the utmost piety and fanaticism toward the figure on the main seat.

"Welcome, my Lord!"

The sound, like a tsunami, echoed through the great hall.

Chen Zhiwen's gaze calmly swept over the people below.

He spoke slowly; his voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"I have summoned you all today for only one matter."

"I will take you all to a much broader world."

"There, you will face unprecedented challenges and also gain unprecedented opportunities."

"I have only one request."

His voice suddenly became cold and murderous.

"Use all your means and exhaust all your potential to find one person for me."

"A devil known as 'Daoist Xuanji'!"

After saying this, he offered no further explanation and waved his large sleeve.

A vast and boundless power of space instantly enveloped the entire hall!

Under the shocked gazes of all the Dark Net Members, the entire hall floating in the Void Realm, along with everyone inside, was wrapped in this power. It turned into a streak of light, forcibly tearing through the world barrier and teleporting toward the coordinates of the Linghao Continent!

...

In the Eastern State, above a desolate Gobi desert.

Space twisted violently, and a magnificent black hall appeared out of thin air.

When the hall doors opened, the Dark Net Members felt the Spiritual Qi outside, which was more than ten times denser than in the Huangzhou World, and they were all plunged into great shock.

"This world is called the Linghao Continent, the land of the Eastern State."

Chen Zhiwen's voice came from inside the hall.

"Using this place as a base, disperse and infiltrate all parts of the Eastern State to establish your intelligence network."

"Your task is to scout for any traces regarding 'Daoist Xuanji' and the Blood Fiend Sect."

"Remember, this person's cultivation is heaven-defying, and his methods are ruthless. You must be cautious in your actions; prioritize lurking and scouting, and never expose yourselves easily."

"Once you have any findings, immediately report back to this place via the Dark Web's secret techniques."

"Go."

"Understood!"

After receiving the order, hundreds of elite Dark Net Members did not hesitate at all. They turned into black shadows and silently blended into this brand-new world, disappearing without a trace like water droplets merging into the ocean.

When it comes to the professionalism and stealth of intelligence gathering, the Dark Web organization is naturally an undisputed authority.

Chen Zhiwen believed that as long as Daoist Xuanji was still active in the Eastern State, he would inevitably leave traces, and it would be impossible to hide from the all-pervading net of the Dark Web.

After all the members dispersed.

Chen Zhiwen did not choose to wait dully.

He also began his own travels in the Eastern State.

While honing his own Cultivate, he was also investigating personally, hoping to gain something.

However, Daoist Xuanji's cunning far exceeded his expectations.

Time passed bit by bit.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

During this year, although the Dark Net Members across the Eastern State had successively discovered some news about Daoist Xuanji.

For example, traces of the Blood Fiend Sect had appeared in a certain mountain range, or the Cultivation Technique of the Blood Fiend Sect had leaked into the black market of a certain city.

However, every time Chen Zhiwen rushed over to investigate personally, after careful inspection and deduction, he would discover that all these pieces of news were false intelligence intentionally spread by Daoist Xuanji.

He was like a cunning hunter, constantly throwing out various fake baits specifically to confuse and exhaust his potential enemies.

All the clues were useless.

After a year, not only did Chen Zhiwen fail to find Daoist Xuanji's hiding place, but he was also exhausted by these false messages.

In desperation, Chen Zhiwen realized that he must change his strategy.

Rather than acting like a headless fly, passively following the opponent's rhythm, it would be better to find a place and calm his mind.

Join a sufficiently powerful local Sect and use the Sect's power as his own eyes, ears, and shield.

In this way, he could have a stable environment to Cultivate and also obtain intelligence more efficiently through the Sect's channels.

One in the light, one in the dark, using both approaches simultaneously.

After some screening, Chen Zhiwen finally locked his gaze onto a renowned first-grade Sword Sect in the Eastern State.

This Sword Sect was named the "Ten Thousand Swords Sect".

Within the Sect, there were clouds of strong experts. It was said that there was a Grand Elder at the Nascent Soul Stage sitting in command, and in the entire Eastern State, it could be considered a top-tier powerful Sect.

Moreover, Sword Cultivator Sects always acted directly, and their rules were relatively simple, which suited his personality of not liking red tape.

After making up his mind, Chen Zhiwen once again disguised his cultivation to the level of the Mid-stage Golden Core Realm and headed to the mountain gate of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

With the strength and Sword Dao talent he displayed, the process of joining the Ten Thousand Swords Sect was naturally without any hitches.

He did not even go through too many tests before being accepted as an exception by the high-level officials of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, and he was directly appointed as the Peak Master of one of the twenty-four peaks of the Sect.

The peak he was assigned to was named "Hidden Sword Peak".

This mountain peak had a very special history within the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

This peak was the cultivation place of the Ancestral Master who founded the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and was one of the earliest existing peaks of the Sect.

According to rumors within the Sect, a Supreme Secret Art with infinite power had always been hidden within this Hidden Sword Peak.

But it was a pity that after countless long years, apart from that brilliant and talented founding Old Ancestor, not a single Disciple of later generations had been able to discover the traces of this secret art, let alone successfully Cultivate it.

As time went by, hope turned into disappointment, and the legend turned into a joke.

This once glorious Ancestral Master peak gradually went downhill and completely declined.

By now, this Hidden Sword Peak, apart from the newly arrived lone Peak Master Chen Zhiwen, did not even have a single Disciple.

Among the twenty-four peaks of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, it ranked last in strength and had almost become a corner forgotten by everyone.

However, for Chen Zhiwen, this was exactly what he wanted.

He was not here to fight for power and profit; the more remote and quiet it was, with no one disturbing him, the more suitable it was for him to hide his identity and concentrate on his efforts to Cultivate.

...

On this day.

Chen Zhiwen was sitting quietly in his Immortal Cave at the top of Hidden Sword Peak, to Cultivate.

Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded directly in his mind through the Sect Master token.

"Peak Master Chen, are you there?"

It was the voice transmission of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master, Sect Master Li Daoxuan.

Chen Zhiwen slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of sharp light flickered and vanished.

He responded calmly: "Sect Master, what are your instructions?"

"Hehe, I wouldn't dare give instructions."

Sect Master Li Daoxuan's voice carried a hint of a smile.

"I just wanted to remind Peak Master Chen that recently, it is the triennial Disciple recruitment ceremony of our Ten Thousand Swords Sect. I see that your Hidden Sword Peak is indeed a bit too desolate and lonely."

"If you are free, why not go to the trial grounds outside the mountain gate and pick a few Disciples you find satisfactory for your peak to pass down your Legacy."

After hearing this, Chen Zhiwen thought for a moment.

He glanced at the empty mountain peak and felt that what the Sect Master said made some sense.

Being alone was indeed too conspicuous.

Moreover, if there were a few Disciples around to help him deal with some chores or go out to scout for news, it could save a lot of trouble.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master, Chen understands."

"Mm, that is good."

The voice transmission was cut off.

Chen Zhiwen stood up from the futon.

He walked out of the Immortal Cave, looked at the mountains outside where the sea of clouds was churning, and decided to take a look at the Disciple recruitment ceremony.

His figure moved, turning into a sharp sword light. He left the mountain peak and flew toward the peak on the outskirts of the Sect responsible for recruiting Disciples.