385: Chapter 385 The Truth

The hall fell silent once more. It was not a natural disaster, but a man-made one—or at least, not a simple geological shift. This conclusion made everyone's hearts feel even heavier.

Venerable Xuan Yang took up the conversation: "Repairing the Spiritual Vein requires completing the missing Five Elements. I have consulted a large number of ancient texts and found a potentially effective method—obtaining the core secret techniques of the five major Sects and using the power of those techniques to guide the Spiritual Roots of the five directions to reshape the Spiritual Vein nodes."

He waved his hand, and five beams of light appeared in mid-air, pointing to the east, west, south, north, and center.

"In the East, the Heavenly Sword Sect's 'Sword Intent Spirit-Guiding Technique'."

"In the West, the Wanfa Sect's 'Five Elements Return to Origin Method'."

"In the South, the Lingbao Sect's 'Array-Pattern Spirit-Locking Technique'."

"In the North, the Changsheng Valley's 'Green Wood Pulse Continuation Technique'."

"In the Center, the Taixu Palace's 'Time-Space Vein-Stabilizing Technique'."

After Venerable Xuan Yang finished speaking, the hall erupted in a commotion once more.

"The Heavenly Sword Sect? The Wanfa Sect? Which one of them doesn't treat their Sect's secret techniques as precious treasures? How could they possibly be passed on to outsiders? Why would they give them to the Wuxiang Sect?"

"This isn't asking; it's begging! Sect Master, wouldn't doing this mean we have to be humble and submissive?"

"Moreover, the five Sects are scattered throughout the Cultivation World, each a great distance away. Every Sect will require passing a trial. How much time will this consume?"

Venerable Xuan Yang raised his hand to suppress the discussion: "I know this is difficult. But there is no other way to repair the Spiritual Vein. I have already corresponded with the Sect Heads of the five Sects, and they have agreed to accept Disciples from our Sect under the guise of 'exchanging and learning skills.' As long as they pass the trials set by them, they can obtain the secret techniques."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, "Of course, the trials will not be simple, and there are conservatives within each Sect who are unwilling to let their secret techniques leak out. But this is the only way."

"And what if they don't pass?" a sinister voice rang out.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw the Enforcement Elder, Master Cangsong, stand up from his chair and slowly walk to the center of the hall. His gaze landed on Gao Feng, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"I heard that the Sect Master intends to send this War God Elder to complete this mission?"

All eyes in the hall fell on Gao Feng. Gao Feng’s expression remained unchanged as he stood there quietly, his back straight, calmly meeting Master Cangsong's gaze.

Venerable Xuan Yang nodded: "Gao Feng has a profound cultivation. He performed great deeds on the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Races and killed the King of Ten Thousand Races in the defense of Meteor City, earning illustrious military merits. More importantly, he has traveled among the five Sects and understands them far better than anyone else. It is most appropriate for him to lead the team."

"Appropriate?" Master Cangsong's cold laugh echoed through the hall. "I remember that this War God Elder's background is somewhat 'convoluted.' Back then, he was just... a commoner of unknown origin who joined our Sect halfway through. He's made a name for himself outside over the years, but who knows if he has a divided heart toward the Sect? What if he takes this opportunity to join another Sect? Wouldn't our Sect's secret techniques be given away to outsiders for nothing?"

Whispers broke out in the hall, and the gazes of many Elders toward Gao Feng became subtle.

Gao Feng took a step forward. His movements were not fast, each step steady, his boots clicking crisply on the bluestone floor of the hall. He walked in front of Master Cangsong, cupped his fists in a salute, then straightened up, looking directly at this Enforcement Elder who was more than one generation his senior.

"Junior Martial Uncle Cangsong, I have a few words to say."

Master Cangsong snorted coldly but did not interrupt.

"When I was fighting bloodily in Meteor City," Gao Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, "at that time, the Chaos Power of the King of Ten Thousand Races almost crushed me into pieces. My Golden Core was cracked, and more than a dozen of my Meridians were broken. At that time, I stood on the city wall and did not retreat a single step."

He paused: "On the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Races, during my travels among the myriad races, in the Time Secret Realm, the Shadow Realm, the Green Wood Realm, the Star Sea... everywhere, I was fighting for the Human Race. Every adventure, every injury, and every narrow escape of mine has been worthy of the Sect."

"I fought to the death to hold the Meteor Realm, securing an important foothold on the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Races for the Sect. I killed the King of Ten Thousand Races, leaving the myriad races unable to invade for hundreds of years. If I truly wanted to betray the Sect, why would I do all this?"

He paused and looked into Master Cangsong's eyes: "Join another Sect? If I had such intentions, on the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Races, those commanders of the myriad races offered me olive branches more than once. I did not accept them. If Junior Martial Uncle Cangsong feels that I am not fit for this task, feel free to recommend a more suitable candidate. I am willing to step aside."

As the last sentence fell, the hall became quiet again. No one spoke.

Master Cangsong opened his mouth as if to refute something, but Gao Feng's words were all true, and he could find no flaws. He felt the gazes from around him become complex—some were in agreement with Gao Feng, some were just watching the show, and several questioning gazes from the Grand Elders shot toward him from their direction.

Venerable Xuan Yang spoke at the right time: "Gao Feng shall have full authority over this matter. Anyone who obstructs further will be treated as a traitor to the Sect."

The decision was final.

Master Cangsong's face turned ashen. He flicked his sleeves, turned around, and strode out of the hall. Gao Feng noticed that at the moment he turned, a sinister light flashed in his eyes—it wasn't anger, but a deeper calculation.

After the meeting adjourned, Venerable Xuan Yang kept Gao Feng behind.

Behind the Lingxiao Hall was a small secret room with only a table and a chair, its walls covered with array patterns to block prying eyes. Venerable Xuan Yang sat behind the table and motioned for Gao Feng to sit. He took out a golden token from his robe, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Gao Feng.

The token was palm-sized, with a golden flowing light throughout. The front was engraved with an ancient character for 'Xuan,' and the back was covered with dense, overlapping, and very complex array patterns.

"This is the Xuantian Token." Venerable Xuan Yang's voice was very low. "It is a passage token recognized by all Sects in the Cultivation World. Holding this token allows you to mobilize the Wuxiang Sect's hidden agents in various places during times of crisis, and it can also summon a Heaven Rank powerhouse of the Sect to help once at a life-or-death moment. Remember, it can only be used once."

Gao Feng solemnly accepted it and tucked it into his robe.

"In addition, don't worry about Cangsong for now." Venerable Xuan Yang sighed. "He just... has some old grudges against your Master and is taking it out on you. But you must be careful on this trip to the five Sects."

He paused, "Among the five Sects, at least two have had friction with our Sect. The Heavenly Sword Sect fell out with us years ago over a dispute regarding the sword Dao legacy, and there is still an estrangement today. They have always been cold toward outsiders, so you should be mentally prepared. As for the Wanfa Sect, Cangsong has an old acquaintance from their youth who is an Inner Sect Elder there; he will likely try to sabotage you."

Venerable Xuan Yang glanced at Gao Feng and emphasized his tone: "When I communicated with the Sect Heads of the five Sects, they did not explicitly refuse, but each Sect has its conservatives who are unwilling to let their secret techniques leak. You must not only pass the trials on the surface but also beware of calculations in the shadows. This road will not be easy to walk."

Gao Feng bowed: "I understand. I will not fail the Sect Master's heavy trust."

Coming out of the secret room, Gao Feng did not return directly to his quarters but stood on the platform in front of Lingxiao Hall, looking at the continuous mountains in the distance and letting out a long breath.

For the next three days, he was preparing for the journey to the five Sects.

Venerable Xuan Yang sent specialists to compile detailed information about the five Sects, the contents of the trials, and data on key figures into several thick volumes, which piled up on Gao Feng's desk. Gao Feng flipped through them from morning to night, firmly memorizing the information with his spiritual sense.

The Heavenly Sword Sect, located in the northeastern part of the Cultivation World, was founded on the sword Dao. All Cultivators in the Sect were Sword Cultivators, following the principle of 'one sword to break ten thousand Spells.' Sect Master Jian Wuwei was at the Golden Core eighth-level Perfection. He was upright and unyielding but had a prejudice against the Wuxiang Sect—this prejudice stemmed from the 'Sword Dao Legacy Dispute' a hundred years ago, when the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Wuxiang Sect had a fierce argument over the ownership of a certain ancient sword technique, which eventually ended unpleasantly.

The Guardian Elder, Jian Wuming, was at the Golden Core ninth-level Middle Stage. He had been in seclusion for many years and did not concern himself with worldly affairs. One person to specifically watch out for was the Outer Sect Elder Zhao Tieyi, at the Golden Core fifth level. He was Master Cangsong's junior fellow Disciple, narrow-minded and ruthless. Venerable Xuan Yang specifically noted in red ink: "This person may try to sabotage; must be on guard."

The Wanfa Sect, located in the western part of the Cultivation World, was famous for its vast array of Spells and all-encompassing nature. Sect Master Fa Wuya was a nice guy at the Golden Core eighth-level Middle Stage, with a good temper and easily swayed.

The one truly in power was the Enforcement Elder Gongyang Lie, at the Golden Core seventh level, with a stubborn and vengeful personality. Crucially, Gongyang Lie had a deep friendship with Master Cangsong, having trained together in their youth. Venerable Xuan Yang noted: "If Gongyang Lie tries to sabotage, the difficulty of the Wanfa Sect's trial may be artificially increased."

The Lingbao Sect was famous for its Artifact Refining and Formations and had a good relationship with the Wuxiang Sect. Changsheng Valley excelled in spiritual plants and the Dao of alchemy, and also had a friendly history. Taixu Palace was known for its time and space Spells, which happened to align with the cultivation directions of Su Ning and Luo Li.

Gao Feng began to arrange personnel according to the information on the five Sects.

He himself, Lin Jingyu, plus a newly assigned Disciple from the Wuxiang Sect, Situ Lan, along with the other members of the team, would first focus on the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Wanfa Sect. These two Sects were the hardest to crack and required the most elite force.

After the list was finalized, Venerable Xuan Yang brought the newly selected member he had arranged beforehand to Gao Feng.

It was a young woman in her early twenties, tall, dressed in green martial attire, with a cold face and a heroic spirit between her brows. A slender spirit sword hung at her waist, its scabbard engraved with a green luan bird about to take flight. Her gaze was as calm as water, neither humble nor arrogant. She stood before Gao Feng, cupped her fists in salute, and her voice was clear: "I am Situ Lan, at the Golden Core first-level Middle Stage, a Sword Cultivator. By order of the Sect Master, I shall accompany Senior Brother Gao Feng."

Gao Feng glanced at her. Golden Core first-level Middle Stage—this level of cultivation was already considered outstanding among the younger generation. His gaze fell on the spirit sword at her waist: "What sword technique do you specialize in?"

"Fast sword," Situ Lan replied briefly. "My Master once said that in the world of martial arts, only speed is invincible. The Aurora Sword Art I practice focuses on 'speed'; the sword strikes like light, covering a thousand miles in an instant."