426: Chapter 426 Strongest

Daoist Master Xuanyang did not sit; instead, he stood before the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every person present: "The Spiritual Vein is exhausted, and the Sect faces a crisis; you are all aware of this. If the Spiritual Vein cannot be repaired, within ten years, this Sect will be unable to support the Cultivation of any Cultivator above the Golden Core stage. Centuries of Foundation will be destroyed in an instant."

The hall was silent.

"Today, the Spiritual Vein has been repaired. The rift is sealed, the Spiritual Qi is recovering, and the Formation is operating normally." Daoist Master Xuanyang's voice rose slightly, full of vigor. "All of this is thanks to nine Disciples who traveled for months, traversed the five Sects, endured life-and-death trials, retrieved five secret techniques, and laid down the Wuxiang Spirit-Gathering Formation."

His gaze fell on Gao Feng. Gao Feng stood up and bowed to the Sect Master. Thunderous applause erupted in the hall. Some clapped, some cheered, and some stood up, stretching their necks to get a clear look at these nine individuals.

Daoist Master Xuanyang raised his hand to signal for silence, took a gold-leaf scroll from his sleeve, unfurled it, and read aloud.

"Gao Feng, during the journey to the five Sects, retrieved the Sword Intent Spirit-Guiding Technique, Five Elements Return to Origin Method, Core Array Technique, Green Wood Pulse Continuation Technique, and Space-Time Deduction Technique. He presided over the setting of the Wuxiang Spirit-Gathering Formation, successfully repaired the Spiritual Vein, killed the Void Beast, and has rendered distinguished service. Effective immediately, he is conferred the title of Protector Elder of the Wuxiang Sect, with a status equivalent to that of a Grand Elder, and shall enjoy the highest level of Sect cultivation resources. The vajra sword is promoted to an eighth-grade Magical Artifact, and the Sect will exhaust its resources to nurture its sword soul."

The hall was in an uproar. The title of Protector Elder had only been bestowed three times since the founding of the Wuxiang Sect, and the previous two were ancestors who turned the tide during the Sect's moments of life and death. Gao Feng clasped his hands in thanks and sat down with a calm expression. Chu Lan tugged at his sleeve in excitement; he tilted his head slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved up.

Daoist Master Xuanyang continued to read the rewards.

Tianxin, for her contributions in breaking Formations with Talismans, suppressing the Void Realm aura, and assisting in the sealing, is promoted to Inner Sect Elder, rewarded with ten bundles of Advanced Talisman paper, 50,000 Spirit Stones, and an Immortal Cave.

Luo Li, for her contributions in coordinating the Formation's operation with music and assisting in battle, is promoted to Inner Sect Elder, rewarded with a set of seventh-grade zither strings, 50,000 Spirit Stones, and an Immortal Cave.

Su Ning, for her contributions in spatial positioning, stabilizing the rift, and killing the Void Beast, is promoted to Inner Sect Elder, rewarded with ten Spatial Crystals, 50,000 Spirit Stones, and an Immortal Cave.

Chu Lan, for her contributions in cultivating Spirit Plants to replenish Spiritual Qi and assisting in the Formation setup with Spirit Plants, is promoted to Inner Sect Elder, rewarded with one hundred Advanced Spirit Plant seeds, 50,000 Spirit Stones, and an Immortal Cave.

Yaoguang, for her contributions in healing everyone and ensuring the mission was completed, is promoted to Inner Sect Elder, rewarded with ten bottles of Advanced Medicinal Pill, 50,000 Spirit Stones, and an Immortal Cave.

Lin Yue, for his contributions in setting up Formation bases and defending against ambushes, is promoted to Inner Sect Elder, rewarded with a set of Advanced Formation Plates, 50,000 Spirit Stones, and an Immortal Cave.

Lin Jingyu, for his contributions in assisting in battle, is promoted to Guest Elder, rewarded with 50,000 Spirit Stones and several Medicinal Pills.

Situ Lan, for her contributions in assisting in battle, is promoted to Guest Elder, rewarded with 50,000 Spirit Stones and several Medicinal Pills.

Thunderous applause filled the hall. The nine people received their rewards one by one and returned to their seats. The Elder in charge of teaching whispered to a colleague beside him: "These few people will all be the pillars of the Sect in the future." The colleague nodded: "That kid Gao Feng, I felt he was extraordinary back then."

The celebration banquet was held on the square outside Lingxiao Hall. Over a hundred open-air banquet tables were set up, and Disciples and Elders from various halls toasted each other, making the atmosphere lively.

Gao Feng held his wine cup and toasted each Elder one by one. Elder Zhao Yuanbai held his hand and talked for a long time, the gist being that he had seen that Gao Feng was not a person to be confined to a small pond back in the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Races, and indeed, he hadn't misjudged him. Gao Feng nodded in agreement, not exposing the fact that Elder Zhao actually hadn't thought highly of him back then.

By the third round of toasts, Lin Yue's cheeks were already flushed red, and he was pulling Lin Jingyu to play finger-guessing games. If he lost, he drank; even after drinking, he still lost. Lin Jingyu threw his hand out with an expressionless face, winning every time. Chu Lan was surrounded by several Disciples from the Spirit Plant Hall asking about the cultivation techniques for Spirit Plants; she was talking until her throat was dry, but her eyes were bright.

Tianxin sat alone in a corner seat, quietly eating. Luo Li walked over with a wine cup and sat down next to her. The two didn't say much, occasionally clinking glasses; the moonlight shone on the wine cups, and the liquid cast an amber glow.

Su Ning and Situ Lan stood under the corridor on the side of the hall, the moonlight spilling onto them, stretching their shadows long. Su Ning closed her eyes, sensing the flow of Spiritual Qi on the peak, while Situ Lan looked down at her frost sword.

Since the repair, this sword had become increasingly close to her, and the cold ice Sword Intent within the blade was slowly merging with her. Su Ning asked her if the sword was easy to use; Situ Lan nodded and replied that it was too heavy, but she had gotten used to it. Su Ning didn't reply. In the moonlight, the two stood side by side, their robes fluttering gently in the night breeze.

Yaoguang moved through the crowd, handing out hangover-relief Medicinal Pills to Senior Brothers who had drunk too much, and replenishing the Rejuvenation Technique for Junior Brothers whose Spiritual Qi was exhausted, busy and happy. She hadn't fully mastered the pulse-continuation chapter of the Rejuvenation Holy Art, but she had already mastered the primary-level recovery technique to perfection.

After the banquet dispersed, Daoist Master Xuanyang called Gao Feng alone to the side hall.

A censer of sandalwood burned in the hall, with curling blue smoke. Daoist Master Xuanyang sat behind the long desk, signaling for Gao Feng to sit down. He took a Jade Slip from his sleeve, engraved with the Wuxiang Sect's emblem and the mark of the Scripture Pavilion.

"You organized the copies of the five Sects' secret techniques very well. The Scripture Pavilion has already collected them, and Sect Disciples can study and comprehend them in the future. This is the centuries-old Foundation you have left for the Sect." He pushed the Jade Slip toward Gao Feng.

Gao Feng took the Jade Slip and tucked it into his robe. He knew this wasn't an ordinary copy, but a detailed annotated version that Daoist Master Xuanyang had personally reviewed and supplemented with cultivation insights and precautions.

Based on the secret techniques Gao Feng brought back from the five Sects, the understanding of the Dao of the Five Elements by previous generations of the Wuxiang Sect was incorporated. The five Sects' secret techniques took root in the Wuxiang Sect, growing branches and leaves that belonged to the Wuxiang Sect.

Daoist Master Xuanyang's expression grew a bit solemn, and his tone deepened.

"Although the Spiritual Vein has been repaired, the threat of the Void Race remains. The shadows that Daoist Master Void saw using the Space-Time Deduction Technique will not give up just because the rift is sealed. The Wuxiang Spirit-Gathering Formation can hold for at most three years; after three years, the rift will loosen again."

Gao Feng didn't interrupt, just listened quietly.

"The Void Race feeds on Spiritual Qi, and the Spiritual Qi concentration in the Human Realm is considered above average in the entire Star Domain; they will not let go of this fat piece of meat. The Seal on the Spiritual Vein rift is not a permanent solution; in three years, the rift will loosen again. By then, it won't just be one stray Void Beast, but possibly an entire Void army."

Gao Feng was silent for a moment: "It needs to be eradicated once and for all."

Daoist Master Xuanyang nodded, speaking earnestly: "Daoist Master Void's deduction cannot be wrong. Three years is not long, nor is it short. Your current cultivation is at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage; you must break through to the Late Golden Core Stage within three years, otherwise, you will not be able to resist the commander-level powerhouses of the Void Race."

Gao Feng gripped the scabbard of his vajra sword, his knuckles turning white: "This Disciple understands. Within three years, I will definitely break through to the Late Golden Core Stage. As for the Sect, the Formation needs daily maintenance, and the rift needs regular inspections. If the Void Race comes, this Disciple will stand on the front line."

Daoist Master Xuanyang looked at him, his gaze complex.

The young man before him had walked from being an Outer Sect Disciple to where he was today in less than ten years. In ten years, the Human Race had gained a powerhouse at the Late Golden Core Stage.

He felt deeply moved and said: "When the Sect stabilizes, I plan to let you lead a team to investigate outside the territory. The Void Race's lair, troop distribution, and weaknesses all need to be scouted in advance. This is an extremely dangerous mission, but it is also the only way to allow the Human Realm to prepare before the Void Race invades. If you are willing, you will have full responsibility at that time."

Gao Feng did not hesitate: "This Disciple is willing."

Daoist Master Xuanyang stood up, walked around the desk to Gao Feng, and patted his shoulder firmly. The palm was broad and warm, like a Senior's entrustment to a Junior. "Go sleep; your teammates are still waiting for you. You have to return to the Meteor War God Realm tomorrow."

Gao Feng clasped his hands and turned to walk out of the side hall.

Moonlight spilled onto the stone steps outside the hall. The wind at the top of Lingxiao Peak was strong, blowing his robes so they snapped loudly. Gao Feng walked along the stone steps toward the peak, where his teammates were already waiting.

Tianxin stood on the far left, clutching the stack of Advanced Talisman paper she had just received today; the moonlight shone on the paper, casting a faint golden light. She had no expression on her face, but her eyes were brighter than usual. Luo Li held the flowing sound zither, the moonlight shining on the strings with a silvery-white glow; she was tuning the newly replaced seventh-grade strings, and the zither sound was as crisp as a mountain spring when her fingers plucked them. Su Ning stood beside her with her eyes closed, feeling the flow of Spiritual Qi at the peak.

After the Spiritual Vein was repaired, the Spiritual Qi concentration of the entire Wuxiang Sect was recovering, and the Spiritual Qi at the top of Lingxiao Peak had returned to a level that, while not as good as before, was gradually improving.

Chu Lan squatted on the ground, holding a seedling of Spirit Grass in her hands—the one she had planted when setting up the Formation in the Spirit Source Cave; after the Formation was successful, she specifically left one to bring back. "I want to plant it in the Spirit Plant Garden of the Meteor War God Realm and let it take root and sprout."

Yaoguang stood behind her, looking at the rolling mountains in the distance, the moonlight shining on her profile, casting a shadow from her eyelashes. Lin Yue leaned against the stone monument at the peak, arms crossed, grinning, with the lingering effects of alcohol on his cheeks. Lin Jingyu and Situ Lan stood side by side at the cliff edge, the scabbards of their two swords gently colliding in the night breeze, making a faint sound.

Gao Feng walked to the middle of them, facing the east. There was the sun about to rise, the mountain gate of the Wuxiang Sect, and also the direction of the Meteor War God Realm.

"This is just the beginning." Gao Feng's voice was not loud, but everyone could hear it in the night breeze, "There are stronger enemies outside the territory, and a broader world. We cannot stop here; we must go on together."

Everyone responded in unison: "Willing to follow you!"

The sound echoed in the night sky, piercing the clouds and drifting into the distance.

The moonlight spilled down, and the nine figures stretched long on the peak.

The east turned pale, and a new day was about to begin.

Chu Lan put away the Spirit Grass seedling, carefully placing it into a specially made Jade box. Luo Li carried the flowing sound zither on her back, the strings vibrating slightly in the morning breeze. Su Ning opened her eyes and looked into the distance. Tianxin tucked the Talisman paper into her sleeve and turned to face the path down the mountain. Yaoguang held Chu Lan's hand, and the two looked at each other and smiled. Lin Yue stood up from the stone monument and dusted off his robes. Lin Jingyu and Situ Lan turned around at the same time, their sword tassels fluttering in the morning breeze.