After a period of intimacy in the Painting World Treasure Mansion, with its Five Elements Spiritual Root.
Xue'er leaned against Li Mu's chest and recounted in detail the scenes she had witnessed during her Heart Demon Tribulation.
"Li Dage, if the Spiritual Qi of this Realm dries up, the Seal on the channel will collapse, won't it? Will the Undying Demon Lord then descend upon this Realm?" Xue'er asked, her voice filled with worry.
Hearing this, Li Mu, who was gently stroking Xue'er's hair, paused for a moment before revealing a brilliant smile: "Silly girl, don't overthink things. The depletion of Spiritual Qi is not yet a certainty. Even if Spiritual Qi truly runs dry, we still have the Painting World Treasure Mansion, a Cave Heaven Magic Treasure, as a place to live, so there's no need to worry about Spiritual Qi depletion; the collapse of the Seal on the two Realms' channel is even more absurd. The Seal Grand Formation on the channel has endured countless Years without breaking, which shows its sturdiness."
"As for the Undying Demon Lord, even if he truly manages to break through the Seal on the channel and descend upon this Realm, at that time, the Great Vehicle Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect will naturally deal with him. Besides, in a thousand Years, with my Cultivation speed, I might have already advanced to the Great Vehicle Dao Lord Realm. If the two Realms' channel opens, perhaps I can even ascend to the Upper Realm!" Li Mu added with a smile.
Xue'er looked up, staring intently at Li Mu, her eyes sparkling, as if seeing through the subtle, almost imperceptible gravity behind Li Mu's smile.
Xue'er parted her lips slightly, her voice soft yet firm: "Li Dage, although you say that, I can feel a hint of unease in your heart. Please don't hide anything from me!"
Hearing this, the smile on Li Mu's face gradually faded, a hint of apology flashed in his eyes, and he sighed softly, quickly apologizing: "I do have some concerns. Although the Painting World Treasure Mansion can provide us with shelter, it's not a long-term solution. We still need to find a fundamental way to resolve the Spiritual Qi depletion. If Spiritual Qi truly depletes, the Seal Grand Formation on the two Realms' channel probably won't last long either. At that time, there's a very high probability that the channels to the Demon Abyss and the Upper Realm will open."
A hint of solemnity flashed in Li Mu's eyes. Previously, his joint effort with Sword Master Feng and the others to kill the Undying Demon Lord had attracted the Undying Demon Lord's attention and enmity. Once the Demon Abyss Channel opened, the Undying Demon Lord would undoubtedly try every means to find him.
How could Li Mu not take such a powerful being seriously after provoking him?
"I am indeed somewhat worried about the Undying Demon Lord. His power is unfathomable. Once he truly descends, I fear this entire Realm will face an unprecedented crisis. Although I am confident that my Cultivation will advance to Mahayana within a thousand Years, facing such a being, I cannot guarantee absolute safety." Li Mu sighed, looking at Xue'er and admitting frankly.
"Li Dage!" Xue'er nervously grasped Li Mu's hand.
"Don't worry! What you experienced in your Heart Demon Tribulation will not happen in reality!" Li Mu smiled, squeezing Xue'er's hand back and comforting her: "Next, I plan to continue studying divine runes to see if there's a chance to improve the Foundation of the Treasure Mansion and further enhance my strength, just in case. Although the Undying Demon Lord is strong, we still have a thousand Years to prepare. There's no difficulty that can't be overcome."
"Li Dage, no matter what decision you make, I will fully support you." Xue'er nodded earnestly.
The two exchanged a smile, their unspoken understanding and determination seemingly capable of piercing through all gloom.
...
A hundred Years passed in a flash, Years like a shuttle, carrying away the dust of the past, yet also witnessing the growth and transformation of countless Cultivators.
The Seven Profound Sect ushered in its ten-yearly grand event of Sect recruitment and Disciple competition.
As dawn broke, the cloud-shrouded Seven Profound Sect mountain gate gradually revealed itself to the world. On the ancient and solemn stone steps, young Cultivators from all directions had already gathered. They either harbored a desire for power, bore the expectations of their Family, or simply came for the legendary Cultivation Holy Land. Their eyes sparkled with anticipation and determination for the future.
As the sun hung high, the square in front of the Seven Profound Sect mountain gate became increasingly bustling and lively.
Young Cultivators gathered in groups of three or five, either whispering among themselves or gazing up at the towering mountain gate, their eyes filled with endless yearning and reverence for the Seven Profound Sect. Among them, there were not a few with outstanding Aptitude. Some exuded an extraordinary aura between their brows, naturally connected with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi; others were diligently Acquired, and through unremitting efforts, finally had the opportunity to stand here, having reached Qi Refining ninth layer at a young age, just one step away from Foundation Establishment, coming here to pursue a higher Realm.
The Spiritual Root testing ceremony was about to begin. In the center of the square, an ancient Spiritual Root testing platform was meticulously arranged, inlaid with several High-Grade Spirit Stones, shimmering with mysterious light. Around it, several Sect Elders sat, their expressions solemn, their gazes like torches, ready to conduct a strict assessment of every young Cultivator.
Su Hongxiu, Liu Yuqian, and Xiao Qingyun had now advanced to Soul Transformation and become the new generation of Elders of the Seven Profound Sect.
Qingyang Zi, Qin Wentong, Zhong Zilin, and Ge Xinyu had advanced to Grand Elder, retreating behind the scenes to enter seclusion and Break through to the next Realm.
Lin Maoshan, sitting in the main seat, only had Late Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation and had become the acting Sect Master of the Seven Profound Sect, calmly watching the Spiritual Root testing ceremony in progress below.
With a resounding gong, the Spiritual Root testing officially began.
The first young Cultivator, under everyone's gaze, slowly walked towards the Spiritual Root testing platform, gently placed his hands on the surface, and closed his eyes in concentration. Instantly, the gems on the Spiritual Root testing platform lit up, and multicolored lights intertwined, forming a complex pattern that revealed the young Cultivator's Spiritual Root attribute and Aptitude level.
"Water element High Grade Spiritual Root, excellent Aptitude!" A Sect Elder announced loudly, drawing gasps and envious looks from the surroundings; immediately after, another young Cultivator stepped onto the Spiritual Root testing platform. This time, it was an extreme-grade Fire element Spiritual Root, equally extraordinary.
As time passed, more and more young Cultivators completed their Spiritual Root tests. Among them were both peerless Geniuses with single-element Heavenly Spiritual Roots and diligent talents with multi-element medium spirit stones.
"Senior Sister Su, isn't Senior Brother Zhao coming? There are quite a few Disciples with outstanding Aptitude in this Sect recruitment!" Liu Yuqian asked, looking at Su Hongxiu beside her with a smile.
Su Hongxiu smiled slightly and replied softly: "Although Senior Brother Zhao is not here in person, he cares about this peak and has already informed me via a communication talisman to recruit one or two suitable Disciples for him."
"One or two? That's so few! There are many Outer Sect Disciples participating in this competition, and their Aptitude is quite good. This recruitment has also produced many Geniuses. If it weren't for our Sect's strict selection standards, the number of new recruits in this square would probably have doubled several times over." Liu Yuqian's lips curved into a confident smile, clearly proud of the Sect's current flourishing state.
Hearing this, a gentle smile flashed in Su Hongxiu's eyes, and she sighed with emotion: "Indeed! The Seven Profound Sect today is no longer what it was when we first joined. These Disciples are either outstanding scions of Cultivation Families or elites from all corners of the world who have endured countless hardships, relying on their own efforts and extraordinary perseverance to overcome numerous trials and arrive here."
Su Hongxiu's gaze swept over the young Cultivators in the square, as if reminiscing about her own age. At that time, how could the Seven Profound Sect have today's glory, causing large and small Cultivation Families in the Central State Spirit Domain to go to great lengths to send their outstanding Disciples here, with so many Disciples of excellent Aptitude for them to choose from.
In a hundred Years, the Seven Profound Sect had undergone earth-shattering changes, all because of Master - Li Mu. Not only was he famous for his extraordinary Artifact Refining skills, but he also brought the Seven Profound Sect to an unprecedented height with his powerful connections, making it the largest Sect under the Xuantian Sword Sect.
The overall strength of the Seven Profound Sect had achieved a qualitative leap. Countless precious Magic Treasures, Spiritual Artifacts, and even Divine Artifacts were born in his hands, greatly enhancing the Sect's overall strength. These Magic Treasures not only became powerful assistants for Disciples on their Cultivation path but also protected the Seven Profound Sect from external enemies.
In addition to teaching Artifact Refining skills, Master also personally arranged the Seven Profound Sect's protective Formation, utilizing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and special Materials to construct an indestructible defense system. Numerous Sect Formations could not only effectively resist the invasion of external enemies but also form an excellent Cultivation environment within the Sect, allowing Disciples' Cultivation speed to be twice the result with half the effort.
In short, the Seven Profound Sect, from top to bottom, had undergone tremendous changes compared to a hundred Years ago.
Sometimes, when she came out of seclusion, Su Hongxiu could not believe that the Sect could radiate such dazzling light in just a hundred Years.
"I remember when we first joined the Sect, we were also full of aspirations like this, 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 slightly at Liu Yuqian, sighing with emotion.
"Yes, Senior Sister Su." Liu Yuqian nodded in agreement: "Fortunately, we were chosen by Master."
"Actually, so many excellent Disciples joining our Sect, besides our Sect's renown, is also related to other Sects beginning to seclude themselves and no longer accepting Disciples!"
Just then, Lin Maoshan suddenly interjected, looking at Su Hongxiu and Liu Yuqian to explain.
"Hmm? Junior Brother Lin, I just finished seclusion not long ago. Could you elaborate on the reasons behind this?" Su Hongxiu's gaze turned to Lin Maoshan, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes as she asked.
Lin Maoshan nodded slightly, his gaze profound as he looked into the distance, his voice heavy: "Senior Sister Su, Senior Sister Liu, you may not know, but the external situation has indeed undergone some special changes. Among them, the most significant point is the increasing depletion of Cultivation resources in the Spirit Realm."
Lin Maoshan paused, then continued: "As the number of Cultivators continues to increase, and the demand for Cultivation resources by High Grade Cultivators sharply rises, the originally abundant Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, rare medicinal Materials, Spirit Stone veins, and other resources are gradually becoming scarce. This change has not only intensified the competition among Sects but has also prompted some ancient Sects to make the decision to seclude themselves."
"Fifty Years ago, the Cloud Hidden Sect, a Sect renowned for its stealth and escape techniques, suffered repeated heavy losses in resource battles and ultimately decided to close its mountain gate, concealing the Sect within a cloud-shrouded Secret Realm, no longer having too much contact with the outside world."
"Thirty-seven Years ago, several other major Sects successively announced their decision to seclude themselves. For example, the Pill Cauldron Sect, known for its Alchemy, due to the increasing scarcity of medicinal Materials and the difficulty in maintaining the vast consumption required for Alchemy, also chose to Seal its Sect... Most recently, five Years ago, the Heaven-Seeking Sect, famous for its Formation Dao, announced its seclusion."
"In addition to these major Sects, many smaller Sects and Cultivation Families have also followed suit, choosing the path of seclusion. Either for self-preservation or to seek a better Cultivation environment, they have closed their mountain gates, and their contact with the outside world has gradually decreased."
"Today, these Disciples with excellent Spiritual Root Aptitude, who have traveled thousands of miles to seek entry into our Sect, are also doing so out of compulsion." Lin Maoshan finally sighed: "It is truly not easy for the Seven Profound Sect to maintain its strength in such a predicament."
"Why is this happening? Could it be related to that rumor?" Xiao Qingyun's voice suddenly cut in, with a hint of solemnity.
"What rumor?"
Su Hongxiu's brows furrowed as she looked at Xiao Qingyun and pressed him.
"Junior Brother Xiao is absolutely right. Behind this, there is indeed a widely circulated rumor." A complex look flashed in Lin Mao's eyes as he looked at Su Hongxiu and answered: "Various signs in recent Years indicate that the Spirit Realm is experiencing an unprecedented Spiritual Vein depletion crisis."
"Spiritual Vein depletion?" Su Hongxiu and Liu Yuqian's expressions both changed upon hearing this. For Cultivators, this term was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.
"That's right, Spiritual Vein depletion." Lin Maoshan said in a deep voice: "In the Spirit Realm, Spiritual Veins are where Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathers, and they are the Foundation of our Cultivation. However, with the passage of Years, coupled with the excessive extraction of Spiritual Qi by High Grade Cultivators, and subtle changes in the Heaven and Earth Law, many ancient Spiritual Veins are gradually losing vitality, or even completely drying up. This phenomenon has not only led to an extreme scarcity of Cultivation resources but has also fundamentally changed the entire ecological environment of the Spirit Realm."
"Currently, several main Spiritual Veins of our Sect are relatively stable due to the Formation arranged by Master. Master is a rare Genius who is deeply skilled in the Dao of Formation. He utilizes his profound understanding of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to set up the protective Formation, which can not only gather and store the surrounding Spiritual Qi but also, to a certain extent, slow down the impact of Spiritual Vein depletion." Lin Maoshan introduced.
"Other Sects without Master's Formation support find it difficult to resist this trend of decline. Many Sects, especially those lacking deep Foundation and powerful Formation protection, can only watch their own Spiritual Veins gradually weaken and eventually dry up. This is precisely why they choose to seclude themselves and no longer accept Disciples from outside." Lin Maoshan concluded.
"How can this be? Does our Sect still need to recruit so many Disciples? Junior Brother Lin, have you informed Master about this? Does he know? What did he say?" Su Hongxiu's voice was tinged with urgency, extremely concerned about the future development of the Sect and Master's attitude.
Lin Maoshan nodded slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "I have indeed reported this matter to Master. He had already anticipated this and did not give any serious instructions. He also did not stop the recruitment of Disciples, nor did he tell the Sect to seclude itself."
Hearing this, everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief. In their eyes, Master - Li Mu was omnipotent. Since he did not explicitly express opposition, then naturally he had his profound meaning and considerations. Perhaps the Spiritual Vein depletion was only temporary, and perhaps he had already thought of a countermeasure.
Those Disciples with excellent Aptitude, whom other Sects did not accept, might just be their opportunity to gain something unexpected. (End of Chapter)
