Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

The monk from the Western Central Region thought along the same direction as the ruler of the Frozen Wastelands.

Although he didn't understand much about the Star Shattering Sect, just from the fact that it was an ancient hidden sect, he understood that it wouldn't directly interfere in a battle between the Western Central Region and the Northern Central Region.

Ancient hidden sects had always been like that. Preferring to remain neutral and not interfering with the state of the continent and the power struggles that took place.

For this reason alone, the monk from the Golden Nirvana Temple almost instantly decided to remain on friendly terms with Xuan Hao the same time that the ruler of the Frozen Wastelands came to this conclusion.

All they had to do was keep out of the Star Shattering Sect's territory and everything would be fine, something easy to accomplish considering how little territory ancient hidden sects normally took for themselves. Especially so considering that the Star Shattering Sect itself wasn't even located in the Core Region of the Continent but was instead in the outer regions of the continent, a place of no interest to the demonic cultivators and the monk from the Western Core Region, as their goal was ultimately the Northern Core Region. Not the Northern Outer Regions.

Even if the Star Shattering Sect expanded its territory, they wouldn't care if it was limited to the outer regions. After all, they hadn't yet taken over the Northern Core Region and simply couldn't care less about some barren land that would at most have enough resources to nurture a few Soul Ascension Realm cultivators.

Their goal was the rich resources of the Northern Core Region and the unique dao locations that could help increase their strength.

"Did you find anything about this tree root, fellow daoist?" Because of this, the monk from the Golden Nirvana Temple was still smiling kindly as he asked this after Xuan Hao retracted his divine sense after examining the strange tree root.

Both to remain friendly, while also feeling curious about what he might have found from examining the strange tree root. After all, it was well known that the most knowledgeable factions on the continent weren't the different empires, kingdoms or even churches, but instead the ancient hidden sects who had managed to endure since the end of the old era and into the new, their linage still intact.

Standing on the side, the ruler of the Frozen Wastelands, who remained hidden beneath a bloody red glow, was similarly curious about what Xuan Hao had managed to uncover. Aware of the stellar reputation of ancient hidden sect when it came to knowledge on things that had long since been forgotten to time or mysterious heavenly objects like the one that should have been sealed inside the tree root not long ago.

Those two… They want to use my identity as someone from an ancient hidden sect to try and learn more about the enlightenment orb and the tree root. Although there is nothing wrong with this, it's also a test to probe the depth of the Star Shattering Sect's knowledge and how intact the linage is…

Feeling the intense stare of the two powerful figures who were beyond the Early Stage of the Land Creation Realm, Xuan Hao could not help feeling a bit troubled about what to do.

Answering too directly wouldn't be a good idea, as having too much knowledge wasn't good and would draw suspicion, while giving too little or simply throwing in the towel and saying he knew nothing would draw another kind of attention he didn't want, greed.

A lack of knowledge would mean a potentially damaged foundation and could draw the attention of greedy individuals in the future. Although the two in front of him were unlikely to be the ones doing anything, he couldn't be so sure about other major powers. Especially if the sect ended up drawing the attention from a more powerful faction in the Southern Region.

In other words, he had to ensure that the Star Shattering Sect came off as strong with an intact linage and foundation, while at the same time also not drawing suspicion to himself in the process.

Ah… This has become far more troublesome than I expected, but then again, this is also the perfect opportunity to establish the reputation of the Star Shattering Sect. Not just in the Northern Section of the Continent, but throughout the entire continent!

Narrowing both his eyes as he thought about this, Xuan Hao soon put on a friendly smile as he turned towards the monk from the Golden Nirvana Temple. "Ah, I did indeed find something a bit interesting, though I can't for certain."

"Something interesting? Is it perhaps related to the thing that was pried out of this cut off root?" Hearing what Xuan Hao said, both the monk and the demonic cultivator became serious as both stared at him intently before the monk urged for him to continue.

"Indeed, I did find a few lingering remnants of what should have belonged to a heavenly treasure my sect refers to as an enlightenment orb, though I can't say for sure as what little lingering energy left behind is gone by now. Making it difficult to judge if it was left behind by an enlightenment orb or something different." Nodding his head in response with a calm expression on his face, Xuan Hao decided to use the recent name he had given to the strange orb after putting it to use back in the sect. Using his domain to casually capture a few lingering strands of energy that had managed to survive deep inside the tree root until now with a somewhat serious expression flashing through his eyes after pretending to examine this lingering energy.

"Enlightenment orb… Fellow daoist, this old man isn't that knowledgeable about something like that, if it isn't too much, could I ask fellow daoist for a favor and help this old man broaden his horizons?"

"…"

Here it is…

Hearing what the old monk said along with the intense gaze of the demonic cultivator, Xuan Hao understood that it was time to prove himself.

"Of course, I would be more than happy to do so…"