Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

Mount Tailao, Heavenly Patching Hall.

Over twenty people stood tall and imposing.

Among them were six Supreme Elders, led by Sun Jiuzhang and Chen Pu.

Sect Master Guu Feng.

The Five Hall Masters.

Eleven Preaching Elders.

Almost the entirety of the Heaven Mending Sect's highest echelon was present.

Only a few, such as Supreme Elder Mu Rong, were either stationed in distant locations or wandering the world as free spirits, and thus were absent.

The twenty-three individuals present represented the highest decision-making body of the Heaven Mending Sect.

Each of the six Supreme Elders had previously held the title of Hall Master. For example, Sun Jiuzhang was the previous Sect Master.

As for the eleven Preaching Elders, most had previously served as Vice Hall Masters.

Some had retired due to advanced age or a desire to focus on cultivation, stepping down from the Vice Hall Master position to become Preaching Elders.

Others still held Vice Hall Master roles but were awarded the honorary title of Preaching Elder in recognition of their great merit to the sect.

This honorary title carried no specific duties but granted both deliberative and decision-making rights.

Ordinary Vice Hall Masters did not possess such rights.

Sect Master Guu Feng was seated at the primary position, flanked on both sides by the six Supreme Elders. To his left below the Supreme Elders were the Five Hall Masters, and to his right below them were the eleven Preaching Elders.

Everything was in perfect order.

Guu Feng surveyed the gathered assembly and declared in a resounding voice, "Dai Zong of the Five Directions Hall possesses unparalleled talent. At only six hundred years old and during the Fifth Layer Heaven, his combat prowess already rivals that of the Eighth Layer Heaven. What do you all think should be done?"

Zhangg Wuya, seated in the last position among the Five Hall Masters, sat with eyes closed, appearing to meditate, as if he had heard nothing.

Seeing this, everyone immediately understood that Guu Feng must have privately consulted with Zhangg Wuya before this meeting.

Several Preaching Elders with close ties to Zhangg Wuya were equally shrewd, catching some hints from Guu Feng's words, and each remained silent.

The others, however, were less restrained.

Among the eleven Preaching Elders, a white-haired, crane-like elder with a robust frame, named 'Xu Tang,' spoke leisurely, "Dai Zong has an impeccable lineage. We could elevate his position as the Chamber Elder of the Five Directions Hall by one rank and have him serve as a Vice Hall Master for a few years to gain experience before deciding his future placement."

The Heaven Mending Sect had traditional norms regarding appointments.

Typically, new Vice Hall Masters were from the Seventh Layer Heaven, though a minority with the Eighth Layer Heaven cultivation had also served as Vice Hall Masters. While Dai Zong was only at the Fifth Layer Heaven, strictly judging by his combat prowess, serving as a Vice Hall Master would undoubtedly be more than sufficient.

"Brother Xu, you're being too cautious."

Sitting beside Xu Tang, another Preaching Elder named 'Feng Guang' shook his head and said, "At six hundred years old, Dai Zong no longer needs training. His strength is clear for all to see. Saying it matches the Eighth Layer Heaven is a conservative claim; his true strength may well rival the Ninth Layer Heaven. Making him a Vice Hall Master would be too limiting."

"Adding the title of 'Preaching Elder' is also an option," another Preaching Elder interjected.

To rise above Vice Hall Master status, one either became a Preaching Elder or a Hall Master. Comparatively, being a Preaching Elder was considered the less prestigious of the two.

"Dai Zong has spent these years focused on cultivation without achieving much merit. Suddenly promoting him to a dual role as Vice Hall Master and Preaching Elder would seem inappropriate and might be hard for others to accept."

"Dai Zong subdued the Six Sects in the No.2 Cave, greatly reducing the losses of our Heaven Mending Sect's True Persons. Isn't that a significant contribution?"

"Helping one's fellow disciples is hardly a notable feat. Should we stand by and watch our peers perish instead? It's merely fulfilling one's duty, not a contribution per se."

...

The eleven Preaching Elders argued endlessly.

The core of the debate centered on whether to grant Chen Jichuan the 'Preaching Elder' title, which would determine whether he could ascend to the highest echelon of the Heaven Mending Sect.

The dispute grew increasingly heated, making it difficult to reach a conclusion.

Both sides remained deadlocked over the issues of 'merit' and 'combat prowess.'

Xu Tang and a few other Preaching Elders opposed it strongly, arguing that Dai Zong's contributions weren't sufficient to earn wide acceptance.

Feng Guang and others supported it, emphasizing Dai Zong's combat prowess rivaling the Eighth and Ninth Layer Heavens, and his boundless potential.

Seeing the impasse,

the Hall Masters, who had remained silent, finally spoke up.

The Hall Master of the Danyi Hall, Zhang Zheng, lightly coughed and chuckled, "Dai Zong has notable skills in alchemy and artifact refining. Why not let him serve as a Vice Hall Master in my Danyi Hall for a few years, then consider granting him the 'Preaching Elder' title?"

This was purely an attempt to mediate.

But Zhang Zheng's proposal was balanced and moderate enough that it garnered some acceptance among the Preaching Elders.

The other Hall Masters, however, didn't all agree with this.

"Brother Zhang."

"Dai Zong is originally the Chamber Elder of my Five Directions Hall. If he's to be promoted to Vice Hall Master, it should be within the Five Directions Hall. Brother Zhang, poaching him right in front of me is rather inappropriate."

This was Ji Liuyun, the Hall Master of the Five Directions Hall.

With Chen Jichuan's extraordinary combat prowess, Ji Liuyun was eager to bring him fully under his wing. Moreover, Chen Jichuan hailed from the Five Directions Hall, giving Ji Liuyun a significant advantage in this matter.

Thus,

the earlier debate over whether to grant Chen Jichuan the 'Preaching Elder' title suddenly shifted into a dispute between the Five Directions Hall and Danyi Hall over who would claim him.

This left the Preaching Elders silent for a change.

Zhang Zheng and Ji Liuyun sparred verbally for a while, neither willing to back down. Eventually, they looked to Sect Master Guu Feng for a decision.

"There's no need to rush a decision on Dai Zong's placement. First, take a look at this,"

Guu Feng, sensing the debate had reached a suitable climax, retrieved some forty jade scrolls from his robe and distributed them among those present.

"All Heavens Walking?"

"Illusion Realm?"

The group took the jade scrolls with puzzled expressions, quickly breaking out into various startled reactions upon examining them.

Holding two of the jade scrolls, Zhang Zheng raised his head and looked at Guu Feng in shock. "Are the two magic techniques recorded within truly authentic?"

The others also looked up toward Guu Feng.

"Absolutely genuine,"

"With your expertise, surely you all can tell."

Guu Feng nodded and smiled.

The two jade scrolls contained partial records of the magic techniques 'All Heavens Walking' and 'Illusion Realm.' Although they could not be immediately cultivated from these fragments, it was enough for the experts present to discern their authenticity and rank.