Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

As Chu Yang once left the sect to seek opportunities in the Eastern Central Region, Qing Yi and Chun Hua similarly took the opportunity to leave the sect for an adventure together. Seeking to comprehend the Dao of Alchemy outside the sect, though, different from Chu Yang who went to the Eastern Central Region, Qing Yi and Chun Hua decided to spend most of their time exploring different danger regions filled with spiritual herbs useful for their alchemy.

Given that their strength could be considered strong even among other Domain Lord Realm cultivators, it was perfect for them to explore some of the danger regions that could be found throughout the territory of the former Sky Empire. Especially so considering that wandering around the territory of the former Sky Empire wouldn’t attract any unwanted attention from the Blue Sea Empire, as the region itself had descended into a chaotic mess where all kinds of wandering cultivators gathered to look for opportunities in the ruins left behind following the fall of the Sky Empire.

After all, even if most of the precious resources in the capital had already been looted back when the Sky Empire fell, there were countless smaller bases under the control of the Sky Empire spread throughout their territory… And although these kinds of small locations might not be worth much in the eyes of someone in the Soul Ascension Realm or the different empires that had invaded the Sky Empire to seize part of their territory following their fall, it was incredibly precious to wandering cultivators who didn’t have any kind of backing. Especially so for those barely in the Core Formation Realm or below, as finding any of the hidden bases of the Sky Empire’s imperial family would be like ascending to the heavens in one step, as the resources would be more than enough to help them reach the Nascent Soul Realm in the future.

For this reason, by the time Qing Yi and Chun Hua entered the territory of the fallen Sky Empire to look for opportunities to improve their Dao of Alchemy, they were shocked to find out that the place was swarming with wandering cultivators. Almost making the territory livelier than when the Sky Empire had still been around, as these wandering cultivators wasted no time looking through any ruins they found.

However, the most shocking thing that the two of them encountered after entering the territory of the fallen Sky Empire was not the wandering cultivators, but instead the different small cities that had been established by these wandering cultivators to fend off demon beasts and have a safe place to recover.

After all, even though some of the different larger kingdoms that had once been under the Sky Empire had managed to survive the fall and were arguably thriving more than ever now that they were independent, most of them had fallen along with the Sky Empire. Turning most of the Sky Empire’s territory back into its former state with demon beasts roaming around everywhere.

The different smaller cities that had been established by the wandering cultivators were to deal with this problem and create a space for them to recover their strength and fend off demon beasts.

But… The territory of the fallen Sky Empire is located close to the core region of the continent. Meaning that the strength of the demon beasts that they would have to deal with was by no means weak, with the average strength of demon beasts found outside the small safe zones and still surviving kingdoms reaching the Core Formation Realm, while Nascent Soul Realm demon beasts weren’t difficult to encounter.

For this reason, the strength of the small cities that had popped up were by no means weak. At least having someone in the Nascent Soul Realm in charge, while some of the larger cities even had several Domain Lord Realm cultivators working together to guard them.

Not just that, but these cities seem to be trying to grow their influence and expand their power. The strongest among them were even controlling a dozen smaller cities at once, as they began looking more and more like a smaller kingdom.

In a short period of a few years, the territory of the fallen Sky Empire had turned into a place filled with countless small city states all trying to establish a small kingdom for themselves.

Although… The main reason for something like this happening also had to do with the demonic cultivators destroying countless smaller kingdoms over the past few years, causing countless people to escape in the direction of the core region of the continent where it was safer, and demonic cultivators hadn’t managed to reach yet.

In turn the relatively empty territory of the fallen Sky Empire became a perfect location to settle down.

Not just because the territory was considered far away from the Frozen Wastelands and the ruler of the land had recently fallen, making the land essentially ownerless, but more importantly because of the existence of the Star Shattering Sect.

Yes… The existence of the Star Shattering Sect was the main reason why the territory of the fallen Sky Empire was seen as a good location to settle down, as the demonic cultivators of the Frozen Wasteland would have to first pass through the Star Shattering Sect to reach them.

As for worrying about the Star Shattering Sect expanding and them falling under the Star Shattering Sect’s sphere of influence in the future? None of them cared, as the Star Shattering Sect was already considered a power on the level of the Blue Sea Empire and wouldn’t care about small fish like them.

On the other hand, some people were even looking forward to the day that the Star Shattering Sect decided to expand into their territory, as it would mean that they would fall under the protection of the Star Shattering Sect and wouldn’t have to worry about the demonic cultivators attacking them any longer.

Another reason for why they felt nothing bad about falling under the Star Shattering Sect was also because they had already seen several smaller kingdoms and powers fall under the influence of the Star Shattering Sect as it expanded… And not only did it not restrict their growth, but it even helped them grow stronger, something that was simply unimaginable for these people who had spent most of their time under a power that would actively work to ensure that their strength didn’t grow too much. Afraid of them being surpassed.

In that sense, the fact that the Star Shattering Sect didn’t seem to care about them growing stronger and even helped them grow stronger was a clear testament to the Star Shattering Sect’s strength, a kind of confidence that was reserved for those major powers in the central region in the eyes of those from the outer regions of the continent…

In turn, because of all this, Qing Yi and Chun Hua didn’t face any problems as they travelled through the territory of the fallen Sky Empire. Instead, they received help from the local cultivators and wandering cultivators whenever they learnt about their identities as disciples of the Star Shattering Sect.

Allowing the two of them to find several locations prime for them to gather spiritual herbs and increase their comprehension of the Dao of Alchemy.

Of course, with all the help they received during their journey, they didn’t hold back and helped those who had been kind enough to help them. Gifting them with all sorts of potions and pills helpful for their cultivation, earning them an almost exalted reputation among the cultivators that had settled down in territory of the fallen Sky Empire.

After all, for wandering cultivators, an alchemist was difficult to encounter, let alone two that were extremely close to reaching the Grandmaster Realm.

Not to mention, their strength in the Domain Lord Realm also made the image of the Star Shattering Sect even stronger. After all, the two of them referred to themselves as disciples!

Disciples who were still in the Domain Lord Realm and close to reaching the Grandmaster Realm in alchemy? What kind of disciples was this!? How powerful was the master of such terrifying disciples!?

Because of Qing Yi and Chun Hua, the reputation of the Star Shattering Sect in the former territory of the Sky Empire had already exceeded that of a major power like the Blue Sea Empire, something that Elder Song was overjoyed to learn about, as he began contemplating whether to start expanding the sect in the direction of the core region earlier than he had first planned.

Of course, given that Xuan Hao didn’t want to draw any more unwanted attention from the Blue Sea Empire than he already had, he decided to step in and stop Elder Song before he could do anything.

Even if the situation with the Blue Sea Empire was strained and dangerous, it was still fine for now, but… If the Star Shattering Sect’s territory expanded all the way to the borders of the Blue Sea Empire, the peace that existed between them could shatter completely, as the Star Shattering Sect could be seen as a far bigger threat if it rapidly expanded all the way to its borders…