Chapter 84

"Thirty thousand years ago, our Xianyan Ancient Sect and the Holy Heaven Sect had a battle, and the losses were too great. Even after thirty thousand years, we still haven't recovered our strength." Sun Changye couldn't help but sigh softly.

The other elders present could only sigh as well. After the battle thirty thousand years ago, the decline of the Xianyan Ancient Sect had become a foregone conclusion.

Thirty thousand years ago, the Xianyan Ancient Sect suffered a crushing defeat in the battle against the Holy Heaven Sect. In that battle, the Xianyan Ancient Sect mobilized all its forces to protect the Xianyan Ancient Kingdom. After the battle, from the elders to the ordinary disciples, eight or nine out of ten were killed. In the end, the Xianyan Ancient Sect was forced to retreat to its stronghold.

Before the great battle, the Xianyan Ancient Sect could be said to have had countless powerful figures, including several Great Sages. However, after that battle, only one or two out of ten survived.

This battle completely drained the Xianyan Ancient Sect. Although a few powerful elders, guardians, and protectors survived, they became the last line of defense for the Xianyan Ancient Sect.

After the battle, although a few powerful elders, guardians, and protectors survived, they were merely clinging to life. The battle was too brutal, and even the surviving powerful elders were severely injured, unable to recover. They could only rely on life-prolonging pills to extend their lives. After returning, they all went into seclusion and could no longer re-emerge.

At that time, the surviving elders and guardians would only re-emerge if the Xianyan Ancient Sect faced a catastrophic disaster; otherwise, they would not re-emerge, as their own conditions were extremely dire!

In fact, during that battle, the Xianyan Ancient Sect not only lost a large number of disciples but also depleted a vast amount of treasures and elixirs.

To protect the Xianyan Ancient Kingdom, the Xianyan Ancient Sect used a large number of magical artifacts, immortal objects, and a vast amount of physical essence, longevity elixirs, and life-prolonging pills. During the battle, countless disciples took elixirs before going into battle. In the face of a dire situation, a large number of disciples used physical essence, longevity elixirs, and life-prolonging pills to counterattack the Holy Heaven Sect!

As a result, although the Xianyan Ancient Sect survived the battle, its inventory was empty, and the number of valuable treasures and elixirs it could offer was extremely limited and pitiful.

After the battle, the Xianyan Ancient Sect lost its imperial techniques. Although it still possessed a vast number of techniques of Holy Emperors and Great Sages, the disciples recruited later could only rely on their own efforts to cultivate, leading many to take the wrong path or make many detours. Without the support of magical artifacts and elixirs, the Xianyan Ancient Sect declined even further.

At the same time, after the Holy Heaven Sect established the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom, it became even more difficult for the Xianyan Ancient Sect to recruit disciples. Talented disciples were unwilling to join the Xianyan Ancient Sect.

Li Qiyi could understand the situation described by the Great Elders. Under such circumstances, it was already difficult for the Xianyan Ancient Sect to survive, let alone rise again!

"We must take bold steps to rise. For the younger generation of disciples, after passing the examination, those with potential should be given the techniques of Great Sages and Holy Emperors. To rise, the Xianyan Ancient Sect must cultivate the younger generation. Although the techniques of Great Sages and Holy Emperors are unparalleled, we should be more open-handed and keep the imperial techniques in our hands." In the end, Li Qiyi made such a suggestion.

After the decline, the Xianyan Ancient Sect lost its imperial techniques and only possessed the complete "Six Transformations of Kunpeng." Therefore, the Xianyan Ancient Sect was extremely strict about the transmission of the techniques of Great Sages and Holy Emperors. Under normal circumstances, ordinary disciples could not be taught these techniques without decades, even hundreds or thousands of years of examination!

However, for the disciples, this meant they had already missed the best period for cultivation, and without the guidance of a master, their cultivation was even more delayed!

The Xianyan Ancient Sect had no choice but to do this. The loss of imperial techniques meant that the techniques of Great Sages and Holy Emperors were their most precious heritage. If these techniques were leaked, it would be an even greater blow to the Xianyan Ancient Sect.

"We will find the imperial techniques." In the end, Li Qiyi convinced the five great elders with these words.

The five great elders ultimately agreed with Li Qiyi's suggestion. Now, the only way for the Xianyan Ancient Sect to rise was to rise. If it did not rise, it would be destroyed by the Holy Heaven Sect and the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom sooner or later.

For the Xianyan Ancient Sect to rise, it must change. Otherwise, with the current conservative situation, talking about rising was just empty words.

When the Xianyan Ancient Sect decided to reform, in the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom, a piece of news spread: the ancient Niujiang Kingdom and the Nine Holy Demon Sect visited the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom! The Sun Demon Emperor of the Nine Holy Demon Sect personally met with the Human Emperor of the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom.

This news caused a significant stir in the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom. Not long ago, the Xianyan Ancient Sect had killed Dong Shenglong and Li Zhanhou, crushing the will of the Human Emperor. At that time, Li Shuangyan, the descendant of the Nine Holy Demon Sect and the princess of the ancient Niujiang Kingdom, was in the Xianyan Ancient Sect. Now, the Sun Demon Emperor meeting the Human Emperor of the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom seemed too coincidental.

No one knew what the two emperors discussed, but after the Sun Demon Emperor left, the capital of the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom announced that the conflict between Li Zhanhou, Dong Shenglong, and the Xianyan Ancient Sect was just a personal grudge.

Although this news was not officially announced by the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom but spread through informal channels, it was enough to explain everything.

Hearing this informal news, many sects and major religions in the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom looked at each other in surprise. At this moment, everyone realized that the Xianyan Ancient Sect had allied with the Nine Holy Demon Sect.

At this time, many people understood why the Xianyan Ancient Sect dared to challenge the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom. It turned out that it had the backing of the Nine Holy Demon Sect. Otherwise, with its decline, the Xianyan Ancient Sect would have no strength to challenge the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom.

"The alliance between the Xianyan Ancient Sect and the Nine Holy Demon Sect is not surprising," the sect leader said, "Back then, the founder of the Nine Holy Demon Sect was the first divine general under the Immortal Emperor Mingren. The Nine Holy Demon Sect was once attached to the Xianyan Ancient Sect. Although the Nine Holy Demon Sect is now powerful and the Xianyan Ancient Sect has declined, the two sects have cooperated for millions of years."

"Water from afar cannot quench a nearby fire," someone else said. "Even if the Xianyan Ancient Sect cooperates with the Nine Holy Demon Sect, the Nine Holy Demon Sect is far away. Given the weakness of the Xianyan Ancient Sect, it will eventually be destroyed by the Holy Heaven Sect."

After this news spread, it caused a significant stir in the Treasure Holy Upper Kingdom, and many sects and major religions discussed it.

As one of the main characters, the Xianyan Ancient Sect remained indifferent to this matter. Now, Li Qiyi was in charge of the overall situation.

In fact, when the five great elders first heard this news, they were also surprised. The Nine Holy Demon Sect supporting the Xianyan Ancient Sect was far beyond their expectations. However, seeing Li Qiyi's calm demeanor, they understood that the Nine Holy Demon Sect was supporting Li Qiyi, not the Xianyan Ancient Sect.

With the support of the five great elders, Li Qiyi began a large-scale reform in the Xianyan Ancient Sect, starting to release cultivation techniques to the disciples. After passing the examination, disciples with potential would be taught suitable techniques of Great Sages and Holy Emperors, whether longevity techniques, life-prolonging techniques, physical techniques, etc.

To cultivate a group of potential disciples, Li Qiyi personally took charge, from selecting disciples to teaching techniques, all done by him. He did this to first cultivate a core group of disciples, which would be the future hope of the Xianyan Ancient Sect.

Li Qiyi divided the core group of the Xianyan Ancient Sect into four parts. The second generation, including potential disciples, hall masters, and guardians, were under the responsibility of Guardian Mo. Li Qiyi chose Guardian Mo not only because he was his confidant but also because he valued Mo's steady approach to cultivation. The third generation, already formally admitted disciples, were under the responsibility of Qu Daoli. Qu Daoli was originally a disciple of the Triangular Ancient Academy, but Li Qiyi specifically selected him.

Li Qiyi had his reasons for choosing Qu Daoli. Qu Daoli had considerable prestige among the third-generation disciples, and his talent was good. More importantly, Qu Daoli was steady and had a broad mind. With further cultivation and training, he would surely become a great talent.

Another part was the three hundred disciples of the Xishizhi Valley, a team personally cultivated by Li Qiyi. This team had already been well-integrated with him, and it was under the responsibility of Xu Pei.

The last part was the disciples who had not yet formally joined the sect. This group would become the reserve force and the future hope of the Xianyan Ancient Sect.

Originally, Li Qiyi intended to have Nan Huiren lead this group of reserve disciples, but this young man was smarter and preferred to stay by Li Qiyi's side as a messenger. He even resigned from his position as a hall master.

If it were someone else, they might not make such a choice. After all, leading thousands of disciples who had not yet formally joined the sect would give them power almost on par with a guardian. Moreover, Nan Huiren was a disciple qualified to practice the "Ten Suns of Purple Yang Technique." If he worked hard for a few more years, he might become the youngest guardian of the Xianyan Ancient Sect!

However, Nan Huiren chose differently. He resigned from all his positions and stayed by Li Qiyi's side as a messenger with no power or position. This seemingly foolish choice was actually the smartest!

To help the Xianyan Ancient Sect rise, Li Qiyi personally taught the disciples. For those with potential and a firm resolve, he personally lectured and taught them.

Under Li Qiyi's influence, the hall masters, guardians, and elders of the Xianyan Ancient Sect redoubled their efforts in cultivation.