Modern World's Martial Dao Human Immortal

At the military base on the edge of Jade Capital Mountain.

Xie Tiandao, Alkaid, Zong Yan, Kong Fang, Xie Yushu, Xie Yi'er, and several Martial Saints who had gone to the Artifact Sect decades ago and now wished to return to their roots, were all present.

...

"How could such a huge Artifact Sect just disappear like that?"

"The Artifact Sect, recognized as one of the strongest sects in the entire Cangwu Realm, how could it..."

Xie Tiandao, Xie Yi'er, and the others had eyes filled with loss.

To them, and indeed to everyone, the Artifact Sect was a cherished sacred land of cultivation, the most perfect holy realm in the depths of their hearts.

The education and knowledge they had received since childhood had all depicted the might of the Artifact Sect to the best of their ability.

It was...

The symbol of advancement.

The beacon of civilization.

Although they had not been in contact with the Artifact Sect for decades and had learned some related news from Leng Tianfeng previously, they were somewhat prepared. Yet, when they heard these words personally confirmed by Xie Yushu, Zong Yan, and others, they still felt as if their souls had left their bodies.

As if something of utmost importance within them had collapsed.

"Our Artifact Sect was world-renowned for its Artifact Refining. To some extent, it was equivalent to the most advanced military factory in our world. When the Moon Demon Empire invaded, they primarily targeted the Artifact Sect.

Additionally, the Pill Sect, capable of refining a large number of Elixirs, continuously produced core powerhouses, as well as the Divine Path Sects like Yang Divine Sect that were barely able to confront the Moon Demons."

Xie Yushu stated gravely, "Currently... of the originally awe-inspiring Ten Great Immortal Sects, only six remain. The Artifact Sect, Pill Sect, Yang Divine Sect, and including the Divine Demons Palace have all become history."

Four of the Ten Great Immortal Sects had directly vanished.

It seemed that even though the Cangwu Realm had defeated the Moon Demon Empire, the victory came with a heavy cost.

"What is the current situation at the Artifact Sect? And our Xie Family..."

Xie Tiandao couldn't help but press for answers.

"The Xie Family..."

A hint of pain flashed in Xie Yushu's eyes: "In the first round of attacks, the sky was ablaze, oceans evaporated, mountains and rivers collapsed... The city where our Xie Family's main branch lived happened to be within the first wave of the Moon Demon's attack range... None were spared, except for a very few scattered branches."

Xie Tiandao and Xie Yi'er immediately turned pale.

The Xie Family, was it over?

Alkaid glanced at the few people.

He found it hard to offer any comfort anyway. Find your adventure at empire

If even the Artifact Sect was gone, what was the Xie Family to speak of?

"The Artifact Sect no longer exists, but on its former land, a new sect has been established called the Nine Cauldrons Sect."

At that moment, Ji Baichuan, a Primordial Chaos Martial Saint from the White Tower Federation who had come to return to his roots, said.

According to his introduction, he had some connection with Ji Pingtian, who had not returned this time, being his uncle.

"The former Artifact Sect was riddled with corruption, its insides teeming with rot, with countless native factions controlling the sect's channel for advancement, giving no chance for outsiders like us!"

This Primordial Chaos Martial Saint spoke loudly, "The reason they perished under the assault of the Moon Demon Empire and did not rise like the Limitless Star Palace, Myriad Beasts Sect, or Immortal Alliance was due to their decadence which had already brought them to the brink of collapse. Thus, when calamity struck, no one thought of resisting the invaders from the Moon Demon Empire.

Instead, each power was undermining the very foundation of the Artifact Sect, preserving their own interests... "

He glanced at Alkaid, "In the face of such grave crises, if they did not fall, who would?"

Alkaid looked back at him and then at Zong Yan.

Not just him, Xie Tiandao and Xie Yi'er also managed to suppress their sorrow a bit and looked up.

"In the most perilous times, the Artifact Sect issued an order demanding all subordinate worlds provide powerful Spiritual Treasures..."

Xie Yushu was careful with his words.

But before he could finish, Zong Yan already shook his head, "Let me explain."

He sighed slightly, "A hundred years ago, during the troubled times, the Artifact Sect demanded the sacrifice of all subordinate worlds to refine the most powerful Spiritual Treasure to combat the Moon Demon Empire... and they shouted the slogan 'Better to be a shattered jade than an intact tile!'"

"It was a sacrifice of all subordinate worlds, including peripheral forces, just to preserve the interests of their core group of people."

Ji Baichuan said coldly.

Zong Yan nodded, "In the end, a large number of cultivators from forces like ours united to compel the Sect Master lineage of the Artifact Sect to abdicate, founding a new Artifact Sect... But the new Artifact Sect only lasted for less than twenty years.

The native core figures of the old Artifact Sect returned to their old ways, only allowing cultivators from subordinate forces to fight while they hid in the shadows..."

He caught his breath, "At that moment, the Moon Demon Empire's homeland was attacked, resistance grew fiercer than ever... Under internal strife, the Moon Demon Empire breached the new Artifact Sect and it fell... less than ten years after the Artifact Sect's fall, the Moon Demon Empire was defeated... Those who resisted the corruption and decay of the Artifact Sect once again united.

They realized that to bring a new life to this land, they needed to erase all traces of the Artifact Sect completely. Finally, eighty years ago, they founded the Nine Cauldrons Sect."

Alkaid listened to Zong Yan's words but said nothing.

It was Xie Tiandao who, after absorbing the information, couldn't help but look towards Xie Yushu, "Then what about us who went to the Artifact Sect... to the Cangwu Realm..."

"The Nine Cauldrons Sect has only been established for eighty years. Although they have inherited much of the Asset Sect's assets, all trades need to be rebuilt from scratch, and it's an opportunity for everyone with talent and insight.

Anyone who joins the Nine Cauldrons Sect will be met with open arms, especially Sect Master Li Qingshan of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, who has proposed the concept of autonomous governance magnanimously, preserving original force names and granting considerable autonomy and self-government rights..."

Ji Baichuan took the initiative to answer this question.

"That's to be a subordinate sect."

Zong Yan briefly elaborated further.

He then added, "However, gaining such power is not easy. There must be a Great Cultivator Level force within the sect."

Xie Yushu also nodded, "Nine Cauldrons Sect, established just eighty years ago, is ultimately inferior to the Artifact Sect at its peak by more than a small margin. Up to now, the territories south of the Hundred Thousand Mountains and the Eastern Sea Archipelago originally belonging to Artifact Sect are still under the control of other forces.

They are in urgent need of recruiting powerful local allies to strengthen themselves and fully recover the territories once governed by Artifact Sect, so the treatment they offer is extraordinarily generous."

Eighty years.

In terms of an ordinary person, that's a lifetime.

For a newly established nation, this might indicate a stable situation.

However, for a cultivation force, it's far too short.

"Chairman Alkaid, if you and the others head to Cangwu, you have two options: one... is to stay within the framework of Nine Cauldrons Sect, observe first, and then decide whether to join. The other... is to go to the surrounding powers... There are three major sects nearby: Great Sun Sword Sect, Star Sea Sect, and the Primordial Yang Sect, which has split into two."

Zong Yan spoke sensibly, "Among them, the strongest is the Great Sun Sword Sect, and the weakest is the Star Sea Sect. However, the Star Sea Sect has the backing of one of the Six Great Immortal Sects, the Immortal Alliance, giving it greater potential.

The remaining Primordial Yang Sect is stronger than Star Sea Sect and even has the support of the most powerful sect of this era—Limitless Star Palace—but is currently embroiled in civil strife and thus quite unstable."

"Zong Yan, there's one thing you seem to have forgotten to mention. Although the Moon Demon Empire was shattered, many smaller factions have snuck into surrounding worlds. Through various methods such as 'incarnation' and 'soul usurpation', they replace the native creatures, hiding amongst us and infiltrating the major Immortal Sects of Cangwu Realm, posing significant threats to all."

Ji Baichuan said, "Currently, many sects are extremely cautious towards cultivators from neighboring worlds, some have even severed ties with these worlds. Rarely can one join those Immortal Sects, and if they do, they face repulsion. The difficulty for them to rise to high positions is much greater than that for native cultivators of Cangwu."

As he spoke, he puffed out his chest, "But our Sect Master Li has an all-embracing spirit, like the sea that receives a hundred rivers. Anyone, as long as they pass the Demon Viewing Platform, can join the sect and is treated equally. Those with talent and potential can quickly make a name for themselves and soar to great heights. Mentor Meng is the best example.

Chairman Alkaid, your achievements compared to Mentor Meng are even more outstanding. If you can pass the Demon Viewing Platform to join Nine Cauldrons Sect, you may even be considered for an exceptional true transmission position."

"Demon Viewing Platform?"

Alkaid inquired.

"That is a place every creature from the surrounding worlds must visit upon entering Cangwu Realm. It is a spiritual treasure specifically refined by several notable figures to prevent Moon Demons from usurping others and sneaking in. No matter how well a Moon Demon hides, if their soul's nature is not human, they will have nowhere to hide on the Demon Viewing Platform."

Ji Baichuan said gravely.

With these words spoken, Xie Yushu even stole a glance at Alkaid.

However, Alkaid showed no particular reaction.

Inside and out, he was a pure human being.

But…

He glanced over at the few who had returned from Cangwu Realm.

Each person's words reflected their own position.

Xie Yushu was obviously biased toward Artifact Sect and spoke mainly in its favor.

Zong Yan's description was quite impartial.

As for Ji Baichuan…

A member of Nine Cauldrons Sect, it was probably their intention to recruit from this world under the guise of returning to their roots.

"No matter, the Stellar Sect requires half a year for maintenance, and another half to calibrate coordinates. We have a year to fully understand the situation over there," Alkaid said.

Xie Tiandao and the others also nodded in agreement.

The Xie Family...

They too need to carefully consider their attitude towards Alkaid from now on.

Having lost their backing, they urgently need to find another.

Compared to other forces...

Alkaid, with limitless potential and a very high chance to become a Great Cultivator, is obviously the best choice.

The condition is…

He must pass the Demon Viewing Platform and verify that he is indeed human.

In the following period, both parties stayed here for half a month.

In that half-month, Alkaid got a detailed understanding of Cangwu Realm and Artifact Sect...

Or rather the specifics of Cangwu Realm.

After comparisons from all sides, he had to admit a problem: those sects with some influence and deep foundations, which do not lack disciples, are somewhat cautious and repulsive towards cultivators from the peripheral worlds.

Even if they pass the Demon Viewing Platform, who can guarantee they haven't been cultivated by Moon Demons?

Meanwhile, those smaller sects with less substantial foundations are less discriminating.

But when they recruit disciples and sect members, they essentially treat them as cannon fodder for the purpose of strengthening their own power.

Comparatively, Nine Cauldrons Sect, which is reviving from ruin and in dire need of talent and resources, indeed seems like the best choice.

Firstly, Nine Cauldrons Sect's Sect Master Li Qingshan possesses a spirit of inclusivity that far exceeds that of ordinary people.

Secondly...

After all, Nine Cauldrons Sect was established on the foundation of Artifact Sect.

One of the ten great Immortal Sects, its heritage is astonishing.

Thirdly...

It's close.

Past the Stellar Sect, you find Nine Cauldrons Sect.