Whispers circulated among the mountains of Treasure Bottle Continent regarding Righteous Sun Mountain’s ascension to the ranks of esteemed sects.

This was not without reason, for Righteous Sun Mountain’s actual修士 (cultivator) casualties were remarkably few. Their accumulated war merits relied more on immortal coins and resources than on actual combat. Moreover, each battlefield was chosen with meticulous calculation by the Ancestral Hall. Initially, this seemed unremarkable, but as the great war drew to a close, a little reflection revealed the truth; nobody was a fool. The Divine Edict Sect, the Wind and Snow Temple, True Martial Mountain – the lineage cultivators of these ancient sects did not hold back their disdain for Righteous Sun Mountain cultivators in public. In particular, the old Ancestor of the Wind and Snow Temple’s Great Salamander Trench, surnamed Qin, harbored a seemingly inexplicable animosity, ranting that Righteous Sun Mountain’s剑仙 (Sword Immortals)’ glorious war merits warranted not just a lower sect, but a sub-sub-sub sect spreading across the Nine Continents of the Grand World. “Who wouldn’t give them a thumbs-up? Who wouldn’t be sincerely convinced?” he’d bellow.

It was fortunate that the Confucian Temple had banned mountain-water gazettes, or who knows how many such outlandish remarks would have spread.

Righteous Sun Mountain’s eagerness to establish a lower sect was indeed driven by concerns over their reputation across the continent.

Once a lower sect was established, however, the deed would be done. Many mountain cultivators would then have to re-evaluate their stance. At most, they would grumble in private, but they wouldn’t dare utter a single word against Righteous Sun Mountain in mountain-water gazettes or public gatherings. They might even go so far as to embellish the truth, arguing with others and proactively speaking well of Righteous Sun Mountain.

Xia Yuancui, the oldest and most powerful sword immortal, with a carefree demeanor, smiled faintly, “Why don’t we bypass the Song Clan of Great Li and discuss it with the Jiang Clan of Cloud Forest?”

Having reached the Upper Five Realms and with Righteous Sun Mountain now bearing the title of a Grand World sect, the existence of a lower sect was not so urgent for Xia Yuancui. He had a long life of cultivation ahead, and in his leisure time, he could contemplate the carefree existence of an immortal realm, a delightful prospect.

Sect Master Zhu Huang nodded, “Agreed, but who is suitable to go to the Jiang Clan?”

The Song Clan of Great Li, having lost half of its territory, would see its dynastic map continue to shrink. Many central and southern vassal states had already begun to rebel. Were it not for the auxiliary capital and the great river shrines, many vassal states in the central and northern regions would likely have followed suit. However, every lineage cultivator in Treasure Bottle Continent knew that Great Li’s position among the Grand World’s Ten Great Dynasties would only continue to decline, eventually settling in seventh or eighth place.

Xia Yuancui smiled, remaining silent. The old sword immortal rested his sword across his lap, gently stroking the scabbard, already adopting a posture of indifference.

While the Jiang Clan of Cloud Forest was remarkable, it was not enough for him to grovel for favors.

The only one in Treasure Bottle Continent who could speak with any influence at the Confucian Temple was not the overbearing Song Clan of Great Li, but the Jiang Clan of Cloud Forest.

This was because the Jiang Clan of Cloud Forest was one of the saintly families of the entire Grand World most befitting the description of “a family with ringing bells and feasting tripods, a clan of poetry, books, rites and music”.

The Confucian Temple, in fact, possessed several ancient genealogies, and the Jiang Clan of Cloud Forest, which had migrated to Treasure Bottle Continent, was undoubtedly a descendant of a saint.

Ten thousand years ago, the Sage of Rites personally established rites and ceremonies. The ancestors of the Jiang Clan produced several Great Invokers, listed among the six officials in the “Great Rites Spring Official” alongside the Great Historian and the Great Minister, in charge of the most ancient invocations. Moreover, the surname Jiang was one of the oldest surnames in the Grand World.

An old sword immortal from Cloud Ascending Peak said in a deep voice, “Since the princely residence of the auxiliary capital wants us to accumulate war merits in the Desolate Wilds, then so be it. I’ll take the lead!”

Ancestor Yan Chu, the Law Enforcer, sneered, “You, stuck at the Golden Core bottleneck, actually believe that you’re in the Upper Five Realms just because you absorbed some of Immortal Li’s immortal aura on the Old Dragon City battlefield?”

The old sword cultivator was long accustomed to the atmosphere of the Ancestral Hall’s deliberations and continued, “If you’re unwilling to risk your lives, I’ll lead the cultivators of my Cloud Ascending Peak lineage, crossing the Sword Qi Great Wall to kill demons at the landing.”

Yan Chu slammed his chair arm, angrily retorting, “Do you think Cloud Ascending Peak is yours alone?! If you’re so capable, why don’t you just take the peak and everyone on it to the Desolate Wilds? If you have the guts to smash it against Mount Tray of the Moon, I’d be willing to personally send you off, how about that?!”

The old Golden Core cultivator from Cloud Ascending Peak rose to his feet, infuriated, ready to leave the Ancestral Hall.

At the same time, several old sword cultivators who had been to the Old Dragon City battlefield adopted a similar attitude. If Cloud Ascending Peak withdrew from the Ancestral Hall, they would choose to leave together.

Such scenes were common in the Ancestral Hall deliberations of First Line Peak, nothing out of the ordinary.