C406 First Echelon!

The Primordial Spirit is the key criterion for determining whether a sect qualifies as a super sect!

In the Boundless Land, with its extensive history, the rankings of the top sects on the Heavenly Source and Quietus Continents are not set in stone.

Sects like the Sword Sect, Primordial Yang Sect, and Profound Sky Sect, which now hold prestigious positions, were once on par with lower-tier sects such as the Spirit Void Sect, Silver Moon Sect, and Thunder Sect. Their rise to the upper echelon was made possible by the emergence of a Primordial Spirit!

A common adage holds that without a Primordial Spirit, a sect can never ascend to the first echelon.

Legend has it that the Ancient Desolate Sect, once a prominent lower sect, witnessed the emergence of a Primordial Spirit, opening the door to potentially becoming the Fourth Upper Sect.

Tragically, the Ancient Desolate Sect's Primordial Spirit met their end in the Outland Star River.

The sect's decline was precipitous following the loss; it fell prey to the machinations of the Spirit Void Sect and plummeted from the top of the seven lower sects to the very bottom.

The Red Devil Sect's annals recount the tale of a Duan-surnamed "Balrog" at the late Unrestrained Stage, who was on the cusp of achieving Primordial Spirit status.

Amidst the human race's internal conflicts, the Primordial Yang Sect spared no effort to breach the Red Devil Sect's protective array and ultimately slew the "Balrog," thwarting his ascension.

The victory came at a steep cost for the Primordial Yang Sect.

Yet, had they not acted, the Red Devil Sect might have risen to join the ranks of the first echelon alongside the likes of the Devil Palace and the Demon Palace.

This episode is far from secret; it's common knowledge.

Presently, the Red Devil Sect's disciples have the privilege of being among the first wave of initiates to delve into the Ember Waters, on equal footing with those from the Devil Palace and Demon Palace.

Lau Ying confidently asserts that the Red Devil Sect has powerhouses who have cultivated their own Primordial Spirits beyond the reaches of the Boundless Land!

Reflecting on Zhou Cangmin's boldness, his fearlessness in revealing his identity within the Rainier Empire, and his candid conversation with Yu Yuan, it's clear that the Scorching Sun Emperor had long been aware of his origins.

Zhou Cangmin, who was supposed to be sent to the Primordial Yang Sect for training as a hidden piece, drew too much attention to himself.

Fearless and daring, he abandoned his journey to the Primordial Yang Sect and wreaked havoc across the Profound Sky Continent, possibly emboldened by the presence of a Primordial Spirit!

The Red Devil Sect, with its experts who had achieved the Primordial Spirit in the heavens and its remarkable heritage built over millennia, commanded an extraordinary status on the Quietus Continent and throughout the entire Boundless Land.

The Red Devil Sect stood a great chance of joining the first echelon, ranking alongside the Devil Palace, the Demon Palace, and the three other upper sects!

"When did all this happen?" Yu Yuan asked, astonished.

"Shh!" Lau Ying gestured for silence and glanced around before whispering, "Our Silver Moon Sect only recently got wind of this. The White-robed Imperial Advisor must have been aware for quite some time, which explains his bold actions in both the Rainier Empire and the Devil Moon Empire."

Yu Yuan nodded in understanding.

"If you're seriously considering a sect to call home," Lau Ying said thoughtfully, "the Red Devil Sect is actually a solid choice. In our Silver Moon Sect, I doubt anyone from my master's generation will break through to the Primordial Spirit Stage."

Her expression darkened, clearly privy to the inner workings. The sighs of her master and the older generation spoke volumes; the Silver Moon Sect's elders had little hope of advancing to the Primordial Spirit Stage.

She was so grievously injured yet held in high esteem by the Silver Moon Sect, her master sparing no effort in her training because... the older generation had pinned their hopes on her.

They believed she could break free from the constraints of the Unrestrained Stage, condense her main soul into a Primordial Spirit, and elevate the Silver Moon Sect to the status of the fourth upper sect on the Heavenly Source Continent, thereby transforming the sect's future.

"For now, I have no intention of joining any sect," Yu Yuan stated.

The conversation between them ceased there.

At the island's edge, Yu Yuan sat down, took out a Spirit Stone, and resumed his cultivation, waiting for the disciples from the first echelon of the Ember Waters to set foot on the island before him.

Utilizing the Evil Body Refining Skill, he honed his physique and advanced his cultivation, standing out as somewhat of an anomaly.

In this region, all the elders and initiates from the seven lower sects hailed from the Heavenly Source Continent, the epitome of traditional cultivators.

As a practitioner of the "Evil Body Refining Skill," he would typically be associated with the Quietus Continent. His presence within the Silver Moon Sect was indeed an oddity.

His strength was formidable, allowing him to disregard the covert probes and scans of his spirit and consciousness.

The curiosity and scrutiny of others were met with his feigned obliviousness.

The fifth refinement of the Yellow Court Stage unfolded with deliberate calm.

Time raced by, and what felt like a brief moment of meditative practice was interrupted by Lau Ying's gentle call and the bustling readiness of the Silver Moon Sect's disciples.

"It's our turn. Let's go," Lau Ying said cheerfully.

With a whoosh, he released the Fallen Star Eyes, which hovered above the island, dwarfing the one they stood upon.

At Tian Wanying's command, the sect's young disciples boarded the Fallen Star Eyes in succession.

Yu Yuan, already acquainted with the Fallen Star Eyes, waited until the others had embarked before he and Lau Ying stepped onto it once more.

The other six lower sects' initiates summoned their own modes of transport—carriages, treasure ships, and stable flying carpets—ushering their sect members aboard.

Artifacts like the Fallen Star Eyes were a rarity in the world, crafted with immense dedication by the Silver Moon Sect.

The flying artifacts of the other sects paled in comparison to the Fallen Star Eyes, both in rank and capability.

Not even the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle, piloted by the Devil Envoy, could match the grandeur of the Fallen Star Eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the Fallen Star Eyes vanished.

Within moments, a dazzling array of islands came into Yu Yuan's view.

Two colossal islands dominated the center of the archipelago, standing out like the sun and moon amidst a sea of stars.

These islands were not naturally occurring; they were the handiwork of the mighty cultivators from the Demon Palace, who had reshaped the landscape with their formidable powers.

Atop the islands loomed dark palaces and pavilions, constructed from the bones of demons. The esteemed cultivators of the Devil Palace and Demon Palace stood guard here throughout the year, refining the vast spiritual energy of the surrounding seas, assimilating it into their bodies, enhancing their cultivation, and staving off any potential upheavals within the Ember Waters.

For millennia, fragments of shattered stars had plummeted from the heavens, and curious artifacts from beyond the galaxy had drawn a host of extraordinary beings to the Ember Waters—Earth Demons, Mutated Souls, and even alien races lurking in the expanse of the Boundless Land.

Yu Yuan was acutely aware that these alien races had traversed the galaxy long before humans had embarked on the path of cultivation, back when the Demon Clan and the Nagas reigned supreme. Most of these interstellar invaders had been vanquished by the Nagas and the Demon Clan in ancient times.

A scant few had survived, now posing no threat. Some even went into hiding, intermarrying with humans and producing offspring. These descendants might live their entire lives oblivious to their heritage, while a handful might awaken to a sudden realization as they aged, sensing that something missing within them could only be found in the Ember Waters.

Driven by this yearning, they would venture to the Ember Waters in search of the peculiar relics that resonated with their essence. The Great Cultivators of the Devil Palace and Demon Palace were stationed here precisely to guard against such unforeseen events.

"Hahaha!" The robust laughter of a one-armed elder with a gaunt face and flowing red hair echoed forth. He stood among the people, speaking animatedly and with vigor. Without invoking any Spiritual Spells, he exuded the aura of a volcano on the brink of eruption, his vitality and Qi overwhelming, exerting a formidable pressure on all around him.

"Red Devil Sect! Faang Yao!" Tian Wanyin inhaled sharply, standing above the Fallen Star Eyes, her tone tinged with apprehension. "The Red Devil Sect of today is a force to be reckoned with. They have Zhou Cangmin, the Demonic Seed who has cultivated a Yang God, pillars like Faang Yao, and even a Great Cultivator who has shattered their limits and ascended to the Primordial Spirit Stage."

"Faang Yao..." Yu Yuan murmured under his breath, his gaze fixed on the commanding presence of Faang Yao within the crowd, a slight smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Have you ever met him?" Lau Ying inquired with a hint of wonder.

"During my time in Darkmoon City, this formidable member of the Red Devil Sect made an appearance," Yu Yuan replied with a smile. "Yuan Qiufang, the former head of the Yuan family, was taken by him to advance his training within the Red Devil Sect. I caught a glimpse of him from a distance, shrouded in a massive fireball, which obscured my view."

"I didn't realize that had happened," Lau Ying mused, not dwelling on it. "Fang Yao is quite remarkable, having earned his stripes in the Red Devil Sect with his prowess in battle! My master tells me that Fang Yao's cultivation is exceptionally solid. Currently, he's in the late stages of the Soul Wandering Stage, and his advancement to the Yang God Stage is virtually guaranteed."

"He's destined to reach the Unrestrained Stage, potentially becoming another Balrog within the Red Devil Sect," my master predicts.

Tian Wanyin chimed in, "The Red Devil Sect truly is formidable. Over the last century, Fang Yao has led their forces to numerous victories, slaying many from the Primordial Yang Sect. They despise him down to their very marrow."

"Did you catch the look in Tang Can's eyes?" Lau Ying said with a light laugh.