Chapter Sixteen: Crisis in the Sect

Let us set aside for the moment the matter of the Body Cultivation Institute and turn to the events on Thunder Peak. After Lei Wei brought Ji Mo to Thunder Peak, he immediately summoned the five great elders of the peak to his main hall to conduct the formal apprenticeship ceremony, thus officially introducing Ji Mo to everyone on Thunder Peak. As the head of a peak, Lei Wei’s acceptance of a disciple was a significant affair. He had presided over Thunder Peak for more than five centuries, and including the newly admitted Ji Mo, he now had but five disciples in total.

The quality of the disciples taken by a peak master—who is also the strongest cultivator of that peak—directly determines the future strength of the entire peak. Moonwatch Sect is comprised of six peaks. Although the sect’s rules strictly prohibit internecine killing among fellow disciples, the rivalry between the peaks has never abated. Each competes with the others in an endless cycle, fostering a strong sense of honor among the members of every peak. None are willing to be surpassed by another.

The disciples of Thunder Peak specialize in the arts of thunder and fire. Both the thunder and fire elements are known for their aggressive and domineering natures among the five elements, making their combat prowess rivaled only by Spirit Sword Peak, the seat of the sect master.

Ji Mo’s exceptional display during the testing of spiritual roots did not escape the notice of the elders of Thunder Peak. When they saw that Lei Wei had managed to secure such a prodigy—one who had stirred the very heavens and earth—they were inwardly beside themselves with excitement.

By rights, the elders of Thunder Peak, being Nascent Soul cultivators each with a millennium of life behind them, had witnessed countless prodigies in their time. No matter how astounding Ji Mo’s talent, it should not have warranted such fervor for an untested youth. The true cause for their excitement lay in the timing of Ji Mo’s appearance.

Moonwatch Sect is one of only two fifth-rank sects within the Yunhai Kingdom, which itself is a vassal to the mighty Haofeng Empire. The empire governs sixteen subordinate kingdoms, among which Yunhai’s strength ranks only in the lower middle. Were it not for the presence of Moonwatch Sect, Yunhai would long ago have been trampled underfoot.

Moonwatch Sect’s overall power has never been weak. A thousand years ago, it ranked among the top thirty fifth-rank sects in the Haofeng Empire. Though this attracted envy and scrutiny from more powerful nations and similarly ranked rivals, it was not enough to draw the empire’s direct attention. However, in the past millennium, with the rise of the current sect master and several peak masters, Moonwatch Sect has made great strides. Now, it stands among the top five fifth-rank sects in the entire Haofeng Empire.

With this advancement, Moonwatch Sect has drawn increasing suppression and covert hostility from peers, and even the gaze of the Haofeng Empire itself. Two centuries ago, the Haofeng Empire extended an olive branch to the sect, hoping it would sever ties with Yunhai and submit directly to the empire.

Compared to Yunhai, the Haofeng Empire is incomparably stronger—by a hundredfold at least. Within its borders, there are three third-rank sects, nine fourth-rank sects, and a staggering seventy-two fifth-rank sects. For a power of such magnitude to extend an olive branch, Moonwatch Sect had no way to refuse. Yet, since its founding, the sect’s forebears established a rule: under no circumstances may Moonwatch Sect abandon Moonwatch Mountain.

To submit to the Haofeng Empire would require the sect to leave its sacred mountain, a direct violation of its most fundamental doctrine. Thus, they could not accept the empire’s offer. But refusal was tantamount to offense. Despite the sect’s considerable strength, should the Haofeng Empire truly wish to destroy them, it would be effortless. The pressure on the sect’s leaders was thus immense.

Fortunately, there remained a glimmer of hope. The Qingxuan Cultivation Realm is divided into four great regions, each ruled by a vast empire: Eastern Han, Southern Moon, Western Qing, and Northern Light. The Haofeng Empire falls under the Eastern Han Empire’s dominion.

Once every thousand years, the Eastern Han Empire holds a grand talent selection tournament for the entire eastern continent. Only disciples who have reached the Core Formation stage and are under four hundred years old may participate. Those who place in the top five hundred become disciples of the empire’s five premier sects, and their home sects are granted imperial protection—no sect within the empire’s territory may attack or wage war upon them without just cause.

The next genius tournament is just over a century away, and it is precisely now that Ji Mo has appeared. Her arrival, heralded by celestial phenomena, seems to fulfill every hope the elders of Thunder Peak have ever harbored—for timing, place, and talent are all perfectly aligned. They could not help but be filled with irrepressible anticipation as they gazed at her.

“Ji Mo greets the elders,” she said, unaware of the underlying tensions and the existential crisis looming over Moonwatch Sect. She felt a touch uneasy under the elders’ fervent stares, and with a hint of trepidation, stepped forward to salute the five of them.

“No need for formality, Ji Mo,” said the first elder, Mu Jinrong, with genuine warmth. “If you encounter any difficulty on Thunder Peak in the future, you may come to us at any time.” Ji Mo could not help but twitch the corners of her mouth, uncertain as to what great fortune she had stumbled upon. Not only was her master exceptionally kind, but now even the elders seemed eager to curry favor with her.

“Ji Mo, go with your second senior brother and third senior sister now,” Lei Wei interjected, unable to watch any longer, and waved her away.

“Yes,” Ji Mo replied, leaving the main hall alongside her senior brother and sister.

After Ji Mo departed, the five elders of Thunder Peak did not disperse at once. The first elder, Mu Jinrong, could barely contain his excitement. “Peak Master, for Thunder Peak to receive a disciple like Ji Mo is a blessing for the entire sect. With her talent, if she competes in the genius tournament a century hence and secures a top-five-hundred ranking, the crisis facing Moonwatch Sect will be resolved.”

“Elder Mu, Ji Mo has only just entered the sect. No matter how exceptional her talent, to reach Core Formation within a mere century would already be remarkable. As for the entirety of the Eastern Han Empire—how many talented Core Formation disciples does it hold? We can scarcely count them. For her to vie for a top-five-hundred place among so many is an almost unimaginable challenge. Let's not be overly optimistic,” Lei Wei replied.

“Peak Master, even if Ji Mo's combat prowess does not prove the very best, her talent alone is enough to tempt the premier sects, is it not? In truth, your other four disciples are all excellent; aside from the eldest, the other three are of suitable age. But as you said, the genius tournament encompasses an immense region and an overwhelming number of prodigies. They may be standouts within Moonwatch Sect—or even within the entire Haofeng Empire—but in the context of the Eastern Han Empire as a whole…” the second elder, Song Yuanhang, added.

“It is premature to discuss this now,” Lei Wei concluded, waving his hand to end the discussion. “Let us take things as they come and first observe Ji Mo’s progress in cultivation.”