In the sect hall, the elders of the Plum Tree sect were gathered around a large table discussing the expedition. They received orders from the sect master to accommodate whatever Disciple Lu requested. Some were not pleased with the amount of attention and power the disciple was given, but they kept their mouths shut because they knew they would not get anywhere with their displeasure. They had discussions before and yet every time, they still enacted the disciple’s wishes. And every time, the sect improved and became stronger. Now the Plum Tree sect was at the peak of second-rate sects and many believed after this expedition to the secret realm, they would be considered first rate.

Elder Wei was among those chosen to protect the disciples and lead them to the secret realm. His strength was second to one - Elder Fei. Zhang Wei had the same Unity Realm cultivation as the sect master, but he was focused on speed first, second, and third. While the sect master was powerful and a close second to Elder Wei, he was often too busy with sect affairs. Zhang Wei could focus purely on combat and cultivation as he was the only elder to not have a disciple. His job was to protect sect disciples when they went out on missions, usually without them noticing, and to train inner disciples on movement techniques. But this time, the mission was too important.

And it was this expedition where he would have to ensure the survival of one person: Disciple Lu. Sect master Di had given him an explicit order to make sure no harm came to this strange disciple. Even at the cost of the sect master’s own disciple, the lives of Elder Fei’s other disciples, and an elder.

Zhang Wei turned to look at the elder responsible for understanding the formations necessary to open the secret realm - Chyou Fang. They were sharp contrasts. Where Zhang Wei was tall, elder Fang was short. He shaved his head bald and she had long black hair. Yes truly, the differences between man and woman made for sharp contrasts.

Chyou Fang was a Nascent Soul elder with mastery over formations. She had joined the Plum Tree sect only 8 years ago as a personal disciple to the sect master, and she became an elder when she reached Nascent Soul which was only one year ago. She was the newest elder of this now 10 elders in the sect hall. When it came to strength, she was second to many. She practiced formations and was adept at spells and talismans. But combat was never her field. Sect master Di never saw her as less than the other elders though, and she respected him for that. The sect master was smart; he had used her knowledge of formations to strengthen the defenses of the sect and to obscure it from prying eyes. She knew she didn’t have the combat ability to stand next to the other elders but she was sure she was second to one when it came to formations.

Sect disciple Lu was an enigma, she thought. Some of the formations covering the sect weren’t just devised by her and the sect master. She knew someone else was behind them, making improvements and changes imperceptible to anyone but another formation master. She had suspected the sect master at first, but sect master Di had told her to keep Disciple Lu’s involvement a secret when she found that it was not him. As it turned out, Disciple Lu’s connection to the inner workings of the sect was kept secret from the other disciples but every elder had come into contact with him in their respective fields and was asked to keep it under wraps. She eyed the other elders wondering what secrets they’ve kept about the strange disciple’s involvement when the sect master walked into the hall. She could tell he was not his usual self but couldn’t understand why.

Huang Di had sent the elders a message about the expedition and was making his way towards his seat. He had to change some of his plans due to Disciple Lu’s requests but he expected to receive a satisfying result from the secret realm. The reward offered by the Empire was enough to move him and force Zhao Fei into letting his disciples take part in the expedition.

The winning sect would be rewarded with three potions of immortality. These potions would allow those in the Transcendent Realm an increased chance to breakthrough to Immortal Formation. Not only that, it would double the chances of breaking through from the Unity Realm to Transcendent. Sect Master Di knew he had to get those potions to ensure the growth of his sect and to stay on track with his plans. Additionally, the Empire promised that they would not collect taxes from the winning sect for a year. Qi crystals were the currency for cultivators and the Plum Tree sect, as well as all other sects within the Empire, had to give a portion to the Empire every year. The second and third prize would not receive any potions nor the tax incentive. However, they would receive two sky-grade weapons and one sky-grade armor, respectively, for their sects. Transcendent Realm experts rarely had earth-grade armor, much less weapons of the sky grade.

The prizes this year were much better than the other times this secret realm was opened. Huang Di could see the conspiracy unfolding but he had to make do with what he currently had. And he smirked. He had a former immortal in his sect and the most talented mortal he had ever seen. Finally, he thought, a situation where he, Huang Di, was not outmatched.