Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

Continuing to read through the next part of the ancient book that should be about the different realms in the Celestial Realm, Xuan Hao was surprised to discover that he couldn't understand what was written beyond the part about reaching the Celestial Immortal Realm. Even more confusing, the reason he couldn't understand it was not that it was written in the ancient language that he was still in the process of deciphering, but instead because some kind of mysterious power seemed to blur the text. Making it impossible to read.

Did someone place a restriction on the Celestial Immortal Realm part of the ancient book?

Narrowing both of his eyes as he focused the combined might of both his divine sense and dao domain on the ancient book in an attempt to see through what he perceived to be some kind of restriction, Xuan Hao soon met some kind of resistance-

Whoosh~!

However, upon being met with resistance, he suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine as a sense of primordial fear welled up inside him. Not even when facing the terrifying creature sealed beneath the ruins of the Raging Flame Sect did, he feel this level of fear!

"What is this thing…" Unconsciously muttering this to himself with a fearful expression on his face as he drew back his divine sense and dao domain from the restriction he encountered, Xuan Hao wasted no time in throwing the ancient book into an empty interspatial ring before turning to look at the old man standing a few meters away from him.

Although he understood that there was no way that the old man had anything to do with the terrifying restriction on the ancient book and the overwhelming sense of terror he had experienced, he could not help looking towards him for answers.

Silently hoping that he would at least know about the terrifying restriction placed on the last few pages of the ancient book pertaining to the Celestial Immortal Realm.

"Is something wrong with the ancient book?" Unfortunately, the old man had no idea about what had just happened and could only tilt his head in confusion in response to the sudden inquisitive glare from Xuan Hao.

"No… It's nothing, I just finished reading through it…" Understanding from the old man's gaze that he had no about the danger hidden away inside the restriction on the ancient book, Xuan Hao decided to brush the matter aside for now.

"…"

Hearing what he said, the old man froze on the spot before his expression became extremely nervous while looking towards him with a hint of anticipation flashing through his old eyes.

Ah! I almost forgot because of the ancient book; I still need to decide on what to do with this old man…

Meeting the expectant eyes of the old man, Xuan Hao instantly realized what he was thinking about as he threw the matter of the ancient book to the back of his mind for now. Even if he wanted to continue investigating the ancient book, he also understood his own limits and decided not to needlessly risk his life for a chance to learn about the different realms in the Celestial Immortal Realm.

In the first place, he was still in the Dao Domain Lord Realm and was far from being anywhere near breaking through to the Celestial Immortal Realm. Investigating the Celestial Immortal Realm could always wait until he was stronger.

With all of this in mind, Xuan Hao began to methodically go over the negatives and positives of accepting the old man in the Earth Immortal Realm. Not wanting to mess up and accidentally end up causing the Star Shattering Sect to face off against a terrifying power like the Blue Sea Empire…

First of all, the addition of an Earth Immortal Realm Expert would undoubtedly speed up the progress at which the strength of the disciples and elders improved. Possibly even giving birth to the first Soul Ascension Realm Expert of the Star Shattering Sect in the near future.

Secondly, with a powerful Earth Immortal Realm Expert holding down the fort, he would be able to leave the sect and travel around without constantly thinking about someone potentially appearing and destroying the Star Shattering Sect during his absence.

The main negative to all of this was the fact that the Earth Immortal Realm Expert came with quite a bit of baggage. Even if the terrifying chaotic qi formation guarding the Shattered Star Peaks where the main sect was located, he didn't feel certain that it would be able to conceal the presence of the old man from the special artifacts used by them.

After all, there was a high chance that these special artifacts had been crafted by one of the powerful ancestors of the Blue Sea Empire and were far more effective than any tracking talisman he had encountered in his life so far.

The thought of sending the old man to a branch sect to recover and just cut off the branch sect if anything ended up happening did occur to him, but it didn't last for long as he thought about it for a few seconds.

Given the temperament of the Soul Ascension Realm Experts from the Blue Sea Empire that he had encountered so far, he had a feeling that they might try and use it as an excuse to either destroy his sect to get their hands on the resources stored inside of it or just try and rob him as the strongest expert in any sect were bound to have a most of the sect's important resources on them or close by so they could keep an eye on them.

…

As the sun slowly started dipping below the horizon without Xuan Hao giving any response to the old man's request, the person in question could not help growing a bit impatient as he looked up at Xuan Hao still trying to figure out whether the benefits of adding the old man to the sect would outweigh the negatives.

What is this person hesitating so much for… Although he thought this to himself while watching Xuan Hao thinking about whether or not to help him out having received the ancient book, the old man never forgot to remain respectful to Xuan Hao.

No matter what the outcome became, he would have no way to change it in his current injured state. Instead, he hoped that Xuan Hao would at least refuse him faster so he could get a chance to escape farther away from the Blue Sea Empire before they began starting to search the different empires bordering their empire.

Even if doing something like this might seem like an overreaction and waste of resources from the side of the Blue Sea Empire, especially when considering that they still had to deal with the close to hundred illusory beasts in the Fae Mountain Range, the old man also understood that the Blue Sea Empire would not let go of someone who killed one of their top experts-

"Old man, what is your name?"

"Hm!? Ah, you can just call me Pei Yang or just Old Pei." Startled by Xuan Hao's voice, the old man called Pei Yang froze for a short moment before giving his name.

"Pei Yang… I see… From this day forward, you will be a guest elder of the Star Shattering Sect. During the next few years, I will ensure you have somewhere safe to recover. In return, I hope you will help teach the disciples and elders of my sect at least once every month.

Of course, considering your current state, I don't expect you to start teaching immediately and you will have half a year without needing to show up and teach anyone."

"This- Thank you!" Listening to what Xuan Hao said with a somewhat shocked expression on his face, Pei Yang didn't expect Xuan Hao to actually accept him and provide him somewhere safe to recover.

Although he had assessed Xuan Hao to not be someone bad after their short exchange earlier in the day and handed over the ancient book for him to read through, deep down, he had not really expected him to agree with his request.

After all, when everything was said and done, it was a massive risk to take someone like him in, as it would essentially be the same as going against the Blue Sea Empire... And to do something like that, one needed a certain level of strength and confidence.

"Let's get going, we should get out of here before anyone from the Blue Sea Empire shows up." Not waiting for Pei Yang to recover from the shock of his request being accepted and officially becoming a guest elder of a sect he had never heard about before; Xuan Hao directly used his dao domain to pick up the old man before flying in the direction of the Sky Empire.

Whoosh~

Unseen to the old man, Xuan Hao casually put away a communication talisman that he had retried earlier without Pei Yang noticing…