"Elder, are there any more good or bad news? Just tell me everything at once."
After a sigh, Ji Yuan put on a look of helplessness.
He could tell that the other party still had something to say, and it wasn't just this one piece of news.
As expected, after a long period of silence, Elder Hong Tian continued, "Fengming County should now be completely occupied by the rebels."
Within the Great Yu Dynasty, rebel flags had been raised in all prefectures and counties. Led by the Rebirth Tower and other demons and monsters, they had invaded who knew how much territory.
The situation in Fengming County, within Chongyuan Prefecture, was dire, with almost the entire county occupied by rebels.
"Will they take a detour?"
Ji Yuan asked, feeling a headache coming on.
Going straight through rebel-occupied territory was definitely the worst option, as the dangers involved were too great.
Even a Golden Core great cultivator might not dare to claim a ten-tenths chance of passing through safely.
"The possibility is extremely low, I'm afraid."
Elder Hong Tian said with a solemn expression, "On the left and right sides of Fengming County, one is the border of another prefecture, which is completely under martial law and restricted from entry and exit. The other is the location of the Divine Profound Sect."
Although Zhao Yuansong and others were unaware of the enmity between the Nine Profound Sect and the Divine Profound Sect, or that the Profound Heaven lineage had killed powerful ancestors and many Golden Core realm great cultivators from their sect.
However, with the turmoil, the threat from the Rebirth Tower and the rebels, and problems seemingly arising within the Divine Profound Sect itself, the area they occupied was almost completely sealed off.
It was almost impossible for outside cultivators to enter. If they tried to force their way in or sneak in, the risks they would have to bear would not be much lower than entering rebel-occupied territory.
It might even be higher, as the rebels did not have multiple Golden Core realm great cultivators stationed along the entire border.
"In that case, we have no choice but to take the risk and go directly through the rebel-occupied territory."
Ji Yuan sighed, his expression both solemn and helpless.
Fortunately, the weakest among their group was at the middle stage of the Second Realm. As long as they were careful, it wouldn't be a matter of certain death.
Despite the danger, it wasn't to the point of being daunting.
"I heard you can now refine large quantities of Profound Heaven Dew Elixirs?"
Elder Hong Tian suddenly changed the subject and asked with a smile.
In fact, he was already very clear about this matter and didn't need to ask.
Ji Yuan nodded, not quite understanding the meaning behind his question.
"It is said that hundreds of years ago, before the Profound Heaven lineage established itself as an independent branch, all disciples of the Nine Profound Sect consumed Profound Heaven Dew Elixirs for their daily cultivation."
Elder Hong Tian said slowly.
As he spoke, several inner disciples nearby also looked over, their eyes filled with curiosity.
They had some understanding of the Profound Heaven Peak and the Profound Heaven lineage, especially in the past year or two, they had heard of the Profound Heaven Dew Elixir.
This elixir had become a popular commodity in the prefectural city, with countless cultivators waiting outside Mingxin Xuan for the monthly supply.
Even within the inner sect, they often heard that all disciples on Profound Heaven Peak were now using a very pure and mild medicinal elixir.
"I once heard the Peak Master mention that it was precisely because of the various elixirs from the Profound Heaven lineage that many powerful individuals were born in that era."
Some matters were not secrets within the Nine Profound Sect; one would naturally learn of them upon reaching a certain status.
The Nine Profound Sect had already gone through four generations.
The first generation ancestor had long since passed away due to old age, and only one second-generation ancestor remained, currently in seclusion in the sect's forbidden grounds.
As for the current sect leader and the peak masters of various peaks, they belonged to the third generation of disciples, while the current inner disciples and newly recruited disciples belonged to the fourth generation.
Elder Hong Tian, for example, was a third-generation disciple, but because he joined the sect relatively late, his lifespan was still relatively abundant.
During the second generation, it was also the period before the Profound Heaven lineage established itself as an independent branch.
The Nine Profound Sect's disciples primarily consumed Profound Heaven Dew Elixirs, which was a major reason for the rapid cultivation progress of many disciples at that time.
Even each generation had nine Golden Core great cultivators, which, apart from the reasons related to the sect's important grounds, was also largely due to the various elixirs left behind by the Profound Heaven lineage in those days.
"Since the Profound Heaven lineage has returned, we should always consider our own people more."
Elder Hong Tian paused, then said casually, "I believe the Sect Leader and others would not do anything that would put their own people at a disadvantage."
The meaning behind his words was clear to anyone who wasn't a child.
Ji Yuan could naturally tell that these words had been prompted by someone; otherwise, Elder Hong Tian would have no standing to suddenly bring it up from the perspective of the entire sect.
And the only ones who could prompt Elder Hong Tian in this way were likely the Peak Master or even the Sect Leader.
He understood immediately and promptly assured that after this matter was settled, he would prioritize supplying the Profound Heaven Dew Elixir to the sect upon his return.
"That is excellent. After all, the money stays within the family."
Elder Hong Tian stroked his beard and smiled. "Moreover, the prestige you have accumulated within the sect is far better than developing influence outside."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan was stunned for a moment, and then he slowly came to his senses.
The elder was clearly advising him that while developing influence outside was good, he should not forget the existence of the Nine Profound Sect.
In the final analysis, although Ji Yuan now felt a sense of belonging to the Nine Profound Sect, it was not yet very strong, and he naturally had some misjudgments in certain matters.
The reason he developed influence outside was partly to support his own cultivation and partly because he subconsciously felt that this was truly his own.
In his subconscious, he still felt that the Nine Profound Sect and himself were two different entities.
He had not realized that as long as he truly integrated into the Nine Profound Sect and accumulated a certain degree of prestige, his status within the sect would rise accordingly with the improvement of his cultivation realm.
Once he became a powerful elder, the influence he could control would be far greater than what he painstakingly developed outside.
"I am enlightened!"
Ji Yuan took a deep breath and said with a solemn expression.
At this moment, he remembered the matter he had overlooked.
Regardless of his personal thoughts, he was now bound to the Nine Profound Sect, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they shared prosperity and shared adversity.
Therefore, enhancing his prestige and contribution within the sect, and the benefits derived from building up the sect, were naturally incomparable to developing his own influence outside.