With a Direct disciple taking the lead, others began talking with eachother. It was relatively awkward at first but everyone soonfell into conversations. Laughter permeates the surroundings as Core disciples, Inner disciples and Outer disciples could all be seen joking around with eachother.
——
Elsewhere, in a large hall sat 9 cultivators with imposing auras clearly indicating their Nascent Soul cultivation. A bulky man with deep red hair and a long beard looked over at Faldon sitting next to him.
"Haha Faldon, how have you been recently? Those old injuries still giving you problems?"
Faldon smiled at him.
"Haha no need to worry Jackson, i'm still strong enough to give anyone here a run for their money."
Both men continued lahghing and jesting back and forth. Jackson was an Elder in charge of training new sect disciples. The Elders of the sect were all given 2 main duties, the first was to train and give guidance to any disciples studying under them. The second depended on the sect's need which could vary from being in charge of the sect's resource distribution to managing the sect's mission hall where disciples go to accept missions.
Jackson and Faldon had joined the sect at the same time over 240 years ago. Throughout the years, they'd forged a strong brotherly bond. They had saved eachother's lives numerous times while out on missions and whenever they met during these Elders' meetings, they would always joke around.
A beautiful middle aged, blonde haired, female cultivator sitting next to Faldon then interupted them.
"Faldon, i've been through alchemy records we recently purchased from the Immortal Sword sect and think i've found a pill recipe that could help heal your injuries. Though it's an Expert level pill and with my Intermediate alchemy skills, it'll take some time before I have the confidence to concoct it for you."
Faldon looked over to her with a complex expression.
"Thank you Gisel, I know how hard you've been working for me but don't worry too much. My Nascent Soul is slowly healing my physical injuries, while it may take a couple more years, i'll eventually be alright."
Gisel was the Peak master of Alchemy peak. She was the cultivator with the hgiher alchemy skills within the entire sect. Since the Drifting Clouds sect was only among the top 20 of the minor sects and not particularly focused on Alchemy, the resources she had for practice were severly limited. As such, she had been stuck at the top of the Intermediate level, unable to take that final step into Expert.
All the secondary professions like Alchemy, Formations, Talismans and Blacksmithing divided expertise into levels that corresponded to similar cultivation levels as follows:
1. Beginner - Able to create items useful for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
2. Intermeditate - Able to create items useful for Core Formation cultivators.
3. Expert - Able to create items useful for Nascent Soul cultivators.
4. Master - Able to create items useful for Soul Formation cultivators.
The reason there was no level for Mana Gathering cultivators was because cultivators needed to be at least in the Foundation Establishment realm to be able to utilize the mana within their bodies. That is also why cultivators only start studying a secondary profession once they establish a foundation.
The sect leader then stood up, prepared to address everyone. He appeared to be an old man in his 80s with a long white beard. Contrary to his outward appearance, the aura he radiated dwarfed all the Elders' present. The Sect leader stood at the Nascent Soul level 10, just a single step away from the Soul Formation realm. The Peak masters had a cultivation between level 6 and 9 of the Nascent Soul realm while the other Elders were between level 1 and 5.
In order to become an Elder in the sect, one needs to reach the Early stage Nascent Soul realm. Once a cultivator progresses to the Middle stage they are eligible to become Peak masters should there be an opening. At the Late stage, Elders would be given the title of Supreme Elder. To become the Sect Leader, all of the Elders within the sect would vote to promote one of the Supreme Elders to the position.
The current Sect leader, Falenthur, has been in charge of the Drifting Clouds sect for over 950 years. Nascent Soul cultivators only live for up to 1000 years which means if the Sect leader doesn't step into the Soul Formation realm within the next 50 years then a new Sect leader will need to be voted in.
"Hello everyone and thank you for coming today. While the 3 Supreme Elders could not make it due to their responsibilities keeping them occupied, it is encouraging to see all the other Elders have been able to take the time out of their busy schedules. As you all know, our sect's cultivation technique does not contain a Soul Formation realm chapter. Without a method to combine the Spiritual soul with the cultivator's cultivated Nascent Soul, it's nearly impossible for any of us to step into the next major cultivation realm.
I bring this up as we've been approachedwith an offer by a representative of the Immortal Sword sect, the overloard of the eastern region. This representative has said that one of their Mahayama realm Supreme Elders wishes to find a quiet new environment for secluded cultivation.
This Supreme Elder has decided to use the upcoming younger generation cross-sect tournament to decide which sect to settle down in. The Supreme Elder will take the winner of the tournament as their disciple and has promised to expand the winning sect's cultivation technique up to the Tribulation Transcendance realm."
The Elders in the hall were all extremely shocked. It made no sense to them why such a powerful expert would decide to settle down in one of their minor sects nor what the Supreme Elder would gain from giving so much support.
"It's also been announced that only the original 6 minor sects that were going to larticipate in the tournament will be under consideration."
Upon hearing this, the Elders breathed a sigh of relief as if any Middle rank or higher sects with Soul Formation cultivators were to participate then they would have no chance. Even though the competition is among the younger generation, the resources that more powerful sects could allocate to each of their cultivators was not something a Minor sect like theirs could compare to.
Faldon then leaned forward, "Sect leader, do we know why that Supreme Elder from an Immortal sect has suddenly decided to settle down outside their holy land? Also why have they chosen to join a Minor sect rather than one of the numerous stronger sects where they would recieve much better treatment?"
These questions were on everone's mind and so they waited with bated breaths for the Sect leader to answer.
"Well, from what i've been told, that Supreme Elder used a Divination technique and found an extreme amount of Heaven's presence was concentrated within this region a little while ago. Due to some kind of interference, they were unable to narrow down the exact location but have deduced it had come from one of our 6 sects."