"Ehm! It's good to see that everyone is here."
Understanding that it would not be a good idea for him to continue hiding now that the three religions had made their method of meddling in the sect alliance meeting obvious, the middle-aged man who had remained hidden so far stepped forward-
"Ah!? Who!?"
"Where did that guy come from!?"
"This- Perhaps it's the person from the imperial family… Don't tell me he has been here the entire time!?"
Appearing at the entrance to the meeting hall out of thin in the eyes of everyone who were still looking in the direction due to it being the same location that the young man representing the three religions had been standing just a few seconds earlier.
The only person not surprised by the sudden appearance of the middle-aged man, was Xuan Hao, who had long since know about his presence from the moment he had entered the meeting hall. The artifact he had been using to hide himself having been rendered useless in front of Xuan Hao's divine sense.
"The Grand General…"
Even Xu Bao who had been sitting beside Xuan Hao this entire time was surprised after seeing someone appeared at the entrance to the meeting hall. The only difference between his reaction and the rest of the people present, was that Xu Bao was not so much surprised about the other party suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Instead, he was more surprised due to the identity of the other party.
Grand General… Although Xuan Hao did not know who the other party was before, it did not take long for him to realize the identity of the middle-aged man from the imperial family after hearing what Xu Bao had unconsciously muttered upon seeing him.
The Grand General was a famous person in the entire Sky Empire and was one of the few Peak Domain Lord Realm Experts in the Sky Empire that were rumoured to only be a single step away from reaching the Soul Ascension Realm. In simple terms, he was far stronger than an ordinary Peak Domain Lord Realm Expert.
The main thing that Xuan Hao found interesting about him was not this, but the fact that the Grand General was also the person in charge of the Sky Empire's entire military operation and essentially had the power to mobilize every person inside the Sky Empire granted to him by the imperial family!
Of course… Whether or not the more powerful forces like the three religions would actually listen and obey such an order was another matter…!
But… Why did the imperial family sent someone like this to oversee the sect alliance meeting…?
Shaking his head as he thought this to himself while carefully inspecting the middle-aged man who stood proudly at the entrance of the meeting hall and inspected everyone present, Xuan Hao could not help wondering just what the imperial family wanted the sect alliance to do.
Although he had almost been certain that they wouldn't outright ask them to attack the three religions and try to reduce their influence inside the Sky Empire, he no longer felt certain that the person in front of him wouldn't ask them to do something like that. After all, the person in front of them was none other than the current person in charge of the entire military apparatus of the Sky Empire!
"Now that all of you have settled down, let's get started on the sect alliance meeting!"
As Xuan Hao was trying to figure out just what the imperial family was planning, the Grand General seemed satisfied with everyone's reaction, as he made his way to the centre of the meeting hall before saying this.
Signalling the start of the long-awaited sect alliance meeting.
…
"Looks like the Star Shattering Sect will soon start expanding into the territory of the Cloud Sky kingdom. Given what the elders of the sect have talked about, it seems like the royal family will be more than happy with this outcome…"
At the same time that the sect alliance meeting officially began, Ji Yichuan who had just recently managed to break through all the way to the Third Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm was going over the most recent information he had received about the Star Shattering Sect.
Even if he understood the origin of the Star Shattering Sect far better than most others due to him once having been part of a demonic sect that had been enemies with the Flying Sword Sect, he was still taken aback at just how fast the newly established sect that had come into being after two of the most famous sects in now gone Heavenly Sky Kingdom had grown.
Only a few years had passed, yet this newly established sect had turned into a terrifying power that contained more than one Domain Lord Realm Expert and was beginning to forcefully take over new territory to make sure its growth was smooth.
Even the Flowing Cloud Sect that was located quite a distance away from the Star Shattering where he was currently staying had ended up getting affected by this, as the sect master was considering what to do after the Star Shattering Sect took over the Cloud Sky Kingdom that the sect was located inside of.
Although the Star Shattering Sect had been rather gentle to most of the sects that existed inside the different kingdoms that the sect had taken control of, the more powerful sects who had Nascent Soul Realm Experts would all end up becoming subordinate sects of the Star Shattering Sect.
In the best case scenario, the sect could become a branch sect of the Star Shattering Sect and get countless resources that would help all of their disciples grow and at the same time enjoy the protection brought along with becoming a branch sect of such a powerful sect.
Even if this came with certain restrictions, these restrictions were not really worth mentioning when compared to the benefits received after becoming an official branch sect of the Star Shattering Sect.
Rustle~
"Hm?"
It was at this moment that the sound of rustling leaves echoed out behind him before an old man dressed in the Flowing Cloud Sect's inner elder uniform appeared behind him.
"Elder Far Sky? Is there anything I can help with?" Recognizing the elder who had appeared in front of him as one of the elders who had helped him enter the Flowing Cloud Sect when he had first come to the Cloud Sky Kingdom, Ji Yichuan could not help showing a happy smile upon seeing the old man.
Even if he had not done a lot for him compared to the princess of the Flowing Cloud Sect who had been the person that did the most when it came to helping him enter the Flowing Cloud Sect, Ji Yichuan still remembered how the old man had helped even when most of the elders were not too happy about him joining the sect due to his unknown background.
"Of course, Old Ji! But first of all, what are you doing up here by yourself? Didn't the sect master ask you to join him for the meeting today? I'm sure everyone will be happy to hear your input on the matter regarding what we should do after the Star Shattering Sect takes control of the Cloud Sky Kingdom!"
"This…"
Not knowing what to say after hearing the old man who had just barely reached the Peak of the Core Formation Realm start scolding him like a senior scolding a child who had run away before an important test, Ji Yichuan could only smile wryly as the old man in front of him was indeed right.
Today, the Flowing Cloud Sect had a meeting about the future of the sect after the Star Shattering Sect took over the Cloud Sky Kingdom… But just before this meeting was about to start, he had decided to sneak away without anyone noticing.
Well… He thought nobody noticed him noticing, but from the sudden appearance of Elder Far Sky, it looked like he had been noticed…
"Is it perhaps because you are afraid of us learning about your past? Although I don't know a lot about you, I can tell that you are a good person Old Ji. Even if something happened in the past, I'm sure you had your reasons…"
"…"
Listening to Elder Far Sky, Ji Yichuan could not help freezing on the spot. Indeed, like Elder Far Sky had just said, a bit of him was scared of them learning about his past as a former demonic cultivator.
Although he had never really thought about this matter after entering the Flowing Cloud Sect, a part of him still feared what would happen after they found out about. Especially after his relationship with the princess of the Flowing Cloud Sect had managed to-
"Ehm! It's not what you think Elder Far Sky, I just had to get some air before the start of the meeting!"
"If you say so… Just remember that you will have to come to terms with the past at some point in time, you can't escape it forever…"
"…"
As the conversation between both of them slowly came to an end, Ji Yichuan and Elder Far Sky made their way back towards the main palace of the Flowing Cloud Sect where the meeting about the future of the sect was going to take place.