Sword flight, traversing the skies, is a special skill that only cultivators at the Core Formation stage can master.
Cultivators below the Core Formation stage must rely on specially crafted flying artifacts, and even then, only those at or above the Foundation Establishment stage have enough spiritual power to control such artifacts. Moreover, the duration of flight is much shorter compared to that of Core Formation cultivators.
Therefore, unless there is an urgent matter, cultivators below the Core Formation stage generally avoid the risks of flying.
The Core Formation stage, in the world of cultivation, is already considered a fairly advanced realm.
In the Xuantian Sect, which is one of the seven righteous sects in Zhao Kingdom, the sect master himself is only at the late stage of Core Formation.
Of course, after reaching the Core Formation stage, a cultivator's lifespan can extend to one or two thousand years, entering the Nascent Soul stage. Xuantian Sect has such powerful Nascent Soul cultivators as well.
However, they are the deeply hidden foundation of the Xuantian Sect. As for how many Nascent Soul elders the seven righteous sects of Zhao Kingdom have, it remains a closely guarded secret within each sect.
Lin Li, being a newly admitted outer disciple, is completely unaware of such matters!
Tongtian Peak, due to its towering height and the strongest spiritual veins in the Xuantian Sect, is occupied by the Sect Master's lineage and is referred to as the main peak.
In addition to the main peak, the Xuantian Sect has five other peaks, each representing one of the five branches of the sect.
Elder Zou of the Law Enforcement Hall is an elder of the "Sword" branch from the Lietian Peak.
Tongtian Peak, the main peak, is home to the "Qi" branch elders of Xuantian Sect.
Besides the Sword and Qi branches, Xuantian Sect also has the Pill, Tool, and Talisman branches, which are based on the remaining three peaks.
Fairy Qinglian is an elder of the main Qi branch, specializing in the art of transforming spiritual energy. With just one Qinglian Treasure Pearl, she can perform countless magical techniques.
However, despite the intricate and agile transformations of the Qi branch, they fall short in direct combat compared to the Sword branch, where Elder Zou belongs, known for its sharp, powerful combat strength.
The Pill, Tool, and Talisman branches have even less combat capability than the Qi branch.
However, because the Qi branch primarily cultivates spiritual energy, it is easier for disciples to enter and progress quickly, making it the largest branch in Xuantian Sect.
The Sword branch, on the other hand, with fewer variations and a more challenging entry and progression, lags behind the Qi branch in terms of numbers, though its combat power is unparalleled. It is the second strongest branch in the sect.
Of course, the path of cultivation is vast and profound.
Although the Xuantian Sect has only the Sword, Qi, Pill, Tool, and Talisman branches, other righteous sects, like Haoran Sect, excel in formation techniques.
Moreover, techniques such as puppetry, curses, and beast mastery also exist.
However, generally speaking, prominent righteous sects disdain the study of such side paths like puppetry, curses, or beast mastery.
In Zhao Kingdom, sects practicing these unorthodox methods are labeled as part of the six great demonic sects, standing in contrast to the seven great righteous sects, including Xuantian Sect.
On their way to Tongtian Peak, Elder Zou explained the general situation of the cultivation world in Zhao Kingdom to the newly admitted outer disciples, including Lin Li, who had just entered the sect, while the more experienced outer disciples were at the ninth and seventh layers of Qi Refining.
When they arrived in front of the grand hall on Tongtian Peak, they found a vast and impressive square, sparsely populated by disciples.
Cultivators are naturally few, and most spend their time in seclusion or undergoing worldly training. Though Tongtian Peak is the main peak, the number of people is still minimal.
After finishing his explanation of Zhao Kingdom and Xuantian Sect, Elder Zou landed in the middle of the square. He said meaningfully, "Although the Qi branch is easy to enter and progress quickly, it is somewhat superficial. When facing powerful enemies, it is often lacking."
"You are still outer disciples at the moment, so the divisions between the five branches of Xuantian Sect do not yet affect you much. However, once you reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining and prepare to break through to Foundation Establishment, these divisions will become particularly important."
"You're talking nonsense!"
At this moment, Fairy Qinglian, who had followed closely behind, angrily rebuked, "What do you mean by calling our Qi branch superficial and weak against strong enemies? Do you want me to report this to the Sect Master and have him use his Golden Light Pearl to teach you a lesson?"
The thought of the Sect Master, who had already reached the Great Perfection of Core Formation, made Elder Zou, who was at the late stage of Core Formation, nervous. He quickly laughed awkwardly, "Ah, haha, Junior Sister, don't take it seriously! It was just a slip of the tongue!"
As he spoke, Elder Zou winked, as if saying, "Look at all these disciples watching! Give me some face, will you?"
"Hmph!"
Fairy Qinglian let out a soft snort and walked toward the grand hall at the far end of the square, which looked like a celestial temple.
"Sigh, Junior Sister Qinglian is always like this, still so fiery despite her age…"
Before Elder Zou could finish his sentence, Fairy Qinglian turned her head and slapped him on the forehead, gritting her teeth, "Who are you calling old?! I'm still as youthful as a blossoming flower!"
"Er... yes, yes! You're as youthful as ever! Just another slip of the tongue!"
Elder Zou smiled awkwardly, and the disciples around him couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Pfft!"
"Laugh, laugh! What are you laughing at?"
Elder Zou glared and said, "Listen up, what I'm about to say next is very important!"
"Our Xuantian Sect's five branches each have a fixed number of Foundation Establishment Pill quotas."
Elder Zou smirked and continued, "Do you know about the Foundation Establishment Pill? Without it, even the most gifted cultivators would find it nearly impossible to successfully reach Foundation Establishment! And even if you take the Foundation Establishment Pill, it only slightly increases your chances of success. Every year, there are many outer disciples at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining who obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill after great effort, but still fail to establish a foundation and thus cannot become inner disciples."
"This shows how crucial the Foundation Establishment Pill is!"
"When you reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, you'll have to choose one of the five branches—Sword, Qi, Pill, Tool, or Talisman. Each branch has a limited number of Foundation Establishment Pill quotas. The elders of each branch will select two disciples from those who have reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, for a total of ten disciples, to represent Xuantian Sect in the annual Seven Great Sect Tournament!"
Fairy Qinglian also became serious at this point and added, "The annual Seven Great Sect Tournament is of great importance!"
"Although we are all part of the righteous path, the cultivation resources in Zhao Kingdom are limited. And our elders in the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages certainly won't start a large-scale battle over resources, allowing the six great demonic sects to take advantage of the situation."