Dawn settled over the Mortal Sect.
The bell had not yet rung—
—but the protective barrier trembled.
Not an attack.
A notification-class fluctuation.
Su Wan
In the rear hall, Su Wan was busy researching something highly questionable:
"Can spiritual energy resonate with WiFi signals?"
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
A new interface unfolded.
[Unknown Source · Three-Realm Broadcast]
She raised a brow.
"Oh?"
"They finally decided to type instead of smiting?"
Xiao Xuanyin
At the same moment—
Xiao Xuanyin stood silently at the steps of the main hall.
He hadn't moved.
Hadn't released any aura.
Yet every cultivator within the sect looked up at once.
Because that pressure—
—was aimed directly at him.
The Golden Decree
Golden characters slowly unfurled across the sky.
No thunder.
No divine voice.
No overwhelming spiritual transmission.
Just a chillingly official statement:
[Immortal Realm Registration: Mortal Sect][Sect Master: Xiao Xuanyin]
Registration
The plaza exploded.
"Registration?!"
"What does that even mean?!"
"Is that recognition or surveillance?!"
"Are we on some celestial watchlist now?!"
Shen Yan Explains
Shen Yan exhaled slowly.
"It means…"
"…they've finally realized we're not a joke."
Su Wan Zooms In
Su Wan had already screenshotted the decree.
Highlighted.
Annotated.
She turned the screen around.
[Remark: Permitted to Exist · Expansion Prohibited]
She clicked her tongue.
"Tch."
"Same old trick."
The Emperor's Response
Xiao Xuanyin remained calm.
"They believe they've restricted the sect."
He looked down at the gathered crowd:
Cultivators.Civilians.Officials.Standing in perfect order.
"But the Mortal Sect…"
"…has never existed only within its barrier."
A Disciple Asks
A newly inducted junior hesitantly raised a hand.
"Sect Master…"
"…does this mean we can't recruit anymore?"
Silence fell.
Su Wan Answers First
"Of course we can."
Everyone froze.
She casually waved her phone.
"They prohibited sect expansion."
She smirked.
"They didn't prohibit mortals becoming stronger."
The Prepared Countermove
Tap.
A document opened.
Bold title:
"Fundamental Mortal Cultivation — Public Course v1"
Shen Yan Blinks
"…When did you prepare that?"
Su Wan shrugged.
"They were always going to do this."
Xiao Xuanyin Smiles
And then—
Xiao Xuanyin smiled.
Rare.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"Issue my command."
His voice was steady, yet it carried through the entire sect.
New Policy
"From this day forward—"
"The Mortal Sect will no longer recruit disciples."
A pause.
"We will popularize cultivation."
Shock.
Then stunned silence.
"All civilians."
"All soldiers."
"All officials."
"All craftsmen."
"Any who wish to cultivate…"
"…may learn."
Rule Bypassed
Just like that—
The Immortal Realm's "Expansion Prohibited"
Was elegantly circumvented.
Because This Was Never About Numbers
It was about access.
That Same Day
The first Public Cultivation Course opened—
Outside the sect.
In the outer city.
Unexpected Instructors
No elders.
No grandmasters.
But—
A former blacksmith.A battlefield medic.An accountant.
They taught:
"How to stabilize strength.""How to sharpen focus.""How to prevent spiritual exhaustion.""How to make the body endure."
No flying swords.
No heavenly lightning.
Just power that improved real lives.
Immortal Realm Reaction
Far above—
A white-robed immortal scoffed.
"They're playing with semantics."
Another frowned.
"No…"
"…they're rewriting the foundation."
Meanwhile — In the Shadows
On a distant celestial platform—
The disgraced infiltrator knelt.
Head lowered.
Voice respectful.
"The Mortal Sect cannot be broken from within."
"They fear neither doubt nor betrayal."
He slowly raised his eyes.
"If we wish to move against them…"
"…we must strike at their rules themselves."
His gaze turned cold.
Calculating.
Night — Mortal Sect
Su Wan sat lazily, cracking sunflower seeds.
Scrolling data.
"Sect Master."
"Today's public course registrations…"
She grinned.
"…surpassed one hundred thousand."
Xiao Xuanyin Sets Down the Furnace
"And the Immortal Realm?"
Su Wan Narrows Her Eyes
"…Too quiet."
The Emperor Nods
"Then they're preparing something big."
He rose slowly.
Tone relaxed.
But his eyes—
Burned like drawn steel.
"Good."
"I'd very much like to see…"
"…how they intend to handle a Mortal Realm that has learned to grow strong on its own."
The night deepened.
The winds shifted.
And somewhere beyond the sky—
The Immortal Realm began moving pieces no one had yet seen.