"Thank you, Senior, for your grace in saving my life."
Li Sunhe bowed deeply, his voice filled with genuine respect for the masked man before him—Ye Chen.
In the world of cultivators, strength was everything. Regardless of age or appearance, those with power naturally commanded respect. Although Ye Chen looked young, Li Sunhe could sense his overwhelming strength and dared not be disrespectful.
Ye Chen waved his hand lightly. "No need to be so formal. I saved you, but I also have something I want to ask."
"Please ask, Senior," Li Sunhe said sincerely. "If I can answer, I will not withhold anything."
Without hesitation, Ye Chen got straight to the point. "I want to know about the major sects or great powers in this country. Tell me what you know."
Li Sunhe scratched his head awkwardly. "There are quite a few sects in this country, Senior, but many of them are hidden. Their headquarters are secret, and unless you're a member, you won't even know where they're based. That's why they're referred to as Hidden Sects. I'm afraid I only know a little."
Ye Chen frowned slightly. He had hoped for more, but considering Li Sunhe's cultivation level was still quite low, it was no surprise that his knowledge was limited.
Noticing Ye Chen's dissatisfaction, Li Sunhe quickly added, "However, I do know a few names of powerful sects that are well-known, even among the lower-level cultivators."
Ye Chen's interest was piqued. "Go on. List them all."
Li Sunhe nodded and began to explain, "Among the strongest sects I know of, there are four in particular: the Seven Swords Sect of Langin, the Cherry Blossom Sect, the Fire Valley Sect, and the Frozen Ice Sect. Of these, the Frozen Ice Sect is considered the strongest in the mortal realm."
"There are also two organizations affiliated with the government," he continued. "One is the Six-Door Organization, and the other is the Dragon Army."
Ye Chen asked, "Do you know how strong these sects and organizations are?"
"I'm not completely sure," Li Sunhe admitted. "But from what I've heard, the elders in these sects are likely at the Sky Realm or higher."
Ye Chen leaned forward slightly. "So, in terms of strength, how would you rank them?"
Li Sunhe thought for a moment. "The strongest should be the Dragon Army. Their main duty is to guard against cultivators with special powers who try to invade the country. Next is the Six-Door Organization, which monitors the actions of the sects to make sure they don't harm or involve ordinary people."
"After that, in terms of influence, it would be the Seven Swords Sect, the Cherry Blossom Sect, the Fire Valley Sect, and finally the Frozen Ice Sect. That's the general power hierarchy in the mortal world."
"Mortal world?" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Li Sunhe quickly explained, "Senior, cultivators who are not from the Holy Land of Khulun are referred to as mortal cultivators. Khulun is different—it's a land where the truly supreme cultivators reside."
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. "So you're saying there are even stronger forces beyond these sects?"
Li Sunhe nodded. "Yes, Senior. Khulun is a sacred land for cultivators, and its inhabitants possess tremendous power. If I may ask, are you not from Khulun?"
"I'm not," Ye Chen replied. "Do you know where this Holy Land of Khulun is located?"
"I've only heard rumors," Li Sunhe said cautiously. "It's said that the gate to the Holy Land lies atop Mount Khulun. However, reaching it is extremely dangerous. Even Sky Realm cultivators have failed to enter. The path is treacherous and heavily sealed."
Ye Chen's curiosity deepened. The mention of the Holy Land stirred something inside him—a desire to test his strength against the true elites of the world.
"Is that all you know?" Ye Chen asked.
"Yes, Senior. I wish I knew more, but that's the extent of what I've heard."
Even though the information was limited, it was still useful. It gave Ye Chen a basic understanding of the powers within this world and the hierarchy among cultivators.
"From what you said earlier, it sounds like you recently visited an ancient inheritance site. Is that correct?" Ye Chen asked.
Li Sunhe's expression grew somber. "Yes. I went there with two of my senior brothers and our teacher. We had no idea it was so dangerous… My two brothers lost their lives there." His voice trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Ye Chen remained silent for a moment before asking, "Can you tell me the location of this ancient inheritance site?"
Without hesitation, Li Sunhe pulled out a small scroll from inside his robe and handed it to Ye Chen. "This map shows the location. However, the core area is protected by a powerful barrier seal. No one can enter it."
He added, "That's why the Seven Swords Sect, the Cherry Blossom Sect, the Fire Valley Sect, and the Frozen Ice Sect have decided to join forces. They're planning to break the seal together. I heard it will happen in about two weeks."
Ye Chen's gaze narrowed as he studied the map. It was hand-drawn but detailed enough to locate the ancient site.
"There will likely be many sects gathering there," Li Sunhe said. "It could be a rare opportunity for Senior to observe their strength firsthand."
Ye Chen folded the map and stored it. "Thank you for answering my questions. I'll be taking my leave now."
Without another word, Ye Chen vanished.
Li Sunhe looked around, stunned by Ye Chen's sudden disappearance. "Such power… I was truly fortunate to meet a cultivator like him."
He, too, turned and left the area.
Ye Chen returned to his hotel room and collapsed onto his bed. His thoughts lingered on the conversation with Li Sunhe. So there really were powerful cultivators in this world, hidden away in sects and sacred lands…
"If Yu Ting hadn't chosen me that day, I would probably still be an ordinary person, never knowing the vastness of the world," he thought.
As his thoughts drifted, Ye Chen closed his eyes to rest. Unbeknownst to him, the metallic gate-shaped artifact within his body began to glow faintly, absorbing a trace of energy from him.
Ye Chen, unaware, slipped into a deep sleep as the gate silently pulsed with mysterious power.
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