Upon deciding to investigate, Jason Chu spread his divine sense across Shushan Sword Sect. With his current Heavenly Gate strength, he easily enveloped the entire sect in his spiritual awareness.
"Hmm?" he murmured, discovering several hidden realms within Shushan. "The Demon-Suppressing Tower, the Abyssal Gate, Five Founders' Cliff… Quite a few powerful cultivators at the Heavenly Gate level, and even some Invincible Grand Elders." The hidden depths of Shushan exceeded his expectations, revealing formidable resources—and equally formidable pressures.
In his sweeping scan, Jason sensed a terrifying presence of demonic energy beneath Shushan—an abyss that nearly formed a direct passage to another realm. There, Shushan's Heavenly Gate cultivators remained stationed, tirelessly guarding this perilous portal. Their energy appeared strained, unable even to sense his probe.
"If it weren't for this Abyssal Gate, the last attack by the six sects would have been swiftly handled," Jason mused. Turning his divine sense toward another hidden area, he detected Sarah Qin's presence.
"This girl seems to be cultivating…with the guidance of a Heavenly Gate Grand Elder. It's not a good time to reach out." His spiritual sense had located Sarah in the secluded Five Founders' Cliff, where she was in deep cultivation, nearing a breakthrough in her Golden Core stage. Jason, as her old friend, decided against interrupting her progress, even if it meant delaying a solution to Charlie's identity within Shushan.
Just then, Charlie Zhao's curious voice broke his concentration. "Master? Are we stopping here for a reason?" She looked around at the mist-covered landscape, the spiritual energy-rich atmosphere filling her with awe. As a wandering cultivator, she had never been within a top sect before, and everything felt wonderfully
Jason pondered for a moment before replying, "It seems you'll need an official identity to enter Shushan. I'll leave you outside the gate—Shushan is currently accepting disciples, so you can enter through the usual process. Afterward, you can find me at the Swordmaking House."
Charlie blinked, absorbing his words and nodding seriously. She interpreted this as a test, a trial to prove her worth to her master. Determined, she clenched her fists. "I won't let you down, Master! I'll do my best in Shushan's entry trials!"
Jason smiled at his earnest disciple and, satisfied, returned to the Swordmaking House to prepare it for her arrival. After leaving Charlie outside the gate, he made his way back to the secluded, long-neglected halls of the Swordmaking House.
Meanwhile, in Shushan's council hall, a heated discussion was underway among the elders.
"Are we sure about this? It sounds like mere gossip," August Xia protested, addressing Julian Zhao. "The Swordmaking House lineage flourished ages ago with numerous forgemasters, even Semi-Divine Forgemasters, but it's been in decline for years. A Divine Forgemaster just showing up—it seems improbable."
Elder Zhao had shared the startling news from the Star Forging City's recent Sword Forging Tournament. At first, even he was baffled—talk of a Divine Forgemaster and Heavenly Gate expert from Shushan was enough to stun anyone.
Still, despite his own doubts, Julian Zhao passed on the report with a reluctant smile, watching as the news left his fellow elders equally astounded.
"Yet I received confirmation from Master Vivian Ning herself," Julian continued with a strained expression. "She sent word that the Divine Forgemaster claimed Shushan as his home."
Another younger elder, new to his role in the past decades, spoke up hesitantly. "Could this be a ploy? Wisdom ends rumors, as they say—perhaps this is a ruse by the other sects to disrupt Shushan."
The council murmured in agreement. With the growing unrest and the impending Abyssal disturbances, caution seemed prudent.
Elder Xia, tasked with the upcoming recruitment ceremony, took in the room's collective nodding. "I'll oversee the ceremony," he agreed. "With the six sects reigniting the Seven Sects Alliance, it's time we once again seek promising disciples for Shushan."
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