Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

"Hm… Given Yi Min not being willing to join the Star Shattering Sect for now, I think its about time to look for other direction to expand the Star Shattering Sect…"

Back in the Star Shattering Sect, Elder Song frowned to himself as he muttered this while staring down at a report about the recent expansion of one of the independent sects. More specifically, it was the independent sect that had taken over a kingdom close to the Iron Sky Kingdom and the report stated that this independent sect had just recently expanded its territory all the way up to the Iron Sky Kingdom and couldn't expand any more without going into the territory of the Iron Sky Kingdom or expanding outside the boundaries of the outer region of the Sky Empire that they were currently in.

If the Star Shattering Sect wanted to continue expanding, it had only three choices. The first being to expand in the direction of the Iron Sky Kingdom, something Elder Song had already begun trying to do by convincing Yi Min to join the Star Shattering Sect.

Second, the Star Shattering Sect could try to expand in the direction of the Frozen Wastelands. Although… Considering the fact that there were likely demonic cultivators comparable to the Celestial Immortal Realm, it was unlikely that this would happen in the near future. Especially considering that the cultivation environment of the Frozen Wasteland was unsuitable for most normal cultivators and would only really be useful for those comprehending a dao related to ice or demonic cultivators.

Finally, the third option that had already been considered by Elder Song was to expand in the direction of the rest of the Sky Empire's outer regions instead of trying to expand into the core region of the Sky Empire. The only problem with doing this was that most of these outer regions had already ended up falling under the control of the invading empires with only a few of them still managing to not be attacked due the resources present in those regions being far too spares for the invading empires to care or them bordering certain dangerous regions.

An example of a territory bordering a dangerous region would be the Star Shattering Sect, as it and the regions bordering it had been left alone by the invading empires due to most of the Domain Lord Realm Experts stationed in these regions not participating in the war and were instead focused on preventing demonic cultivators from invading the Sky Empire.

Of course, there was no way for them to know about the fact that Xuan Hao had already sealed off the path for demonic cultivators trying to enter the Sky Empire, while at the same time, the Domain Lord Realm Experts stationed along the Frozen Wasteland had no intention of this news spreading out. After all, if the invading empires learnt about the Frozen Wasteland no longer being a threat, they would undoubtedly come to kill them.

"The Sky Empire has a total of eight outer regions, one of the two bordering us also borders the Frozen Wasteland and has been left alone, while the other only partially borders the Frozen Wasteland and has mostly fallen under the control of the Onyx Empire after the invasion began…" Muttering this to himself as he went over the situation of the two outer regions of the Sky Empire that bordered the Star Shattering Sect, Elder Song made a choice as he quickly picked up a piece of paper and began writing up the order that would be send to the elders he had put in charge of expanding the sect's territory.

The next target for expansion had been decided, it would be the outer region that had a similarly large border with the Frozen Wasteland as the Star Shattering Sect had and had as a result been left alone by the different invading empires.

Although the region was far worse in terms of the resources present, Elder Song felt that it was still too early for the Star Shattering Sect to start making enemies with a powerful empire like the Onyx Empire. Not only that, but he also saw the benefit in expanding into the outer region that had become increasingly chaotic following the invasion of the Sky Empire.

Compared to expanding into a region controlled by the Onyx Empire, it would be far easier to control a chaotic region that didn't have any major power behind it and was just a gathering of countless smaller forces fighting for resources and a safe place.

According to what Elder Song had learnt from investigating the two regions bordering the Star Shattering Sect, the Domain Lord Realm Experts in charge of guarding the border with the Frozen Wasteland in the region did not participate in this battle for resources, as they were far more worried about potentially catching the attention of the invading empires by doing something like this.

Instead, they had decided to gather together in a city close to the Frozen Wasteland to feel safer in case someone from any of the invading empires ended up appearing…

Rustle~

Finishing the order that included detailed plans on how to begin expanding into the outer region in question in a few hours, Elder Song looked through it one last time before standing up and making his way out of the room in the direction of Feng Chen's courtyard.

Even though he had been given the power to send out orders like that by himself, he still preferred to get such a large and influential order approved by Feng Chen before sending it out. After all, it would affect the number of elders present in the sect to teach the younger disciples, suppress stronger demon beasts and powerful cultivators causing trouble inside the territory of the sect over the next few years.

"Elder Song? Is something the matte?"

Sensing Elder Song entering his courtyard through his divine sense, Feng Chen came out almost the same instance he stepped through the entrance to the courtyard. The main reason for him rushing out this being that Elder Song wouldn't come find him unless there was something important.

"Feng Chen, it's like this…"

Seeing Feng Chen, Elder Song didn't waste any time as he handed over the order he had just finished writing up before starting to explain it to Feng Chen. Also including his reason as to why he had decided on the different plans on how to expand written down in the order itself.

"This… You don't have to worry about it, I think the sect will be alright even if a few elders end up leaving. After all, during the past few years, a few of the older disciples already managed to promote to elders and took over some of the burden placed on the older elders."

"Burden?! Hmph! If they work more than two days in a row, that will be a miracle!"

"Elder Song… They also need time to cultivate-"

"I understand, I will proceed according to the plan I wrote down and use some of the older elders so the younger ones can get more opportunities to teach the younger ones. At least this way they will have a proper way to contribute to the sect and won't set a bad example for the new elders!"

"…"

Not knowing what to say as Elder Song interrupted him before he had time to finish talking, Feng Chen could not help smiling wryly as he watched Elder Song stomp off in the direction of the tea pavilion, a rather famous location for the older elders of the sect to hang out and chat with each other.

For obvious reasons, he could not help feeling a hint of pity towards the older elders currently gathered at the tea pavilion happily chatting with each other. …

At the same time, heading directly for the Iron Sky Kingdom after they had made their way through the Frozen Wasteland, it did not take long before Xuan Hao and Yi Min found themselves at the borders between the Iron Sky Kingdom and one of the independent sect's now under the Star Shattering Sect's protection.

From the looks of things, during the few months that both of them had been gone, the Star Shattering Sect had managed to close the distance between them and the iron Sky Kingdom. Officially taking control over a section of the Sky Empire's outer region where Yi Min had been the most powerful person around in the past.

"This is-"

"Where did that giant hole in the ground come from…?"

However, the thing that caught their attention was not this, but instead a giant hole in the ground half the size of the Iron Sky Kingdom that had appeared on the opposite side of the kingdom where its borders met the core region of the Sky Empire.

""…""

Looking at each other after their initial shock had subsided, both of them could not help wondering where such a large hole had appeared from during the few months they had been in the Blue Shore Kingdom…