Chapter 00225: Blue Star
# Blue Star
Chapter 225
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 225: Blue Star
In what was once the grand hall of the Violet Mist Valley sect, thirty-nine people now sat.
Ding Huan occupied the seat of the sect master, with Liu Yinzhu and Sang Yuhe seated on either side of him.
Below them sat disciples such as Qin Qingshan, Yan Mei, Guan Wei, Mo Huaping, Shen Jiankai, and Chen Ding.
Even Old Six had managed to secure a seat, sitting close to Ding Huan’s side.
The matter of Ding Huan succeeding as the sect master was tacitly accepted by Qin Qingshan and the others.
After all, the previous sect master had long regarded Ding Huan as the young master of the sect.
Ding Huan’s gaze swept over the assembly as he spoke slowly, “All of you were once disciples, elders, or stewards of the Violet Mist Valley. Under the leadership of a group of incompetent fools, the Violet Mist Valley crumbled. If it weren’t for Elder Liu and I arriving in time, less than one-tenth of those sitting here today would have survived.”
Ding Huan’s words were harsh, but no one found them offensive.
The elders, including the former sect master, had indeed been incompetent.
They had allowed their sect to be invaded, resulting in the complete annihilation of the disciples and elders.
The sect that had attacked them was the Nine Tones Sect, a group the Violet Mist Valley had once looked down upon.
Such incompetence was nothing short of disgraceful.
“Therefore, the Violet Mist Valley perished two years ago. Today, I sit here and invite you all to join me because we are going to establish a new sect in this place…”
Ding Huan’s words left Qin Qingshan and the other disciples dumbfounded.
Establishing a new sect on the grounds of the Violet Mist Valley? They were disciples of the Violet Mist Valley, after all.
Seeing that Liu Yinzhu showed no surprise, Qin Qingshan realized that Elder Liu had known about this plan for some time.
He sighed.
After so many years in the Violet Mist Valley, suddenly switching to a new sect felt strange.
Although Ding Huan was strong, was he really capable of founding a new sect?
The disciples began to murmur and discuss among themselves.
Some of them were even outer disciples or servants, who didn’t particularly care what happened to the sect.
“Everyone, quiet down,” Ding Huan said, waiting for the chatter to subside before continuing, “If any of you are unwilling to join the new sect, I won’t force you. However, the following discussion is only for those who are willing to become members of the new sect. If you don’t wish to join, you may leave now. Since we are currently in a state of seclusion, you won’t be able to leave the sect immediately, but I assure you that in one year, you will be able to leave safely.”
After speaking, Ding Huan waited for the group to make their decision.
Those who didn’t want to join his new sect would naturally leave.
Seeing two disciples hesitating, Ding Huan added, “If you want to leave, don’t worry. Once the sect’s protective formation is activated, you’ll be free to go. With Elder Liu here, you don’t need to worry about me deceiving you.”
“Thank you, Senior. Since the Violet Mist Valley is no more, I, He Xinxin, have no desire to join another sect. Once the sect’s formation is lifted, I will leave this place,” said a young woman with a cultivation level of Qi Refinement seventh layer.
Following He Xinxin, two male disciples also stepped forward.
One was named Si Baiye, at Qi Refinement seventh layer, and the other was Chong Qusheng, at Qi Refinement sixth layer.
Ding Huan nodded, “Very well. For now, you may reside on the outer disciple peak. Remember, until the sect’s formation is lifted, do not wander beyond the outer disciple peak, or you may become trapped in the formation.”
“Understood,” the three disciples bowed and quickly exited the grand hall.
Although the three had given lofty reasons for leaving, everyone in the hall understood the truth.
Ding Huan’s cultivation was too weak, and occupying the Violet Mist Valley was akin to courting death.
Once the sect’s formation was lifted, Ding Huan would be doomed.
Therefore, it was better for them to make their decision early and flee as soon as the formation was deactivated.
After the three left, Ding Huan continued, “I know there may still be some of you who wish to leave but are worried I might silence you. Let me assure you, you are free to leave without fear. I will not harm you.”
No one moved.
While some did want to leave, they didn’t trust Ding Huan’s assurances and didn’t dare to act.
Qin Qingshan stood up, “Sect Master, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be alive today. My life belongs to you. Whether it’s establishing a new sect or even attacking the Nine Tones Sect again, I’m with you.”
With Qin Qingshan taking the lead, the other disciples, including the servants, stepped forward one by one, declaring their willingness to join the new sect.
“Good. In that case, I’ll discuss two matters. First, the name of the sect. Second, the sect’s cultivation technique.”
“Sect Master, we’ve all been cultivating the Azure Rainbow Art. Won’t we continue with that?” Qin Qingshan asked, puzzled.
He had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and it was too late for him to switch techniques.
Moreover, there were two Golden Core elders present.
How could they change their cultivation techniques? Besides, the Azure Rainbow Art had been perfected over hundreds of years by countless predecessors.
Was it really going to be abandoned just like that?
Ding Huan replied calmly, “The cultivation technique must be changed. Otherwise, there’s no point in establishing this sect. I don’t expect everyone to be able to defeat opponents above their level, but at the very least, you should be invincible against those of the same cultivation level…”
Everyone, including Qin Qingshan, was stunned.
Invincible against those of the same level? Not even the Violet Mist Valley, or the entire cultivation world, or even the most powerful sects in the Ascension Realm, could claim that all their disciples were invincible at the same level.
Only Sang Yuhe and Liu Yinzhu showed no doubt.
After all, Ding Huan was not only invincible at his level, but he had also killed Elder He, who was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, just a few days ago.
Why hadn’t the former sect master dared to move against Elder He? Part of it was due to Elder He’s status, but more importantly, the former sect master simply didn’t have the strength to challenge him.
“The sect I’m establishing will be called the Blue Star Sect, and the cultivation technique will be called the Minor Universe Art…”
No one knew what “Blue Star” meant, but the name “Minor Universe Art” sounded rather grandiose.
Thankfully, it was only called the “Minor” Universe Art.
If it had been called the “Major Universe Art,” it would have been even more exaggerated.
“Sect Master, do I have to change my technique as well?” Yan Mei asked reluctantly.
He had been cultivating the Great Desolate Jade Art and felt it suited him well.
Moreover, he was already at the peak of Qi Refinement ninth layer.
He had already switched techniques once before.
Was he really going to change again?
Ding Huan replied firmly, “Your technique is inadequate. You must change it, or you’ll be the weakest in the sect.”
Ding Huan didn’t say it out loud, but the strongest practitioner of the Great Desolate Jade Art had already joined his sect.
How could Yan Mei still treat it as a treasure? If anyone else had said this, Yan Mei would have scoffed.
But coming from Ding Huan, he believed it.
In the entire Three Heavens Star Continent, aside from his parents, Yan Mei trusted Ding Huan the most.
If Ding Huan said something, it was as good as done.
Just a few days ago, he had heard that Ding Huan had killed Elder He.
That act alone had inspired him greatly.
Without killing Elder He, establishing a new sect would have been a joke.
“Brother Huan, what about me?” Old Six asked timidly from the side.
He had been stuck at Qi Refinement and had never reached Foundation Establishment.
“Don’t worry. Once things are settled here, you’ll also cultivate the Minor Universe Art. However, your method will be slightly different. We’ll discuss that later,” Ding Huan reassured Old Six, who had been feeling down lately.
Far from the confident demeanor he had displayed in Westwind City, Old Six now felt like life and death were no different to him.
Ding Huan took out a set of jade slips, “These contain the Minor Universe Art up to the Star Nurturing stage. Each of you will receive one, and then I’ll teach you how to cultivate it.”
“Sect Master, what is Star Nurturing?” Qin Qingshan asked, confused.
Ding Huan explained, “The Blue Star Sect is forging its own path, and our cultivation system is unique. The Minor Universe Art begins with condensing stardust. Once stardust is perfected, instead of advancing to Foundation Establishment, you’ll condense a nebula. After the nebula is perfected, you won’t reach the Golden Core stage but the Star Nurturing stage, where the nebula transforms into a star mountain, preparing for the birth of a star. Therefore, the strongest stage of the Minor Universe Art is the Star Realm…”
Everyone fell silent.
They could accept joining a new sect, but the ingrained cultivation system was deeply rooted in their minds.
This kind of change was hard to accept all at once.
Ding Huan didn’t say that those who couldn’t accept it could leave.
Instead, he waited for everyone to process the information before speaking again, “Everyone, what is your purpose in cultivating? Is it longevity? Strength? Freedom? Or to explore the mysteries of the vast universe? Whatever your goal, one thing is certain: you’re not cultivating for others, nor are you doing it for others to see. If you can’t grasp this, then you’re not suited to stay in the Blue Star Sect. I cultivate the Universe Art. When I was still at the Nebula stage, I easily killed a Golden Core cultivator. Elder Sang Yuhe can attest to this.”
Sang Yuhe was startled.
Only now did she realize that when Ding Huan killed Qi Yushan, he hadn’t even reached the Golden Core stage.
According to Ding Huan, the Nebula stage was equivalent to Foundation Establishment.
In other words, Ding Huan had killed a Golden Core expert while still at the Foundation Establishment stage.
“Sect Master, I’m willing to change my technique, but I’ve already reached Foundation Establishment. How do I switch to the Minor Universe Art?” Qin Qingshan asked.
As a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he wasn’t completely ignorant.
From the bits and pieces Elder Liu had revealed, he had a vague idea that Ding Huan’s first step in establishing a new sect in the Violet Mist Valley was to eliminate Elder He, a Nascent Soul expert.
Since Ding Huan was now able to establish the sect, it meant he had succeeded in killing Elder He.
Ding Huan smiled, “Don’t worry. The first step of the Minor Universe Art is to disperse your current cultivation. For new disciples, this step won’t be necessary.”
“Sect Master, we’re just servant disciples,” one of the servants said nervously as he stood up.
Ding Huan looked at the servant, “From the moment you chose to stay, you became an inner disciple of the sect. There are no servant disciples here—at least not for now.”
“Thank you, Sect Master,” the twelve servant disciples bowed excitedly.
During the recent battle, the survival rate among the servant disciples had been the highest.
Ding Huan waved his hand, and over thirty jade slips flew into the hands of each person present, “Begin dispersing your cultivation now. Once your cultivation is dispersed, start cultivating the Minor Universe Art immediately. This way, you’ll be able to restore your cultivation to its current level in the shortest time possible.”
(End of Chapter)