756 Plight of the Independent Sects

Hearing Xuan Hao's question, Elder Scarlet Flame and the rest of the Domain Lord Realm Experts all looked at each other for a short moment before coming to an agreement about something-

"If you don't mind, I will explain the situation..."

Not even a second later, Elder Scarlet Flame said this with a somewhat nervous expression on his face.

"That is fine with me."

Understanding that the group of Domain Lords should have talked to Elder Scarlet Flame through their divine sense and given him help as to what he should say, Xuan Hao decided to pretend he didn't notice anything.

At this point in time, he was just curious as to what had caused this group of Domain Lords and the Peak Nascent Soul Realm Experts outside to gather together inside a small inn located in a remote part of the capital city and how it was related to the upcoming sect alliance meeting

"As you already know, the sect alliance meeting is coming up in a few days and the representatives from the different sects inside the Sky Empire are all showing up to join the meeting arranged by the imperial family to decrease the influence of the three big religions that have increasingly increased their power inside the capital over the past few years and they-"

"Yes, I already know about all of this... But how does this relate to you needing my help?"

Feeling like Elder Scarlet Flame was about to start reciting everything about why the sect alliance was being established in detail over the next few hours, Xuan Hao decided to interrupt him before he had a chance to start.

"Ehm... During the meeting, five people who will be in charge of the sect alliance will be decided depending on the sects they can get to support them. All of us here gathered together because of this, to chose someone among us to represent all of our sects in the sect alliance!

The thing I wanted to ask you for help with, was joining us during the upcoming meeting to increase our chances..."

Understanding what Xuan Hao wanted, Elder Scarlet Flame directly told him what he wanted before nervously lowering his head and waiting for Xuan Hao to respond.

"Interesting..." Muttering this to himself after hearing what Elder Scarlet Flame said, Xuan Hao looked around at the surrounding Domain Lords who were all looking towards him with anticipation.

Given how much weaker the sects inside the Sky Empire were compared to the kingdoms, it was almost certain that they would be able to get one of the leader positions with someone in the Sixth Stage of the Domain Lord Realm leading them. In a sense, there was no need for them to convince him to help them out during the meeting, as they should already be guaranteed to get a leader position without his help.

"With your current strength, are you not already certain of getting one of the leader positions? Why is there a need for me to join you?" Feeling that things were a bit odd with how everyone looked towards him, Xuan Hao decided to ask the question that was on his mind.

"This..."

In return, Elder Scarlet Flame who had lowered his head just a second ago almost jumped up like a frightened rabbit before nervously looking towards the Sixth Stage Domain Lord Realm Expert who let out a sigh the moment, he heard Xuan Hao's question.

"Allow me to explain... As you already know, the most powerful forces inside the Sky Empire are the different kingdoms under the Sky Empire. Unfortunately, because of this, most of the sects that are joining the upcoming meeting are not independent sects but instead subordinate powers of these kingdoms.

Because of this, even if we gathered most of the independent sects together here, our chances of getting a leading position in the sect alliance when put against those subservient sects are close to non. Especially considering the fact that most of the powerful kingdoms who control these sects are unwilling to give us independent sects any influence..."

"I see, but why did you ask me to join your group? Aren't you afraid that I'm also from a sect under a kingdom?" Hearing what the old man in the Sixth Stage of the Domain Lord Realm said, Xuan Hao could not help feeling a bit confused as he said this.

"Well... To be honest, it's because of your strength!"

"My strength?"

"Yes! Among the different sects in the Sky Empire, not a single one of them have produced someone above the Sixth Stage of the Domain Lord Realm due to the different kingdoms constant suppression!"

"Wait! There isn't anyone above the Sixth Stage of the Domain Lord Realm among the sects of the Sky Empire!?"

"No, it was also because of this that Elder Scarlet Flame here and the rest of us are certain that you are not under any of those kingdom. Although... I'm quite curious about your sect. For it to still remain unknown inside the Sky Empire even with an expert such as yourself in it!"

Listening to what the old man in the Sixth Stage of the Domain Lord Realm said, Xuan Hao had no idea what to say.

Even if he had found it a bit odd that he had never managed to see any sects inside the core region of the Sky Empire without them being located inside the territory of a kingdom, he never expected that it was because of something like this.

Given the number of people he had seen inside the inn, there should only be around 40 independent sects inside the Sky Empire... And even among them, the number of independent sects that actually had any kind of power was less than ten!

But why would independent sects be supressed so much? Even if a sect is independent from a kingdom, it is not much different from a kingdom in the way that it operates and manages its territory... Is it perhaps because of the three large religions?

Not able to shake off the feeling that something was wrong with the suppression of independent sects, Xuan Hao had a feeling that it might be related to the three big religions. After all, different from the kingdoms, the three big religions could not get any faith from the territories managed by sects...

As for why they could not get any faith, Xuan Hao had at first thought it was due to the difference in their cultivation path... But the cultivation path of the different kingdoms and even the entire Sky Empire was not different and followed the same path, so this idea had quickly been thrown out by Xuan Hao.

In the end, he had no idea why the different religions could not get any faith from the territories of sects.

"There is still a lot I don't know about..."

Understanding that he still did not know a lot about the world, Xuan Hao could not help feeling that his strength was still too weak. Not to mention the Sky Empire, there was still other more powerful empires, the dangerous core region of the continent and the gods that the different religions prayed to.

After the meeting is over, I will try and find out how to breakthrough to the Soul Ascension Realm!

Narrowing both of his eyes as he thought this, Xuan Hao turned his attention back towards the group of Domain Lords who were all looking towards him nervously.

"Senior... Do you want to help us...?"

Interrupting the silence that had engulfed the small room in the back of the inn, Elder Scarlet Flame nervously spoke out as he look pleadingly towards Xuan Hao. Even if he didn't know Xuan Hao for more than an hour at this point in time, Elder Scarlet Flame still understood how important it was for them to get his help for the upcoming meeting.

With someone like him around, they were certain to get one of the leader positions and also wouldn't have to worry about the retaliation of the more powerful kingdoms.

After all, a Seventh Stage Domain Lord Realm Expert who had reached the later stages of the Domain Lord Realm was different from someone in the Sixth Stage of the Domain Lord Realm who was still in the middle stages of the realm and was not someone anyone other than the top forces of the Sky Empire could deal with.

"Sure, I will help out in meeting if needed... But I will not be using my current identity!"

Hearing the nervous voice of Elder Scarlet Flame and understanding what was passing through his head, Xuan Hao decided to accept the request to help them for the upcoming meeting.

"If you need an identity, you can use my ancestors. According to what the outside world knows he disappeared a little over two thousand years ago when he went looking for an opportunity to break through to the Seventh Stage of the Domain Lord Realm... But in reality, he returned a few hundred years ago and died during secluded cultivation!"

"Hm... Sure, that would be fine... But are you sure about me using your ancestors identity?"

"Haha, yes, I'm sure! With how strong you are, I'm sure my ancestor wouldn't mind it either!"

"Great, then let's go with that when the time comes."

Seeing as all the Domain Lords were happily smiling and started chatting with each other after hearing that he would help them out, Xuan Hao decided to take his leave after finishing his short conversation with one of the Domain Lords who spoke up and gave him an identity to use for the upcoming meeting in case he was needed.

"Haha, this is great! Let's inform the younger ones outside and celebrate! With this, we are sure to get a leader position during the meeting!"

Hearing the loud exclamation behind him as he left the inn, Xuan Hao could not help rolling his eyes.

The main reason he had decided to join them and help them secure a leader position in the sect alliance was to hopefully turn attention away from the border of the Sky Empire where the Star Shattering Sect was developing.

Even if the attention on the Star Shattering Sect from the forces in the core region of the Sky Empire was still close to non-existent at this point in time, Xuan Hao understood that it would only be a matter of time before they started learning about it.