Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 2943: The Inner Court Of The Sect

Many inner court disciples couldn’t last more than a breath under the gaze of the mountain, and even core disciples had to meditate for years before comfortably approaching Mount Sky Sever’s summit.

As they entered the Inner Court’s airspace, the full glory of the sect unfolded beneath them.

Vast palace compounds stretched across several neighboring peaks, their jade-tiled roofs glinting in the sun.

Ornamental sword gardens, spirit lakes, and training arenas spread like jewels across the terrain. Floating platforms hovered around the central peak, each used for sword duels, refinement, or cultivation.

Even the air here was infused with fine motes of Sword Qi that shimmered faintly with every gust of wind.

Finally, they descended before a large palace hall carved from polished dark stone and inlaid with silver veins that formed ancient sword patterns. This was the Elder Hall of the Xian Sword Sect.

Two imposing figures stood at the entrance, flanked by robed guards who all immediately stepped aside upon seeing Lin Mu and his group.

The elders each wore robes of sky-white with golden sword motifs embroidered upon their sleeves. Their presence was calm but immense—like sheathed blades that could unsheathe at any moment and cleave through anything in their path.

Both men bore a cultivation base at the Sixth Stage of the Immortal Realm, their power making the atmosphere feel a touch heavier.

Lin Mu stepped forward and offered a respectful bow. ”Lin Mu greets the esteemed elders of the Xian Sword Sect.”

The two elders gave him a scrutinizing look, their eyes calm yet sharp. They could sense the richness of Lin Mu’s Qi, the composure of his spirit, and most notably—the pressure of Sword Intent that quietly pulsed from his core.

”Advanced Sword Intent,” the elder on the left said softly. ”Interesting.”

”You are young,” the other elder added, ”yet your foundation is deeper than most of our core disciples.”

”You honor me,” Lin Mu replied evenly.

”Your token from the Silent Lotus Temple has been verified,” the first elder said. ”And your identity as their bearer confirmed. You are welcome within our sect.”

The second elder smiled faintly. ”We thank you for honoring us with your presence, Bearer Lin Mu. The Silent Lotus Temple has long been revered, and your arrival is most timely.”

Daoist Chu and Meng Bai bowed respectfully beside him, and the elders acknowledged them with nods.

The elder on the left gestured. ”Come inside. Let us speak more comfortably.”

Inside the Elder Hall, the walls were adorned with ancient sword murals depicting duels between legends of the sect and monstrous beasts. A massive sword sat embedded at the back of the chamber, its hilt jutting out like the centerpiece of the entire structure. The Sword Qi from it alone was dense enough to make even Meng Bai’s fingers twitch.

As they sat down on cloud-cushioned seats, tea was served—light, fragrant, and faintly infused with sword Qi.

Lin Mu took a sip, unbothered, while Meng Bai simply stared at the cup as if wondering whether the tea leaves might cut his tongue.

”We were told you bring news of significant weight,” one elder said.

Lin Mu inclined his head. ”Yes. I have come across information regarding the Ephemera Sect—an elusive force tied to the ancient Taowu Order.”

The moment the name Taowu Order was spoken, both elders straightened slightly. Their Sword Intent subtly stirred.

Daoist Chu glanced at them. ”You’ve heard of them?”

”We have,” the second elder said gravely. ”Though only through fragments of records buried deep in the sect’s oldest archives.”

”It seems their remnants are more active than expected,” Lin Mu said. ”And they’re moving with purpose.”

The room fell quiet for a breath.

Then, one elder spoke, voice low and firm.

”Then let us hear everything you’ve learned.”

Lin Mu placed his cup down gently, the soft clink echoing faintly in the silent hall.

Then, he began to speak.

He spared no detail, recounting everything they had discovered since stepping foot into the Shadow Whisper Valley. The strange phenomena. The ghostly infestations. The encounter with Elder Mingzhi and his eerie calm. The Ephemerach and the Crimson Root.

And most of all, the revelation of the Ephemera Sect—its hidden goals, the celestial tree in disguise, and their ties to the long-dead Taowu Order.

He had no reason to hide anything from them as this was all important. The only fact he excluded was mentioning anything about the Saintess.

As Lin Mu spoke, the temperature in the Elder Hall dropped—not from cold, but from the shifting expressions of the two high elders. Their calm and measured demeanors began to crack, their brows furrowing and eyes darkening with concern.

”...and so,” Lin Mu said at last, ”we came to understand that the Crimson Root and Crimson Eye are merely branches—pawns under the greater shadow of the Ephemera Sect. Their goal seems to revolve around corruption, harvesting, and perhaps worse. The tree we encountered was a Celestial Treasure, but one twisted with baleful energy. They fed it with souls, with entire towns, to awaken its will.”

The elder on the left, Elder Gu Jin, clenched his fist so tightly the jade cup in his hand cracked with a soft snap. Tea dripped unnoticed onto the floor.

”Abominable...” he muttered, his voice cold. ”To use a celestial tree like that... and to feed it the souls of innocents? This goes beyond heresy. This is an affront to Heaven.”

The other elder, Elder Luo Shanyuan, looked grim. ”To think remnants of the Taowu Order still exist. And not just surviving—they are moving. Acting. Growing.”

He turned to Daoist Chu. ”You said this was confirmed?”

Daoist Chu nodded solemnly. ”There’s no mistaking it. The practices, the corruption, the presence of karmic erosion... All of it matches with the oldest warnings I found once, deep in the Immortal Court’s archives. Though I never imagined they would act again.”

Elder Luo let out a heavy breath, his Sword Intent trembling subtly around him. The jade swords lining the Elder Hall quivered faintly in resonance.