Su Han's extensive actions in the Southern Domain were all aimed at completing the second stage of the main quest. The crackdown on demonic cultivators' sects was for the second stage of the main quest.
Even after destroying a large number of demonic sects, the task was still not complete. Thus, Su Han concluded that his influence within the righteous path was insufficient.
Consequently, Su Han directly led his people into the venue of the Righteous Path Assembly. Yet, the second stage of the main quest remained unfinished.
Therefore, Su Han realized that merely causing trouble in the Southern Domain would not elevate the Xuanmen to become a first-rate sect on Xiūqí Star. It was necessary to expand Xuanmen's influence to other regions, to the Northern Domain, and to other continents on Xiūqí Star.
Upon his return, Su Han immediately dispatched a large number of Global Type 4 drones from the Dragon Country to scout various locations in the Southern Domain, searching for cultivators who engaged in wrongdoing.
...
After the sect master of the White Crane Sect departed, he returned directly to his sect. Before he could even report the matter to the sole Nascent Soul stage cultivator of the White Crane Sect, an elder approached him, saying, "Sect Master, the Young Sect Master has gone down the mountain again. Should we send people to bring him back?"
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect replied, "Leave him be for now. There are more important matters at hand. I need to see the Grand Elder; it's of great importance."
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect then left immediately, heading towards the Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect. The elders of the White Crane Sect who remained watched the Sect Master's departing figure and said, "What? What important matters could they be?"
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect had already flown to the forbidden grounds of the White Crane Sect.
In this cultivation world, the most powerful figure in demonic sects is typically the sect master. This is quite normal. However, it is different for righteous sects. In righteous sects, the most powerful individual is often not the sect master, but the Grand Elder. This is the case for both the White Crane Sect and the Red Cloud Hall.
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect flew through the forbidden grounds of the White Crane Sect and soon arrived before a cave within the forbidden grounds. A stone door was closed at the entrance of this cave.
No one other than the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect was allowed to enter these forbidden grounds. After all, this was where the Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect was in seclusion cultivating.
The Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect was slowly cultivating within. After entering the Nascent Soul stage, the Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation. Therefore, to advance further in the Nascent Soul stage, he had been diligently cultivating. To allow the Grand Elder to cultivate in peace, the White Crane Sect had designated this entire area as its forbidden ground.
Standing before the stone door of the cave, the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect observed the marks on it. He noticed no new marks, only a significant amount of dust.
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect mused, "It seems Father hasn't emerged recently. Although I do not wish to disturb him, the current situation necessitates his intervention."
The Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect was, in fact, the father of the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect. Previously, the Grand Elder had been the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect. After abdicating, he passed the position to his son, who is now the Sect Master.
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect channeled some spiritual energy and called out, "Sect Master of the White Crane Sect requests the Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect to emerge!"
After calling out thrice, a surge of power emanated from within, and the stone door directly opened. A white-haired elder, who bore a striking resemblance to the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect, flew out.
His gaze fell upon the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect. "Son, what is the matter that calls me forth? Has the White Crane Sect encountered any danger?"
The Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect harbored a slight worry. Had his sect truly fallen into difficult times?
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect began, "Grand Elder. The situation is as follows: a new sect has emerged. Its name is Xuanmen. This Xuanmen possesses two Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Furthermore, Xuanmen is planning to establish a cultivator prison."
Following this, the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect recounted the events that transpired at the Righteous Path Assembly.
Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect's face took on a solemn expression. "It appears this Xuanmen poses a significant threat to our White Crane Sect. We cannot match them individually. We must enlist the Red Cloud Hall as well."
At this point, the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect inquired, "Then, Grand Elder, when shall we join forces with Red Cloud Hall to annihilate Xuanmen?"
The Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect replied, "No, not yet. In our current situation, even if I were to join forces with the Grand Elder of Red Cloud Hall, it would only be a two-on-two confrontation at the Nascent Soul stage. We need more Nascent Soul cultivators to ensure safety. By the way, to what extent has the Nascent Soul cultivation of Xuanmen's sect master reached? Mid-stage or Great Perfection?"
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect shook his head. "Grand Elder, I can only ascertain that they are in the Nascent Soul stage. After all, I am only at the Golden Core stage myself."
The Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect nodded. "Indeed, you are right. Given your current cultivation level, you cannot perceive the exact strength of those at the Golden Core stage. It is strange that Xuanmen's sect master did not reveal their specific realm. If it were early Nascent Soul, the old fellow from Red Cloud Hall and I could surely eliminate those two from Xuanmen. Speaking of which, what was the power of the magical artifact they used? Did you sense its might?"
The Sect Master of the White Crane Sect replied, "Its power was immense, no less than our White Crane Sect's treasured artifact."
Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect remarked, "Xuanmen possesses a magical artifact of this caliber? Then it must be a High-Grade Spirit Treasure. In that case, I must also retrieve our sect's treasured artifact. Sect Master, bring me that artifact!"
"Yes!"
Following this, the Sect Master of the White Crane Sect and the Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect proceeded together to the White Crane Sect's treasure vault.
The treasure vault of the White Crane Sect was protected by numerous formations surrounding the treasures. Of course, without the corresponding secret techniques of the White Crane Sect, these treasures would trigger a counterattack.
The two arrived at the deepest part of the treasure vault. There, a small jade crane was placed. This jade crane emitted no light.
The Grand Elder of the White Crane Sect extended his hand and picked up the small jade crane. As it came into his grasp, the jade crane began to emit a radiant glow, presenting a completely different aura compared to when it was devoid of light. This was the difference between a High-Grade magical artifact with and without spiritual energy.