While Cole check the rewards he received, he didn't know that a massive catastrophe is approaching.
Although demonic sect don't usually take care of their disciple, since they send their disciples in the unknown secret realm that's being explored by righteous path cultivators, it was only normal that they'll wait for their disciples return.
The righteous path disciples might be powerful but for those demonic disciples that grew up in more harsher environment, they believe that they won't be easily defeated by them.
Of course, they expect that their numbers will be greatly reduced but they're fairly confident to the core disciples capabilities. If they can't defeat them, they can atleast preserve their live by escaping.
Unfortunately, they didn't anticipate the strange restriction of the secret realm. Without the ability to open up their spatial rings, they can't take out and use their live ssving items...
They also did not expect that their whole force were basically wiped out inside the secret realm. In addition to Levi's soul that was saved by a ancestors' will guardian, it was only the extremely slippery and tenacious core disciple of Blood Demon's Creed manage to escaped Cole's pursuit by discarding its unique tracking token.
Apparently, the latter guess that Cole can track him using that object. He was very experienced when preserving his life.
Cole already anticipated that he'll face harassment from those three powerhouse. Demonic Sect were extremely vengeful cultivators, probably the way they relieve their stress from the constant pursuit of righteous sect that want nothing but to wipe them out.
The same way as they were send inside, the secret realm send the intruders outside in different parts.
Luckily, he was not send into secluded part of the forest as it wasn't long before his seen by the flying monk that was looking for the disciples.
When he arrived at the gathering point, he was surprise to see that the Ice Jade Ship are anchored nearby, its defensive formations were fully activated and its ice cannons were ready to be fired at any moment. Even the guarding elders were alert and ready for any battle.
There were already some disciples in the ice ship. And when he saw that almost everyone gave him a glance, he's sure that all of them were aware of his deeds.
Cole did not pay them any mind. In any case, what he did was to ensure that he'll face no trouble when he got out. After all, should he come out of the secret realm unscathed but the others were wiped out, suspicion will arouse.
Grand Elder Caira immediately welcome him, "Good work." She praise.
Cole appreciate the small encouraging remark. He'll hate it when the elder suddenly become enthusiastic to him after his performance. He still appreciate her gestures before, though.
"Tell me what happen inside." She ask.
Cole provide all the information to the elder but of course, he left out some information specially regarding him. For instance, he don't said that after almost dying at the casual slap of Saint's will, he gain a pair of special physique and martial spirit.
However, even if he don't say anything regarding this matter, the fact that he greatly change in all aspect specially his bearing that exudes charm and prestige, those he can't hide.
Let them think that among the whole disciples, he was the one who acquire the most of the fateful opportunities inside and transform to what he is now. In any case, opportunities inside the secret realm is up for the grabs for those fateful person. This was something that no one control.
They can only blame their disciples for not being more powerful, talented and lucky enough.
When Cole narrate his point of view, he talk with weak tone but he did not isolate it and let the curious ears of the other sect to hear them. As long as his point is not far from the one their disciple will tell, they will have no choice but to believe in him.
Specially to the fact that he ask the other disciple to wait for the natural ejection of the medicinal garden. This part is easy to misunderstand.
It sound like he's stopping the other disciples to explore the secret realm in order to lessen the competitors and personally acquire all the treasures and heavenly objects inside.
In any case, at some point in time, he clearly see that that the legend of the other disciples move in group. Definitely, those disciples did not heed to his warning, still explore the realm and face some losses.
Their experience will become his testimony.
After his narration, Cole gave the elder some time to digest what she heard.
Afterwards, Cole speak again while he take out one of the spatial ring he looted from his defeated enemies where he put all the resources he acquire inside the medicinal garden, "Grand Elder Caira, this spatial ring contain all the resources I acquire inside the secret realm. Take the share of the sect and give the part of the Ice Jade Palace to them."
With the three Forgotten Garden Dungeon Monolith, Cole don't have any qualms on giving majority of his harvest to others.
Of course, he don't forgot to limit what he give. For instance, most of the valuable part from the Tier-8 Spiritual Plant he defeated were left inside the Inner World. After all, it will arouse suspicion if he acquire ingredients from those powerful sentient medicinal herb.
What he left inside the spatial ring was those Tier-8 and below Medicinal Herbs that don't have any spirituality. There were almost none guardian beasts for this heavenly treasures and is up for the grabs.
In addition, all those that inside the spatial ring was those with the same or many in number. For those medicinal herbs that don't have any duplicate, he leave them inside the [Inner World] as well.
Instanly, Grand Elder Caira show a surprise expression after scanning the content of the spatial ring.
"As I said before, the secret realm is a medicinal garden. The only beast I encounter inside is Pollen Cotton Bee which did not consume any of the planted herbs but only harvest the nectar of flowers. Probably, the sole purpose of those bees is for pollination for the reproduction of plants."
When Cole encounter those bees, follow them and arrived at their nest, he did not dare to approach and look at it from afar.
That was because he felt a presence of powerful inside the beehive. With the rich environment of the medicinal garden, along with the treasures inside that could aid cultivation and being isolated inside, gradually developing it or their level, it was apparent that the Queen Bee have the same cultivation as the Yellow Spring Spirit Lotus.
But unlike the latter, that Queen Bee can move and fly and pursuit him should he disturb their peace.
Fortunately, perhaps because those bees lack natural predator, they grew up with peaceful nature and did not attack Cole.
After hearing his narration, elder Caira nodded his head in understanding. Should there's a fierce beast present inside, perhaps the number of survivors will be further reduced. Total wipeout are also not impossible...
Majority of the medicinal herbs Cole gathered might be composed majority of heavenly level herbs, it was still a great resource for every sect. Specially to the special, rare and had strict requirement to their growth like the Pristine Lotus are one of those particularly precious medicinal herbs. Herbs that can nourish soul is always on par to spatial and temporal resources when it comes to rarity.
However, the latter two might only be needed only by several people but soul-type is something every cultivator needs. Soul-type resources is something that always high demand but always short on supply.
Grand Elder Caira did not stand on ceremony and immediately choose the soul-type resources. But out of consideration, she decided to leave three—
Hiss! Such a precious resource, let just leave one...
Grand Elder Caira felt a pang on her heart when she look at the handful of rare resources inside the spatial ring that was the share of the Ice Jade Palace.
However, a deal is a deal. She don't want to destroy the reputation of Five Element Sect out of resources. Resources were easy to acquire but not trust and reputation.
Everyone knew that every disciple came from environment where their life is on the line. They were tired both physically and mentally and need rest the most. No one bother Cole for the meantime.
Therefore, due to that reason, Cole decided to close his eyes and think of his plan regarding building his own faction like sect, palace or family.
But in order to start this plan of his, he have to leave the Five Element Sect...
Otherwise, due to hierarchy, rule, or even greed of the elders of the sect, they might confiscate of what he'll build from the scratch after it showed some value. Although being affiliated with them means a layer of protection, he don't want what he'll build through his blood and sweat being confiscated right from his hand.
Its better to draw some line before everything becomes too late.
As for what kind of faction...
Of course, it will be without a doubt a strong faction. Otherwise, no matter how good he improve his said future faction, it will be all for naught if it fall under the hand of others due to its inability to protect itself.
And what he want for his faction... is to give a paradise to normal human.
Humans that can't cultivate usually lead a life like grass in this world. They were swaying and surviving under the strong storm of constant oppression stomping of the strong.
Perhaps the people of this world had prejudice against them since they were born weak and will weak, but it wasn't the same for Cole who knew what a normal human could do. They were also capable of great things and could bring a power not inferior to cultivators with the unity of knowledge of majority.
He want... to show the world that a weak is also limitless.
What will happen if technology and supernatural powers cultivators can wield is fuse in one?
Cole very much like to see what its outcome.
It seem that he won't just establish any small faction but a whole nation.
However, he's still confident that he can establish it. It might not be easy but he's confident that he can.
...
After the whole boundary of the secret realm is scanned and manage to find all those that survive inside, the Ice Jade Ship immediately flew towards the Heavenly Fire Imperial Capital.
With the presence and protection of the elders, the disciples relax and even sleep in freezer-of-a-hell ship. Peak Nascent Soul-Stage cultivators usually can survive without a need of sleep for a whole year. Their body and spirit might be under great pressure for the whole way that they immediately fell asleep the moment they relax.
Of course, it was to be expected. Not only they were hunted by demonic sect disciples, they also encounter a powerful sentient herb when they leave their position and look for something that they can bring outside. Otherwise, they'll face massive losses if they don't manage to harvest anything.
However, they learn the lesson in painful way. It was fortunate that the sentient herb they encounter and cull their number were still limited to its racial characteristic and can't pursue them.
...
When they enter the territory under the rule of the Imperial City, the elder all started to wake the disciples up. The group will disband upon arriving in the city and return on their own way.
And as Cole expected, every sect send someone to express their gratitude for saving and warning their disciples.
And to further express their sincerity, every sect took out gifts and give them to Cole.