432 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

### Chapter 432: The Ripple Effect of Small Matters If the fog-shrouded White Mountain truly is a place of great opportunity, and if there really is only one cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage there, then Yao Qing's concerns may not be unfounded. Regardless of whether there really is only one such cultivator, is White Mountain truly a place of promise? This question is difficult to answer. In terms of size, the area of White Mountain is not small. However, the spiritual grounds within it are far from reaching the level of renowned sects like Qiyun Sect, Yangming Mountain, Nanlin Temple, Tianli Gate, and Black Wind Valley. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a refuge for groups like the Wei Family, Long Family, and the Yehe Brothers, who only relocated there after struggling to survive in their own territories. Take the current Chu-Qin region as an example; though not lacking in land, it only boasts a single low-grade third-tier spiritual site, which is unimaginable elsewhere, even in the outer seas. The crucial fifth-tier spiritual lands required for advancing to the Nascent Soul stage are controlled by the major sects. Anyone hoping to advance must play by their rules. Not to mention the ultra-sects, which hoard the seventh-tier lands necessary for the next major breakthrough, requiring immense costs just to use once. Currently, even Chu Hongshang has no clear prospects, despite having connections to Qiyun through the Chu family. An unaffiliated Nascent Soul cultivator? Such a thing has never been heard of in this realm. But don't Nascent Soul cultivators fight for territory? This question is more complex. Human cultivators continually expand in this realm, and new high-tier mountain gates are always being discovered. Nascent Soul cultivators from those ultra-sects surely contend for these sites, though this exists at a level out of reach for someone like Qi Xiu. Yet history can offer glimpses, such as the Nascent Soul ancestor of Haidong City, who openly acknowledges his origins in Qiyun. Or the Nascent Soul ancestor from Jixia City, who hails from the Great Zhou Academy, and otherwise couldn't thrive between Nanlin Temple, Qiyun Sect, and Yangming Mountain. Given White Mountain's potential seventh-tier land, it's no wonder some Nascent Souls covet it, yet these old monsters from prestigious sects would be reluctant to overtly seize it. Of course, all speculation rests on the premise that White Mountain is unclaimed. The actions of the ten Nascent Soul sects suggest they are too 'confident' in their internal conflicts to worry about outside threats. "But if there's a Nascent Soul presence on White Mountain, they shouldn't display signs of preparing for a major battle..." In Haidong City, Gu Tan put down a letter, massaged his temples, and muttered in frustration, "This defies reason!" Whenever it comes to matters on White Mountain, Gu Tan feels as if navigating an impenetrable veil, impossible to resolve, leaving him, who prides himself on strategy and adaptation, feeling deeply frustrated. "This can't be. It's not normal! If there was power on the mountain, it wouldn't be in such chaos. If there's no power, why does the cultivation realm maintain a seemingly unwritten secrecy about it? How's this done!? This paradox!" In certain aspects, Gu Tan has a penchant for being overly logical. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent twenty years searching for a site for Qi Xiu to form his core, thinking so intensely his head ached, unable to figure out how to unravel the enigma atop White Mountain. And the higher beings of White Mountain, shrouded in dense fog, left the future strategy of the Chu-Qin Sect akin to a blind person groping an elephant, seeing nothing but darkness. "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without peril. But now I know myself, not my enemy..." As a strategist, encountering such situations is the most tormenting. Gu Tan unfolded the letter again. In it, Qi Xiu also included his thoughts, formed merely by observing the actions of Chai Yi—summed up as ‘the Lingshu Alliance's focus undoubtedly turns south, ensuring no short-term threats for the Chu-Qin Alliance.' Gu Tan agreed with this point but thought Qi Xiu's chess game, considering only three moves ahead, was somewhat shortsighted. Would a truly adept schemer look only three steps ahead? Naturally, seeing as many as five, ten, or even a hundred moves ahead would be ideal. As he wrestled with his thoughts, a sudden impulse made him cast a spell from his meditation chamber to personally greet a visitor. The visitor turned out to be Miaoqing, a nun Qi Zhuang had met at Nanlin Temple. "I heard there was a great monk's passing on White Mountain, so I attended a memorial..." "Knowing your family was also on White Mountain, I took the chance to visit Qi Zhuang. Your sect leader said she's moved to the outer sea with her disciples' family, so I came looking." Since Qi Zhuang had used Miaoqing to win Long Yueyun's trust and then ended their friendship, why had she taken such a detour to find him again? Moreover, would the sect leader pass her on to him at Haidong City? Gu Tan quickly deduced that sending her his way was merely Qi Xiu's attempt to avoid letting her reunite with Qi Zhuang, leaving him to dismiss her somehow. But given she was a Jindan level senior, proper respect was due, so he welcomed her, offering precious tea. "A memorial service? I thought outsiders couldn’t enter White Mountain. Perhaps the monks of Nanlin Temple are exceptions?" Seated together, Gu Tan raised a question of personal interest to redirect the conversation. Miaoqing responded honestly, "We only paid respects from the mountain's base. His sect is Tibetan Buddhism, ours is Zen. We have no interactions." "Oh." Gu Tan nodded, then inquired about Miaoqing's motive for seeking Qi Zhuang. "Since we last parted, I've been unsettled. The high monks suggested it might be due to some unresolved karma with Qi Zhuang, prompting me to seek her for closure." Miaoqing’s words sent a chill through Gu Tan, who immediately felt wary. In Buddhism, entangled karma inevitably requires resolution. As to how it’s settled, it could involve banishing demons or converting foes—a mere persistent effort can be vexing enough. Especially when the matter’s root lay in Gu Tan’s manipulation and Qi Zhuang’s misuse of Miaoqing’s trust, posing as a righteous Nanlin Temple disciple to infiltrate the Long Family and incite Long Yueyun on the arena, ultimately resulting in his death. For that, both Qi Zhuang and Gu Tan felt a sense of guilt, with Miaoqing’s karma unlikely to bring good tidings! "Ahem, what kind of karma might it be?" Gu Tan queried. Miaoqing shook her head, indicating she hadn’t yet attained full understanding. "Uh..." Crafting an excuse to send Miaoqing away seemed futile, as deceiving a Nanlin Temple Jindan monk was no easy feat. A lie sprouted on his tongue, causing him sudden nausea, drenched in cold sweat, unable to muster even a hint of spiritual power. "You! Preposterous! As an elder of the righteous path, how dare you use force against a hospitable host!?" Faced with Gu Tan’s exasperated outcry, Miaoqing retained her serene, detached demeanor, uttering the Buddha’s name and coldly stating, "You two have prior offenses, so I had no choice but to resort to this strategy." "Where's Qi Zhuang!? Speak!" With steely eyes and a breathtaking tone, the nun unleashed a forceful command, leaving Gu Tan with no strength to resist. "I don't know, truly, I don’t..." Unaware of Qi Zhuang’s precise whereabouts, Gu Tan once more left Miaoqing empty-handed. Even as a disciple of Buddhism, she could not maintain her composure, forgetting her precept against anger, and cursed in her rage, "That Qi Xiu, sending me here turns out he's a deceiver!" "Then the residence of her disciples' family, surely you know?" Extracting from Gu Tan the location of the Ming family's abode, she set out in pursuit. Amidst the heart of winter, with farming, forestry, and fishing all on pause, the outer seas differ from White Mountain with less ice and snow but frequent rain and winds at this season. During sea-wind days, households on Ming Island tend to seal their doors against the gusts, enjoying their quiet lives, while many youths brave the cold and rain from dawn to attend village schools scattered across the island, learning Confucian teachings. On this island, life is peaceful, bountiful, and serene. Once classes commence, the children’s bright recitations carry through the countryside storm, echoing across the sea. "Hmm." Observing this from the skies outside the island, Miaoqing nodded in appreciation. "The Ming family chose the harsh conditions of the outer seas over joining the deceitful Chu-Qin Sect. Truly admirable." Her mood slightly improved, once identifying the Ming family site, she descended outside their protective array, but immediately furrowed her brows, "Why is there such a heavy presence of blood and grievance on this island?!" ... "The nun from Nanlin Temple, using forceful means to interrogate Gu Tan!?" Upon receiving an urgent communiqué from Gu Tan in Haidong City, Qi Xiu leaped up in surprise. He had thought it a minor affair, handing it to Gu Tan to handle smoothly. But now it seemed Miaoqing was resolutely determined to find Qi Zhuang to settle her karma. If she encountered still-rehabilitating Qin Weiyu... "I cannot allow it! Buddhist methods follow unique paths, and Nanlin Temple isn't unfamiliar with necromancy! I'm afraid the Ghostly Shadow Island cannot remain concealed from Miaoqing!" Since the passing of the bright spirit turtle, they hadn't found a suitable replacement for the mirror's tool spirit, leaving it half-ruined. The Illusionary Mountain-Sinking Rod had proved inadequate since its break, replacing it wasn't recurring. Despite reduced combat prowess, he hastened to set off for the outer seas. But just as he rose from his meditation mat, calmness overtook him. Nanlin Temple’s people are troublesome; Buddhists on a path to settle karma is non-negotiable and almost unalterable. Covert assassination? The risk is monumental; they're a Jindan cultivator from a super-sect with announced whereabouts—if they disappear, inevitably implicates the Chu-Qin Sect. Moreover, tangled karma with Buddhists leads to possible ruin if poorly managed! Gu Tan, unaware of Qin Weiyu's secret, was only concerned about the potential conflict that might arise once Miaoqing found Qi Zhuang and sought to resolve their karma. He was also unaware that Qi Zhuang's so-called relocation was merely a facade to deceive outsiders. However, the existence of Qin Weiyu was a critical secret for Qi Xiu, Qi Zhuang, and even the survival of the Chu-Qin Sect—something that must never be revealed to anyone. This stark difference in assessing the situation's severity led Gu Tan to merely send word back, while Qi Xiu was in a frenzy. "Truly, every matter leaves a trail, and my life is one endless worry!" Lamenting his constantly troubled fate, Qi Xiu had no choice but to use the secret method he agreed upon with Qi Zhuang to send a message, urging her to appear voluntarily and resolve the karma entanglement with Miaoqing, ensuring they did not meet near Ghostly Shadow Island. "It's just a little deception with that stubborn nun. How could this be considered a huge issue?" Qi Xiu fumed in frustration. (To be continued)