437 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 437: Trial in Jixia City When Qin Changfeng had just headed south to the Star-Plucking City, Qi Xiu was preparing to head north to Jixia City. The battle in Baishan had escalated into a fierce collision everywhere, a symphony of bloodshed, with fierce duels and carnage. Both sides resorted to every means, entangled with each other in an unresolvable death feud. In the north, the Dan Alliance abandoned nearly all territories except for Danqing Mountain. The three Nascent Soul patriarchs from the Baishan Sword Sect, the Illusory Sword Alliance, and Han Tianqing took turns to descend, barely managing to withstand the overwhelming coalition of Lingmu and Lihuo. In the south, the warfare was even more intense. As the Baishan Sword Sect and the Illusory Sword Alliance attacked, the coalition of Thick Earth and Sharp Gold fiercely defended, with both sides advancing and falling back inch by inch, engaging in life-and-death struggles within the defensive system built by Chai Yi. As for the Nascent Soul patriarchs of the Five Elements Alliance, they had yet to make an appearance since the start of the war. Some said they were preparing for a fatal strike, while others speculated they had been restrained or killed in Baishan, an impression reinforced by the previous assassination attempt on Chai Guan. In essence, without considering the Nascent Soul patriarchs of the Five Elements Alliance, the situation remained balanced, making it difficult to predict who might emerge victorious. Chu Qinmen was content to be the ostrich with its head buried in the sand, watching these events unfold. The Lihuo Alliance continued purchasing high-end items, while massive supplies from Nan Chu and their own production were covertly delivered to the Yan Gui Sect territory, from where they were "transferred" to the Dan Alliance. "Master Qi, you must... kindly extend more credit and sell some goods to us. The Dan Alliance will surely repay you generously in the future!" Han Ping prostrated himself, bowing his head to the ground in front of Qi Xiu, abandoning the pride of a Nascent Soul messenger as he pleaded and entreated. "Extend credit?" Exchanging a glance with Mo Jianxin, Qi Xiu pondered briefly before responding, "Is your sect really that desperate?" "No, no, no!" Han Ping straightened from the ground, waving his hands repeatedly in fear that Chu Qinmen might think the Dan Alliance was collapsing, which might prompt them to abandon support. "We were well-prepared before the war, and despite being cornered, our essence remains intact. It's just that the defensive warfare has consumed spiritual stones at a tremendous rate. We're merely preparing for contingencies. If your sect is unwilling to extend credit, we can offer collateral." With that, he produced a parchment and presented it, revealing a contract for one-eleventh ownership of the Nine Star Workshop. Back then, nine sects, including the Dan Alliance and Lingmu Alliance, each took a share to jointly establish Nine Star Workshop. It had great potential, but after Qi Xiu's last trip to the Sleeping Lion Valley startled the old lion, even the Nascent Soul of the Beast-Control Sect fell inside, causing fewer adventurers to dare venture there. The current chaos in Baishan only further deterred them. "This..." Seeing the contract's details, Qi Xiu chuckled and tossed it back to Han Ping. "Regardless of its current worth, if your side loses, the Nine Star Workshop will be Lingmu Alliance's target, so I refuse to hold onto such a hot potato." "Qi Xiu!" Han Ping suddenly barked, leaving Qi Xiu and Mo Jianxin stunned. Ignoring the discarded contract, he brashly called out the master of Chu Qinmen's less-than-glorious past. "When you fled Tianyin Mountain, everyone in Baishan knew it! If the Chu clan hadn't publicly taken you in, would the disgruntled Wei sect underlings have led to their defeat in the Tianyin Mountain battle? Today, we are like that Wei sect, potentially saved or doomed by a single straw. Figure it out!" Having understood his meaning, Qi Xiu could only snort. The swift defeat of the Dan Alliance would indeed be detrimental to future interests. With minds racing, Qi Xiu flicked his sleeve. "These mundane business matters are now managed via a joint council in Chu Qinmen, beyond my interference. Jianxin, take this up with the clan heads." Shifting responsibility to Mo Jianxin, Qi Xiu backed out gracefully. However, the council, comprising Chu Qinmen's four votes plus Shan Nuo's, still followed Qi Xiu's direction. Soon, the Dan Alliance signed a contract for continued credit purchase of Chu Qin goods, with Black River Workshop properties as prepayment and Nine Star Workshop shares as collateral. Yet, with the war reaching such a stage, the Lingmu Alliance would hardly let Chu Qinmen conduct such disruptive business easily. The shuttles often had to take a wide detour over the Death Marsh to avoid detection by Lingmu Alliance, seizing opportunities to pierce through from Nine Star Workshop skies into the Yan Gui Sect's domain. The nine houses safeguarded by the three-generation protection rule remained vigilant against both the Lingmu and Dan Alliance since the last family dispute within Lingmu, aligning their interests with Chu Qinmen. The worse the Lingmu and Dan Alliance fought, the better. Having settled this matter, Chu Wuying silently appeared before Qi Xiu—time to depart. From the information brought back by Yao Qing and Gu Tan, this trial seemed to be a "literary test," typical of Jixia City's empty rhetoric style. Neither prepared for combat enhancements, focusing instead on cramming Confucian classics. Even so, this cramming was futile, for cultivators with their prodigious memories would not face simple text challenges but more esoteric trials. "Your aura of blood and killing grows more intense by the day! What have you been up to these years?" Standing before Chu Wuying, Qi Xiu sniffed the air curiously. "Technique issues..." Dressed in black and with a stony expression that suggested someone owed him a fortune in spirit stones, Chu Wuying tersely answered as always. Qi Xiu believed him and, after delegating tasks appropriately, set out with Chu Wuying along a safe route arranged by Chu Hongshang, heading directly for Jixia City. ... In the main mountain of the Beast-Control Sect, within a certain cave dwelling, a man in black and white Taoist robes sat cross-legged, his fingers rhythmically tapping a small side table as his profound gaze settled on a wooden slip beside him, tinged with hesitation. Tap-tap-tap... His knuckles produced rhythmic sounds against the side table, unceasing. Suddenly, an invitation card flew into the cave. Frowning slightly, the slip vanished from the table as he activated defensive arrays with a spell, then leisurely rose to greet the visitor. "Brother Yu He, what have you decided? If we don’t leave soon, we will miss it!" The newcomer was Chu Xiyu, formerly known as Xiyu, who once defected from the Chu household. As he entered, he immediately inquired, his tone urging. "I have been at the Perfection realm for many years, and my master opines that my wounds are long healed, affirming my current stagnation is purely mental. A trial that admits any common cultivator may offer little aid..." Yu He, now devoid of past vigor, struggled even with minor decisions. "Aye!" Xiyu sincerely worried for him, urging earnestly, "Sitting in meditation daily won't help. Take a chance outdoors, and at worst, treat it as a change of scenery!" "Sigh..." Yu He exhaled deeply, neither agreeing nor declining, sinking into silence. "Look at yourself now, not at all like someone at the pinnacle preparing for Nascent Soul transformation!" Seeing Yu He remain unmoved despite his persuasion, Xiyu, distressed, resorted to tugging his sleeve regardless of status. "In the memory of my twin sister, her face secured us these tokens from the Qi Family in Yunpei. Please, do this one more favor after helping us eliminate Chu Duo—accompany me on this journey, how about it?" At such an appeal, Yu He could no longer refuse, finally nodding in agreement. (To be continued)