459 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 459: Whom to Consult Days later, in a certain cave residence in Qi Nan City. "Senior Brother Sect Leader..." Being addressed as an equal for the first time by Qin Changfeng didn't bother Qi Xiu; instead, he felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and pride. "Well, well." Wearing a silver-gray mask and smiling as he observed the beauty before him, Qin Changfeng, now a Golden Core cultivator, sat still yet projected a profound silence akin to the vastness of the starry sky. There was an enigmatic allure that captivated and drew people in to discover more about him. His qualities had undoubtedly advanced to a higher level. Excluding An Siyan, the one who married into the family, he was the second Golden Core cultivator after Qin Lier in the Qin family, nurtured by his own efforts. "Your aura seems unstable. Are you injured?" Qin Changfeng frowned slightly, speaking with concern. His body momentarily flickered, as if stars were twinkling, making it dazzling for others. "It’s the aftermath of the Jixia trial, but it's nothing serious." The more he looked, the more pleased he became. Gesturing with his hand, he didn't wish for Qin Changfeng to get involved in these trivial matters. "White Mountain is unstable. I'll make a brief stay and leave. You must focus on solidifying your realm here. Have you settled on your magical equipment and techniques?" "Yes, I will continue practicing the Clarity Sutra. I've entrusted the Nangong family with refining the magical weapon embryo, and it should be ready soon." After Qin Changfeng finished speaking, Nan Gong Yanran, sitting beside him, proudly claimed credit, "It was quite a coincidence that my family's treasury happened to have a tier-five [Star-Snow Secret Serpent] inner core. When I offered to buy it, they wouldn't take money and sent it for Changfeng as a gift." She touched a sensitive chord, provoking an internal sigh from Qi Xiu, who was a little disheartened by the trouble the Nangong family had caused him. The more they treasured Qin Changfeng, the more he worried about them taking him away. If they succeeded, then old grudges and new could really push him to a desperate state. While silently fretting, someone from outside delivered a visiting card. As it was Qin Changfeng's cave, Nan Gong Yanran made a round and returned with a black box, presenting it respectfully to Qi Xiu. "Oh?" Upon opening, it revealed a bowl-sized inner core with a red fiery bird's soul trapped inside, unable to escape its imprisonment. Along with it was a letter detailing the inner core's type and refining method. "A tier-five [Clarity Sunbird] inner core!" Qi Xiu was astonished and thrilled. After the Clarity Spirit Turtle's spirit collapsed, his family's magic treasure was half ruined. The Clarity Sunbird not only resonated with Clarity but also perfectly matched the pure Yang energy from the Yin-Yang Bead, split in half. Even if he openly offered spirit stones, acquiring such a fitting spirit for his treasure was unlikely. The gift was undoubtedly precious and remarkably precise. Realizing it was a compensatory gesture from the Nangong family for his fifty years of lifespan, he decided to accept it in silence and quietly placed it into his storage bag, waiting for an opportunity to incorporate it into the Clarity Illusion Mirror. To stabilize his cultivation, Qin Changfeng didn't stay long, exchanging a few trivial words before exiting to his temporary abode. From some hidden corner, Chu Wuying appeared before him, presenting a letter sent from Gu Tan on Haimen Island. Last time, in the stele forest trial, he had let slip some words but stubbornly refused to divulge more under countless inquiries. Now, to curry favor, he diligently served tea and medicine, delivered letters, and stayed on vigil, all with great dedication. "Sigh!" Qi Xiu understood his intentions. Soft-hearted, he decided to set aside his hesitation. 'Since the last capture, the Long family's defenses are tighter, making swift action difficult...' Unfolding and perusing the letter, Gu Tan first explained the situation overseas. Though the Long family had indeed suffered setbacks, the saying goes that a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, and their resistance was no surprise. Gu Tan also felt somewhat at a loss about the impending northern migration of the Lianshui Sect. The crux was that Chu Shentong had been kept in the dark for too long. With the internal decisions of the Qi Yun Sect fixed, they dared not meddle. However, he remained somewhat optimistic, stating: 'Since records began, White Mountain has always been a realm of contending heroes. Not knowing how many heroes have arisen over tens of thousands of years, yet none unified the place, a mystery worthy of contemplation. We of Chu and Qin can merely watch as things unfold.' His point was well made. However, considering two factors might reveal that previous experiences might not apply to current circumstances: firstly, the demise of the Nascent Soul Ancestors at White Mountain summit marked perhaps a first in eons, entering an extremely weak period without a single Nascent Soul cultivator; secondly, prior to the Jixia Stele Forest trial, Gui Zheng's prophecy about major changes to come explicitly linked to those potentially forming infant souls in this era: a timescale of about a thousand years. If things are destined to change, conventional wisdom might cease to apply. The sudden expansion of the Lingmu Alliance years ago and the current intense civil war among the families in White Mountain showed some abnormal patterns. Qi Xiu felt he couldn't remain passive like Gu Tan suggested. Somehow, some effort must be made. If they couldn't handle the Long family for now, at least he could try to extend the White Mountain civil war, buying time for the Chu Qin Alliance. "I need to calm myself and heal, and find time to blend the Clarity Sunbird into my artifact. I can't manage the broader situation. Gu Tan should focus on forming his Golden Core; we've already over-relied on him. It's unwise to recall him now, having just dispatched him to Haimen Island." With the broad strategy set, he pondered over tactics to delay. Mo Jianxin's ability to hold ground was proven, but handling the current circumstances was beyond him compared to himself and Gu Tan. Others in the Chu Qin Alliance couldn't be fully trusted either. "Sha Nuo? No, no, no." He immediately dismissed the fleeting idea—although trustworthy, Sha Nuo, formerly known as Duoluonuo, was too unsophisticated and lacked strategic vision. Overwhelmed by countless tangled thoughts, an epiphany emerged. "This is precisely why top cultivators in most sects generally don't manage affairs!" As one of the sect's top strengths, Qi Xiu had to balance cultivation on his path, magical prowess, strategic oversight, and now, with the Nangong family peering into his Fate Analysis technique, he feared being used like a scent-tracking dog in the future. "That Clarity Sunbird inner core is a bone for this dog, isn't it! My life is drained for Nan Gong Mu's consumption!" Recollecting that harrowing experience nearly turned to dust under their influence, unease surged within him, felt even by the primordial monkey within his sea of consciousness, which tossed and contorted in distress in slumber. Thankfully, equipped with [Know Thy Heart], he suppressed the fear. "No matter how difficult the road, one can only struggle onward." With that resolve, he steadied himself, recalling the sensation of soaring high, led by the Azurewood Dragon, using [Omniscient Sight] to overlook Qi Nan City. "This city of radiant cultivation is Qi Yun Sect's stronghold in the south and the lifeline of the Nangong family!" "Nan Gong Mu seems quite desperate about the external incarnation technique; perhaps his end is near! Yet, Nascent Soul Ancestors are known for far-reaching considerations, with lifespans astonishingly long. If he views it as imminent, it may be preparation for millennia hence!" "The array in Beidingyan is merely a teleportation formation. He Yu and his allies wouldn't foolishly leave the other side intact. Thus, the Nangong family's pursuit will face considerable hurdles—indeed, He Yu, Jiang Yan, and the entity occupying the Mill-Eye Ghost Spider, residing by Jiang Yan, are all adept at evasion." Looking northward, "If our assumptions align, the coerced Xing Jian will soon leverage the Zhou Academy, inevitably unearthing certain secrets from Beidingyan of yore. Who—hidden within the mountains and signaling alerts—was that enigmatic Guigu Sect cultivator? How much did he know of the ghostly pathway's transit?" With eyes closed, he envisaged traveling southward following the path of the Azurewood Dragon, reaching a place he crafted: the Black River Market. "Founded by me and Zhan Yuan, it's unfortunate we were too weak to hold it. After several exchanges, it fell under Nan Gong's control fifty years ago, thriving almost as much as established cultivation cities today!" Continuing south, crossing the deadly swamp, lay the city of magical artifacts and talismans controlled by Lianshui with four shares and Lihuo with four shares, while twin Chus each held a share. "Though the Artifact and Talisman Alliance disintegrated, and the Wei family's foes vanished sooner, Huai Tong, Qi Wushuang, and their ilk perished through assassination. With Lianshui on the cusp of northern migration, the city will find no peace." Turning southwest from the city of artifacts and talismans led to Mount Capital’s realm—his own "Reflection Market". "With the Chu Qin Alliance established, it's reaping vast trade benefits from White Mountain's civil strife. Yet prosperity is fleeting. When Lianshui migrates north and Lingmu and Lihuo face downfall, how will it stand against a far stronger He Huan Sect?" With a sigh, pressing further south revealed the Lingmu Alliance's Bomu City. "Eh?" Suddenly, his thoughts echoed with An Siyan's words spoken within the trial site back then, "Can you conceive ideas beyond all conventions, free from constraints?" "Indeed, learning from Wei Xuan's comprehensive strategies and Qi Wushuang's manipulative charm, I'm bound by certain frameworks—like handling past adversaries..." "The magic, technique, and momentum, their optimal application resides in one's heart, as do allies and enemies—they too can transform readily!" "Presently, I lack a strategist, and Bomu City's Lord Chai Yi appears the ideal tactician, albeit perhaps a ruthless one, for the time being!" As his thoughts returned to the present, Qi Xiu abruptly rose, declaring, “That’s it! Lianshui's migration northward is not something I wish to see, and neither does Lingmu or Lihuo. If I start causing trouble, Qi Yun Sect—especially Wan Tiangang—will certainly try to stop me. However, with the Lingmu Alliance nearly annihilated, how much can he care? The few Golden Core experts from Lianshui migrating northward are something even the Chus can reluctantly accept. In terms of shared interests, those remaining at White Mountain aren't quite in alignment with me. Nowadays, it’s Lingmu and Lihuo that prove to be trustworthy allies!” “The Lingmu Alliance is in a precarious state; give Chai Yi a direction, and this blade will undeniably fly guided by my will!” “Wuying!” Upon realizing this, he called out to Chu Wuying, who was hiding in the nook. “Discreetly head over to the Lingmu Alliance and arrange a meeting with Chai Yi for me!” (To be continued)