463 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 463: The World's Unrelenting Pace Switch to Night Mode Font Size: Large Medium Small [Previous Chapter] [Table of Contents] [Next Chapter] Murder was just the beginning of Chai Yi's scheme, and Qi Xiu himself narrowly escaped being beheaded by Long Yueyun. The subsequent developments remain uncertain, but regardless, his own health could not wait any longer. He sealed the doors of his secluded residence, preparing to enter a period of retreat to heal and also strive towards reaching the fourth layer of the Golden Core stage, what is considered the mid-stage realm. "Although Namgung Mu shortened my lifespan, using the technique of the Azure Dragon paired with [Fate Calculation Technique] was indeed an eye-opener. At that time, my consciousness was taken thousands of miles away, vividly allowing me to see He Yu and others at the base of Beiding Mountain. [Omniscient Heavenly Eye] is the divine ability I use to 'perceive the present.' Right now, it's limited to just a corner, unlike that experience using the Azure Dragon to observe a distant place. The only difference lies in the magnitude of the divine ability's power. Assuming one day I can truly use [Omniscient Heavenly Eye] to overlook all beings, where lies the difference between what I see of He Yu’s location and what I deduce about it?" "The path of fate's yin and yang involves calculating the past, present, and future, which is one of the fundamental paths. As for my path of omniscience in the present, if I can perceive everything clearly in the world, what purpose is there in computing the 'present'? If I existed since the primordial chaos, I could retrieve all past events from memory, thus rendering the computation of the 'past' unnecessary." "The ultimate in omniscience of the present seems to converge with the path of fate's yin and yang, albeit by different routes, except for the unknowable 'future.'" With these questions and reflections, Qi Xiu soon entered a deep meditation, forgetting himself and the external world. Meanwhile, the outside world was not stopping to wait, with dramatic changes unfolding every moment. ... At the Law Enforcement Hall of Mount Cixia, Meng Jun was on duty today. Mount Simeng had fallen into disarray, with disciples frequently deserting the sect. The infuriating part was that these individuals would return in other sects' robes after a while, openly relocating their mortal kin. As the law enforcement officer, he could only watch and worry in silence. “Have you heard?” “Heard what?” “Elder Zhang also…” “Really!?” “They say the servant managing his abode mentioned that every item Zhang obtained from the sect was neatly arranged, a blank letter was left behind, but he himself is nowhere to be found.” “Those halfway disciples! They're all like He Yu, ungrateful scoundrels!” Outside, two Qi Refinement disciples whispered about which senior had vanished silently, which roads had been blocked by unknown forces, which vendors had just withdrawn from the marketplaces under sect control. The sound seeped into Meng Jun’s ears, leaving him restless. He opened his eyes to see the grand hall nearly empty, with no tasks to handle. The Golden Core Deacon who should oversee had not appeared in a long time. He didn’t even know what purpose his presence served anymore. Whether he was on or off duty, no one truly cared. Yet, he still showed up, because as a Taoist disciple, his character was rigidly upright, to the point of being odd. "Since it's my turn to be on duty, and no one has said otherwise, then I should be here!" That was his stubborn philosophy. He and his fellow disciples were unaware that the fate of the Simeng Sect had already been decided by those ‘above’ them, and such betrayed parties are often the last to know. Unlike the past situation with Chu Qin Sect, as a former Nascent Soul sect with several Golden Core members, the Simeng Sect had far too many disciples, making its internal dynamics more complex and diverse. From top to bottom, everyone had different interpretations of the current state of their sect and different predictions and plans for the future. "Due to He Yu’s actions, we probably will face extremely harsh punishment, right?" "Our sect hasn't had a Nascent Soul Patriarch for decades; some benefits are likely very hard to maintain.” "If He Yu's two senior brothers had just defected with him! Incompetently fighting for power and leaving the Simeng Sect in such a state!" "Clearly, I sense the scent of a crumbling house. Better find a new path early." "Why haven’t the rewards for the last few shifts and missions been distributed? Is the sect in such dire straits?" Amidst the chaos, as a Taoist sect within Qiyun territory, nothing too malicious had occurred for the moment. Those truly leaving were mainly those who joined mid-way or those with opportunistic agendas. The majority remained to observe. Nonetheless, the disorder at the top was indeed leading to a gradual breakdown below, as many negligent Taoists conveniently ‘forgot’ about duties like shifts. "Meng Shishu, a Golden Core ancestor named Wan Xuan is at the gate, specifically asking for you." A Qi Refinement disciple brought a visiting card, handing it to him. "Wan Xuan? Only a single encounter during some affairs in Qinancheng. Why would a Golden Core senior come specifically to see a trivial Foundation Establishment cultivator like me?” Warily pondering his motives, he dared not delay, promptly going to receive the visitor. ... Qidong City, the hidden chamber beneath the City Lord's Manor. Shui Lingyi, the leader of Lianshui Sect and Lianshui Alliance, held her breath in the corner of the room, observing some dozen influential figures of Qiyun as they debated fervently around a long table, without uttering a word. This was a 'division of spoils' meeting, hosted by a Nascent Soul descendant of the Qidong City's Nascent Soul patriarch. The fourth-tier Mount Simeng would be entirely taken by his Teng family and given to an external clan sect unhappy outside and looking to return to Qiyun. Beyond Mount Simeng, the remaining scraps were the targets of myriad Nascent Soul families, sparking intense and inevitably contentious exchanges among various power factions. The intricacies involved in swapping interests were crucial — a rare opportunity for these ancient families to progress, and they were indeed fighting for it. Shui Lingyi cast her gaze on the elegantly dressed woman beside her, Pei Wen, among the three Nascent Soul allies Lianshui Sect had painstakingly connected with, serving as the protector of their interests this time. “All the businesses belonging to Simeng Sect in the [Simeng Market], are divided as we previously discussed; are there any objections?” Finally concluding the dispute over market interests, Mantian Gang rolled up the scribbled map covered in corrections and took out a fresh one, clearly marking and assigning each zone before passing it around. “No objections.” “Agreed.” “We’re all tired of fighting, let’s just go with it!” Various families expressed their consent. Though less prestigious than Heihe Market, Simeng Market represented a significant asset in Qiyun's western region, now neatly divided among them. It finally came time to allocate a few remaining third-tier prime mountain gates and adjoining territories. Shui Lingyi’s anticipation surged, even with prior agreements, seeing promises materialized was another matter, especially with recent uncertainties... “This last mountain gate goes to Lianshui Sect, any objections?” The Nascent Soul from the Teng family inquired, pointing to a mountain peak on the map. Shui Lingyi grew increasingly tense. Joining Qiyun was one of Lianshui Sect’s dreams, bridging the gap between being a self-proclaimed righteous path and truly becoming part of a legitimate, superior sect. Relinquishing Baishan’s legacy was indeed more acceptable than before... "Who is Lianshui Sect? Haven't heard of them. Which family are they from?" A question surfaced, and most in the room were uncertain. Pei Wen responded on their behalf, "It's a newly intending member sect from Baishan's northern region." “Under the alliances of Old Wan, the Gao, and Pei families,” the Nascent Soul from the Teng family added, quelling further inquiry. The room fell silent. It seemed no one had objections, and just as Shui Lingyi was about to see her wish fulfilled, a Nascent Soul from the Lingyao Pavilion expressed from a member she feared might disrupt things, “What about the unresolved Black River Market incident?” “It was just a dispute among Foundation Establishment cultivators, and they offered a sincere compensation. How can you say it's unresolved? I thought we settled this before coming here, didn’t we?” Mantian Gang interjected, deterring further mention after a brief stare down with the Gan family’s Nascent Soul. “Ahem, if there are no objections, it’s assigned to Lianshui Sect.” The Teng family’s Nascent Soul marked the mountain peak with 'Lianshui' on the map. The major decision reached, Shui Lingyi closed her eyes, trying hard to contain her internal turbulence and not display any loss of composure. ... "This area is called Qiyun." Before Hou Guan lay a map rendered purely by spiritual energy, densely marked with labels like 'Baishan,' 'South Chu,' and 'Southern Jungle Beast Mastery.' He gestured expansively to introduce the origins of Qiyun Sect. “Is this Qiyun Sect strong?” The old lion's voice floated without a trace. "A Taoist super sect, brimming with strong cultivators. Their Heaven and Earth Peak Master alone should rival you," Hou Guan consistently portrayed humans fiercely, hoping to instill a sense of caution in the other party, naturally seizing this optimal moment. "Oh?" The old lion's tone shifted with interest. He was eternally intrigued by powerful beings, “Really?” "Uh, it's just something I heard. After all, I'm not at a high enough level…" Hou Guan dared not deceive in the slightest. Previously, he had hoped to gloss over the location of the Southern Jungle Beast Mastery sect, but the lion somehow sensed his omission, subjecting him to a suffering so intense, it felt worse than death. Of course, he was now only a soul, no longer a 'living person.' "Heaven and Earth Peak, huh? Where is it in Qiyun?" The old lion pressed, the spiritual map's lights flickering, swiftly forming the characters 'Qiyun' over the region. "I've already told you, I'm not of a high enough level to know such details." Hou Guan replied irritably. His soul grew weaker with each passing year and, being akin to a flickering candle in the wind, he had little to fear. His tone grew increasingly casual when speaking with the old lion. The old lion seemed accustomed to it, no longer punishing him with the same wrath as before, and shifted to the next question. (To be continued)