467 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 467: A Modest Feast The chaos in Baishan was evident; apart from the Chu-Qin Sect, few enjoyed peace. The ceremony for advancing to the mid-stage was never meant to be grand. Members of the Chu-Qin alliance, along with a few close allies, merely gathered to liven up the occasion. After all, holding ceremonies frequently diminishes their novelty. Typically, existing items from the great treasury are laid out, disciples offer their respects, partake in food and drink, engage in idle chatter, and with Qi Xiu sharing some insights, the event concludes. Traditional music and dance popular in Baishan were abandoned long ago. Following the tedious formalities, guests were seated, and disciples took their places, allowing Qi Xiu to finally relax at the head seat. He announced the start of the feast, permitting laughter, movement, and conversation. With all constraints lifted, everyone mingled freely, pursuing their respective agendas. Feigning restfulness, Qi Xiu employed his [Omniscient Heavenly Eye] to cast a gaze over the gathering, coupled with [True Listening] and other abilities like [Illuminating Shadow]. Not a single detail would escape him. "How is Old Gu? He recently sent two promising juniors to our sect, hinting at preserving his lineage. Is the situation deteriorating that badly?" This came from Yan Nanxing, the patriarch of the Yan-gui Sect, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, addressing Gu Tiesheng, a fellow early-stage Golden Core. As the Ho-Huan Sect's forces advanced northward, the Li-Huo Alliance bore the brunt, with several southern borders already breached. Gu Rong, under the guise of training, sent two juniors to the Yan-gui Sect, and his cousin Gu Tiesheng sent even more to seek refuge with the Chu-Qin Sect. "The Ho-Huan Sect's approach is relentless. My elder brother is merely preparing for contingencies," Gu Tiesheng, typically indifferent to external affairs, closely followed Gu Rong's actions. "Should the situation worsen, I hope Master Yan will lend us some support." "Rest assured, apart from Jiu Xing House, no one else in Baishan is closer to Chu-Qin and Gu-Jian than us. Old Gu is a decent man. If help is needed, just say the word." The Yan-gui and Chu-Qin sects both contributed to the Dan Alliance's logistics, a fact not entirely suitable for Gu Rong in the Li-Huo camp. Gu Tiesheng's position was awkward, but both Qi Xiu and Yan Nanxing wouldn’t hesitate to assist Gu-Jian Sect in the event of a crisis—not only as compensation but also because acquiring such a skilled family in weaponry and swords would bolster their strength significantly. Qi Xiu understood Yan Nanxing's intentions, yet realized that Gu-Jian was likely to side with Chu-Qin rather than Yan-gui, rendering his efforts in vain. With a mental scoff at Yan Nanxing, Qi Xiu turned his focus to the next seat down the line. Seated in the guest section was Chu Qingyu of the Nan-Chu Sect. Now managing affairs and assisting Chu Shen since consuming a sacred elixir to advance to the early Golden Core stage. With Chu Duo's passing, Chu Wuying, a close ally of Qi Xiu, remained the Nan-Chu’s lead prospect for reaching the Nascent Soul stage, although other potential candidates were still far from even forming their core. "How much does the Illusionary Sword Alliance owe your family? And what about the Baishan Sword Sect?" Chu Qingyu was conversing with the likes of Gan Buping from the Lingyao Pavilion and other key figures in Heihefang's commercial ventures. With the Ho-Huan Sect severing northern and southern Baishan routes, Chu-Qin focused solely on supplying the isolated Dan Alliance to the north. Meanwhile, the Nan-Chu Sect's participation in transport to the south earned them substantial profits. Naturally, part of these profits remained unsettled, leading to much discussion during the feast. Initially, these sword sects transported goods to earn spirit stones and balance power when disadvantaged. Now they’re in a dominant position but owe significant debts to Nan-Chu and several commercial houses. To enable debt repayment, these groups hope for no drastic changes in the landscape affecting their credits, hinting at a prospective reversal against Lianshui Sect's northern shift aligns with their interests in Qingyun. Qi Xiu took note, ensuring to thwart Lianshui Sect's migration while keeping things balanced. Should major shifts occur, resulting in unclaimed debts, allied sword sects' collapse would severely impact commercial interests in Qingyun. The upheaval could be threateningly intense, even potentially endangering Chu Hongshang. Below Chu Qingyu and the business leaders sat a young cultivator dressed in a green Confucian robe, exuding scholarly air. His eyes darted perceptively, missing no detail. This was Wan Xuan, once an adversary of the Chu-Qin Sect and now in cooperation due to the allure of spirit stones—famed throughout Baishan for his popular unofficial narratives. "Even Qi Xiu must give me some face. Don’t worry; you’re welcome to stay and work well. After all, the Chu-Qin Sect, like your Ximeng Sect, fled to Baishan after losing support and its mountain gate in Qingyun. Understanding this shared experience should aid in their integration." Wan Xuan spoke to several newly inducted Chu-Qin disciples, whose demeanor hinted at Daoist origins rather than Chu-Qin natives. Among them was Meng Jun, a former enforcer of Ximeng Sect. Given Ximeng's demise, Meng Jun and others found themselves rootless, presenting an opportunity for incorporation. The Ximeng Sect, once a Nascent Soul sect, had fallen, scattering its cultivators. Other sects, like Nan-Chu, accepted many skilled in crafting and production, though often with guarded suspicion. Contrary to this trend, Chu-Qin openly appointed Meng Jun and others into significant positions like enforcers and pedagogues. This was Qi Xiu’s strategy: to steer Chu-Qin back to orthodox principles, starting with the education of the next generation, which native disciples alone couldn’t achieve. Unlike rigid Confucians or uncontrollable monastic 'Buddhas', Daoist-derived individuals from Meng Jun's lineage were ideal candidates. Moreover, embracing these Qingyun cultivators implied welcoming their entire clans—a costly endeavor. Chu-Qin specifically accepted the Meng clan from Ximeng, promising to accommodate their kin. Nearly 20,000 accompanying commoners now constituted a tenth of Chu-Qin's direct population, surpassed only by the Luo and Right Mountain Qin clans. This significant population influx, while daunting for others, posed no issue for Chu-Qin, thanks to Qi Xiu's [Perceptive Nature] skill, ensuring trustworthy individuals like Meng Jun were chosen. With Baishan’s vast, underpopulated lands ripe for cultivation, bringing in a Daoist noble house helped reshape societal norms. Through this arrangement, leaders like Meng Jun found permanent roots in Chu-Qin, ensuring they and their descendants would remain integral parts of the sect for generations. The Qingyun Chu family sent no representatives; the guest seats held only a limited number of prominent figures, leaving Gu Tiesheng’s row with Bear Fourteen, a newly risen Golden Core from the Northern Fierce Mountain’s Bear clan. "That Fa Yin monk is such a stickler! When our kin merely tapped a mortal girl's bottom, he blew it out of proportion, hauling him to Tianyin Temple to cook for mining beasts like [Shrimpback Beasts] for two weeks between meditation! This upside-down world is infuriating!" She Yishan and others in the Bear clan expressed shared grievances, with Bear Mountain’s clan indulging their ways boasting similarities. Gan Long chimed in agreement: "Indeed, I've heard the monk preaches about compassion towards all beings, yet the spirit stone yield from Big Mountain has plummeted to one-fifth its former output! In previous years, Qi Xiu would have long removed him, but recent abundance softens the need." "Exactly, let’s kick Fa Yin out." "Yes, Lord Qi would accommodate your wishes." "Go for it, Bear Leader!" A chorus of aggrieved clan heads urged Bear Fourteen on. Fortunately, he steadied his resolve and refrained from impulsiveness, uttering, "Let's wait and see." Gently dismissing the suggestion. Further down from Bear Fourteen sat Mo Jianxin, the true administrator of the Chu-Qin alliance, constantly greeted by those seeking guidance or favors. As Baishan swirled in chaos, Chu-Qin maintained remarkable tranquility, backed by strong allies, making them increasingly coveted, ensuring flattery towards Mo Jianxin went unmissed. While the Chu-Qin Sect generally did not accept Baishan’s rogue cultivators unless they impressed Qi Xiu, outside intentions lingered. With the Dragon family from the outer sea expected to pose a future threat, deliberations on using such cultivators as defensive bulwark persisted, though Qi Xiu remained undecided. Below Mo Jianxin sat Nangong Yanran, a member of a Nascent Soul family and wife to a Golden Core cultivator. She rushed back from Qi South City, where she was stabilizing her realm, just for the ceremony. Her position as the head of Chu-Qin Sect’s affairs cemented her as the undeniable focal point among the female cultivators. Adorned in a vibrant palace dress, she was like the moon surrounded by stars, as Chu-Qin’s red-robed female disciples like Yu Qing’er and Kan Xuan buzzed around her, complementing her mature and stunning visage. She grinned playfully, using her index fingers to gesture playfully in varying lengths, sparking laughter and rosy cheeks among her peers. "Are they discussing the length of their husbands' 'that'?" Qi Xiu caught a snippet and was immediately taken aback by the candidness of married women's conversations, hastily redirecting his focus elsewhere. Further down, Zhang Shengnan, Tuo Rosen, and Qin Guangyao, core cultivators concerned with forming their Golden Cores, naturally centered their discussions on this topic. "I'm a full hundred and thirty-four this year, and my chances are dwindling. How old are you now?" Zhang Shengnan gloomily asked Tuo Rosen. "One hundred and three, no spring chicken either," Tuo Rosen replied, leading to a thoughtful silence among them. "I wonder how Gu Tan is faring out in the open seas. I recall he's a year older than Senior Sister Zhang," Qin Guangyao finally broke the silence. "Who knows if it'll work out," Zhang Shengnan murmured softly, whether referring to Gu Tan or herself was unclear. Thinking of Gu Tan, Qi Xiu felt a slight twinge. No matter how much planning and preparation, if the path doesn’t align, it's all in vain. The time left for Gu Tan and Zhang Shengnan was indeed limited. Overall, both within the sect and its alliances, there were no significant internal conflicts, and external relations remained favorable. Thanks to the hefty gains from the Baishan civil strife, the sect fostered a spirit of ambition and open-mindedness. Throughout the rather uneventful feast, social circles formed naturally, each finding their joys and grievances. The bustling energy amid the noise and chaos left Qi Xiu with a sense of hope for both the Chu-Qin Sect and alliance. As the feast drew to a close, Qi Xiu ascended the platform to speak on the necessity of aligning the sect’s ethos with the righteous path. Then, he feigned a casual remark to Chu Qingyu: "Wait for me when you depart; I have matters to discuss with the ancestor." He deliberately spoke aloud, ensuring nearby cultivators heard his words. (To be continued...)