488 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 488: Carefree Pursuit of True Self Under ominous clouds, at Yuanhe Mountain, the ancestral burial grounds of the She family. As the She family mournfully interred the coffin containing a sword hilt and the deceased's clothing, Qi Xiu stood aside, deep in contemplation of other matters. Ji Jiaxian had been trapped in the Fengshui region. The Guigu sect not only refused to help but also actively sought to obstruct the war efforts there, indicating that the ghost path teleportation formation infiltrated by Jiang Yan and He Yu was of great importance; even Nascent Soul cultivators could be deemed expendable. He couldn't help but regret his previous actions of inciting Xing Jian, for if their deeds were exposed, he risked incurring the wrath of both the Guigu and Nangong clans. Either one could easily annihilate Chu Qin a hundred times over. "Let’s just hope Xing Jian is trustworthy!" Qi Xiu placed fresh hopes in Xing Jian, the lucky star of Chu Qin. Next came the struggle over the location for the next frontier war. The Great Zhou Academy, eminent as it was, had effectively split, with Guigu and Gu Ryu factions sabotaging each other at every turn, wishing nothing less than the other's utter destruction... This did little to bode well for the world. "My little Chu Qin wouldn't descend into such chaos..." As the funeral concluded and Qi Xiu walked away, heavy with thoughts, Nangong Yanran's voice reached his ears, "Uncle Sect Leader, we just received three hundred and thirty thousand tier-three spirit stones, and you spent it all before even leaving the Black River Square. How am I supposed to manage our household like this?" She playfully teased with a smile. "Uh..." Knowing her jest of feigned destitution, Qi Xiu felt slightly embarrassed and, after a brief thought, said, "Those twelve thousand were for greasing palms, benefiting not just our sect. You can shift it from the alliance's funds." "Won't there be gossip if you don't specify who the bribes are for?" Nangong Yanran's eyes lit up at the possibility of recouping losses from communal funds. "Gossip? They still owe me for their fraudulent accounting. Besides, my Chu Qin sect sent three Golden Core cultivators to the front lines; they should at least show some gratitude, right? Also, compensate Long Feng and Qi Zhuang's damage to magical tools and flying swords from the public funds; we can’t bear all the costs for the alliance battles," Qi Xiu said, becoming more convinced they were at a disadvantage, and began aiming for the alliance's million spirit stones in funds. "Exactly right!" Nangong Yanran had a moment of clarity and rushed off to handle the finances, managing to secure twenty thousand from the communal funds. With the subordinate families enjoying a surge in income, no one wanted to oppose Qi Xiu, and even if they did, it was futile. Out of nine seats in the Chu Qin alliance council, Chu Qin held four, and with loyal Baisha Gang's Sha Nuo, they would never lose a vote. Back at the mountain of self-reflection, news came from Yao Qing that the buyer of the Nine Star Firm in Danmeng was the Southern Beast Sect, while the large shop in Black River Square was acquired by the Mount Qimeng Teng family. Numerous smaller city outlets fell into the hands of He Huan Sect. "The Beast Sect warriors are the mainstay of the Waking Lion Valley adventurers; spending this money is quite justified." After contemplating, Qi Xiu found nothing amiss. Having a powerful stakeholder like the Nine Star Firm was good news for Yan Nanxing and the others. As for whether it related to the Nascent Soul cultivators who died in Waking Lion Valley, there was no way to verify it. Ultimately, the Council of White Mountain was solidly settled, and no fighting sounds came from the mountaintop; peace was restored. ... In the blink of an eye, twelve years passed. Mo Jianxin stayed on Bingyuan Island, located in the far north of the outer seas. It also housed an excellent cold spring for sword forging, and, as a significant power protected by a Huashen cultivator, it was far safer than the current turmoil in Lian Water City. By placing him there, Qi Xiu had an ulterior motive: to scout a potential site for his forthcoming Nascent Soul transformation. The materials required for crafting the False Invisible Sword were incredibly precious; most of Gu Tiesheng's time was spent in Lihuo City, both practicing and preparing various high-grade materials for Mo Jianxin. The crafting of a fourth-tier sword was a colossal undertaking that required teamwork, employing not only disciples within the sect but also several hired Foundation Establishment master craftsmen, at great expense. Chu Qin Sect lacked the foundation to craft fourth-tier items. For such sects, crafting the first finished product was the most challenging, similar to the Sancai Peiyuan Pill, requiring extensive preparation before commencing, with many rare herbs needing to be aged over a hundred years, slowly collected according to the recipe requirements. Without war profits, most member families within Chu Qin Alliance saw their income return to pre-war levels, except Chu Qin shops, which slightly improved due to selling some Dan Alliance products, gaining fame across various cities. Frontier conflicts would inevitably resume, no matter the location. Chu Qin Alliance's ample funds had no urgent use, so Nangong Yanran, under Qi Xiu’s instructions, stockpiled easily preserved war materials whenever prices dipped, waiting for the day the Great Zhou Academy issued their command. Subordinate families weren't idle either. Xiong Shisi fenced in vast tracts outside Bei Lie Mountain, establishing a Thousand Bear Garden with over a thousand low-tier bear creatures, for self-disciples' refinement and comparative use. Qi Bingyan transformed the nine-turn, eighteen-bend cave in Kongqushan into an exquisite Mountain Garden, with vibrant spiritual flowers and herbs, akin to a paradise. Every other family showed their ingenuity without exception, strengthening themselves and constructing essential refining materials that Qi Xiu always sourced from Gu Jianmen, finally quelling Gu Rong's resentment. One day, in Nanjin Temple, one thousand-hole cliff echoed like a beehive, and spiritual energy stirred in one small cave, waking the meditating abbess. "Seems it’s the one Miaoqing sent," she thought, flew to the cave entrance, and asked softly, "Is Layman Ming planning to form a core by Daoist methods?" "That is indeed my intention," replied a calm and ethereal voice from within. "Since the layman does not wish to convert, I will not compel you." The abbess joined her hands, "Chu Qin Sect left fifty thousand tier-three spirit stones here, designated for your core formation. The time is ripe; if you need anything, list it. I shall have it procured immediately to not delay your great endeavor." The person inside remained silent for a long while before slowly replying, "Though I lack intent to convert, having accompanied the ancient Buddha and lamp for long, my desires have waned. Ordinary sandalwood will suffice." "Amitabha." The abbess nodded, retrieved a small storage bag filled with high-quality block sandalwood, gently slid it inside the cave, and quietly departed. In the dim cave, the ageless Ming Zhen opened her companion Sandalwood Needle Pouch, casually scattering the needles on the floor. The newly added sandalwood was placed inside, and when summoned, began burning quietly within the pouch, its scent overtaking the lamp oil aroma in front of her. "This is kindness and goodwill, which must be remembered and repaid..." She murmured, "I arrived in this world clean and clear, like falling into a net. Good intentions repay, bad deeds recompense, pushing and pulling, endlessly entangled. After Luojia's death, how long will my heart mourn? Weak with few smiles, solitary and desolate—is this truly my nature, or is it influenced by sect, offspring, family, and surroundings? Amid the world, affecting and unconsciously being affected by it, behavior becomes what others believe it should be, gestures become expected actions—lost within it, how to find peace and pursue true self?" With a gentle wave of her sleeve, countless silver needles arose, orbiting continuously around her. Refining under spiritual energy, they merged into a silver liquid, finally shaped into a lotus flower. Her figure ascended slowly, seated upon it. "The blade has turned into a lotus throne; the needle pouch now burns sandalwood..." Her dainty fingers tapped, and the sandalwood pouch emitted a warm glow, illuminating the scripture image on the stone wall. "Repent wrongdoings before Buddha, henceforth free to follow true self." She then formed a mudra, smiling freely, "The saying goes: possessing Buddha nature, I return to truth. Henceforth, I change Zhen to Zhen, now called Mingzhen!" She gently closed her eyes, free of attachments, regrets, or grievances, stepping into the initial phase of core formation, on the path of dan condensation. A subtle Buddha light descended from the horizon, shining on her cave entrance, scattering golden hues far and wide. "Ah?" In the depths of the Discipline Hall on the opposite mountain, an elder monk with white eyebrows sensed a shift, sighed, and said, "What a pity, having affinity but no faith, cannot guide her. Convey the message, should she succeed in core formation, let her go." "Miaoqing demanded a hundred-year confinement," advised a disciple nearby. "Miaoqing..." The elder monk sighed again, "Ultimately, it's the worldly ties..." In a secluded meditation chamber of a distant nunnery, an emaciated nun incessantly thumbed a rosary, reciting, "From love springs grief, from love springs fear; free from love, grief and fear cease." (To be continued) --- Please note, translation tasks were executed to maintain the fidelity of the original text's spirit and narrative style, ensuring clarity and coherence in the English rendition.