515 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

**Chapter 515: The Inconsistent Nature of Humanity** After clearing the cave, all that was found was a small grass guarded by the spotted leopard. Chu Wuying couldn't identify the grass, and judging by the leopard's strength, equivalent to a human's Golden Core, the grass wouldn't be of significant value. Furthermore, it was unclear how many years it would take for it to mature. Having set up defensive measures, he decided to live in seclusion here without contacting anyone. This decision was not only for safety reasons but also due to his nature. He relished shadows, solitude, and silently journeying alone. Having left behind the responsibilities of his sect and family, and escaped the clutches of dark forces, he found this Wake Lion Valley to be an idyllic escape from worldly concerns. Here, he could train and meditate in darkness, forgetting his past and merging with the shadows. Occasionally, he would listen to the sound of the wind and birds outside the cave, content with nothing more. As autumn waned and winter arrived, a sudden snowfall blanketed everything in white, covering the cave entrance, leaving only an eternal tranquility between heaven and earth. Meanwhile, in a cave dwelling somewhere in Qinan City, Qi Xiu was also in meditation. Despite the demands from Nangong Mu above and internal concerns within Chu Qin below, the weight of secrets continuously bore down on him. Anyone else might have collapsed under such pressure, but he remained composed, wholly focused on pursuing the Dao, even though this dream could be shattered at any moment. The reason, undoubtedly, was his acclimatization to adversity. Ever since migrating south, he had faced countless perils, exhausting himself for his sect, the Dao, and mere survival. Over time, this forged in him a psyche that remained unfazed even if the sky were falling. Gone was the Qi Xiu who could be easily terrified by a few words from Si Wentai; in his place was the revered leader of the Chu Qin alliance, known as "Old Fox" behind his back and respectfully addressed as "Old Man" by his disciples. After the New Year, he would be exactly two hundred years old. Having come to Qinan, the grand birthday celebration prepared at Mount Siguo was no longer feasible and had to be abandoned. An abrupt thud outside the quiet chamber disrupted the silence. Exiting his meditation, Qi Xiu sensed for a moment, then smiled wryly and walked to the door, calling out, "Asun, you're too impatient." The place where Nangong's family kept him confined was a fourth-grade cave dwelling, not only blessed with high-grade spiritual land but also spacious and well-equipped, featuring a garden brimming with rare fourth-grade plants and an alchemy room complete with high-grade earth fire. Durosen, struggling to refine the "Three Talents Essence Pill," had been brought here from Bai Mountain by Qi Xiu to refine the pills and keep a watchful eye on the entrance, thus serving two purposes. "I failed again." Covered in soot and looking disheveled, Durosen emerged from the alchemy room, dejectedly saying, "Even refining the auxiliary materials causes the furnace to explode. This 'Three Talents Essence Pill' is extremely challenging!" Durosen was tall and rugged looking, yet quiet and introverted, preferring to focus on alchemy behind closed doors. “Each exploded furnace equals the loss of nearly a hundred third-grade materials. I've squandered many of the sect's resources over the years…” he lamented. Great as his alchemy prowess was, Durosen, one of the wealthiest cultivators in the Chu Qin sect, felt heartache over such consumption. "This pill is indeed challenging for Foundation Establishment cultivation," Qi Xiu advised. "You must decide whether it’s worth pursuing for your core formation. If so, pursue it with unwavering determination. If not, don't let it hinder your cultivation." At nearly one hundred and twenty, Durosen was on the brink of forming his core and couldn't afford to make mistakes. Durosen remained undecided, "I'll try to use it for my core formation for now, but if I can't even refine the auxiliary materials, I might have to change direction." He smiled wryly, adding, "Thanks to your leadership, the conditions here are better than at Mount Siguo. I still have some time, so let’s wait and see." "Alright, suit yourself." Though nicknamed the "Teaching Doctor," Qi Xiu wasn't quite equipped to guide someone on core formation. He could only provide the best conditions and some directional advice. After chatting further with Durosen about the spiritual plants in the garden, which were managed by specialists from the Nangong family and not to be used liberally by Durosen, Qi Xiu returned to his room for meditation. The cave sat on the highest mountain in Qinan City, just below the few cave dwellings of Nascent Soul cultivators like Nangong Meng and Nangong Zhi. Renting it would be extremely costly if not outright impossible without connections and spiritual stones. Unaware of the underlying circumstances, Durosen saw the hospitality as the kindness of the Nangong family. Encouraged by Qi Xiu's good mood, he hesitated before finally speaking up, "I hope I'm not overstepping by saying this." "Speak freely," Qi Xiu replied. "Yes." With a straightforward disposition, Durosen continued without beating around the bush, "There's a rumor at home that the Nangong family has treated you and Chu Qin with generosity, saving your life at the Black River Peak and offering you the cave. Yet you've appointed Gu Tan as the general affairs leader, suppressing the general affairs head, which seems ungrateful..." "From my observation, appointing another general affairs head was unnecessary. Chu Qin was just fine as it was. Now, orders come from two places, hinting at internal strife. Sect Master Uncle, you might want to investigate!" He pleaded earnestly, kneeling down. While Qi Xiu had anticipated this, hearing it still left him feeling a bit exasperated. To outsiders, Nangong Mu's coercion appeared as deep benevolence—truly an unspoken suffering. "I have my considerations! Rise, focus on your alchemy, and leave this to me." After lifting Durosen up, Qi Xiu lost the mood to chat and retreated to his chamber for more rigorous cultivation. After years of conflict deep within Bai Mountain, the choice of cultivating the "Transparent Scripture" as the sect's legacy was due to its effectiveness in low-grade spiritual lands, ideal for Chu Qin's territory and the entirety of Bai Mountain, where spiritual land grades are generally low. While beneficial, this now posed a limitation, as the fourth-grade spiritual land, though excellent, did little to elevate the Transparent Scripture. Yet at its core, it was still about diligent cultivation. He swiftly adjusted his mindset and immersed himself back into the Five Beasts Body Refinement and the myriad cycles of the Transparent Scripture. While Durosen raised his concerns, back at Mount Siguo, Mingzhen sought out Gu Tan, voicing similar apprehensions. “Despite not holding the title of elder due to your mid-arrival, you are still our senior. Why lower yourself to such mundane power struggles? I hear that the Illusory Sword Alliance down south has formally merged into the Illusory Sword Sect, and other factions in Bai Mountain are eyeing unification as well. Yet you act against this trend, rallying subordinates against Yannan, delaying Chu Qin’s merger. Some would say this is simply going against common sense—what’s your aim?” With a smile, Gu Tan asked, "Do you think less of me now? Less willing to marry me?" “Perhaps,” Mingzhen answered frankly. "Everything I do has its reasons, though they're not for public knowledge," Gu Tan deflected, knowing he couldn't reveal Qi Xiu's instructions, and redirected the conversation. “Not agreeing with my actions distorting your view of me—are you judging me based on my nature or merely my outward actions?” “I don’t believe one can truly know another's nature.” Mingzhen, misdirected by him, pondered earnestly, “I have thought about this before. Even relationships as close as spouses, masters and disciples, or parents and children rely on the reflections of each other's actions. Do you know what I'll think in the next moment? I myself don't know. Can one truly know oneself, let alone others?” “Exactly!” Gu Tan applauded in agreement, “Human nature is neither inherently good nor evil nor true, but inherently inconsistent. This is the foundation of my alchemical theory.” “Hmm?” Mingzhen was taken aback, “I thought you said our relationship isn't there yet, so you weren’t willing to share?” “I only shared half of it,” Gu Tan gestured, “You can't fully understand me, right? So, is it unnecessary to let your judgments affect your hesitation about marrying me? You can't completely know me; what’s the point of hesitating?” “This…” Mingzhen almost got caught in his logic but quickly realized, “That’s nonsense! I may not be able to completely understand you, but my observations and hesitations are not without basis. Otherwise, I could marry anyone, right? But I cannot.” “But you haven’t developed feelings for just anyone!” Gu Tan looked at her intensely, “Didn’t you already feel something for me when we first met at the Outer Sea?” “Uh…” Mingzhen blushed, instinctively dodging his gaze, “But I want to understand if you’ve developed feelings for me!” Her lack of denial was telling. Her question brought a complicated expression to Gu Tan's face. "If I say I have, you wouldn’t believe me. But I can hardly say I haven’t—I’m not foolish. It's an unsolvable problem!" "Just tell me, I’ll believe you this time." Mingzhen's cheeks tinged slightly red. "I’ve already said the honest truth, but it only made you upset…" Gu Tan sighed with a wry smile, "My first thought was that our union would benefit both our futures. If that's considered feelings, then those are my feelings." "What do you call that a feeling!" Mingzhen, hearing this, was disappointed and angry, turning to leave in a huff. "I'm a cultivator! A cultivator who only formed a core at one hundred and fifty years old!" Gu Tan called out emotionally to her retreating figure, "Under the immense pressure of the Dao, where is there room for thoughts of affection!? Unlike your path of wholeheartedly pursuing your true nature, prioritizing benefits has seeped into my bones—what can I do about it!?" Mingzhen stopped in her tracks, pausing for three breaths, but in the end, she still walked away. (To be continued)