Attention from the Sect Master

"Dazhi?"

"Whoa! Sect Master, what brings you here?"

Li Dazhi jumped up with a start. He, along with the elders and stewards nearby, bowed respectfully to the Sect Master.

The Myriad Cloud Sect Master maintained a youthful appearance, his voice gentle when he spoke, his gaze mild when he looked at people. He rarely showed anger internally, earning him the deep affection of his disciples.

Rumor within the sect had it that the Sect Master was not far from the Golden Immortal longevity realm, and had a high chance of becoming the sect's fourth Golden Immortal.

—This was the same rumor that circulated during the tenures of previous Sect Masters.

The Sect Master's real name was Lu Mo, and his Daoist title was simply "Yun Mo Daoist," adding "Yun" to his name.

"Junior Brother Dazhi, come this way."

"Ah, yes."

Li Dazhi cupped his hands in greeting to the surrounding elders and stewards, instructing them:

"Please arrange the transfer matters, and ensure there are no disturbances at Colorful Cloud Peak."

The assembled immortals cupped their hands in acknowledgment.

Li Dazhi quickly caught up to the Sect Master's side, and they ascended to the sky together on a cloud, circling the area.

The disciples and visiting guests from other sects, led by over a hundred Outer Sect Deacons, moved towards Colorful Cloud Peak in an orderly fashion, forming three long rivers in the sky.

"Junior Brother Dazhi," the Sect Master sighed, "you did exceptionally well in this grand competition. You have rendered a great service to the sect."

The Sect Master subtly projected a bit of Dao charm to conceal their conversation, making it impossible for others to eavesdrop.

Li Dazhi tucked his hands into his sleeves and chuckled, "It's the result of all our fellow disciples working together. I merely nagged them a few times, so it's hardly a merit."

"I've seen your every word and action."

The Sect Master's expression was somewhat hard to describe. He let out a soft "tsk":

"Putting aside other matters, the way you sat there lecturing the elders and stewards made you look more like a Sect Master than I do."

Li Dazhi's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, oh no!

The Sect Master is hinting at something!

Li Dazhi quickly said, "This... Sect Master, please don't misunderstand. I was just flustered and didn't know how to handle the situation, so I put on a bit of an act in haste. Actually..."

"Why are you so nervous?" the Sect Master almost laughed out loud. "I'm genuinely praising you; there's no hidden meaning. You should stop being so reserved and show some of the spirit of a disciple of our founder."

Li Dazhi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Look."

The Sect Master gazed at the white clouds drifting in the distance and smiled, "Today, five Sect Masters are present, from Kuiyuan Sect, Phantom Spirit Sect, Crimson Flame Gate, Hundred Fruit Mountain, and Sky Abyss Gate. They are all orthodox immortal sects with deep ties to our Myriad Cloud Sect. If any of them were to face calamity, the others would lead their forces to assist.

"There are also deputy sect masters and elders from many other sects. All these sects have shown great respect to our Myriad Cloud Sect.

"Previously, our inner sect grand competition was held roughly every twenty years, without a fixed schedule.

"You're right, we should set a fixed date in the future. This will make it easier to invite guests in advance.

"Junior Brother Dazhi."

"I'm here," Li Dazhi responded promptly. "Please speak, Sect Master."

The Sect Master sighed, "Most of these sects have been friendly with us for twenty to thirty thousand years. Do you know how many sects have vanished into obscurity since then, and how many are now on the verge of disappearing?"

Li Dazhi smiled, "I haven't really looked into that."

"Sixty percent. Sixty percent have disappeared."

The Sect Master's eyes were filled with emotion. "The three sects with the deepest connections to our Myriad Cloud Sect—Kuiyuan Sect, Sky Abyss Gate, and Wild Goose Valley—have all fallen into decline. Their decline actually happened within the last few thousand years."

Li Dazhi asked softly, "Was it due to some change?"

"Changes were a factor, but the main reason is the sect's own inability to sustain itself."

The Sect Master chuckled, "The cultivation world is like this. For every new Heavenly Immortal born, new forces begin to grow. Although the Eastern Continent is vast, the prime immortal blessed lands are finite.

"Especially in the last two to three thousand years, the ancient ruins have become increasingly scarce. The hundred clans were absorbed by the two leaders of the Western Teachings and retreated to the Western Continent, leading to fewer conflicts with our human race.

"Then, internal power struggles and conflicts arose within the human race. Old masters perished, and new masters rose...

"Alas, although it's our own human race killing each other, isn't this also the way of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth?"

The Sect Master's eyes were full of melancholy.

Li Dazhi sighed, "I've heard Ping'an mention this. For a sect to endure long-term, it must maintain its cohesion through various means. If the hearts of the people scatter, the sect will soon decline."

"That's true," the Sect Master said. "Do you know how our Myriad Cloud Sect has stood for over sixty thousand years without falling?"

Li Dazhi pondered for a moment before giving his answer: "We have an Outer Sect."

"Oh?" The Sect Master's eyes brightened, "Why do you think so?"

Li Dazhi: Because you founded the Myriad Cloud Sect's Outer Sect.

Of course, that's not exactly how it should be put.

"This is actually quite easy to explain."

Li Dazhi chuckled:

"You can think of this sect like a business, cough, like a dyeing workshop. The cultivation techniques are the dyes, the disciples' cultivation realms are the fabric, and when dyeing, you can't pull too tight. The most important thing is the water temperature.

"When the disciples put on colorful clothes, they become Immortals, members of the sect.

"At this point, a problem arises: how do we accommodate and support these ever-increasing numbers of disciples?"

The Sect Master's smile grew more pronounced: "Continue."

"Accommodation is more important than support. Support is actually quite simple; just find more ways to make money.

"If the sect accumulates too many disciples, and the workshop's scale is limited, with only so many places needing workers, it will become crowded, and they might easily gather to cause trouble.

"Those who are working will look at the idle ones with dissatisfaction, and those who could be working will gradually become lazy.

"But if there are too few disciples, and other workshops deliberately cause trouble for you, you won't have enough people to deal with them. If you're bullied and can't retaliate, many people will consider finding another workshop.

"This is where instability arises.

"Another point is that the wages are the foundation for maintaining all of this. Even if these disciples don't directly help with the work, they must receive a regular wage."

The Sect Master nodded slowly, pondering deeply.

Li Dazhi paused briefly, then continued eloquently:

"When I discussed the sect's structure with Ping'an, we discovered that the senior who established the Myriad Cloud Sect's Outer Sect was simply a genius.

"Once our Myriad Cloud Sect's Outer Sect was established, it directly created a hierarchical division within the sect, allowing disciples to accept resource allocation based on their aptitude.

"The Outer Sect manages shops in market towns, operates dynasties in the mortal world, and handles miscellaneous tasks at the mountain gate. This not only accommodates a large number of disciples but also greatly enhances our sect's wealth.

"Using wealth to support people is an eternal principle."

"Hahahaha!"

The Sect Master couldn't help but laugh heartily, waving his hands repeatedly:

"It's not as incredible as Junior Brother says. The establishment of the Outer Sect was a move I learned from elsewhere."

Li Dazhi blinked: "Ah? You established the Myriad Cloud Sect's Outer Sect?"

"Alas."

The Sect Master sighed and said slowly:

"Ten thousand years ago, our Myriad Cloud Sect suffered a great upheaval. Before the upheaval, there were fifty-four peaks in the sect.

"Just as you described.

"At that time, the Myriad Cloud Sect appeared prosperous, but in reality, as the number of Immortals on each peak increased, the sect's finances, relying solely on the spirit mines near the mountain gate and shops in the market towns, could no longer sustain the disciples' well-being, ultimately leading to the great disaster of internal strife.

"Fortunately, three Golden Immortal Ancestors who were traveling outside the heavens returned in time, stopping the chaos, restoring order, and returning to the source.

"The three Ancestors tearfully executed several old Heavenly Immortals. Our Myriad Cloud Sect fell from fifty-four peaks to thirty-six, and our ranking in the Eastern Continent dropped to the teens. Before that, our Myriad Cloud Sect was ranked among the eight great sects of the Eastern Continent.

"I was appointed to this position in the face of crisis. These ten thousand years... have been like walking on thin ice. The current Myriad Cloud Sect has finally recovered its vitality."

Ten thousand years?

Li Dazhi gave a thumbs-up.

He truly admired this Sect Master.

He himself almost got depression after managing a factory for twenty years. For Senior Brother Yun Mo to have led the Myriad Cloud Sect for ten thousand years, bringing a sect recovering from internal strife to its current prosperity, was truly not easy.

The Sect Master changed the subject: "Junior Brother Dazhi, if our Myriad Cloud Sect is to continue developing, what path should we take?"

Li Dazhi thought for a moment and chuckled: "Expansion is difficult; it's better to consolidate."

The Sect Master asked again: "Then, Junior Brother Dazhi, do you think the Outer Sect needs to change going forward?"

"To some extent."

Li Dazhi said solemnly:

"Actually, the main problem with the Outer Sect now is that the accounts are not clear enough. Many Immortals in the sect have become too well-fed. Many shops in the market towns have experienced accounting chaos and blind acquisitions, resulting in the loss of quite a few spirit stones.

"Of course, for us, these are minor issues."

The Sect Master asked curiously: "When did you notice these things, Junior Brother?"

Li Dazhi grinned: "Ping'an told me."

"Oh?"

The Sect Master looked at the 'river of disciples' flying through the air below and found the young Daoist traveling with Mu Ningning.

Li Dazhi quickly said: "Sect Master, you know the rumors within the sect about what I want to do. So, Ping'an is always worried I might be tricked, and he's been collecting various information within the sect... Please take a look at this. This was written by Ping'an."

Li Dazhi handed a jade slip to the Sect Master.

The Sect Master took the jade slip and glanced at it, his eyes shining with excitement.

This was the plan for the sect's grand competition, drafted by Li Ping'an.

"Junior Brother Dazhi," the Sect Master said gravely, "are you saying..."

"Sect Master, you called me here today and said these things to me, I more or less understand your intentions."

Li Dazhi chuckled:

"It's not that I'm bragging about my son, but he's truly far superior to me in this regard. I just have some fortune and talent.

"He seems to have more brains than I do."

"If that's the case, then your father and son are both indispensable to our Myriad Cloud Sect."

The Sect Master smiled, returning the jade slip to Li Dazhi, and patted him on the arm.

"You focus on your cultivation and duties. Don't pay too much attention to the internal chatter within the sect. Once your precious son becomes an Immortal, he will naturally be entrusted with important responsibilities.

"However, Junior Brother Dazhi.

"It would be best for Ping'an to stay behind you for now, to avoid any criticism. And do not mention this matter of the jade slip to anyone else."

"Ah, yes, I'll give you a heads-up."

Li Dazhi quickly cupped his hands:

"Ping'an is a Dao fanatic; his mind is solely on how to cultivate.

"My son and I have no ulterior motives. We are already content to find a place to settle and establish ourselves within the sect. Even if someone intends to target us, we will do our best to consider the overall situation."

"What 'settle and establish ourselves'? The future of the Myriad Cloud Sect will likely depend on your great fortune."

The Sect Master laughed:

"Come, I'll introduce you to these other Sect Masters.

"The phenomenon during your aptitude test in Wan'an City has already spread throughout the cultivation world. We no longer need to hide the fact that our Myriad Cloud Sect has gained someone with great fortune.

"'Entering the Dao in middle age, becoming an Immortal in three years!'

"This humble Daoist can't wait to see their astonished faces! Hahaha!"

Li Ping'an watched from afar as his father, Old Li, was led by the Sect Master to the center of the viewing platform at Colorful Cloud Peak, exchanging pleasantries with the foreign guests.

Clearly, because the sect's grand competition had been so vividly organized, his father's status within the Myriad Cloud Sect had been further solidified.

"Senior Brother," Mu Ningning said from beside him, "shall we go say hello to the senior sisters at Colorful Cloud Peak?"

"You go ahead," Li Ping'an instructed. "You stay there for now. If you're with me, you might be targeted."

Mu Ningning blinked and asked, "Aren't you going, Senior Brother?"

Li Ping'an: ...

There were all female disciples over there; it would indeed be too conspicuous for him to go.

"You're also a disciple of Colorful Cloud Peak."

Mu Ningning suppressed a smile and leaned close to Li Ping'an's ear, whispering mysteriously:

"Several senior sisters were saying yesterday that they wanted to meet you today. They've even prepared an introductory gift for new disciples of Colorful Cloud Peak for you!"

An introductory gift? What kind of introductory gift?

A little pink dress?

Judging by Mu Ningning's expression, Li Ping'an had a feeling it wasn't anything good.

Li Ping'an glanced at the lineup of Colorful Cloud Peak disciples.

The disciples of Colorful Cloud Peak occupied nearly half of the eastern cloud wall. At a glance, they were like a flock of orioles and swallows, plump and slender, like a hundred flowers blooming, vying for beauty.

—In this day and age, there are no ugly female cultivators, only lazy ones who don't bother to subtly adjust their appearances.

"It's not convenient for me to go over there, so let's forget it."

Li Ping'an whispered:

"Junior Sister, please handle it for me. Just say that I will definitely visit Colorful Cloud Peak after the competition.

"I'll wait here for the matches to begin."

"Alright then," Mu Ningning pouted. "I'll say later that Senior Brother is too shy and bashful, so just give me the introductory gift!"

Li Ping'an said, "Pay attention to when the stewards call out. We were promoted from the Human Ranking, so we should be on stage first."

"Okay, I'll head over now. See you later, Senior Brother~"

Li Ping'an waved with a smile, and Mu Ningning gracefully departed.

The handover of the arena between Xuyun Peak and Colorful Cloud Peak was completed smoothly.

By "handover," it essentially meant the audience changing venues. The old stewards carried their tables and chairs to the Colorful Cloud Peak venue, and then the Peak Master of Colorful Cloud Peak appeared to encourage the disciples.

The overall process is like this.

The rules for the Earth Ranking battle are much more detailed than those for the Human Ranking, and these rules... were created by Li Ping'an.

Colorful Cloud Peak's intention was to have more matches in the Earth Ranking, allowing their disciples to liven up Colorful Cloud Peak for a longer period.

To satisfy this small request from the organizers and make the Earth Ranking last longer, Li Ping'an adopted the rules from the esports competitions he often watched.

Next, the over sixty disciples will first go through six rounds of 'group stages.' The group stages will determine the top thirty-two, who will then compete in sectional group round-robins to decide the top sixteen. These sixteen will advance to the final elimination rounds and the finals.

For this grand competition, Li Ping'an's personal goal is to break into the Heaven Ranking and secure a spot within the top fifty.

His main objective is to make his Master happy.

"Has Master not come over?"

Li Ping'an looked around and quickly found a graceful figure meditating in a corner of the viewing platform.

A half-zhang radius around Qingxu seemed to be a no-go zone; no one approached to offer greetings. Her tranquility was tinged with a hint of loneliness.

She didn't seem very good at chatting with people.

As Li Ping'an was pondering this, Wei Yanzi ambled over, squatted beside him, grabbed his arm, and transmitted his voice:

"Ping'an, do you want to kick off the event? Make a splash or something.

"The Elders of the sect are all watching. If you, at the Light Condensation Realm, can continue to defeat stronger opponents, you'll definitely leave a deeper impression on the Immortals in the sect.

"That's the entire contingent of disciples from Colorful Cloud Peak over there... so many beautiful female cultivators... and you look so dashing when you wield your spear."

"Steward, let's draw lots according to the rules."

Li Ping'an felt a bit speechless, almost wanting to laugh.

He wasn't some lustful ghost, nor was he at an age where he wanted to show off in front of the opposite sex.

"I understand. Ah, what a great opportunity!"

Wei Yanzi showed a look of regret and gracefully departed.

Just as this Origin Immortal steward left, Li Ping'an was about to continue his meditation when a wisp of telepathic sound suddenly entered his ear.

He didn't recognize this unfamiliar voice.

The other party said:

"Little Ping'an, put some effort into the Earth Ranking battle. If you can enter the top ten of the Earth Ranking, this old Daoist will give you some treasures later."

What? Who is this?

Starting with "Little Ping'an," is that polite?

Suddenly, the sound of gongs and drums shook the heavens and earth, and melodious string music drifted through the clouds.

The Earth Ranking battle officially begins!