Plotting Against Elder Xiao

Li Ping'an had anticipated Xiao Yue's arrival.

He had initially thought Xiao Yue would bring Wen Ling'er along.

The moment Wen Ling'er appeared within the sect's gates, Li Ping'an's suspicions were piqued.

Wen Ling'er, a trusted confidante of Elder Xiao Yue, had been working for the Myriad Cloud Sect in the market town for decades. Her sudden entry into the mountain sect was highly suspicious.

Normally, the only way for a menial disciple like Wen Ling'er to enter the mountain sect would be to become a disciple and an inner disciple. However, Wen Ling'er was wearing an outer disciple's uniform and was surrounded by other outer disciples. It was clear that Xiao Yue had deliberately arranged for Wen Ling'er to enter the Myriad Cloud Sect's outer sect…

What was Elder Xiao Yue's deeper intention in sending Wen Ling'er into the mountain sect?

If it was a honey trap, Li Ping'an certainly wouldn't believe it. He firmly believed that immortal calculations couldn't be so crude.

Besides, Wen Ling'er was the type to be demure and cute. Shouldn't Elder Xiao Yue have used a honey trap on her own father?

As he was pondering this, Xiao Yue called out from outside the cave abode:

"Immortal Qing Su, Xiao Yue requests an audience."

She was a True Immortal, and Qing Su was a Heavenly Immortal. This request for an audience was certainly appropriate.

Within the cave abode's barrier, Qing Su approached with hands behind her back. Her slender, tall figure perfectly filled out the ice-blue long skirt. Her form flickered twice, appearing behind the door, dispelling the barrier and opening the cave's entrance.

Li Ping'an rose from his lounge chair and stood obediently by the lotus pond, glancing outside.

Outside the door stood the same beautiful elder.

Xiao Yue's face was well-suited for heavy makeup. Her lips were like fire, her phoenix eyes were captivating, and the structure of her elaborate robes did little to conceal her figure. Her bare shoulders and chest revealed large patches of fair skin. Her fiery physique, paired with the gauze-like dress, paradoxically gave off an aura of being alluring yet not vulgar.

However, at this moment, Xiao Yue's beauty couldn't overshadow Qing Su's purity. The entrance to the cave abode seemed to have become a realm of ice and fire.

"Elder, for what reason have you come?" Qing Su asked calmly.

"Sister, you don't recognize me?"

Xiao Yue covered her mouth and chuckled softly, taking half a step forward and taking Qing Su's arm.

"When you ascended, I even went to Colorful Cloud Peak to witness the ceremony. I never imagined that in the blink of an eye, Sister would become a Heavenly Immortal within the sect, enjoying the same provisions as an inner sect elder, while I remain merely a True Immortal.

"Sister is usually busy in the market town outside the mountain. I truly envy you."

Qing Su felt a slight discomfort and gently pulled her right hand away from Xiao Yue's grasp, asking softly, "Elder, do you need something?"

Xiao Yue brought her hands together in front of her chest and said softly, "It's nothing else, really. May I speak with young friend Ping'an? There are some matters I wish to discuss with him."

Li Ping'an was just about to go to the door.

"No."

Qing Su said plainly:

"My disciple's cultivation is too low. It is not suitable for them to interact with an elder."

Li Ping'an immediately stopped in his tracks, looking obediently towards the door.

Xiao Yue was not angered, and she smiled faintly, "Sister Qing Su, you may not know, but young friend Ping'an and I are old acquaintances. I've come to see him to inquire about new artifact refining methods. I also wish to contribute more to the sect."

Qing Su said, "Then first, stop your seductive arts. My disciple is only in the Light Condensation Realm. Such things from you could harm their Dao heart."

Xiao Yue's smile froze, a hint of awkwardness in her expression. She made a hand seal with a delicate, orchid-like finger. Her phoenix eyes lost some of their captivating allure, and her features unexpectedly gained a touch of purity.

Instead, her charm increased.

Qing Su turned to look at Li Ping'an, as if seeking his opinion.

"Master, I also have something to discuss with Elder Xiao," Li Ping'an said with a smile. "My cultivation is too shallow. Please stay and watch over me."

"Alright."

Qing Su nodded slightly, made a gesture of invitation to Xiao Yue, and then floated to Li Ping'an's side.

Li Ping'an suddenly said, "Master, my conversation with Elder Xiao cannot be overheard by outsiders. Please raise the barrier… You can just listen from here. You're not an outsider."

A faint smile appeared on Qing Su's lips. She sat back down on the lounge chair, a jade slip for recording notes appearing in her hand.

Xiao Yue let out a soft sigh.

She gazed at Li Ping'an with a wistful look and gracefully walked towards him.

Li Ping'an cupped his hands in greeting and invited Xiao Yue to the octagonal stone table. He brought out some snacks and fruit wine, his etiquette undoubtedly quite thorough.

Xiao Yue sighed, "At your age, why are you so cunning? Once the barrier is up, I won't be able to explain myself to Vice Sect Master Mo Yi."

She directly mentioned Daoist Mo Yi's name?

Li Ping'an chuckled, "Elder, since you've come to find me yourself, you must have already made up your mind. I imagine you won't care about such matters."

"It is indeed easier to talk to you."

Xiao Yue smiled.

"I just came from the main hall. The Sect Master is entertaining guests, and your father is with the elders figuring out how to produce more magic treasures from that set of magic artifacts. I found it a bit boring listening to them, so I decided to come find you directly."

Li Ping'an said slowly, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. That set of magic artifacts was actually made by my father. My father asked me to offer it to the sect simply to earn me some rewards."

"Oh?"

Xiao Yue gently traced the rim of the porcelain cup with her fingertip, saying softly, "But why did Uncle Da Zhi say that he and you are indispensable? He can create a complete set of processes, while you can solve the engraving method and the method of embedding spirit stones?"

Li Ping'an: ...

Good heavens, Father said all this?

However, Xiao Yue called Father "Uncle," and considering she once said she was also a Golden Immortal disciple, Xiao Yue's Master should be a Golden Immortal disciple of Ancestor Kongming.

—The other two Golden Immortals within the sect are the third disciple of Ancestor Kongming and a close confidant of Ancestor Kongming.

"My father truly can't keep anything from me," Li Ping'an sighed. "What I do is just a minor art; my father's integration and debugging are the most important."

"Since you admit it, I don't need to beat around the bush."

Xiao Yue asked directly:

"The twelve magic artifacts you presented to the sect are, to a master craftsman, quite rudimentary. However, this method of using artifacts to refine artifacts is truly eye-opening.

"When I arrived, I did some calculations. Based on the sect's level of importance, this kind of..."

Li Ping'an chuckled, "This is called an assembly line."

"That name is quite interesting."

Xiao Yue's phoenix eyes flickered with a slight glow, and she quickly said:

"According to the sect's current progress, this assembly line can be deployed in over twenty sets within half a month, and will increase monthly thereafter. It is projected to earn the sect hundreds of thousands of spirit stones annually.

"This is only considering the current level of artifact refining, and it's limited by the number of storefronts in our Myriad Cloud Sect and the speed of artifact circulation.

"But if this method can be improved to mass-produce high-quality or even top-tier artifacts, the spirit stones the sect can earn will be very substantial."

Li Ping'an simply watched Xiao Yue, saying nothing.

Xiao Yue then asked, "I have three points of confusion. Can you, young friend, clarify them for me?"

"Please, go ahead."

"First," Xiao Yue said, "the twelve magic artifacts you made are not difficult to replicate. Once the sect deploys more of these artifact sets, other sects are expected to imitate them in three to four years. How do you explain this?"

"This matter cannot be solved, nor is it something to worry about."

Li Ping'an replied:

"Our Myriad Cloud Sect is not known for artifact refining. In my opinion as a disciple, the most important thing about these twelve artifacts my father made is bringing this refining method, this idea, into the cultivation world.

"You have managed the market town industries of the Myriad Cloud Sect for many years, so you must know this. Once a pill becomes a hot commodity, a large number of similar pills will appear on the market. Thirty percent of these goods come from various sects, and seventy percent come from the vast number of rogue cultivators or cultivating families.

"Returning to artifact refining, it's much the same.

"My father has reviewed some of the sect's accounts. The cost of a mortal-grade flying sword is about twenty low-grade spirit stones, and the selling price is about thirty to thirty-two low-grade spirit stones. Adding the manpower required for refining, the profit is not much.

"Our Myriad Cloud Sect has three mortal Immortal Dynasties and over a hundred spirit mines. From the extraction of precious materials to the sale of finished products, we don't need to purchase externally. What is the total cost involved here?"

Xiao Yue's phoenix eyes darted, and she quickly replied, "If we only consider the monthly manpower expenditure, it shouldn't be much."

Li Ping'an chuckled, "I've calculated it. Assuming one assembly line requires six cultivators working in shifts, plus the cost of minerals produced by the sect, this assembly line can reduce the cost of a mortal-grade flying sword to seven low-grade spirit stones. Then, can't we sell our flying swords for only fifteen low-grade spirit stones? This would earn three to five times more than selling the ore directly before."

Xiao Yue flipped her palm, and a small, shimmering abacus appeared in her palm. She lowered her head and quickly manipulated it.

She suddenly looked up and exclaimed, "It's six and a half low-grade spirit stones!"

"And it's far more than just flying swords," Li Ping'an said seriously. "We can mass-produce a large number of low-priced flying swords. As long as the quality control is strict, it can impact the existing artifact refining market."

Xiao Yue laughed, "As expected of a mortal wealthy merchant, this matter is highly profitable!"

Li Ping'an smiled and asked, "Elder, don't you have two more points of confusion?"

"After you've explained it like this, my second point of confusion is gone."

Xiao Yue said:

"My third point of confusion is, why did you directly present such artifacts in front of those sect masters? This way, we can't even keep it a secret, and we have to share a piece of the pie.

Li Ping'an: ...

Ask the Sect Master!

The Sect Master told him to present it directly!

The atmosphere was already at that point, what could he do?

But Li Ping'an's thoughts turned, and with a solemn expression, he cupped his hands to the side and sighed, "It was merely my father's arrangement."

"Oh? Why?"

"My father said that if one only seeks small profits, it is detrimental to the long term."

Li Ping'an said sternly:

"My father also said that our Myriad Cloud Sect's influence cannot expand outwards in a short period, but we can unite some declining friendly sects around our Myriad Cloud Sect, making them a moat protecting our Myriad Cloud Sect.

"Not only that, my father also said that we will only select a few artifacts with high consumption for assembly line production later, and we should not monopolize all artifact production methods.

"There are a considerable number of rogue cultivators who rely on artifact refining for survival. If we do things too absolutely, our Myriad Cloud Sect will be fine in recent years. But if our Myriad Cloud Sect encounters misfortune, I fear there will be a situation where everyone pushes us down when we fall.

"These are merely my father's considerations."

Xiao Yue pondered carefully, a slight smile inadvertently appearing at the corner of her lips.

"Elder Da Zhi has such a broad mind and vision; I truly admire him… He's not someone who just drinks and messes around every day."

"That's exactly how my father is." Li Ping'an chuckled.

"When he has free time, he likes to make friends, drink, and have fun. But when it comes to important matters, he never falters. He's also gentle and tolerant towards people. He deliberately appears portly now, but if he changed his physique, he'd be handsome and dashing.

"And, Elder Xiao."

Xiao Yue asked, "Yes?"

Li Ping'an smiled, "Although Vice Sect Master Mo Yi constantly gives my father a hard time, my father has never viewed Vice Sect Master Mo Yi as a rival or an enemy. My father says we are all just members of the Myriad Cloud Sect. So-called power is nothing but fleeting clouds compared to the eternal Dao fruit."

Xiao Yue smiled without speaking, not taking the bait.

Li Ping'an said slowly, "Elder Xiao, do you know that my father will be proposing to establish a 'Cloud Casting Hall' under the Marvelous Cloud Hall to specialize in this kind of artifact refining?"

Xiao Yue's smile deepened, and she said softly, "Are you trying to get me to stop listening to the Vice Sect Master?"

"Precisely."

"Then do you know that Vice Sect Master Mo Yi can send me back to the mountain to cultivate at any time?"

Xiao Yue sighed.

"My Master is in closed-door cultivation year-round, and Senior Brother Mo Yi has always taken good care of me. Although I manage many of the sect's external assets, it would only take a word from the Vice Sect Master to replace me.

"I didn't want to get too involved with them, but I have over a thousand registered disciples under me. If I return to the mountain, they will have no one to rely on…"

Li Ping'an chuckled, "Isn't this the perfect opportunity?"

Xiao Yue looked puzzled. "What opportunity?"

Li Ping'an took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Yue, smiling.

"Give this to my father, and he will help you resolve all your doubts.

"My father said that among the many elders in the sect, only you, Elder Xiao, can shoulder such a heavy responsibility. Otherwise, if we make magic artifacts but the shops everywhere fall into chaos, how can this matter succeed?

"My father's intention is not for Elder Xiao to oppose the Vice Sect Master; you simply need to distance yourself from the situation.

"My father does not wish to be enemies with any fellow disciples. Even if they repeatedly pressure him, as long as these fellow disciples are still thinking for the sect, my father will not hold grudges against them in the future."

Xiao Yue smilingly accepted the jade slip, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

She scanned the jade slip with her immortal sense but couldn't understand the 'Eagle Language' written within.

"In that case, I will head to the main hall now. Thank you, young friend."

"You are too kind," Li Ping'an said, rising and performing a disciple's bow. "Actually, my father is inherently kind-hearted, and I always worry he will be taken advantage of or suffer in silence. If I could have your assistance…"

"We are all working for the sect; it's just mutual assistance."

Xiao Yue bowed to Qingxu and then looked Li Ping'an up and down, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. She then turned and took her leave.

After Xiao Yue left on her cloud.

Li Ping'an stood with his hands behind his back at the cave entrance, carefully calculating in his mind.

The content of the jade slip he wrote was to ask his father to request the Sect Master to issue an order, directly appointing Xiao Yue to be responsible for the sales of magic artifacts.

Xiao Yue appeared to have gained this benefit for nothing.

But in reality, in the 'Eagle Language' he wrote on the jade slip, he had instructed his father to first loudly praise Elder Xiao in front of everyone, praising her in the most flattering way possible, and then, in front of everyone, ask the Sect Master to issue the order.

Once this matter was settled, regardless of whether Xiao Yue was willing or not, she would be passively cut off from Vice Sect Master Mo Yi's faction.

The struggle for power within an Immortal Sect is different from the succession struggles in historical dramas, where one must fight to the death and eliminate all losers once in power.

The Founding Ancestor was still alive and well, and the current Sect Master wished to retire solely to focus on his cultivation. In this context, the struggle for power was essentially a struggle for influence.

Make enemies fewer and friends more numerous.

If Vice Sect Master Mo Yi had no one to echo his words, he himself would have no hope of contending for power.

According to Li Ping'an's current plan, he would first use the magic artifact business to temporarily win over Xiao Yue. His next target would naturally be Elder Bi, the Ancestor Master of Wang Zaizhi.

Sometimes, conflict also creates connections, and with connections, there are opportunities to act…

Hmm?

Wait a moment.

Li Ping'an suddenly realized.

Didn't he say he would rely entirely on his father?

How did it turn into him personally helping his father become a generation's immortal?

Oh, this…

"Disciple?"

Qingxu suddenly called out.

Li Ping'an pushed these extraneous thoughts to the back of his mind and walked over with a smile. "Master, what is it?"

Qingxu said, "Focus on your cultivation. Do not be distracted by worldly affairs. Longevity is the fundamental path."

"Ah, yes, this disciple remembers."

Li Ping'an lowered his head in response, and happened to see the spirit fish being raised in the lotus pond. He smiled, "Disciples, may I prepare a few dishes for you to try?"

Qingxu didn't understand, "Dishes? Are you referring to the food you made in the mortal world?"

Li Ping'an deliberately kept it a secret, "You'll know in a moment."

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the main peak.

The Sect Master, who was changing clothes, frowned and concentrated, then suddenly slapped his own mouth.

Afterward, he regained his calm smile and walked out of his cultivation hut.