The Grand Elder's Stratagem (Part 1)

Chapter 43: The Grand Elder's Strategy (Part 1)

After Hall Master Zhou left, Li Qiye casually flipped through the roster of disciples at the Stone Washing Peak's martial arts hall. There were a total of three hundred disciples under the martial arts hall of Stone Washing Peak, with the longest-serving having been there for almost five years.

After Li Qiye looked at the roster, he glanced at Nan Huairen, who was present, and said, "What are your thoughts?"

Nan Huairen gave a dry laugh and said, "Reporting to Senior Brother, this junior dare not speculate lightly. If Senior Brother insists on hearing my humble opinion, this junior can only boldly offer one or two points."

Nan Huairen was smooth and tactful in his speech. He had already pledged his allegiance to Li Qiye and was naturally on Li Qiye's side.

"Nonsense—" Li Qiye gave him a cold glance and said, "If you applied this cunning mind of yours to your cultivation, perhaps you could advance another realm."

Li Qiye's words made Nan Huairen laugh dryly even more. He could only say, "Nature is inherent. The person one is destined to be is the person one will be."

"Alright, stop beating around the bush with me. Tell me your opinion," Li Qiye said, waving his hand dismissively. He didn't mind Nan Huairen's wordplay; Nan Huairen's smooth nature was unchangeable.

Nan Huairen said in a low voice, "This junior has heard some news. According to the Grand Elder's intention, he originally wanted Senior Brother to teach at the martial arts hall of Jade Peak. However, the Second Elder has always insisted that Senior Brother teach and open the hall at Stone Washing Peak."

"Explain the difference," Li Qiye said with a smile, already confident.

Nan Huairen did not dare to show off in front of Li Qiye, but he still stated his opinion seriously. He said, "The Second Elder has great influence in the lineage of Stone Washing Peak. Senior Brother He Yingjian comes from this lineage. Although Senior Brother He is only a third-generation disciple, in reality, he has long been on par with the Martial Uncles who are at the Hall Master level."

Nan Huairen did not dare to express his views too freely, stopping at just enough. He knew that Li Qiye was by no means a fool, and his schemes and plans were more terrifying than anyone could imagine.

"Oh, what about the factions of the Six Great Elders?" Li Qiye said with a smile.

"This..." Nan Huairen couldn't help but ponder for a moment. In fact, as a third-generation disciple, he wasn't sure about matters concerning the Six Great Elders.

"This is very simple. It depends on whether the Grand Elder has the intention to contend for the position of Sect Master," a kind voice sounded at this moment.

Second Senior Brother Tu Buyu walked in. At over a thousand years old, he was still agile, and a kind smile remained on his face.

"Tell me about it," Li Qiye didn't mind Tu Buyu's presence, nor was he afraid of Tu Buyu getting involved.

Tu Buyu said with a smile, "Senior Brother, in our Washing Yan Ancient Sect, in terms of influence, it is none other than the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder is a stern person and handles matters fairly. More importantly, he is the personal disciple of the previous Sect Master. By seniority, he has the best chance of becoming the Sect Master of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect."

"Wasn't the previous senior disciple of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect our Master?" Hearing Tu Buyu's words, Li Qiye was somewhat surprised. Su Yonghuang was the Sect Master, and he thought he was the personal disciple of the previous Sect Master.

Tu Buyu lightly shook his head and said with a smile, "Master's situation is a bit special, different from the Grand Elder. Among the first-generation disciples, the Grand Elder has always had the best chance of inheriting the position of Sect Master. In fact, among the Six Great Elders, apart from the Second Elder Cao Xiong, the other four Elders are, in principle, all in support of the Grand Elder."

"Then what are the Grand Elder's thoughts?" Li Qiye smiled and stroked his chin.

Tu Buyu shook his head and said, "As for what the Grand Elder thinks, perhaps only he knows. Cao Xiong has always wanted to ascend to the position of Sect Master, this is something everyone knows. But the Grand Elder, he has never expressed his stance. Even if the other Elders support him, some attitudes cannot withstand the test of time. In my opinion, the attitudes of the other four Elders may have wavered in recent years."

Looking at Tu Buyu, Li Qiye couldn't help but laugh and said leisurely, "Master has been away for a long time, and Junior Brother is not in the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. It seems that Master and Junior Brother have quite well-informed news!"

There was something to ponder here. Su Yonghuang did not preside over the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, yet he understood the affairs of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect very well. However, Li Qiye didn't care about the attitudes of the Grand Elder or Su Yonghuang regarding this matter. His determination to rebuild the Washing Yan Ancient Sect could not be stopped by anyone! No one could block his path, not even his nominal master, Su Yonghuang!

"Senior Brother is joking. As disciples of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, the Washing Yan Ancient Sect is our home. Of course, we care about our home," Tu Buyu said with a kind smile.

When Tu Buyu spoke, Nan Huairen wisely closed his mouth and stood aside. Tu Buyu, having lived for over a thousand years, had more authority to speak on matters of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect.

Undoubtedly, Tu Buyu was an old fox. Li Qiye glanced at him and smiled calmly, "Since Junior Brother is back, then Junior Brother should know what Master's attitude is."

All intelligent people could understand Li Qiye's words, and Li Qiye was not hiding anything, getting straight to the point.

Tu Buyu's expression remained unchanged, and he said with a smile, "Senior Brother is the Chief Disciple of our Washing Yan Ancient Sect, representing the glory of our Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Senior Brother's actions are for Senior Brother to decide, and Master will not interfere."

Good heavens, he was playing a perfect game of evasion. He was indeed an old fox who had lived for thousands of years. This made Li Qiye somewhat interested in Tu Buyu. As a disciple, Tu Buyu had lived for over a thousand years; what about his master, Su Yonghuang?

Li Qiye merely smiled faintly at Tu Buyu's words and made no further comments. However, he was not in a hurry to act on the overall situation of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Once his cultivation reached a higher realm, he would have his own plans.

After listening to Tu Buyu's words, Li Qiye made no comment, only instructing Nan Huairen, "Huairen, bring me all the cultivation techniques practiced by the disciples of the martial arts hall. I want to see what techniques they are cultivating."

Nan Huairen responded and hurried to carry out the order, not daring to delay in the slightest.

However, before Li Qiye could receive the cultivation techniques from Nan Huairen, he was invited away by a disciple sent by the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder had sent his own disciple to invite Li Qiye to visit.

The Washing Yan Ancient Sect once controlled thousands of main peaks. However, at present, the Washing Yan Ancient Sect could truly control only seventy-three main peaks, and all seventy-three main peaks of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect were beginning to decline, with the Heaven and Earth Essence becoming depleted.

As the Grand Elder, Elder Gu naturally had the right to occupy a main peak of a lineage, and the main peak occupied by Elder Gu still had relatively abundant Heaven and Earth Essence.

The Grand Elder received Li Qiye in the hall. For a third-generation disciple to be received alone by the Grand Elder was an immense honor for many young disciples of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect.

Li Qiye sat down in the hall, composed and at ease. Facing the Grand Elder, he showed no restraint, remaining calm and relaxed.

The Grand Elder sat at the head of the table and looked at Li Qiye, remaining silent for a long time. Li Qiye also remained silent, waiting for the Grand Elder to speak.

After a long while, the Grand Elder finally spoke. He looked at Li Qiye and sighed softly, saying, "Li Qiye, I cannot understand you. If you were sent by the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, then you are too arrogant."

The Grand Elder's opening words seemed to be a straightforward approach. Li Qiye merely smiled faintly and said, "What does the Elder think? Am I a spy sent by the Nine Sacred Demon Gate?"

"Whether it is true or not, it is not for me alone to decide," the Grand Elder said in a deep voice, looking at Li Qiye.

Hearing this, Li Qiye couldn't help but smile. He already had an idea in his heart. He looked at the Grand Elder and then said, "What others think is not important. What does the Elder think? For example, my taking up the position of teaching at the martial arts hall of Stone Washing Peak."

The Grand Elder stood up and walked to the window, standing there quietly for a very long time, as if he were about to become a stone sculpture. After a long time, he finally turned around, looked at Li Qiye, and finally said, "I cannot control all matters of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect alone, especially at this juncture!"

"The attitudes of the other four Elders have wavered!" Li Qiye smiled, recalling Tu Buyu's words, and understood the Grand Elder's decision. Although the other four Elders had always supported the Grand Elder, and even supported him in becoming the Sect Master of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, their attitudes could not withstand the passage of time. The Grand Elder's stance on the succession of the Sect Master position had always been unpredictable, while Cao Xiong was ambitious. Undoubtedly, as time went on, the other four Elders' attitudes were bound to waver.

"I grew up in the Washing Yan Ancient Sect since childhood, and my former master bestowed great kindness upon me," the Grand Elder finally said in a deep voice. "In the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, I wish to see the Washing Yan Ancient Sect face disaster less than anyone else!"

Li Qiye sat quietly, waiting for the Grand Elder to speak. After a while, the Grand Elder looked at Li Qiye and said in a deep voice, "The enemies of our Washing Yan Ancient Sect should not come from within our Washing Yan Ancient Sect, but from the outside, such as the Holy Heaven Sect."

"The Elder's guidance is enlightening," Li Qiye said, nodding seriously, which was rare.

The Grand Elder sat down and sighed softly, saying, "Thirty thousand years ago, our Washing Yan Ancient Sect fought a battle with the Holy Heaven Sect and suffered a crushing defeat in the capital. We retreated to our sect's territory, losing control of the entire ancient kingdom. For the past thirty thousand years, the great figures of the older generation of our Washing Yan Ancient Sect have passed away, and our Washing Yan Ancient Sect's decline is difficult to reverse. Although our Washing Yan Ancient Sect has declined, we still possess things that the Holy Heaven Sect covets. Although the Holy Heaven Sect has been patient and has not made a move, it is only because they have reservations. If one day, the Holy Heaven Sect discovers that we have no so-called trump cards, it will be the day of our Washing Yan Ancient Sect's demise!"

The battle between the Washing Yan Ancient Sect and the Holy Heaven Sect was something Nan Huairen had mentioned. In fact, fifty thousand years ago, Li Qiye, who had transformed into a Shadow Crow, also knew some things about the Holy Heaven Sect. However, his condition at the time was extremely unfavorable, so he couldn't be bothered to deal with such trivial matters!

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