The Three Teachings of Ren, Chan, and Jie Flourish, Qingyuan is Robbed, Do You Know Who You've Offended?

"Junior Brother, let me speak."

Seeing Wuzhiqi's indignant expression, Yun Zhongzi quickly interjected: "In recent years, the number of disciples in our three Xuan sects has grown considerably."

"Our Jie Sect's Grandmaster has taken in over a thousand Registered Disciples, among whom cultivators like Golden Hoop Immortal, Shi Ji, and Ma Yuan have made names for themselves. Grandmaster also accepted a one-legged Primordial Wilderness beast, Kui Niu, as his mount. Our Jie Sect has over three thousand disciples now, quite lively."

Of course, when speaking of liveliness, Yun Zhongzi's expression turned somewhat odd.

"Mm, continue."

Qingyuan nodded, and Yun Zhongzi went on: "Second Martial Uncle has also taken in several Inner Sect Disciples in recent years—namely Juliusun, Cihang, Taiyi, and Puxian. There's also Daoist Huanglong from the Dragon Clan, who offered the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage to pass the great formation and enter the inner sect. Besides that, Second Martial Uncle took in a White Crane as a Daoist Attendant."

"They've all come as they should..."

Qingyuan said nothing, sighing inwardly.

As for Senior Uncle Yuanshi accepting Daoist Huanglong, it was no surprise.

Daoist Huanglong was a pure-blood true dragon of the Dragon Clan, and offering the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage—a treasure symbolizing status—meant he had affinity with Venerable Yuanshi, so naturally he could join the Chan Sect.

Only...

With more people in the Chan Sect, wouldn't they start stirring up trouble with the Jie Sect later?

Guangchengzi, Taiyi, Juliusun—none of these were easy to mess with!

Sure enough, Qingyuan caught Wuzhiqi's indignant look from the corner of his eye, as if he had something to say, but was held back by Yun Zhongzi.

"Mm, anything else?"

"Senior Martial Uncle took in two outer disciples. One is named Zhenwu, said to be one of the Ancestors of Humanity, and the other is Daoist Du'e, a loose immortal from the Kunlun Mountains. Besides that, he took in two child attendants and a Green Ox as a mount."

Yun Zhongzi reported truthfully, leaving Qingyuan somewhat stunned.

To be honest, he only knew that later generations' Zhenwu Emperor was connected to the Human Sect, ranked just below the Four Emperors, with strength rarely seen across the Three Realms.

He never expected

that Zhenwu had joined the Human Sect this early.

The two child attendants must be Golden Horn and Silver Horn, right? And Daoist Du'e has come too?

Thinking this, Qingyuan couldn't help sighing inwardly: With so many people, an internal split and war is probably inevitable sooner or later!

"Our Xuan sect's population is flourishing."

Qingyuan praised, then looked at Wuzhiqi and said: "I see you have something to say. What is it?"

"Master, you don't know this, but the Chan Sect people are utterly vile!"

Wuzhiqi said furiously: "A thousand years ago, on a whim, I went out to cultivate in the water veins of Kunlun Mountains. I found a natural stone cave, and inside was a cluster of Heavenly Spiritual Marrow Core that had taken millions of years to condense. I waited centuries for it to ripen, and when I was just halfway through harvesting, a short, stout cultivator snatched most of it away and even tried to beat me, saying how could a wet-born, egg-hatched creature deserve such fortune."

"I couldn't take it, so I fought him in the water. He couldn't beat me and fled by earth escape, but who knew he'd soon return with help!"

"That help was none other than Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, and the others. The short fatty saw me and claimed I stole his Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, cursed me as a fur-wearing, horned beast, and then Guangchengzi and the others, without hearing the truth, demanded I hand it over and said Master couldn't teach his disciples properly."

"I could bear the humiliation myself, but how could I let them slander Master's reputation?"

"In a rage, I fought them, but I couldn't withstand those Golden Immortals and Mystic Immortals, and ultimately had to escape through the rivers."

Yun Zhongzi frowned but still reported truthfully: "Master, in recent years, as the Chan Sect has grown, conflicts with our Jie Sect have become more frequent."

"The two sides have fought fiercely, making a huge mess."

"Has Junior Brother Duobao and the others enforced the sect rules?"

Qingyuan's expression turned grave.

"Uncle Duobao and the others enforced the rules at first, and things were fine, but later they had to go into Secluded Cultivation, and the rules gradually fell by the wayside. Besides, most of our Jie Sect are beings of heaven and earth who attained the Dao—unpredictable and unrestrained—which the Chan Sect disciples looked down on, leading to disputes. One thing led to another, tempers flared, and conflicts became unstoppable."

Yun Zhongzi shook his head.

Hearing this, Qingyuan knew Yun Zhongzi was being tactful.

The Jie Sect was still manageable now, with beings from the Kunlun Mountains coming to seek apprenticeship.

But later on, that would be truly terrifying.

One by one, they'd be demons and monsters, wolves and tigers, using the banner of the Jie Sect and saint disciples to commit every evil—killing, harming, slaughtering—what wouldn't they do?

If the Jie Sect was to stand tall for the long haul, it had to start reining in its disciples now, or it would be even harder to control later!

Qingyuan pondered, made a decision, and said: "Come, accompany your master for a walk outside."

"Yes!"

The two followed behind Qingyuan, leaving Serene Peak and heading toward Shangqing Peak.

Most of the Disciples of the Jie Sect were actually gathered in the area around Shangqing Peak.

Qingyuan had originally been near Shangqing Peak as well.

Later, worn down by reality and unwilling to clash with others, he found a quiet place to establish a dojo and cultivate.

Once they reached the range of Shangqing Peak.

Qingyuan also sensed a tense, sword-drawn atmosphere. Many Jie Sect disciples wore fierce, arrogant expressions, seething with anger, gathering in small groups to denounce the Chan Sect's tyranny and contempt, recounting the Chan Sect's crimes, and even discussing how to ambush the Chan Sect members.

Feeling an intangible, strange aura pervading heaven and earth.

Qingyuan's brow furrowed slightly.

Having stepped into the upper-grade Innate Demon God Origin, he was highly sensitive to the Great Dao Laws and various energies of the world.

Within the range of the Three Sects, there was an indescribable negative emotion hanging in the air, which would gradually cloud the minds of living beings here, making them violent and impulsive. It was likely this that caused the repeated conflicts between the disciples of the Jie and Chan Sects.

And he was a Twenty-Fourth-Grade Azure Lotus.

Impervious to all evils, he was spared from the invasion of negative emotions.

Within the Jie Sect's territory.

Not to mention dealings with outsiders, even internal strife was endless—scheming and deceit.

Turning the area near Shangqing Peak into a chaotic mess.

"And this is only with a few thousand disciples. When the future era of a million Disciples of the Sect of Interception and the worship of all gods arrives, how chaotic will it be?"

Qingyuan lowered his eyelids.

Then.

He turned his gaze to another direction.

The Three Pure Ones had attained the Dao on Kunlun Mountain.

Out of brotherly bonds, they established their dojos—Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing—on three peaks not far apart. With a single glance, he could see that the Chan Sect had also become lively with its growing numbers.

But the Chan Sect immortals were particularly hostile toward the Jie Sect.

In their discussions and debates, they all spoke of the Jie Sect's faults.

"Alas..."

Qingyuan let out a sigh.

Leading his disciples, he flew down from outside Shangqing Peak and began walking up the mountain on foot. The sight before him immediately made him frown.

These Registered Disciples of the Jie Sect were far too outrageous in their actions.

Some were fighting among themselves outside Shangqing Peak, and some even dared to engage in yin-yang union within the peak itself?

"Stop right there. When did you join the sect? I've never seen you before."

A tiger-headed, human-bodied cultivator lying on a giant stone, basking in the sun, raised his head and fixed his gaze on Qingyuan, his eyes glinting. "That robe of yours looks pretty good. Take it off and give it to me, and I'll let you pass!"

"Big brother, look at that jade pendant at his waist—smooth and glossy, the quality seems pretty good!"

A wolf cultivator massaging his legs said with a calculating look.

"That white-robed kid has a Houtian Spiritual Treasure at his waist. Treasures belong to those who are worthy. Why not let Big Brother take it for his use, so it doesn't go to waste?"

A leopard cultivator also spoke up.

Then.

A small group of Registered Disciples of the Jie Sect following the tiger cultivator chimed in with suggestions.

A few words here and there, and they were practically stripping Qingyuan and his two companions bare.

These Registered Disciples were so eager partly out of fear of the tiger cultivator, and partly because they couldn't stand seeing others do well—they wanted to see Qingyuan robbed by the tiger cultivator too.

It made them feel better.

"Kid, are you going to do it or not? What are you waiting for?"

Sickle Tiger sneered, picking meat scraps from between his teeth with a twig, and said casually, "Don't make me make a move."

"Under the saint's very feet, you still dare to act like this? Aren't you afraid of the saint's punishment?"

Qingyuan's face darkened. Behind him, Yun Zhongzi and Wuzhiqi were held back by him from making a move.

"How would the saint bother with such a trivial matter? We're not killing anyone—just that treasures belong to those who are worthy."

Sickle Tiger scoffed. "Hand over the goods now, or don't blame me for showing no mercy!!"

"Blocking the path and robbing fellow disciples of their property—aren't you afraid of punishment from the Inner Sect Disciples?"

Qingyuan coldly reprimanded.

Sickle Tiger and his group were stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahaha, Inner Sect Disciples? How would big shots like Inner Sect Disciples bother with such a small matter? They go into seclusion for thousands or tens of thousands of years, pursuing the Great Dao—why would they care about the affairs of small-time cultivators like us?"

Sickle Tiger suddenly stood up, looking down with a malicious grin. "Do you know who my backer is?"

"Immortal Dingguang?"

Qingyuan suddenly laughed, then bellowed in a thunderous voice: "Immortal Dingguang, get the hell out here!!"

The sound was vast, shaking heaven and earth.

It also startled a figure discussing the Dao with Qiushou Xian amidst a landscape of lofty mountains and flowing water, making him tremble all over and instinctively drop to his knees.

When he came to his senses.

Immortal Dingguang's face flushed red, and he stood up from the ground.

"Senior Disciple Brother is calling for me? What does he want me for?"

"I don't know," Qiushou Xian shook his head, a strange expression on his face. "You haven't gone and offended Senior Disciple Brother again, have you?"

The news of Qingyuan becoming the Inner Sect Senior Disciple had spread throughout the Jie Sect, learned from Senior Disciple Brother Duobao and Senior Disciple Sister Jin Ling, causing many Registered Disciples of the Jie Sect to silently remember this First Disciple of the Intercepting Sect who had lain dormant for years before soaring to prominence.

Back then, the scene of him annihilating numerous Disciples of the Jie Sect and crushing Daoist Duobao.

Was also like a great mountain pressing down on everyone's hearts, making it hard for them to breathe.

But fortunately, Senior Disciple Brother was only devoted to Secluded Cultivation, so they normally wouldn't see him and didn't need to be afraid.

But now...

"That shouldn't be right. In the thousands of years Senior Disciple Brother has been in seclusion, I've never gone to provoke Serene Peak. When I run into Senior Disciple Brother's two disciples on ordinary days, I always greet them with a friendly face. How could I have offended him?"

Immortal Dingguang was also panicked and uneasy.

Back then, his body had been pierced through by Qingyuan's Sword Qi. If he hadn't begged the Teacher to remove the Sword Qi.

He probably still wouldn't have recovered by now.

At that time, Senior Disciple Brother had gone on a killing spree, slaughtering so many Registered Disciples of the Jie Sect.

And the Teacher hadn't said a single word about punishing Senior Disciple Brother. Clearly, Senior Disciple Brother was deeply favored by the Teacher!

Thus, he simply didn't dare to provoke him.

"Come on, let's go see and find out."

Qiushou Xian and Immortal Dingguang quickly flew toward Shangqing Peak, where they saw a large group of Registered Disciples surrounding Qingyuan. They hurried over.

"Senior Disciple Brother Dingguang, you're here? This kid has some good stuff on him! I originally wanted to take it and give it to you, but he doesn't know what's good for him. You need to teach him a proper lesson!!"

Sickle Tiger quickly added fuel to the fire, embellishing the story.

But Immortal Dingguang slapped him flying with a single backhand, his face dark as he cursed loudly: "Fuck! Do you even know who you've offended? Get on your knees right now and apologize to Senior Disciple Brother!"