Qingyun Dao Sect's Crisis Arrives

The next day.

Early morning.

As a voice rang out.

It startled everyone in the Qingyun Dao Sect.

"It's bad, it's really bad, Master, something terrible has happened."

The voice sounded.

Grand Hua Daoist, who had only slept for two hours, jumped out of bed immediately. He instinctively packed all his belongings at an extremely fast speed, ready to flee at any moment.

But the next moment.

The door was pushed open.

It was the sect's third senior brother, holding a piece of Xuan paper, his expression grim.

"Sect Master, don't run away yet. It's not creditors at the door, it's something else."

Wang Zhuoyu's voice rang out. He was covered in sweat and hurriedly spoke to calm Grand Hua Daoist.

He was Grand Hua Daoist's third disciple, and also Ye Ping's third senior brother, Wang Zhuoyu.

He specialized in talismans and formations.

"It's not creditors? Zhuoyu, it's not me saying anything about you, but why aren't you more composed when facing problems? Learn from your eldest senior brother, look at him, then look at yourself!"

Upon hearing that it wasn't creditors, Grand Hua Daoist couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and at the same time, he rebuked in an annoyed tone.

Grand Hua Daoist's head was spinning. Ever since he found out Ye Ping was a genius, he had laughed until the early morning yesterday before going to sleep. It was now the morning, meaning he had only slept for two hours, which made him feel quite uncomfortable.

When he heard that something big had happened, Grand Hua Daoist's first thought was that creditors had come to collect.

Over the years, in order to develop the Qingyun Dao Sect, he had borrowed a lot of money from outside, so much so that creditors often came to his door to demand payment, making Grand Hua Daoist constantly worried.

"Sect Master, although it's not creditors, it's almost the same. Look at this. This is the latest notice issued by the Sect Management Office within Qingzhou."

Wang Zhuoyu was also a bit helpless. He didn't want it to be like this, but a major event had indeed occurred.

"What notice? Are we being evicted?"

Grand Hua Daoist was very excited. He took the Xuan paper and scanned it quickly.

Soon, Grand Hua Daoist's expression became somewhat grim.

No, it became grimmer and grimmer.

"Outrageous!"

"Outrageous!"

"Simply outrageous!"

Grand Hua Daoist uttered "outrageous" three times in a row, his face flushed with anger. His good mood from yesterday vanished instantly.

There weren't many words on the Xuan paper, only a few hundred.

The content was also very simple. It roughly stated that.

Because Qingzhou had abundant spiritual energy, fertile land, and a large population, countless new sects had emerged.

To prevent some sects from being mediocre, cheating, and deceiving people, a thorough investigation would be conducted on the insignificant sects within Qingzhou.

The method of investigation was very simple.

After the notice was issued, within two months, ten low-grade spirit stones must be paid to prove the sect's innocence.

Those who failed to pay the spirit stones within the time limit would have their sect establishment qualifications revoked and their sects disbanded.

If they refused to comply, the use of force to suppress them would not be ruled out.

This resolution had already been approved by the three major sects within Qingzhou and the court of the Jin State.

"Collecting spirit stones out of thin air, this is simply disregarding the law, oppressing the weak, I'm going to the capital to file a complaint."

Grand Hua Daoist clenched his fists tightly in anger.

He was so frustrated.

This notice, which already wasn't making the sect wealthy, made things even worse.

Ten spirit stones.

Perhaps for other sects, it wasn't much.

But for the Qingyun Dao Sect, ten low-grade spirit stones were simply a huge sum.

In the secular world.

One copper coin could be exchanged for a baked flatbread.

One hundred copper coins equaled one tael of silver.

And one hundred taels of silver equaled one tael of gold.

One low-grade spirit stone was equivalent to ten taels of gold.

Ten low-grade spirit stones were equivalent to a hundred taels of gold.

It could be said that the Qingyun Dao Sect hadn't seen what spirit stones looked like for many years.

The Qingyun Dao Sect's annual income was only about ten taels of gold.

This was considered quite standard.

What did ten low-grade spirit stones even mean?

If the Qingyun Dao Sect didn't eat, didn't drink, and didn't spend a single coin, they would have to save for ten years to get ten low-grade spirit stones.

This news was more upsetting than a creditor showing up at their door.

At least a creditor wouldn't demand ten spirit stones, right?

And even if they demanded ten spirit stones.

It would still be considered paying off a debt, wouldn't it?

A debt repaid means more can be borrowed? They could borrow again in the future.

But to give away ten low-grade spirit stones for free, who could accept that?

The most infuriating part was that you couldn't refuse.

If you really refused, they would immediately send people to suppress you.

Qingzhou was lacking in many things, but it was not lacking in insignificant sects.

My head hurts.

My head hurts.

My head really hurts.

Grand Hua Daoist was feeling terrible. He had planned to save some money to buy Ye Ping a new sword manual yesterday, but now this had happened, making him feel awful.

He felt so bad he wanted to go die.

"Master, what should we do?"

Wang Zhuoyu stood to the side, not knowing what else to say.

What to do?

What can we do?

Nothing.

Are we really going to the capital to lodge a formal complaint?

Do you know about how officials protect each other?

Grand Hua Daoist's mood was incredibly complicated.

He wanted to cry but couldn't.

After a long while, Grand Hua Daoist took a deep breath and then said, "Tell everyone to gather in the main hall. I'm going to convene a sect meeting."

Grand Hua Daoist sounded weak and listless.

This was indeed a big problem.

This notice was clearly serious.

With the joint agreement of the three major sects in Qingzhou, including the Jin State's imperial court, this was definitely not a joke.

"Okay, Sect Master. Don't be too sad. There are always more solutions than problems. We believe in you."

Wang Zhuoyu said with a serious expression.

"Get lost, get lost, get lost."

Grand Hua Daoist cursed him impatiently.

What did he mean by believing in him?

Wasn't he just trying to pass the buck to him, to let him bear it all alone?

"Alright."

Wang Zhuoyu left.

He left swiftly. Although he was also feeling terrible, he couldn't think of any good solutions either.

It was better to slip away first. After all, if the sky fell, the taller ones would hold it up.

However, at the last moment, Grand Hua Daoist's voice rang out again.

"Right, don't let the new junior disciple know."

Grand Hua Daoist added as a reminder.

Family shame should not be spread outside.

It was better for only insiders to know about this kind of matter.

And so it was.

One hour later.

Inside the main hall of the Qingyun Dao Sect.

Four figures had arrived in the main hall early.

Three others had gone down the mountain, so they were not in the sect.

At this moment.

Grand Hua Daoist appeared.

However, his expression was somewhat weary, his eyes were reddish, as if he had been crying.

"Sect Leader."

"Sect Leader."

"Greetings, Sect Leader."

Upon seeing Grand Hua Daoist appear, everyone spoke up, respectfully calling out "Sect Leader."

In formal settings, regardless of whether outsiders were present, they had to address him as Sect Leader, not Master.

Grand Hua Daoist was somewhat anxious.

He did not answer the crowd, but instead went directly to the main seat. Looking at everyone with an extremely serious expression, he said, "To put it briefly, the greatest crisis for our Qingyun Dao Sect has arrived."

Grand Hua Daoist's expression was grave.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the main hall's expressions turned somewhat grim.

Grand Hua Daoist didn't say more, but took out the notice and showed it to everyone.

Soon, silence fell upon the main hall.

They understood what this notice meant.

But very quickly, a voice rang out.

"Ten low-grade spirit stones? Has the sect management office gone mad? Are they trying to fleece us too? I'm going to the capital to file a complaint!"

It was Xu Luochen's voice.

He appeared exceptionally agitated, his words and actions very much like Grand Hua Daoist's from before.

But it wasn't just him; although the others remained silent, their faces were also extremely unhappy.

Ten low-grade spirit stones.

This was simply adding insult to injury for the already struggling Qingyun Dao Sect.

However, in the hall, Su Changyu was the most composed.

He looked at Grand Hua Daoist with a calm expression and said, "Sect Leader, how many spirit stones does the sect still have?"

Su Changyu asked earnestly.

Without dwelling on the root of the problem, he was already thinking of solutions, fully displaying the responsibility and demeanor of a senior disciple.

"Seventy."

Grand Hua Daoist said slowly.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.