Plotting Against Venerable Golden Light

Qu Hun's appearance did not greatly surprise those in the hall-they had long heard of the Offering Lord's personal servant, but had never witnessed his true abilities.

Yet in the next instant, everyone's breath froze.

Qu Hun had barely finished kneeling on one knee before Jing Wen when he rose in a dark blur. Without giving the Fourth Elder any chance to stand and regulate his breath, he charged straight at the figure sprawled on the floor!

His fist, as large as a cooking pot, tore through the air with a piercing whistle. The wind of his punch swept across the floor, whipping up tiny stone chips.

The Fourth Elder's pupils contracted sharply. With life and death hanging in the balance, he exhausted his remaining internal force to summon his protective astral qi and crossed his arms over his chest.

But when that seemingly ordinary punch landed, his astral qi shattered like thin paper. With a sharp crack, the bones in both his arms broke inch by inch.

The punch drove onward, smashing heavily into his chest-

Boom!

The blue stone tiles shattered on impact. As though crushed beneath a massive boulder, the Fourth Elder's body sank half a foot into the floor. Blood gushed from a gruesome hole in his chest, and his life ended in an instant.

Cracks spread like a spiderweb from the edges of the sunken tiles, and the thick stench of blood filled the hall.

Everyone clenched their fists so tightly that their nails dug into their palms, yet none of them noticed.

They could all see that Qu Hun's victory had been unfair, but the terrifying strength displayed by that single punch choked every objection in their throats.

Even at his peak, the Fourth Elder probably could not have withstood that punch.

The elders who had supported the Fourth Elder were trembling so badly that they could barely stand. Their heads remained bowed, their gazes glued to the blue stone tiles at their feet, and they deliberately kept even their breathing light and shallow.

The defiance and jealousy that had lurked in their eyes had long since been crushed by the bloody force of Qu Hun's punch. All that remained was fear sunk deep into their bones, and an instinctive reverence for absolute strength-

Such was human nature. A person only slightly superior could easily inspire jealousy, but before someone whose strength lay far beyond comprehension, there was only the reverence of bowed heads and obedient ears.

To Jing Wen, the members of the Seven Mysteries Sect filling the hall were no different from ants before the steps.

The Fourth Elder's mockery had been as inconsequential as an ant crawling across his foot. He had never truly been angry-

Why would a man grow angry over the chattering of ants?

But the Fourth Elder had to die.

Not because of that insignificant mockery, but because the insult happened to provide the perfect excuse to establish his authority.

Killing one "noisy ant" would both eliminate the offender and let these other "ants" see the gulf between them. That was the result he wanted.

As for those who had chimed in, he could not even be bothered to spare them a sidelong glance-

They did not even qualify for his direct attention, so why would he care about them?

And as for a supposedly fair contest?

A faint, cold sneer touched Jing Wen's lips.

He had entered the main hall today to establish his authority and cow them, not to indulge in a moment's satisfaction through a contest.

To a Cultivator like him, who looked down upon all living beings, the word "fairness" had always been a meaningless joke.

The Seven Mysteries Sect's sect leader stood frozen, his brows tightly knitted.

Jing Wen's ability to seize someone from a distance, and the might of Qu Hun's punch as it shattered astral qi and blasted through the floor, struck his heart again and again like two heavy hammers-

He had devoted decades to martial arts, yet he had no confidence that he could withstand Qu Hun's punch.

Even the three Grand Elders who had spent years in seclusion in the rear mountains might not withstand it.

And Jing Wen's martial prowess lay further still beyond his ability to fathom.

If Jing Wen wished to seize the position of sect leader, he would probably need only lift a finger;

If he wished to destroy the Seven Mysteries Sect, it would likely be easier than crushing an ant.

Such an uncontrollable presence was like a sharp sword suspended above the sect's head. How could he not worry?

As he pondered, he suddenly recalled the year since Jing Wen had entered the sect.

Jing Wen had never involved himself in the affairs of any hall, never asked about the sect's revenue, and rarely even agreed to receive visiting disciples. He spent his days in that secluded residence, and apart from requesting herbs at regular intervals, had no dealings whatsoever with the Seven Mysteries Sect.

The worry gradually faded from the sect leader's eyes, and his brows relaxed. Such detachment from worldly affairs clearly meant that Jing Wen had no interest in the position of sect leader or the sect's power.

He had never wanted control over the Seven Mysteries Sect, only a place where he could settle down and refine pills in peace.

Jing Wen lifted his fingertips from the armrest. His voice carried no deliberate pressure, yet it flowed through the main hall like a cold current, instantly silencing every faint sound.

His gaze slowly swept over them, from the sect leader's taut profile to the elders' fists at their sides, their knuckles clenched white, before finally settling on the blood still wet across the floor. He said only, "Well, does anyone still object to wiping out the Wild Wolf Gang?"

Beneath the glow of the gilded palace lamps, no one dared show the slightest negligence. Their earlier shock and fear had already turned into eager anticipation.

With such an unfathomable Offering Lord watching over them, how could destroying the Wild Wolf Gang be difficult?

Once the Seven Mysteries Sect held all the resources of Green Dragon Ridge and Purple Mist Valley, their trade routes would be unobstructed, their herb gathering free of worry, and the elders themselves would receive generous benefits.

"We await your commands, Offering Lord!" The sect leader was the first to bow and respond, his voice filled with deference.

The elders immediately cupped their hands in unison, their voices rising one after another. "The Wild Wolf Gang has committed countless atrocities. They should have been destroyed long ago!"

"With the Offering Lord directing matters, this campaign is certain to succeed!"

Jing Wen's gaze swept over their eager faces. His fingertips tapped the armrest once more as he spoke at an unhurried pace. "Since no one objects, tell me how we should destroy the Wild Wolf Gang."

At those words, the hall briefly fell silent.

They exchanged glances, a trace of confusion surfacing in their eyes-

You can crush the Fourth Elder with a casual gesture, and Qu Hun can kill a top-tier fighter with one punch. With strength like that, why not simply lead everyone straight to the Wild Wolf Gang's lair? What need is there for a strategy?

Several impatient elders moved their lips, nearly voicing that question. In the end, they restrained themselves and merely lowered their heads to await Jing Wen's "instructions."

As though he had entirely forgotten the subject of destroying the Wild Wolf Gang, Jing Wen abruptly changed tack, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing some trivial matter. "Recently, I've been studying a pill in seclusion."

Everyone in the hall was completely stunned.

One moment, they had been discussing the destruction of the Wild Wolf Gang with swords drawn and bows bent. How had the conversation suddenly jumped to pill refining?

They looked at one another, their eyes full of bewilderment. But when they caught sight of the glaring pool of blood on the tiles, they forcibly swallowed the questions on their tongues,

And could only bow their heads and hold their breath, not daring even to breathe heavily, afraid of interrupting Jing Wen and provoking his displeasure.

Jing Wen paid no attention to their bewildered gazes. With a slight flick of his wrist, three lustrous white jade bottles flew from his sleeve, traced three smooth arcs through the air, and landed securely in the middle of the hall with three soft taps.

"These are Qi-Blood Pills. Taking them increases blood and vital energy. For an ordinary martial artist, one can save several years of tempering the body."

The moment Jing Wen finished speaking, a chorus of sharp inhalations rang through the hall.

Several elders stared fixedly at the jade bottles on the floor, their gazes caught as though by a magnet.

To martial artists, blood and vital energy were the foundation. They determined not only the strength of the body, but also directly affected the speed of breakthroughs in cultivation. Qi-Blood Pills were precious treasures for replenishing them, and ordinary sects struggled to obtain even one despite spending vast sums.

Ignoring their burning gazes, Jing Wen continued, "I won't take the sect's herbs for nothing.

"From now on, I'll exchange Qi-Blood Pills for them."

At those words, the atmosphere in the hall changed instantly.

First came utter silence, the elders' faces filled with disbelief. Then wild joy surged over them like a tide. Some could not help clenching their fists, their eyes shining brilliantly-

Exchanging ordinary herbs for precious Qi-Blood Pills-this was nothing short of pies falling from the sky!

Only the sect leader, standing beside the seat of honor, abruptly darkened. A barely perceptible bitterness flashed through his eyes before he quickly suppressed it.

Previously, whenever he delivered herbs to Jing Wen, Jing Wen would privately give him some pills,

And it was precisely those "private gifts" that had allowed him to remain firmly above the elders and secure his position as sect leader.

Now that Jing Wen had publicly established an exchange system, he would no longer enjoy that exclusive privilege. A sense of loss naturally welled up in him.

But the sect leader was, after all, a seasoned schemer. In a mere instant, he adjusted his mindset.

His eyes shifted slightly as a plan formed in his mind. Though I can no longer keep them all for myself, the power to distribute the pills remains in my hands.

Who gets more and who gets less will depend entirely on my word-

I can use the pills to win over my confidants and suppress dissenters, while using this "exchange" as a pretext to make the disciples work harder at gathering herbs and reap even more benefits.

Having grasped this crucial point, the sect leader put on a deferential smile once more. He stepped half a pace forward and cupped his hands. "Offering Lord, this truly brings blessings to our Seven Mysteries Sect!

"With Qi-Blood Pills as an incentive, the disciples will surely gather herbs more diligently, and the sect's strength will grow greatly in the days ahead!"

His tone was so natural that it seemed his earlier dark expression had never existed.

By now, the hall was boiling with excitement. Their earlier reverence had turned into burning enthusiasm, and the elders gathered around a table in the hall, all talking at once as they discussed arrangements for gathering herbs.

"In my opinion, we should divide into three groups! One will go to Green Dragon Ridge to gather snow ginseng, another to Purple Mist Valley to seek angelica, and the last will stay at the foot of the mountain to collect the herbs. That would be most efficient!" An elder with a short beard slapped the table as he proposed this, his eyes full of urgency.

Others immediately agreed, though some voiced concerns. "There's miasma deep in Green Dragon Ridge, and fierce beasts roam Purple Mist Valley. If we venture in rashly, we may lose disciples!

"We'd be better off spending some silver to hire local hunters as guides. They know the terrain well and can spare us plenty of detours."

The discussion gradually returned to the main subject of destroying the Wild Wolf Gang, and their voices grew still more impassioned as they brought it up.

"Once we destroy the Wild Wolf Gang, all the herbs on Black Wind Ridge will be ours!" A stout elder stroked his beard with a smile, his face filled with visions of the future.

"That may be true, but the Wild Wolf Gang has occupied Black Wind Ridge for years. Black Wind Stronghold stands atop a cliff, with only a single plank road leading to it. It's truly easy to defend and hard to attack!" The elder who had analyzed the situation earlier frowned, his tone carrying a measure of gravity.

"What is there to fear? Our Seven Mysteries Sect has more disciples than they do, and with the Offering Lord here, why should we worry that we can't take it?" Another elder clenched his fist, his voice ringing out,

"We'll charge straight up to Black Wind Stronghold and wipe them out in one stroke!"

The argument gradually subsided, and everyone's gaze turned as one toward Jing Wen beside the seat of honor.

Only this Offering Lord's intervention could make their campaign to destroy the gang utterly foolproof.

The sect leader moved a little closer and cupped his hands. "Offering Lord, we have discussed this at length, but still disagree. Please make the decision. We will all obey your orders!"

Seeing the eagerness in their eyes, Jing Wen felt a flicker of satisfaction.

To a Cultivator, a few Qi-Blood Pills were merely mundane things he could refine at will, yet they could send these worldly martial experts flocking to him like ducks.

Sure enough, combining favor with might worked best.

Earlier, he had used the Fourth Elder to establish his authority and cut off their thoughts of defiance;

Now, by bestowing pills, he had enticed them into willingly risking their lives for him.

Between hardness and softness, efficiency had improved without his needing to waste many words.

He raised a hand and cleared his throat. His voice was not loud, yet it instantly silenced the discussion in the hall. "As I said earlier, I need to refine pills in seclusion soon. I truly cannot spare the time."

The hall instantly fell quiet. Some of the enthusiasm faded from their faces, and a trace of disappointment surfaced in their eyes. Still, they strained their ears, not daring to miss a single word that followed-

Everyone understood that since Jing Wen had spoken, he must have more to say.

Sure enough, Jing Wen changed tack, his tone calm but carrying unquestionable certainty. "However, I previously heard of an expert in the martial world who goes by the name Venerable Golden Light.

"You need only invite him to the Seven Mysteries Sect, and the Wild Wolf Gang can be destroyed with a flick of a finger."

Jing Wen's visit to the Seven Mysteries Sect's main hall had only used the destruction of the Wild Wolf Gang as a convenient pretext, a boat carried along by the current. Plotting against Venerable Golden Light was his true purpose.

For him, luring Venerable Golden Light to the Seven Mysteries Sect was far safer than venturing deep into the man's own lair.

After all, Venerable Golden Light possessed the Small Sword Talisman Treasure, a deadly weapon capable of killing even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Even though Venerable Golden Light had not been particularly clever in the original story, Jing Wen was unwilling to take needless risks.

The path of cultivation held heart-stopping danger at every step. Achieving his goal with the least possible risk was the wisest choice.