Several Daoists sat cross-legged on Baijun Mountain.
A young Daoist occupied the summit alone, while three others chatted halfway up the mountain, forming two separate groups.
In a pavilion halfway up the mountain, a young Daoist boiled water and served tea while two Daoists, one old and one youthful, sat facing each other in conversation, their expressions serious.
The old Daoist was Gu Ximing, a veteran Golden Core cultivator of Southern Anhe, only a step away from Infant Transformation. Of course, this "one step away" was merely a concept. There were many Golden Core cultivators at this level, and most would never take that final step.
The youthful Daoist was Daoist Jin, a Golden Core elder of the Wu Sect. Appearance did not reflect age; he looked as young as a boy only because the cultivation method he practiced was rather unusual.
Daoist Gu returned to the same old refrain. "Brother Jin, settling disputes this way is wasted effort. What can it resolve? In a few years, everything will be back to the way it was, without the slightest change. Instead, the bitter feud it creates will only deepen the resentment in their hearts, until a backlash becomes impossible to contain.
"If a Shanmen disciple falls and dies, can they swallow that anger? They'll certainly stir up trouble all over the continent, endlessly hounding us."
Daoist Jin rubbed his forehead. "Brother Gu, that is indeed the reasoning, and everyone understands it. But who is willing to fire the opening shot of a continental war? To become the target of ten thousand accusing fingers? Countless buckets of filth would come pouring down, impossible to dodge.
"Build high walls, stockpile grain, and plan before acting. Mortal strategies work just as well in the cultivation world. Who wants to be the rafter that