Taibai

"Ah, Grandmaster Qin is here."

"Hahaha, Grandmaster Qin, congratulations! You truly stayed silent until you could astonish everyone with a single cry."

"Peak Master Yuan, you've taught a fine disciple. Now you can lay down your burden without worry and join the Council of Elders."

As soon as Qin Lian entered Pure Yang Hall, the peak masters and hall masters whom he normally had to greet with a disciple's salute all took the initiative to greet him.

Martial artists could call themselves grandmasters once they achieved Qi Refining into Gang.

Those who could Weave Astral Qi into Armor were also respectfully called grandmaster experts.

But these grandmasters were either gilding their own faces or receiving polite honorifics from others. How could their standing compare to that of a genuine Heaven Ranking Grandmaster?

It was like in Qin Lian's previous life...

The deputy director of the meteorological bureau and the director of the public security bureau were both respectfully addressed as Director So-and-so in public.

Yet their actual standing was as far apart as heaven and earth.

Qin Lian had achieved Qi Refining into Gang several years ago. On his previous visits to the sect, aside from ordinary disciples on Cloudmist Peak saluting him and calling him "True Disciple," no one had paid him any attention.

But this time, bearing the title of Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, he had not only entered the Pure Yang Main Hall directly, but had also prompted the sect master to welcome him and summon the heads of every peak and hall to congratulate him. They had given him every possible honor.

"I'm sorry to have kept the sect master and all the peak masters and hall masters waiting here. I am overwhelmed by your favor and feel unworthy."

Qin Lian politely cupped his hands and returned their greetings one by one.

The Six Peaks and six halls formed the core governing body of the Pure Yang Sword Sect.

"You slew Blood Demon Zuo Qiudao with your sword and forced your way onto the Grandmaster Heaven Ranking with a Black Ranking grandmaster's life. With such an achievement to your name, there is no need for modesty. You are the central figure of today's meeting."

Yuan Tianhe was filled with gratification.

"It was all thanks to your excellent instruction, Master. Without your painstaking guidance in the arts, I could never have achieved what I have today."

Qin Lian cupped his hands.

After the original "Qin Lian" had become a disciple of Chunyang, his outstanding aptitude had quickly set him apart. He had become a personal disciple of Cloudmist Peak's master, then distinguished himself among the other personal disciples to become Cloudmist Peak's True Disciple.

"The master leads you through the door, but cultivation rests with the individual."

Yuan Tianhe sounded somewhat wistful. "Practicing martial arts is not cultivating the Dao. If you cannot attain Divine Intent by thirty-five, your vital essence and qi will inevitably begin to decline. You are thirty-three now. I originally thought you might stop at Fourth Grade or Third Grade in this lifetime, but now it seems that, with the right opportunities and resources, Second Grade may not be beyond your reach."

"Since Qin Lian is now a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, our Pure Yang Sword Sect should treat him as one."

At this point, Sect Master Li Wangxu rose and looked at Qin Lian. "If you wish to establish a sect of your own, we are willing to give you every support. Manpower, material resources, and funds will all be prepared for you. Apart from each peak's defining sect arts, we can also provide you with copies of our many cultivation methods."

He paused. "If you do not wish to occupy yourself with the sect's petty affairs, you need only hold the title of sect master. We will also arrange personnel to form a Council of Elders and help you keep all the sect's affairs, great and small, in good order..."

A Heaven Ranking Grandmaster could choose a commandery in which to establish a sect.

The cultivation community throughout that commandery would generally recognize it as that grandmaster's territory.

No sect would let such an opportunity slip by.

The master of Sun-Viewing Peak spoke next. "I ascended to the Grandmaster Heaven Ranking ten years ago and founded the Radiant Sun Sect in Qinghe Commandery. I left all its affairs to one of my junior brothers. As for myself, I still remain here on Sun-Viewing Peak, teaching some elite disciples sent over from the Sunwatch Sect when I am not cultivating."

He smiled. "After ten years of development, the Sunwatch Sect has become Qinghe's largest sect, bringing me a million taels a year. In addition, Qinghe Commandery has a remarkable spring, and the land around it is suitable for growing green jade rice. By trading these resources with the sect, I can obtain no fewer than ten True Condensation Pills each year."

Qin Lian felt somewhat tempted.

Not by the million in revenue or the precious resources.

Rather, it was Li Wangxu's mention that he could receive copies of all the sect's inheritances apart from its defining arts.

He needed to practice large numbers of cultivation methods, sword arts, and fist and palm arts to improve his Root Bone, awaken traits, and even generate flashes of sudden enlightenment.

Cloudmist Peak's lineage was relatively accessible, but obtaining the inheritances of the other five peaks would be no easy task.

Yet if he agreed to establish a sect, he could accomplish almost everything in one step with the Pure Yang Sword Sect's support.

And he would not even have to manage the sect himself?

"I heard Lu Shun's report. He said you intended to enter seclusion for focused cultivation, and even wanted to pass the title of Heaven Ranking Grandmaster to Peak Master Yuan or True Disciple Liu of your Cloudmist Peak?"

Li Wangxu said, "Once the title of Heaven Ranking Grandmaster has been assigned, it cannot be passed around so easily. Even if you pretend to lose to Peak Master Yuan, it would be difficult to change the ranking. It is not a fight to the death. Wins and losses in sparring within a sect are perfectly ordinary."

Hearing this, Qin Lian realized that he had thought too simply.

The Grandmaster Heaven Ranking...

He could not enter and leave it whenever he pleased.

"Someone newly listed on the Heaven Ranking will inevitably draw prying eyes from all sides and endless trouble. Some Third Grade experts may even come to challenge me. Yet I have only two years left to Weave Astral Qi into Armor and temper my Divine Intent..."

"That may be so... but as a grandmaster, why should you accept challenges from every stray cat and dog?"

Li Wangxu smiled. "You are a grandmaster of our Chunyang Sect. Naturally, the sect will not stand idly by. When the time comes, we can send a few elders to safeguard you and turn those challengers away."

"The sect's elders would safeguard me?"

At this, Qin Lian's thinking gradually shifted.

Establishing a sect...

Was not out of the question after all.

"Could I establish the sect in Mount Tai Prefecture?"

With the sect established there, he could naturally help the Qin Family rise.

He could complete the karmic obligation of cultivating a Fourth Grade expert for the Qin Family.

"Of course."

Li Wangxu said, "A thousand years ago, the Xia Emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty opened up Jiangzhou beyond the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and established fourteen commanderies, each containing a treasure ground. South of Mount Tai Prefecture is a mine mountain that produces Taibai Goldstone, from which Taibai Refined Gold can be extracted. It is an excellent material for forging divine weapons and keen blades."

He said casually, "That mountain was originally occupied by disciples of the Overlord Blade, but if you establish a sect in Taibai, our Chunyang Sect will have every justification for claiming it for the sect. In fact, you need only lend your name. We can send people to capture Taibai Mine Mountain and station elders there to guard it. When the time comes, we will split the Taibai Refined Gold it produces equally."

"Then let us do as you say, Sect Master."

Qin Lian nodded slightly. "I wish to remain in seclusion within the sect and focus on cultivation, in the hope of attaining Divine Intent as soon as possible. I leave all matters concerning the establishment of the sect to your discretion."

After speaking, he cupped his hands again. "Thank you, Sect Master."

"Hahaha, with such unwavering loyalty to the sect, what need is there for thanks?"

Having said this, Li Wangxu declared, "Qin Lian... oh, I heard you changed the character in your name from 'practice' to 'refine' to express your determination to temper Divine Intent..."

He paused. "Since Qin Lian is a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster and is willing to expand our Pure Yang Sword Sect's territory, the sect should naturally entrust him with important responsibilities as well..."

At this point, he gave Yuan Tianhe a deliberate look.

Yuan Tianhe appeared somewhat hesitant.

Qin Lian, however, quickly realized something.

If the sect wanted to entrust him with an important responsibility, then as a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, nothing would suit him better than taking over as Cloudmist Peak's master.

Just like the master of Sun-Viewing Peak.

However, before he ascended to the Heaven Ranking, Cloudmist Peak had already scheduled its Succession Ceremony and named Liu Xu as the next peak master. If that were changed...

"Sect Master, I intend to focus on secluded cultivation for the foreseeable future. I truly have no wish to shoulder major responsibilities."

Qin Lian said, "If you really wish to give me a position, perhaps you could give me one that makes it convenient to consult the cultivation methods and texts left by our predecessors."

Hearing this, Li Wangxu readily went along with him. "Then how about inviting you to join the sect's Council of Elders, receive the sect's provisions, and trouble you to serve temporarily as Pavilion Master of the Library Pavilion?"

An elder on the Council of Elders?

Pavilion Master of the Library Pavilion?

A librarian?

Qin Lian immediately nodded. "There could be no better arrangement."

"Good. Then it is settled."

Li Wangxu nodded slightly.

Yuan Tianhe also breathed a sigh of relief.

Only, his gaze held a trace of guilt as he looked at Qin Lian.

"Now, one matter remains. Elder Qin, have you decided what to call the sect you will establish?"

Li Wangxu asked.

Qin Lian considered briefly, then answered rather casually, "Since that mine mountain is famous for producing Taibai Refined Gold, let us call it the Taibai Sword Sect."