Deliberations at the Two Instruments Sect
"Ancestor, I Nanying, but in the end you still couldn't bear to part with the Azure Firmament Spirit Root passed down to usurp a good relationship." On the way back, Juntian Bird said to Fei Nanying a smile.
Fei Nanying said in a deep voice, "Elder, why are you joking? The foundation of the She Mountain Hall is already weak among the direct lineage. How could Nanying possibly give away this Spirit Root passed down from our ancestors to someone else?"
With a flap of its wings, the Juntian Bird carried Fei Nanying into the air once more. Most people, upon seeing its appearance, would assume that this old bird was a rough and careless person. In fact, it was quite clever and shrewd.
Seeing that Fei Nanying was unwilling to speak frankly, it exposed him. "You just don't think he can form Upper-Grade Golden Core, and you probably believe that kid will definitely die in the outer sea, so you don't want to earn his favor anymore."
"Elder Zong has keen insight," Fei Nanying sighed softly. Before he could continue to explain, Juntian Bird interrupted him, "Well, the reason I said this is not because I think you are stingy. After all, even I would not be willing to use the Azure Firmament Spirit Root to do good deeds with this arrogant person."
If we're talking about achieving Middle-Grade Golden Core, I think even without any help, his chances are several times higher than yours, who obtained the Imperial Peak Stone. But if he wants to achieve a high-grade Golden Core... Hmph, cultivators from small places are still too short-sighted. Do they really think they're some kind of unparalleled genius?
Upper-Grade Golden Core Elixir is extremely rare. Not only has it not appeared in the Great Wei royal family for many years, but the entire Great Wei Immortal Dynasty has not produced one for who knows how many years. He really dares to think that he might die on the waves of the outer sea in just a few years.
"To be honest, Elder Nanying, that's what I think too," Fei Nanying in a deep voice, then sighed, it was unclear whether he was feeling sorry for the Daoist Black Shoes.
"Ah, that's why I've always told my younger brother that if you were to take charge of the Fei Household in the future, your style would be quite different from when he was alive." Juntian Bird sighed as well. These words piqued Fei Nanying's curiosity, and he asked, "Then, Elder, do you think the biggest difference lies between Nanying and Ancestor Ye Shui?"
Juntian Bird answered calmly and without reservation, "You lack a bit of boldness, so you might become a paperhanger in the future, but it will be difficult for you to become a meritorious leader of the Fei Household."
Seeing that Fei Nanying remained silent, Juntian Bird continued, "If my brother were here today, he would definitely not keep that Azure Firmament Spirit Root; he would give it away no matter what."
"Nanying dares not compare himself to Ancestor Ye Shui, but he will certainly do so in the future."
"Hey, the reason I say this is not because you did a bad job." Juntian Bird interrupted Fei Nanying again and continued, "My brother has always been a gambler. Betting that Kuang Liuting could form Upper-Grade Golden Core was an extremely risky thing! But he still made the decision unilaterally without consulting anyone."
If Kuang Liuting can truly form Upper-Grade Golden Core in the future, then everything will be fine. But what if he can't? At that time, even if our Fei Household isn't completely destroyed, we will definitely be dealt a terrible blow."
"Ancestor Ye Shui is indeed farsighted," Fei Nanying understood the meaning behind Juntian Bird's words and continued, "But if we don't make a big bet, who knows when our Fei Household's first Nascent Soul True Person will emerge? And who knows when we'll be able to escape this pawn's fate?"
"Yes, therefore my brother's actions cannot be considered wrong." Juntian Bird's voice suddenly rose, and he added:
"Besides, why exchange spiritual items for favors from that Daoist Black Shoes? You just need to be nicer to that Chongming Sect and your nephew-in-law. When that Daoist Black Shoes returns home in glory, won't he owe you a favor?"
"Nanying thought so too," Fei Nanying had dealt with Kang Dabao and his nephew for so long, how could he not have thought of such a thing?
"Hmm, a little bit will suffice. That kid will almost certainly die if he goes to the outer sea, so there's no need to worry about him too much." Juntian Bird's tone became more disdainful as he carried Fei Nanying straight towards Xuanwei City.
The day when Kuang Liuting Core Formation was drawing ever closer. Juntian Bird had returned from the capital on a mission and dared not leave for too long.
As for this so-called Daoist Black Shoes? He's nothing but a clown; why should the old man bother with any more effort?
---- Two Instruments Sect, Rosy Lake Mountain
A strong wind swept across the bluestone platform atop Rosy Lake Mountain, dispersing the last wisp of incense from the bronze incense burner.
Six stone tables are arranged in a semicircle, and each table corner is covered with half an inch of incense ash, indicating that the place has been vacant for decades.
The gnarled branches of the old pine tree jutted out from the edge of the cliff, their needles falling softly onto the stone slab engraved with runes. When the withered fingers of the old man in the black robe brushed them aside, they made a soft sound as they traced the cracked hexagram diagram.
Before long, beams of light descended from the horizon, each beam possessing an extraordinary bearing, clearly indicating high moral character and cultivation. Yet, when facing the old man in the black robe, they all bowed respectfully, heads bowed, and greeted him, "Grand Elder!"
The two latest leaders of the Two Instruments Sect Li Yun and Qiu Yunsheng, were both prominently listed, showing no difference from the other Golden Core cultivators.
Upon seeing the arrival of the person, the old man in the black robe calculated for a while, then gathered spiritual light and placed it on the tip of his index finger, touching the old pine tree in front of him. In just a moment, the old pine tree was nourished beyond belief, its aging aura dispelled, and it turned into a vibrant green.
Upon seeing this, the cultivators understood and took their places according to age and status. The old man in the black robe then pointed at the old pine tree that had gained a great advantage, and the tree demon began to fawn over it, gently shaking its massive trunk.
One by one, pine needles fell softly. The old pine branches swayed, and a gentle breeze came and acted as a tailor, weaving the pine needles into tiny wine cups in the air, which then landed one by one on the stone table in front of the cultivators.
The pine needle wine cup had barely touched the table when the old pine tree swayed again, and countless Fine Dew fell, densely packed and blocking out the sky, yet they fell directly into the wine cups in front of everyone without anyone noticing.
A Golden Core cultivator dressed as a martial artist eagerly picked up the cup and took a large gulp. After the gurgling sound, he let out a long sigh, "If I could drink this Green Pine Dew from the Grand Elder every year, that would be too wonderful. I wouldn't trade it for even a Nascent Soul."
Before the other cultivators could react, the Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect spoke up with a laugh, "Junior Brother Wei, you flatter me." He then pointed to the old pine tree in front of him and said softly:
"This senior pine has been with our sect for nearly two thousand years. In another sixty or two years, he will be able to advance to the Third Tier. At that time, the Green Pine Dew will no longer be so rare, and we will be able to drink it every time."
This was indeed a good thing to look forward to, and everyone laughed upon hearing it. After everyone raised their pine needle wine cups to offer a toast, the Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect made a gesture to temporarily quell the lively discussion among the cultivators.
The old man smiled and said calmly, "The last time we gathered together was half a century ago when Junior Brother Li Yun succeeded as sect leader. The reason I've called you all here for this meeting is nothing more than because of Kuang Liuting."
Qiu Yunsheng asked suspiciously, "When Senior Brother Wei was away last time, the Grand Elder told us to wait until Kuang Liuting Core Formation before discussing countermeasures. Why bring this up today? Has there been any change in the situation?"
After the warrior, surnamed Wei, finished setting out the pine needle wine cups, he chimed in, saying:
"We have not overstepped the bounds of what the Grand Elder said. Not only did we not move against those clowns in Cloud Horn Prefecture Court, but even the Daoist Black Shoes who harmed my Battle Hall Elder Yue Lan, Junior Brother Li, advised me not to take any action."
Otherwise, how could we have let him leave so easily? So what if he's Golden Leaf Dao Foundation cultivator? There are plenty of geniuses who haven't fully matured yet; one more won't make a difference."
Hearing the resentment in the words of the Wei fellow cultivator, Li Yun was about to raise his cup to explain when the elder cultivator presiding over the meeting spoke first, "Junior Brother Li is right. Unless absolutely necessary, we shouldn't provoke those who have caught Kuang Liuting's eye at this time. Who knows how we'll deal with him if he really gains power in the future?"
As soon as the Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect finished speaking, the only female Daoist in the room asked in a doubtful voice, "This junior sister dares to presume to ask, senior brother, is it already a done deal that Kuang Liuting has obtained Upper-Grade Golden Core?"
The old cultivator at the head of the table laughed upon hearing this, "Impossible. Even if he were the True Lord's own son, he would hardly have such good fortune."
"But even if they only get a fraction of the profits, we can't let our guard down," Qiu Yunsheng added, earning a nod of approval from the Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect.
The latter looked around, drawing the attention of all the cultivators before speaking, "Fellow disciples may not know, but I have reliable information that the Southern King, Kuang Shen, met with that person some time ago in the outer sea."
"Is it the Palace Master of Billowing Dream?" The female Daoist in the arena had a bad complexion and a small stature, but her exclamation was high-pitched, which made the Wei surnamed Shangxiu beside her frown slightly.
The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect nodded in affirmation of Kun Dao's guess. "Indeed, the Palace Master of Billowing Dream is real. It is said that he also bestowed upon Kuang Shenzhi spirit medicine, which helped him fully recover from his injuries. Now that the latter has returned to the capital, it is likely that he will personally visit Shannan Circuit soon to meet the Earl of Earl of Nan'an."
"If a member of the royal family, a Nascent True Person Nascent Soul, were to personally visit the area, would the Master of the Star-Picking Pavilion grant him permission?" asked the cultivator surnamed Wei.
"The Master of the Star-Picking Pavilion is powerful on his own, but how can he compare to the three Nascent Soul of the Blood Sword Sect? How can he stop Kuang Shenzhi has fully recovered from his injuries?" The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect shook his head.
"The north and south of the mountain support each other and protect each other. The True Man of Mount Wumu will not sit idly by..." Kun Dao had only spoken half of her sentence when she remembered that the person in Kuang Liuting's room was the new Holy Maiden of Mount Wumu. She then swallowed the rest of her words back down.
At the same time, she thought to herself, "These Five Old Mothers Mountain really have no shame. They actually managed to choose a defiled Azure Leaf Dao Foundation as their Holy Maiden."
Meanwhile, the cultivator surnamed Wei sensed something amiss in the elder's words and asked suspiciously, "Isn't Palace Master of Billowing Dream usually indifferent to the lives of the clan members? Why is she acting this time?"
He only got halfway through his sentence, because he only realized what was going on when he saw the old cultivator's expression. After all, how could the latter possibly know such a secret matter involving a top-tier Nascent Soul?
The Grand Elder sighed again before saying, "My fellow disciples need not worry. After all, whether the Prince of the South will personally come is merely speculation on my part. In short, the higher the grade of Kuang Liuting's pills, the greater the likelihood that the Prince of the South will personally visit Mountain South."
"Then, senior brother, what should our Two Instruments Sect do at that time?" A hint of annoyance appeared on Qiu Yunsheng's usually calm face.
"At that time... at that time, we may not have the choice of what to do." The Grand Elder gave a bitter smile and said:
"When I went to Tengwen Prefecture last time, I intended to request an audience with the Master, but the Master's attendant told me that the Master had not yet emerged from seclusion, so the trip did not take place. Only Xiang Tianxing, the head of general affairs at the Star-Picking Pavilion, spoke with me."
"Xiang Tianxing?!" Upon hearing this name, the arrogant aura emanating from the cultivator surnamed Wei seemed to diminish.
Seeing the Wei-surnamed cultivator's reaction, the Grand Elder said, "His cultivation has become increasingly profound. Even if I didn't go closer to see for myself, I wouldn't be sure if he had already become True Person."
"Senior brother, are you still confident you can defeat him?" Qiu Yunsheng asked again.
"Half a century later, we might still have a 50% chance of victory, but by now, it's probably less than 30%." After saying this, the Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect's expression darkened further. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, but it was unclear whether he was explaining to someone else or to himself:
"He is not yet three hundred years old, and is in the prime of his life, unlike this old man like me. In a few more years, I may not even have a 30% chance of winning. At that time, what will my fellow disciples use to deal with Xiang Tianxing's halberd?"
Upon hearing this, the Matsushita monks were first embarrassed, and then fell silent.
As for the Golden Core sects under its Star-Picking Pavilion, it goes without saying which ones govern with inaction and which ones are oppressive and fierce.
When the Master of the Star-Picking Pavilion rarely had time to manage affairs, Xiang Tianxing, the head of general affairs at the Star-Picking Pavilion, used to think that he could hardly suppress this Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect. Therefore, he naturally gave him some preferential treatment in terms of taxes and offerings.
Finally, the current sect leader Li Yun, who had remained silent until now, spoke up and asked, "So, Senior Brother took in Daoist Peng two hundred years ago to teach and establish a lineage in our Two Instruments Sect, was it for this reason?"
"Yes, but two hundred years have passed, and you still won't even call him 'Senior Brother.' Why should he stand up for you against Xiang Tianxing?"
The elder's question left everyone speechless. Finally, Qiu Yunsheng showed some courage and raised his head to say, "In the end, it's because my junior brother is useless that I'm in such a difficult position."
"Why say such things?" The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect, seeing that all the cultivators under the pine tree had lowered their heads after Qiu Yunsheng's words, spoke again, "I know that my fellow disciples are worried that Junior Brother Peng has no attachment to the sect and might one day usurp the position, becoming a case of inviting a wolf into the house."
At this point, the Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect paused again, then raised his voice. "But as long as I am still alive, it will be difficult for outsiders of the Two Instruments Sect to take it back. You all need to cultivate diligently and shoulder the responsibility before I pass away."
"What my senior brother said is true."
"Junior brother understands."
"It is indeed a sin to have troubled my senior brother."
The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect did not come to convene this meeting to listen to these useless words. He continued, "In short, the situation outside has been turbulent lately. Not to mention us, even many True Person dare not make any moves easily."
Therefore, regarding Jingnan Prefecture, let the Yuan Household are only at the False Core, conserve their strength to maintain the status quo and avoid any unnecessary or useless fighting. If the Cloud Horn Prefecture Court presses too hard, we might as well give them Jingnan Prefecture as well."
This matter concerned tens of thousands of cultivators and millions of people in a state, yet it was decided by this old cultivator with a single, nonchalant remark.
The Two Instruments Sect leader in charge of this matter Li Yun, did not hesitate and simply stepped forward to agree. After the Grand Elder of the Liangyi Sect looked around at everyone, he said, "As for the Cloud Horn Prefecture Court, we should refrain from provoking them. We should be patient and wait until Kuang Liuting Core Formation."
----That evening, at the summit of Black Sand Peak
The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect couldn't remember how long it had been since his last visit here.
He peered down and saw a dark purple gap in the ridge, from which foul-smelling mist, like a black spring, gushed forth.
The moss-covered stone steps were already soaked with dark red bloodstains, and every crevice was embedded with black fingernails shaped like broken teeth.
As the mountain wind carried shrill whistles like the cries of infants, it swept past our ears one after another. At the same time, the vines hanging upside down on the rock wall suddenly began to twist and turn—they were not plants at all, but the tentacles of a reanimated corpse covered with blood-rust-colored down.
On the central Soul Refining Platform floated a plain, jet-black banner that intermittently emitted a ghostly light.
At the other end, the chains on twelve seven-colored copper pillars rattled in the wind, each bound to a stunningly imposing, snow-white skeleton, its empty eye sockets filled with dark green phosphorescence.
"When did he turn this once sacred mountain into an inescapable hell?!"
The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect suppressed his dissatisfaction and said calmly to an old cultivator in black robes, "Junior Brother Peng is still cultivating too diligently."
The latter, regardless of whether the words were praise or sarcasm, simply nodded and replied, "It's all thanks to the help of Senior Brother and all the other fellow disciples; otherwise, how could my Cultivation Method have improved so much?!"
The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect sighed again, saying, "This is indeed a case of 'the righteous path is difficult to cultivate, while the Evil Method is easy to cultivate.'" He didn't rush to respond to the old cultivator in black robes, but instead turned his head to look at the dark banner on the Soul Refining Platform.
"This soul banner must be the Third-Tier Supreme-Grade Law Treasure that Junior Brother mentioned last time. Judging from its appearance, it's about to be refined by Junior Brother, isn't it?!"
The Grand Elder's words couldn't hide his envy, and the old cultivator surnamed Peng chimed in at the opportune moment, "This is all thanks to the entire sect for collecting fresh souls for Junior Brother. In just five or six months, this Law Treasure should be ready. At that time, Senior Brother won't have to fear those bullies who prey on the weak!"
As the old cultivator surnamed Peng addressed him more and more affectionately as "Senior Brother," the Grand Elder grew increasingly uneasy. He stepped aside, coughed for a while, and then recounted what he had discussed with his other upright and loyal junior brothers that day.
The old cultivator surnamed Peng frowned, thought for a while, and then spoke, "Senior brother, do you mean that our Two Instruments Sect still needs to rely on the Star-Picking Pavilion to prolong its life?"
"This is the only way out." After the Grand Elder answered firmly, he saw the old cultivator surnamed Peng's eyes light up.
He raised his hand, and a map depicting the twenty-seven prefectures of Shannan Circuit rose from the ground. Before the Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect could even ask a question, the old cultivator surnamed Peng spoke up, "Senior Brother, have you ever considered having a True Person emerge from our Two Instruments Sect?"
The Grand Elder of the Two Instruments Sect opened his eyes and looked up to see the old cultivator surnamed Peng pointing to the Cold Crow Mountain Range on the map, which was right next to the Shannan Circuit.
He spoke in a hoarse voice, "Junior Brother Peng, please reconsider. It has only been two hundred years since the last rebellion was quelled."
The old cultivator surnamed Peng smiled slightly, "As you, senior brother, should know, the true masters of the Cold Crow Mountain Range are not those clumsy and worthless Mountain Barbarians."