Chapter 107: Chapter 90: It’s Unwise to Go All-In, for Fear of a Sudden Fall from a Cliff

A commotion erupted throughout the Qianji Sect, both inside and out!

Who could have predicted the first thing Sect Leader Liu Huan would do upon returning to the sect after so many years away!

He was tearing his own house down!

His Qi Mechanism resonated with the heavens and earth, causing vast clouds and rain to spread out, blanketing the mountain range for a hundred miles.

Amidst the swirling winds and clouds, a colossal, sky-supporting palm reached down from the depths of the clouds. It firmly gripped the top of Sewing Peak and, to everyone’s astonishment, uprooted the entire mountain, slowly moving it!

RUMBLE—

The tremendous commotion spread far and wide as plumes of dust rose like soaring yellow dragons.

On Guanlan Peak, the disciples were all aghast, their faces pale with shock and confusion.

“A peak as large as Sewing Peak… is just gone like that?”

“Could there be a traitor in the Outer Sect that the Sect Leader found out about? Is he making an example of them?”

“The highest cultivation in the Outer Sect is only the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. Why would that warrant such a drastic move from the Sect Leader?”

“Look, Elder Sui is here…”

Jiang Yi had already retreated behind the crowd. He reached down and picked up True Master Xuanmiao, who was squatting on the threshold of Heshui Cave.

He turned to Steward Xu and asked for a pot of Cyan Ganoderma Dew and two plates of pastries, which he personally offered to the Cat Master.

“Xiao Jiang is truly commendable in his filial piety.”

True Master Xuanmiao was greatly pleased. He extended his small pink tongue to lick the cool Cyan Ganoderma Dew, then began to nibble on the crispy pastries with a “CRUNCH, CRUNCH”.

How could one watch a good show without some snacks!

’Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer… This Sect Leader cultivates Kui Water, not Ding Fire.’

Jiang Yi mused to himself:

’Could it be that the opportunity revealed by the Celestial Book has caught the Sect Leader’s attention, and now he wants to refine me like a Daoist Can?

That shouldn’t be it! I specifically used the Celestial Book to divine the outcome, and it was clearly auspicious.’

He couldn’t help but sigh again. As a Lower Cultivator, it truly was difficult to find even a moment of peace.

An Upper Cultivator only had to make the slightest move, and the Lower Cultivators would be left on pins and needles, trembling with fear.

The dense clouds coiled and a steady drizzle fell, like threads being woven into a watery curtain between heaven and earth.

Suddenly, atop Observing Fate Peak, a fiery glow erupted. A dazzling flame lit up Sui Liushu’s entire body.

Like a fire dragon soaring into the sky, he streaked across the heavens!

In an instant, Sui Liushu arrived before the Sect Leader.

Compared to Elder Sui, whose hair was white at the temples but who was otherwise so well-preserved he had the complexion of a youth despite his white hair,

Sect Leader Liu Huan appeared to be only in his early thirties. He wore a Primordial Cloth on his head and a Cyan Daoist Robe. His features were handsome and elegant, with slightly drooping eyebrows and a few deep lines near the corners of his eyes that spoke of the worldly vicissitudes he had experienced.

“Congratulations, Sect Leader! You have reached Great Perfection and ascended to the Twelfth Layer!”

Sui Liushu bowed in congratulation, then immediately changed the subject and asked bluntly:

“But why did you move one of the Outer Sect’s peaks?”

Liu Huan stood amidst the vast clouds and rain, his figure wreathed in almost endless water vapor, making him appear indistinct and elusive.

His colossal, sky-covering palm only retracted after it had completely moved Sewing Peak outside the sect’s main gate.

A Profound Light flashed above his head, and he absorbed all the Kui Water True Qi refined from his Merit into his Primordial Inner Mansion.

Only then did he answer:

“The Outer Sect Four Peaks are a bit too many, after all. I intend to trade Sewing Peak for items necessary for Cultivation. What does Elder Sui think of this?”

Sui Liushu’s expression changed drastically. A look of astonishment flashed in his eyes as he subconsciously blurted out:

“Sect Leader! The seven peaks of the Qianji Sect are all our ancestral foundation! How can you just give one away…?”

A large mass of water vapor drifted across Liu Huan’s face, and a soft, meaningful chuckle emerged from within:

“So, Elder Sui does know that this is the foundation of my Liu Family. From the tone of your question just now, I was under the impression that the Qianji Sect was now named Sui, not Liu.”

These words struck Sui Liushu’s heart like a heavy hammer.

He immediately lowered his head and said:

“You speak too gravely, Sect Leader! This old man simply does not wish to see the foundation of our Dharma Lineage damaged. Sewing Peak brings in the most income for the Outer Sect. To trade it away so rashly would be… improper.”

Liu Huan waved his large sleeve and said coolly:

“Even if all of the Outer Sect Four Peaks were gone, it wouldn’t affect the Dharma Lineage in the slightest. Since ancient times, for a Daoist Lineage to lose its right to rule on the Nanzhan Continent, it has always been for one of two reasons.”

“One, an external enemy attacks, wipes out the entire sect, and destroys the Talisman Decree. Two, an internal conflict erupts, and one person is substituted for another…”

High in the sky, the water vapor intensified, and the fiery glow around Sui Liushu suddenly weakened.

He was like a flickering candle in the wind, suppressed until he nearly went out.

He looked at the magnificent sight of clouds and water merging around Liu Huan, the clear and murky interchanging, and said bitterly:

“I ask for your clear judgment, Sect Leader! This old man is completely loyal to the Qianji Sect. The old Sect Leader showed me great favor by recognizing my talents, a kindness I have not dared to forget to this day.”

Liu Huan chuckled lightly.

“My father appreciated, promoted, and heavily relied on Elder Sui, so he must have been wise and brilliant. I do not rely on Elder Sui as much as my father did, so I suppose that must make me headstrong, arrogant, and autocratic.”

“Sect Leader, you misunderstand! This old man had no such intention…”

Sui Liushu tried to explain further, but Liu Huan cut him off.

“My mind is made up. There is no need for more words. Several months ago, I already promised the Joyful Union Sect that I would trade Sewing Peak. The deal is done, goods and payment settled.”

Liu Huan’s gaze swept over Sui Liushu, his eyes profound.

“Before he died, my father regarded Elder Sui as his right-hand man and entrusted half of the Dharma Lineage Decree to you.”

“I am not a muddle-headed fool; I have not asked for it back all these years.”

“So, don’t make things difficult for me. Elder Sui, you will expunge the records of Sewing Peak from the Talisman Decree, and along with them, transfer the refinement method for the Hundred Shadows Magical Robe and its sales routes to the Joyful Union Sect.”

Sui Liushu seemed to age ten years in an instant, the ravines of his wrinkles deepening.

He sighed heavily, his back bending even lower.

“I will obey the Sect Leader’s command!”

…

…

Atop Observing Fate Peak, Xu Yan rushed to the residence.

As soon as he saw Sui Liushu, he couldn’t contain his anxiety and said in a low voice:

“Master! I heard the Sect Leader sold Sewing Peak to the Joyful Union Sect? Is it true?”

Sui Liushu narrowed his eyes, his expression sullen. He slowly lowered the teacup that was halfway to his lips.

“How could it be false? Sewing Peak was first moved out of the sect gate and then erased from the Dharma Lineage Decree. In two days, the Joyful Union Sect will send people to take it over.”

Xu Yan was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in the hall as he vented all his frustrations in one breath:

“What sense does it make to just hand over our own foundation! What’s more, with the Joyful Union Sect to the south and the Yin Puppet Sect to the north, our Qianji Sect is caught in the middle. One day they’re snatching a mineral vein, the next they’re swallowing a city—it’s been humiliating enough already!”

“Now that the Sect Leader has reached the Twelfth Level of Cultivation, we should be holding our heads high and taking back everything we’ve lost! How can he be giving away our assets instead…?”

BANG!

The teacup slammed onto the table, shattering into pieces!

Boiling water, steam, and curled tea leaves splashed everywhere, startling Xu Yan into silence. The indignant look on his face froze instantly.

“What use is complaining to me!”

Sui Liushu’s tone was sharp.

“Is the Qianji Sect named Sui? You’re so eloquent, why don’t you go to Observing Sun Peak and argue with the Sect Leader face-to-face?”

Xu Yan shrank back, all the imposing might he usually wielded on the Inner Peak gone without a trace.

After his outburst, Sui Liushu felt a bit calmer and began to speak:

“I know you made a deal with several Servants on Sewing Peak. But have you ever considered why the Marketplace to the south was buying up large quantities of Purple Shadow Silk and Flowing Cloud Brocade? Whose territory is to the south? It’s the Joyful Union Sect’s!”

“The Sect Leader decided on this trade long ago. How could he allow anyone else to interfere?!”

Xu Yan hissed, sucking in a sharp breath. So what he thought was a heaven-sent business opportunity was actually a carefully dug pit!

Sui Liushu, after all, was a man who had weathered great storms. He quickly composed himself, his gaze hardening.

“The only thing to do now is to cut our losses. How much have you invested in this deal?”

Xu Yan lowered his head and replied:

“All in all, almost 800,000 talisman coins. The bulk of it was for hiring my junior brothers from the Inner Peak to harvest the Main Materials for me from the Heart-Stealing Forest. The wages and rewards were a significant expense.”

“As for the rest, I was planning to partner with Zhou Can from the Laundry Room to form several merchant caravans and open up a sales route to the Marketplace in the south…”

Sui Liushu narrowed his eyes and gave his instructions without hesitation:

“Tell him that the Sect Leader’s cultivation has greatly advanced and he will soon attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm. When that happens, he will likely be promoted to a True Master.”

“The Qianji Sect’s Inner Sect Dharma Lineage will also be promoted to a Branch Sect. This time, moving Sewing Peak wasn’t a trade, but a move to expand the sect gate and reorganize its layout.”

“This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. Tell him to do whatever it takes to raise more talisman coins and not miss this chance.”

Xu Yan’s eyes lit up. While bleeding himself dry was painful, if he could use these words to make Zhou Can “cut off a pound of flesh” to cover the losses, it would be a brilliant scheme indeed!

He quickly bowed and said:

“Master, you are brilliant!”

A weary look appeared on Sui Liushu’s brow as he added a warning:

“You must not skimp on the talisman coin rewards for those junior brothers. With the Sect Leader’s return, Zhou Fu and her group will only grow more influential. You need the support of the Inner Peak Disciples to bolster your own prestige, so you cannot afford to alienate them.”

Xu Yan’s heart skipped a beat. He had indeed just been thinking of docking some of their “wages” to reduce his own losses.

Now that his Master had seen through him, he quickly reined in his thoughts and said respectfully:

“This disciple understands.”

Before letting Xu Yan leave, Sui Liushu asked another question:

“The Sect Leader asked about something else. Today on Guanlan Peak, a disciple released a Qi Mechanism that resembled fiery clouds covering the sky in all directions.”

“Do you know who that was?”

…

…

「Just past midnight, on Sewing Peak.」

Zhou Can felt as if he had swallowed a calming pill, yet his heart burned with eagerness, like he was carrying a piece of red-hot charcoal that was about to sear through his chest.

’A great opportunity! So a great opportunity is coming! I have to find a way to get more talisman coins… There are so many Servants on the Outer Sect Four Peaks, I’ll borrow from every single one of them!

With such a golden opportunity right in front of me, how can I possibly miss it!’

Zhou Can stood on the summit of the peak, looking down at the thousand-fathom-high cliffs. Originally, the many workshops had been in a state of panic, everyone thinking disaster had struck.

But now, it seemed this was his chance to ride the winds of change and alter his destiny!

“HAHAHA! As long as I seize this chance, decades from now I will establish my own clan, with branches and leaves spreading far and wide. The future generations of the Zhou Family will all call me ’Elder Ancestor’! When they burn incense to pay their respects and kowtow in salute, they will surely be grateful for the decisive man I was today!”

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