A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 85: Chapter 82: Three Choices

Lu Qian was startled, and was about to stand up and salute when a massive force pressed him into the chair, rendering him immobile. Master Chi Yu frowned and said, ”Sit and speak, I truly dislike all this pretense—your skills are lacking, but you sure have a lot of airs!”

He proceeded to say, ”What’s so difficult about guessing this? Back then, your Yunshan Sect was once a Golden Core Sect, with plenty of talents. Three hundred years later, even if it declined, how could it fall to the point where someone of mere Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation becomes Sect Leader unless it suffered a catastrophic fate? And to travel tens of thousands of miles here for help—it’s nothing short of a life-or-death situation.”

Lu Qian let out a bitter laugh, ”The master is indeed shrewd. Yunshan Sect has indeed been annihilated, the Spirit Vein taken by enemies, and only a few of us escaped. On his deathbed, my former master passed the position of Sect Leader to me and entrusted me with this letter. He said our Yunshan Sect had a revered Golden Core elder, renowned throughout generations. Everyone claimed that as long as we found Master Chi Yu, Yunshan Sect would have hope for revival.”

As he spoke, he wanted to stand up again to salute, but still could not move.

Master Chi Yu smirked, ”Stop flattery, tell me, how do you want me to help you?”

Lu Qian cautiously replied, ”Could the master assist us in reclaiming our Mountain Gate?”

Master Chi Yu stared at Lu Qian for a while, making him feel quite uneasy.

Suddenly, the master burst into laughter, ”You little schemer, do you dare resort to haggling in front of me? With your possession of Consciousness Collection, you surely aren’t a fool, right? Naturally, you know it’s impossible for me to act, so you deliberately set a high price, waiting for my refusal, then slowly negotiate down to maximize your gain, am I right or not?”

”Interesting, interesting. My late friend was so upright, yet how did someone as cunning as you come out among his descendants?”

Lu Qian felt a chill run down his spine. Right! How could I have overlooked this!

Possessing Consciousness Collection, my Divine Sense is formidable, enhancing my memory, cognitive abilities, and perception. My thoughts are as swift as lightning, instantly integrating, reasoning, calculating, and restructuring various information to draw clear conclusions.

A cultivator’s Divine Sense continually strengthens as their cultivation increases.

In front of me is this Golden Core Master, whose Divine Sense is overwhelmingly superior to mine. So his thought process must be exponentially faster!

Does this mean that with cultivation advancement, everyone becomes highly strategic?

No, that’s impossible. While Divine Sense growth indeed accelerates thought speed, what one thinks about, how they think, and what conclusions they reach ultimately depend on their inherent traits, experiences, and personalities. Faster thinking doesn’t guarantee correct conclusions.

Does that mean there could be people whose thinking is extremely rapid yet foolish?

But Master Chi Yu here is certainly no fool. His wit must exceed his rugged exterior, beyond my imagination!

Looking back, attempting negotiations with him was naive. But perhaps, due to his old friend, he’s been treating it all as a jest.

Cold sweat poured down Lu Qian’s back, and putting all clever thoughts aside, he admitted sincerely, ”I’m inexperienced; please forgive my immaturity. The sect’s destruction left me and a few brothers displaced to Cangzhou, temporarily borrowing a Spirit Vein as a refuge. Borrowed Spirit Veins can’t last, hence I’ve thick-skinned my way here seeking your aid.”

Indeed, there’s no way Master Chi Yu would intervene directly, a fact I acknowledged long ago.

In this world, giant and large sects govern each state, under which Golden Core Sects rule each county. Unlike Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation, the movements of Golden Core Cultivators, central to power structures, are closely watched by neighboring factions. Let alone intervening across states from Ningzhou to Qingzhou, it’s likely to spark interstate conflicts.

For repaying an old favor, expecting such an extent is unrealistic. One wrong move could drag Danxia Sect into trouble.

Thus, direct intervention was off the table. I initially intended to propose the unfeasible option, then gradually negotiate downwards, only to be promptly seen through by the master.

Master Chi Yu took a large swig of wine, ”I’m not going to beat around the bush. Back then, an old friend bestowed me a Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruit, aiding my cultivation advancement. This favor holds considerable value in my heart, and I’ll repay it in full. But wanting more is impossible.”

Lu Qian nodded earnestly. The master continued, ”Here are three options for you. How old are you now, how long have you been cultivating, and what’s your Spirit Root talent?”

”In response to the master, I am twenty years old, have been cultivating for over four years, and possess Gold-Water Dual Spiritual Roots, measuring five inches.”

Master Chi Yu laughed heartily, ”Your talent is decent, and considering your possession of Consciousness Collection, you are quite the talent. First, forget being Sect Leader—Yunshan Sect is gone, survival of the fittest, let it go. Become my disciple, and I’ll make you a True Disciple. As for those brothers of yours, I’ll arrange for them to join Danxia Sect as Outer Disciples, how about it?”

Lu Qian’s heart raced as he heard Master Chi Yu continue, ”What is a falling sect’s Sect Leader compared to being the True Disciple of a Golden Core Master? Fear not, once you join my school, I’ll diligently guide you, and within a decade, you’ll be ready for Foundation Establishment. Once strong enough, you’ll have my support in seeking revenge.”

Lu Qian remained silent for a long time, then clenched his teeth and looked up, ”Master, I wish to hear the other two options before deciding, may I?”

Dong Chengjun, standing behind Master Chi Yu, widened his eyes at Lu Qian’s reply. He could hardly fathom how someone could be so foolish; was this even something to think about?

The esteemed Danxia Sect, ruling over two and a half counties, a formidable power, well-known far and wide. Master Chi Yu, as the Second Elder of Danxia Sect, holds a position of great power and influence. Could joining his tutelage as a True Disciple be anything but a dream come true for countless cultivators?

Becoming a Golden Core True Inheritance, the access to cultivation resources, the exquisite Divine Mysterious Techniques, and the countless people eager to curry favor, isn’t this a fortune a thousand times better than being a minor sect’s leader? Moreover, a sect leader who even borrows their Spirit Vein!

Lu Qian is truly oblivious and undeniably foolish!

Yet Master Chi Yu took no offense. He nodded, ”Second, gather your brothers, and I’ll speak to the Sect Leader Senior Brother to allow Yunshan Sect to become a vassal sect under Danxia Sect. Directly granting you a Spirit Vein is not possible, but in fifty to a hundred years, Danxia Sect will embark on new conquests.”

”Before the conquest begins, I’ll permit you to reside at the foot of my Fire Cloud Peak, to practice with this Spirit Vein. When conquests start, I’ll let Yunshan Sect participate as a vassal sect. If you capture enemy Spirit Veins in the war, they will belong to you.”