Watching the Mountain

Chapter 354: Chapter 198: Hidden Mountain’s Influence

The proposal to attack the Illusion Spirit Sect was entirely Li Daoyi’s idea.

After hearing about Dao Concealment and the Dust-Sealed Stones at the sect assembly, he was the first to raise several questions.

Would the sect be deliberately targeted, given its current situation?

And with the appearance of the Dust-Sealed Stones, would the long-standing rules of the Cultivation Realm change? If powerful factions could prey on the weak, then weaker sects like theirs would get no share of the stones.

The Dust-Sealed Stones were no ordinary resource; they were crucial to the path of the Great Dao. If the rules weren’t upheld, the powerful factions would devour everything, leaving not even scraps for the lesser powers.

If the rules remained, would the Profound Pure Sect, as the most powerful faction in Changqing County, be jointly targeted by the other surrounding factions?

Considering these issues, he believed the sect needed to change its perpetually defensive strategy. They had to take the initiative, launch an attack, and display their power as a deterrent, forcing anyone with designs on them to back down.

And so he proposed that if the rules of the Cultivation Realm were to remain, they should make a move against the Illusion Spirit Sect.

At this proposal, the Supreme Elder and the other Elders attending the meeting were all extremely surprised, even shocked.

Putting aside the Profound Pure Sect’s usual disposition, they could accept the idea of attacking another sect. But to attack another sect unprovoked, without any prior grievance, was shocking.

In the Cultivation Realm, when one faction attacks another, it needs a just cause. Otherwise, even if it could gain a temporary advantage, it would be difficult to maintain a foothold in the Cultivation Realm in the future. It would become isolated and targeted from all sides.

An Elder immediately pointed out, ”If we really want to establish our might, then we should choose one of the sects we’re on bad terms with. As for the Illusion Spirit Sect... it’s not quite appropriate.”

The Illusion Spirit Sect’s relationship with the Profound Pure Sect had been neutral before, but later, due to the connection between Li Daoyi and Chu Lingxiao, they had grown friendly. To outsiders, the two sects were practically allies. Attacking the Illusion Spirit Sect at this time was not a good choice for the Profound Pure Sect.

”I still wish to attack the Illusion Spirit Sect,” Li Daoyi insisted.

Hearing his words, everyone present looked at him in surprise.

”What is your reason? Is it because of Chu Lingxiao?”

Although they asked this, they were all very familiar with Li Daoyi’s character. He was not the type of person to act on emotions.

No one believed he would disregard the sect’s interests because of what happened to his friend.

Everyone was confused by Li Daoyi’s choice.

But Xu Ran understood.

Because a few days ago, Chu Lingxiao, from whom they had heard nothing, suddenly contacted him and Li Daoyi.

Both Xu Ran and Li Daoyi were quite happy that Chu Lingxiao was able to contact them, as they had both been worried about his safety.

But the moment Chu Lingxiao spoke, their pleasant surprise was shattered.

”Elder Hidden Mountain, Fellow Daoist Li, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

”What is it?”

”I’d like you to persuade your sect to attack and destroy the Illusion Spirit Sect.”

Luo Qianxue called Chu Lingxiao ”Chu Ice Cube” because he always spoke without any emotion.

Just like now, as he said these words, his voice was devoid of emotion.

But Xu Ran and Li Daoyi, hearing these words, were anything but calm inside.

After a long moment, Li Daoyi slowly spoke:

”Why? Fellow Daoist Chu, you know me. There is no benefit for my sect in doing this.”

On the other end of the Communication Jade Talisman, Chu Lingxiao was silent for a moment before slowly replying:

”Because the Illusion Spirit Sect has betrayed the Immortal Ancient World.”

Before Xu Ran or Li Daoyi could ask, he continued, ”Elder Hidden Mountain, Fellow Daoist Li, try to recall the development history of our... of the Illusion Spirit Sect. Isn’t there something that doesn’t add up?”

Hearing this, Xu Ran and Li Daoyi both frowned slightly.

The Illusion Spirit Sect was a nascent sect in Changqing County. It had only been promoted from a Golden Core Sect to a Nascent Soul Sect a hundred or two hundred years before Xu Ran joined the Profound Pure Sect.

In other words, it had been less than a thousand years since they became a Nascent Soul Sect, but in that time, they had produced five Nascent Soul Cultivators.

This speed of growth could indeed be described as ”heaven-defying fortune.”

Chu Lingxiao then explained, ”The Illusion Spirit Sect was only able to become a Nascent Soul Sect because it grew with the unstinting support of the Evil Race.”

”Later, the members of the Evil Race within the sect were purged by your Sword Dao Ye Shan. They had originally thought about turning over a new leaf, but they later discovered that without the resources from the Evil Race, their growth was too slow. So, they did everything they could to re-establish contact with the Evil Race.”

Hearing Chu Lingxiao’s explanation, Xu Ran nodded slightly. He could understand the Illusion Spirit Sect’s actions. It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury back to frugality.

Chu Lingxiao continued, ”Li Daoyi, do you remember the incident where a disciple from my sect falsely accused a disciple from yours?”

”I only learned later that the Evil Race’s demand of the Illusion Spirit Sect was to do everything possible to cause trouble for your Profound Pure Sect, to give you no peace, and ideally, to eliminate you.”

”After Xu Teng True Monarch self-destructed at your sect’s gate, my master came to me. He wanted me to use my good relationship with you, Fellow Daoist Li, to deliver a fatal blow to you all at a critical moment.”

”That was when I first learned of the sect’s relationship with the Evil Race.”

”I refused.”

”My master has always treated me like his own son. After a long time of failing to persuade me, he decided to bring me along to convince the others, to sever all ties with the Evil Race and become a righteous sect of the Human Race once and for all.”