"Master, I've received news that the Shenlian Sect has reached a deal with Zhican Valley..."
In the main hall of Dao Sword Sect's main peak, an elder was reporting the latest intelligence to Gu Yueming, who sat in the high seat.
"They will provide Zhican Valley with a large quantity of high-grade magical tools, and even low-level magical treasures. By our conservative estimate, when the war begins, each disciple of Zhican Valley will possess at least two high-grade magical tools. The smaller sects supporting Zhican Valley are also likely to receive some magical tools."
"Master, sects from Yan Han Country have also risen to support Zhican Valley..." Liu Boxian said to Gu Yueming, "Combining various sources of intelligence, we conservatively estimate that Zhican Valley will ultimately have over fifty Nascent Soul cultivators and more than a thousand Golden Core cultivators."
"Master, Zhican Valley has announced..." He Daoguang spoke up, "For this war, sects that assist Zhican Valley will receive a 20% discount on medicinal pills for the next five years. Moreover, Zhican Valley guarantees that any cultivator who actually fights in this battle will not lack medicinal supplies."
"Master..." he continued, "In contrast, our sect's medicinal pills are depleted, with only next month's regular distribution remaining. We don't have enough pills to sustain a war. If we can't purchase pills from Zhican Valley, we'll have no medicinal support when fighting breaks out. The casualties then... I dare not imagine."
"Master!" he looked at Gu Yueming and asked, "Where is our Medicine Elder?!"
With no good news so far, Gu Yueming's expression darkened as he looked at He Daoguang and said: "Elder Qin is in closed-door cultivation."
"Closed-door cultivation?!" He Daoguang grew furious upon hearing this, "At such a crucial time? Master, why not strip him of his position as Medicine Elder?"
"Medicine Elder - the title says it all. When the sect desperately needs medicinal pills, he can't produce a single one. What use is such a Medicine Elder?""How about removing Elder Qin and letting you be Medicine Elder instead?" Liu Boxian asked, "Can you produce any pills?"
He Daoguang looked at Liu Boxian with a cold smile and said: "At least this old man would do better than that greenhorn!"
"Can you conjure medicinal herbs out of thin air? Can you conjure alchemists out of nothing?" Liu Boxian pressed.
"Everyone knows our Dao Sword Sect has four main peaks. Qi Peak maintains sect order, Sword Peak defends sect security. May I ask, what are Dan Peak's duties and obligations?" He Daoguang countered, "Dan Peak exists to provide pills for the sect. So does Dan Peak have any herbs? Does Dan Peak have any alchemists?!"
Liu Boxian sneered and asked: "Back when Dan Peak had that conflict with Zhican Valley, your Qi Peak did..."
"Enough!" Gu Yueming suddenly interrupted, "We face a great enemy, why are we fighting among ourselves? How inappropriate!"
Liu Boxian and He Daoguang finally fell silent.
"What's the situation with Boundless Sword Sect?" Gu Yueming asked another elder, "Are they defensive or offensive?"
"Boundless Sword Sect is also actively preparing for war," the elder replied. "Jian Wuming said they would stand with Dao Sword Sect. He has organized some battle-hardened cultivators and declared that if Zhican Valley comes for Dao Sword Sect, he will provide full support."
Gu Yueming nodded without expressing an opinion.
"How noble and righteous Boundless Sword Sect is!" He Daoguang sneered again, "Yet we don't see that Dan Peak leader, deliberately taking people to show off at their sect, damaging the friendship between our sects. Is he trying to prove how strong he is? What does Lu Junxing's defeat have to do with him?"
Hearing this, Liu Boxian slammed the table and stood up: "What damage to friendship? It's just that their Boundless Sword Sect has never beaten our Dao Sword Sect! Our Dao Sword Sect is simply stronger than Boundless Sword Sect! Is there a problem with that?"
"I only regret that it wasn't my Sword Peak disciples who went to Boundless Sword Sect. Qin Ran owes me an explanation."
Gu Yueming helplessly patted the table, gesturing for Liu Boxian to sit down.
"How are our sect's magical tools and treasures?" he asked Liu Boxian, "If there are suitable ones, distribute them quickly so our disciples can familiarize themselves for battle."
"Everyone has at least one sword," Liu Boxian said. "Master need not worry, Dao Sword Sect disciples can fight as long as they have a sword. Why fear Zhican Valley?"
"Yes, you with your broken sword, while others have treasure swords, magical treasures, armor, gloves, boots, accessories, armed to the teeth," He Daoguang said. "Like mountain bandits against elite regular troops..." 𝐫𝐚₦𝘰𝐛ÈS
"Bang!"
Liu Boxian could no longer contain himself. He smashed the table before him to pieces, stood up and pointed at He Daoguang, cursing:
"I've tolerated you for too long! You counter everything I say, what exactly do you mean? Should we just give up fighting and surrender to Zhican Valley? Should we go support Zhican Valley too?!"
Faced with Liu Boxian's fury, He Daoguang remained calm and smiled coldly: "That's not impossible."
"We cultivators seek immortality. What's the difference between cultivating in Dao Sword Sect or Zhican Valley?"
"Once war breaks out, countless will die. Must we wait until Dao Sword Sect is destroyed and everyone is dead? When the power difference is so vast and defeat is certain, why fight? To seek death?"
"We are cultivators, not mortals. Mortals need benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trust to maintain social order and stability, need to be loyal to their country, but we don't need to be loyal to our sect."
"Besides, how many mortals have betrayed their countries?"
"I'll kill you!" Liu Boxian exploded in rage, summoning his natal sword and slashing at He Daoguang.
He Daoguang was startled and jumped back, but didn't notice the chair behind him. He tripped and fell along with the chair.
The surrounding elders rushed to restrain Liu Boxian, repeatedly trying to calm him: "Peak Master Liu, Peak Master Liu, don't be angry, don't be angry..."
Restrained, Liu Boxian threw his sword at He Daoguang.
In his panic, He Daoguang grabbed the chair to block, stopping Liu Boxian's natal sword.
To prevent the conflict from escalating, the elders pulled Liu Boxian towards the door.
As Liu Boxian was dragged backwards towards the exit, he pointed at He Daoguang and cursed:
"You've been in Dao Sword Sect for thousands of years, even a rock would have gained spirit by now. I can't believe I've walked the same path as such a shameless traitor for so many years..."
The elders pulled Liu Boxian out the door, and as his voice faded, only Gu Yueming and He Daoguang remained in the hall.
Gu Yueming stood up, walked to He Daoguang, helped him up, and pulled Liu Boxian's natal sword from the chair, saying with a smile: "Daoguang, don't take it to heart. Boxian was just playing around."
He Daoguang straightened his clothes and sneered: "I know he wasn't really attacking, otherwise why would I play along? In a real fight, he might not be my match."
"Foolish brute, no brain!"
Gu Yueming looked at Liu Boxian's sword, which had "Protect the Dao" clearly engraved on the blade.
This sword was called the Dao-Protecting Sword.
The "Dao" of Dao Sword Sect.
The "Dao Sword" of Dao Sword Sect.
"How did it come to this?" he asked aloud.
The three of them had entered Dao Sword Sect around the same time, cultivated together, sought opportunities together, watched each other's backs.
After years of wandering, they returned to Dao Sword Sect together, wanting to protect it, wanting to revitalize it...
Why... how... did it become like this?
"Master, I've thought it through carefully," He Daoguang said. "Zhican Valley will have over fifty Nascent Soul cultivators, while we only have about ten. So even if other cultivators don't act, just these fifty-plus Nascent Souls - one sneeze from each of them and Dao Sword Sect couldn't withstand it."
"We really must negotiate peace with Zhican Valley. As long as we preserve Dao Sword Sect's name, what's wrong with becoming their subsidiary sect?"
"I can go negotiate this with Zhican Valley. You know I have some connection with Valley Lord Wan."
Gu Yueming's gaze moved from the "Protect the Dao" inscription to He Daoguang. His eyes were deep and showed no emotional fluctuation.
"We'll discuss this later," he said.
"Master! Time waits for no one," He Daoguang urged again. "Once all the supporting sects arrive at Zhican Valley, their power will be unprecedented, and they might not accept our peace offering!"
"Return to Qi Peak first and check if all the disciples and elders in closed-door cultivation or away have returned," Gu Yueming said. "Have them prepare for battle."
"Master!"
He Daoguang wanted to say more, but after looking at Gu Yueming's expression, he bowed and withdrew.
"Alas!" Watching He Daoguang's silhouette disappear through the doorway, Gu Yueming let out a deep sigh, feeling powerless once again.
He sat down on the ground, holding the sect's guardian sword.
Dao Sword Sect, Dao Sword Sect.
He had given everything to this sect, yet he had barely managed to keep it alive. He couldn't do more for it.
He hadn't made it stronger.
He might even witness its demise under his leadership.
Suddenly, light cast shadows through the doorway. Thinking it was Liu Boxian returning for the guardian sword, he raised the weapon to hand it over, but kept his head lowered as he advised:
"Senior He's proposal was just one option. Even if it's ill-timed, you needn't be angry. He is, after all, a Yuan Ying cultivator, and at this critical moment, every Yuan Ying cultivator is crucial. Sometimes you need to control your temper."
He felt ashamed to say these words to Liu Boxian's face.
But after waiting a while without Liu Boxian taking the guardian sword, he looked up to see a handsome young man standing before him, smiling.
"Qin Ran?" He frowned. "Weren't you in closed cultivation?"
Qin Ran smiled and asked, "I guess Senior He's proposal must have been to surrender to Zhican Valley!"
Gu Yueming pulled back the sword, holding it close like an old man.
He remained silent, offering no response.
"No matter the time, place, or situation, there will always be such people," Qin Ran sat down on the ground before Gu Yueming, smiling as he continued,
"In the face of a mighty enemy, if this were the mortal world, those who suggest surrender would be executed immediately. The damage to morale might be no less severe than losing a Yuan Ying cultivator."
Gu Yueming glanced at him and said, "Let's not speak of this anymore."
"Very well." Qin Ran nodded and changed the subject, asking, "Does the Sect Leader know how to conquer an impregnable fortress?"
If Gu Yueming knew, he wouldn't be so pessimistic.
"Its exterior may be impenetrable, impossible to breach..." Qin Ran hinted, "But what about its interior?"
Gu Yueming's eyes lit up, vaguely grasping Qin Ran's meaning.
"Is its interior truly unified? Are all its people clones or puppets, thinking exactly the same thoughts?" Qin Ran pressed.
"What do you mean?" Gu Yueming asked.
"Its interior consists of many different individuals. Each person has their own thoughts. Various, different thoughts," Qin Ran explained. "It may be extremely powerful, it may be impregnable, but they are all separate individuals.
"Where there are differences, there are opportunities to divide.
"All impregnable fortresses are broken from within; all powerful, invincible forces are dismantled from the inside."
Gu Yueming suddenly smiled.
"Zhican Valley has formed some kind of alliance. This alliance is naturally very powerful, the most powerful force you can find in the Land of Immortal Legacy. However..." Qin Ran smiled confidently as he told Gu Yueming,
"This alliance is merely a temporary coalition of various sects and forces. Not only is it impossible for these forces to be free of old grudges, even if they were, new ones can be created.
"Sect Leader, in my view, this alliance is nothing but a paper tiger. The stronger it appears, the more fragile it is. It's like a tall building without a foundation - the taller it stands, the more dangerous it becomes," he said. "It only appears strong, perhaps needing just a gentle breeze to collapse on its own."
"Hahaha..." Someone burst into laughter, but it wasn't Gu Yueming - it was Liu Boxian entering through the doorway.
Qin Ran turned to look as Liu Boxian walked in, laughing.
Liu Boxian pointed at him and laughed, "I knew you had a mind full of tricks, kid! I wasn't wrong about you!"
"Uncle Liu!" Qin Ran smiled and bowed respectfully.
Liu Boxian walked over, took his guardian sword back from Gu Yueming, planted it before him, and asked Qin Ran, "Tell us, what should we do?!"
"We need to proceed in three steps..." Qin Ran began.
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