Building a sect from scratch.

Chapter 123 Instigating Rebellion
As a disciple of one of the most renowned sects in Zhongzhou, Jiao Xueling had never been threatened like this by someone from another sect.

But since she was capable of leading the escape in the middle of the night, she was naturally a rare talent—the kind who knew how to adapt to circumstances.

She took a deep breath and said with a forced smile, "Fellow Daoist Baili, you act so recklessly, I wonder where you get the support you need?"

You really can't blame her for being a coward. She's not blind; she could tell that the golden rope that killed Bai Zhongqi was no ordinary object!
Bai Zhongqi was her senior brother who had entered the sect more than ten years earlier. Although his talent wasn't top-notch, he was diligent in his cultivation. After all, he was a Golden Core cultivator with over two hundred years of cultivation, just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage! If it weren't for the impending Heavenly Tribulation, Bai Zhongqi wouldn't have been so eager to make a contribution in order to successfully transcend the tribulation and become a Nascent Soul cultivator. He wouldn't have wanted to get a share of the spoils as soon as he heard about the Taiyin Sect. Although her senior brother was usually irresponsible, this time, he really had been too hasty!

Even so, how could Jiao Xueling not be terrified that such a Golden Core cultivator was killed silently by the Taiyin Sect disciple in front of her, and his soul was scattered in the blink of an eye?

That golden rope is probably a magic weapon or spiritual artifact of the Earth Rank or higher. Ordinary small sects and clans can't possibly acquire such a treasure!
Not to mention, even if you don't care about the monk's face, you should still care about the Buddha's face. Even if what Bai Zhongqi did was not ethical, he is still a member of the Taiyi Ziwei Sect. How could an ordinary sect dare to offend him? Even if he threatened her to shut her up now, would she dare to agree? Would the Taiyin Sect disciple on the other side believe him?

Clearly, they are not afraid of being exposed at all!
Such reckless behavior suggests either a rare madman or someone with powerful backing!
At this moment, Baili Shuang had already nonchalantly retracted the golden rope.

Her face showed no emotion as she slowly spoke: "I know you, Jiao Xueling. You have a Water and Wood spiritual root, with Wood as the primary element and Water as the secondary element. You have cultivated a secret technique that allows you to hear the sounds of grass, trees, flowers, and trees. Even in the Ten Continents and Three Islands, you are an extremely rare existence."

Jiao Xueling asked warily, "What do you mean?"

"Because you have mastered this secret technique, you must know what a filthy place your Taiyi Ziwei Sect is."

Before Jiao Xueling could speak, the two Taiyi Ziwei Sect disciples following behind her became anxious:
"Don't spout such nonsense!"

"Our Taiyi Sect's three factions are blessed by the Supreme God Taiyi; how dare you, a mere nobody sect, slander us!"

Baili Shuang did not take offense at what the two said, but simply said, "The sun rises and the moon shines. There are countless immortals and gods in the world, but how dare a firefly compete with the bright moon?"

"No wonder! No wonder you dare to call yourselves the 'Taiyin Sect'!"

Jiao Xueling suddenly realized, but then a new doubt arose: "Even if the Taiyin Sect is backed by the Taiyin God, everyone knows that immortals and gods do not descend to the mortal realm! You are just a newly established sect, how dare you..."

Baili Shuang scoffed at Jiao Xueling's words and interrupted her rudely, "Are immortals and gods truly immune to descent into the mortal realm? How come the Penglai High God killed thousands of disciples of the Misty Immortal Sect? How come the Misty Golden Immortal slaughtered two cities on Penglai Island? Yes, your Taiyi High God has been enlightened for a long time and rarely interferes in worldly affairs. In the last hundred years, you haven't even issued any divine decrees. Do you know why?"

Jiao Xueling was shocked upon hearing this—the fact that the Supreme God Taiyi had not issued divine decrees for so long was a secret among the three sects of the Taiyi Sect, known to very few. Even among the disciples of the three sects of the Taiyi Sect, those who were not close confidants of the elders had never heard of it. How could a small, newly established sect like the Taiyin Sect know about it? Moreover…

For a moment, Jiao Xueling held her breath.

Bai Li Shuang's words practically strangled her!

Why is the Supreme God Taiyi becoming increasingly indifferent to the sect's worldly affairs? Even when the Taiyi Sect split, he remained completely uninvolved!
This question was no secret among the sect's higher-ups! If Jiao Xueling hadn't cultivated a special technique that allowed her to know many secrets, she wouldn't have pondered such a matter unknown to outsiders!
"What else could it be? Of course, it's because even gods suffer heavenly tribulations!"

As Baili Shuang finished speaking, a golden bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the dark night sky, illuminating the entire sky for a moment and revealing Jiao Xueling's deathly pale face to the group. The two Taiyi Ziwei Sect disciples behind Jiao Xueling, though only half-understanding, were quick to read the situation. One trembled as he supported his senior sister, while the other, his leg shaking, stared intently at Baili Shuang, looking ready to fight at any moment.

"Why do some cultivators suffer through heavenly tribulations, barely surviving, while others do so with ease? Do you think it's due to differences in aptitude or the unpredictable power of heaven?"

Actually, it's because—

Before Baili Shuang could finish speaking, another bolt of lightning struck down from nowhere. Compared to the previous bolt, which seemed to carry a stronger warning, this one struck her directly with overwhelming force!
"Gan!"

Baili Shuang frowned and couldn't help but let out an angry venting sound, which had been led astray by a group of absurd players. Fortunately, the system's energy points had been relatively plentiful recently. In the moment of crisis, some of them were automatically consumed and transformed into a barrier to block the heavenly lightning.

The consequences of revealing the secrets of heaven with the cultivation of the Golden Core stage are too serious. Fang Xianyu dared not show off anymore. Her puppet body, which was wearing the disguise of Baili Shuang, the senior sister of the Taiyin Sect, had finally managed to cultivate into a Golden Core body in sync with her original body. If she messed up, she would be heartbroken for several days!
However, the lightning bolt was extremely powerful. Fang Xianyu's disguise, Baili Shuang, was protected by a barrier formed from the system's energy and was unaffected, but Jiao Xueling, who was only a few meters away from her, suffered the consequences.

At the critical moment, Jiao Xueling mobilized all the spiritual power in her golden core to protect her two junior brothers and sisters, but she herself had to withstand the damage from the heavenly lightning. Even a slight scratch knocked her to the ground, and several cracks even appeared on her golden core!
"Senior sister!"

The two Taiyi Ziwei Sect disciples who were protected by Jiao Xueling were stunned at first, and then they scrambled towards Jiao Xueling, shouting at the top of their lungs and with tears streaming down their faces.

"Alright, alright," Jiao Xueling said, panting heavily as she tried her best to circulate her spiritual energy and regulate her breathing, "What are you two wailing about! I'm not dead yet!"

"Here, consider this my apology,"

Baili Shuang took out a piece of Yin essence the size of an egg and used magic to push it over: "You saw it too, it's not that I don't want to say, it's that I can't say, anyway,"

At this point, Baili Shuang smiled meaningfully: "Both the Taiyi Ziwei Sect and the Taiyi Qiankun Sect are already doomed. If they abandon the darkness and embrace the light sooner, they might still have a chance to survive."

Jiao Xueling accepted the Taiyin Essence without any hesitation, and even started practicing her cultivation technique on the spot, seemingly not worried at all about what Baili Shuang might do to her.

"Sister, you..."

The junior sister standing to the side was stunned by her senior sister's actions and was at a loss for what to do.

Another disciple of the Taiyi Ziwei Sect pulled her aside and whispered, "Shh, the fact that he didn't kill us like he killed Senior Brother Bai means he has other plans. He couldn't possibly waste time talking nonsense before killing us. Don't make a sound..."

The junior sister suddenly raised her voice a few decibels and scolded, "Junior brother, what are you saying! What senior brother Bai? Haven't we not seen senior brother Bai for a long time?"

"Ah, right! Right, right, right! What, Senior Brother Bai? I don't even remember the last time I saw him, haha!"

(End of this chapter)