Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 393 Unfamiliar World
As the massive body of the demonic whale swept over his head, Song Xian quickly moved far away to the side, keeping his head down, afraid that it would notice him.

He had just been through the gates of hell and didn't want to go through it again.

The deep-sea whale never glanced at him once, simply passing over his head and disappearing without a trace in just a few breaths; its speed was nothing short of ghostly.

Once it had completely disappeared, Song Xian dared to take a deep breath, a look of joy appearing on his face. His guess was correct; the exit of the giant beast's esophagus was where it excreted.

He was expelled along with the remains and decaying matter inside the deep-sea whale.

This was truly a narrow escape from death. He was swallowed by the deep-sea whale and escaped unharmed. If this were told, probably no one would believe it.

Even he himself found it surreal; if he weren't currently surrounded by seawater, he would probably doubt whether he was dreaming.

Taking a few deep breaths, Song Xian headed upwards. Having just escaped death, all he wanted now was to leave this place.

He soon left the seabed.

But when he rose from the sea, he was immediately stunned, for he saw a bright red blood moon hanging in the sky.

.........

In a brightly lit room in Bianxi City, several men and women dressed in the attire of the Hunyuan Sect gathered together.

The leader appeared to be in his thirties, a Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator with a square face, but his expression was quite gloomy at the moment.

This man was named Zhang Yanqing. He was originally the leader of the Qingxuan Sect, a rogue cultivator force in Zhuxi Town. However, after the Beast Taming Sect returned to Bianxi City, it declared that it would wipe out all rogue cultivator forces that had joined the Luoyun Sect. Forced by circumstances, he had no choice but to lead the Qingxuan Sect cultivators to surrender to the Hunyuan Sect.

After accepting them, Song Xian gave them a mid-grade first-level spiritual vein in Bianxi City and assigned them four resource territories to manage.

This was not bad at first, but the good times didn't last long. Through a series of personnel changes, Hunyuanzong dispersed the Qingxuan faction members and assigned them to various departments and halls.

When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head; he had no choice but to accept this arrangement.

However, recently, news has circulated within the Hunyuan Sect that they intend to cancel the flagpole refining industry.

Although the flagpole is only a small part of the entire formation, it is an indispensable link.

The Qingxuan Sect's main industry was previously the refining of first-grade high-quality flagpoles. This was because they previously controlled two resource-producing areas in Zhuxi Town: the Flower Heart Tree and the Snow Stone Mine. These were the main materials for refining flagpoles, giving them a unique advantage.

Although the Flower Heart Tree is only a first-grade high-quality spiritual tree, it has very high requirements for its growing environment. In the entire Bianxi City, only the first-grade high-quality spiritual garden in Zhuxi Town can plant this tree.

Snowstone ore can only be found in Zhuxi Town.

For many years, the flagpoles they crafted were sold directly to the Luoyun Sect, which then refined them into array flags for sale. With this business, they earned about 10,000 spirit stones a year.

After they joined the Hunyuan Sect, Song Xian still put them in charge of this industry, giving them forty spirit stones for every flagpole they forged.

Although the profits are less than before, at least the income can be increased, and earning four thousand spirit stones a year from this industry is not a problem.

But now, the Hunyuan Sect wants to cancel this industry, which cuts off their source of income.

The original Qingxuan Sect cultivators were all indignant, especially the leaders, as this concerned their direct profits, so they all gathered here.

“We’ve always been in charge of the flagpole manufacturing industry, and it’s been going smoothly for many years. Although we haven’t made much money, we’ve always been profitable. Why are we suddenly canceling it? Don’t they have any explanation?” Zhang Yanqing asked one of the men with a gloomy face, clearly seeking his opinion.

The man's name is Huang Sheng. He was originally the fourth leader of the Qingxuan Sect and now works for the Finance Department. The cancellation of this business was a plan proposed and led by the Finance Department.

"I heard that the Finance Department proposed to cancel the industry because it had been losing money. According to what I've heard, although it was proposed by the Finance Department, it was actually Lu Yuan's idea."

“Lu Yuan.” Zhang Yanqing’s eyes narrowed, and his face became even more unpleasant. Although he had only been a member of the Hunyuan Sect for a few years, he could clearly sense that Lu Yuan was prejudiced against them, the independent cultivators who had joined the sect later. He also knew Lu Yuan’s influence in the sect. If it was really Lu Yuan who was in charge, then there was almost no chance of this business being saved.

"This business was always profitable when it was in our hands, so how come it's losing money now that it's in theirs?" a woman who sat down asked sharply.

Huang Shengdao said, "Previously, it was because we controlled the Flower Heart Tree and Snow Stone Mine resource territories, so the material costs were very low. Now, both Flower Heart Tree and Snow Stone Mine resource territories have been occupied by the Jade Abyss Sect."

"The Hunyuan Sect wants to buy this material from them at a high price, so of course there won't be much profit. I'm not very clear about the specifics, but I do know that they did the math and found that it was a loss, so they proposed to cancel this business."

"I think it's because we control the flagpole industry, and they're jealous and don't want to share the profits with us. Nowadays, the top leaders of the Hunyuan Sect are all the same people from before, and they've been ostracizing us for a long time," a man said indignantly.

Huang Sheng remained noncommittal: "It's not impossible. I heard some news. The reason they want to cancel this industry is because they want to integrate more resources and refine array flags themselves. Although the Hunyuan Sect had an Array Flag Hall before, it was only responsible for the maintenance, repair and use of arrays. They did not have the ability to refine array flags."

"Now that they control Bianxi City, their strength has greatly increased, and with the Tianshan Market as a trump card, the materials for refining array flags are not a problem for them. Therefore, they want to refine array flags themselves and train their own array flag masters."

"We are all newcomers, and it's perfectly reasonable that they don't trust us and don't want us involved. It's possible that they want to use this as an excuse to kick us out first, and then form a team to forge the array flags, keeping every link in their own hands."

Upon hearing this, the hot-tempered man immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Damn it, they really treat us like stepmothers! When we sought refuge with them, Song Xian personally promised that we would still be responsible for all our original properties. Now they're turning their backs on us. We're going to go find Song Xian and demand an explanation."

"Don't be impulsive," Zhang Yanqing said in a deep voice, frowning.

Although he was indignant, he knew that it would be useless to rashly go to Song Xian to reason with him. Not to mention whether he could even see Song Xian, even if he did, Song Xian might not support them.

Who is Lu Yuan? He is an elder of the Hunyuan Sect, the current chief of the cabinet, and one of Song Xian's most trusted people. Now that this matter is indeed orchestrated by Lu Yuan, and a dispute has arisen, Song Xian will definitely stand on his side.

Given the current size of the Hunyuan Sect, they are simply not enough to carry any weight.

Even if Song Xian, for the sake of face, still entrusted the business to them, offending Lu Yuan would mean facing repercussions later. The hot-tempered man angrily said, "They've already bullied us to the point of rudeness. If we don't fight back and protest, who knows how they'll oppress us in the future? This cancellation of the flagpole business and kicking us out might just be a test. If we don't dare to utter a sound, they'll definitely take advantage of us in the future, and might even take back all the territory we currently manage and replace it with their own people."

Huang Sheng nodded: "What the second-in-command said makes sense. We can't let ourselves be slaughtered. But it's probably not appropriate to go directly to Song Xian to demand an explanation. Lu Yuan is Song Xian's confidant and holds a high position of power. If we go directly to Song Xian to complain, won't we completely offend him? If he retaliates, he has plenty of ways to do so. In the end, we'll be the ones who suffer. I think we can't confront him head-on. We have to use a clever strategy to deflect his attack."

Zhang Yanqing knew he was a strategist; back in the Qingxuan Sect, he was the sect's strategist. Seeing his expression, she knew he must have a plan: "How can you use four ounces to move a thousand pounds?"

“We’ve been with the Hunyuan Sect for several years now, and I think everyone feels the same way: we’re being targeted without our knowledge, and they’re intentionally or unintentionally excluding us. We never get the good opportunities. Why is that? The main reason is that we have no one to rely on in this sect.” Huang Sheng’s expression was solemn, and he tried his best to keep his words calm.

As the former leader of the Qingxuan Sect, he felt this most keenly. Not long after joining the Hunyuan Sect, he was transferred to the Finance Hall to serve under the Investigation Peak. With his cultivation and abilities, he was more than qualified to be a captain, if not the head or deputy head of the Investigation Peak.

However, after several years in the Hunyuan Sect, he was still only a deputy captain, and he had several opportunities to be promoted but never got the chance.

Many people with less skill and ability than him were promoted, which made him feel resentful and often gave him a sense of being underappreciated.

Those who are less capable than him are promoted because they have connections and powerful backers.

Of course, he also wanted to find someone influential to protect him, but he was insignificant and didn't know any important figures in the Hunyuan Sect. In addition, he came from a rogue cultivator faction, so even if he joined them, they might not value him.

He wanted to achieve his goal by using the flag industry as a pretext to find a powerful backer.

He himself doesn't have enough influence, and if he goes to pledge his loyalty on his own, people might not take him seriously. But if he brings Zhang Yanqing along, it will be a different story.

Zhang Yanqing is the head of the Qingxuan Sect. Although many members of the Qingxuan Sect were scattered to different teams after joining the Hunyuan Sect, he still has a lot of influence among the original members of the Qingxuan Sect.

Moreover, he himself possesses dual spiritual roots and has a cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

If he were willing to find a respected figure within the sect to serve, he would likely be accepted and given important responsibilities.

As for who he would align himself with, he already had a plan in mind.

"Continue," Zhang Yanqing said calmly. He understood Huang Sheng's meaning, and he had the same idea. However, he was proud and arrogant, and he was the undisputed leader of the Qingxuan Sect. Although he was forced to surrender to the Hunyuan Sect, he was still unwilling to be subservient and flattering.

“We must find a backer for ourselves, a backer who can stand against Lu Yuan. In the past few years, I have found out very well about the situation inside the Hunyuan Sect. There are several factions within them. One is led by Lin Zixiang and is centered around former Qingyun Sect cultivators. This group has the most power. People like Lu Yuan and Jiang Zichen are the core figures in this circle.”

"Their circle is very exclusive. Only the direct descendants cultivated by the Hunyuan Sect can be integrated. It is very difficult for us to integrate."

"The other faction is led by Feng Yan and Qi Xiaobai. They are both independent cultivators. Although their power is not as great as that of Lin Zixiang and Lu Yuan, they are also elders of the Hunyuan Sect and are trusted by Song Xian. They are currently in charge of the Inner Affairs Hall and the Outer Affairs Hall."

"There is another faction, led by Hu Xiaobao. Although he is a direct descendant of the Hunyuan Sect, he has only a so-so relationship with Lin Zixiang and the others from the original Qingyun Sect, and he has even less interaction with people like Feng Yan and Qi Xiaobai. Hu Xiaobao has never held an important position and has no power of his own. It was only after he reached the Foundation Establishment stage that he was able to stand alone."

"Now he is in full charge of Tianshan affairs. In the past few years, he has gathered a large number of people and gradually formed a new faction."

"The people under him come from all walks of life. Some are direct descendants trained by the Hunyuan Sect, some are rogue cultivators who joined later, and some are former sects from the Western City who surrendered, just like us."

"Moreover, I've heard that Sect Leader Song Xian has a very close relationship with Hu Xiaobao; he's said to be Hu Xiaobao's maternal uncle."

"If we were to find someone in the sect who could rival Lu Yuan, it would undoubtedly be Hu Xiaobao. He also possesses a single spiritual root aptitude, so his future is limitless."

"With him as our backer, our days in the sect will be much easier."

After listening, Zhang Yanqing pondered for a moment: "Can Hu Xiaobao save our flagpole manufacturing industry?"

"I don't know. Even if we can't protect it, it's not a big deal. Tianshan Market and Tianshan Gambling House make a fortune every day. If they just take one or two of their businesses and hand them over to us, it would be enough for us to live comfortably. The Qingshan Valley forces from the former Bian Shang Town are now in charge of the import and export of minerals in Tianshan Market, and they earn much more than we do."

The hot-tempered second-in-command had calmed down and was no longer angry: "We have no relation to Hu Xiaobao, would he help us?"

"How will you know if you don't try?"

...............

Staring at the bright red blood moon overhead, Song Xian stood there, dumbfounded.

Is this really not a dream? He patted his cheeks in disbelief, as if trying to wake himself up, but the blood moon hanging high in the sky was still so clear and bright.

Where exactly is this? He was certain that neither the Qin Kingdom, the Muhe Grassland, nor the Boundless Sea had ever seen such a blood moon.

He had never seen such a strange phenomenon as a blood moon in any book. If he wasn't dreaming or hallucinating, then there was only one possibility.

This place is no longer the familiar territory I know.

Where did this place lead him? Song Xian was bewildered and at a loss. Looking down, he saw that the sea was calm and the waves were still, and below was darkness. The deep-sea whale was nowhere to be seen.

A feeling of utter loneliness and helplessness arises, as if one's cries for help go unanswered.

After being stunned for a while, he plunged into the sea again, trying to find the deep-sea whale.

He needs to find clues here to leave.

But the demon whale had already vanished without a trace. He wandered aimlessly in the sea for a long time until he was completely disheartened, and then broke out of the sea.

What to do now?
Gazing at the boundless, dark ocean, Song Xian felt as if his heart had sunk to the bottom of the sea.

(End of this chapter)