Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 406 The fish is dead and the net is broken
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, several years have passed.

In the dimly lit secret room, Song Xian sat cross-legged on a futon with his eyes closed, seemingly motionless, but inside his Niwan Palace, a turbulent storm was brewing.

A surge of spiritual energy, like a raging storm, suddenly swept through the Niwan Palace. Countless points of light poured into the sea of ​​consciousness from the outside, quickly creating a colossal wave.

The ball of light formed from Song Xian's divine consciousness drifted like a duckweed in the towering waves stirred up by spiritual energy.

The light in the sea of ​​consciousness gradually merged with the light cluster formed by the divine consciousness, and the entire sea of ​​consciousness grew larger and larger, constantly expanding outward.

After an unknown amount of time, the turbulent waves caused by the fluctuations of spiritual energy gradually subsided, the sea of ​​consciousness stopped expanding, and the ball of divine consciousness also stopped growing.

The scattered lights within his sea of ​​consciousness had all been swallowed up and vanished without a trace.

Song Xian slowly opened his eyes and felt his whole body relaxed and indescribably refreshed.

Just now, his cultivation of the Desolate Heaven Expansion Technique finally made progress, breaking through to the second level of the first stage, and his entire sea of ​​consciousness and divine sense expanded by about 20%.

Originally, his spiritual power was only 850 points, but with the breakthrough of the Desolate Heaven Expansion Technique, it has now reached 1020 points.

This breakthrough went even more smoothly than he had expected. As the most advanced cultivation technique in the world, he originally thought that the Desolate Heaven Expansion Technique would be difficult to cultivate, but he didn't expect it to be so smooth with almost no obstacles.

This might be related to his previous cultivation of the Xuan Yuan True Scripture, since both are methods of cultivating divine consciousness and have some similarities.

Regardless, he was overjoyed to have broken through the first level so quickly.

After taking a few deep breaths to calm his joy, Song Xian closed his eyes again and entered a meditative state to continue practicing the Desolate Heaven Knowledge Expansion Technique.

Meanwhile, on Luoyun Mountain, in the back mountain training ground, a vortex of spiritual energy was frantically devouring the figure sitting there.

Qi Xiaobai sat upright in the center, his body trembling slightly, his forehead covered with layers of sweat.

The next moment, layers of blue smoke surged from his body, enveloping him.

.........

In the dimly lit secret room, Song Xian opened his eyes. Moonlight streamed in through the window, and the moon was already high in the sky. He got up and left the room. As soon as he opened the stone door, the disciples who were waiting outside came forward to greet him and bowed: "Sect Leader, two hours ago, Senior Brother Qi Xiaobai successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Good." Song Xian nodded with satisfaction. Today was a day of double happiness. Not only did his cultivation technique break through, but the sect also gained another Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He was aware of Qi Xiaobai's Foundation Establishment today, but he didn't go to see it in person.

The sect now has five Foundation Establishment cultivators, plus Qi Xiaobai, making a total of six.

Although it can't compare to the heyday of the Luoyun Sect, it's not far off.

In recent years, the sect has accumulated strength and made great strides. In just a few years, Jiang Zichen and Qi Xiaobai have successfully established their foundations. This was all thanks to the foundation laid during their time in Tianshan.

"Bring Junior Brother Qi here."

"Yes," the disciple replied and left.

Before long, Qi Xiaobai arrived at the waiting room of the mansion and bowed to Song Xian with a smile: "Sect Leader".

"Junior Brother Qi, please sit down. I just came out of the cultivation chamber and heard the news that you have successfully established your foundation. Congratulations!" Song Xian smiled and waved his hand, inviting him to sit down.

"It was all thanks to the blessings of the sect and the sect leader that we were able to succeed by sheer luck."

"Thinking back to the day we first met, it feels like a lifetime ago." Song Xian looked at his slightly graying temples and recalled their first encounter in the market, and couldn't help but express his feelings.

Qi Xiaobai smiled and said, "It's been decades. The sect leader is still in his prime, but I have wasted my time and my temples have turned white."

"You've worked hard all these years following the sect around."

"If it weren't for the sect leader's generous donation back then, my wife would have lost her sight, and we wouldn't be where we are today. From that moment on, my wife and I decided to follow the sect leader for the rest of our lives to repay his life-saving grace. Since joining the sect, the sect leader has treated us very well, and we have hardly participated in any dangerous battles, so we can't say we've had any hardship."

Hearing this, Song Xian felt very relieved. Qi Xiaobai was a bold and generous person, which was a personality he liked very much. Since joining the sect, he had been working diligently.

Because of his superb alchemy skills, Song Xian would not let him participate in general battles, after all, he was a special talent who needed protection.

He only participated in two major battles: the capture of Tianshan and the capture of Luojia Mountain.

Because of those two battles, the sect mobilized all its forces, fighting with its back to the wall.

Song Xian was genuinely happy that he was able to establish his foundation. From a public perspective, his successful foundation establishment not only added a foundation-establishing cultivator to the sect's fighting force, but was also crucial to the development of the sect's pill industry.

Personally speaking, Qi Xiaobai was someone he personally discovered and recruited into the sect, and now that he has successfully established his foundation, it shows that he had a keen eye for talent.

“Junior Brother Qi, now that you have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, the sect should promote you to a higher position. But given the current situation, I really don’t know how to arrange things. You tell me yourself! Which area of ​​affairs do you want to manage?”

Qi Xiaobai laughed heartily: "The sect leader knows me. I'm not good at those tedious affairs of the sect. To be honest, I have no interest in them. I'm already just sitting on the position of head of the Internal Affairs Hall. If I were to manage anything else, it would be an even bigger mess."

"Since the sect leader has brought this up, let me share my personal thoughts. Let someone else take charge of the Internal Affairs Hall! I really don't want to deal with those things; I'll just focus on refining pills."

"From now on, I will be focusing on studying various second-tier pills, and I won't have much energy left to deal with the affairs of the Internal Affairs Department."

"If I had to make a request, I would only ask that the sect collect more pill formulas and increase the funding for the Alchemy Hall."

Song Xian smiled and nodded: "Alright! Since you have no interest in managing sect affairs, I won't force you. However, you will still concurrently serve as the head of the Internal Affairs Hall. It wouldn't be good if you broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and instead of being promoted, you were demoted, which would cause controversy within the sect. As for your requirements regarding alchemy, feel free to make any requests you may have, and the sect will try its best to meet them."

The two talked for a while before Qi Xiaobai took his leave.

.........

In the blink of an eye, several months have passed.

On that day, dark clouds covered the sun, and the sky was gloomy.

Inside the main hall of the mansion on Luoyun Mountain, Song Xian strode in with a solemn expression. A group of people surrounded him and bowed to him upon his arrival.

"How is Senior Brother Lu?"

"He suddenly fainted during the meeting, but after taking the medicine, he has now regained consciousness." Jiang Zichen also looked grave. In the past year, Lu Yuan's health has been deteriorating, and today he suddenly vomited blood and fainted during the cabinet meeting, clearly indicating that his time is near.

Upon hearing the news, Song Xian rushed over.

"Alright, you don't all need to crowd around here. Send two disciples to guard this place. The rest of you can disperse and go about your own business!" Song Xian waved his hand, and everyone responded and left.

He entered the room and saw Lu Yuan lying on the bed, his face very pale.

"Sect Leader, you've arrived." Lu Yuan turned his head, his eyes filled with weariness, and spoke weakly.

Song Xian slowly sat down beside him: "Senior Brother Lu, how are you? Are you feeling better now?"

Lu Yuan remained expressionless, his eyes calm, as if he had already seen through life and death: "Thank you for your concern, Sect Leader. This was only a matter of time. It was my fate, which was already determined the moment I failed to establish my foundation."

Seeing his appearance, Song Xian felt a little sad: "From now on, you don't need to worry about the sect's trivial matters. Just rest and recuperate. I will have Junior Brother Qi Xiaobai prepare some medicine for you to recover. Take good care of yourself."

Lu Yuan said calmly, "No one can escape death. There's no need for the sect leader to worry about this."

Song Xian patted his hand: "Senior Brother Lu, is there anything else you want to tell us, or anything you want to accomplish?"

Lu Yuan shook his head: "We came into this world naked, and we will leave it naked. I have nothing to hold me back. When a person is about to die, their words are kind. There are a few things I've always wanted to say, but I didn't know how to bring them up. Now, if I don't say them now, I'll never have the chance again."

"Senior Brother Lu, please speak. I'm listening!"

Lu Yuan gazed upwards and said, “We have come a long way from Qingyun Sect, overcoming many hardships and dangers. I am very gratified that the sect has achieved its current prosperity. This is the most meaningful and fulfilling thing in my life. If I have any concerns, it is that I do not want the sect that we founded to end up like Qingyun Sect.”

"The sect leader must know that the sect is very different from what it used to be. Although it hasn't reached the level of internal strife like the Qingyun Sect, there are already signs of it."

"I know the sect leader is unhappy with my usual bias towards Senior Brother Lin and his group, but I have no choice. There are more and more people from all walks of life in the sect now, and many of them have no sense of belonging to the sect at all. They are only here to gain benefits."

"We are currently in a period of great strength, without internal or external troubles. These people can only take advantage of us at most. Once the sect is in trouble, these people will inevitably change their ways. Just like when Huang He led the Tianshan cultivators to rebel."

"Although Senior Brother Lin Zixiang has some ulterior motives, I understand him. At least he is loyal to the sect. He will not think badly of the sect, nor will he do anything detrimental to the sect."

"The sect leader has now promoted Hu Xiaobao to elder and entrusted him with full authority over Tianshan. He has already gathered a group of people in Tianshan who follow his lead."

"This situation is not good for the sect. The sect leader may want to check and balance things, but has he ever thought about what would happen if something happened to the sect leader one day? Who would be in charge of the sect then? It might end up repeating the mistakes of the Qingyun Sect."

"If the sect leader is planning for the long term, he must establish a successor, instead of letting the two sides compete in secret like this."

“I have no problem with Junior Brother Hu Xiaobao, but the people around him are unreliable. Letting such people control the power of the sect will only lead to trouble sooner or later.”

"And then there's Junior Sister Su Zhirou. It wasn't a wise move for the sect leader to put her in charge of Bianxi City's affairs. She doesn't manage things and is easily swayed, which gives many people an opportunity to take advantage of her. The sect leader should send a reliable and capable person to be her deputy."

"The reason why many affairs of the sect are in disarray is because there are Junior Sister Su Zhirou and Junior Brother Hu Xiaobao above the cabinet, which sometimes makes it impossible to carry out the cabinet's orders. The sect leader should clarify which matters they can intervene in and which are entirely decided by the cabinet, and there should be a clearer and more specific division of responsibilities between the two sides."

"And then there's Junior Brother Jiang Zichen. Although he's smooth and can get along well with all sides, he lacks courage and decisiveness. He's very suitable to be the second-in-command of the cabinet. If he's appointed as the chief of the cabinet, he won't be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility if something happens to the sect, which will lead to chaos."

"These are my heartfelt words. If the sect leader cannot accept them, then consider them the ravings of a dying man!"

Song Xian nodded calmly: "Senior Brother Lu, I've remembered what you said, and I'll consider it carefully. You should rest and recuperate. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

"I cannot see the sect leader off." Lu Yuan slowly closed his eyes.

.........

After that, Lu Yuan's injuries relapsed and his condition deteriorated rapidly. He died in less than three months.

Song Xian held a grand funeral for him and personally helped lower his coffin into the ground.

The funeral lasted for seven days. After it ended, the sect held a meeting and decided that Jiang Zichen would take over as the chief of the cabinet and concurrently serve as the head of the personnel hall, Qi Xiaobai would serve as the second-in-command and concurrently serve as the head of the finance hall, and Yu Lian would be promoted to the position of head of the internal affairs hall.

.........

Dark clouds covered the moon and it rained heavily.

In the dimly lit room at the Yunxuan Sect's mountain gate in Xijiang County, Sect Leader Qi Yunxuan sat with his eyes closed when a knocking sound came from the outside.

He opened his eyes, waved his hand, and the stone door opened without wind. A middle-aged man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes strode in, bowed, and said, "Master, Uncle-Master Lü Lin has arrived. Uncle-Master Luo has invited him to the main hall of the mansion and invites you to come and meet him."

Qi Yunxuan suddenly stood up and strode out to the main hall of the mansion. There were already two people sitting inside. One was a burly man dressed in the robes of the Yunxuan Sect, who was Elder Luo Ziquan of the Yunxuan Sect. The other was of average appearance and medium build, wearing a magnificent robe of blue and green.

"Junior Brother Lü, what brings you here? Did Uncle send you?" Seeing the solemn and serious expressions on the two men's faces, Qi Yunxuan knew that something important must have happened, so he skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"This is what Master told you, Senior Brother Qi, take a look for yourself!" The man surnamed Lü flipped his hand and handed him a jade token.

After Qi Yunxuan took it, he probed it with his divine sense and his expression changed immediately. After a while, he muttered in a daze, "How did it come to this?"

"Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. Things have come to this point, and we have no choice but to take a desperate gamble. Master and the others have no other option; they've been forced into this situation."

"But, if we do that..."

“There’s no ‘buts’.” The man surnamed Lü suddenly waved his hand to interrupt him: “Better to die than live in dishonor. They forced Master to fight to the death. You should set off now, or it may be too late.”

Qi Yunxuan sighed, "Alright!"

"I have other important matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer. I'll take my leave now," the man surnamed Lü said, and then strode away.

"Senior Brother Qi, do we really have to do this?" Luo Ziquan's face was grim, his eyes flickering, clearly hesitant.

"What can we do?"

Luo Ziquan remained silent.

Qi Yunxuan walked to the window, suddenly pushed it open, and saw that the wind and rain outside were whipping the bamboo forest, making it shake violently and creak.

The wind and rain blew into the hall, slapping against Qi Yunxuan's aged face. He slowly closed his eyes, looking utterly weak, as if he were about to collapse in the wind and rain.

(End of this chapter)