Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 428 The Final Decision

Lin Zixiang's expression was solemn: "Sect Leader, this decision was made unanimously by us. According to the sect's rules, when the Sect Leader is absent, major sect affairs are decided by the elders. Now that we have made this decision, all disciples of the sect must obey."

"But Junior Brother Wang Feng is being unreasonable and refusing to obey the sect's decisions, using the excuse of unfairness. If everyone in the sect were like him, how could the sect be managed?"

Wang Feng quickly explained, "I didn't disobey; I just want an explanation."

Song Xian waved his hand to stop the two from arguing: "Junior Brother Wang, do you think this is unfair?"

"Yes," Wang Feng replied softly.

Song Xian spoke softly and calmly: "Let me tell you why you disciples who joined the sect later were chosen for both recruitments. It's because Senior Brother Lin, Junior Brother Jiang, and Hu Xiaobao have already risked their lives for the sect many times."

“You have never fought for the sect, but your salaries are no less than others. So when the sect is in trouble, it will need you to fight for the sect.”

"Junior Brother Wang, can you accept this explanation?"

“I…I accept.” Facing Song Xian, Wang Feng no longer had the confidence to be stubborn, not only because of Song Xian’s status as the sect leader, but also because of his own strength and prestige.

Song Xian once killed an eighth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator with only a fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation in the Battle of Humen City. He also once faced three Foundation Establishment cultivators with higher cultivation levels than himself in Xijiang County and killed two of them while fighting against three opponents.

These two things are common knowledge in Bianxi City.

He dared to confront Lin Zixiang head-on because he knew that Lin Zixiang couldn't do anything to him. In a one-on-one fight, he was not afraid of Lin Zixiang at all. Besides, it was unlikely that this would happen. After all, he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator from a sect, and Lin Zixiang would not fight him over such a small matter.

But refusing Song Xian would be a different matter; he might not be able to leave Luoyun Mountain.

Do you have any more questions? If not, go and prepare!

"I'll take my leave now." Wang Feng slunk away from the main hall.

.........

As night fell, the bright moon hung high in the sky, countless stars rained down, and all was silent.

Inside the mansion's courtyard, under a bright red quilt draped with mandarin ducks, the two were entwined tightly. Su Zhirou twisted her body and snuggled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder and kissing his cheek repeatedly. Her gaze was gentle and tender, but her words were a mix of coquettishness and complaint.

"My husband is living a carefree and happy life outside, doing nothing and leaving this mess of the sect to me. Next time we go to that ghost realm, I want to go too."

"You don't care about anything, why are you meddling in this mess?"

“I don’t care about anything. When my husband is away, Jiang Zichen comes to me for instructions every few days. I don’t care. Next time, I’m going with my husband.”

"It's too dangerous there. It's convenient for me to go alone. If you come with me, you won't be able to help and will only restrict my movement."

“My husband has been gone for more than a year, and I’ve been worried sick about him.”

"Didn't I leave behind the Life Soul Scroll? What's there to worry about? Go once or twice more, and next time I won't have to go in person. I can just send the ghosts and monsters from the Blood Soul Banner." Song Xian gently kissed her forehead.

The Soul Scroll is a third-tier scroll, priced at over 20,000 spirit stones per scroll. Its function is to use it to investigate a cultivator's information.

If the cultivator is safe, the Life Soul Scroll will not change; if the cultivator dies, the Life Soul Scroll will dissipate.

After returning to Bianxi City, he bought a copy and inscribed his soul information onto the Life Soul Scroll, leaving it in the sect where it was guarded by a designated person.

Therefore, even though he had been away for so long, the people in the sect were not worried that something had happened to him, because the Life Soul Scroll he left behind was intact.

"Anyway, I don't care about those messy things in the sect. If my husband hadn't come today, Lin Zixiang and Wang Feng would definitely have started arguing, and they might even have fought!"

Song Xian suddenly sighed softly: "Tell me, did I make the wrong choice by appointing Junior Brother Zichen as the chief of the cabinet? I originally thought he was a smooth person who could balance the relationships between all parties and act as a lubricant to prevent the internal conflicts of the sect from escalating. But now it seems that he is too easy to talk to and lacks decisiveness and courage when it matters."

"Regarding today's incident, he should have been more assertive and taken a firm stance. If Senior Brother Zhong were still here, this situation would never have occurred. Even Zhang Ningyuan and Lu Yuan would have handled this kind of matter better than him."

Su Zhirou said nonchalantly, "Doesn't the sect have a husband? Isn't he just someone who helps out and handles miscellaneous matters? Does my husband expect him to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the sect?"

“Of course we don’t need him when I’m here, but if I’m not here, the sect needs someone to keep things in order. You don’t manage things, and he doesn’t offend anyone. It’s a pity that Senior Brother Zixiang is too prejudiced. Otherwise, if he were the chief of the inner cabinet, he could keep things in order.”

“What’s the use of thinking about these things now, my husband? Do you think you can take down Jiang Zichen and replace him with someone else?”

"That's true. There aren't many things in this world that are perfect."

The couple embraced and talked about things they didn't want anyone else to know until they fell asleep.

.........

The weather was fine and sunny, with a clear and bright sky.

In the spacious and bright main hall of Qiyuan Mountain, Song Xianhou soon saw Xu Yaoming approaching with a smile. He stood up, bowed, and said, "Master Xu, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Sect Leader Song, please don't stand on ceremony, please sit down. I've sent people to your sect's gates several times recently to invite you, but I heard you went out early. I wonder when you'll return?"

"I came back yesterday and heard that the Qianqing Emperor has issued another conscription order, so I came to find out what's going on."

The two took their seats, and Xu Yaoming smiled and said, "I have already told Fellow Daoist Jiang Zichen of your sect about the specifics. Fellow Daoist Jiang should have told Sect Leader Song, right?"

“Yes. Junior Brother Zichen has already told me, but I don’t understand why our sect is sending two hundred people this time. The entire Bianxi City only needs three hundred and fifty people, but our sect is recruiting two hundred. Is that reasonable?” Song Xian stopped beating around the bush and got to the point.

Xu Yaoming still had a smile on his face: "Most of the resources and territory of Bianxi City are in the hands of your sect. In recent years, your sect has recruited soldiers and has sufficient personnel. The other sects are far inferior to your sect in strength. For the sake of the overall situation, that's why I asked your sect to send two hundred soldiers."

"Thanks to your sect's good fortune, our sect has indeed recruited quite a few people over the years. However, other sects in Bianxi City, such as the Yuyuan Sect, Qianfeng Sect, and Huaxuan Sect, have also recruited many people. Why is Master Xu targeting our sect in particular?"

"Sect Leader Song, your words are too harsh! My arrangement is simply because your sect is the pillar of Bianxi City. As the saying goes, the capable should do more. Recruiting a few dozen more people is nothing to your sect, but it would be an unbearable burden for other sects." "Master Xu means that our sect should bear the responsibility of conscription for them, is that right? If I remember correctly, these sects originally followed the Luoyun Sect in turning against your sect. Now that they are being conscripted for war, Master Xu is siding with them, making our sect, which has always been loyal to your sect, bear the pressure for them. What kind of logic is this?"

Xu Yaoming's smile vanished: "I had absolutely no such intention. Please, Sect Leader Song, do not make wild guesses."

Song Xian met his gaze without backing down: "Then please ask Steward Xu to reconsider the arrangements for recruiting personnel from various sects."

"Fellow Daoist Jiang of your sect has already agreed to this matter, and I have also spoken with the leaders of several other sects. The number of people each sect will recruit has been determined. Sect Leader Song, please give me face and let's leave it at that this time."

Song Xian naturally wouldn't fall for his act: "It's not that I'm disrespecting Steward Xu, but this concerns my reputation. If word gets out, how will I explain it to the disciples of my sect? If Steward Xu is unavailable, then I will convene a meeting of all the sects and explain the situation to them. I believe they will be willing to add more manpower."

Xu Yaoming's expression turned somewhat unpleasant: "So, Sect Leader Song doesn't intend to accept our sect's arrangements?"

“It’s not that I don’t accept your sect’s arrangements, but that I don’t accept unreasonable demands. My sect can only send a maximum of 130 people. I won’t make things difficult for Steward Xu. Doesn’t your sect want to recruit 350 people in Bianxi City? We’ll negotiate with the other sects and ask them to send 220 people. If Steward Xu still doesn’t agree to this, then it’s not that I’m not cooperating with your sect, but that Steward Xu is deliberately making things difficult for me.” Song Xian replied expressionlessly.

Given the current strength of the Hunyuan Sect, the other sects in Bianxi City combined are far from being a match for it, so they naturally dare not go against him. He is going to convene the other sects for a meeting and propose this plan, and he expects the other sects will not dare to disobey.

However, this would cause Xu Yaoming to lose face, because this was something he was in charge of, and his original plan was overturned by Hunyuan Sect. What would others think of him?

The Beast Taming Sect didn't have many people in Bianxi City. As the person in charge of Bianxi City, Xu Yaoming was able to have absolute authority and act arrogantly, and everyone respected him.

Firstly, it was due to the Beast Taming Sect's affairs; secondly, it was due to his personal prestige.

Once he loses his prestige, things will become difficult, so he will definitely not agree to this. These words are actually a checkmate against him.

Song Xian's decision to confront Xu Yaoming head-on was naturally based on his confidence.

The Hunyuan Sect of today is no longer the same Hunyuan Sect that had just returned to Bianxi City. Now the sect has more than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, thousands of disciples, and is involved in many industries. It can be said to be a powerful and well-equipped sect.

He didn't take Xu Yaoming seriously, but he gave him some face because Xu represented the Beast Taming Sect.

However, this matter had crossed his bottom line. Although he did not know what considerations Xu Yaoming had for making such an arrangement, he could not accept such a request and naturally no longer gave him face.

Xu Yaoming was only relying on the Beast Taming Sect, but Song Xian knew its true strength and influence perfectly well, and he wasn't without connections within the Beast Taming Sect.

If Xu Yaoming wanted to complain about him to the higher-ups of the Beast Taming Sect, it wouldn't be so easy for him to succeed.

The only real power they have is to sever the cooperation between the industries of Bianxi City and the sects.

But Song Xian was no pushover. Every year, he gave him a share of the profits from Tianshan Market, gambling dens and other resource areas. This was no small amount. If he dared to do that, he would never get a penny from Hunyuan Sect again. What could he do about it?
Silence fell over the main hall, the atmosphere subtle. Song Xian stood ramrod straight, his eyes fixed straight ahead, like a spirited rooster.

Xu Yaoming's face was gloomy and his eyes were sharp. After a few moments of silence, he suddenly laughed and nodded to himself: "Alright, since Sect Leader Song insists, then your sect will send 130 people. Other sects don't need Sect Leader Song to come forward. I'll have them send more people."

"Thank you, Steward Xu. I won't bother you any longer. I'll take my leave now." Song Xian didn't say anything more and got up to leave. Watching his departing figure, Xu Yaoming exerted force and crushed the teacup next to the table.

…………

After leaving Qiyuan Mountain and returning to Luoyun Mountain, Song Xian immediately summoned Huang Ye.

In the spacious and brightly lit hall, Huang Ye entered from outside and bowed respectfully to him: "What are your orders, Sect Leader?"

Six months ago, Huang Ye successfully attempted to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage and is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Song Xian glanced at him. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he seemed more energetic than before, and his eyes appeared much brighter.

Song Xian was naturally pleased with Huang Ye's successful Foundation Establishment. For the sect, this meant another Foundation Establishment cultivator. For him personally, Huang Ye was like a personal advisor who had done a lot for him over the years. Moreover, Wan Huaming's matter was not yet finished and still needed Huang Ye's help.

"I asked you to keep an eye out for items with yin attributes before, is there any progress?"

“I’ve heard that there are several places on the Mukh Grassland that sell Yin Soul Beads and Soul-Severing Crystals, but I have no concrete leads.”

"How is Xu An doing? Is there anything unusual?"

"No. We never assigned him any tasks, and he was busy with the shop selling talismans as usual."

"From now on, your main focus will be on the following two things. First, find the whereabouts of a well-known rogue weapon refiner, at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Second, find out which region produces Soul-Severing Crystals. This matter must also be kept secret; do not search openly."

Song Xian issued the order.

The trade route to the Ghost Realm has now been established. What's lacking now is the supply of goods. Yin Soul Pearls are not naturally produced; they are crafted through refining. Only with the help of a skilled weapon refiner can Yin Soul Pearls be produced continuously.

If you rely on collecting from various places, the quality will inevitably vary, and you won't be able to collect much even after several years.

His journey to and from the Ghost Realm takes more than a year, so he must ensure that he can obtain at least a dozen Ghost Cores with each transaction! Otherwise, it would be a loss.

There is also the risk of exposure. The people of Yinyuan Island are looking for him. If he goes around collecting Yin Soul Pearls all over the world, the news will leak and arouse suspicion.

Yin Soul Pearls are rare items in the cultivation world because ordinary people have no use for them, so there are very few finished products, and even fewer people who know how to refine them.

Finding a Foundation Establishment cultivator who can both refine this item and is willing to cooperate is no easy task.

As for the Soul-Severing Crystal, it is not refined but naturally formed. It is a type of mineral crystal, like a spirit stone, which contains yin energy, but its quantity is extremely rare.

Besides these two items, there are of course other items in the cultivation world suitable for ghosts to cultivate, but they are even rarer and more precious.

He was doing long-term business with the otherworldly spirits; he didn't need rare or valuable items, but rather things that were easy to obtain and could be produced continuously.

Yin Soul Beads and Soul-Severing Crystals are the best choices.

(End of this chapter)