Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 521 Kill two birds with one stone

"Whether or not we need to support Xianyang County, and when to do so, is beyond my knowledge. I only know that the order given to our sect by Xuan Yuan Sect is to conscript cultivators to garrison Ningye to prevent the rebels from entering." After saying this, Xu Yaoming added, seeing that he had no reaction, while the iron was hot.

"Sect Leader Song, do you have any further opinions regarding the recruitment of cultivators from this city?"

"Last time, when we assisted your sect in attacking the Murong family's mountain gate, our sect sent 1,500 people, and nearly half of them were killed or wounded. This time, you've conscripted 1,000 people, and Fellow Daoist Xu is asking our sect to send 500 disciples. Could it be that you're deliberately targeting our sect?"

The difference in cultivation level brings a natural psychological advantage. In the past, Song Xian would never have used such a cold and questioning tone, but now he unconsciously adopted the attitude of a superior to a subordinate.

Xu Yaoming quickly explained.

"Sect Leader Song, please don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant at all. It's just that in the current Bianxi City, your sect is the only one that matters, and the combined manpower of other forces is not as strong as your sect. Although your sect suffered many casualties in the last battle, your sect has a rich foundation and it is easy to recruit people."

"Although other forces in Bianxi City have suffered fewer casualties than your sect, their foundation is weak and they cannot withstand further setbacks. Now that the war has begun, it is possible that more people will need to be recruited from Bianxi City in the future."

"Only if your sect takes on the responsibility can the mission be completed. We hope that Sect Leader Song will prioritize the overall situation."

Song Xian knew that what he said was true. As the head of the Beast Taming Sect stationed in the western border city, it was his main responsibility to complete the recruitment tasks assigned by the sect. If he failed to do so, he would definitely be held accountable by the higher-ups of the Beast Taming Sect.

In Bianxi City today, apart from Hunyuan Sect, the other sects combined number only a little over a thousand.

It is indeed very difficult for them to recruit six or seven hundred people at once.

However, this has nothing to do with Hunyuanzong, and Song Xian certainly wouldn't pay the price for his future.

"Three hundred and fifty people, that's the most our sect can send."

"Sect Leader Song, this..." Xu Yaoming was about to say something more when Song Xian decisively waved his hand to interrupt him, his words resolute and leaving no room for negotiation.

“I know very well how many people the other forces in Bianxi City have. Apart from our sect’s 350 people, it’s absolutely no problem for them to gather 650 people.”

"If Fellow Daoist Xu finds this difficult, then leave this matter to our sect. Our sect will convene a meeting of all sects to discuss the matter and have them send their representatives."

"If Fellow Daoist Xu doesn't even agree to this, then it's not that I'm not giving you face or supporting your work, but that you're making things difficult for me."

"I have other things to do, so I won't keep you company any longer."

"Junior Sister Xiao, please treat Fellow Daoist Xu well."

After saying this, Song Xian ignored his reaction and got up to leave.

Xu Yaoming stared sharply at his departing figure, his expression also not very good. However, he couldn't vent his anger in front of Xiao Ling, so he could only swallow his anger.

.........

As night fell, under a bright moon and sparse stars, Song Xian summoned Lin Zixiang, Hu Xiaobao, and Jiang Zichen together in the brightly lit hall to discuss the recruitment of personnel.

"They're going to summon another thousand people? When the Qianqing Sect attacked Nanhan County, they conscripted 1,500 people from this city, and not a single one has returned. Now they're conscripting again. If they do it once or twice more, all the cultivators in Bianxi City will be used up." Lin Zixiang couldn't help but complain after hearing about the conscription for the war.

Although the Hunyuan Sect only needs to send 350 people this time, other forces in Bianxi City are also part of the Hunyuan Sect's strength. At critical moments, the Hunyuan Sect can recruit other forces to assist in the battle.

In other words, the stronger the overall strength of Bianxi City, the stronger the Hunyuan Sect will be.

To some extent, the two sides are in a relationship where one prospers and the other suffers.

"So, who should we send to lead the team this time?" Hu Xiaobao pondered.

The Qianqing Sect had previously summoned two groups of cultivators, each led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator: Xu Tianci from the former Fengxing Sect and Wang Feng from the former Luoyun Sect.

The two have long since lost contact. Over the years, the sect has naturally sent people to inquire about the news of those recruited disciples.

Xu Tianci disappeared shortly after being recruited, and it is unknown whether he died or escaped. Wang Feng's fate is also unknown.

Hunyuan Sect dispatched nearly 500 disciples twice, but most of them have disappeared without a trace. Only a few disciples survived the retreat from the battlefield of Nanhan County, but they did not return to Bianxi City. Instead, they were taken to Xianyang County by Qianqing Sect to guard against Nanhan County.

In other words, so far, none of the disciples who were sent to participate in the conscription have returned.

Although this conscription was not initiated by the Qianqing Sect, we must be prepared for the possibility of no return, which naturally includes the Foundation Establishment cultivators leading the team.

Therefore, this has become a difficult problem.

Without a doubt, no one wants to join this thankless and extremely risky recruitment team.

But someone has to be sent. Several hundred Qi Refining disciples need at least one Foundation Establishment cultivator to lead them and keep them in check.

This is also an explanation to all the disciples of the sect. Otherwise, if only Qi Refining disciples are selected and not a single Foundation Establishment high-level member is sent, there will inevitably be discontent among the people. "Since Huayuan Sect joined our sect, they have not done anything for the sect. This is a good opportunity to test them. I suggest that Liu Yu lead the team and select 120 cultivators from the original Huayuan Sect, plus 230 others, to participate in this recruitment." After thinking for a while, Lin Zixiang spoke.

The original Huayuan Sect had more than 300 members; if this method were followed, 30% of them would be gone.

Moreover, Liu Yu is not only one of the three remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators, but also possesses dual spiritual roots and is the strategist among the three.

Transferring him and his group of former Huayuan Sect disciples away would be a major blow to them.

Song Xian looked at Hu Xiaobao and Jiang Zichen.

"Xiao Bao, Junior Brother Zi Chen, what do you two think?"

The two naturally understood the implications of this move. Jiang Zichen nodded first: "I think it's possible, but I'm afraid Huo Youming and Liu Yu won't agree."

"They don't want to? What right do they have to say no?" George Lam made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction with them. He had been holding it in for a long time and was taking this opportunity to vent.

"Since they came to Bianxi City, has our sect ever mistreated them? We not only gave them the only second-tier mid-grade spiritual vein in Bianxi City, but also ceded our property to help them establish themselves in Bianxi City. Now that they have joined our sect, they have not done anything for us. If they only think about taking advantage and don't want to contribute, then what's the point of having them?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent, and the atmosphere instantly became somewhat awkward.

Jiang Zichen frowned almost imperceptibly.

Hu Xiaobao glanced at him, then quickly looked away and remained silent.

Both of the things Lam Chi-cheung mentioned were orchestrated by Song Xian. So, while he appeared to be expressing dissatisfaction with Emperor Hua Yuanzong, he was actually alluding to Song Xian's special treatment of them.

Song Xian's expression remained unchanged, and he didn't take it too seriously. Since advancing to the Golden Core stage, his mindset had unknowingly undergone a significant change.

Simply put, deep down, he no longer regarded George Lam as a cultivator of the same level.

Therefore, people are more tolerant and patient with his complaints.

In his eyes, this behavior was like a child being upset because he didn't get the cheese he wanted, and he didn't care about it at all.

"Xiao Bao, tell me your opinion."

"I think it's okay." Hu Xiaobao nodded, simply stating his opinion.

"Then it's settled! Senior Brother Zixiang will be in charge of drafting the specific personnel to be recruited, Junior Brother Zichen will be in charge of logistics, and you should also talk to Liu Yuxian. Xiaobao, you convene a meeting of all the sects in Bianxi City to finalize this recruitment." Song Xian assigned tasks to the three of them and then ended the meeting.

.........

The sun was shining brightly, and the breeze was intoxicating.

The atmosphere inside the dimly lit room was extremely somber and oppressive.

"What? Not only are they going to take 120 people from among us, but they also want you to lead the conscription team to Xishu County City to be arranged by the Xuan Yuan Sect." Xu Yuanshun suddenly stood up, looking indignant.

"Why should they conscript disciples from our sect and assign you to go? Didn't we agree not to interfere in the sect's internal affairs? It hasn't been that long, and you're supposed to be a Golden Core cultivator, yet your words are as empty as farts."

Huo Youming frowned, his face grim.

Liu Yu's face was solemn.

Neither of them spoke.

"I'm going to find Song Xian." After a long silence, Huo Youming stood up.

Liu Yu shook her head: "It's no use. Jiang Zichen won't talk to me without his consent."

Xu Yuanshun said in a booming voice, "I think we should just leave Xijiang County and find another way out. Let's not put up with his bullshit."

Liu Yu remained calm, his voice even: "Leaving now would be suicide. Before, we didn't belong to the Hunyuan Sect, so leaving was fine, but now it would be considered defection. Moreover, at this critical juncture, not only might the Mingyue Sect try to stop us, but neither the Hunyuan Sect nor the Yushou Sect would let us go."

"What should we do then? Are we really just going to let them slaughter us?" Huo Youming slammed his fist on the table in frustration.

"For now, we have no choice but to agree. I'll see what happens once we get to Xishu County!"

"This is too dangerous. None of the disciples our sect sent out before have returned."

Liu Yu's eyes flickered slightly: "Don't worry, I won't be so stupid as to risk my life for them. I've already inquired, and this conscription is to garrison Ningye County to guard against the rebels of Nanhan County. If there's no war, that's fine, but if there is, I'll find a way to lead my sect's disciples to escape. I'll send someone to deliver a message then."

(End of this chapter)