Chapter 126: Chapter 15: Everyone Is Smart

Yang Hou read the message from the carrier pigeon, his eyebrow twitching slightly. He then took a step back and sat in the Grandmaster’s Chair.

Yang Zhiping was from the same large clan as him, making them peers. But most importantly, he was Wang Ping’s disciple. Some time ago, his clan had recommended him for a position, and he had become a Commanding Officer of the Government Soldiers in Nanlin Road, with at least three hundred elite troops under his command. A mission to transport official grain would surely have taken him along the official roads.

It was nearly impossible to hijack official grain shipments guarded by three hundred elite soldiers on an official road. Unless an Entering Cultivator was involved. But why would an Entering Cultivator want to rob official grain?

’Or a great demon?’

At this thought, Yang Hou had his disciple come forward and whispered a few careful instructions in his ear. The disciple’s expression grew progressively more solemn as he listened, and then he quickly departed.

Then, Yang Hou turned his gaze to another waiting disciple, forcing his thoughts back to what the man had just reported.

"You said just now that Wufeng Temple is smuggling Power Pills?"

"Yes!"

"Is there any proof?"

"No."

Hearing this, Yang Hou frowned. "What do you expect me to do without proof? If we take this to the Daoist Scripture Hall, they might just turn the tables on us." He was getting a little angry. He then asked, "What are the damages?"

"We’ll have to compensate at least six thousand taels of silver."

"You are dismissed. Continue investigating this matter."

The disciple, having received his orders, bowed and exited the main hall. Afterward, Yang Hou summoned the Deans of the other courts.

Over the past year, the competition between Qianmu Temple and Wufeng Temple had grown increasingly fierce. Wufeng Temple was now effectively confined within the borders of Lou County, unable to take a single step out. This was because any of their disciples who dared to leave Lou County were immediately attacked by a group of unidentified Jianghu Travelers.

And Wenhai couldn’t venture out either, because the territory outside was not his own!

’This is the consequence of not paying respects to the local powers...’

According to the normal procedure for an outsider to establish a Dao Field, Wenhai should have first consulted the other sects of Nanlin Road. He should have found intermediaries to build connections, offered some special introductory gifts, and then patiently waited for the various sects to give their approval. Only then could he have possibly established a foothold in Nanlin Road. But instead, he went directly through the Daoist Scripture Hall to forcibly open his Dao Field, which was tantamount to a slap in the face.

The result of the Deans’ discussion was to counterattack. Yang Hou, however, felt that this entire affair was a bit too strange. He even found the confrontation with Wufeng Temple itself to be suspicious.

So, the moment the discussion ended, he went directly to the Mountain Peak Dojo.

...

「Before the locust tree at the Mountain Peak Dojo.」

Wang Ping opened his eyes as if he sensed something. He looked up, his gaze meeting Yu Lian’s, who was perched on a branch. He then took out a pair of divination blocks and cast them, but there was nothing unusual.

"How long was I in meditation?" Wang Ping looked up at the sky. It was dark, and the air was cold. It was already winter.

"Four months!" Yu Lian landed on Wang Ping’s shoulder.

Wang Ping called up the guide panel for the Second Realm of the Taiyan Talisman. The progress for integrating the ’Spirit Communication Talisman’ had actually increased by one point in just four months, reaching (15/100). This meant that ascetic cultivation could speed up the integration process!

But the guide panel hadn’t specifically mentioned this. In other words, long periods of ascetic cultivation were not advisable. He quickly recalled what his master, Yu Cheng Taoist, had said about ’humanity’.

The theory of cultivation in this world was to integrate Spiritual Material to transform one’s body, achieving a state of transcendence. Maintaining one’s humanity was a necessary condition for this integration. Losing one’s humanity would cause a Cultivator to be assimilated by the Spiritual Material.

When Cultivators whose lifespans were at an end entered Death Seclusion, they were actually allowing themselves to be completely assimilated by Spiritual Material, retaining only a tiny shred of consciousness. That was why they would quickly go mad and lose that final thread of awareness if they were awakened.

"Shall we make some tea? I haven’t had any in so long." Yu Lian soared into the air, about to fly towards the small courtyard.

"Alright..." As Wang Ping replied, he sensed Yang Hou outside. He sent a telepathic message to the attendant, who hadn’t dared to disturb him, telling him to let Yang Hou in.

Yang Hou stepped into the garden. The dense Spirit Wood was just as it had been the last time he came. A faint fragrance filled his nostrils, and the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi in the air made his Qi Sea churn.

This place always looked like a paradise, a world apart. Yet outside the Dao Field, thousands of disciples were risking their lives for a single command from its master.

Thinking of this, Yang Hou felt as if his feet were shackled, each step incredibly difficult. When he finally managed to reach the outside of the small courtyard and saw Wang Ping leisurely stoking a fire to brew tea, he couldn’t help but lower his head even further.

His head was bowed, and before he could speak, he heard a familiar voice, tinged with a hint of indifference, ask, "What happened? Why are you covered in such killing intent?"

The question startled Yang Hou. He quickly reined in his errant thoughts, cupped his fist, and said, "I was just about to report to you, Martial Uncle..." He first gave a general overview of the events of the past few months, then concluded:

"Martial Uncle, I can’t shake the feeling that this whole business of suppressing Wufeng Temple is full of oddities. It’s been strange ever since they provoked us at Sanhe Temple. It’s as if... they stuck their own necks out for us to chop."

"It’s precisely because of their provocation at Sanhe Temple that Nanlin Road is now in chaos. It’s even affecting the merchant caravans traveling north and south. The sea trade routes are plagued with frequent clashes, with the fighting between the Single Saber Sect and the Fuming Prefecture Loose Cultivator Alliance being the most intense."

Wang Ping listened quietly. He picked up the kettle of boiling water, steeped the tea leaves, and said, "Didn’t I say not to interfere with the mortal world?"

"Some situations can’t be contained by a single order. Disciples from both sides who have been ambushed and killed have friends and family. Their hatred has intensified with each battle. Now, they’re just seeing red..."

Yang Hou’s tone grew heavier, and his words trailed off abruptly.

Wang Ping didn’t press for the rest. He stared at the burning stove, lost in thought for a long time. After a while, he sighed and said, "This is likely what Wenhai wanted."

Yang Hou was taken aback. "This disciple does not understand."

"The situation in Nanlin Road is at a critical juncture. Neither the Daoist Scripture Hall nor the Six Heart Sect will allow the chaos to continue. If I’m not mistaken, the Daoist Scripture Hall will soon step in to mediate the conflict between our two sects. When that happens, although Wufeng Temple will have suffered temporary losses, they will have secured a firm foothold in Nanlin Road!"

After a moment’s thought, Yang Hou understood. He said, "The key is the Single Saber Sect and the Loose Cultivator Alliance. Bad blood has already been created between them; getting them to stop won’t be easy. And then there are our own disciples. After all this fighting, the hatred has taken root. If we forcibly order them to stop, I fear it will backfire."

"That’s their brilliant scheme!"

Wang Ping forced himself to remain calm. ’I didn’t think this through completely, and they exploited a loophole.’

He had to admit, his opponent’s timing was perfect. Guangxuan had just taken over as Sect Leader and would surely want to prove himself through some great deed. The masterstroke was roping in the Single Saber Sect. Otherwise, Wufeng Temple alone could never have caused such a stir.

’Sometimes, weakness is also a weapon, especially in a world of order.’

Wang Ping let out a soft chuckle and looked at Yang Hou, instructing, "Do your best to minimize our losses. Also, protect the disciples of our sect and await the Daoist Scripture Hall’s mediation."

"Yes!"

Yang Hou acknowledged the order, then added, "There is one more matter, regarding Junior Brother Yang..."