Demon Sword Sect's Undercover-Chapter 743 - 742: Shan Sect Annual Meeting

Hou Niao hastened his return, unsure if he could make it back before the annual conference began.

What was initially a perfectly planned journey ended up being disrupted by the cultivators of the Northern Heavenly Gate, causing him to waste most of a year here. Time was tight, but there was no helping it.

Before setting out, he had mentioned to Li Chuping that if everything went smoothly, he would return to Yujing before the annual conference, to which Li Chuping had agreed.

The Shan Sect’s annual conference took place once every ten years. In theory, any disciple not holding an important office could choose to return for it. So, if he were still the Capital Commandant of Pingliang State, he’d need an order from the Sikong Mansion to return. Now, however, he didn’t need one, since he held a sinecure.

Flying in the air, his mind was exceptionally clear. He suddenly realized something. Li Chuping had made it clear to him that he would not attend this year’s conference, stating that Pingliang was unstable and needed a Golden Core Upper Cultivator in charge. But now, it seemed there was a deeper implication.

Li Chuping was not returning but had stripped him of his position as Commandant, giving him the opportunity... to perfectly avoid each other at this year’s Shan Sect conference, sparing them many awkward situations.

This elder, who was both a mentor and friend, exhibited such struggle in his path to enlightenment — it was hard to sum up with just a few words.

But he appreciated this affection and understood the web of entanglements behind Li Chuping. It wasn’t possible to abandon everything to support him. Managing to do this much was already quite difficult. One should be content.

In a cultivator’s life, there will be many benefactors. However, "benefactors" do not mean all-encompassing care like that of parents for children. Rather, it is help at a certain time, in a certain event, in a certain aspect.

For instance, the blind elder, Li Chuping, Yu Zhengxing, Chong Ling, Master Xiao Zhen, and so on, if you expand the scope, there are even more...

The key still lies within oneself. If you show potential, there will surely be benefactors.

...On the third day of the third month, he returned to Yujing City.

First, he reported back to the Sikong Mansion, going through all the procedures. Judge Cheng Wan was there, but as expected, Assistant Li had not come back, which was quite lamentable.

He was lucky; there was still one month left before the Shan Sect’s annual conference, but sword cultivators from various places were already gathering, visiting relatives, paying respects to their masters — a rare joyous occasion for the Quanzhen Sect.

"At this year’s Shan Sect conference, you will represent the Sikong Mansion from the three realms of Tongtian and give a speech. You should prepare yourself mentally," Judge Cheng told him with profound meaning.

Hou Niao was somewhat surprised, "Why me? I thought the Sikong Mansion had forgotten about this insignificant Accompanied Warrior."

"Why not you? Who else could it be? Not to mention your past merits, just look at recent events. The challenge to the Situ Mansion stirred trouble across all three mansions, your work in afforestation in the Northwest greatly benefited the desert, and the reestablishment of order in Pingliang solidified our Shan Sect’s position as the sect leader. Just the latter two deeds alone earned you Special Merit. Among all your fellow disciples in the Sikong Mansion, none surpass you. Isn’t that enough?"

"I actually received Special Merit for those?" Hou Niao was somewhat surprised.

Judge Cheng squinted his eyes and said, "Although the aftermath was a bit messy, merit is merit, fault is fault. The Sikong Mansion has stood for over a thousand years precisely because we stick to rules. We never erase disciples’ achievements because of some external factors, even if you were to betray Quanzhen, your due merits would not be diminished in the slightest!"

Hou Niao felt embarrassed, "I’ve taken the lesson."

Judge Cheng continued, "There will be three cultivators from the three realms of Tongtian given this opportunity to speak, one from each mansion, and you’re one of them. Do you feel honored?"

"Extremely honored. I thought such opportunities would always be reserved for True Disciples."

Judge Cheng’s gaze sharpened. "In the past, that was indeed the case. But not this time. There’s been a call for giving ordinary disciples a chance. The higher-ups discussed it and thought that if we’re giving an opportunity, why not provide three instead of one. Thus, this time the selections from all three mansions are ordinary disciples."

Hou Niao’s response was incisive, "Need there be a discussion? If only one ordinary disciple gets a chance, who would yield? Whoever yields would lose face in the competition among the mansions; if everyone yields, it’s seen as high morality, but yielding to just one indicates a lack of strength..."

Judge Cheng pointed at him and said, "With that mouth of yours, you’re really gaining an advantage and still playing coy."

Hou Niao was earnest, "Uncle Master, this is not an advantage; this is what I’ve fought for with my life! Tell me, who put forward such a request? It wasn’t our Sikong Mansion, was it?"

"Certainly not. The two Masters of the Xu Sect maintain the overall situation and wouldn’t change the ancestral system lightly. Well, there’s no real need to tell you these things, but since you asked, shall I share a bit?" freēwēbnovel.com

He studied this disciple carefully and internally admired his capability to provoke incidents. Even as a minor Natural Realm, he managed to stir up troubles both outside and within, even reaching the high levels of the Shan Sect now?

He stirred enough to make his benefactor, Assistant Li, afraid to return and become a laughingstock of the Sikong Mansion. Of course, if he were in Li Chuping’s shoes, he also would not return. If you can’t face it, why not avoid it?

"It’s not the intent of the three mansions, nor the decision of the two Prince Manors, but pressure from other Masters. I don’t know exactly which Master it is, but I’m sure it’s not just one!

Hou Niao, with the way you’re stirring things up, the Sikong Mansion can barely support you. Our pond is too shallow; aren’t you scattering it with your disturbances?"

Hou Niao laughed dryly, "A fly does not bite a seamless egg. Might there be a possibility that the reason for these unending troubles is because there’s something wrong with some rules? Usually, it doesn’t matter; everyone just muddles along, living in a mediocre way. But if the continent undergoes changes, some things can no longer be hidden?

Our own people stirring up trouble is not a big deal as there’s always a margin for turning the situation around and the possibility for improvement. But if one day, outsiders stir up our troubles, that would be more than just trouble; it would be life-threatening!"

"You mean the Daoist Sect? They’ve been doing this for a thousand years, and it hasn’t caused any significant issues?"

"Uncle Master, after the Heaven Creation, threats don’t just come from the Daoist Sect but from beyond the heavens!"

Judge Cheng was rendered speechless. He had thought about these issues too, but being caught up in the midst of it, he hadn’t considered it as thoroughly. However, he was clear about one thing: many within the Sikong Mansion were facilitating Hou Niao’s stirring. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible for Hou Niao to be chosen to deliver a speech. Those people included the now-hidden Li Chuping, Judge Cheng Wan who worked behind the scenes, and himself, the one who overtly warned but covertly incited, providing information...

"We think that when Tang Yan challenged you, Duan Wuqian should have stepped forward without hesitation. Constellation against Constellation, that’s the solid way. The result was that you didn’t lose, and Tang Yan even withdrew from his position as Constellation True Inheritor. This had a significant impact on the middle and lower-tier cultivators of our Shan Sect and contributed to such a change!

If the outcome were different, if you had lost, where would the responsibility of the True Disciple lay? We couldn’t see it! So, everyone thinks the trouble you’ve stirred up is somewhat reasonable?"