Demon Sword Sect's Undercover-Chapter 746 - 745: Shan Sect Annual Meeting 4

A few people chatted and laughed merrily, half-jokingly and half-seriously, they decided on some matters to be done. This was precisely the aspect of the group that Hai Xixi especially appreciated. They didn’t pussyfoot around matters, nor did they boast grandly. Despite the fact that decisions were made over drinks, which might seem somewhat unsolemn, he knew that once these men pledged to do something, they would surely strive to accomplish it and not merely talk about it.

With their bellies full of food and wine and having discussed most matters, Zong Qian reminded him, "Senior Brother, about that matter with the hats, you’d better send fewer of them in the near future. This place isn’t like Pingliang State where you can do as you please; here the influence of the two Prince Manors is profound, and there’s little in Yujing City they don’t know about, their power isn’t much inferior to our Sikong Mansion.

The annual conference is upon us, and there are many uncertainties. Just the unpredictable changes in the process alone are enough to cause us headaches. If we let some small aspects of life affect us, it would be more loss than gain."

Hou Niao nodded. His brothers all meant well for him, and he was not someone who would lose his way upon seeing a fairy. The reason he had put hats on others as soon as he returned was that the hat racks had come to him, and he had not refused.

"Don’t worry, I have applied to Sikong Mansion to be on duty within the mansion for this month leading up to the conference. I won’t be going out to cause trouble. Those who hope to provoke me into inciting an incident are likely to be disappointed," he said.

Wang Mian gave him a thumbs up, "Senior Brother is truly made for great things, capable of both taking on and letting go! They say that back in Pingliang State, you really squeezed those local merchants for a good haul, so it seems that tossing a bit to that little miss would calm her down a bit."

Hou Niao smiled and said nothing, but there were those who truly understood him.

Fang Yazi said in a muffled voice, "Spirit Stones are for others to see, not for them to spend..."

The group disbanded in high spirits, each going their separate ways. Hou Niao wandered alone in Yujing City, having not returned for over a decade; Yujing had barely changed, but there was a subtle restlessness in the air—not a portent from the heavens, but due to the sheer number of cultivators who had recently returned to Yujing. When nearly double the usual number of cultivators breathed in and out of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism in the same city, the atmosphere above Yujing was somewhat different from usual.

Too many spirals of spirit mechanism, interfering and restraining each other; this is the disadvantage of not having a Mountain Gate. A city with millions of people, steeped in mundane life, has somewhat of an effect on the spirit mechanism, certainly not as pristine as the remote high mountains and lakes.

A change was indeed needed. True cultivation should distance oneself from the dust of the world. Cultivators’ sights ought to be set towards the sky, towards the universe, rather than the unremarkable things beneath their feet.

The environment dictates one’s aspirations, and aspirations in turn determine one’s attitude towards cultivation. One can’t blame the cultivators of the Jinxiu Continent for being petty. The real cultivation universe had not yet opened its doors to them, how could they then conceive lofty ambitions? This was decided by their environment.

Strolling leisurely, he felt that his life was indeed enriched, one challenge following another, seemingly without end.

For cultivators, having no end in sight is the best state of cultivation. Seeing an end would be bad news.

He was well aware that now was just the beginning; a hundred-year lifespan was just a starting point for him, the real test lay ahead. As long as he was outstanding enough, the future was still full of wonders, provided one had the ability to experience them.

Walking and pondering, he soon saw the towering structure of Sikong Mansion. As he turned the last street corner, his heart stirred, and without hesitation, he stepped into a nondescript tavern.

This was a small, ubiquitous tavern in Yujing City frequented by peddlers and coolies, following an amiable business strategy. In the dimly lit interior, at a table near a corner sat a patron, his back to Hou Niao.

On the table were simple items: a dish of pickled peanuts, a dish of fragrant dried tofu, and a pot of aged wine.

Hou Niao walked over and sat down across from the man, "Old man, what are you doing here?"

Yu Zhengxing glanced at him and called to the server, "Beef, and make it a large plate! I’m greeted with a feast as soon as I return; I’m not asking for too much, am I?"

Hou Niao shook his head and smiled bitterly. This wasn’t about what they were eating, but who they were eating with.

"If I had known of your return to Yujing, Master, I would have certainly invited you first. What’s the situation—now that you’ve returned, how will things be managed in the Northwest?"

Yu Zhengxing devoured his meat, "Nothing changes with or without anyone in this world, the sky won’t fall, and the living beings won’t overturn the world just because I, Yu Zhengxing, am not there. As for why I’m back, do you think I wanted to return? If it weren’t for your damned issues, I wouldn’t bother dealing with these pampered lot in Yujing."

Hou Niao played dumb, "What issues do I have? You’re overstating it, aren’t you, Master?"

Yu Zhengxing didn’t beat around the bush, "You’ve been a great help to me in the Northwest, and I once promised to push for the matter of True Inheritance at the annual conference. I’ve returned to deal with this issue.

I’m going to skip the nonsense. I’ve brought back the four True Masters, including Hai Wei and Quan Yuan, to your side. So, what do you plan to do, and do you have a strategy?"

Hou Niao was somewhat overwhelmed. He hadn’t expected to hold such sway; as calmly as he considered it, he knew his own limitations. Instead of saying that these people were recruited by him, it would be more apt to say that they took an interest in him.

He wasn’t foolish; he knew he wasn’t a coveted Spirit Stone loved by all, but merely a catalyst for these influential figures to use as pawns.

"No plans. What plans could I, a mere cultivator at the Tongtian Realm, possibly have? Why don’t you come up with a plan, and I’ll follow through?"

Yu Zhengxing wasn’t annoyed; he knew this was the truth. Some matters simply couldn’t be comprehended in their entirety by a minor Tongtian Realm cultivator. While this youngster could move haphazardly, following his whims, they couldn’t afford to. They needed a rough outline—what to do and to what extent?

"Listen up, we understand your aspiration well: it’s to secure a position of a True Disciple. But with the current established order of True Disciples, it’s impossible for anyone to cede their position, as it involves too many things.

Behind each True Disciple stands a Nascent Elder, and for anyone to relinquish their position would be shameful—so who would concede?

Furthermore, there is an intricate web of entanglements among the three Manors and Prince Manors. Even if all these True Masters joined forces, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish a thing!"

Hou Niao nodded; the point was valid. Even if the four True Masters, including Hai Wei and Quan Yuan, agreed, they couldn’t change the current power dynamics. At most, they could shuffle a few spots for them in the next Nascent contest; but what’s the point of fighting for next time?

"Among these nine True Masters, there must be some willing to make concessions privately, but they can’t express it openly. Doing so would dishearten their faction, hurt their reputation, and brand them as traitors among traditional powers.

Therefore, the only solution is a complete overhaul—all nine positions, none spared!"