Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 209: The Three Major Powers of the Dao-Seeking Sect

Now that they had been reduced to this state, the creed leader thought that they were destined never to rise again, living out the rest of their lives muddleheadedly in the Dao-Seeking Sect.

I didn’t expect Vice Creed Leader Liu to have found a new hope here! Looks like the Dao-Seeking Sect is not as united on the inside. And what do we diabolic creeds excel at? Isn’t it sowing discord?

“Quick, tell me, how many factions are there within the Dao-Seeking Sect?” The creed leader’s voice was tinged with urgency.

Chef Liu set up a barrier and several arrays to ensure that the place was soundproof and that no one could eavesdrop with their spiritual consciousness.

Noticing how thorough Vice Creed Leader Liu’s preparations were, the creed leader felt a twinge of shame. In my haste earlier, I had forgotten to put in place proper measures to prevent information from leaking.

The five elders of the Everlasting Creed hesitated, unsure whether they should continue listening. This sounded like a highly confidential meeting people of their rank were not qualified to listen in on.

The creed leader beckoned them over. These are the last remaining forces of the Everlasting Creed. They have the right to sit in.

Once everyone was seated, Chef Liu lowered his voice. “As of now, there are three factions we can interact with. These three factions are the three major powerhouses in the Dao-Seeking Sect. The numerous disciples within the sect remain under the control of these three major powers, each guarded by several Fusion cultivators, including experts at the Advanced Fusion Stage!”

The creed leader nodded. It’s not surprising that the three major factions of the Dao-Seeking Sect consist of formidable Fusion experts. “Are there any Transcendent Tribulation experts?”

Chef Liu shook his head. “We haven’t discovered any so far. Those old monsters won’t easily declare their stance, so they shouldn’t be among the three major powers!”

Vice Creed Leader Jin breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. Without Transcendent Tribulation cultivators, based on our methods, it shouldn’t be hard to navigate between the three major powers. What are the relationships between these three factions like? Is there any room for us to act?”

Chef Liu agreed with Vice Creed Leader Jin’s view. The threat posed by Transcendent Tribulation cultivators was too massive. In the face of absolute power, any stratagem would be useless. He continued, “Don’t think I’m just barbecuing on the streets every day. In fact, I have been paying close attention to the conversations of the disciples. From the myriad information, I have managed to extract the critical details and deduce the relationship between the three major powers.”

Chef Liu placed three bowls on the table, each representing one of the three major powers. “The three major powers are the long-established Hundred Fragrance Restaurant, the Food Stall Federation focused on stir-fry, and the Great Hotpot Alliance with sundry hotpot dishes as its selling point.

“The Hundred Fragrance Restaurant has been around the longest on the commercial street. From what I know, some disciples have been eating there ever since they joined the sect, and even after reaching the Fusion Stage, they still enjoy dining there. Their dishes are not only excellent in flavor but also embody a nostalgic charm. They are at the top of the three major powers!” Chef Liu turned the large bowl upside down, representing the Hundred Fragrance Restaurant.

“The Food Stall Federation is not a single shop but a coalition of stores that specialize in stir-fry. Each of these dishes has its distinct flavors, attracting disciples from diverse backgrounds. This faction is ranked second among the three major powers!” Chef Liu flipped over the medium-sized over, representing the Food Stall Federation.

“Then there’s also the Great Hotpot Alliance, the largest hotpot store on the commercial street. Many hotpot shops are affiliated with it in the background. It is like an invisible black hand controlling the rise and fall of the hotpot shops and their menus as it pleases. However, compared to stir-fry, the variety of hotpot dishes is more limited, so its business doesn’t match up to that of the Food Stall Federation. It is at the bottom of the three major powers.” Chef Liu turned the small bowl facedown, representing the Great Hotpot Alliance.

“The Hundred Fragrance Restaurant offers high-end dishes, some of which have effects comparable to top-tier medicine, aiding cultivators in increasing their cultivation rapidly. Disciples who frequent the place are either wealthy or noble. As such, the Hundred Fragrance Restaurant holds a superior position, finding it beneath themselves to compete with the other two major powers.

“In the competition between the Food Stall Federation and Great Hotpot Alliance, the latter’s foundation is weaker, putting them at a disadvantage.

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“Although our barbeque shop is just starting out, business is booming. Given time, we won’t be inferior to the three major powers. The potential is enormous. I believe that we can form an alliance with the Great Hotpot Alliance to challenge the Food Stall Federation!”

Chef Gao cut in, “Moreover, from a geographical standpoint, the Great Hotpot Alliance is very close to us, only half a street away. It also aligns with the art of war principles of Vertical and Horizontal Alliance[1], befriending those nearby and striking those distant!”

As Chef Gao was familiar with military tactics, he was the brains of the barbeque shop. “Above the three major powers is a supreme force—the dining hall! Whether it is their background, flow of customers, or consumption level, their position is far superior to the three major powers! The good news is that disciples of the Dao-Seeking Sect go to the dining hall not to buy food but weapons. From a functional standpoint, there is no overlap between us, so we need not worry about future conflicts with the dining hall.”

From the comprehensive yet concise analysis explicated by Chefs Liu and Gao, the creed leader and Vice Creed Leader Jin finally grasped a rough understanding of the current situation. Although the beginning may be arduous, with proper management, it’s possible for us to become the fourth major power!

Chef Gao expressed his concern, “In theory, we can join forces with the Great Hotpot Alliance, but they are an established brand after all. They may not be willing to cooperate with a barbeque shop of such shallow foundation like ours.” Chef Gao was prepared to discuss with the Great Hotpot Alliance the next day, but he was already mentally prepared to be turned away at their doorstep.

Despite Chef Gao’s misgivings, the creed leader smiled faintly. He took out a piece of paper representing the will of the Dao-Seeking Sect and placed it in front of everyone. “Look at what this is.”

Chef Liu, Chef Gao, and five other higher-ups of the Everlasting Creed stared at the characters on the paper, their pupils constricting.

One of the higher-ups exclaimed, “This...this is the business license for a breeding farm!”

The creed leader’s smile was brimming with confidence. “That’s right. This is our qualification to ally with the Great Hotpot Alliance! What do barbeque shops and hotpot shops need most? Fresh ingredients, of course! If we get the chance, we can breed some rare demon beasts and supply them to the Hundred Fragrance Restaurant. That way, we can already link up with them!”

Everyone inhaled sharply. As expected of the creed leader. He has already made preparations.

“The surprise doesn’t stop here.” The creed leader stepped aside, revealing the identity of the third cloaked figure.

All this time, this person had remained silent while listening to their discussions. Now, his hood was removed, showing his benevolent yet weathered face.

“Followers, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You may call me the Everlasting Immortal.”

“The Everlasting Immortal?!!” Everyone was genuinely shocked. They hadn’t expected the Everlasting Immortal to have been resurrected.

With the creed leader vouching for him, no one doubted the Everlasting Immortal’s identity. More importantly, they could feel an inexplicable connection with the Everlasting Immortal that could not be faked.

“We pay our respects to the Everlasting Immortal!” Chefs Gao and Liu took the lead in kneeling.

“Paying respects to the Everlasting Immortal!” The five higher-ups also knelt and kowtowed.

“You may rise.” The Everlasting Immortal said cooly, “I’ve already reached an agreement with the Dao-Seeking Sect. As long as I don’t leave the sect, I’m free to move around within the sect! After much thought, I figured it’d be best to come here.

“However, having listened to all your discussions earlier, I am somewhat disappointed.” The Everlasting Immortal’s gaze flickered with frustration. “All of you are Fusion cultivators. Do you intend to spend your whole lives running a barbeque shop and breeding farm in the Dao-Seeking Sect? Are you resigned to this?!”

“Please bless us with your teachings, Immortal!” Everyone was ashamed. They were once puissant figures, but now, they were already basking in vanity at just the prospect of becoming the fourth major power.

“Is a mere Dao-Seeking Sect really your ultimate goal? If you’re going to set up something, you should aim to open chain stores across the entire Central Continent!

“If we’re going to do something, we must go all in—make it the biggest and the best!”

1. This tactic originated from the Warring States or Zhanguo Period. It refers to uniting all the weak to attack one strong opponent and destroying alliances to prevent being the target of multiple enemies, and these collaborations were based on their geographical locations. As time passed, it evolved to the second phrase of this dialogue, where they foster diplomatic ties with their neighbors to attack the adversaries that are far away. ☜