Chapter 475 - 344: Truly Bold
Sending a message was a way of announcing that one was visiting on official business.
The Celestial Cloud Sect had dispatched a Supreme Elder to discuss matters, which was certainly no simple affair. Thus, the Sect Leader of the Wind Ling Sect came out to greet her personally.
In the grand reception hall of the Wind Ling Sect.
This was where the Wind Ling Sect received its most distinguished guests; typically, only Core Formation Level Cultivators were granted entry.
When Bai Qinying arrived,
another Supreme Elder from the Wind Ling Sect was already there waiting for her.
Bai Qinying was quite familiar with this particular Supreme Elder.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lin."
"Fellow Daoist Bai."
It was Lin Caixuan, the current youngest Supreme Elder of the Wind Ling Sect.
A century ago, at the Four Sects Trial, Lin Caixuan had competed on the same stage as Fang Yun, ultimately taking second place.
As a cultivator with Dual Spirit Roots who also possessed the Snow Spirit Body, Lin Caixuan was treated the same as the Abnormal Spirit Root Cultivators in the Wind Ling Sect—she was a Core Formation Seed.
The Wind Ling Sect Leader had specifically summoned Lin Caixuan to be present for this discussion, which was a clear sign of how highly he regarded her.
Unlike the Celestial Cloud Sect,
the position of Sect Leader of the Celestial Cloud Sect was given to the strongest among the Supreme Elders after the previous Sect Leader passed away.
This had been the rule since the Celestial Cloud Sect’s founding.
The Wind Ling Sect was different.
The next Sect Leader of the Wind Ling Sect was generally chosen by the current Sect Leader, who would select the most suitable candidate from among the Supreme Elders.
Both methods of selecting a sect’s leader had their own merits and shortcomings.
After the three of them were seated,
the Wind Ling Sect Leader looked at Bai Qinying and asked,
"Fellow Daoist Bai, you’ve come to our Wind Ling Sect in person. What important matter did you wish to discuss?"
Lin Caixuan was also curious about this. Like the Sect Leader, her gaze fell upon Bai Qinying.
Without mincing words, Bai Qinying got straight to the point.
"The Celestial Cloud Sect intends to annihilate the Celestial Demon Sect, and for that, we require your sect’s cooperation."
When these words were spoken, the Wind Ling Sect Leader wondered if he had misheard.
"What?"
The Wind Ling Sect Leader was well aware that the Celestial Cloud Sect’s current strength was formidable.
Star Moon Valley, the Vast Sea Sect, the Celestial Cloud Sect, and their own Wind Ling Sect—the four sects knew a great deal about one another. They exchanged information at regular intervals.
But as formidable as the Celestial Cloud Sect might be, annihilating a power led by a Core Formation Demon was still exceptionally difficult.
In the eyes of the Wind Ling Sect Leader, it was an impossible task.
His opinion was based on the overall situation in the Qionglin Domain.
This region of theirs had an internal name: the Land of the Four Sects.
Though it was called the Land of the Four Sects, the Evil Dao Core Formation Sects were actually more numerous. Moreover, the territory was defined by the four sects’ borders, and many more such evil sects existed in the regions beyond.
In such an environment, trying to annihilate even one Evil Sect was fraught with difficulty.
For over a thousand years, any Evil Dao Core Formation Sect that had been destroyed had fallen at the hands of other Evil Sects.
Demons, Ghost Cultivators, Blood Demons.
The best opportunity for them to help bring about the destruction of an Evil Sect was when those sects were fighting amongst themselves.
"Fellow Daoist Bai, is this the result of a discussion among the Celestial Cloud Sect’s upper echelons?" the Wind Ling Sect Leader asked, his voice full of uncertainty.
Bai Qinying’s reply was concise. "It is."
"I believe the right time for you to annihilate the Celestial Demon Sect would be when they are in conflict with the Black Ghost Cave."
The Wind Ling Sect Leader offered his opinion.
In his view, instigating battles between Evil Sects of different cultivation paths was their best strategy for eliminating an Evil Dao Core Formation Sect.
"Sect Leader Zhou, given the current situation, it is unlikely the Celestial Cloud Sect will have such an opportunity in the future."
"You have a point, Fellow Daoist Bai."
"Sect Leader Zhou, your idea is more suitable for a time when our Celestial Cloud Sect is weaker. But in such a scenario, the moment we make a move, the Celestial Demon Sect would surely act immediately. Our grudge with them runs much deeper than the enmity between your sect and the Dragon Demon Palace."
Clearly, Bai Qinying did not believe the Wind Ling Sect Leader’s idea was suitable for the Celestial Cloud Sect, not even if they were in a weaker position.
"That may be so, but you people from the Celestial Cloud Sect are truly audacious, to actually plan to annihilate the Celestial Demon Sect, and with you taking the lead."
"If a sect wants to develop, how can it do so without being a little bold?"
"True, but it also comes with commensurate risks." The Wind Ling Sect Leader agreed with Bai Qinying’s words, but he was unwilling to take such a great risk.
At this, he began to ponder.
’Could it be that the Celestial Cloud Sect’s current strength is not as simple as it appears?’
They knew a lot about each other, but their understanding was far from comprehensive.
Just as they had information they couldn’t share with the Celestial Cloud Sect, the Celestial Cloud Sect naturally had secrets of its own.
"Fellow Daoist Bai, tell us what we can do for you."
"Sect Leader Zhou, what your sect needs to do is this: when the Celestial Demon Sect asks the Dragon Demon Palace for aid, you must stop their reinforcements. Ideally, you can pin them down securely within their own territory..."
Bai Qinying went on to detail what she hoped the Wind Ling Sect could accomplish.
It sounded simple enough.
But for the Wind Ling Sect to actually accomplish this, it would take more than just a few minor operations.
To truly stop the Dragon Demon Palace, they would have to launch a major campaign of their own.
"...That’s the gist of it. Sect Leader Zhou, what are your thoughts?"
"Stopping the Dragon Demon Palace from reinforcing the Celestial Demon Sect... of course, that’s no problem." After a moment’s thought, the Wind Ling Sect Leader agreed.
If not for the events that transpired several decades ago, he might have taken more time to consider.
But now, as a matter of repayment, he couldn’t afford to hesitate.
Back then, when the Dragon Demon Palace had tried to annihilate them, they had called upon the Celestial Demon Sect for aid.
At that critical moment, the Celestial Cloud Sect had proactively initiated a major battle with the Celestial Demon Sect, forcing them to retreat and defend their own territory.
Without the Celestial Demon Sect’s support, it was no longer so easy for the Dragon Demon Palace to destroy them.
The difference between then and now was that they had passively requested the Celestial Cloud Sect’s help before; if the Dragon Demon Palace hadn’t targeted them, they wouldn’t have needed it.
But now, the Celestial Cloud Sect was actively requesting their help.
The difference between passive and active was significant, but it didn’t prevent them from agreeing to the Celestial Cloud Sect’s request.
As the two continued their discussion, the Wind Ling Sect’s Supreme Elder, Lin Caixuan, had not uttered a single word since her initial greeting to Bai Qinying.
She had been listening the entire time.
The Sect Leader had her sit in not to participate in the conversation, but simply to listen and gain experience for her future role as the Wind Ling Sect’s Leader.
Once everything had been settled,
the Wind Ling Sect Leader and Lin Caixuan saw Bai Qinying off.
As they watched her depart, the Wind Ling Sect Leader turned to Lin Caixuan and asked,
"Caixuan, do you know why I agreed to the Celestial Cloud Sect’s plan?"
Faced with the Sect Leader’s question, Lin Caixuan thought for a moment before replying.
"Our four sects should support one another. It’s the only way we can survive longer while surrounded by Evil Demons and Crooked Paths. Besides, the Celestial Cloud Sect has helped us before by launching a major operation against the Celestial Demon Sect."
"And?"
"Helping the Celestial Cloud Sect also benefits us greatly. If they can successfully annihilate the Celestial Demon Sect, we’ll have a chance to deal with the Dragon Demon Palace in the future, without needing to incite conflict between the Dragon Demon Palace and other Evil Sects."
"Correct." The Wind Ling Sect Leader nodded in satisfaction.
That potential benefit was indeed an important factor in the decision to intervene.
"Sect Leader, what will you say to the other Supreme Elders later?"
Lin Caixuan then raised this question.
This was, after all, a major affair.
Even as the Sect Leader of the Wind Ling Sect, he couldn’t make such a decision on his own. He still needed the approval of the sect’s other upper echelons.
"As for that..." The Wind Ling Sect Leader gave a mysterious smile. "Just watch and learn."
He had already considered all the various factors.
As the leader of a sect, handling it would be easy.