Chapter 652 - 599: Merger (Additional - for May Yue Rewards)
Zhuge Jing nodded to the family head, Zhuge Shou, who had been silent beside him. Zhuge Shou immediately took out a jade talisman and tossed it out.
The talisman emitted rays of light, transforming into a hologram of the mountains and forests surrounding the Seven Stars River. Various forces, mineral veins, spiritual field resources, and others were marked with different colors.
"What do you all think of this place?"
Zhuge Jing raised his hand and cast a light, pinpointing a location in Yunping Mountain.
The green mountains rose and fell, with ridges upon ridges. The abundant spiritual energy in the mountains turned into a misty fog, filling the valleys, exuding an aura of an Immortal Sect Cave Heaven.
Particularly, where the three Spirit Veins converged at the foot of the mountain, they formed a large vein node. Follow the Spirit Veins, and you’ll find abundant minerals and lush forests, inhabited by groups of demonic beasts.
Moreover, the terrain was naturally advantageous, with mountains forming a natural barrier. Demonic beasts and low-level cultivators could only enter from the sides of the mountain range.
As an Array Dao Master, Zhao Fuyi could immediately see that this place was excellent, and setting up a Great Array could make it as solid as gold soup.
"Isn’t this the station of the Yuquan Sect?" Jiang Yuebai asked in confusion.
The family head, Zhuge Shou, nodded beside her, "Indeed, it’s the Yuquan Sect."
Jiang Yuebai, Zhao Fuyi, and Wenn Miao looked at Zhuge Jing, unsure of what he was plotting.
Zhuge Jing explained, "The Yuquan Sect and the Heavenly Star Sect across the Seven Stars River have been contending for years. In fact, the Yunping Mountain, which the Yuquan Sect occupies, is several times stronger in terms of resources and Spirit Veins than the area controlled by the Heavenly Star Sect. That’s why they’ve been targeted by the Heavenly Star Sect."
"Originally, the strength of the Yuquan Sect was not weak. However, they are burdened with a Divinity Transformation Elder who is unambitious, focusing solely on the Supreme Forget Emotion Path, viewing the Yuquan Sect as a hindrance to his cultivation. If not for the True Venerable Zhuliu’s vow made in his youth to oversee the Yuquan Sect, he would have long left the Nine Rivers Realm. This matter is quite involved, so please bear with me as I explain."
"In the Eight Immortals River Basin, the Xiong and Fang families have formed an alliance, and their influence is growing. They aim to oppress the Zhuge family. The Xiong family also harbors ambitions towards the Yuquan Sect at the Seven Stars River, secretly supporting the Heavenly Star Sect’s attacks on the Yuquan Sect. Thus, the Zhuge family cannot sit idly by and must seek powerful allies."
Zhuge Jing paused as Zhao Fuyi exchanged a glance with Wenn Miao, secretly transmitting their thoughts to each other.
Jiang Yuebai sat quietly beside them. She naturally understood that for the Xiong family, who had only one Refining Void Ancestor, the Heavenly Interence Sect with its eight Divinity Transformations and two Refining Voids was the strongest ally.
Even considering the Fang family from the Loujin Realm, which had the Giant Barbarian Bloodline, if the mighty cultivators of the Heavenly Interence Sect openly supported the Zhuge family, it would be enough to deter the Fang family from acting against them so easily.
In fact, the decision of Heavenly Interence Sect’s founder, Lu Xingyun, years ago not to continue the sect in the Upper Realm was beneficial for the later high-level cultivators. It allowed them to reach the Upper Realm without being burdened by the sect and focus solely on pursuing the Dao and improving their cultivation, leading to their current achievements.
The reason why there is now an effort to establish the sect again is because the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Earth Spiritual Realm is thriving. More and more excellent disciples are emerging in the Heavenly Interence Sect, and they deserve the opportunity and right to continue cultivating in the Upper Realm. These disciples are a fond concern for the high-level cultivators like Uncle Fuyi.
For instance, although Uncle Fuyi never mentioned it, Jiang Yuebai could see that Uncle Fuyi often thought of his disciples like Li Shen Zhi and worried about the challenges they might face without their master’s presence.
As elders, these high-level cultivators of the Heavenly Interence Sect do not want to see the disciples they have nurtured struggle in the Upper Realm without belonging, becoming mere loose cultivators despite all their efforts.
Life as a loose cultivator is much harder compared to disciples of sects or family clans. Every one of them understands this all too well.
Take Anan, for example. Merely because he shone brightly on the Sword List in the Shaking Light Realm, he was envied and hunted, and now he has to assume a new identity and start over on the Sword List.
All Anan desires is to undergo a trial at Pojun Mountain. If the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Upper Realm had enough prestige, perhaps all Anan would have needed was to ask, and he would be granted a trial opportunity.
In contrast, Xie Jingshan, with an Integration Dao Lord as a master and the True Martial Immortal Sect as his backing, has earned glory and praise on the frontline against the Demon Clan in the Taiwei Star Alliance. No one dares to envy him; at most, there are only one or two belittling remarks behind his back.
Uncle Fuyi and the Supreme Elder surely understand these concerns, as do the other Divinity Transformation True Venerables and Refining Void Ancestors of the Heavenly Interence Sect, which is why they are striving to establish a branch of the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Upper Realm.
Zhuge Jing took a sip of hot tea, set down the cup, and continued, "I have some rapport with True Venerable Zhuliu of the Yuquan Sect. We have discussed this once. If the Heavenly Interence Sect treats the Yuquan Sect’s current disciples well and preserves their lineage, True Venerable Zhuliu is willing to persuade the entire Yuquan Sect to merge with the Heavenly Interence Sect, freeing himself from his Dao heart constraints to pursue the Supreme Forget Emotion Path."
Wow!
It was as if a beam of light tore through the clouds, suddenly illuminating the three people, their eyes simultaneously lighting up, none of them expecting Zhuge Jing to have already achieved this.
His proposal was simply irresistible for the Heavenly Interence Sect.
If the merger with the Yuquan Sect went smoothly, it meant taking over everything the Yuquan Sect had. All that would be needed was to transform the current Yuquan Sect into Yuquan Peak, preserving its heritage.
This way, the Heavenly Interence Sect would not only have a sect’s headquarters but also a large batch of ready-made disciples. They would have the foundational resources required to establish a sect, such as Spirit Veins, mineral veins, spiritual fields, forests, and so on.
Jiang Yuebai had more understanding of the Yuquan Sect than Zhao Fuyi and others. While she was at Guan Nanbao, she could already see the reluctance of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs and Golden Core Masters in the Yuquan Sect regarding its current state. What likely kept them at the Yuquan Sect was no more than the welfare benefits and a sense of belonging to the sect.
Their resistance to a merger might not be that strong because they understood better than anyone else that if the Yuquan Sect didn’t change, they would eventually be swallowed up by the Heavenly Star Sect.
And currently, the Heavenly Interence Sect was indeed a powerful ally for the Yuquan Sect!
But at this point, Jiang Yuebai knew they shouldn’t be blinded by the benefits. They must calm down and analyze the drawbacks of this endeavor.
After the merger, internal divisions within the sect were inevitable, but they were not hard to resolve. Compared to internal issues, the biggest problem lay with external enemies.
If the Heavenly Interence Sect got involved, it would mean opposing three factions.
The Xiong family, Fang family, and Heavenly Star Sect.
Firstly, the Xiong family had a Refining Void Ancestor, and so did the Fang family.
The Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Star Sect was in seclusion, trying to break through to the Refining Void Stage. If successful, the situation would be three against three.
High-level cultivators might be able to counter this somewhat effectively, but for the Heavenly Interence Sect, there was another big issue: the Fang family was also in the Earth Spiritual Realm.
Opposing the Fang family in the Nine Rivers Realm would certainly affect the Earth Spiritual Realm. At that time, the Fang family in the Earth Spiritual Realm would definitely take action against the Heavenly Interence Sect there, as the strength of the Fang family and the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Earth Spiritual Realm were evenly matched.
The Zhuge family might be able to support the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Upper Realm, but they wouldn’t be able to help in the Earth Spiritual Realm. The Heavenly Interence Sect would have to find its own way to counter the Fang family.
Otherwise, it could destroy the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Earth Spiritual Realm!
Zhao Fuyi and Wenn Miao also considered many aspects, knowing how significant this matter was, and they couldn’t make the decision themselves.
Zhao Fuyi stood up and addressed Zhuge Jing, "Fuyi first thanks Elder Zhuge for his efforts on behalf of the Heavenly Interence Sect. This matter involves a lot, so please give us some time to discuss and decide."
"Of course."
Zhuge Jing rose to bid farewell, instructing the Zhuge family disciples outside to escort the three to the guest quarters to rest.