Chapter 149 - 147: A Change of Plans
Bei Tianya felt the current strength of the Great Brightness Sect was a wretched sight, so pitiful he could barely stand to look at it.
He sighed constantly when speaking of the Great Brightness Sect’s current state, his heart heavy with sorrow.
But as Chen Yuan listened, he felt the Great Brightness Sect’s strength didn’t sound so weak after all.
"Mr. Bei, if I may ask, what is your Cultivation? And what about the other Hall Masters of our Ming Sect?"
Mr. Bei said, "My aptitude is mediocre. I am currently only at the Eighth Realm Divine Platform.
"Most of the current Ming Sect Hall Masters are Grandmasters at the Primordial Pill Realm at a minimum, and there are a few at the Eighth Realm Divine Platform as well."
"But back in our peak, with the exception of the Six Major Auxiliary Halls, all Ming Church Masters had to be at the Ninth Realm Celestial Profound to hold the position."
"Of course, it’s possible some Hall Masters have broken through without my knowledge. Our Ming Sect members now operate independently, and we don’t gather together very often."
"However, at the very top of our Ming Sect, we have three Ninth Realm Celestial Profound experts serving as Vice Sect Leaders. One of them has even survived since our sect’s peak."
"It is only thanks to their protection that the Ming Sect has been able to preserve what little of its heritage remains, all while in the shadows."
"Then who is the current Sect Leader of our Ming Sect?"
Bei Tianya shook his head. "Our Ming Sect currently has no Sect Leader. After the Bright Venerable, Qin Wuye, who would dare call themselves the Sect Leader of the Ming Sect? No one has the right."
"Even those three only dare to call themselves Vice Sect Leaders, not Sect Leader."
"Unless someone can lead the Ming Sect out of the shadows and back into the Jianghu, restoring its light—only someone with that kind of prestige would be qualified to lead the Ming Sect and become the new Sect Leader."
After hearing Bei Tianya’s explanation, Chen Yuan couldn’t shake the feeling that while the man was outwardly sighing in lament, he was actually showing off.
The Great Brightness Sect currently had fourteen halls. All of their Hall Masters were Grandmasters at the Primordial Pill Realm or above, and several, like Mr. Bei, had reached the Eighth Realm Divine Platform.
Not to mention the three Vice Sect Leaders at the Ninth Realm Celestial Profound. This level of power was simply off the charts.
The Zhenwu Hall had been developing for decades, yet it only had one expert at the Ninth Realm Celestial Profound. Its one Eighth Realm Divine Platform expert, Liu Suifeng, was perpetually ill, and it had fewer than ten Grandmasters at the Primordial Pill Realm.
However, Chen Yuan understood. Bei Tianya was comparing the Great Brightness Sect to its former glory.
Compared to the Great Brightness Sect at its peak, when it held sway over both the Court and the Jianghu, its current strength was indeed nothing to speak of.
Besides, while the remnants of the Great Brightness Sect sounded formidable, one couldn’t forget their sensitive status.
The moment the Great Brightness Sect revealed itself, it would undoubtedly face annihilation by the Court and suppression from numerous Jianghu forces.
Taking all that into account, the Great Brightness Sect’s current strength was truly insufficient to face the world.
For Chen Yuan, however, the Great Brightness Sect as it was now could serve as an excellent backer in the shadows.
Of course, Chen Yuan didn’t have much of a choice.
Having learned the `Celestial Fire Secret Manual`, he was already karmically entangled with the Great Brightness Sect.
If he resisted joining, they would certainly reclaim the Cultivation Technique and execute him as a traitor.
Besides, as Bei Tianya had said, the Great Brightness Sect was scattered across the Jianghu. It wasn’t a unified body but operated in units based on the individual halls.
Since Chen Yuan was the sole member of his Celestial Fire Hall, he wouldn’t be subject to many restrictions.
"Mr. Bei, now that I have returned to the Ming Sect, is there anything else I need to do?"
Bei Tianya shook his head. "Our Ming Sect doesn’t even have a headquarters now. Everyone is scattered. I just need to send a secret message about your identity to the other halls and the three Vice Sect Leaders, letting them know the heir of the Celestial Fire Hall has returned. That will be sufficient."
"Some of our Ming Sect disciples are hidden in the shadows, but others, like you and I, have public identities, which makes it easier to navigate the Jianghu."
"If any of us needs help, we just send word to the nearby Ming Sect brothers. We can discuss how to proceed and share the rewards."
"However, your Cultivation is not yet strong. Even if some of our Ming Sect brothers know of your existence, they probably won’t seek you out for help."
Chen Yuan nodded in understanding.
’So it seems the current Ming Sect is very loosely organized and lacks a clear objective.’
’To be precise, their goal is simply to survive. As long as the Cultivation Techniques are passed down, the Ming Sect will not fall.’
But a situation like this was actually perfect for Chen Yuan.
Mr. Bei took a small Jade Pendant from his robes and handed it to Chen Yuan. Its surface was completely smooth, with no patterns or symbols.
"Take this and keep it safe. This is a Communication Jade Pendant crafted by our Ming Sect’s Thousand Mechanisms Hall. By infusing it with your True Qi, you can send out a signal."
"If someone within a hundred-li radius sends this signal, it’s either a call for help or a summons for nearby Ming Sect disciples to undertake a task together. You can decide whether or not to respond. You can also send out your own signal for help."
"However, while our Ming Sect’s doctrine states that all who join are brothers, even blood brothers must settle their accounts clearly. We can’t let our fellow sect members suffer a loss."
"If you request aid, you must give a reward and owe a favor afterward."
"If you need help to secure some benefit, you must also share a portion of it afterward. This way, no one is taken advantage of, and we can avoid problems within the Ming Sect."
Chen Yuan nodded in understanding.
’Even though the Ming Sect is in decline, some of its firm rules are very well-established.’
’Otherwise, if it was all effort and no reward, resentment would build up over time, even among fellow Ming Sect members.’
’Eventually, people would probably start ignoring the calls for help from the Communication Jade Pendant.’
"By the way, Mr. Bei, are you here at the Cauldron Opening Ceremony for the Divine Pill as well? I saw you add some ingredients to the Pill Furnace."
Bei Tianya shook his head. "Not for the Divine Pill. I’m here to use the Shennong Cauldron to refine a Healing Holy Medicine."
"The Dubhe Hall Master, Wan Guiyuan, is gravely injured—his Primordial Spirit has even been damaged. The Pharmacist Hall has no way to solve it; their reserves of Spiritual Medicine and their Pill Furnaces are inadequate. Only the Shennong Cauldron can refine the Healing Holy Medicine needed to treat Wan Guiyuan."
"Since my Heaven’s Edge Sea Pavilion has cooperated with Medicine King Valley for many years, Wan Guiyuan entrusted me to come here and use the Shennong Cauldron to refine a Healing Holy Medicine for him."
"The Alchemists from the Pharmacist Hall have already prepared the Spiritual Medicine. As long as I add it to the Shennong Cauldron, leveraging the cauldron’s power and the Top Grade Spiritual Medicine already inside, an extra Healing Holy Medicine capable of treating Primordial Spirit injuries will definitely be refined."
"When the time comes, I’ll just see who gets that Elixir. If I can trade for it, I will. If I can’t, I’ll just have to snatch it."
Chen Yuan instantly understood. No wonder he’d never seen this scene in the original plot.
’But I’m afraid Mr. Bei’s plan is doomed to fail.’
"Your calculations and those of the Pharmacist Hall may be sound, but the final outcome might be a little... off."
"Oh? And why is that?"
Chen Yuan said, "Earlier, I sensed a commotion and went to investigate. Before you put your things into the Shennong Cauldron, someone else had already put something inside. They also altered the Array beneath the cauldron."
"With such alterations, can that Healing Holy Medicine still be refined?"
Bei Tianya’s expression changed instantly. He cursed, "Which bastard has nothing better to do than to plot against the people of Medicine King Valley?"
"And those people from Medicine King Valley are a bunch of useless freeloaders!"
"Letting someone get so close to their own Divine Artifact, and even letting them modify the Array... They’re utterly useless!"
Chen Yuan thought to himself, ’If Medicine King Valley wasn’t so useless, you wouldn’t have been able to so casually add your own ingredients to the Shennong Cauldron.’
’Still, Medicine King Valley really has been too lax. Anyone who comes along can just toss something into the Shennong Cauldron. A perfectly good batch of Elixirs is about to turn into a chaotic stew.’
Bei Tianya frowned deeply and sighed. "If that’s the case, this is terrible. The truth is, our Ming Sect has used Medicine King Valley’s Shennong Cauldron before."
"Our Ming Sect was able to use Medicine King Valley’s Divine Artifact Demon Soldiers?"
"At the peak of our Ming Sect’s power, what’s wrong with borrowing the Shennong Cauldron from Medicine King Valley? Did they dare refuse?"
Bei Tianya sneered and continued, "Back then, the Hall Master of the Pharmacist Hall wanted to refine a few Divine Pills that could break through one’s limits. His own Pill Furnace couldn’t withstand the process, so he borrowed the Shennong Cauldron. We returned it afterward, of course."
"It’s precisely because we’ve used it that the Pharmacist Hall’s records contain information on the Shennong Cauldron’s capabilities."
"That’s why the Pharmacist Hall was so confident they could refine the Healing Holy Medicine this time; their calculations were based on the normal proceedings of the Cauldron Opening Ceremony."
"But now, with several unknown medicines added and the Array altered, it’s truly hard to say what will end up being refined."
Bei Tianya paced back and forth before suddenly turning to Chen Yuan. "Young Friend Chen, how far have you progressed in your cultivation of the `Celestial Fire Secret Manual`? Could you demonstrate it for me?"
Chen Yuan replied, "I can only barely manage to ignite the Starfire within my Reincarnation Sea."
As he spoke, Chen Yuan ignited a wisp of Starfire, and a scorching power instantly erupted from it.
He then merged it with a stream of Demonic Qi, transforming it into a raging Demon Flame, though its power was diminished by about twenty percent.
"Our Ming Sect’s status is unique, so when I am out in the open, I use Demonic Qi to conceal the `Celestial Fire Secret Manual`."
Bei Tianya’s eyes lit up. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
"Even back in the Ming Sect’s peak, it was rare for a Celestial Fire Hall disciple at the Sea of Reincarnation Realm to have reached your level of Cultivation."
"I have an idea now. Based on what you said, since someone added ingredients to the Shennong Cauldron, they must be plotting against Medicine King Valley. I’m afraid there will be chaos at this Cauldron Opening Ceremony."
"When the chaos begins, disguise your identity immediately and go to the Shennong Cauldron. Unleash the full Celestial Fire’s Power and use the Celestial Fire Power to divide the Spiritual Medicine inside the cauldron in two."
"The Spiritual Medicine I added earlier is tinged with the aura of our Ming Sect’s technique; you should be able to sense it easily."
"With the Celestial Fire separating and refining the ingredients, the quality of the resulting Healing Holy Medicine will be even higher!"
Chen Yuan was slightly stunned. "That’s possible?"
Bei Tianya waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t underestimate the power of your Celestial Fire Hall. The `Celestial Fire Secret Manual` is a Cultivation Technique that allows one to cultivate the very Fire Origin."
"Back when our Ming Sect borrowed the Shennong Cauldron for Alchemy, the people from the Pharmacist Hall offered up many Divine Pills as payment, begging your Celestial Fire Hall’s ancestor, Pang Xizhen, to use her Celestial Fire as the flame for the refinement."
"If you make a move this time, we naturally won’t treat you unfairly, in accordance with the rules of our Ming Sect. When the time comes, I will go all out to help you seize the Divine Pill from the Shennong Cauldron."
"With your Celestial Fire used in the refinement, the Divine Pill from the Shennong Cauldron this time might just be the most powerful one Medicine King Valley has produced in years!"