Chapter 295 - 293: Merit
Mr. Bei seemed quite proud of his origins in the Five Elements Hall.
It wasn’t that he looked down on other halls. Rather, the Ming Sect’s halls were inherently divided based on the type of Cultivation Technique.
If you were a disciple of the Ten Great Battle Halls, you could certainly join the Five Elements Hall. No one would stop or suppress you.
But the question was, did you have the talent for it? Could you comprehend the Power of Origin by practicing the cultivation techniques of the Five Elements Hall?
If you couldn’t comprehend any of its power, how could you have the face to remain in the Five Elements Hall?
Thus, for the Ming Sect, the cultivation technique was never what mattered most—it was the person qualified to practice it.
Just as Chen Yuan thought Mr. Bei was finished, the man suddenly spoke again. "Of course, none of that is really important. The real reason Vice Sect Master Lu only has these three halls under his command is that he returned to the Ming Sect a bit too late."
"Vice Sect Master Lu was frozen in ice for over three hundred years. By the time he returned, who in the Ming Sect did he know? What place was left for him?"
"Furthermore, Vice Sect Master Lu’s injuries have never fully healed, so he no longer possesses the power he had at his peak."
"Back then, our Ming Sect was already in decline and couldn’t afford any internal strife. Vice Sect Master Lu couldn’t just seize power; he could only build his influence step by step."
"That’s why, whether it was me or that fellow Wan Guiyuan, we followed Vice Sect Master Lu from the moment we first joined the Ming Sect. He’s the one who cultivated us into who we are today."
"Your situation, having just joined the Ming Sect, is actually just like mine was back then."
"For the sake of the bigger picture, he has endured it all. Vice Sect Master Lu has really had a difficult time."
Chen Yuan nodded, understanding the meaning behind Mr. Bei’s words.
Five hundred years ago, Lu Beiming was the Commander of the Divine Punishment Guard and a trusted confidant of Qin Wuye. His status was far above that of any Hall Master, and as a young, brilliant talent, his future was limitless.
But after being frozen for three hundred years, he was unsealed and returned to a Ming Sect where everything had changed. The people and circumstances were completely different. The Divine Punishment Guard had been utterly dismantled, its official designation erased.
He could have staged a forceful takeover, but that would have only weakened the Ming Sect further. Thus, Lu Beiming could only build his power slowly. To have amassed the influence he has today was no small feat.
While they waited, many more Ming Sect Martial Artists arrived, adding several dozen more people to their ranks.
The last to arrive were a man, a woman, and a little girl.
The little girl was none other than Zuo Qianlan.
He hadn’t seen her in a few months. The once-gaunt little girl had filled out and was much prettier than before.
A strikingly beautiful woman with a sharp aura, dressed in white, held Zuo Qianlan’s hand and led her into the main hall.
Seeing Chen Yuan, Zuo Qianlan waved at him. "Big Brother!"
Chen Yuan smiled. ’Looks like this little girl is quite resilient.’
"That woman is Yu Hanmei, Vice Sect Master Lu’s Liaison Officer. She’s responsible for contacting the Ming Sect’s members and relaying his orders."
"Her martial arts were also taught by the Vice Sect Master, so she’s considered his disciple, in a way."
"And that stout man beside Yu Hanmei is Zu Qingzhi, the Hall Master of Houtu Hall. He looks rough on the outside but is quite sharp-witted."
Chen Yuan nodded in understanding.
The stout man was tall and powerfully built, but his face was simple and honest, like a farmer’s. In truth, his foundation was profound and his power was dense and stable.
With Zu Qingzhi’s arrival, all the Ming Sect Hall Masters were now present. Lu Beiming coughed lightly. The sound instantly filled the grand hall, and all the whispering Ming Sect disciples fell silent, turning their gazes to him.
"Everyone," Lu Beiming began, "it seems we’re all here. Let’s not waste any more time. This session of the Ming Church Alliance is now officially open."
Though much had changed over the years, Lu Beiming’s seniority was undeniable. As such, he presided over every Ming Church Alliance.
"Let’s begin by discussing our Ming Sect’s recent personnel changes and the gains of each hall."
The Ming Sect was scattered across the land, and members of some halls hadn’t seen one another in years. Naturally, there had been significant changes.
One by one, the numerous Hall Masters began to report on the changes, events, and gains within their respective halls.
Some reported an increase in disciples and the acquisition of valuable items. Others had suffered losses. Overall, however, the Ming Sect was certainly stronger now than it had been at the last Alliance meeting.
Because of this, both Lu Beiming and Yuan Longxi wore smiles. Tantai Zhaorong’s expression, however, remained unchanged, but this was simply her nature, and everyone was accustomed to it.
When it was Mr. Bei’s turn, he stood and said with a hint of pride, "My Cyan Wood Hall may not have had any major gains, but we did find the heir to the Celestial Fire Hall. Now, the lineage of the Five Elements Hall is only missing that of the Cold Water Hall to be complete."
"Moreover, some time ago, Chen Yuan joined forces with the Houtu Hall and the Dubhe Hall to breach a Daoist Palace left behind by the Valley God Palace. They obtained the Valley God Palace’s Daoist Secret Method, the *Valley Spirit Scripture*."
"Any of our brethren who require a Daoist Cultivation Technique for their Foundation Establishment are welcome to come trade with us for it."
The expressions of those present shifted slightly. They hadn’t expected that Chen Yuan, attending his very first Ming Church Alliance, would already have achievements to his name.
Within the Ming Sect, aside from the inherited cultivation techniques of their respective halls, everyone freely traded other techniques to meet their needs.
When they had acquired the *Valley Spirit Scripture*, it was agreed that others could obtain it by paying a price. The proceeds from any such trades would then be split among Chen Yuan and the others involved in its acquisition.
When it was Liu Bai’s turn, he stood and stated concisely, "Some time ago, following a plan devised by Young Friend Chen Yuan of the Celestial Fire Hall, Ju Mang, Wan Guiyuan, and I took action. We shattered the Sun-piercing Alliance and seized the Sun-piercing Sword. Our Ming Sect now has another Divine Soldier in its arsenal."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd didn’t look at Liu Bai. Instead, their shocked gazes turned to Chen Yuan.
The news that Liu Bai had obtained the Sun-piercing Sword had already spread throughout the Jianghu, so everyone was well aware of it.
What they didn’t know, however, was that the mastermind behind the sword’s capture wasn’t the ever-scheming Ju Mang, also known as Mr. Bei, nor was it the Commander-in-Chief Liu Bai. It was a junior like Chen Yuan!
Although the Ming Sect possessed Divine Soldiers, it didn’t mean they had a surplus. An additional Divine Soldier represented another layer of power and security.
If obtaining the *Valley Spirit Scripture* was considered a standard achievement, then the credit for seizing the Sun-piercing Sword was immense.
Yuan Longxi raised an eyebrow slightly, asking in surprise, "The capture of the Sun-piercing Sword was planned by Chen Yuan? A mere Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artist dared to scheme for a Divine Soldier?"
The gazes of everyone present shifted. There was nothing wrong with Yuan Longxi’s words on the surface, but his tone was laced with heavy skepticism, and the crowd understood his underlying meaning.
’This Chen Yuan caused such a stir right after joining the Ming Sect. Could it be that Bei Tianya and his group are just trying to build him up by pinning this achievement on him?’
’As for the reason, that’s simple. The achievement is significant, but it’s not astonishing enough for someone like Bei Tianya. It only seems truly sensational when attributed to a junior who just joined the Ming Sect.’
’Vice Sect Master Lu’s faction has the fewest members and only three halls. By elevating Chen Yuan like this, are they trying to get him to re-establish the Celestial Fire Hall?’
’He may possess the legacy of the Celestial Fire Hall, but his strength is nowhere near that of the other Hall Masters.’
’However, if his achievements are great enough and Vice Sect Master Lu and the others insist, it’s actually possible they could break precedent and make him a Hall Master at such a young age.’
A hint of displeasure crossed Bei Tianya’s face. "Vice Sect Leader Yuan, I, Bei Tianya, may be known for my unpredictable methods and have orchestrated my fair share of schemes out in the world."
"But when have I ever played such games with my own brethren? Our Ming Sect is in its current state; credit, whether for a great achievement or arduous effort, must go where it is due. Why would I falsify or conceal the truth?"
Wan Guiyuan also moved to stand and object, but Liu Bai rose to his feet before either of them could.
"The plot to seize the Sun-piercing Sword was indeed planned by Chen Yuan from the start. Of that, there is no doubt."
𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"Furthermore, Chen Yuan’s contributions during the sword’s capture were crucial. Without him, we would have undoubtedly returned in defeat."
Hearing Liu Bai say this, the crowd’s suspicion diminished significantly.
They might have still harbored doubts if it were only Bei Tianya defending the claim. But Liu Bai had always been one to speak his mind. The man was like his sword—direct and to the point. He would not lie just to elevate Chen Yuan, nor did he have any reason to.
After all, Liu Bai was not under Lu Beiming’s command; he was a Hall Master in Tantai Zhaorong’s faction.
Yuan Longxi smiled. "Please, don’t be agitated, you two. I wasn’t expressing doubt, merely surprise. I just never imagined a young talent who recently joined our Ming Sect would possess not only astonishing strength but also such outstanding abilities."
"No matter how outstanding his abilities are, he is still a junior," Lu Beiming said calmly. "And I intend to temper him a while longer."
"Even though Chen Yuan possesses the complete *Celestial Fire Secret Manual*, I do not plan to let him become the Hall Master of the Celestial Fire Hall just yet."
Lu Beiming’s faint words effectively cut off whatever Yuan Longxi had intended to say next.
He knew what worried Yuan Longxi—he simply didn’t want Chen Yuan to ride this wave of momentum and become a Hall Master.
The three factions within the Ming Sect were currently more or less in balance.
Yuan Longxi’s and Tantai Zhaorong’s factions were powerful and numerous, but Lu Beiming held the highest seniority and was the only one present who had personally witnessed the Ming Sect’s golden age. His prestige remained immense.
If Chen Yuan were to become the Hall Master of the Celestial Fire Hall, even as a junior Martial Artist, the formal title alone could easily shatter this delicate balance.
Yuan Longxi shook his head. "Elder Lu, you’ve misunderstood. That wasn’t my meaning. Our Ming Sect has always been clear in its rewards and punishments. If Chen Yuan’s contributions are sufficient, making him a Hall Master wouldn’t be out of the question. However, since you’ve decided to temper him further, we shall let the matter rest for now."
"He’s currently the sole heir to the Celestial Fire Hall’s legacy. The position of Hall Master will be his sooner or later, so there’s no need to rush."
Mr. Bei said nothing, but the corner of his mouth twitched into a cold sneer.
’That Yuan Longxi was always like this, beating around the bush and playing both sides. He always managed to say everything, both good and bad, leaving himself blameless.’
’If Lu Beiming hadn’t already declared he wouldn’t push for Chen Yuan’s Hall Master position, Yuan Longxi would surely have had more to say.’
Just then, however, Lu Beiming coughed and looked at the crowd. "Vice Sect Leader Yuan was right about one thing: our Ming Sect has always been clear about its rewards and punishments."
"Since we aren’t giving Chen Yuan the position of Hall Master, we must still grant him other rewards for such a great achievement."