231: Chapter 230: Divine City Turmoil 14 231: Chapter 230: Divine City Turmoil 14 Kong Wen Monk added in a low voice, “Maybe we all don’t need to fight, just like that Taihao disciple, when they see the Buddhist Sect make a move, couldn’t they just take the opportunity to back down?
Who else would come to challenge us then?”
Five monks looked at each other and smiled, understudies turned stars, causing Wu Sect and Quanzhen Sect to be embarrassed without being able to protest and still having to thank them for intervening before things went out of control—a truly ingenious move.
Everyone unanimously decided that the disciples of the Nixian Buddhist Sect would be the ones to go into battle, and there was no need to consider combat strength; anyone who wasn’t foolish would understand the intention of the Buddhist Sect.
Unwilling to listen to reason?
With seventy monks, just ask if you’re scared!
Yuan Jue Monk grinned slightly, feeling that it was indeed better to give such an opportunity to his own disciple,
“Tihu, you go and explain the intricacies clearly, as someone capable of cultivating their sword skills to such a level is definitely not a fool.”
Tihu Monk’s face lit up with joy, knowing this was his master’s way of bringing him honor and fame, “Disciple will respectfully follow the decree.”
He had not yet risen when another young monk from the Nixian Buddhist Sect hesitantly stood up,
“Master Uncle, Disciple Tideng, forgive my rudeness, but could, could there possibly be something inappropriate?”
Yuan Jue Monk’s face showed displeasure, he glanced around sharply, “Tideng, are decisions made by us elders something that you, a junior, can question?”
Tideng Monk stuttered and dared not continue, but nearby Yuanxing Monk, being reasonable, didn’t want to seem too imperious in front of his peers from the Gaochang Buddhist Sect,
“No harm, if you have any different opinions, just speak your mind, our Nixian Buddhist Sect is not a place that refuses to listen to advice.”
Encouraged, Tideng Monk spoke softly, “Disciple had met that Quanzhen sword cultivator once in the Yinling of Shan Country and knows his temperament well.
He is both smelly and tough, has committed heavy killings, and is not one to listen to persuasion.
I fear Brother Tihu will have a hard time convincing him.”
Yuan Jue Monk huffed heavily, “Whether he listens or not, is it up to him?
No need for more words, step down!”
Tideng Monk was left with a loss of face, hanging his head as he stepped down, yet his thick skin kept him from feeling ashamed.
But Kong Jian Monk was a meticulous man, “Brother, your disciple does have a point; the Demon Sect by nature loves killing and competing violently, once they’re provoked, feeling invincible, it’s possible they can’t control their emotions.
I’m not considering his perspective, but if there are injuries during the process, wouldn’t it be difficult for both sides to step down?
How about this, let us inform our Master Uncle, and let him give a heads-up to Zhu Jiuling at Quanzhen in advance.
If elders from both sides step in, then this matter could be steadied.”
Yuan Jue had not wanted to take any additional action, but after careful thought, what would these minor cultivators know about the bigger picture?
They were just reckless folks, and giving a heads-up was appropriate.
Thus, he contacted his own Master Uncle, Paper Arhat, via Divine Sense, and a moment later received a reply,
“Master Uncle says, he has already reached an unspoken agreement with Zhu Jiuling, there should be no more problems.”
…Meanwhile, three upper cultivators from the Quanzhen Sect also received the message from Uncle Zhu, instructing them to tell Hou Niao that if a monk enters the arena, just to let it pass.
Uncle Li was fuming, “What?
We already conceded the Quanzhen Taoist Flag once?
Now we have to concede the Anhe Daoist Flag too?
I just don’t understand, are we the Demon Sect?
By constantly conceding , we completely lack the spirit of a Sword Cultivator.
We might as well stop calling ourselves the Quanzhen Sect and rename it the ‘Quanrang Sect’ instead.”
A master, Jia, glared at him, “Watch your words, Junior Brother Li!
Since the elder has commanded, we must comply, after all, he stands higher than us and sees further than us.
You are babbling nonsense here, be careful or I’ll accuse you of disrespecting your seniors!”
The two were tearing at each other unclearly here, while another master, Wang, just sighed.
Within the Quanzhen Sect, the dispute between the Harmony Faction and the Demon-Entry Faction was omnipresent, even the team’s three leaders this time were strictly appointed according to faction.
Junior Brother Li was of course from the Demon-Entry Faction, Senior Brother Jia was definitely from the Harmony Faction, and he himself was a true fence-sitter, so, naturally, all decisions were still primarily based on Elder Zhu Jiuling.
He wrote a note and passed it to a Daoist from Anhe not far away, “Please pass this to Hou Niao, thank you for your efforts.”
These upper cultivators and great cultivators were not allowed to directly contact disciples, fearing that they might lead them astray, but if it did not involve battle techniques, some messages could still be passed.
Under the watchful eyes of all upper cultivators on Lake Heart Island and all Golden Core great cultivators in the sky, the note was delivered to that junior cultivator, who looked at it and was silently speechless.
Everyone knew that this was the curtain call for this southwestern doctrinal debate.
In the end, it wasn’t decided by the disciples through debate but by the great cultivators through discussion.
The last-minute joining of the Taihao Sect and two Buddhist Sects made the trends complicated.
Whether it was the Wu Sect or the Quanzhen Sect, both felt they could not act as they had originally wished.
For the sake of the southwest’s overall situation, each force had to make sacrifices.
Following this development, the Wu Sect would eventually hoist five Taiji Flags, including their own one, as well as one each from the entirely-transformed Blood Transformation and Worshipping Bodies of the Wo Sect.
The Quanzhen Sect would raise three great flags, those lost by the Wu Sect;
Three flags for the Buddhist Sect, including two of their own and one from the Anhe Daoist Sect.
Two flags for the Taihao Sect, one of their own plus one from the Quanzhen Sect.
This was a peculiar outcome.
The Wu Sect achieved non of its main goals, losing three of its own four flags, but unexpectedly reaped full benefits by allying with a minor power from the Demon Sect.
The Quanzhen Sect similarly, not only failed to protect the purpose of the Anhe Daoist Sect, but also lost its own flag, merely snatching three from the Wu Sect as a consolation.
It’s hard to call this a win-win situation; saying both suffered losses would be more appropriate; it also proved one point, never underestimate any force on the continent.
Their silence at the beginning does not mean they will remain silent at the division of the spoils, perfectly interpreting ‘when snipe and clam grapple, the fisherman profits.’
The Wu Sect was dissatisfied, but they were now unable to contend with the fully equipped Buddhist Sect and Taihao Sect; the Quanzhen Sect was also unsatisfied, but now they had nothing at hand apart from one disciple.
What remained was basically procedural.
The Tihu Monk went to negotiate, then the Quanzhen Sword Cultivators conceded, marking the end of the southwestern doctrinal debate — starting strong but ending weakly without conclusion, just as the mainland situation had been for millennia.
Everyone continued to survive by compromising, tail-tucked, waiting for a chance to truly unravel the chaos.
Watching Senior Brother Tihu strut contentedly across the lake, Tideng Monk began quietly tidying up his combat gear, placing each piece in the most accessible part of his bag.
A familiar fellow senior or junior softly asked, “Junior Brother Tideng, are you preparing your luggage to leave?
It’s not easy to come to Anhe.
Don’t you wish to visit Divine City and see, they say it’s the richest big city in the southwestern region.”
Tideng Monk curled his lips, “Leave?
The fight has only reached the halfway mark, the second half hasn’t even started yet!
Watch, no participant left on Lake Heart Island will survive, all will have to go ashore and fight for their lives!”