246: Chapter 245: The Accent is Gone 246: Chapter 245: The Accent is Gone Li Chuping threw over several Jade Scrolls, “These are some insights from my cultivation in the Tongxuan Upper Realm, as well as some successful and unsuccessful cases that I think are worth referencing.
You should look at them when you have time.”
“I know that you might be tight on resources recently, but I can’t help you with that, because I’m even tighter than you!”
“Figure it out yourself.
Among those successful Sword Cultivators, I’ve never heard of anyone who was stopped from advancing because of resource limitations!”
“Go steal, rob, kill, or set fires; as long as you clean up after yourself, no one will come after you.”
Hou Niao listened, sweating profusely, “Actually, disciple still has some principles…”
Li Chuping glanced at him, “So you’re saying while you’re killing out of revenge, you also seize the resources others painstakingly prepared for ascending to the Upper Realm?”
“I’ll try to dispatch you to a relatively distant place, probably outside of Da Feng Plain.
You should be mentally prepared.
“Ascend to Tongxuan within three years and report to the Capital Commandant’s mansion; if not, just fend for yourself.”
Hou Niao was completely convinced.
With how these people behaved, who else should be punished if not them?
But indeed, he relished this environment—simple, harsh, direct, without any pretentious kindness or compassion.
“If you’re capable, let’s achieve something great together.
If you’re not, get lost; don’t even say you know me.” For someone as proud as him, this type of relationship was much better than being given a place to retire comfortably for life!
Without ability, just die, what’s there to settle!
Hou Niao left the room, feeling complex, but the Daoist escorting him back felt even more conflicted.
Looking at his silent younger fellow disciple, he knew that this person’s future achievements would far surpass his own.
He was a servant, the other a scholar; two different concepts.
Being often used by the Capital Commandant, he received many benefits and care, but cultivation wasn’t something that could be nurtured through care.
Perhaps, he too should find a place to be stationed outside for training?
Always staying in the Commandant’s mansion, respected and fawned upon by everyone, his connections widened but his path of cultivation narrowed.
Cultivation ultimately still depends on real strength.
Outside the Sword Mansion, the two stopped walking.
The Daoist, unsure of what to say, started, “Junior Brother Hou…”
Hou Niao interrupted him, “Senior Brother, you don’t need to say anything.
I deeply remember the help you’ve given me since I entered the sect.
If there’s a chance in the future, I will surely return the favor.”
Everyone worries about the future, especially when they cannot advance themselves; the Daoist knew it was becoming increasingly unlikely for him to ascend as he was already forty this year.
His connections were still useful now, but once he was gone, they’d be worthless, and he still had a whole family to care for.
In the Commandant’s mansion, there were far more opportunities to offend people than to please them.
Without the support of capable newcomers, the situation for the younger disciples was unimaginable.
…Hou Niao began to calmly wait, spending all day studying the Jade Scrolls left by Li Chuping.
These were the insights of a powerful Sword Cultivator from the Tongtian Realm, unavailable for purchase in any market.
Just in terms of value, how could they compare to mere Spirit Stones?
With the foundation he laid in the Divine City of Anhe, combined with the compatibility of these Jade Scrolls specifically with Sword Cultivation Daoist principles, and his understanding of his own specific circumstances, he began to form a rough outline of his path to the Upper Realm.
It wasn’t perfect yet and needed fine-tuning, but at least he wasn’t completely clueless anymore.
Disdaining the tumultuous rumors from the outside world, because he had a plan, this was the advantage of relying on an organization.
He guessed that he was still on the periphery of this organization, belonging to the category of those with potential, but to truly join, reaching Tongxuan would probably be the minimum requirement.
After four years of effort, he had slowly made his way into the core of the Quanzhen Sect, but those who had commissioned him were no longer there.
By the time he became a prominent voice within the core, it was feared that the Anhe Daoist Sect that had commissioned him would no longer exist.
The unpredictability of life was lamentable.
The power struggles at the upper levels were not, something a minor cultivator like him could participate in, or even be privy to.
He could only wait; this evening, he was still at Da Feng Mansion, where his fellow townsmen from Anhe would gather again—Gu Weixin, Gong Chengyi, and Tao Ji, including Hou Niao.
The gathering was initiated by Gong Chengyi, since all four happened to be in Jin City; they decided to meet up to reminisce.
However, the atmosphere at the liquor table was noticeably subdued.
The reason being that Anhe Country’s current situation weighed heavily on everyone’s mind.
They all wanted to fight back but didn’t have the power to change the situation.
Not to mention them, who couldn’t even truly be called cultivators yet, but what about Chong Ling, a Tongxuan-level cultivator?
Even his sacrificial death didn’t change anything.
Among the four, Hou Niao had the highest realm, reaching the Bridge Connection stage.
The rest, Gong Chengyi and Gu Weixin were at Grain Avoidance Realm, while Tao Ji was still oscillating within the Essence Building Realm.
In less than four years, the disparity among them had already begun to show.
Once certain gaps were created, it became very difficult to close them later.
After all, a person’s twenties were the prime of life.
Missing this period meant that after thirty, as the body started declining, catching up became even more unlikely.
“Those bastards from Wu Sect are truly detestable; I wish I could transform into a divine sword and slay all demons and evils!” Tao Ji, slightly drunken, was venting due to the unsettling conditions at home and the lack of progress in his cultivation.
Gu Weixin responded indifferently, “We must trust that the Anhe Daoist Sect has their own judgments.
Such a large sect couldn’t possibly misread the situation.
It’s pointless for us to worry about it; why not just wait and see how things unfold?”
Tao Ji glanced at him sideways, “I know your Gu Family has been cozying up to the Wu Sect’s power, and you’ve been prospering lately.
Have you not heard the old tunes of Anhe?”
Gu Weixin didn’t argue with him.
Why bother with someone useless?
Of all the people present, the only one he really respected was Hou Niao.
He had heard that Niao had killed many during debates in the Southwest.
Unfortunately, they were not on the same path.
He hoped the sect’s punishment this time would be more severe.
The entanglements between them were unknown to the others present.
Although they had not yet openly fallen out, they could never return to the past.
Gong Chengyi, as the eldest among them, kept his attitude ambiguous, but repeatedly made probing remarks towards Hou Niao, giving Hou Niao a feeling of being tempted to defect.
Could this also be a hidden move by the Anhe Daoist Sect?
To throw sand into the Quanzhen Sect, surely Chong Ling Daoist wasn’t the only one doing this.
The Anhe Daoist Sect was indeed strange; with all this time and energy, why not focus on strengthening their own Inner Strength first?
He could only humor them; he felt extremely awkward.
He really wanted to tell this fellow countryman, “Brother, times have changed.
There are countless ways to help Anhe Country; why choose a path that’s doomed to fail?”
People must rely on their own strength.
During his visit to Anhe, he also came into contact with some cultivators from the Anhe Daoist Sect.
At least in the Divine City, he did not perceive a strong will to resist.
With such a flaccid main sect, what could these lying low achieve?