204: Chapter 80: The Overwhelming Might of a Powerful Clan_3 204: Chapter 80: The Overwhelming Might of a Powerful Clan_3 He continued,
Our Wanyun Sect is truly suffering!
“Ten thousand years ago, after barely establishing some momentum, due to poor internal economic management and uneven distribution of rewards and punishments, when the three Golden Immortal ancestors hand in hand ventured into the Chaos Sea, the sect fell into disorder, and out of fifty-four peaks, only thirty-six remained.
“Ah, to this very day, this remains a hidden pain in my master’s heart.
“With great difficulty, my master picked up the two of us, father and son, from the mortal world…
My origins, as you all know, are those of a merchant; I reek of the smell of copper and am full of worldly airs, yet my master did not mind.
The thing he liked the most about me was that I often thought about how to earn more Spirit Stones for the Wanyun Sect, how to ensure the disciples of the Wanyun Sect wouldn’t have to endure the cold and starve!
“Who would have thought, merely for these minor concerns, these little schemes, even the strongest artifact-refining sect of the East Continent would take notice.
“It was just an ordinary Magic Artifact!
From the profits of one Magic Artifact, our Wanyun Sect only made one or two Spirit Stones!
Li Dazhi stood up, looking out of the hall, and cried out in a loud voice:
“Everyone, please judge for yourselves!
“Our Wanyun Sect’s Castcloud Hall only wishes to make these one or two Spirit Stones!
To us at Castcloud Hall, all the Loose Cultivators are like family!
“If we speak of benefiting the East Continent, how is providing everyone with high-quality and affordable Magic Artifacts not a benefit?
“To be remembered for ages to come is something our Wanyun Sect dares not even dream of; we just want to make some Spirit Stones, just want to give our sect’s disciples a little more in their monthly stipend, and I myself merely wish to ease a fraction of worry from my master and bring him a bit more peace.
“Our Wanyun Sect, how difficult our path is!”
Many of the Wanyun immortals’ eyes were red;
And among the Loose Cultivators gathered around, quite a few repeatedly bowed deeply in respect.
The disciples of Wei Yuan Sect, considering their own sect’s circumstances, also felt a surge of emotion.
Mo Yunshen thought to himself that things were going badly and just as he was about to offer a few words in an attempt to clarify that they had no intention to pressure Wanyun Sect, but merely wanted an exchange of ideas.
But before Mo Yunshen had a chance to speak up, an old True Immortal from Wei Yuan Sect beside him couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into tears.
How can you bully the weak with your strength!
Aren’t we all part of the righteous path of immortality, heroes who once fought against the Demon Race, and who, after retiring, established our own sects?”
Mo Yunshen hastily said, “This!
Please hear me out, everyone!”
A Forge-Heaven Gate elder transmitted a message, “Yun Shen, let it be, Wanyun Sect truly hasn’t had it easy.”
This was clearly the fat Daoist’s cunning strategy!
Mo Yunshen felt a little disconcerted.
This favored son of heaven truly hadn’t anticipated such a scenario occurring today!
Li Dazhi sighed once more and, bowing to the immortals of Forge-Heaven Gate, returned to his seat.
Xiaoyue hurried over from the side, bringing a handkerchief to Li Dazhi, but as she lowered her head and saw Li Dazhi’s eyes—sincere, pure, completely untroubled—she couldn’t help but blink.
‘He was indeed pretending.’
However, this tactic was indeed effective.
Elder Xiaoyue’s admiration for Li Dazhi grew in her heart.
‘To face a powerful sect, he resolved their pressure with such ease.’
In a corner, Li Ping’an, pulling Ningning Mu aside, whispered, “Look, it’s settled.
Forge-Heaven Gate can’t possibly trouble us now.”
“Crying is so useful, huh.”
“Don’t you learn this,” Li Ping’an quickly said, “Because our Wanyun Sect can’t beat Forge-Heaven Gate, it’s okay to play up the tragedy to gain sympathy when necessary.”
“Senior Brother, why are you so nervous?
I’m not the weepy type, unless…
you start ignoring me.”
Ningning Mu’s gaze drifted elsewhere.
Li Ping’an smiled calmly, yet a trace of doubt began to stir within him.
Forge-Heaven Gate had come today with two apparent goals in mind.
The first was to outdo the Wanyun Sect in the art of artifact refining;
The second was to exert pressure and probe the secrets of Wanyun Sect’s artifact production line.
At this moment, both of their aims had been skillfully neutralized by his father, but the disciples from Forge-Heaven Gate displayed two starkly different reactions.
The twelve Heavenly Immortals’ expressions remained unchanged, still assured and with a gleam in their eyes;
The rest of the True Immortals, Yuan Immortals, and non-Immortal disciples each felt somewhat thwarted, believing they had made a wasted trip.
Something’s not right; Forge-Heaven Gate has other plans.
Could it be that they truly intend to swallow up Yuan Sect?
And how would they go about doing that?
While Li Ping’an pondered this, Mo Yunshen on the other side let out a light sigh, turning his spearhead toward the senior Xu Sheng seated in the main seat.
Mo Yunshen smiled and said, “The Wanyun Sect has gained a great benefactor in the Grand Wealth Immortal, which will surely allow it to rise swiftly to great heights.
However, our visit today is actually to seek out Senior Xu Sheng.”
‘What a blunt transition.’
Li Ping’an silently criticized, quickly contemplating his response.
Xu Sheng laughed softly, saying indifferently, “I wonder what Forge-Heaven Gate can grace us with?”
“I dare not presume to instruct,” Mo Yunshen rose, making a formal bow, “my master has said that in the East Continent, no one excels in refining Spiritual Treasures like Friend Xu Sheng does!”
Xu Sheng’s brows furrowed slightly.
The next words from Mo Yunshen were:
“Forge-Heaven Gate is willing to offer the position of Chief Elder to invite Senior Xu Sheng to join us in contemplating the Golden Immortal Great Way!
Should the friends from Yuan Sect be willing, Forge-Heaven Gate is ready to open our doors wide for you to establish your own lineage within, with your own Sect gates, and all expenses for cultivation and artifact refining will be undertaken by Forge-Heaven Gate!”
“Oh?” Xu Sheng stroked his beard, humming thoughtfully.
The Immortals from Wanyun Sect couldn’t help but become anxious.
The ‘blessing’ offered by Forge-Heaven Gate was enormous, difficult for Yuan Sect to resist.
To the disciples of Yuan Sect, this was obviously a greater benefit than a detriment.
But for the Wanyun Sect, it was a massive blow.
This wasn’t just about losing a long-time friendly Sect;
Wanyun Sect had already invested vast efforts and resources in making Castcloud Hall its premier sub-division, and just when they were about to bear fruit, it seemed that Forge-Heaven Gate was ready to uproot the entire tree!
Li Dazhi turned his head to look at Li Ping’an.
Li Dazhi naturally knew that only his own son Ping’an could turn the tide now.
Li Ping’an only needed to have a private chat with Senior Xu Sheng, flaunt the Myriad Manifestation Chart and the Cangyue Bead before him, pat Xu Sheng’s shoulder, and call him “Junior Teacher,” and Yuan Sect would never fall to Forge-Heaven Gate!
Li Dazhi’s thoughts took a turn, and he shook his head at Li Ping’an before resuming his seat.
Let’s see what Yuan Sect thinks of the matter.
He could set up his Castcloud Hall branch in another Sect.
After all, this cooperation, which Senior Xu Sheng had actively ‘run’ back to Wanyun Sect for, was two years in the making, with everything ready.
Just get through today successfully, and Yuan Sect would be guaranteed a minimum of five hundred thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones a year.
This outpouring of riches had been laid before Yuan Sect by Li Dazhi.
Whether they could catch it, that was now up to them to decide.