69: Chapter 34 Attention from the Sect Leader 69: Chapter 34 Attention from the Sect Leader “Dazhi?”
Sect Leader, what brings you here?”
Li Dazhi jumped up with a start, bowed respectfully along with the nearby elders and stewards to greet the Sect Leader.
The Wanyun Sect Leader maintained a middle-aged appearance, spoke with a gentle voice, had a mild gaze when looking at people, and seldom got angry with the disciples within the sect, thus was deeply loved by the sect members.
It was rumored within the sect that the Sect Leader was not far from reaching the state of Golden Immortal, the Longevity Realm, and had the potential to become the fourth Golden Immortal of the sect.
——During the previous Sect Leaders’ terms, that was what people always said too.
The Sect Leader’s name was Lu Mo, and his Taoist name was Yun Mo, which he self-styled by adding the character “Yun” (Cloud).
“Brother Dazhi, come over here.”
Li Dazhi gestured to the surrounding elders and stewards, advising them:
“Please make sure the preparations for the move are well arranged, and let there be no chaos on Caiyun Peak.”
The immortals bowed and took their orders.
Li Dazhi hurried to catch up to the Sect Leader, joining him on the same cloud, and they circled in the sky together.
The disciples of the various sects and guests from friendly sects, guided by over a hundred outer sect stewards, began to orderly transfer towards Caiyun Peak, forming three long streams in the sky.
“Brother Dazhi,” the Sect Leader remarked with emotion, “you’ve done really well in this grand competition, and you’ve established great merit for the sect.”
The Sect Leader used a bit of Dao Charm to conceal their conversation, so naturally, others couldn’t overhear.
Li Dazhi, with his hands tucked in his sleeves, smiled and said, “It’s the result of the cooperation of all the fellow sect members.
I just nagged a bit more in their ears, it’s not much credit.”
“I’ve seen all your actions and words.”
The Sect Leader’s expression was somewhat difficult to describe as he lightly clicked his tongue:
“Not to mention anything else, but the way you sat there and spoke to those elders and stewards, you looked more like a Sect Leader than I do.”
Li Dazhi’s heart skipped a beat.
The Sect Leader was hinting at him!
Li Dazhi hurriedly said, “This…
Sect Leader, please don’t misunderstand, I was just flustered and didn’t know how to respond, so I hastily put on an act, actually…”
“Why are you panicking,” the Sect Leader nearly laughed, “I am truly praising you, with no hidden implications.
You, always so restrained, should take on the spirit of an ancestor’s disciple.”
Li Dazhi breathed a sigh of relief.
The Sect Leader, gazing at the distant drifting white clouds, said with a smile:
“Today, five Sect Leaders have come, from Yuan Sect, Phantom Spirit Sect, Redflame Gate, Hundred Fruits Mountain, and Abyssal Sect, all of which have deep ties to our Wanyun Sect and would rally to each other’s aid should any of them face tragedy.”
“There are also deputy Sect Leaders and elders from many sects; truly, they have given our Wanyun Sect great face.”
“Previously, our sect’s internal grand competition was roughly once every twenty years, without a fixed date.”
“What you said was good, we’ll set a fixed date from now on, making it easier to invite these guests in advance.”
“I’m here,” Li Dazhi hurriedly responded, “Sect Leader, go ahead.”
The Sect Leader sighed and said, “Many of these sects have been friends with our sect for twenty or thirty thousand years.
Do you know how many sects have faded away since then and how many are now on the brink of fading into obscurity?”
Li Dazhi said with a smile, “I haven’t really looked into that.”
“Sixty percent, sixty percent have disappeared.”
The Sect Leader’s eyes were filled with sense of nostalgia:
“The three sects closest to our Wanyun Sect—Yuan Sect, Abyssal Sect, and Swan Goose Valley—have all declined, and their decline happened in just a few thousand years.”
Li Dazhi asked softly, “Was it due to some catastrophe?”
“Catastrophes are one aspect, but the main reason is the sects’ own inability to sustain themselves.”
The Sect Leader said with a smile:
“That’s how the world of cultivation is, the rise of new Heavenly Immortals gives rise to new powers.
The East Continent is vast, but there’s a finite number of excellent immortal lands.”
“Especially in the last two or three thousand years, fewer and fewer ancient relics have been left, the Hundred Clans were taken in by the two Hierarchs of the Western Sect and retreated to the Western Continent, reducing conflicts with our Human Race.”
“And then, as powers within the Human Race changed and fought against each other, old masters perished and new masters rose…”
“Alas, although it’s our Human Race fighting amongst ourselves, isn’t this also part of the Great Dao?”
The Sect Leader’s eyes were filled with melancholy.
Li Dazhi remarked thoughtfully, “I’ve heard about this from Ping’an, for a sect to last long, it must use various methods to maintain the unity of the sect.
Once the people’s hearts scatter, the sect will quickly decline.”
“That’s true,” the Sect Leader then asked, “Do you know how our Wanyun Sect has stood strong for more than sixty thousand years?”
Li Dazhi pondered for a moment, then offered his answer: “We have the outer sect.”
“Oh?” The Sect Leader’s eyes brightened, “Why do you think so?”
Li Dazhi: Because the Wanyun Sect’s outer sect was established by you, Sect Leader.
Of course, he couldn’t say it like that.
“That’s quite easy to explain.”
Li Dazhi said with a smile:
“The sect can be seen as a business, cough, like a dye workshop, with cultivation techniques and spiritual teachings as the dyes, and the disciples’ cultivation levels as the fabric.
When dying, the fabric shouldn’t be stretched too tight, and the most important aspect to monitor is the temperature of the water.”
“When disciples wear colorful clothes, that is, become Immortals and become members within the sect.”
“Then a problem arises, how to accommodate and sustain these growing number of disciples.”
The Sect Leader’s amusement became more pronounced: “Continue.”
“Accommodation is more important than sustenance; sustaining them is actually simpler, just expand the means of income.”
Li Dazhi gestured respectfully, his voice becoming more cheerful:
“If the members hoard too much, and the workshop is only so big, there are only so many spots that need working hands, then it becomes crowded, and they tend to gather and cause trouble.”