The Decision

Li Qingshan looked at everyone present, understanding what was on their minds. However... "The reason the Xuanming Sect is slaughtering the descendants of the Artifact Sect on such a massive scale is precisely because they suffered a defeat on the East Sea battlefield. Killing those people is simply another way of retaliating against our Nine Cauldrons Sect. If we turn a blind eye... it will undoubtedly be a resounding slap in the face for our sect." He continued in a heavy voice, "Furthermore... at a time like this, the sect ought to set an example! Back then, many people did not return to the Nine Cauldrons Sect, but it was not because they were unwilling to return to their roots. Rather, we were exceedingly weak at the time, teetering precariously in the wind and rain. In reality, over the years, we have received outside aid from time to time, and it was precisely because of that aid that we were able to develop so rapidly." With that, he glanced at Wu Qingying. "The reason we were able to overcome the technical bottleneck of refining second-generation treasure pills was that Grandmaster Yan Yan traveled thousands of miles from the Immortal Alliance to return to our sect. In addition, the Artifact Refining Hall and the Mystic Formation Hall have more or less received outside support in that regard. Therefore, we cannot completely write off everyone just because of a few individuals who cannot distinguish right from wrong." Huang Tianhao spoke up as well. "The Sect Master is right. If we wish to attract sufficient talent, our Nine Cauldrons Sect must first possess a certain level of strength. Without strength, why would anyone risk everything to throw their lot in with us based merely on shared heritage and nostalgic ties? Besides, the sect is still rebuilding from ruins and needs assistance from all quarters. If we can unite everyone into one, it will be of immense help to our rapid growth." At this point, he paused briefly. "Naturally, we must vet them carefully throughout the process to prevent bad apples from fishing in troubled waters and deceiving those above and below. We went through great hardships to build the sect to this point. Even if they wish to come, they must demonstrate sufficient sincerity to make it a two-way street. After all, our Nine Cauldrons Sect is no charity." Hearing both Sect Master Li Qingshan and Grand Elder Huang Tianhao say this, the various hall masters, domain lords, and branch sect masters looked at one another. They basically understood the stance of the two leaders. Moreover... Undeniably, their reasoning made sense. If the Nine Cauldrons Sect wanted to prosper, it indeed could not do without support from all sides. Compared to them, those exiled descendants of the Artifact Sect possessed far deeper reserves and heritage. Perhaps some family among them might even bring out a spirit treasure to offer to the sect. "If the sect wishes to develop, it must show sufficient magnanimity and courage to integrate with the wider world," Murong Hui, Hall Master of the Heavenly Palace Hall, spoke up as well. "The current Nine Cauldrons Sect is indeed united as one, and we all know that when united in purpose, no difficulty can stop us. However, in today's world, the various Jindan experts have tacitly agreed that Cangwu will ultimately be unified. The time left for us is running out. Therefore, we should unite as many people as possible to make ourselves stronger, allowing us to face an increasingly grim situation, rather than working behind closed doors and burying our heads only in our own affairs." As several key figures voiced their support one after another, the hall masters who had held opposing views exchanged glances. After a long pause, He Xifeng finally said, "It's not that I don't understand how convenient their return would be for the sect's development. I only fear we might raise a pack of ungrateful wolves. As the saying goes, rivers and mountains are easily changed, but character is hard to alter. If they stir up trouble in the sect again, vying for power and making a foul mess of things, wouldn't that drag down our development?" "Heh." Huang Tianhao smiled faintly. "Since we intend to bring them in, we have naturally considered such a possibility. We will establish a comprehensive oversight system. For talent, we welcome them with open arms. But for ambitious schemers with ill intentions... this old man hasn't grown too feeble to wield a blade!" A trace of coldness showed beneath his calm expression. "The current Nine Cauldrons Sect is the legitimate authority on this land. The treasures and techniques they carry ought to belong to our Nine Cauldrons Sect. Therefore, even if they truly must be killed, only our Nine Cauldrons Sect may strike! The resources and techniques they carry must likewise remain in the Nine Cauldrons Sect! Does the Xuanming Sect dare overstep their bounds and do it for us?! Who do they think they are?!" Hearing the Grand Elder's words, Liang Qiu and the others felt a stir in their hearts. Indeed. When those people fled the Artifact Sect back then, what they took with them were the assets of the Artifact Sect. In the end, those assets had to return to the Nine Cauldrons Sect. What right did the Xuanming Sect have to touch them?! "The Grand Elder has said most of what needs to be said, so allow me to share my genuine thoughts," Li Qingshan said. "Since we established the Nine Cauldrons Sect on the soil of the Artifact Sect, we naturally bear part of the responsibility. For any cultivator, survival will always come first. We cannot expect everyone to be like you all, willing to sacrifice everything for the sect's growth. But at the very least, we can give them a choice... let them know they are not homeless." He sighed softly. "When they face real danger, there will still be people who step forward to protect their lives and defend their right to survive." His words rendered everyone silent. Survival. In the face of that fundamental goal, many other considerations indeed had to take a back seat. "Then let us send troops," Lou Yuyu said. "Regardless of anything else, it is simply to prove to the world that our Nine Cauldrons Sect possesses the ability to protect our own. Anyone who dares bully those of our Nine Cauldrons Sect outside our borders... even those associated with us... will face our thunderous retaliation!" Everyone nodded upon hearing this. Even if some did not buy into the argument of "responsibility," the Xuanming Sect's indulgence of its disciples in slaughtering descendants of the Artifact Sect was an open insult to the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Those people... In ordinary times, whatever the Xuanming Sect did to them was their own business. Yet right after being defeated by the Nine Cauldrons Sect, they staged such a spectacle. Who was that for?! "Then we fight!" Liang Qiu, who oversaw logistical allocations, declared, "The Xuanming Sect is nothing more than withered bones in a grave. Since we could wipe out their main forces in the East Sea Archipelago, we can strike into their homeland and teach them the consequences of bouncing around arrogantly before our Nine Cauldrons Sect!" "Leave it to me," Lou Yuyu, nominally Deputy Hall Master of the War Hall but in truth the Great Cultivator who held sway over the entire War Hall, spoke up. "Of our Nine Cauldrons Sect's four elite institutes, two happen to be in the East Sea: the Qingfeng Institute led by Shen Qinglian, and... the Shenwei Institute under my command. I will lead the Shenwei Institute on a trip to the Xuanming Sect to rescue our comrades who are currently suffering in dire straits." "Although the Xuanming Sect suffered heavy losses in the East Sea Archipelago, they still have seven to eight hundred sword cultivators, spell cultivators, and spirit cultivators capable of fighting. Furthermore... once we push deep into the Xuanming Sect, we will face an enormous body of body cultivators, as well as the formations guarding city after city," Sect Master Li Qingshan said. "The circumstances are different this time. Have the Qingfeng Institute go with you as well to ensure nothing goes wrong." "If the Qingfeng Institute goes too, how will we maintain the situation in the East Sea? The Great Sun Sword Sect has been watching us like a hawk. Once the Qingfeng Institute leaves, the Great Sun Sword Sect will certainly make a move," Lou Yuyu frowned. "Leaving just the Qingfeng Institute behind might not deter the Great Sun Sword Sect either. If things go wrong, we could end up losing on both fronts," Li Qingshan smiled and said, "I will lead the Sword-Bearing Institute to oversee the East Sea myself." "The Sword-Bearing Institute..." That was the Nine Cauldrons Sect's number one institute. Every single member was a Great Cultivator of the third rank or higher. Furthermore, they possessed the finest equipment. Granted, the Qingfeng Institute under Shen Qinglian had recently been equipped with a large number of modified Zixiao-15 flying swords, bringing their combat power up significantly, but that did not diminish the deterrence wielded by the Sword-Bearing Institute. "The Sword-Bearing Institute carries the heavy responsibility of defending the main sect, as well as reinforcing the Jiulong Institute in the Shiwan Dashan at a moment's notice..." "As for the Shiwan Dashan, the Brahma Divine Kingdom has been quite quiet lately. Even if they make a move, we wouldn't be left without room to respond," Li Qingshan explained. "The crucial point is that once the Shenwei Institute and Qingfeng Institute leave, only the Sword-Bearing Institute can deter the Great Sun Sword Sect." To deter the Great Sun Sword Sect... A single elite institute was simply not enough. "Besides, isn't Hall Master Yaoguang's Zhenhai Courtyard still in the Jiuxiao Domain? While the Zhenhai Courtyard may not be as elite as the four institutes—Sword-Bearing, Qingfeng, Shenwei, and Jiulong—with First Seat Yaoguang's methods, the combat power it can bring to bear likely won't fall far behind those four," Li Qingshan added with a smile. Hearing that, Lou Yuyu snapped back to attention. Indeed, the Jiuxiao Domain still had the Zhenhai Courtyard. Although it was not counted among the four elite institutes, it already sat somewhere between an elite institute and a mainstay institute. "Then we will leave matters here to the Sect Master and Hall Master Yaoguang," Lou Yuyu said, turning toward Yaoguang. Yaoguang nodded slightly. Compared to elite institutes, mainstay institutes were considerably lower in strength. While they were certainly capable of combat... Any major battle would inevitably bring casualties. These people could all grow in the future to fill the ranks of the elite institutes; losing them before they reached their peak would be far too great a pity. Therefore, unless a true crisis arose, no sect would casually deploy its mainstay institutes or standard garrison institutes. With everyone reaching a consensus, Li Qingshan instructed the External Publicity Hall to begin building momentum within the sect. At the same time, he had Zhou Lijian prepare a statement. As for the rest... Yaoguang included, they had to shift some of their focus from the Zixiao Institute to the Zhenhai Courtyard, stepping up training intensity to meet any potential crisis. Although the Sword-Bearing Institute would certainly be at the very forefront, the Great Sun Sword Sect was unlike the Xuanming Sect—their overall strength was far greater. Under such circumstances, Yaoguang dared not let down his guard. ... With the External Publicity Hall throwing its weight behind the campaign, reports of the Xuanming Sect's brutal actions began circulating across the Virtual Spirit Realm and even throughout the Cangwu Great World. The Xuanming Sect made a token declaration that these were mere civil disputes and had many law enforcement cultivators arrest a number of people to seize the moral high ground. However... Such gestures were merely intended to preserve the Xuanming Sect's image in the Virtual Spirit Realm; in reality, they continued doing whatever they pleased. Three days later. As the Sword-Bearing Institute arrived in the Jiuxiao Domain, the External Publicity Hall finally announced publicly that to safeguard the personal and property safety of Nine Cauldrons Sect disciples within the Xuanming Sect, the Nine Cauldrons Sect would dispatch the Qingfeng Institute and the Shenwei Institute, accompanied by ten large flying boats, into the Xuanming Sect to evacuate its disciples and their property.