Interests

Listening to Supreme Elder Chiyun's explanation, Yaoguang finally grasped the relationships among the highest echelon of the Heavenly Dao Sect. It was no wonder Zong Wenxian had been able to sit securely on the throne of the Heavenly Dao Sect's sect master for thousands of years, standing as the sect's foremost figure. Jing Yuntian and Gu Li shared common interests with him. What was more, True Monarch Buzhou had had his life saved by him twice. That accounted for the backing of three supreme elders. The crucial point was... True Monarch Buzhou was also the junior brother of True Monarch Jinghong, wielding the influence to sway this strongest expert in the Heavenly Dao Sect beneath the Dao Lords. And this expert of the Dao Lord Candidate List could in turn influence other supreme elders, including Supreme Elders Yuanxing and Dongxi, who had no choice but to remain neutral despite their grievances with Zong Wenxian. Take this recent occurrence, for instance: outside the star territory, Zong Wenxian had incurred the wrath of the God race and called for help from within the sect; it was True Monarch Buzhou who took the lead, bringing along Yuanxing, Dongxi, and a rather reluctant True Monarch Liaochen to provide reinforcement. "The alliance between Supreme Elders Jing Yuntian and Gu Li and Zong Wenxian is purely transactional. The moment Zong Wenxian can no longer provide them with sufficient benefits, the two of them will abandon him. Thus, there is still a possibility of winning them over. The real trouble is True Monarch Buzhou." Supreme Elder Chiyun said in a heavy voice, "This True Monarch is the greatest pillar of support for Zong Wenxian's seat as sect master..." "As a personal disciple of a Dao Lord, he naturally enjoys quite a bit of preferential treatment," Yaoguang said. "That is not quite the case," Supreme Elder Chiyun smiled and said. "Dao Lord Juntian currently only has three surviving disciples. The ones upon whom he placed high hopes were True Monarch Jinghong and True Monarch Nichang, whom he accepted later. When he traveled out into the starry sky, he originally planned to take True Monarch Jinghong along. However, True Monarch Jinghong was uneasy entrusting the task of monitoring the Gate of the Immortal Realm—something crucial to the Dao Lord's future—to anyone else, so he applied to remain underground. In the end, Dao Lord Juntian left with only True Monarch Nichang... As for True Monarch Buzhou, he had already been given up on." He added with a touch of disdain, "After all, this True Monarch has cultivated for over eight thousand years, yet has not even brought his natal Dao art to completion. He likely has no hope left in this life." "Over eight thousand years, and his natal Dao art still isn't complete?" Yaoguang was somewhat surprised. What had he been doing his entire life? "The reason True Monarch Buzhou was able to take Dao Lord Juntian as his master was that his biological father had been Dao Lord Juntian's disciple. Later, his father suffered Dao assimilation and died, begging Dao Lord Juntian on his deathbed to look after his son. Only then was he taken under the Dao Lord's wing." Reaching this point, Supreme Elder Chiyun spoke with a trace of disgust: "It is said that two or three thousand years ago, this True Monarch Buzhou was still relatively modest and low-profile. But as he grew older, his temperament shifted. Moreover... he seems to view Zong Wenxian as his successor... and in matters regarding him, he particularly loves to throw his weight around as an elder..." He stated bluntly, "Supreme Elders Yuanxing and Dongxi drew a clear line with Zong Wenxian precisely out of dissatisfaction with True Monarch Buzhou's unreasonable bluster when supporting him. It was only out of wariness toward True Monarch Jinghong that they didn't openly oppose Zong Wenxian. Once True Monarch Buzhou dies, in another millennium or two, Zong Wenxian may not be able to hold onto his sect master position." Hearing this, Yaoguang also thought of something. "Is that why Zong Wenxian's suppression of deputy sect masters over the past two thousand years has been noticeably excessive?" Hearing this, Supreme Elder Chiyun nodded as well. "As long as no outstanding deputy sect master emerges over these one or two millennia, his position as sect master remains secure even when True Monarch Buzhou reaches the end of his lifespan. In the meantime, he is vigorously cultivating young Void Piercing experts like Langya. In a millennium or two, they should achieve sufficient standing, and if things go smoothly, one can take over his position as sect master." "Heh, Sect Master Zong certainly has it all worked out," Yaoguang said with a laugh. "So naturally, quite a few people cannot stand him," Supreme Elder Chiyun replied. Saying so, he glanced at Yaoguang. "Compared to Sect Master Song eight hundred years ago, you, Sect Master Yaoguang, have a far greater chance of challenging Zong Wenxian's seat as sect master and overturning the lifeless state of the Heavenly Dao Sect." While Yaoguang did harbor some thoughts of becoming sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, he was considering matters more for the sake of the Nine Cauldrons Sect's people. With the realm insights granted by Higher-Dimensional Cognition, achieving the Dao Lord realm was no extravagant dream for him. And after attaining Dao Integration, he would inevitably have to enter the Gate of the Immortal Realm in the future to prove his Immortal Dao and achieve immortality. In such circumstances, he also wanted to leave a fallback path for the Nine Cauldrons Sect. In this regard... He was actually somewhat similar to Dao Lord Penglai. "I originally had no desire to clash with Sect Master Zong, but Sect Master Zong and his lineage pushed me relentlessly, forcing me to strike back," Yaoguang remarked with genuine feeling. However, Supreme Elder Chiyun clearly did not believe Yaoguang's words. To become sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect meant that with a single command, countless Void Shattering, Void Refining, and Void Piercing experts would heed his orders. Who would refuse such power? Yaoguang was merely saying so out of superficial modesty. "Hehe, well said, Sect Master Yaoguang. If Sect Master Zong were truly selfless and wished to lead the Heavenly Dao Sect in a positive direction, we too would spare no effort to assist him and make the sect bigger and stronger. Sadly... heaven rarely fulfills human wishes, and the desires in people's hearts are never satisfied," Supreme Elder Chiyun sighed along. Looking at him, Yaoguang could not help feeling speechless. But there was no point explaining anything. They could think whatever they wished; he would simply follow his own pace. "Sect Master Yaoguang, Sect Master Shen and Sect Master Jiang have arrived as well. They came to discuss closer cooperation among our three regions. Transporting specialty products unique to the Southern Domain to the Eastern and Northern Domains for sale can yield greater profits. Likewise, the same applies to the Northern and Eastern Domains. Interregional commerce will bring significant benefits to the development of all three domains," Supreme Elder Chiyun mediated. Yaoguang nodded, making no objection. Mutual exchanges would also enable the Nine Cauldrons Sect to better integrate into the broader environment of Beihai Star, and even a top immortal sect like the Heavenly Dao Sect. Previously, they had remained confined to that small corner of the Yunchuan Mountains, where their horizons and knowledge had been limited. They had to step out and truly come into contact with Beihai Star's upper circles to better adapt to their future changes in status. The time that followed became an exchange between Shen Junyan, Jiang Guike, and Yaoguang. However, although they were all deputy sect masters, when facing Yaoguang, the two of them clearly lacked half a notch of presence, and their conversations with him were distinctly lacking in confidence. The two sides discussed and established numerous trade terms, which were predominantly favorable to the Southern Domain. Among them, to demonstrate sincerity, Shen Junyan directly placed an order for thirty Jiuzhou battleships. At the mention of battleships, Yaoguang thought of something and asked with a smile, "I hear a demonic disaster is currently wreaking havoc in the Eastern Domain? Do you require any help?" "Well..." Shen Junyan hesitated for a moment, but still answered honestly: "It is mainly because Sect Master Zong has repeatedly increased taxes on the Eastern Domain. Pressed beyond endurance, we had no choice but to resort to such underhanded measures." "Is that so," Yaoguang said, somewhat disappointed. "Sect Master Yaoguang, you must also be careful. This time, you crushed two Void Shattering and five Void Refining cultivators from the Shadow Moon Sect in one go, and many factions have likely placed orders for battleships and flying swords, right? With both businesses booming, Zong Wenxian will definitely seize upon this pretext to raise taxes on the Southern Domain to curb its growth." Jiang Guike warned, "Such tax hikes benefit the entire Heavenly Dao Sect and will receive everyone's support..." He paused. "Even Supreme Elder Zhen Xuanyuan and his faction will be no exception." Hearing this, Yaoguang was not surprised. There were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. The opposition between Zhen Xuanyuan, True Monarch Liaochen, True Monarch Chiyun, and the rest against Zong Wenxian's faction boiled down, ultimately, to just four words: "distribution of interests." If Zong Wenxian were willing to yield a substantial share of the interests in his hands, Zhen Xuanyuan, True Monarch Liaochen, True Monarch Chiyun, and their peers would undoubtedly change their tune at once and rally firmly behind Zong Wenxian's rule. "I will find a way to deal with it," Yaoguang said. Jiang Guike nodded. Compared to their own situation and that of past deputy sect masters, Yaoguang was in a vastly superior position, so he likely had his own considerations. After a warm and friendly exchange, Supreme Elder Chiyun and the others departed. With the exit of this group from the Heavenly Dao Sect, the Domain Lord's Residence finally settled into relative quiet. "Squabbling endlessly over meager scraps of interest—under such circumstances, how could anyone have the time, energy, and mind to dedicate to cultivation and strive for the Dao Lord realm?" Inside the residence, Yaoguang sighed with emotion. Yet right after, he laughed wryly. He was merely talking from a position of ease. For the vast majority of cultivators, Void Shattering was already the absolute limit they could ever reach. After enduring untold hardships to finally reach Void Shattering, seeing the chasm between themselves and Dao Integration—a divide vast as a bottomless abyss—many easily fell into despair. Under such circumstances, it was only natural for them to undergo an about-face, abandoning arduous cultivation in favor of seeking comfort and indulging in pleasure. Those with a bit more self-discipline would instead scheme to amass resources, pinning their hopes on future generations. As if their descendants could achieve Void Shattering when they themselves could not. In this state, the many Void Shattering experts naturally grew petty and calculating, battling tooth and nail for interests all across Beihai Star, perhaps even moving themselves to tears afterward, thinking themselves noble and selfless. "Still, Zong Wenxian potentially raising taxes in the name of the Heavenly Dao Sect is indeed an issue," Yaoguang mused. Many simply could not bear to see his newly pioneered industries thriving. Once there was profit and a market, they would barge in as rule-makers to claim a piece of the pie. Such things had to be guarded against. However, Yaoguang's way of guarding against it was not like Shen Junyan's method of fabricating an invasion of otherworldly demon cultivators. His solution... "I'll execute a supreme elder to consecrate the banner and let you all carve up the spoils first," Yaoguang murmured. The shadow-recording stone in his possession... was more than enough to seal the fate of Jing Yuntian and his Jing family. Of course, the time was not yet ripe. To fully inaugurate this feast of carving up the Jing family, his own strength had to grow even greater. At the very least... he needed the power to completely suppress Jing Yuntian. "It falls a bit short for now, but once I thoroughly refine the Heavenly Demon Origins of demon cultivators like Bahuang and Darkness, it should be enough." Yaoguang sensed his cultivation state. If all went smoothly... Void Shattering would not be far off.