"The Heavenly Court Cult's foundation is truly breathtaking!" Having confirmed that the party before him was indeed the ancient Heavenly Court Cult, Shi Huagu cast aside his probing demeanor; it was time to discuss the details of their cooperation.
He believed that with the Heavenly Court Cult's assistance, the Nine Nether Cult's power would rise to greater heights.
"It shames me to say it, but don't be fooled by how detailed my recount was—all of it was told to me by Master. When these events took place, I had not yet been born."
Though words of modesty left Lu Yang's mouth, the look of sheer confidence upon his face could not be concealed no matter what.
Li Haoran and Qin Yanyan wore aloof expressions, not uttering a single word, resembling cold, ruthless killers.
Though the father and daughter possessed acting chops and had rehearsed repeatedly prior to departure, they felt that under these circumstances, the best course of action was to say nothing at all and pose as supreme experts.
The Fifth Elder felt that Lu Yang truly lived up to being first among his peers. When the Nine Scions of the Dao Seeking Sect were Lu Yang's age, they certainly couldn't weave a tale so logically airtight and completely watertight.
Meng Jingzhou harbored doubts in his heart. Knowing little about ancient legends, he couldn't tell if Lu Yang's words were true or false, but he always felt that what Lu Yang said was true—just not entirely true.
Huo Huashen felt like a complete illiterate. He hadn't understood a single thing in the conversation between Lu Yang and Zhou Shan. But it didn't matter; he was only here to pad the numbers and hold down the fort. There was no need for him to understand any of it—all he had to do was maintain his image as a cool, aloof powerhouse.
"Although Fellow Daoist Lu has been referring to me as Cult Master, I actually hold the post of Vice Cult Master in the Nine Nether Cult. On this visit, I represent our Cult Master with full authority to decide all matters of cooperation with your esteemed cult.
"Before I came, our Cult Master asked me to pass along two questions to your cult."
"I shall speak without reservation," Lu Yang replied.
Adopting the Cult Master's tone, Shi Huagu said, "The realm of Nine Nether has been covered in dust. Disregarding the facts, the righteous path refuses to acknowledge that the Nine Nether exists in this world. When we kill people to send them to the Nine Nether to prove its existence, the righteous path brands us as demonic—it is truly utterly despicable!
"In ancient times, the Nine Nether shared equal fame with the Heavenly Court, possessing boundless glory. Yet today, the Nine Nether has been humiliated and declined to such a state; it is truly heartbreaking.
"The Nine Nether Cult's foundation is far inferior to the Nine Nether of antiquity. Revitalizing the Nine Nether will likely prove exceedingly difficult. With the Immortal Cult overthrown, the Four Great Demonic Cults have been reduced to three, leaving our predicament even more precarious.
"Even so, we firmly believe the Nine Nether exists, and reincarnation exists. Our Nine Nether Cult wishes to restore its ancient glory and allow the Nine Nether to reappear in the world just as it did in ancient times. We wonder if your esteemed cult has any solution?"
Lu Yang pondered for a moment before speaking. "The Central Continent is a contested land of supreme strategic importance. At present, this continent is occupied by the Great Xia Dynasty, with the Five Great Immortal Sects upholding its rule. My Heavenly Court Cult's members have yet to fully awaken, and of our nine Protectors, only five have awakened. Even if the two of us were to join forces and strike, we would likely be no match for the combined might of the Great Xia Dynasty and the Five Great Immortal Sects.
"Therefore, a frontal assault is completely out of the question.
"I wonder if Cult Master Shi has studied the rise of the Great Xia Dynasty? After waking, wanting to learn what transpired across these three hundred thousand years, I looked into history.
"Near the end of the Great Yu Dynasty, the world fell into chaos. Heroes arose everywhere, and countless warlords spanned multiple provinces and commanderies. The Ancestor of Emperor Xia and the Ancestor of the Meng Family were unremarkable back then, so how were they able to defeat the strong from a position of weakness, stand out from the rest, and become the only two candidates contending for the imperial throne?
"It was because the two of them seized full advantage of 'the timing of Heaven' and 'the unity of the people'!
"What is the timing of Heaven? The Great Yu Dynasty lacked the power to rule, and chaos and conflict erupted—that was the timing of Heaven!
"What is the unity of the people? Formidable individual strength combined with the support of the populace—that was the unity of the people!
"Look at the present by comparison. The Great Xia Dynasty is thriving, at the very peak of its historical power, without the slightest sign of weariness.
"Furthermore, Great Xia governs well, enjoying the will of the people, with the lackeys of the Five Great Immortal Sects patrolling the realm on their behalf. I even suspect the Great Xia Dynasty might possess an Immortal!
"Possessing neither the timing of Heaven nor the unity of the people, sticking our heads out rashly would be the worst possible move."
Shi Huagu said indignantly, "Does that mean my Nine Nether Cult will never have its day to rise?"
Lu Yang replied at an unhurried pace, "Not so. Prosperity turning to decline is an iron law of history. Though the Great Xia Dynasty appears to be in its zenith, it is in truth as precarious as an egg perched on top of another.
"The Golden Age approaches, and new Immortals will be born in this era. The Demon Domain and the East Sea are glaring hungrily at the Great Xia Dynasty, while experts slumbering from the eras of Great Qian and Great Yu are gradually awakening. When the opportunity for immortality arrives, the chaotic scenes of Great Yu's decline may very well recur.
"When that time comes, Great Xia's advantage in the timing of Heaven will vanish without a trace!
"Therefore, before the great chaos arrives, one must keep a low profile and not blindly preach about the Nine Nether. That only invites unnecessary trouble—the Immortal Cult is a cautionary tale!
"As for the unity of the people—with the Nine Nether Cult's current strength, even if you hold trump cards, I believe it would be difficult to gain an advantage in the struggle of the Golden Age.
"The Nine Nether Cult has too few powerhouses. The proper strategy for now is to focus on cultivating diligently and increase the number of Body Integration and even Tribulation Transcendence experts!
"Throughout this process, the Nine Nether Cult should ally externally with the Demon Domain and the East Sea, and internally with the Ruthless and Radiant Sun Cults.
"When the struggle of the Golden Age arrives, our two cults shall take action together. Then the immortal endeavor shall succeed, and the Nine Nether shall flourish!"
Shi Huagu was completely swept up by Lu Yang's words, feeling as if the future was bright and clear.
They had been too impatient before, rushing to construct Fengdu and rushing to prove that the Nine Nether existed. Listening to Lu Yang now, their past actions seemed thoroughly mistaken!
Enduring now was for the sake of future growth. How laughable that someone who had lived as long as he had never managed to figure out such simple reasoning!
This was the gap in vision. The Heavenly Court Cult had ruled antiquity, possessing knowledge that spanned from ancient times to the present, their calculations leaving nothing to chance; their adversaries were the Four Ancient Celestials, like Immortal Ying Tian, who had lived across endless ages. The Nine Nether Cult wasn't even on the same playing field.
Amid his excitement, Shi Huagu did not forget what the Cult Master had entrusted to him prior to his departure. "Our Cult Master has one more question for your esteemed cult."
"Speak, please."
"Our Cult Master asks if your cult has any advice regarding the Nine Nether Cult's economic development?"
Shi Huagu didn't understand why the Cult Master had asked this. He thought the Nine Nether Cult's economy was thriving. Back when Cult Master Qin was around, they couldn't even disburse salaries on time. But once the new Cult Master took charge, not only were salaries paid promptly, but funds were also allocated to construct Fengdu.
A knowing smile curled on Lu Yang's lips. "It seems your Cult Master is a person of great foresight."
"How so?"
"Earlier, I mentioned that the most important thing for your cult right now is to focus on cultivating. And what is needed to focus on cultivation? A massive quantity of spirit stones!
"Therefore, before cultivating, one must earn spirit stones!"
Shi Huagu experienced a sudden realization, followed by a twinge of shame. To think that this outsider understood the Cult Master better than he did.
"Then how should we earn spirit stones?"
Lu Yang raised an index finger, pointing toward the ceiling, and smiled. "Cult Master Shi, what do you think of this barbecue shop's business?"
Shi Huagu thought of the long line snaking out the door. "Naturally, it is very good."
"What if I told you that we could open barbecue shops like this across the entire Great Xia Dynasty?"
"What?!"
Chapter 329