Chapter 26: Testing the Waters in the Martial World

Meng Chaoran originally felt quite pleased when Wuyun Liang praised Chu Yang, but when he heard the phrase 'taking nonsense as truth,' he couldn't help but laugh and cry, saying, "Senior Brother, you really have a sense of humor. At a time like this, you're still playing with words."

"Can't I at least have a little fun?" Wuyun Liang said, seemingly joking, but his face was extremely serious. He slowly continued, "This Chu Yang... you need to cultivate him well. In our Tianwailou, such people... are too few!"

Meng Chaoran nodded and sighed, "There's nothing we can do about it. Ever since we lost our status as the imperial protector of the Great Zhao Empire, and with our strength greatly diminished, no one in the government, and the discrimination from the authorities, and the oppression from other major sects, even if we have a few talents, they are either taken away or killed in competitions. Tianwailou... is already in a precarious state. If we can't protect our own talents, after our generation, Tianwailou might cease to exist."

Meng Chaoran's words carried a serious warning.

Wuyun Liang's face showed a bitter smile, and he exchanged a glance with Kong Jingfeng, then smiled, "Are you afraid that we two will sell your prized disciple?"

Meng Chaoran snorted, "We can't be too careful. Tianwailou is not what it used to be."

Wuyun Liang sighed, "I know you have always been dissatisfied with the martial competitions among the young disciples. Indeed, Tianwailou is declining, and holding such competitions now is like exposing our excellent disciples to the eyes of our enemies, increasing the likelihood of their early demise. But... it is necessary."

Meng Chaoran crossed his arms behind his back and lightly snorted, "You just want to maintain the old customs of Tianwailou. You can't make up your mind to change. What's the point of talking about it?"

Meng Chaoran was usually calm, and this cold tone was something Wuyun Liang, who had been his fellow disciple for decades, had rarely heard. Seeing him speak like this, he knew his junior brother was dissatisfied.

He sighed and said deeply, "To change, it's just a matter of my word. The reason I still maintain these rules is... to refine true gold in the fire!"

Wuyun Liang's face turned cold, and he slowly continued, "Among the 800 disciples of the eighth generation, we of the seventh generation, there are still 70. Among the sixth generation, our masters and uncles, there are fewer than ten. As for the fifth generation, the only one left is Ninth Uncle Master..."

His facial muscles twitched, and he gritted his teeth, "If my plan succeeds, out of the thousand people in Tianwailou, no more than a hundred will survive! And those people will be the foundation for Tianwailou's rise to glory!"

"Reject the useless, reject the mediocre!" Wuyun Liang slowly paced a few steps, his voice low but thunderous, striking to the heart: "Even I, Wuyun Liang, must be willing to sacrifice myself when the time comes!"

"The decline of a sect is not due to external pressures, but to internal strife. Our Tianwailou is a prime example," Wuyun Liang said solemnly. "But the rise of a sect must be through blood and fire! Rebirth through the flames!"

Meng Chaoran sighed.

"These excellent disciples, when placed under the enemy's watch, naturally face countless dangers, but also countless opportunities! Only by breaking through all of this can they become pillars of the sect!" Wuyun Liang said calmly, "If they fail, and all are lost, then Tianwailou will cease to exist! I don't want to just survive; I want to dance alone in the storm!"

Kong Jingfeng nodded deeply, "Senior Brother is right! A life of mediocrity is not worth living; it's better to die a glorious death!"

Meng Chaoran's eyes suddenly narrowed, "Senior Brother... the decline of our sect is related to the Great Zhao Empire. Now that you have such plans for revival... are you going to...?"

"Exactly." Wuyun Liang's face was grim, "In the past ten years, while I was away from the sect, I was in the Iron Cloud Kingdom! The Great Zhao Empire oppresses us, but we don't have to rely on them. The Great Zhao Empire is not invincible."

Meng Chaoran's heart was shaken. Seeing Kong Jingfeng's calm face, he knew Kong Jingfeng was also in the know.

"Senior Brother, this is too risky!" Meng Chaoran took a deep breath, his face showing worry.

"Great fortune comes with great risk," Wuyun Liang said coldly, "The first rise of a sect is difficult but not impossible. But after glory and decline, trying to rise again is even harder! We must be prepared for the sect's destruction."

Meng Chaoran sighed deeply and said no more.

"Three days ago, I sent Ninth Brother with Qianqian, Xueye, and Moshang to the Iron Cloud Kingdom. First, there are matters to be handled there. Second, it's Qianqian, Xueye, and Moshang's first test in the martial world. It's a way to... gauge the situation."

Kong Jingfeng was shocked, "Senior Brother, how could you let Qianqian go?!"

"I knew you would try to stop me if I told you. So I didn't," Wuyun Liang said calmly, "It's already been three days. Even if you want to recall them, it's too late."

Kong Jingfeng stomped his foot in urgency, "I have no objections to Ninth Brother taking Xueye and Moshang, but why did you send Qianqian? This journey is extremely dangerous, and the other major sects are already eyeing us. If anything happens..."

"That's her fate!" Wuyun Liang said coldly, "A few days ago, when you talked to me about the female disciples in our sect, I was considering this. Now, sending Qianqian out is also a test in the martial world..."

"Testing the waters, Tianwailou has many female disciples who are as beautiful as Qianqian, but why did you have to send Qianqian?" Kong Jingfeng said angrily, "She is your own daughter!"

"My daughter is my own daughter, but are the other female disciples in the sect all illegitimate? Do they not have parents? Are they not their parents' treasures?" Wuyun Liang said solemnly, "Is my daughter so precious?"

Kong Jingfeng stomped his foot in anger, his eyes blazing, "But she is not only your daughter, she is also our niece! You shouldn't let her take such risks!"

"Because she is my daughter, she has a responsibility to the female disciples in the sect!" Wuyun Liang said coldly, "My daughter is not a princess! If she hides behind others, letting her sisters risk their lives and honor for her... I would rather not have had this daughter!"

"Tianwailou is in the midst of a rebirth, and the flames are gradually rising. To rise again, no price is too high to pay, and no one is too important to sacrifice, including me, including you, and naturally... including my daughter!"

Wuyun Liang said heavily, turned his back, and his spine was as straight as a spear. But the muscles around his eyes twitched sharply, unseen by the others.

I hope... Qianqian can return safely!

As a father, sending his own daughter on such a dangerous mission, how much pressure must he bear? Am I really so heartless?

But I am not just a father; I am the master of a thousand disciples in Tianwailou!

When the time comes for sacrifice, if all the disciples must be sacrificed, it must be done. But if only one must be sacrificed, then it will be my daughter! Because I am the master of Tianwailou!

Wuyun Liang gritted his teeth, his jaw slightly bulging, then he calmed down. He did not turn around, but his voice was hoarse, "Little Brother, for the disciple Chu Yang... you must teach him well. The Jinhong Yunxue Step... the Jinhong Yunxue Step..."

He paused, thought for a moment, and slowly continued, "Let him practice it well. If there are any secrets... he can grasp them himself, or you and he can grasp them together. But, under no circumstances should a third person know."

Meng Chaoran pondered, "Shouldn't the sect... promote it? If it is promoted, our Tianwailou will gain more than double the combat strength! This is a conservative estimate..."

Wuyun Liang paused, thought for a moment, and slowly said, "Let him practice it well. If there are any secrets... he can grasp them himself, or you and he can grasp them together. But, under no circumstances should a third person know."