Chapter 8

The Renge Sect.

One of the Ten Great Demon Sects, it dominates the Red State, wielding life and death over its thirty million inhabitants.

In the Red State, thirteen out of nineteen cities are entirely under the control of the Renge Demon Sect, with city and county officials appointed by the sect’s elders and guardians.

Although there are constant frictions and unrest with the six border cities and surrounding forces, they are basically under the control of the Renge Sect.

At this moment, in the capital city of Red Mountain, in a magnificent palace adorned with dragons and phoenixes, a young man dressed in fine clothing, with a fair complexion, resembling a prince, was speaking to an old man.

Lin Xiao.

The Deputy Sect Master of the Renge Sect.

"Indeed, Elder Gu Jinlai has the qualifications to receive a Nourishing Spirit Pill. Clear rewards and punishments are the foundation of our Renge Sect. Sect Master Lin, there's no need to say more."

The one speaking was Elder Situ Yi, the head of the Reward and Punishment Hall.

"Head Situ has misunderstood. As the Deputy Sect Master, how could I not understand this principle? I am more committed to maintaining the sect's system than the Hall Master."

Lin Xiao smiled slightly.

"Then I will have someone deliver the Nourishing Spirit Pill."

"I will not stop you, Hall Master."

Lin Xiao said, "However, the Inspection Hall is still verifying whether Elder Gu Jinlai's contributions are genuine. To avoid misleading Head Situ, it would be best to wait for the Inspection Hall to complete its investigation before granting the pill."

"Are the contributions genuine? Many people witnessed Elder Gu Jinlai slaying two Core Formation elders of the Yellow Heaven Dao. Why do we need to verify it?"

Situ Yi looked surprised.

"He did indeed slay two Core Formation elders of the Yellow Heaven Dao, but he did not expand our territory or protect the sect. It was a personal vendetta."

Lin Xiao explained, "His disciple, Xie Xiaowan, betrayed him and joined the Yellow Heaven Dao. She then invited the elders to kill him. He killed them in self-defense. The nature of the incident is different, and whether it counts as a contribution is debatable."

Situ Yi was silent.

He knew that Lin Xiao was suppressing Gu Jinlai.

But...

The Deputy Sect Master, while assisting the Sect Master in handling the sect's affairs, still held significant power, far surpassing that of an elder.

Moreover, the main responsibility for the issue lies with the Inspection Hall. He nodded and took back the Nourishing Spirit Pill: "Very well, we will wait for the Inspection Hall to verify before granting the reward."

...

Gu Jinlai was recovering his true qi and treating his injuries.

The next day, two people hurriedly arrived at his residence.

One was in his thirties, with a stubble and a weathered face, as if he had just arrived from a long journey.

The other was young and handsome, with a fair complexion, resembling a pretty boy.

"Master."

The two said, "We are late, and we have caused you to suffer."

Gu Jinlai looked at them.

Su Nanxing and Gu Xiangyang.

His other two disciples.

Among them, Su Nanxing was adopted by him from a young age. He was a fanatic in cultivation, focusing only on cultivation and following his orders, indifferent to everything else. At thirty-nine, he had already reached the peak of Core Formation.

Gu Xiangyang showed a talent for cultivation from a young age. Ten years younger than Su Nanxing, he had already reached the Qi Condensation stage.

They were his left and right arms.

"Ancestor, should I mobilize the clan? With more people, we can overwhelm them! The Tianxing Xuanhuo Array is practiced daily by the clan, led by the family head, six Qi Condensation cultivators, myself, and twenty Qi Cultivation cultivators. If the eldest brother and you join, we can even trap and kill a Spirit Cultivation cultivator."

Gu Xiangyang said with a fierce look, "Moreover, the Changfeng Army is well-trained, with three hundred elite soldiers and eighty brave warriors, led by forty hundred-man commanders. They are well-armed and can easily surround and kill two or three Core Formation cultivators. If we all go, we can destroy the Orthodox Dao and make them bleed."

Gu Jinlai was comforted by Gu Xiangyang's words.

But he knew it was not realistic.

"Destroying the Orthodox Dao would wipe out the Gu family's decades of accumulation, and many clan members would die. Lin Xiao would be delighted if we did this."

Gu Jinlai narrowed his eyes.

"But if we do nothing, others will think we, the Gu family, and you, Ancestor, are easy to bully..."

"No worries. Once I receive the Nourishing Spirit Pill and recover my Spirit Cultivation, I will deal with them properly."

Gu Jinlai said.

Gu Xiangyang's eyes lit up upon hearing that his ancestor's cultivation could be restored.

"You leaving for Chang Prefecture City was a dereliction of duty. To avoid being caught, return quickly."

Gu Jinlai narrowed his eyes: "Su Nanxing, stay. You will be relieved of your duties for now and follow me. I have tasks for you."

"I will do as you say, Master."

Su Nanxing said in a deep voice.

Gu Jinlai then turned to Gu Xiangyang: "Have the family head secretly investigate upright people in Xuanjing City, record them, and I will visit once this matter is resolved."

"Yes."

"Su Nanxing, your task is the same. Investigate the virtuous people in Chang Prefecture City secretly, without making it public."

"Yes."

"Go."

Gu Jinlai waved his hand.

...

In the following days, Gu Jinlai focused on recovering from his injuries and practicing movement techniques, hoping to reach the initial stage of movement cultivation while waiting for the sect to send the Nourishing Spirit Pill.

However, he did not receive the Nourishing Spirit Pill but instead met Fang Cai and Hong Shan, two Core Formation elders, along with a group of over a dozen figures.

Among these dozen figures, the most striking was an old man.

The old man had white hair and a youthful face, exuding a sage-like aura.

Gu Jinlai immediately guessed his identity.

Zhou Yunyi, the Sky-Piercing Sword.

Like him, a Spirit Cultivation elder of the Renge Sect.

However, compared to him, Zhou Yunyi was 126 years old.

Old age meant seniority, and also, declining vitality, indicating it was time to plan for the future.

"Elder Gu, the sect has issued an order. The situation in Chang Prefecture City has changed, and I will take over from now on."

Zhou Yunyi said expressionlessly.

Seeing this Spirit Cultivation elder, Gu Jinlai guessed what was happening, but he did not expect such directness.

"The situation has changed? What changes in Chang Prefecture City am I unaware of?"

"Haha, do I need to spell it out? Rumors say that Elder Gu's cultivation disorder was a performance with the Orthodox Dao. But we, the insiders, know the truth, right? Without sufficient strength, can Elder Gu still control the situation in Chang Prefecture City?"

"It's just a temporary setback."

"Injury?"

Zhou Yunyi handed over an appointment: "An order from the Elder Hall, transferring Elder Gu to Huayin County to manage the situation. Since you are injured, focus on recovery. You don't need to worry about Chang Prefecture City."

Huayin County.

A county with a population of less than ten thousand.

In Chang Prefecture City, he had three Core Formation, over twenty Qi Cultivation and Condensation cultivators, and hundreds of outer sect disciples under his command.

With the many people and eyes in Chang Prefecture City, the methods Lin Xiao could use to deal with him were limited.

But if he went to Huayin County...

"Is Elder Zhou siding with Sect Master Lin?"

Gu Jinlai narrowed his eyes.

"Sect Master Lin is Sect Master Lin, and I am I."

Zhou Yunyi said. Gu Jinlai looked at the dozen people behind Zhou Yunyi.

Disciples, juniors...

They were eyeing the territory of Chang Prefecture City.

So they had come to an agreement with Lin Xiao?

"Elder Zhou, this is adding insult to injury."

"Once you accept the order, please leave as soon as possible."

Zhou Yunyi did not respond, only speaking about the order.

"You and I are both elders. Does Elder Zhou really have to do this? Send me to Huayin County?"

"Elder? I am just a black-robed elder, not someone who can match a gold-robed elder like you."

Zhou Yunyi glanced at him: "Sect Master Lin appreciates Elder Gu's years of hard work and has petitioned the Elder Hall to promote Elder Gu to a gold-robed elder. Once the Elder Hall completes the evaluation of Elder Gu's contributions and condition, Elder Gu will rise to prominence. From black-robed, gold-robed, to red-robed, and even higher, you can enter the Council of Elders."

He paused, "Of course, if you fail the evaluation, you will become a guardian instead."

With that, he suddenly waved his sleeve: "Elder Gu, it's time. Pack your things and leave."

——

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