Chapter 99

"Ridiculous!!"

As Yang Chen's words faded, an elderly man in his sixties slammed his palm on the conference table in front of him and shouted sternly, "We are the editorial board members of the Spirit Martial Journal, jointly appointed by the Quanzhen Sect's ancestral temple and the seven major lineages. You are merely a wild cultivator from the Five Peaks in Nanhu Province. What qualifications do you have to shout at us here? It's utterly arrogant!!"

"Senior Brother Li's words are very true!" Before the old man finished speaking, another middle-aged Taoist in his forties chimed in, "You, a greenhorn, don't think that having a bit of skill gives you the right to look down on all true cultivators! In front of us, you don't even have the right to speak!"

At this moment, Liu Linxuan also sneered from the side, "The Five Peaks Dao is merely a branch of the Suishan Sect. In the entire Quanzhen Sect, it's a branch of a branch! If we really talk about it, the ancestral temple of your Five Peaks Dao is still our Suishan Sect's Laoshan! A mere wild cultivator dares to act so arrogantly here, it's simply a lack of manners!"

"Everyone, everyone... calm down, there's no need to get angry." Ma Xingxue now played the role of a mediator, stopping the people who seemed about to explode, and then said to Yang Chen, "The decision to take over the Spirit Martial Journal was made after a joint discussion by the Quanzhen Sect's high-level members. Therefore, we have the right to decide which articles to publish. This is our authority, and you have no right to interfere!"

While these people were speaking, Yang Chen watched them with a cold eye.

Only after Ma Xingxue finished speaking did he nod slightly and ask, "Is this the common stance of all of you?"

"Yes, this is our stance!" Under the pressure from Yang Chen, Ma Xingxue subconsciously avoided his gaze but still nodded firmly and said with a fluctuating tone, "If you have any objections, you can go to Chongyang Palace to argue your case!"

"Does this mean that I have no say at all in what is published in the Spirit Martial Journal?" Yang Chen narrowed his eyes.

"You can't say it like that... after all, you are the founder of the Spirit Martial Journal." Ma Xingxue, with a stiff face, said, "After a discussion among the sixteen of us, we decided to retain your right to review articles, but the final decision on whether to publish them will still be made by us."

"Quite a clever move!" Yang Chen was now beyond feeling happy or angry; he just nodded with a cold smile, gave a deep look at the sixteen people in the meeting room, and said, "If that's the case, then do as you please."

With these words, Yang Chen turned and left, "Bingyu, let's go."

"Ah?" Zhang Bingyu, who had expected a fierce battle and was even prepared to intervene, was taken aback by Yang Chen's reaction. She subconsciously responded, but Yang Chen had already turned and left the meeting room.

Such an anticlimactic ending made Zhang Bingyu very uncomfortable. She quickly caught up and grabbed Yang Chen's arm, asking, "You're just going to let it go like this? They've already bullied you to this extent..."

"Master Xuanhong wouldn't do something like this." Yang Chen didn't stop walking but said, "The only possibility is that some powerful figures within the Quanzhen Sect want to establish their authority... these people may be foolish, but it doesn't mean the old masters are also foolish. Since they want to play this game, let them play it!"

"What do you mean?" Zhang Bingyu, usually very intelligent, was now a bit confused. She followed Yang Chen and asked, "What kind of authority? Even if it's for establishing authority, it's not necessary to make such a fuss, right?"

"Master Xuanhong can see the potential of the Spirit Martial Journal, which is why he personally came to Jinzhou from a thousand miles away to meet me. If Master Xuanhong can see the potential, do you think the high-level members of the Huashan, Suishan, and Yuxian lineages can't see the great potential of the Spirit Martial Journal?" Yang Chen shrugged and said, "They're just trying to tell me one thing..."

Zhang Bingyu's heart suddenly stirred, and she tentatively asked, "They want you to know that without their support, no matter how capable you are, you can't make much of a difference?"

"Pretty much, but there's a deeper meaning. They're probably warning me not to have any ulterior motives and to cooperate with them in running the Spirit Martial Journal. When it comes to claiming credit, I'll get my share. But if I try to make all the decisions, they have ways to make my life difficult!" Yang Chen sighed, "It's a clumsy move, but it's effective..."

"What do you mean?" Zhang Bingyu asked the same question again.

"I can't stand being wronged." Yang Chen sighed again, "They think I'll compromise, but I'm not that kind of person... let them play their game. It's not like I can't find help outside the Quanzhen Sect!"

"But who else can you turn to besides the Quanzhen Sect?" Zhang Bingyu was puzzled.

"I don't need to look for anyone. As long as those people know I'm being wronged in the Quanzhen Sect, that's enough." As he spoke, Yang Chen opened the car door and sat in the driver's seat, saying meaningfully, "They're tying themselves up, and they deserve it!"

...

"Ha... I thought he had some great skills and a big temper, but it turns out he's just a cowardly waste of space!" Yang Chen's sudden departure made the tense atmosphere in the meeting room quickly turn pleasant. Liu Linxuan looked in the direction Yang Chen had left and said mockingly, "What qualifications does such a coward have to lead the future of the Spirit Martial Journal?!"

Liu Linxuan's words resonated with the others present.

Only Ma Xingxue looked at the spot where Yang Chen had stood before leaving with an unusual expression. For some reason, after driving Yang Chen away, he felt no joy, but rather a vague sense of worry!

"But he's just a young man who has achieved success early and doesn't know his place. What am I worried about?" Ma Xingxue thought to himself, "After all, the first issue was written by the Mad Taoist, not Yang Chen. As long as we run the Spirit Martial Journal well, it doesn't matter whether he's there or not."

With this thought, Ma Xingxue's mind finally settled. He shook his head, clapped his hands, and said, "Everyone, he's already gone. What's the point of discussing it further? Let's get back to the topic... this article 'A Brief Discussion on the Profound Meaning of Daoism and Nature' is written by Uncle Zhao from the Longmen Sect. Those who agree to publish it in the second issue, please raise your hands..."

...

One of the Five Great Mountains, known as the most dangerous peak in the world, Huashan, has a cluster of ancient buildings hidden in a dense forest on a rarely visited slope. This is the true location of the Huashan Sect.

Under the scorching sun, three elderly men stood on a wooden platform, speaking softly...

"Master, Su Yuan reported that over an hour ago, the young Taoist Yang Chen from the Five Peaks in Nanhu Province caused a disturbance at their hotel, but ultimately left in anger without doing anything out of line..."

The current Huashan Sect leader, Yue Lifeng, with a mustache, smiled faintly, hands behind his back, letting the cold wind blow his robe, and said calmly, "This young man is indeed talented, but he lacks some tempering... it's good for him to take a fall, to smooth out his rough edges, which will benefit him in the future."

"True, but..." The white-robed elder, who looked older than Yue Lifeng, nodded and said thoughtfully, "However, I see that the Sect Master Xuanhong seems to have a high opinion of this Yang Chen. If things get too big... it might be hard to resolve."

Yue Lifeng didn't speak, but another elder said, "This is precisely why Master wants to give him a lesson! Although Chongyang Palace is the ancestral temple, the seven major lineages are not its subordinates. Since Yang Chen is someone the Sect Master Xuanhong values, he cannot be allowed to take the lead in this matter, or where would that leave us seven major lineages?!"

"True, but... I have carefully studied the events involving this young Taoist Yang Chen, and he is clearly a sharp and ambitious person. I'm afraid that if we push too hard, it might backfire..." the white-robed elder said with concern, "What if..."

"There are no 'what ifs' or 'buts'." Yue Lifeng waved his hand to interrupt the white-robed elder, a slight smile on his lips, and said confidently, "The Spirit Martial Journal is a new thing, and no one can predict how far it will develop. If Yang Chen behaves himself, it's fine. If he throws a tantrum and quits... he won't be able to take a single step in the metaphysical world from then on!"

"Master's words are very true!" Another elder nodded, "He's just a wild cultivator. How can a small arm compete with a big leg? We have at least a hundred ways to make him lose his place in the metaphysical world. Even if he had the courage, he wouldn't dare to turn against us! Besides, this decision was made by the high-level members of the seven major lineages. Who in the world would dare to ignore the existence of the seven major lineages?!"

Chongyang Palace is strong, but if it really comes to a confrontation, it might not be a match for the combined forces of the seven major lineages!

Moreover, although Chongyang Palace and the seven major lineages have the distinction of being the ancestral temple and branches, the seven major lineages are not subordinate to Chongyang Palace. Conflicts of interest often arise between them, and they are not as united as outsiders might think!

Each has its own interests, and this time, intervening in the Spirit Martial Journal is not about making it the best. It's just about getting a foot in the door, and even if it fails, everyone will be in the same boat. There's no real loss!

After all, the Five Peaks is still a branch of the Quanzhen Sect, and Yang Chen's skills clearly come from the Quanzhen Sect's tradition... no matter how capable he is, can he step outside the Quanzhen Sect?

The worst sin for a disciple is to cause the tradition to be cut off!

The Five Peaks is also a branch of the Suishan Sect. In the eyes of Yue Lifeng and others, controlling the Five Peaks is just a matter of words... if they really cut off the Five Peaks' tradition and expel it from the Quanzhen Sect, how can Yang Chen face the true cultivators of the world?

It's because they feel they have a grip on Yang Chen's life and death that they dare to deceive and bully, and join forces to sabotage the Spirit Martial Journal.

Sect Master Xuanhong is high up, and after giving the instructions, he has his own matters to attend to.

There are too many gaps left, and if you have the courage and determination, you can take advantage of them!

In other words, besides Chongyang Palace, which genuinely wants to run the Spirit Martial Journal well, the seven major lineages of the Quanzhen Sect all have their own ulterior motives. They don't care about the final outcome; they just care about being involved and having a say!

That's all...

A similar scene was not only playing out in the Huashan Sect but also in the Yuxian Sect, Qingjing Sect, and Suishan Sect, among the other six major lineages. The reactions of the high-level members of these sects to Yang Chen's angry departure were largely the same.

At the same time, on Gezhao Mountain in Xijiang Province, where the Lingbao Sect of the Orthodox Daoism is located, several elderly men were discussing the recent events of the Spirit Martial Journal, which had caused a stir in the Quanzhen Sect.

A copy of the Spirit Martial Journal, obtained through many hands, was placed on a stone table in a pavilion.

The Lingbao Sect's Sixth Elder, Wang Zongyan, holding a pot of clear tea, said, "This is the Spirit Martial Journal that has been causing a stir in the metaphysical world recently. I took a quick look, and it mainly discusses the essence of the five elements' spiritual energy and energy particles, as well as debates on enlightenment and immortality. It's somewhat heretical, but it's also commendable, proposing a new concept of cultivation..."

"I heard that Sect Master Xuanhong of Chongyang Palace has officially issued a letter, stating that the Spirit Martial Journal is an internal publication of the Quanzhen Sect, hosted by Chongyang Palace and assisted by the seven major lineages... I just wonder, the seven major lineages have always been at odds with Chongyang Palace, so when did they come together?" A red-nosed, alcohol-breathed old Taoist yawned and said, "This is strange..."

"But regardless, the content of the Spirit Martial Journal is also of some reference to our Orthodox Daoism." Another elder sitting on the pavilion's railing coughed lightly and said, "Chongyang Palace has made such a big fuss. If the Spirit Martial Journal can be run well, it will certainly have a profound impact on the development of the metaphysical world... should we Orthodox Daoists just be bystanders?!"

"That's why I called you all here today." The leader of the Lingbao Sect (also known as the Gezhao Sect), Yan Qiushan, sitting on a stone bench, said seriously, "Although the Quanzhen Sect and our Orthodox Daoism have vastly different cultivation methods and doctrines, we are still part of the Daoist community. As one of the three major sects of the Orthodox Daoism, we cannot stand idly by!"

"So what do you suggest, Master?"

"Go down the mountain and visit Mount Maoshan and Mount Longhu to see their stance." Yan Qiushan said, "Also, Junior Brother Wang."

"Here." Sixth Elder Wang Zongyan responded.

"You need to go to Jinzhou and investigate the background of the Spirit Martial Journal." Yan Qiushan said thoughtfully, "I seem to remember that the Spirit Martial Journal is a publication of a branch of the Quanzhen Sect, the Five..."

"Five Peaks?"

"Yes, the Five Peaks. The person who started it is named Yang... Yang what?"

"Yang Chen?"

"Oh, right, Yang Chen!" Yan Qiushan nodded, "See if you can meet him directly and discuss the matter of energy particles with him... even if he's not familiar with our Orthodox Daoism's talisman techniques, any constructive suggestions would be a good outcome!"

"Alright, I'll pack and leave as soon as possible..."

"Then it's settled. That's all... dismissed!"

"Yes!"