Chapter 77

Yingke Mountain was built by the disciples of Ziyang Sect with countless efforts. Like the grass sea and the southern sea pines, they all require dedicated personnel for maintenance and repair. However, Zixiao Hall still has the manpower to handle these tasks. Zhang Tongyuan was somewhat dissatisfied with Ziyun Zhenren. Compared to the previous sect leader, Ziyun Zhenren was more ambitious, harboring a desire to dominate the righteous path. This was not necessarily a bad thing, as it showed ambition. However, the actions of Zixiao Hall did not quite align with Zhang Tongyuan's expectations.

Zixiao Hall maintained good relations with small and medium-sized sects, even those that were both righteous and evil. These sects naturally regarded Zixiao Hall as their leader. Zixiao Hall was particularly wary of Yunqing Sect, Leishan, and Qingping Sect in the northern region. Apart from the poor relationship with Qingping Sect, Yunqing Sect and Leishan were major sects with aspirations to rise. Especially Yunqing Sect and Leishan, whose leaders were young and capable, with elite disciples emerging one after another. Moreover, the Demon Sect had recently grown cold towards Zixiao Hall and had frequent interactions with Yunqing Sect and Leishan, which also made Ziyun Zhenren quite unhappy.

In a few years, the alliance meeting between the righteous and the demonic would be held once every ten years. With the support of many small and medium-sized sects, Zixiao Hall still became the leader, and the meeting would be held at Zixiao Hall. At that time, both the righteous and the demonic would send grandmasters to participate. They would also accept new small and medium-sized sects as allies to jointly defend against the invasion of evil people and hold a martial arts competition for young talents from both sides.

At this moment, integrating Li Huo Sect into Zixiao Hall and placing it under direct command of Zixiao Hall meant that the revival of Zixiao Hall was already 60% complete in Ziyun Zhenren's view. Zhang Tongyuan was still dissatisfied with the strictness of the two current sect leaders towards the internal affairs. Those who entered Zixiao Hall must have excellent physical and spiritual qualities, and others were not allowed to enter. After entering, they were divided into different ranks based on their cultivation levels, with the number of auspicious clouds on their robes indicating their status. Zhang Tongyuan had three clouds, making him an elite disciple with a position. Those with two clouds were elite disciples, and those with one cloud were the most numerous, responsible for the main chores of Zixiao Hall, such as repairs, communication, material search, and gatekeeping.

The internal management of Zixiao Hall had a strong Confucian flavor. The sect leader was the supreme authority, and his decisions could not be questioned. Other sect masters were like feudal lords, each managing their own affairs. Ziyang Sect was directly under the sect leader and had a strict hierarchy. For example, if Zhang Tongyuan needed Bohai Stone, he did not need to go to Bohai himself; he could just give the order to the elite disciples with two clouds, who would then instruct the disciples with one cloud to handle it. Ordinary disciples also liked to serve higher-ranking disciples or sect masters. If they did a good job, they might be promoted to two clouds. Elite disciples with two clouds could enter the library to read books and practice in seclusion without doing chores.

On the surface, everyone was striving for advancement, but Zhang Tongyuan knew that because of this, power played a very prominent role in Zixiao Hall, especially in Ziyang Sect. The position of sect master could lead to the next sect leader, and the competition for the position of sect master was intense. Usually, several people would compete, and the winner would reward their supporters, with promotion being the best reward. As for the losers, some would submit, while others would be demoted. Zhang Tongyuan believed that internal power struggles were the biggest problem in Ziyang Sect. However, to firmly control Ziyang Sect, the sect leader had to use methods to control people. Elite disciples could make others run errands, enter the library to study, and practice in seclusion. Lower-ranking disciples could only learn some basic techniques and had to flatter or even bribe to advance, leading to incidents where female disciples offered themselves to the Ziyang Sect's guardian elders to gain promotion to two clouds.

However, because of this, the disciples of Zixiao Hall, especially those of Ziyang Sect, were more focused on cultivation and had few who practiced in seclusion. Their overall strength was firmly at the top of the righteous path and could match the demonic sects.

The most famous part of Zixiao Hall was the library, which contained countless documents and Daoist books. The predecessors of Zixiao Hall recorded various insights on sword riding and the use of Daoist techniques. Elite disciples with two clouds could enter and choose their own specialization, such as sword riding or lightning techniques, which were further divided into five elements lightning and mixed elements lightning. Daoist techniques were also divided into five elements, mystical methods, and formations. They could only specialize in one area and could not read all the books. Zhang Tongyuan chose the method of sword riding, entered the specialized hall, and after reading various documents and manuscripts, gained deep insights into sword riding. He inherited a family treasure, the White Rainbow Sword, and broke through his realm, using a golden core to control the sword, a feat unprecedented in history.

The advantage of this method was that disciples specialized in one technique, advancing rapidly in their realm. The disadvantage was that they only specialized in one technique, which was too limiting. However, rules were made by people. Like Zhang Tongyuan, who was a skilled practitioner and favored by the sect leader, he had no desire for power. With special approval from Ziyun Zhenren, he could freely read and practice all the Daoist techniques in the library. Although it was reasonable, it lacked fairness, making the lower ranks more aware of the importance of power. Entering Zixiao Hall, becoming an elite disciple with two clouds, achieving success in cultivation, and gaining the favor of a sect master or the sect leader... this was the goal of Zixiao Hall's disciples.

The times shape people. Looking at Zhang Tongyuan, there was not a hint of a cultivator's demeanor. He spoke crudely and provoked trouble. Compared to Ximen Shuai and Lin Fan, even compared to Juesai, a monk who often traveled outside, his aura was much weaker. Lin Fan had interacted with Zhang Tongyuan a few times and believed that his behavior was deliberately unrestrained, a sign of dissatisfaction with certain things but not daring to resist, leading to his current behavior.

...

"Liehuo Laozu." Gu Yan stood still, looking at a middle-aged man and a young man playing Go under a pine tree about twenty zhang away. The middle-aged man had a serious expression, carefully considering each move. The young man was Xiefengzi, the first among the eight great experts, carrying a large gourd on his back and focusing intently on the game.

Xiefengzi felt someone watching him and was about to look up. The middle-aged man, Liehuo Laozu, said, "You are at a disadvantage. Only by having no other thoughts can you turn the tide."

"Yes!" Xiefengzi ignored the group.

"Xiefengzi." Lin Fan introduced the young man's name. This guy had actively attacked him and Ximen Shuai twice in the Great Snow Mountain.

Xiefengzi's eyelids twitched as he made his move. Liehuo Laozu sighed, "You lost. Face the wall for three days."

"Yes!" Xiefengzi stood up without a word, walked to a room at the edge of the cliff, and sat cross-legged half a step away from the room, facing the wall, motionless.

Liehuo Laozu stood up and walked to Zhang Tongyuan, bowing and saying, "Greetings, Left Guardian."

Zhang Tongyuan smiled, "Liehuo Laozu, you are a grandmaster of a sect, and you are much older than me. Why are you so polite? I can't bear it."

Liehuo Laozu replied, "I dare not call myself Laozu. My name is Zhang Lie. Li Huo Sect has been dissolved, and Zixiao Hall has not abandoned me, appointing me as the leader of Li Huo Sect. I will dedicate myself to Zixiao Hall until my last breath."

Zhang Tongyuan smiled and stepped forward, whispering in Liehuo Laozu's ear, "Old Wangba, listen up. Don't give me this crap."

"I will follow the Guardian's teachings and make the necessary changes."

Qingshui Zhenren was ruthless, and Liehuo Laozu was cunning. Lin Fan watched, thinking that Liehuo Laozu's ambitions were not limited to just being a sect leader.