Chapter 387: The Sect with a Million Disciples
Chapter 387: The Sect with a Million Disciples
Upon hearing Gu An's comforting words, Wu Jue could only sigh helplessly.
A mocking laughter echoed from the adjacent cell.
"Covering the sky with one hand? The Sheng family indeed has the ability to do so!"
Gu An turned to look, and saw an old man with white hair standing at the edge of the cell, his bony hands gripping the redwood. He looked at Gu An with disdain.
Gu An furrowed his brows and asked, "So, you're also from the Sheng family?"
The old man laughed, "If I were from the Sheng family, how could I have ended up like this? I'm in the same situation as your friend. I offended the Sheng family, and the Elders Hall asked me to lay low for a while. I've been locked up for a hundred years, and I'm afraid I'll have to spend the rest of my life here, waiting for the day the Sheng family's slaughtering knife falls."
Hearing this, Wu Jue lowered his head slightly.
Gu An, filled with indignation, said, "I don't believe it! Can the Sheng family really be this domineering? I'm going to find the Sect Leader right now!"
With that, he brushed his sleeves and left.
Wu Jue opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing. A glimmer of hope lingered in his heart.
The Third Medicine Valley was a place where dragons and tigers hid, and the well-connected Gu An might actually have a solution.
After Gu An's presence faded from this level of the dungeon, Wu Jue's heart sank with worry.
He suddenly feared that if this matter failed, it would implicate Gu An instead.
"So, you're Wu Jue. I didn't expect you to have such a stubborn friend. Shouldn't a genius be surrounded by hypocrisy?" The old man spoke with a mocking tone, but Wu Jue didn't respond, too lazy to bother with him.
Wu Jue had long experienced this man's venomous tongue, and he didn't bother arguing with someone like him.
Although he appeared dispirited, a sense of confidence was hidden deep within him.
He could still comprehend the Dao! If no one helped him seek justice, one day, he would seek justice for himself!
On the other side, after leaving the dungeon, Gu An didn't go straight to find Lu Baitian.
Since Wu Jue had the chance to comprehend the Dao, it was best to let him immerse himself for a while.
Gu An wandered around the Inner City, meeting disciples who had left the sect two hundred years ago, to gather information about the Sheng family.
Although he could make deductions, to immerse himself in this grudge, he wanted to approach it as an ordinary person. If that didn't work, he could only win them over with virtue.
Gu An's disciples were spread across the Great Profound Sect, and while he was gathering information about the Sheng family, he was actually freeloading.
After wandering for a day, he was both physically and mentally satisfied.
From today's findings, it was clear that the Sheng family was indeed powerful. There were numerous influential families within the Great Profound Sect, but few stood out and struck fear into others.
The disciples were all afraid that Gu An would offend the Sheng family, and after learning why Gu An was investigating them, they all advised him not to get involved.
By the time he returned to the Third Medicine Valley, it was already evening.
The valley was still brightly lit, and from a distance, Gu An could hear the disciples' cheerful voices.
Gu An sighed in relief, thankful that the powerful families within the Great Profound Sect hadn't threatened his Medicine Valley.
If they had, it would have resulted in a river of blood.
Gu An arrived at the bottom of his own pavilion and didn't immediately go upstairs. Instead, he knocked on Ji Xiaoyu's door.
"Come in," Ji Xiaoyu's pleasant voice called out from inside. Gu An pushed the door open and entered, then closed it behind him.
As he approached Ji Xiaoyu, she curiously asked, "It's rare to see you take the initiative to find me. Is there something wrong?"
"What kind of talk is that? Can't I come to see you without a reason? Didn't you blame me for not taking the initiative to find you for decades?" Gu An said, dissatisfied, and was about to turn and leave.
Ji Xiaoyu, sitting on the bed, was quick to react and grabbed his wrist.
"Of course you can come. Come and sit down," Ji Xiaoyu said with a soft laugh, pulling Gu An to sit beside her.
Gu An humphed, "I saw the lights on in your room, and on a whim, I wanted to chat with you. But the first thing you said made me so angry."
"Oh, can't I apologize?" Ji Xiaoyu said helplessly.
Why has this guy suddenly become so childish?
But it was rather amusing.
Ji Xiaoyu thought to herself, and a smile crept onto her face.
Gu An also smiled and said, "That's more like it. Today, I saw Wu Jue, you know, he..."
He began to tell Ji Xiaoyu about Wu Jue's encounter, and she listened attentively, as she had an impression of Wu Jue.
After Gu An finished talking about Wu Jue, he started to talk about his interactions with other disciples.
For the first half hour, Gu An did most of the talking.
Suddenly, Ji Xiaoyu realized his intention. Was this guy seeking her help? In the end, Gu An sighed, "Even within the Great Profound Sect, there are injustices. Fortunately, our Medicine Valley keeps a low profile and serves the interests of the Great Profound Sect, so no one disturbs us. Tell me, why are these families so domineering, and will they surpass the Great Profound Sect in the future?"
Ji Xiaoyu replied, "It's possible, but it's difficult. If it comes to that, the Great Profound Sect will only be one of their affiliated forces."
"The stronger the Great Profound Sect becomes, the more hopeless it is for those disciples deep in trouble. Alas!"
As Gu An spoke, he stood up and said, "We've been chatting for so long; it's time for you to continue your cultivation. Your future is not something the Great Profound Sect can restrict."
With that, he took his leave.
Ji Xiaoyu watched his departing figure, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
After he closed the door, she couldn't help but mutter, "He really did have a request. He even made me apologize. Is he standing there asking for help?"
She shook her head and chuckled, then took out a talisman paper and began to write.
As soon as Gu An sat down, he saw a white pigeon's shadow fly past the window and disappear into the night sky in the blink of an eye.
Gu An's lips curled up, thinking to himself, "Good, you really understand."
...
Several days later, Lu Baitian came to find Gu An, accompanied by an old acquaintance, the Deputy Sect Master, Ji Hantian.
The three of them sat down inside the room.
Bang! Ji Hantian suddenly slammed the table and scolded, "The Sheng Family is truly too much! These overseas noble families haven't integrated the righteous principles of the Taixuan Sect into their family's ideology!"
Lu Baitian's eyelids twitched, and he said in a deep voice, "What are you yelling about?"
"I'm just so angry. You ordered the suppression of the Sheng Family, and I fully support you."
"Why didn't you give the order?"
"The Ji Family has a good relationship with the Sheng Family. I'm stuck in the middle, and it's not easy for me."
"You make it sound like the Lu Family hasn't benefited from the Sheng Family. We're both in a difficult position."
Watching the two of them pass the buck, Gu An found it amusing, but at the same time, he felt that the Taixuan Sect had become somewhat superficial.
Indeed, as the Taixuan Sect rapidly expanded, the cultivation speed of the local high-ranking figures couldn't keep up with the sect's pace, naturally leading to a dilution of power.
Gu An spoke up, "I suddenly feel like writing a book."
Ji Hantian's eyes lit up, and he said, "That's a good idea. Pan An still has a lot of influence."
Gu An glanced at him and said, "Yeah, I'll write about how the Sheng Family is a powerful noble family that the Ji and Lu Families fear."
Ji Hantian glared at him and said, "Gu An, don't joke around!"
Gu An asked, "I can understand the Sect Master coming, but Senior Ji, why are you here?"
Ji Hantian huffed, "It's all because of you. That girl, Ji Xiaoyu, actually helped you, so I had to come here in person."
Gu An immediately felt displeased and said, "When the Third Miss was forced to go to the Xingqi Lingjing, you couldn't stop it. Now, Ji Xiaoyu asks you for help, and you have difficulties. Although the Ji Family is strong, how can it feel like it's only achieved through compromise?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Ji Hantian's face turned dark.
Gu An opened a drawer, took out the Dingming Pen, and pulled out a piece of white paper from the pile of paper next to it.
Seeing that the two of them were arguing, Lu Baitian spoke up, "I also believe in Wu Jue, but the Sheng Family has indeed lost a disciple, and his talent is among the top three of this generation. We must give the Sheng Family an explanation. I assure you that I won't let Wu Jue get into trouble."
Regardless of his relationship with Gu An, over the years, Gu An had provided strategies and advice, and Lu Baitian sincerely believed that the Taixuan Sect's current strength was inseparable from Gu An's contributions.
Gu An didn't say a word but instead wrote down names on the paper, all of them related to the Wu Jue incident. Some were from the Sheng Family, while others had different surnames. They knew the truth but were pushing Wu Jue into the abyss.
If they were forced into a corner, then so be it. However, at the beginning of the incident, they had followed the Sheng Family's genius and insulted Wu Jue, even taking action against him. Their lies were to protect themselves.
If they chose to be lapdogs and bully others, they should be prepared for the consequences.
"What are you doing?" Lu Baitian asked with a frown. Gu An only wrote and didn't speak, and he was genuinely afraid that Gu An would do something foolish.
Lu Baitian spoke with gravity, "The Sheng Family has a Scattered Immortal. Do you know how high their cultivation is? Even if the path to immortality is smooth, you would still need to cultivate for tens of thousands of years. The Taixuan Sect doesn't have anyone who has lived as long as that Scattered Immortal."
Tens of thousands of years!
These words were so heavy that Lu Baitian and Ji Hantian felt immense pressure just thinking about the age of the Sheng Family's Scattered Immortal.
Gu An picked up his pen and looked down at the names on the paper, his face filled with resentment. "I'm hating myself for my incompetence. If I were an immortal too, how could I just sit and watch my dear friend suffer?"
After saying this, he gripped the Dingming Pen and made two strokes on the paper, drawing a large 'X' as if to vent his anger.
Lu Baitian consoled him, "Don't think like that. The Sheng Family is just angry, but they haven't put any more pressure on me."
Gu An looked at him and said, "Do you still remember what I told you hundreds of years ago when you were still Elder Lu?"
As soon as Lu Baitian heard this, he fell silent.
Ji Hantian spoke with concern, "Gu An, don't be impulsive. If you act recklessly, all three of us might face trouble. Our families might abandon us, and the Taixuan Sect might abandon you. These are all possible outcomes."
Gu An said, "Alright, I understand. I'll act as if I don't know about this matter."
Seeing his indifferent expression, Lu Baitian was still worried and asked, "Really?"
"I'm just a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. I can't break into a dungeon, nor can I cross the threshold of the Sheng Family's door. What can I do?" Gu An replied.
After hearing this, Lu Baitian could only sigh.
"I won't see you out. I'll remember what you said."
As Gu An spoke, he pulled out a book from the side.
Lu Baitian wanted to say something more, but Ji Hantian pulled him, and the two of them exchanged a glance before standing up and leaving.
Although Gu An was a bit disappointed, he could understand that not everyone had the same confidence as him.
However, he had already taken action, and now it was up to these two to handle the situation. If they couldn't do it well, it might be time for them to step down.
It had nothing to do with personal relationships; the Sect Master and Deputy Sect Master of the Taixuan Sect needed people with greater ambition to shoulder the responsibility because the Taixuan Sect was not a family sect but a sect of millions of disciples.
(End of Chapter)
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