Chapter 878: Unsheathing
Chapter 878: Unsheathing
Just as Old Master Xun was about to say something to Mo Hua, footsteps were heard from outside. The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect, with his jet-black hair, rosy complexion, and a furrowed brow, entered the room.
Seeing Mo Hua inside, the Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect was clearly taken aback.
Mo Hua quickly stood up and bowed, "Greetings, Grandmaster."
"Ah, good." The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect was very gentle with Mo Hua.
"Da Gou came back earlier, but since you weren't here, I tied him up in front of the library," Mo Hua said.
The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect's expression became somewhat complicated.
He couldn't quite understand it.
A fierce and unruly beast, how did it end up acting like a guard dog in front of Mo Hua?
Is it really true that every hard thing has its soft spot?
"Good." The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect hid his thoughts, nodding slightly.
Old Master Xun glanced at the Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect and then patted Mo Hua's shoulder, "That's enough for today. You can go home now."
Mo Hua understood that Old Master Xun needed to discuss something with the Grandmaster, so he bowed respectfully, "Old Master, Grandmaster, I'll take my leave now."
After Mo Hua left, Old Master Xun stood up and carefully collected the array diagrams one by one.
The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect watched silently, thinking, "As expected of the Ancestor, so calm and collected, even at a time like this, he still has the heart to teach his disciples array formations..."
Mo Hua's treatment is almost like he's the Ancestor's own son.
Once Old Master Xun finished tidying up the table, the two of them began discussing the main matters.
"The meeting at Qianxue Pavilion has been set. The Sword Discussion Conference has been moved up, the quotas have been expanded, and the ranking of the sects will start changing from this conference onwards..."
"I knew it would change, but I didn't expect them to actually make a move this time..."
The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect placed a jade slip on the table and presented it to Old Master Xun.
"The four major sects have been preparing for this Qianxue Pavilion meeting for a long time, but Tai A Sect, Chong Xu Sect, and our Tai Xu Sect, along with some other sects that are at odds with the four major sects, only found out at the last minute, leaving us unprepared."
"However, the initiative has always been in their hands, so even if we oppose it, it won't make a difference..."
Old Master Xun picked up the jade slip, glanced at it, and his expression remained calm, as if he wasn't surprised at all. He then turned to the Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect, "What do you plan to do?"
The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect felt a great deal of pressure, but since Old Master Xun asked, he had to answer, "I've done my best to make arrangements."
"This Sword Discussion Conference is crucial, so the rewards for the disciples have been increased by forty percent."
"Those who will participate in the sword discussion have already been arranged to be taken to Beast Mountain by the Dao Law Elders for training."
"The rest of the alchemy, array, and talisman techniques have also been assigned to the outstanding disciples of this generation, personally guided by the sect elders to ensure they achieve a certain ranking in the conference, stabilizing Tai Xu Sect's position..."
"All other trivial matters of the sect have been temporarily put on hold, everything is being prioritized for this Sword Discussion Conference..."
...
The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect spoke clearly and systematically.
Old Master Xun nodded slightly.
After the Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect finished speaking, he sighed, "But, this hurdle won't be easy to clear."
He pointed to the jade slip, "The four major sects' moves may seem like routine changes, but each one hits us right where it hurts."
"Tai Xu Sect is in a slightly better position, but for Tai A Sect and Chong Xu Sect, it's extremely dangerous..."
"The conference being moved up means less preparation time, and they no longer have the chance to negotiate."
"The expanded quotas add more pressure to them, who are already short on manpower."
"This conference will start determining the rankings."
"Given the current situation, let alone Tai A Sect and Chong Xu Sect, even our Tai Xu Sect will find it difficult to retain our position among the 'Eight Great Sects'..."
Mentioning the "rankings," the Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect's expression became grave.
"If the 'Eight Great Sects' can't retain their positions, they will typically drop to the 'Twelve Major Sects'..."
"But after careful consideration, I don't think it's that simple."
"While the 'Eight Great Sects' are nominally equal to the 'Twelve Major Sects,' the 'Eight Great Sects' are actually above them in reality."
"To enter the 'Twelve Major Sects,' one must have a 'specialty'—be it sword techniques, Dao techniques, or expertise in alchemy, arrays, and talismans..."
"Our Tai Xu Sect has a solid foundation, but when it comes to 'specialties,' we may not match the existing 'Twelve Major Sects.'"
"If we fall from the 'Eight Great Sects' and there's no spot in the 'Twelve Major Sects,' we might even drop straight to the 'Hundred Sects of Qianxue'..."
"Cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you stop, you fall back. This applies to cultivators and sects alike."
"Once we fall, it's a deep abyss. It will greatly affect our recruitment, the share of the Qianlong resources, and the reputation of our sect."
"Such a vicious cycle, if we fall, it will be incredibly difficult to climb back up..."
The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect sighed deeply.
He had already anticipated the worst-case scenario.
If Tai Xu Sect, under his leadership, loses its position and falls from the 'Eight Great Sects' to be lost among the thousands of sects of Qianxue, he would truly be a "famous" Grandmaster in history.
A "founder" of Tai Xu Sect's decline.
Even if it wasn't his fault, he would still have to bear the blame.
The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
He had originally thought he would lead a leisurely life in the peaceful Tai Xu Sect, cultivating and nurturing his spirit, but he never expected to be burdened with such a heavy responsibility.
The survival of the sect, such a heavy burden, suddenly fell upon him.
Life is truly unpredictable...
After the Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect finished speaking, he turned to see Old Master Xun with a calm expression, showing no special reaction. He couldn't help but ask, "Ancestor, you..."
Old Master Xun looked up and gave the Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect a faint glance, "Leave a spot for me."
"A spot?" The Grandmaster of Tai Xu Sect was slightly taken aback.
"Yes, a spot in the array competition."
Character Names:
Mr. Xun (no change, as "Xun" is a common transliteration for Chinese names)
Murong Caiyun (no change, as "Murong" and "Caiyun" are common transliterations for Chinese names)
Shangguan Xu (no change, as "Shangguan" and "Xu" are common transliterations for Chinese names)
Mo Hua (no change, as "Mo" and "Hua" are common transliterations for Chinese names)
Terms and Context (matching the setting, presumably a fantasy/martial arts world):
Void Sect (no change, as it fits the fantasy/martial arts context)
Grandmaster of the Void (no change, as it fits the fantasy/martial arts context)
Dao Debate Conference (transliterated from Chinese, "Dao" refers to the philosophical concept, but in this context, it likely means a conference about the "Way" or martial arts)
Sword Debate Conference (subset of the Dao Debate Conference, focusing on sword techniques)
Foundation Establishment stage (transliterated from Chinese, a common term in fantasy/martial arts contexts, referring to a cultivation level)
Hundred Schools of Qian (transliterated from Chinese, "Qian" likely refers to a region or faction, and "Hundred Schools" implies a diverse group of martial arts schools)
Dao Court (transliterated from Chinese, likely a governing body or authority in the martial arts world)
Immortal City (transliterated from Chinese, a fantastical city, possibly a hub for cultivators)
Rewritten Text (without original non-English characters or translations in parentheses):
Mr. Xun said, then glanced at the Grandmaster of the Void, speaking gently, "Don't worry. Do your best. Even if the situation of our Void Sect truly becomes unfavorable and we gradually fall behind, it will be due to my poor planning as the ancestor. It won't be your fault..."
The Grandmaster of the Void smiled bitterly.
He was very grateful for the ancestor's words of comfort, but assigning blame now didn't make much sense.
Yet, he was also very puzzled.
Normally, one shouldn't pry into the ancestor's affairs, but given the current special circumstances, he couldn't help but ask, "What do you need that slot for?"
Mr. Xun replied calmly, "You'll know in due time..."
Then, Mr. Xun stopped speaking and calmly began to drink his tea.
The Grandmaster of the Void's frown deepened.
...
From then on, the atmosphere in the Void Sect became suddenly tense.
It seemed everyone knew that this Dao Debate Conference was of extraordinary significance.
Murong Caiyun and Shangguan Xu, who were at the late Foundation Establishment stage, were hunting monsters and refining their tactics every day to prepare for the upcoming Sword Debate Conference, building harmony among themselves.
Mo Hua, who was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, didn't have to attend the Dao Debate Conference, so he wasn't as busy. However, the atmosphere among the disciples was still somewhat heavy.
Especially those with good family backgrounds and deep connections, who knew the inside story from their clans, were more worried.
The interests of the sect were closely tied to the disciples.
They didn't want to have gone through great hardships to enter one of the "Eight Great Sects" only to end up as ordinary disciples of the "Hundred Schools of Qian" upon graduation.
But since they were only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, they were anxious but couldn't help much.
Mo Hua was still practicing array formations.
However, the Sword Debate Conference was to be held first, and the ranking from it had a higher weight than the other Dao Debate Conferences.
After some consideration, Mo Hua went to see Mr. Xun and asked, "Mr. Xun, can I participate in the Sword Debate Conference?"
He felt he should be able to help a bit.
Mr. Xun was taken aback and immediately shook his head, "You're only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Why join in the chaos..."
But before he could finish, he suddenly remembered that Mo Hua's mid-Foundation Establishment stage wasn't ordinary.
Especially when he thought about Mo Hua's "achievements": the series of "vicious" and "cruel" cultivators recorded by the Dao Court, including the bloodthirsty "Fire Buddha."
Not to mention the almost unbelievable "great accomplishments" of setting up massive arrays and slaying powerful demons, as reported by the spies sent to Immortal City...
Mr. Xun looked at the clean and obedient Mo Hua, finding it hard to associate him with these deeds.
But while the rumors from Immortal City were hard to verify, the records of the Dao Court were reliable.
Most of these events were likely true.
After a moment of deep thought, Mr. Xun still shook his head, "The Sword Debate Conference isn't that simple."
Mo Hua was confused.
Mr. Xun looked at Mo Hua and patiently explained, "Your spirit roots aren't strong, and your cultivation technique is limited. The number of spirit energy cycles you can cultivate is naturally less than others, making your spirit energy weaker."
"Moreover, you're only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. In terms of spirit energy, you're far behind the late and peak Foundation Establishment geniuses of the Hundred Schools of Qian."
"The Sword Debate Conference involves many matches. Your weak spirit energy won't withstand the consumption."
"Once your spirit energy is depleted, no matter how many tricks you have, you won't be able to use them and will have to admit defeat."
Mr. Xun's gaze became more serious as he continued, "I know you can navigate the outside world smoothly, dealing with those criminal, evil, and demonic cultivators. You must have many hidden cards."
"But you need to understand, the open and the hidden are different."
"When you act outside, your methods are hidden and can have unexpected effects."
"But the Sword Debate Conference is public, with everyone watching. Once you reveal your hidden cards, everyone will be on your tail."
"They will prepare in advance and plot against you."
"Moreover, the Sword Debate Conference involves many matches. Even if you have many hidden cards, revealing one in each match will eventually leave you completely exposed."
"In the end, once your methods are all known, how can you continue to fight?"
Mo Hua's expression was solemn, but he was also puzzled, asking, "Mr. Xun, the geniuses from other sects also have hidden cards, don't they? Aren't they afraid of exposure?"
"They are different from you," Mr. Xun said, "Their hidden cards are ultimately their cultivation levels and superior techniques."
"These are hard strengths. Even if they are exposed, it's not easy to defeat them directly."
"But you are different. Can your hidden cards be seen? Can they be exposed? You haven't even shown them to me..."
Mr. Xun silently looked at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua lowered his head slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Mr. Xun didn't press the issue further and continued, "So, even though you have many tricks, your cultivation foundation is too shallow, making you very vulnerable to being targeted. To win, you must keep your hidden cards well-hidden. Use them only as a last resort."
"Participating in the Sword Debate Conference this time, even if you can help a little, it won't be very meaningful and might even be counterproductive..."
Mr. Xun spoke earnestly.
Mo Hua nodded solemnly.
The ancestor was indeed the ancestor, seeing things deeply.
This also gave him a reminder.
His spirit energy was low, making him vulnerable to being drained.
He had many hidden cards, but they could be easily targeted.
If he ever had to stand under the gaze of thousands, he would need to find ways to address these weaknesses.
He needed to plan his hidden cards reasonably.
Use them sparingly, but when used, they should be decisive.
Ideally, they should also avoid revealing his true intentions.
These were things he hadn't considered carefully enough beforehand.
"Sir, I understand," Mo Hua nodded.
Xun Lao smiled with satisfaction and said, "I've told you before, mastering the art of formations will be the greatest help. There's no need to worry about other matters, and besides..."
Xun Lao patted Mo Hua's shoulder, "Don't underestimate your senior disciples. Though they may not be as outstanding as the top disciples of the Four Great Sects, they are still geniuses from various families and clans. To be accepted into our Tai Xu Sect, they must have exceptional talent and ability. You can rest assured."
Mo Hua nodded, "Alright!"
...
About half a month later, in the Qianxue Province, the first "Sword Discussion Conference" after the sect reform began.
This was a grand event.
The Four Great Sects and the several major families behind them invested a tremendous amount of manpower and resources to host this Sword Discussion Conference. Not only was the scale unprecedented and the grandeur unparalleled, but the number of cultivators attending the ceremony was also significantly higher than before.
In the Qianxue Province, numerous immortal cities were bustling with people, carriages flowing like rivers, horses moving like dragons, spirit beasts scattered like stars, and flying boats darting through the sky. The atmosphere was incredibly lively.
Mo Hua really wanted to attend.
Cheng Mo and the others also wanted to drag Mo Hua along to join in the festivities.
However, Xun Lao did not agree. He told Mo Hua to focus on his studies and not be distracted by external events.
Mo Hua knew the importance of his studies, so even as the entire Qianxue Province was in a state of excitement, he remained in the disciple quarters, quietly drawing the most challenging formations from the peak Second Rank Nineteen Traces again and again.
In this interplay of noise and tranquility, the Sword Discussion Conference came to an end.
As expected, Tai A Sect and Chong Xu Sect suffered a devastating defeat.
Their core disciples were almost entirely swept away by the Dao Court's investigation of the Lipstick Boat.
The remaining disciples, though they tried their best, were no match for the top disciples and reserves of the Four Great Sects, the other eight sects, twelve streams, and even some of the top sects among the hundred sects of Qianxue Province.
Furthermore, the expansion of the conference's quota added to their woes.
This meant they were using "reserves" and "cannon fodder" disciples to compete against the "main forces" and "reserves" of other sects.
It was a nightmare.
They had no chance of winning.
Thus, Tai A Sect and Chong Xu Sect became the biggest losers of this Sword Discussion Conference.
Tai Xu Sect, on the other hand, fared relatively better. According to the rankings, they managed to place seventh among the eight major sects.
Originally, they were often at the bottom, but now they had slightly improved their position.
Moreover, this ranking was achieved under immense pressure, facing intentional and unintentional targeting from the major sects after the sect reform.
Muru Caiyun's disciples had almost gritted their teeth and fought their way to this point.
Even immediately after the competition, many disciples, including Muru Caiyun, collapsed from excessive spirit energy depletion and exhausted meridians, and were sent to the elixir room for healing.
The Tai Xu Sect Master was both moved and touched.
"These are all good children..."
In the Elder's Residence, the Tai Xu Sect Master and Xun Lao sat opposite each other.
The Tai Xu Sect Master sighed, "I come from a noble family and have seen many geniuses. I know that sometimes, disciples with the highest spirit roots aren't necessarily the best."
"Having sufficient spirit roots is enough; it's their character that is truly precious."
"These disciples, under such critical circumstances, managed to withstand the pressure and give their all, bringing honor to our Tai Xu Sect and maintaining our ranking. Regardless of their talent, they are all promising materials and will be of great use in the future..."
Xun Lao nodded, "Indeed. If these children wish to join the inner sect, we should relax the requirements; if they have family ties and don't want to stay in the sect, we should grant them an inner sect legacy; and in other cases, we should provide them with some preferential treatment..."
The Tai Xu Sect Master nodded, "Very well, I will issue the orders."
Then he sighed with a heavy heart, "This time, Tai A Sect and Chong Xu Sect are in a dire situation."
Their rankings had plummeted, and no one knew where they had ended up.
Though this was somewhat expected, the reality of it still sent a chill down everyone's spine.
The three sects were closely connected, and they felt a shared sense of suffering.
In comparison, Tai Xu Sect's current situation was relatively better.
But this was only a relative improvement and did not mean they could rest easy.
Seventh and eighth were still at the bottom.
And there were still four more categories to compete in: weapons, elixirs, talismans, and formations.
If Tai Xu Sect could stabilize, they might be able to maintain their current ranking, even if it slipped to eighth, they would still be among the eight major sects.
But if they made a mistake and couldn't stabilize, their ranking could drop to who knows where.
The situation was far from optimistic.
The Tai Xu Sect Master was still somewhat anxious.
Although the discussions on weapons, elixirs, talismans, and formations were less significant in weight, shorter in duration, and smaller in scale compared to the Sword Discussion Conference, they still had to go through four sessions, and the variables were too great.
One should not fear the worst but must be prepared for it...
The Tai Xu Sect Master turned to look at Xun Lao, who was still calmly drinking tea.
The Tai Xu Sect Master felt helpless.
This old ancestor truly had a vast heart, remaining calm even at this critical juncture.
How could he be so composed?
Xun Lao seemed to read the Tai Xu Sect Master's thoughts and poured him a cup of tea, saying calmly, "We have done all we can. The rest is up to fate. There's no use in worrying, just drink your tea."
The Tai Xu Sect Master could only respectfully accept the teacup and take a sip.
The taste in his mouth was neither bitter nor sweet, but rather tasteless.
Xun Lao continued to drink his tea silently, but deep in his eyes, there was a glimmer of anticipation and sharpness that was hard to detect.
No one knew that he had forged a "treasure sword."
He was now waiting.
Waiting for the day when this sharp and brilliant sword, capable of shocking the entire Qianxue Province, would be unsheathed.
Finally, two days later, it was time for the Formation Discussion Conference.
This marked the final chapter of this year's Discussion Conference...
(End of Chapter)
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