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Chapter 212: The Sect Master’s Replacement
🕑 Added 2024-09-19 06:18:58 +0000 UTCBut after thinking it over, Liu Chun realized that his understanding had already been turned upside down when he first saw this sect’s cultivation method, which didn’t require spiritual roots. If that was possible, what else could surprise him?
With this in mind, he felt more at ease.
Joining Lingxian Sect had been a journey of constant revelations, each one challenging decades of his prior knowledge.
But all of this was good news for Liu Chun. After all, he was now a part of this extraordinary sect.
Two days later, Liu Yunan received messages from both Qin Jianghe and Prefect Tong.
Since the positioning communication talismans Liu Yunan had given to Prefect Tong contained his own spiritual energy, all future messages from Prefect Tong would go directly to him.
Staring at the two glowing dots in front of him, Liu Yunan decided to open Qin Jianghe’s message first.
In the message, Qin Jianghe informed him that there were rumors circulating in the city. It was said that a powerful cultivator had appeared at Shangyang Sect’s gates, causing trouble. Fortunately, Shangyang Sect’s protective array was strong enough to withstand the attacks, but the cultivator showed no signs of leaving. Instead, he seemed determined to break through the barrier.
Many Shangyang Sect disciples who had completed their missions outside were now too afraid to return to the sect, fearing that they would become the target of the enraged cultivator.
Qin Jianghe mentioned that while this incident had been going on for several days, it had only recently started spreading among ordinary people. He advised Liu Yunan to set up a patrol around the village and keep watch. If any trouble arose, they should immediately alert the villagers and retreat to the sect.
Even if the villagers were trapped on the Path of Reflection, it wouldn’t be a problem, as Lin Xiao had previously mentioned that those within the path would be protected by it. Any attempts to use spiritual power or divine sense to probe into the path would result in being fully drawn into it, beginning their own trial.
With Qin Jianghe’s message finished, Liu Yunan opened Prefect Tong’s communication talisman.
To his surprise, Prefect Tong’s message was somewhat related to Qin Jianghe’s.
Prefect Tong reported that news had reached him that Shangyang Sect’s sect master had been replaced. As a prefect, he had learned this because the change in leadership at Shangyang Sect had not followed the usual procedures. After the replacement, Shangyang Sect had given no explanation or statement to the imperial court and had not responded to any official documents sent by the court.
As a result, the court was unsure of Shangyang Sect’s current stance and issued a notice to all officials in Hufang Province, instructing them not to send tributes or requests for aid to Shangyang Sect until further notice.
After considering both of these seemingly related pieces of information, Liu Yunan decided to visit Tietou and arrange for patrols around the village.
Meanwhile, Anqun County’s magistrate, Wen Keming, couldn’t wait for his report to reach the capital. Knowing that it would take time for the court to review and respond to his submission, he became increasingly restless at home. As a result, he made frequent trips to Shushui Village, hoping to establish a connection with the immortals there.
One day, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he mustered the courage to step onto the Path of Reflection.
However, it wasn’t long before he was ejected from the path, his heart pounding as he recalled the vivid dream he had experienced. He placed a hand over his chest, relieved that it had only been a dream.
But Wen Keming wasn’t ready to give up on connecting with the immortals so easily.
Frustrated by his failure, he ordered one of his trusted aides to enter the path in his place. Yet, just like him, his aide was soon ejected, looking bewildered. No matter how much Wen Keming tried to coax or threaten him, the aide refused to go back in.
Out of options, Wen Keming had an idea and called for his youngest son, Wen Yuejun.
His son had previously entered the path and, according to what he had heard, walked out on his own rather than being pushed out.
Wen Keming immediately sent for his son, but to his surprise, Wen Yuejun arrived on his own accord.
However, Wen Yuejun wasn’t there to help his father visit the immortals. Instead, he intended to drag his father back home.
Wen Yuejun had already heard rumors within the county’s upper circles about how his father, a county magistrate, was abandoning his duties to visit Shushui Village every few days, supposedly in search of immortals. He found his father’s behavior embarrassing and couldn’t hold his head high among his friends.
As a result, the father and son had a heated argument in front of the Path of Reflection, which ended with them parting on bad terms.
As the rumors spread, more and more people became aware that Shushui Village might harbor immortals and that there might even be a sect based there. Consequently, the number of visitors to Shushui Village increased significantly.
With the growing influx of visitors, many villagers began to take up side businesses, and the village’s agricultural products also became highly sought after.
Many people believed that if immortals and a sect were based in this village, then the land itself must be exceptionally blessed. After all, why else would immortals choose this place to settle?
Surely, they reasoned, if the land was blessed, then the crops grown there must also be extraordinary—perhaps even imbued with a hint of immortal energy!
In a short time, every household in Shushui Village found themselves with more silver in hand. Their fruits and vegetables were now selling at city prices!
Sometimes, when supplies ran short, visitors would bid against each other, and tempers would flare to the point where fights almost broke out.
Fortunately, Village Chief Du Liushui intervened, reminding everyone that no disturbances were allowed under the immortal sect’s protection. He then set a slightly higher price than the city’s and established a first-come, first-served policy.
The clan elders from the major families supported the chief’s decision. Most villagers, who had long respected the village chief and elders, accepted the rules, even if they regretted missing the chance to make more money.
However, a few people were disgruntled, feeling that the chief’s rules had cost them a fortune.
Anticipating such dissatisfaction, the village chief called a meeting, where he carefully explained the long-term benefits of his decision.
He ended the meeting by asking everyone:
"Do you want to make quick money a few times and enjoy a brief moment of wealth, or do you want to turn this into our village’s unique feature, something we can sustain for years to come?"
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