Chapter 124: Upright and Frank
Translator: Subudai11 Editor: Chrissy
Just now, the two Elders Liu Xian and Fang He spoke for half a day.
Although Liu Xian had finally withdrawn the Sword of Truth, not letting him desperately fight for his life for nothing, but Wang Lu had overloaded his Non-Phase Heart Sutra and overworked his Primordial Spirit, which left him with some small injuries.
The two Elders naturally would not sit idly by; they quickly healed Wang Lu’s injuries, however, his overwork Primordial Spirit would take some time to recuperate. Half a day later, although still physically weak, Wang Lu regained his consciousness. Seeing Liu Xian and Fang He, he faintly smiled.
“Uncle, disciple has a clear conscience.”
Liu Xian wryly said, “I know your conscience is clear; just consider you’ve passed this test.”
In fact, strictly speaking, Wang Lu didn’t successfully pass the Sword of Truth’s interrogation since he didn’t actually pass the last test. Instead, it was Liu Xian’s initiative to withdraw the last and the most severe one, and thus he didn’t let him have the chance to fail… However, on the other hand, since it was Liu Xian himself who withdrew the test, they couldn’t say that Wang Lu has lost either. Therefore, the two Elders simply counted him passing the test.
“Thank you, Uncle.” Wang Lu nodded to express his gratitude; he then asked, “May disciple know whether disciple’s cultivation is worthy of Uncle’s painstaking effort in arranging this experiential learning?”
Hearing this aggressive inquiry, Liu Xian wasn’t annoyed, instead, indifferently replied, “Compared to the disciples that entered the sect the same time as you, whether it’s the progression speed, or existing strength, you’ve already won by miles away.”
Upon hearing this remark, Wang Lu immediately caught the gist of it: the disciples that entered the sect the same time as him.
As one of the Spirit Sword Sect’s very few Successor Disciples, his goal was always not to compete with Zhu Qin, Wen Bao or the other Inner Court disciples, even though he was held back by his pain in the ass Void Spirit Root which essentially made his cultivation two years late.
His real match was the other Successor Disciples. This time’s experiential learning, there were three Successor Disciples; Wang Lu’s actual competition was with the other two Successor Disciples, however, they were both entered the Sect earlier than him, and thus, not in the same batch as Wang Lu.
Therefore, the implication of the remark from Liu Xian was clear: compared to the other two Successor Disciples, he has no advantage at all.
This made him truly surprised. Indeed, during these eight months, because of managing the sect, he wasn’t able to put all his time and energy on cultivation. However, his experience as the leader allowed him to learn from experience a rare frame of mind that couldn’t possibly be achieve by other disciples, which enormously benefited his Primordial Spirit. During these eight months, his cultivation only advanced by a level, which was not remarkable at all, however, his biggest gain was the condensation of his Primordial Spirit! In addition, in the process of expansion, the Wisdom Sect had many battles, which caused Wang Lu’s combat capability to advance by leaps and bounds. Even if his Non-Phase method wasn’t good in attacking, he could draw full support from the arrays to add his strength; compared to when he descended the mountain, it was several times more powerful!
Yet, couldn’t such progress surpass the other two Successor Disciples?
It turned out the competition was fiercer… luckily, his sect still had over a million of followers. Combined with this, he estimated that no other disciple could hold a candle in front of him.
“Wang Lu, don’t be happy too soon.” Liu Xian sighed. “Although you’ve passed my test, this is not the main point.”
Wang Lu, of course, knew that, in the end, it was Elder Fang He who would decide his fate.
Therefore, Wang Lu earnestly looked at Fang He, waiting for him to say his piece.
This upright and outspoken Elder looked at the still pale Wang Lu and could not help but shake his head with a sigh. “I know what you want to say. Regarding your Wisdom Sect, Zhu Qin had written it in his report, Wen Bao had confessed it, and moreover, Liu Xian and I have witnessed it ourselves! Your sect indeed has some merits, and calling it a cult is indeed a bit biased.”
Wang Lu slightly arched up the corner of his mouth.
“However, it can’t be said that it’s above board and upright. In the strict sense, your Wisdom Sect is still in the category of a cult.”
Wang Lu immediately argued, “But we’ve got the official recognition from the Great Ming Country.”
Fang He peevishly glared at him. “Previously, the Thousand Spirit Sect is the official sect of the White Moon Country, yet, was it not a cult? Mortal realm’s recognition… you have the nerve to take it seriously!”
“Our Wisdom Sect comes from the grassroots and serves the grassroots; therefore, the voice of the grassroots is the most important to us, as the saying goes, whether it is the golden cup or silver cup, it doesn’t equal to public reputation.”
“You’re so muddled! The quicker you develop in the mortal world, the more you can’t cleanly wash yourself away from it! Because of the means of the cultivators, it would be too easy for them to play with the mortals. Let alone you, with your over a million followers, when the Devil Sect went rampant in the past, a single order from the Devil Sect’s leader can command hundreds of millions of common people to willingly risk their lives! Don’t tell me that’s not a cult but an upright sect!? Your Wisdom Sect’s scale is simply not worth mentioning at all if compared to the Devil Sect! Therefore, the saying of Immortal Path is different to that of a mortal means that a cultivator has to draw a line to separate them from the mortals! Immortal Cultivation Sects shouldn’t be too much involved in the mortal world, especially they must not take ordinary people to be their followers; you’re over a million of followers is actually your Achilles’ heel!”
Elder Fang He changed into his former upright and selfless malignant star appearance, and then earnestly advised, “I know that you have a whole bunch of reasons and excuses that you can pull off, however, whether it’s the Heaven Burning Blood Technique, or your over a million followers, you can never circle around those issues, they belong to the unwashed stain! Indeed, our Spirit Sword Sect doesn’t prohibit the disciples from setting up sects under the mountain—despite your qualifications and interpretation about this issue, there was a suspicion that the rules regarding the establishment of a sect have already been violated. In any case, however, it is a matter of course that a sect that does not conform to the rules is banned on the grounds that that sect is a cult.”
Wang Lu smiled and asked, “Doesn’t conform to the rules of which?”
“The Spirit Sword Sect’s rules, and also the rules of the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals.”
Wang Lu thought for a moment and then said, “If Uncle is willing to cover up for me, I think the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals shouldn’t know about it, right? Moreover, Blue River Region is our Spirit Sword Sect’s territory, even if a violation of rules takes place here, it’s easy to get it over with. In the strictest sense of it, in the Shengjing Sect’s territory, there’s also many violations, yet no one seems to pursue it.”
Fang He raised his eyebrows. “What nonsense is that! I just told you the reason, don’t you get it!?”
Wang Lu asked again, “Is there really no room for a leeway? Uncle, you’ve also seen it, no matter from which point of view, the development of Wisdom Sect brings more good than harm, so why let the rigid rules prohibit it?”
Fang He shook his head. “The rules are so, they can’t be changed. If I’m not aware of it, then so be it, but since I’ve known about it, I can’t just ignore it. I am the Sect’s Disciplinary Elder, if even I can’t abide by the rules, then the rules will exist in name only, and the Sect will begin to slacken.”
Hearing this, Wang Lu went silent for a moment. “Then, what Uncle mean is…”
“Dissolve the sect, and return to the mountain with me to receive the punishment. Considering that you don’t have the intention to do evil, don’t seek personal benefit, moreover, you have a good result in your experiential learning, then according to the rules, you just need to practice in seclusion in the mountain for three years.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Xian also sighed. Dissolving the sect and practice in seclusion for three years; this punishment was neither light nor heavy, and even can be described as unbiasedly selfless… Of course, Wang Lu himself might feel difficult to accept this, especially the dissolution of the sect… In fact, his Junior Brother Fang He’s love towards Wang Lu was obvious since he didn’t categorically reject the existence of the Wisdom Sect. However, since it involved the Sect rules, he would not have the slightest ambiguity. Unless the Sect Leader himself told him to change his decision, otherwise, Fang He’s judgment would always be mercilessly cold.
It was indeed a pity to dissolve this eight months effort of Wang Lu, unfortunately, however, there were too many pitiful things in the Immortal Cultivation path. Thus, this could also be regarded as a rare experience for Wang Lu.
However, at this time, he heard a laughter from Wang Lu. “Very well, since Uncle doesn’t have a prejudice against my Wisdom Sect but just handling the matter according to the rules, then that’s good.”
Fang He was startled. “What’s so good about it?”
Wang Lu asked. “Allow me to ask a question, Uncle. Although the Sect rules prohibit the operation of a cult… However, the Sect’s definition of a cult itself is very vague, and it also lacks the relevant rules, am I right?”
On the familiarity of the rules of the Sect, even if Wang Lu was a top student, it was unlikely that he could exceed the Disciplinary Elder. With a sinking voice, Fang He said, “That is true, but this is not a loophole. The Spirit Sword Sect maintain the same definition of a cult like that of the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals, and the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals’ definition of a cult is very detailed; base on this definition, your Wisdom Sect has entered many restricted areas!”
“In other words, because the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals decided that the Wisdom Sect is a cult, then the Spirit Sword Sect also identified Wisdom Sect as a cult?”
Fang He frowned; he didn’t understand where Wang Lu was going with this logic. However, he still nodded. “Indeed so.”
As soon as he said that, Wang Lu revealed a heartfelt, joyous smile. “Then I’m relieved. I’ve been waiting for you to confirm this.”
With that, the smile on his face was slightly contracted, turning into a somewhat smug smile. The teenager extended his index finger to touch his forehead, and then gently said, “Wu Feihua, it’s me.”
Meanwhile, a flirtatious female voice came in Wang Lu’s Primordial Spirit. “Sect Leader, oh wrong, Mr. Director.”
Fang He was startled. “Psychic Jade?”
Communication between low-level cultivators’ Primordial Spirits could never escape a Yuanying Stage Elder’s perception. Therefore, Fang He and Liu Xian were able to hear Wang Lu and Wu Feihua’s exchange. They could even see the far away charming face of Wu Feihua.
Wang Lu asked, “Is it done?”
Wu Feihua said, “Mr. Director has earnestly put the matter to me, telling me to finish it within three days, so of course, I did my very best not to fail at this task.”
“Let me see it.”
“Okay. But, how will Mr. Director is going to reward [1] me?”
“I will give you, this Public Relation department head, two personal secretaries. Both would be good looking Foundation Establishment cultivators, perfect for being a tripod furnace; every day and every night, they will show their appreciation towards you, what do you think?”
“Oooh, many thanks for your grace, Mr. Director. However, if Mr. Director is willing to personally appreciate me, that would be great. I guarantee that I will give you such great service that you would feel that you’re in seventh heaven.”
“Hehe, if you’re talking crap again, I will rescind you from your post.”
Wu Feihua immediately restrained her smile and gave the thing that Wang Lu wanted. An image was then transmitted through the Psychic Jade.
Seeing that image, Wang Lu just smiled faintly. However, Fang He and Liu Xian widened their eyes and simultaneously exclaimed, “This is impossible!”
Things that could make an experienced and knowledgeable Yuanying Stage Elder lose control for a moment was certainly not an ordinary thing.
The image that came through the Psychic Jade was a golden seal that was quietly held in a palm. Water-like luster roamed around the surface of the seal… Although the image alone couldn’t confer the unique fluctuation of the seal, the words engraved on the seal was plainly clear!
Wisdom Sect
Members of the Union of Ten Thousand Immortals!
..,
[1] Can also mean appreciate.