Chapter 607: Sect Master Purges Traitors, Disciple of a Venerable

But now that Wei Tu had already “taken another step forward,” even if Lüqiu Qingfeng knew all this, she couldn’t demand too much of him.

On the contrary, knowing that Wei Tu had entered the Jishan Sect and was about to “turn from a golden-scaled fish into a dragon,” she would inevitably need to reconnect, or even “curry favor” with him in the future.

"Wei Tu…"

Lüqiu Qingfeng let out a faint sigh, then took up her duty as envoy and sent word back to the Lüqiu Clan far away in the Red Algae Sea, informing Lord Lüqiu Yeming and the others that Wei Tu had become an Elder of Offering of the upper sect.

…

At the same time—

Inside the various grand halls of the Jishan Sect, the higher-ups also received word that Wei Tu had been recommended to become an Elder of Offering.

Their information was even clearer than Lüqiu Qingfeng’s. They knew that Wei Tu had been personally nominated by Venerable Hanyue, which directly allowed him to take the position.

"Wei Tu? Isn’t he the cultivator from the Lüqiu Clan’s envoy group? Why does Venerable Hanyue favor him so much?"

Many of the Jishan Sect’s cultivators were confused.

After all, in theory Wei Tu and Venerable Hanyue had no contact whatsoever.

The venerable had been in seclusion within the sect’s forbidden grounds all this time and logically shouldn’t even know who Wei Tu was.

"He’s Luo Guzhu’s man."

"Wei Tu… belongs to Luo Guzhu."

Inside the Hall of Merits, a man in ancient robes, around thirty years old, a jade crown on his head—Feng Han—wore a dark expression. He held a talisman-letter in his hand. Its sender had just told him the inside story of how Wei Tu became an Elder of Offering.

After Luo Guzhu returned to the sect, though he hadn’t spoken through his daughter Luo Mingzhen to expose Feng Han as the one who had sold her to Ruyi Tower, their open conflict was already like pointing at his nose and declaring he was the culprit.

That move was extremely clever.

If Luo Guzhu had directly accused him as the culprit, Feng Han had ten thousand ways to deflect. He was confident the transaction had been handled so cleanly that no solid evidence could be found.

In that case, he could simply counterattack, accuse Luo Guzhu of slandering him, and win the support of other high-level elders.

But unfortunately, Luo Guzhu had not done that.

Instead, he never filed a formal accusation or pointed fingers. He simply used the authority of the Law Enforcement Hall to fight Feng Han head-on.

In this way, the dirty pot was placed squarely on Feng Han’s head. Even if he hadn’t done it, it would look like he had, unless he could somehow prove his own innocence.

What’s more, this tactic won Luo Guzhu sympathy from many other high-ranking elders who were opposed to Feng Han.

As the saying went: the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.

By doing this, Luo Guzhu had shattered the unspoken bottom line of sect infighting.

So even though Feng Han had far better personal connections than Luo Guzhu, besides a handful of elders tied to him by shared interests, the rest remained neutral, helping neither side.

This shift meant that what should have been an easy, certain victory for Feng Han when the struggle began had now turned into a deadlock. He and Luo Guzhu, this so-called “lone soldier,” were now evenly matched, neither able to press down the other.

Thus, even though the position of Elder of Offering wasn’t considered especially high, Wei Tu’s siding with Luo Guzhu at such a critical moment could tilt the balance of the scales and deal Feng Han a fatal blow.

"And besides, this man is very likely the one who helped Luo Guzhu inside the Ghost Sect."

Feng Han thought grimly.

Even with his strength, facing Yin Mozi—a powerhouse of the same level—he had to be careful.

Now, with a man as strong as Yin Mozi standing with Luo Guzhu, how could he not be worried, even afraid?

But since Wei Tu’s appointment as Elder of Offering had come directly from Venerable Hanyue’s mouth, no matter how dissatisfied Feng Han was, he had no way to obstruct it.

"First, lay out the pros and cons and try to win him over. At the very least, I must keep him from standing with Luo Guzhu."

"If that fails… then I’ll have to find another way."

Feng Han’s face turned cold. His fingers stroked the command token in his palm, engraved with the two characters “Ruyi.”

His bottom line had already been broken once.

If Wei Tu refused him, he didn’t mind crossing that line a second time, even if it meant striking down a “fellow sect member.”

The cost would be enormous, something almost unbearable for him. But at this point, he had no other road left.

If he lost this internal struggle, not only would his own life and death slip from his hands, but even the lives of the whole Feng Clan would fall into Luo Guzhu’s mercy.

And with the hatred Luo Guzhu bore toward him, how could he expect that man to leave him even the slightest “honor” after victory?

…

After hearing the news at the guest hall, Wei Tu didn’t waste any time. He went straight to the Jishan Sect’s main hall to request audience with the Sect Master—Zhu Chongxuan.

The structure of power within Jishan Sect was not complicated.

Beneath the Sect Master were the masters of the thirteen halls—Technique Hall, Divine Ability Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, Hall of Offerings, and so on—as well as the five great peak lords.

Below these nineteen were all other Nascent Soul cultivators. They were considered ordinary elders, either subordinate to one of the halls or the five peaks, or independent of the sect’s central institutions.

Wei Tu’s post as Elder of Offering was independent of the main power structure of the Jishan Sect. In name, he answered only to Venerable Hanyue and Sect Master Zhu.

"So this is the Sect Master Zhu?"

Inside the main hall of the Jishan Sect, there were no other high-ranking members present. Only the aged but spirited Sect Master Zhu stood at the entrance, waiting for his arrival.

Wei Tu descended from the clouds, saluted with clasped hands, then used the corner of his eyes to carefully size up this man, second only to Venerable Hanyue in the Jishan Sect.

Before the envoy mission, he had already learned a little about Sect Master Zhu from the Lüqiu Clan’s intelligence.

Later, while spending time with Luo Guzhu, he heard more about Zhu Chongxuan’s past.

Sect Master Zhu was Venerable Hanyue’s last disciple. He had risen to fame young, known for being aggressive and hot-tempered, but after taking the seat of sect master, he gradually mellowed. In the eyes of the other high elders, he had become the sect’s “mediator.”

"Elder Wei, you helped Hall Master Luo rescue Luo Mingzhen from the Yin Ghost Sect. That shows quite a bit of chivalry."

"Luo and I have been friends for many years. For this, I must offer you my thanks."

Sect Master Zhu gave him a look and smiled faintly.

Like Feng Han, upon learning that Wei Tu had been recommended as Elder of Offering by Luo Guzhu, it wasn’t hard to guess that Wei Tu was the Nascent Soul cultivator who had gone with him to storm the Yin Ghost Sect.

"That was just coincidence."

Hearing this, Wei Tu shook his head, replying humbly.

An ordinary man might have mistaken Sect Master Zhu’s words for praise. But as a veteran cultivator, how could he not hear the hidden undertone? This was a warning.

After all, if not for him, the Jishan Sect would still be in peace. There wouldn’t be the open strife between Luo Guzhu and Feng Han shaking the sect.

Still, this veiled warning wasn’t necessarily bad.

From another angle, it meant Sect Master Zhu already regarded him as “one of their own” rather than just an outsider.

Seeing Wei Tu understood the meaning, a trace of satisfaction flickered in Sect Master Zhu’s eyes. With his hands clasped behind his back, he continued: "In a position, one must serve that position. Before, you were the Lüqiu Clan’s Elder of Offering, and helping them with external threats was understandable. But from now on, you must consider our sect first."

"Hall Master Luo is sharp-eyed. His recommendation of you to the Hall of Offerings surely has its reasons."

"In other words, bringing you into our sect won’t be a loss for us."

Hearing this, Wei Tu fell silent, uncertain of what medicine Sect Master Zhu was brewing in his gourd.

If he only meant for him to watch his identity and avoid too much contact with the Lüqiu Clan, wasn’t that too many words for something so simple?

Just then, Sect Master Zhu’s next words revealed his true intent.

"Elder Wei, in your view, how should this internal struggle within Jishan Sect be brought to an end?"

"An end to the struggle?" Wei Tu raised his brow. He realized this man wasn’t simply the mediator others thought him to be. He too wished to bring the chaos to a close and restore peace to the sect.

At this moment, speaking to him meant he saw Wei Tu as a key piece in resolving the conflict.

On the surface, Wei Tu was only an Elder of Offering with little influence. But in truth, as Luo Guzhu’s ally, with both strength and influence enough to sway his decisions, Wei Tu’s role in this internal war could be pivotal.

'So it seems I’ll be pulled into this whirlpool of power after all.'

'And it makes sense. Since I joined the sect through this conflict, there’s no way I can remain untouched by it.'

Wei Tu sighed inwardly.

In some sense, his entry into Jishan Sect was a “seat unearned,” and naturally it came with the drawbacks of such a position.

Though his talent stood out among Nascent Soul cultivators and his potential seemed limitless, entering one of the Six Great Profound Dao Sects through ordinary means would never have been easy.

No sect would recruit an “unknown outsider” of uncertain loyalty, no matter how gifted, without reason.

Without this internal strife, his joining the Jishan Sect would have been nearly impossible.

That was the flaw of his “unearned seat.”

But Wei Tu didn’t resent it. To gain benefits, one always had to pay something.

Even the courtesan who laughed lightly for her patrons had to give something of herself.

The complete experience for breaking through to Divine Transformation—no sect would simply hand that over for free. If he wanted to acquire it peacefully, this path was already the most convenient.

Besides—

Since he had already joined Luo Guzhu in rescuing Luo Mingzhen, he and Feng Han were enemies in truth.

Trying to avoid this grudge was useless.

To expect someone like Feng Han, who had already broken the bottom line, to let him go was pure delusion.

So even if Sect Master Zhu hadn’t mentioned it, after entering Jishan Sect, Wei Tu would inevitably be dragged into the power struggle, standing with Luo Guzhu to clean out their enemies one by one.

…

"Once one side wins, it will naturally end."

After thinking for a moment, Wei Tu slowly spoke these words.

If Feng Han hadn’t already crossed the line, perhaps this struggle could still end in a handshake. Unfortunately, he had broken the bottom line, forcing Luo Guzhu into a fight to the death.

To abduct a girl and sell her into a brothel—such hatred was clear to all. It was an irreconcilable enmity.

"But this also depends on what Venerable Hanyue and Sect Master Zhu decide…" Wei Tu added.

Power could suppress everything.

If Venerable Hanyue personally ordered it, then no matter how deep the hatred between Luo Guzhu and Feng Han, they would have to stop here.

Of course, what happened in the shadows afterward was something neither Venerable Hanyue nor Sect Master Zhu could stop.

If not for that, Wei Tu guessed Venerable Hanyue and Sect Master Zhu would have already stepped in to make them cease.

After all, inner strife didn’t just disrupt the sect’s normal operations. It also consumed its foundations.

"This seat supports Hall Master Luo’s victory."

Sect Master Zhu was very satisfied with Wei Tu’s answer. His expression softened with approval as he spoke his true thoughts.

Hearing this, Wei Tu said inwardly, ‘As expected.’

If Sect Master Zhu had no intention of taking sides, or if he had wanted to support Feng Han, he wouldn’t have wasted so many words earlier. He would have simply performed the initiation rite here according to sect rules.

Wei Tu’s position in this conflict was important, but not to the point where Sect Master Zhu—or Venerable Hanyue behind him—would need to lie to him.

"In the days ahead, this seat will create an opportunity for you and Hall Master Luo to end Feng Han and his people. But this will require using you as bait."

"For the sake of the sect, this seat hopes you will agree to this plan."

As he spoke, Sect Master Zhu dropped the lofty airs. He looked directly at Wei Tu, his eyes full of sincerity.

"Use me as bait?"

Wei Tu frowned. He had just joined the Jishan Sect and wasn’t prepared to sacrifice himself wholly for it.

But when he heard the specifics of the plan and the rewards that came with it, his expression gradually eased.

"After this plan is finished, the seat of Hall Master of the Hall of Merits, now held by Feng Han, will be yours, Junior Brother Wei."

Seeing Wei Tu’s expression soften, Sect Master Zhu smiled slightly and continued.

Earlier, one of the rewards he promised Wei Tu was that after Feng Han’s death, he would be accepted under Venerable Hanyue as an outer disciple of a Divine Transformation Venerable.

"In that case, I am willing."

Wei Tu nodded, agreeing.

As he had thought before, he didn’t believe Feng Han had the ability to make Sect Master Zhu go so far as to deceive him.

A sect master would not be swayed by Feng Han’s schemes.

As for becoming Venerable Hanyue’s outer disciple—

That reward didn’t move him much. From what he knew, more than half the Jishan Sect’s high elders already had some connection to Venerable Hanyue.

What was truly valuable was the identity of a direct disciple, like Sect Master Zhu himself.

Being an outer disciple was just a ticket into the higher ranks of the sect, nothing more.

…

After that, Sect Master Zhu personally guided Wei Tu through the formal initiation rites of the Jishan Sect.

Once the ceremony was complete, Sect Master Zhu made no effort to conceal anything. He directly led Wei Tu to a spirit peak near the Hall of Law Enforcement.

"This peak is called Linglong Peak. It used to belong to Hall Master Luo’s Dao companion. Now that you’ve joined, Hall Master Luo has willingly yielded it to you."

"Of course, don’t worry. Though it was her peak, when she was alive she lived mostly with Hall Master Luo and rarely came here."

Sect Master Zhu pointed to the mountain below, its cliffs carved with the words “Linglong,” a majestic peak standing tall in the clouds.

"My thanks to the Sect Master and Hall Master Luo."

Wei Tu bowed in gratitude.

The spiritual energy here was at the level of a top-grade fourth-rank spirit land, with some areas nearing quasi-fifth rank.

Even on the Lüqiu Clan’s Yuangjun Island, only a handful of spirit lands could match this peak.

It was clear how valuable it was.

At the very least, Wei Tu knew that some of the sect’s Elders of Offering were still cramped in low-quality caves, with no chance of possessing an entire fourth-rank spirit peak for themselves.