Chapter 185 - 156: Promotion: Blood Master

Chapter 185: Chapter 156: Promotion: Blood Master

Void Illusion Realm.

A Celestial Dao Alliance meeting.

In addition to the four major sects of the Celestial Dao Alliance, many high-level cultivators from the Floating Cities were also present. Only those at the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm or higher were qualified to be here.

The four Venerables at the head of the hall had not yet arrived, but the cultivators below were already deep in discussion.

"These rogue cultivators have gone too far!"

"Indeed! Fellow Daoist Yu Kang cultivated for many years without ever committing a single evil deed. He was always kind to others, yet this gang of rogues brazenly sought him out and killed him on the spot? How innocent he was! And how utterly they disregard the Celestial Dao Alliance!"

"We must hunt them all down and execute them! Rip them out root and stem to serve as a warning to others!"

"Silence!"

In an instant, the entire virtual hall of the Celestial Dao Alliance fell silent.

Once the chatter stopped, the four Divinity Transformation Venerables of the Celestial Dao Alliance arrived one by one and took their seats.

"We welcome the Venerables!"

"We welcome the Venerables!"

....

After the unified greeting, the leader of the four Venerables, Dugu Yunfeng, spoke. "This incident is of an exceptionally vile nature. Our investigation has determined that the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order is responsible. This organization has committed numerous monstrous crimes in the past, including stealing the Spirit-Devouring Insect strain from Beast Taming Technology, tampering with ten thousand years of Spiritual Qi monitoring records in Celestial Secret City’s database, and inciting the former chief sword-forger of the Celestial Sword Group to activate the billions of Spirit Swords in the Nine Heavens Sword Mounds for a mass slaughter of Floating City cultivators... These acts are unforgivable. As the current leader of the Celestial Dao Alliance, I hereby order a thorough investigation into the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order. Any cultivator who has joined them will be charged with the crime of apostasy. Those who come forward with information and repent may be treated with leniency. Those who provide meritorious reports will not be prosecuted. Furthermore, there will be rewards for those who can expose members of the Ascetic Order at the Golden Core realm or higher..."

Dugu Yunfeng was blatantly pinning every possible crime, whether related or not, onto the Ascetic Order. He was setting them up to be the scapegoat.

After he finished speaking, the Divine Thought avatars of the four Divinity Transformation Cultivators vanished.

Their personal attendance to address the matter was already a sign of how seriously they were taking it.

’Stick around to hear your feedback?’

’Any one of them could sweep through this realm. They gave you face by listening to your complaints. Do you think you’re worthy of more?’

And with Dugu Yunfeng’s words, the fate of the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order was sealed.

Joining them meant committing the "crime of apostasy"!

This was a charge that could be either major or minor.

At its most severe, it was boundless. At its least, it was merely straying from the path, something one could be absolved of by simply repenting and returning.

A charge like this was extremely flexible.

But it was also the most difficult to handle.

Because now, the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order would find itself in an incredibly awkward position.

No new recruits would dare to join.

Existing members would be scrambling to sever all ties.

Even core members might betray the order, tempted by the promised rewards and a chance to clear their names.

....

....

「True Source Technology.」

More law enforcement officers had come to search. Including the previous groups, they had shown up three times in one day.

"Everyone, we’re a small business. If you keep searching us multiple times a day, we won’t be able to hold on," Yan Jiulin said with a pained expression.

"It can’t be helped. The higher-ups gave the order, so we have to come. If you want to blame someone, blame those original cultivators from the Ascetic Order," the officer sighed.

After sending them away, a vicious glint flashed in Yan Jiulin’s eyes.

’They’re clearly treating me like a fat sheep to be fleeced by doing this over and over.’

’But I have to endure it for now. If it really becomes unbearable, I’ll have Qu Wuyin pay a visit. That should solve a lot of problems.’

In a pavilion at True Source Technology, Li Yi and Yin Jiushu were looking outside.

"The Nine Nether Punishment Pavilion just left, and now the Celestial Sword Inspection Bureau is here... Don’t they ever get tired of this, day in and day out?" Li Yi leaned against the window, an impatient look on his face.

"They wouldn’t get tired even if they came ten times a day, not when there’s profit to be made," Yin Jiushu said.

"Our things aren’t so easy to take," said Li Yi. "Let’s leave a little something on them. I’ll go have a ’chat’ with them tonight."

Yin Jiushu glanced at Li Yi, then opened her mouth and spat out a still-pulsating fleshy tumor. It split into countless tiny insects in mid-air and flew outward, heading straight for the cultivators from the Celestial Sword Group.

However, halfway there, a hand formed from Spiritual Power intercepted them all, clenching them tightly in its palm.

Yan Jiulin’s figure appeared in the pavilion. With a smile, he said, "This is the only time. Don’t let it happen again."

Li Yi and Yin Jiushu’s breath caught in their throats. They felt as if they had just walked the line between life and death.

Yan Jiulin returned the handful of flesh-insects to Yin Jiushu, then turned and strode away.

Only long after his figure had disappeared did Li Yi and Yin Jiushu dare to breathe again.

"He talks about overthrowing the Celestial Dao Alliance all day long, but what’s he got, that old bastard? We do the job, and he doesn’t even pay up. Who the hell withholds payment for life-risking work? That spineless, skin-flaying ghost! He’ll die at the hands of the Celestial Dao Alliance sooner or later..."

Li Yi spat curses, venting the rage and frustration in his heart.

Yin Jiushu’s eyes also held a hint of dissatisfaction, but she didn’t dare to voice it.

Few in the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order actually believed in overthrowing the Celestial Dao Alliance.

Most of them were just shouting slogans while fighting for their own interests.

Only a few, like Yan Jiulin and Qu Wuyin, were truly working towards that goal.

Now they had succeeded in their mission, but they had been cooped up here for over half a month. The frustration was getting to be too much, and they were naturally starting to lose their patience.

No faith, no principles, and certainly no real goal.

The Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order was just a pile of mud to begin with. Expecting them to accomplish anything great was impossible.

They could only cause trouble and engage in petty, dirty work, but they could never achieve anything truly significant.

......

......

Among the members of the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order who had participated in the incident, Li Yi wasn’t the only one growing impatient.

Normally, the heat from something like this would die down in about five days.

But the situation was different this time. It seemed that because of the previous incident with Ling Xuzi, the Celestial Dao Alliance was getting serious.

Suddenly, everyone within the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order felt their own safety was at risk.

Many wanted to get their money early and run, to lay low until the storm passed.

But Yan Jiulin couldn’t let them go, fearing they would be exposed and ruin his grand plan.

Thus, internal discontent had begun to build.

However, at this moment, Yan Jiulin wasn’t concerned about that.

He had found Zhang Ji and was telling him about the original purpose for founding the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order, as well as the many things they had done over the years.

In his telling, the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order was a guiding light for low-level cultivators, a benevolent organization bringing good news to the world. It was because of their existence that many bottom-tier cultivators had managed to carve out a small space for themselves to cultivate, free from the oppression of the Celestial Dao Alliance.

"Mr. Jiulin, if you have something to say, please say it directly. There’s no need to beat around the bush with me," Zhang Ji said to Yan Jiulin.

He had recently negotiated a partnership with Taiyi-Zero and was ready to go steal the egg and the ambrosia. But the Celestial Dao Alliance had suddenly strengthened the defenses and patrols on the main paths of every heaven, so he hadn’t left yet and was still waiting for an opportunity.

But before the opportunity arrived, Yan Jiulin showed up instead.

He was also very curious about what Yan Jiulin wanted with him at a time like this.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, after the recent incident, I’ve come to understand you quite well. Your abilities are outstanding. Therefore, I recommended you to the Blood Chief. After receiving his approval, we would like to formally invite you to join us and become a [Blood Master] of the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order," said Yan Jiulin.

"A [Blood Master]?"

Zhang Ji’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of surprise on his face.

There were a total of six ranks within the Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order.

At the top was the [Blood Chief], of which there was only one. It used to be Master Yu Yi, but now it was Ling Xuzi.

Next was the [Deputy Blood Chief], the position currently held by Yan Jiulin.

Below that were four more ranks: [Blood Master], [Blood Executor], [Blood Follower], and [Blood Thug].

As for [Blood Masters], Zhang Ji knew of only four in the entire Blood and Flesh Ascetic Order.

Qu Wuyin, Huo Chuan, Cui Wei, and Aunt Liu.

All four were Nascent Soul cultivators. He hadn’t expected to be given such an exceptional promotion.

"I’ve only just arrived. Isn’t it inappropriate for me to assume such an important position?" Zhang Ji asked.

"There’s nothing inappropriate about it. In terms of ability, Fellow Daoist Zhang, your strength is outstanding, and few in the Ascetic Order can match you. In terms of merit, if you hadn’t helped, we wouldn’t have been able to seize so much Star Sand so smoothly. And in terms of belief and standing, Fellow Daoist Zhang, as an Ancient Cultivator, no one in the Ascetic Order can compare to you. We are in dire need of talented people right now. If you can’t serve as a [Blood Master], I’m afraid I’d be hard-pressed to find another suitable candidate," Yan Jiulin said.

Zhang Ji understood as soon as he heard this.

’Yan Jiulin wants to prop me up to challenge the others.’

’It seems there’s some internal conflict within the Ascetic Order. Plus, they really do need a cultivator as outstandingly powerful as me to boost morale right now, so he’s putting me out there as a figurehead... or a target.’

’I’ve certainly come at a good time.’

’Under normal circumstances, even with my strength, I’d probably only have been made a [Blood Executor] at most.’

But now, he had been promoted to the upper management in a single step.

Although he was being set up as a target, Zhang Ji wasn’t going to refuse. This would be an absolute advantage for his future involvement and interference in the Ascetic Order’s affairs.

"Since you’ve put it that way, Mr. Jiulin, it would seem ungrateful of me to refuse." Zhang Ji cupped his fists slightly and said, "In that case, thank you for your recommendation, Mr. Jiulin, and for the Blood Chief’s approval. I will certainly redouble my efforts to live up to expectations and contribute to the Ascetic Order’s goals..."

After some pleasantries, Zhang Ji accepted his new identity, and Yan Jiulin got down to business.

"I am older than you, so I’ll take the liberty of calling you Younger Brother Zhang," Yan Jiulin said to Zhang Ji. "Younger Brother Zhang, you’ve seen it yourself. The Ascetic Order’s situation isn’t good right now. The Celestial Dao Alliance has investigated us several times, and internally, many members don’t understand my difficulties and are dead set on leaving... If they leave at a time like this, wouldn’t they be walking right into the enemy’s mouth? But it’s difficult for me to say so directly. Brother, look, you have the strength and now you have the status. How about you help me persuade them? It would also be a chance for you to make an appearance and let everyone get to know you."

"How does Brother intend for me to persuade them?" Zhang Ji asked, going along with Yan Jiulin’s words.

"It’s very simple," Yan Jiulin said with a faint smile.

.......

"BOOM!"

Zhang Ji shattered his opponent’s Spirit Sword with a single punch, sending the person flying.

He glanced around and said, "Who’s next?"

Yan Jiulin’s method for having Zhang Ji "persuade" everyone was simple. He gathered all the members inside a folding cavern-abode, told them about Zhang Ji’s promotion, and announced that he intended to enter seclusion for a while, leaving all matters at True Source Technology to be handled by Zhang Ji.

At this point, many were already upset by Zhang Ji’s sudden promotion to such a high position. When Yan Jiulin also announced his intention to suddenly go into seclusion, there were, of course, objections.

However, the way to handle these objections was even simpler: Zhang Ji directly stated that anyone who was not convinced could come out and spar with him.

A few late-stage Golden Core cultivators who disliked Zhang Ji and looked down on his status as an Ancient Cultivator decided to challenge him. The result was that he beat them so badly they went into a depressive slump.

In the distance, Huo Chuan and Yan Jiulin were talking.

"This won’t keep them down for long," Huo Chuan said via voice transmission.

"It’s enough. We’ll divert their attention for now and move everything. As for these people, if they want to stay, let them stay," Yan Jiulin said.

He had already made his decision.

’Since a schism has appeared internally, I’ll just cast aside those who are causing it.’

Right now, they had only one goal: to refine the one hundred thousand [Spirit-Suppressing Needles] and prepare for the next phase of their plan to completely topple this Floating City.

After Zhang Ji defeated another Golden Core cultivator, Cui Wei suddenly looked at him.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang’s strength is extraordinary. How about you let me have a try?" Cui Wei said.

Zhang Ji glanced at Cui Wei, then at Yan Jiulin in the distance, and understood the situation.

’So Cui Wei is the one stirring up this internal conflict?’

’I remember from when I played the game, didn’t Cui Wei follow Yan Jiulin’s lead without question?’

’Why is he stirring up internal conflict now?’

’Could it be that he only submitted completely after this incident?’

"Since Fellow Daoist Cui is keen to offer some pointers, then please, be my guest!" Zhang Ji replied.