Chapter 639: New Swordsmanship

Of the two Core Formation True Men, one was the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, a man of great power and authority.

The other was Ancestor Bai’s direct disciple, once hailed as the most promising candidate to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

After decades in seclusion, he seemed to have shed his old afflictions and taken another step forward.

The few Foundation Establishment Elders present kept their heads bowed, remaining perfectly silent.

The other Core Formation True Men watched the two argue, their expressions varied.

No matter how many negative consequences Longx Longx pointed out, Lii Guizhen had only one response: “They disobey the Upper Sect and show no consideration for the people’s suffering.” He couldn’t be bothered to reply to anything else.

“Senior Brother, I know you worry about the hardships of the common folk and their struggle to survive. I’ve already discussed this with several of our peers. We’ve arranged for the Sect to urgently dispatch ten thousand shi of non-tiered Spirit Rice, one hundred thousand long-burning golden-hemp logs, and Cold-Resistant Tents. It will be enough for them to survive the winter.”

Ma Ruoxi, her face deathly pale, spoke up, for once revealing the posture of a delicate woman. Her voice was hoarse and weak.

“The local powers of the Central Province were never under Qingfeng’s rule before. Senior Brother, your actions are tantamount to punishing without teaching. Besides, there are a thousand paths to the Dao; you can’t force everyone to walk the same road.”

“It’s true there are a thousand paths, but if they aren’t walking alongside us, then why be a Vassal Sect? Have them surrender their Spirit Veins and leave the Central Province. Let them find their own way.”

Lii Guizhen waved his hand grandly, clenching his fist in the air. The motion was sharp and forceful, creating a thunderous boom.

The eyes of several Core Formation True Men lit up. The Ancestor’s two direct disciples were actually arguing head-to-head, and right in front of Ancestor Bai himself!

Lu Songx couldn’t help but jump in with a comment. Others began to chime in, and the argument gradually grew more heated.

Just as it became clear that no one could convince anyone else and their voices grew louder, a clear, ethereal sound echoed from the dais, distant and profound, making everyone’s heart tremble.

“Ancestor, forgive our transgressions. We have lost our composure in your presence.”

Everyone knelt and prostrated themselves. Though the Ancestor had let them act on their own without interfering recently, he was still a Nascent Soul True Monarch whose Mysterious Celestial Might was beyond prediction. Who could truly know what he was thinking?

“Suqing, how is your research on the Qii Mountain Array coming along?”

Bai Zichen’s finger lifted from the Exquisite Primordial Pagoda as he asked a completely unrelated question.

If he were at Core Formation Perfection or had just reached the Nascent Soul realm, he might have been interested in the disciples’ debate below.

Trying to correct the Sect’s direction, discipline the disciples’ habits, and exert influence as a behind-the-scenes master was the norm for most Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

But Bai Zichen’s situation was different. He had already reached the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul realm while his peers were still stuck at Core Formation.

His true combat prowess ranked among the very best of the Great True Monarchs in the entire Cultivation Realm.

The ethereal and distant Divinity Transformation Realm was, for him, a challenge he would have to face before long.

It was foreseeable that he would possess a long life spanning several millennia, allowing him to calmly watch the Qingfeng Sect’s fortunes ebb and flow.

The differing philosophies and directions of the Sect Disciples were not of great consequence.

Ups and downs, prosperity and decline.

Even if they went down the wrong path, with him there, he could correct it in the snap of a finger.

“Replying to the Ancestor, the Nine Palace Ruins Array is infinitely profound. Fortunately, with the complete set of Array Books and the Holy Lotus Sect’s array inheritance, I’ve managed to comprehend a small part of it.”

After reaching Core Formation, the flaws in Zhou Suqing’s Spiritual Root became glaringly obvious, and her cultivation speed became extremely slow.

Her main focus, the Array Dao, was stuck at the Tier Three Peak. Limited by her cultivation, she couldn’t find an opportunity to break through, so she simply spent her time on other pursuits.

A Tier Three Alchemist, a Tier Three Refiner, a Tier Three Talisman Master—she had even made achievements in the puppet inheritance that Bai Zichen had later placed in the Transmission Hall, becoming the Sect’s first Tier Three Puppet Master.

She was, without a doubt, a true polymath. It would be difficult to find a similar individual in the entire Northern Domain, proving her natural talent and comprehension in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

In other words, aside from cultivation speed and combat, her talent in all other categories was top-tier.

The Dragon Transformation Scripture that Bai Zichen had taught her was considered an extremely difficult cultivation technique to master, yet it didn’t cause her much trouble. What limited her cultivation progress was primarily the efficiency of refining Spiritual Qi and the time needed to grind through and break realms.

Her learning speed for various magic and Divine Techniques was also not slow.

“I estimate that within five years, I can achieve a substantial breakthrough and reach the Tier Four Array Dao… However, the Grand Array is too damaged. The amount of Spiritual Materials needed to repair it is staggering. I checked the Sect’s treasury, and we have at most half of what’s required.”

Given Zhou Suqing’s personality, for her to say this meant she was already quite confident.

“Good. Make a list. I will see if I can cover the shortfall. If that’s not enough, we’ll have people acquire the rest externally. Also, the spoils from the Holy Lotus Sect—after they are inventoried, you will have priority access for what you need to repair the array. As long as you can restore the Nine Palace Ruins Array to Tier Four within five years, I will grant you the right to use the Soul-Catching and Spirit-Diminishing Bell.”

Bai Zichen nodded in satisfaction, not thinking that his promise would cause much of a stir.

All eyes turned to Zhou Suqing, filled with shock, envy, and other emotions.

In the entire Qingfeng Sect, aside from the two Nascent Soul Ancestors, no one else possessed a Spiritual Treasure.

Even if it was only the right to use the Soul-Catching and Spirit-Diminishing Bell, and not true ownership—meaning that after Zhou Suqing passed away, the Spiritual Treasure would have to be returned to the Sect and couldn’t be passed down to her descendants or disciples as she wished—it was still enough to make the Core Formation True Men burn with envy.

The Soul-Catching and Spirit-Diminishing Bell was, of course, a Spiritual Treasure needed to suppress the Grand Array. And Zhou Suqing, with only her Mid-Stage Core Formation cultivation, lacked the strength to truly activate it. However, once the Grand Array was fully restored, the Spiritual Treasure would be freed from its duty.

Being unable to use it freely didn’t mean it couldn’t be activated with a Secret Technique to unleash a single, ultimate strike by borrowing the Spiritual Treasure’s power.

Furthermore, refining the Spiritual Treasure and keeping it by her side for a long time would bring immense benefits to a Core Formation Cultivator.

“I will not fail the Ancestor’s expectations.”

Zhou Suqing bowed slightly, not showing much joy on her face, but in her heart, she had already decided to apply for a permanent post at Qii Mountain.

Here, there was a Tier Four Array to study and a Spiritual Treasure to command. The Array Dao and Battle Array texts obtained from the Holy Lotus Sect would take decades to get through at the very least.

Staying here was much better for her development than remaining at Black Mountain.

“As for the Holy Lotus Sect captives, deal with them according to the plan you submitted last time. Hong Xuan performed a great service in retaking the Central Province. Appoint him as an Honored Guest Elder and permit him to choose a Tier Three Spirit Vein on the outskirts of Qii Mountain as his personal Dao field.”

In the past, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who joined the Sect with their skills could have obtained the status of an Elder.

But things were different now. Even with confirmation that Hong Xuan had been communicating with the Qingfeng Sect in advance, Bai Zichen only granted him the status of an Honored Guest Elder, the same as Qi Yue’s Dao Companion.

If an exception were to be made and he were to be recruited into the Sect, that precedent would have to be set by Senior Brother Ge Cang, allowing him to repay that old favor.

“As for the other two Core Formation Elders, sentence them, along with their direct disciples, to hard labor. They will only regain their freedom after one hundred years.”

Elder Ke, who was in charge of the Holy Lotus Sect’s Grand Library, had originally agreed with Hong Xuan to defect together. Unexpectedly, he had also been secretly contacting a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons.

The Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, as the Holy Lotus Sect’s sworn enemy, had always secretly planted agents in the Central Province. After the Holy Lotus Sect’s fall, a certain True Monarch Gou Wen had even snuck to Qii Mountain, hoping to pick up some scraps.

Before he could even truly set foot on Qii Mountain, Bai Zichen’s Divine Sense detected him and met him head-on.

Upon recognizing who he was facing, True Monarch Gou Wen’s expression changed dramatically. Before he could make another move, he turned and fled.

This left Bai Zichen feeling quite bored; he had thought he might get to stretch his muscles a bit.

He didn’t know what was up with this Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, who dared to come to Qii Mountain only to flee in panic after seeing him.

During the subsequent handover of the Grand Library, Elder Ke was diligent and responsible. Not only did he not shirk his duties in the slightest, but he was also extremely cooperative.

But the mistake had already been made, so naturally, he would not receive the same treatment as Hong Xuan.

Of the Holy Lotus Sect’s five Core Formation Elders, besides Hong Xuan, one had died at Bai Zichen’s hands in the Medicine Garden Secret Realm, and another had put up a futile resistance when the Celestial Principle Sect was clearing Qii Mountain and was slapped to death by Le Zheng.

The remaining ones, Elder Ke and another Elder by the surname of Tian, saw that the situation was hopeless and decisively surrendered.

“Furthermore, issue a decree to all Sect-like powers within the twelve prefectures of the Central Province. Within the territory governed by the Qingfeng Sect, the normal operation of Sects that recruit disciples on a large scale, impart teachings, and carry on a lineage is forbidden. You can be a Cultivation Family, you can be a lone master with a single apprentice, you can be a Loose Cultivator Organization—the one thing you cannot be is a proper Sect.”

“Considering the recent natural disasters and the man-made calamity of the Holy Lotus Sect, we can permit them to continue for another three generations… After that, they must either move out of the Central Province or change their model. Guizhen, you will handle this matter. I trust they will not dare to ignore you.”

Bai Zichen seemed to have thought of this matter suddenly, casually singling out Lii Guizhen to give the order.

The assembled Elders nodded in acknowledgment. This was the one thing the disciples of the Qingfeng Sect could never understand: why a Sect that was so magnanimous and generous in all other respects was so domineering and merciless on this single point.

Fortunately, Ancestor Bai hadn’t made a clean sweep of it, giving them the condition of three generations before retracting the privilege. Otherwise, he would be forcing all those minor and medium-sized Sects to their deaths.

“Lii Guizhen, Ma Ruoxi, you will stay. The rest of you may leave if there is nothing else.”

The group filed out of the hall. Only after they were a good distance away did they start to breathe again, and someone finally dared to speak.

“I never expected the Central Province would also have to follow this rule. I thought an exception would be made, but it seems there’s no escaping it…”

Lian Liangpu was junior and hadn’t been around when they had first taken Hejian County and dealt with the Sects there, so he didn’t understand the necessity of this policy.

“This is a fundamental principle of our Sect; it cannot be changed… Three generations isn’t necessarily a short time. It can pass in as little as twenty or thirty years, or it could span several centuries.”

Qi Yue shook his head, his expression grim. Every prefecture in the Central Province had Core Formation Level Sects. The workload would be immense.

“Looking at it this way, Lii Guizhen having a falling out with the local powers isn’t such a bad thing…”

Bai Zichen paid no mind to the divisions and secret struggles between his two disciples. Instead, he prepared to pass down the fruits of his hard work and fulfill his duty as a master.

“For the past few years, I have been contemplating how to merge my own Great Dao with my swordsmanship, but I was never satisfied with the results. It wasn’t until the battle atop Qii Mountain that I found my opportunity. This swordsmanship is based on a strand of Sword Intent I absorbed back in the Tianhe Sword Sect Secret Realm. It also incorporates the Time True Intent, evolving through all celestial phenomena and seasonal changes.”

“Neither of you comprehends the Time True Intent, so learning this swordsmanship will be relatively difficult to start. However, as it is the proudest creation of my Sword Dao in recent years, not to pass it on to you would make me seem like a selfish master.”

Countless points of Sword Light rose and fell in Bai Zichen’s palm. A microcosm of the heavens evolved within his hand, a world of the sword revealing itself.

“Therefore, I have named it the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Swordsmanship.”