Chapter 639: Cultivators from All Over the World Gather at Qianmu Temple

Chapter 639: Chapter 119: Cultivators from All Over the World Gather at Qianmu Temple

The arguments dragged on for longer than expected. They started in Wang Ping’s Dao Field but eventually moved to the front hall of Qianmu Temple as more and more Northern Cultivators arrived to visit.

This was the opportunity Wang Ping had been waiting for to unify Zhongzhou. As long as these people could come to an agreement, it was only a matter of time before the turmoil in Zhongzhou came to an end.

Half a month passed, and the various factions were still arguing. However, they had finally managed to settle the division of territory in the Southeast Sea Region. Next up was the most chaotic area: True Yang Mountain. As the central region of Zhongzhou, the arguments over it were expected to last even longer.

Every day, Wang Ping would appear in the main hall at 7:00 AM sharp. He would listen quietly to their arguments until 5:00 PM, at which point he would leave. After his departure, the representatives from the various factions would also take their leave, one after another, to find their allies and strategize on how to secure greater interests in the following day’s meeting.

Zhonghui County Town.

The county town was extraordinarily bustling during this time. In both the Inner City and the outer city, lights burned all through the night.

Especially between 5:00 PM and 9 p.m. each day, the city’s central square was so crowded it was hard to move. Most of the people were Qi Cultivators who had rushed over from other places, all hoping to find an opportunity for cultivation. After all, Qianmu Temple currently hosted dozens of Third Realm Cultivators and several hundred Second Realm Cultivators.

More importantly, word was spreading throughout the Cultivation Realm that Qianmu Temple intended to lead the re-establishment of the Daoist Scripture Hall!

This was a momentous event destined to be recorded in the history of the Human Dao. Upon hearing the news, Qi Cultivators near Qianmu Temple immediately dropped whatever they were doing and rushed to Zhonghui County Town. After some consideration, most Qi Cultivators from other regions made the same decision.

The once-chaotic state of the realm suddenly grew quiet. Everyone was waiting for the final outcome from Qianmu Temple, though some ambitious individuals were still stirring restlessly in the shadows.

No major conflicts broke out in the bustling city, as over a hundred Second Realm Cultivators were maintaining order in Zhonghui. Some areas were even overseen by Third Realm Cultivators.

Xia Wen Yi had put Leng Kezhen in charge of security for Zhonghui County Town. This was Leng Kezhen’s specialty, so he handled it with ease. Every evening, after his patrol duty ended around 7:00 PM, he had a habit of going to a lamb soup restaurant deep within a nameless alley outside the city for a bowl of soup.

Tonight was no exception. But just as he sat down, someone appeared silently beside him, making all the hairs on his body stand on end. When he saw who it was, however, he broke into a smile. “So, it’s Fellow Daoist Qiuwang!”

“What a coincidence!”

Qiuwang was wearing the soft armor of a Prefecture Army Commander. He and Leng Kezhen were responsible for Zhonghui’s security, one acting openly and the other in the shadows. After greeting Leng Kezhen, he sat down opposite him, produced a wine jar from his storage pouch, and asked, “Care for some wine?”

“What a fragrant wine! It has such a rich, aged aroma!” Leng Kezhen accepted enthusiastically, though inwardly he was wondering why the other man had sought him out. ‘He wouldn’t be foolish enough to think this is just a coincidence.’

“This is hundred-year-old yellow wine from the cellar in Changqing Zhenren’s Dao Field. I heard he brewed it himself when he broke through to the Third Realm,” Qiuwang said with a chuckle, then gestured for a nearby attendant to bring over some bowls.

Leng Kezhen’s interest was piqued. After first meeting Qiuwang, he had made some inquiries and learned about the man’s past. Qiuwang had initially been a hostage at Qianmu Temple for a time. Later, as the temple grew in power, they sent him back to the Single Saber Sect and propped him up as its Sect Leader.

Leng Kezhen did a quick mental calculation. ‘When he was a hostage at Qianmu Temple, that was right when their third-generation disciples were coming of age. His relationship with them must be anything but ordinary.’

At this thought, Leng Kezhen’s expression grew even warmer.

Before they knew it, the wine jar was empty and they had both finished their bowls of lamb soup. Qiuwang insisted on paying. Afterward, the two walked toward the Inner City, following the patrol route.

When they reached the barbican of the Inner City wall, Qiuwang extended an invitation. “Fellow Daoist, would you care to join me for a cup of tea at my place?”

Naturally, Leng Kezhen did not refuse.

Qiuwang set up a tea table at a lookout on the city wall. Gazing out at the bustling Zhonghui County Town, he remarked, “After all this, the realm should finally find stability after nearly two hundred years of turmoil.”

“You have a plan, Fellow Daoist Qiuwang?”

“To be frank, Fellow Daoist Leng, I used to have some operations in True Yang Mountain. But they were all destroyed not long ago during the conflict with Lishui Prefecture… My ambitions are actually quite modest. I just want to build up some resources in preparation for the Third Realm. That lawless land of True Yang Mountain has everything, as long as one is bold enough!”

Qiuwang sighed wistfully, then changed the subject. “The day before yesterday, I went to see Brother Xia specifically. Perhaps in recognition of the small contributions I’ve made in True Yang Mountain over the years, he promised to help me secure a new Dao Field in a location with excellent Spiritual Qi.”

“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!”

Leng Kezhen said, a hint of envy in his voice, as his mind raced to decipher the other man’s intentions.

Qiuwang chuckled, a flash of pride quickly vanishing from his face. He cupped his hands and said, “I was wondering if you, Fellow Daoist, had any interest in going to True Yang Mountain to try our luck together.”

The abrupt question caught Leng Kezhen by surprise.

Qiuwang adopted a more deferential tone and continued, “I know this invitation is sudden, but I also know that you, Fellow Daoist, are planning your path to the Third Realm. Since that is the case, why not join me in True Yang Mountain? With your knowledge of the north, we…”

He left the rest unsaid, finishing with a sly chuckle.

Leng Kezhen was tempted. The whole reason he had sided with Wang Ping was to leverage Qianmu Temple’s influence to reach the Third Realm. The war with Lishui Prefecture had already allowed him to gather a third of the necessary materials and spiritual essence. If he were to make a few moves in True Yang Mountain, obtaining the rest would surely not be a problem.

But…

“My hands are tied at the moment.”

“Don’t worry, Fellow Daoist. I’ll speak with Brother Xia. Those bastards from the north are doing everything they can to scheme against the Southern Cultivation Realm, so it’s only natural that Changqing Zhenren would make plans for the Northern Cultivation Realm in return. The True Man might even help us break through to the Third Realm. But all of this depends on one condition. You understand?”

Leng Kezhen understood, of course. He couldn’t help but raise his head to look toward the dark silhouette of Qianmu Mountain.

Qianmu Mountain looked the same as always. As night fell, the outer sect disciples went to sleep on schedule, restoring their energy for the next day’s cultivation, while the Inner Sect Disciples were deep in meditation.

「Two more months passed.」

Wang Ping’s progress in cultivating his Primordial Spirit had advanced a bit more, reaching (47/100). The data gathered by the Qi Fortune Array had also increased by two points, reaching (6/100). However, this had consumed an entire set of array materials. Fortunately, it was only a basic array; otherwise, at this rate of consumption, even he would soon find his resources stretched thin.

After two months of debate, the basic structure of the Daoist Palace was finally decided. Its charter was nearly identical to that of the Daoist Scripture Hall, with six seats still governing the Cultivators of Zhongzhou.

All the articles of the charter had been agreed upon smoothly, but they ended up getting stuck on the final issue: the location of the headquarters.

The Northern Cultivation Realm naturally refused to recognize the Daoist Palace Headquarters in Jinhuai City, as did the cultivators of the Northwest Region. The cultivators from the Southeast Sea Region, however, remained silent, as they stood to benefit regardless of the outcome of the argument.