Chapter 695: Qianmu Temple's Status

The Front Hall of Qianmu Temple.

Liu Shuang was alone in the vast, empty hall. It was time for her to attend the Tri-Council Meeting, so no one would disturb her.

The projection hall for the Tri-Council Meeting was both illusory and real. The lighting was dim, so faint that only the silhouettes of those present were visible. The hall was massive, large enough to seat hundreds, yet only nine of those seats were occupied. These were the nine permanent seats established when the Daoist Palace was founded.

The Qi Yun Sect, one of the nine permanent members, was presiding over this meeting. It was a large sect formed by Northern Loose Cultivators, the majority of whom were Cultivators who had fused with Demon Soldiers. Jointly managed by four Third Realm Cultivators, the sect could be considered a quintessential representative of the Northern Loose Cultivators.

It was worth noting that the sect was originally called the Qitian Sect. The name was changed to the Qi Yun Sect after the Daoist Palace was founded; rumor had it that the original name had earned them a reprimand from certain True Monarchs during a worship ceremony.

“We have three days to select the representatives to patrol the trade routes connecting Zhongzhou and the Western Continent. This is the final deadline the Lords have given us. We must decide on the candidates today. Otherwise, when the Lords find us at fault, none of us will be able to bear the consequences.”

The Qi Yun Sect’s representative was a capable-looking young man. He wore a narrow-sleeved robe of fine brocade, yet his waist was cinched with the plainest of leather belts. He looked very seriously at the other eight representatives. “On behalf of the Qi Yun Sect, I’ll state our position first. We are withdrawing our candidacy for these appointments.”

Everyone was stunned by his last statement. All eyes immediately swept toward the True Yang Sect’s representative, Daoist Hua Yun. Everyone knew the Qi Yun Sect followed the True Yang Sect.

“Allow me to say a few words.”

The representative from the Nine Tripods Sect cleared his throat and said, “The most important sections of this trade route are those in the nations of Hu Mountain and Zhongshan, followed by the shipping lanes of the Southeast Sea Region. These areas have the most direct connection to the Yuqing Sect, Vajra Temple, the Taiyin Sect, and Lishui Prefecture. If disciples from these four powers were to join the patrol roster, it would surely be unfair…”

He was coldly cut off by the Taiyin Sect’s representative before he could finish. Then, as usual, the meeting devolved into endless squabbling.

Liu Shuang didn’t join the argument, as the Nine Tripods Sect was saying the things that were inconvenient for her to say. Since the beginning of the meeting, she had been quietly chatting with Hongze, the representative from Lishui Prefecture seated next to her.

After nearly fifteen minutes of arguing, the representatives of the various sects gradually fell silent. At this point, Hongze ended his chat with Liu Shuang, looked around at the others, and said, “Although what our Fellow Daoist from the Nine Tripods Sect said was a bit harsh, it’s undeniable that he wasn’t wrong…”

His tone and pace quickened as he saw the Vajra Temple representative about to retort. He glared at the representative and said coldly, “I will be responsible for the meeting’s record today. If this matter isn’t resolved within the specified time, we’ll just hand this record in directly. That way, we can avoid getting caught in the crossfire when the Lords come looking to assign blame.”

“Furthermore, on behalf of Lishui Prefecture, I’ll state our position: Lishui Prefecture will also not be taking one of the representative appointments!”

His declaration made the expressions of the Taiyin and Yuqing Sect representatives turn sour. Before either of them could speak, Daoist Hua Yun added, “The True Yang Sect is busy with its own affairs and has no time to handle this matter either.”

This left the representatives from the Taiyin and Yuqing Sects at a loss for words.

Just then, Liu Shuang gave a soft cough, immediately drawing everyone’s attention. Although she had the lowest cultivation level present, and every person in the room was her senior, she was not the least bit intimidated. She said calmly, “In that case, Qianmu Temple will not be participating either. So, that means only the Nine Tripods Sect and the Earth Cave Sect remain.”

She had just dismissed the Taiyin Sect, the Yuqing Sect, and Vajra Temple outright!

Hongze immediately spoke on behalf of Lishui Prefecture, “Then there’s no need to choose further. Just have your two sects jointly send representatives.” He then looked to the Qi Yun Sect’s representative. “Finalize the division of the representatives’ powers and responsibilities as quickly as possible.”

The representatives from the Taiyin Sect, the Yuqing Sect, and Vajra Temple said nothing more. This scene had played out many times at the Tri-Council Meeting. The three of them had few votes to begin with and were not a united front. When Qianmu Temple and the True Yang Sect reached a consensus, their opinions were basically irrelevant.

At this, Daoist Hua Yun stressed, “The order of the Daoist Palace must be upheld by all of us. The resolutions we pass must be resolutely enforced, no matter the circumstances.”

The Vajra Temple representative was the first to respond. “Vajra Temple will, of course, do its utmost to uphold the order of the Daoist Palace. But the rules of commerce must still be respected, no?”

Daoist Hua Yun nodded, her tone laced with a warning. “However, you’d best be aware of what you’re doing. If you take things too far, no one will be able to save you.”

With that, she severed the projection signal.

And just like that, today’s Tri-Council Meeting was over. The process hadn’t been perfect, but the outcome was good.

Liu Shuang let out a distinct sigh as she withdrew from the projection hall. She glanced around the empty hall, then her eyes fell upon the stack of documents piled on the desk before her.

She picked up a document with her left hand while waving her right toward the sealed main doors. The doors immediately swung outward. Two breaths later, a disciple holding an urgent report written on thin bamboo slips walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and announced, “Reporting to the Dean, an urgent dispatch from yesterday has arrived from Mozhou Road.”

“What is it?”

Liu Shuang asked without turning her head, making no move to take the report.

The disciple in the center of the hall replied in a steady voice, “A Third Realm Cultivator from the Earth Cave Sect has perished silently within his own manor.”