The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings

Chapter 1518: Chapter 1466 – Chapter 1467: Storm Brewing, Internal Strife in Shen Xiao Chapter 1518: Chapter 1466 – Chapter 1467: Storm Brewing, Internal Strife in Shen Xiao For Pang Hong, his greatest desire wasn’t to engage in the struggle for power and profit; rather, he wished to devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivation, just like his mentor. Had it not been for the need to alleviate his mentor’s worries, he would never have been willing to manage the affairs of the Shenxiao Sect.

Now that the Shenxiao Sect had grown, he could very well retire after achieving success and leave everything to others, withdrawing to a position behind the scenes.

When Pang Hong spoke these words, there was a sense of uniformity because he was unsure whether he would gain Yu Zhenzi’s agreement and approval, especially at this particular moment.

He had thought that Yu Zhenzi would oppose his decision, but to his surprise, not only did Yu Zhenzi not oppose, he understood Pang Hong’s consideration very well.

He said, “Actually, I should have said this earlier, but there was never a chance to.”

Yu Zhenzi had long harbored the idea of letting Pang Hong step down from his position as the Shenxiao Head Teacher and retreat to seclusion. In fact, from the beginning, it was his own desire to retire alongside him.

Yet, this idea had also lingered uncertainly in Yu Zhenzi’s mind, without the opportunity to be expressed, partially because everyone stood on different grounds and could not genuinely empathize with each other.

For example, the position Pang Hong currently held was one of significant authority in this world, a position many True Immortals, and even those nearing the level of a Taoist Monarch, would look upon with extreme envy.

As one of the few top immortal sects in the Divine Land World, the Shenxiao Sect’s favored fortune and cultivation blessings were beyond what other powerhouses could possess.

These were merely the overt advantages; there were other, more intangible benefits, along with various additional influences that were difficult to articulate all at once.

Yu Zhenzi felt he could relinquish his authority because his position no longer significantly benefited his cultivation and had even become a burden, hence the rise of the idea to retire.

However, the position of the Shenxiao Sect Leader was different. The inherent authority, fortune, and cultivation blessings were somewhat beneficial even to True Immortals of the Seventh Layer, and it was only figures like Taoist Monarchs who disdained such things and left them to their disciples.

In today’s world of the Shen Xiao, apart from those top immortal sects, the Lord Sheng and other Taoist Monarchs relinquished their Sect Leader positions not out of reluctance to lose face. They did not wish to engage in an equal dialogue with a junior like Pang Hong and thus gave up their Sect Leader roles; otherwise, fear still remained among them about passing on the mantle.

This was also why many top sect powerhouses, though less powerful than a Taoist Monarch, considered themselves equal and were unwilling to lose face over material possessions, thus opting to pass on their positions.

But for these top sect powerhouses who minded their reputation, for the slightly less prominent True Immortals, such considerations were unnecessary.

Facing a powerful figure like the Longevity Taoist Monarch, they readily acknowledged their inferiority and never harbored delusions of standing shoulder to shoulder, let alone the naive belief that they were on the same level.

Therefore, the Longevity Taoist Monarch, uncompelled by attachment to the position, could pass on the role of Sect Leader to his disciple without affecting them, and they themselves were still unwilling to renounce their status and the attached benefits.

Such a tempting proposition moved many True Immortals, and Yu Zhenzi couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t sway Pang Hong. Thus, unless Pang Hong himself proposed stepping down, Yu Zhenzi would never bring up the matter.

Now, hearing Pang Hong’s intention to vacate his position, Yu Zhenzi had not the slightest intent to obstruct and was, in fact, readily approving.

“However, in the end, this is not for us to decide. We still need to see what the Taoist Monarch thinks and if Shi Tou agrees with this matter,” Yu Zhenzi told Pang Hong.

Pang Hong’s occupancy of this position wasn’t solely due to other factors but was also in no small part due to the support and approval of the Longevity Taoist Monarch. In other words, anyone wanting to sit as Sect Leader of the Shenxiao Sect required the Taoist Monarch’s approval.

Therefore, even if the two of them had now reached an agreement, ultimately, whether Pang Hong could step down from this position still required the Taoist Monarch’s approval.

However, in Pang Hong’s view, this issue was not significant, for he felt confident in his understanding of his master. As long as he brought it up, regarding such a matter, his master would not have any objections.

“Before getting my master’s approval, I would like to discuss this with a few of my senior uncles. After all, they have supported me so much; I can’t just step down without saying a word,” said Pang Hong with a smile, a sense of relief apparent in his demeanor.

Once, he thought the stronger he became, the freer he would be. But when he truly became powerful, he realized it was not as he had imagined. As the saying goes, “You can’t help but be caught up in the martial arts world.” As you grow stronger, you unintentionally start affecting many people, who in turn become your restraints, binding you.

Sometimes, Pang Hong even wondered if there truly was anyone who lived unbound, without any restrictions, and completely free.

Standing at the pinnacle of the Divine Land World, he felt not the slightest freedom. And the many strong individuals he knew–whether on his level, weaker, or stronger–all seemed to lack absolute freedom.