Chapter 181: A Hidden Piece Is Only Used Once

Chapter 181: Chapter 181: A Hidden Piece Is Only Used Once

Bian Beichen, a Steward Elder of the Celestial Sect.

Given his Soul Emergence Realm Tier Eight cultivation, abilities, and many years of contributions, he should have been qualified to join the Sect Elder Council. However, in a Major Sect like the Celestial Sect, with a legacy spanning millennia, the internal factional struggles were every bit as fierce as the political battles in a mortal imperial court.

It was all because his uncle’s faction had supported Hu Jishan’s rival before Hu Jishan was chosen as Sect Leader. After Hu Jishan came to power, he vehemently suppressed Bian Beichen’s faction.

Bian Beichen was just an innocent victim caught in the crossfire.

No matter how much he contributed to the Sect, he could never enter the inner circle.

Not only that, but over the years, the Sect’s most arduous and thankless tasks always fell to him.

Over time, he grew disheartened with the Celestial Sect under Hu Jishan’s leadership.

He began dedicating more of his time to his Cultivation.

Three years ago, on a chance trip down the mountain to procure supplies, he met Ji Bufan, the Head Shopkeeper of the Bu Huang Grain Store. As they chatted idly, their conversation grew more and more engaging, until they developed a mutual admiration, even feeling they should have met much sooner.

From then on, Bian Beichen often went down the mountain to drink and talk about life with Ji Bufan.

Moreover, this Ji Bufan possessed profound insights into both strategy and the Martial Dao.

Ji Bufan was also incredibly generous. Never mind gold and silver—even his personal Treasure Vault was open to Bian Beichen.

Whether it was the High Tier weapons in the Treasure Vault or the rare, unique Martial Technique manuals he had collected, Bian Beichen was free to choose anything that caught his eye.

At first, Bian Beichen remained somewhat wary, but he was gradually moved by Ji Bufan’s sincerity.

Furthermore, Ji Bufan never asked Bian Beichen to do anything for him; he didn’t even inquire about Bian Beichen’s identity.

But with Ji Bufan’s help, Bian Beichen not only obtained a Celestial Grade Middle Class Sword Manual, but he also spent three years mastering it to the stage of Great Success.

At this point, even if Ji Bufan did have some ulterior motive—which seemed impossible—Bian Beichen would have willingly gone through fire and water for him.

They say a true confidant is hard to find in life. Bian Beichen felt that Ji Bufan was that confidant.

One day, as Bian Beichen was in his private chamber focused on his Cultivation, his disciple suddenly reported that Ji Bufan had sent someone with a letter.

Bian Beichen dared not tarry. After all, in three years, he had always been the one to seek out Ji Bufan. For Ji Bufan to take the initiative—and to send a messenger with a letter at that—was a first.

He hastily opened the letter and began to read.

After reading the letter, his hands couldn’t help but tremble.

"Master, what did Uncle Ji say in the letter?"

"The Sect Leader is dead. He was ambushed in Wangyue Valley on Taiyue Mountain by the people of Red Blood Mansion. None of the Elders or disciples who accompanied the Sect Leader to the Tengxing Grand Assembly survived," Bian Beichen said.

"Hmph, he got what he deserved!" Bian Beichen’s disciple retorted.

"Silence!" Bian Beichen snapped.

"Master, after all these years of how Hu Jishan has treated you, haven’t you had enough? Our Grandmaster supported someone else back then, but what does that have to do with you? Why did he have to suppress you for so many years? Many disciples in the Sect secretly say you’ve been given a raw deal. Even I have tried to persuade you to leave the Celestial Sect and forge your own path."

This time, Bian Beichen didn’t rebuke his disciple. Instead, he fell into a deep contemplation, his gaze profound.

Seeing this, his disciple fanned the flames. "Master, with Hu Jishan dead, you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. No matter who takes over as Sect Leader, a position as an Elder should be waiting for you."

"An Elder position... I stopped caring about that long ago," Bian Beichen said, though he didn’t mean it.

"Master, since Uncle Ji sent you this letter, I imagine it wasn’t just to inform you of Hu Jishan’s death, was it? Uncle Ji is a Great Power. Did he say anything else in the letter?"

"See for yourself."

Bian Beichen handed the letter to his disciple. In truth, he was struggling to make a decision.

After the disciple finished reading, a flash of cunning flickered in his eyes before vanishing.

He held the letter directly over a candle flame, and after it had turned completely to ash, he said, "Master, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if it’s my place."

"It’s just the two of us here, master and disciple. Speak your mind."

"Master, I believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Why don’t you take things a step further?"

"What do you mean?"

"Uncle Ji’s letter only tells you to choose your side carefully, to decide whom to support as the new Sect Leader. But I think... why couldn’t you take the Sect Leader’s position for yourself?"

"Nonsense! Do not speak of this again!" Bian Beichen roared again.

"Master, the Supreme Elder is Hu Jishan’s grandfather, and the Old Ancestor secluded in the Spirit Vein also has ties to Hu Jishan. If you were to find a way to let the Great Elder learn about what happened on Taiyue Mountain through certain channels, the Great Elder would surely inform the Supreme Elder. And once the Supreme Elder knows... you haven’t forgotten what happened over thirty years ago, have you, Master?"

Of course, Bian Beichen hadn’t forgotten the events of thirty years ago. If the Supreme Elder hadn’t been so biased in protecting his own, how could Hu Jishan have ever become Sect Leader?

"But if the Celestial Sect loses these two Stabilizing Needles, our Sect’s standing will..." Bian Beichen understood his disciple’s meaning perfectly well, but he still worried for the Sect’s legacy and well-being.

The disciple smiled and said, "Master, Uncle Ji’s letter mentioned that it wasn’t just our Celestial Sect’s Leader and disciples who were killed by Red Blood Mansion in Wangyue Valley. If the Supreme Elder and the Old Ancestor truly lead a force to Three Mountains Island and wipe out Red Blood Mansion, the Celestial Sect can simply focus on recuperating. I’m sure the other sects will remember the favor the Celestial Sect has done them."

Seeing his master still hesitating, the disciple pressed on. "Master, think about how you’ve been treated all these years. Let’s take a step back—even if the Celestial Sect falls to a Second-tier or even a third-class Sect, so what? In that Celestial Sect, your word would be law. How would its rank matter? It would still be better than being stuck here, enduring endless suppression, wouldn’t it?"

Hearing his disciple’s bewitching words, Bian Beichen finally made up his mind.

One hour later, news that Sect Leader Hu Jishan, two Elders, and ten disciples had met a tragic end at the hands of Red Blood Mansion on Taiyue Mountain had spread throughout the entire Celestial Sect.

The Great Elder rang the Heaven-Sounding Bell, summoning all Elders and Steward Elders present in the sect to the Celestial Unity Hall.

They were to discuss how to respond to the crisis.

The crowd devolved into a chaotic argument with no good solution in sight. Feeling the time was right, Bian Beichen stepped forward and said, "Rather than argue endlessly here, we should report this matter to the Supreme Elder. His Eminence has experienced countless things in his life; he is sure to have some sound advice."

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder immediately made a decision: they would report the matter to the Supreme Elder and let him decide.

However, half an hour later, the Supreme Elder emerged in a towering rage. He urgently commanded the Great Elder to summon all Celestial Sect disciples at the Heartbeat Realm or higher to march on Three Mountains Island.

A summons of this magnitude naturally alarmed the Old Ancestor. When he heard what had happened, he fell into a thunderous rage. In the thousands of years of the Eastern Domain’s history, never had a Sect Leader and Elders been schemed against and slaughtered. If they didn’t retaliate and reclaim their honor, how could the Celestial Sect ever maintain its footing in the Eastern Domain again?

And so, the Old Ancestor, willing to expend the last of his life force, led the Supreme Elder and a mighty contingent of over one thousand Celestial Sect members at the Heartbeat Realm or above, and they set off for Celestial Wave Lake.