Chapter 670: Second Seat Meeting

No one had answered Wang Ping’s question, so he turned to Master Kaiyun. “I recall that Vajra Temple has three masters who have been idle for quite some time. How about we add them to the contingency plan?”

“The Saint is merciful!”

Master Kaiyun maintained a Buddhist single-hand salute and said with a gentle laugh, “Vajra Temple will, of course, give its full support to the Daoist Palace. However, we also have the duty of monitoring the spiritual energies of the Western Continent. If my senior brothers were to leave rashly and cause a disturbance in the spiritual energies there…”

Before Master Kaiyun could finish, Rongyang Monarch cut in bluntly, “As long as your Vajra Temple doesn’t stir up trouble, the spiritual energies of the Western Continent won’t be disturbed. Master, everyone present is intelligent. Can you please stop with these childish excuses?”

Wang Ping glanced at Rongyang Monarch. ‘Judging from recent events, the True Yang Sect really does see me as an ally,’ he thought.

In response to Rongyang Monarch’s tirade, Master Kaiyun simply smiled without saying a word.

“Everyone, if we keep shirking our responsibilities, another rebellion is bound to break out on the front lines. When extraterrestrial beings descend upon our reality, you are the ones who will have to face them. Why bother with all this?”

A gentle female voice spoke up. It was Buqiong, one of the two Star Gods among the nine seats. Like the other Star God, she wore black, narrow-sleeved combat Soft Armor. Half of her face was a void, as if it didn’t exist, but a closer look revealed it to be in a gray, hidden state.

The other Star God, Mansu, who was seated beside Buqiong, now looked at Wang Ping. “Since Fellow Daoist Changqing has already agreed to do his best, I am willing to lend my strength. When the time comes, I will accompany you.”

“Good! Then it’s settled.”

Master Kaiyun finalized the matter in his capacity as the Chief Presider. Wang Ping glanced at Mansu and Buqiong. ‘Their primary concern is the battle on the front lines,’ he noted. ‘They clearly have no interest in the others’ disputes.’

Currently, of the nine members of the Daoist Palace’s second echelon, besides those two, the Mystic Sect and the Heaven Sect each had one representative.

“Now, for the third matter.”

Master Kaiyun brought up the next item with a smile. “The third matter is the issue of the trade route between the Western Continent and Zhongzhou being cut off by Hu Mountain Country. We must reach a conclusion today, as this concerns the critical task of consolidating and transporting supplies to the front lines.”

Supplies for the front lines were first consolidated at the True Yang Sect, then collected by the Star God Alliance. This custom was established back in the era of the Daoist Scripture Hall. The True Yang Sect had demanded Fuming Prefecture from Wang Ping precisely because they wanted to shift this consolidation point southward; the Northern Country was simply too far from the Western Continent.

But Master Kaiyun’s question was complicated. The trade route had been cut off by the ongoing war between the Taiyin Sect and the Yuqing Sect. More than three hundred years had passed since the conflict between them first erupted on the eve of Xiao Shan Lord’s promotion, and the fighting had yet to cease.

“So, when is the little squabble between your two sects going to end?” Ao Hong asked, looking mockingly at Cang Ji Prefect of the Taiyin Sect and Yu Xing Monarch of the Yuqing Sect.

“According to the established rules, we cannot interfere in disputes among the younger generation,” Cang Ji retorted coldly, his tone implying the matter had nothing to do with him.

Yu Xing Monarch, however, remained completely silent, as if they hadn’t heard Ao Hong’s taunt at all.

The Daoist Palace had a rule forbidding Fourth Realm Cultivators from interfering in disputes precisely because if they did, the conflict would immediately engulf the entire world. There were historical precedents for this.

However, to say they hadn’t interfered was merely a case of deluding themselves.

Master Kaiyun then looked around at the assembly. “I have an idea,” he said. “I propose that we form an observation team in the name of the Daoist Palace. We can dispatch a Third Realm Cultivator to oversee transport and communications along the north-south trade route.”

He had absolutely no intention of mediating the dispute between the Taiyin Sect and the Yuqing Sect.

Ao Hong nodded. “That’s not a bad idea. So, who will be responsible for forming this observation team?”

Master Kaiyun replied breezily, “Let’s leave it for the third echelon to discuss. How about we give them one month?”

The matter was then put to the council.

As expected, the proposal was met with unanimous agreement.

“Well then, let us continue to the next item on the agenda… the matter of suppressing the rebellion led by Wei Kong and his Squad B-78. This issue has dragged on for nearly ten years, causing morale on the front lines to plummet. In recent years, quite a few have even secretly deserted to join him. However, this must be handled with caution. We must try to avoid taking Wei Kong’s life.”

As Master Kaiyun spoke, he looked toward the two Star Gods in attendance.

Mansu immediately declared his stance. “You are all being far too cautious. There’s no need to spare Wei Kong’s life. From the moment he defected, his fate was sealed. He deserves to be executed!”

His opinion surprised Wang Ping.

Buqiong added her view, “His defection led to the deaths of over a dozen Third Realm Cultivators and the assimilation of several dozen Second Realm Star Gods. If I find him, I will make him wish he were dead, and then I will let him die in despair and repentance!”

Master Kaiyun replied with that same smile, “This is a request from the Alliance Leaders. They want to execute Wei Kong publicly.”

The ‘Alliance’ he mentioned was the Star God Alliance.

Buqiong said coldly, “He’s getting off easy. If not for him, the front lines wouldn’t be in such a critical state.”

Rongyang Monarch interjected, “Have they found any trace of him?”

Master Kaiyun shook his head, replying with a hint of regret, “I was supposed to handle this myself, but my term as Chief Presider ends after this meeting. It would be inappropriate for me to continue with this matter afterward…”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Wang Ping.

“Fellow Daoist Changqing doesn’t have any disciples familiar with combat in outer space, does he? Are you handing this to him because you intend to let the matter drop? I’m starting to suspect you’ve been bought off by that bastard Wei Kong!”

Ao Hong threw a heavy accusation at Master Kaiyun.

Master Kaiyun’s expression immediately turned serious. “Fellow Daoist, do not make such jokes.”

He said nothing more after that.

In the end, it was Mansu who spoke up. “I’ll handle it. Fellow Daoist Changqing can send some disciples to assist me. It will be an opportunity for them to familiarize themselves with our operational procedures. How does that sound?”

Master Kaiyun immediately praised him, “How noble of you, Fellow Daoist!”

Wang Ping also offered a cupped-fist salute. “My thanks, Fellow Daoist.”

Mansu accepted Wang Ping’s gratitude as his due and nodded. “Once we find them, I hope all of you, Fellow Daoists, can set aside your prejudices and unite to eliminate them with the utmost speed. There can be no carelessness in this matter.”

Everyone immediately voiced their assent.

Then, Master Kaiyun brought up the final item. “How shall we select the personnel for the upcoming lunar patrol?”

The moment he finished speaking, Ao Hong was the first to volunteer. “How about Fellow Daoist Changqing and I make the trip?”

“You two?”

Master Kaiyun’s tone was laced with skepticism.

Ao Hong said resentfully, “What? You old… You old Monk still don’t trust us?”

“It is not a matter of trust. It’s just that neither of you has ever set foot on the moon…”

“I will accompany the two Fellow Daoists. I happen to have some business to attend to on the moon myself.”

Buqiong’s soft voice cut in.

Naturally, Wang Ping had no objections. Ao Hong looked reluctant but didn’t say anything, so the matter was settled.

Finally, Master Kaiyun began his closing summary. Just as he was about to conclude the regular meeting, Lord Liuyun of the Earth Cave Sect, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “I have one more item. The Earth Cave Sect will soon hold a contest for its Fourth Realm slot. Don’t you all want to take this opportunity to inject a little vitality into the stagnant Cultivation Realm?”