Chapter 356 - 198: Hidden Mountain’s Influence

Chapter 356: Chapter 198: Hidden Mountain’s Influence

But then, to everyone’s surprise, the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall was the first to speak up. "Since the Hidden Mountain Elder has said so, then I agree as well."

"Just as the Hidden Mountain Elder said, we have to support our own Chief Disciple. If you all agree, I’ll go back and start preparations right away. Whatever supplies are needed for the war, the Internal Affairs Hall will provide its full support."

After speaking, the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall turned and winked enthusiastically at Xu Ran. He was one of the few in the Sect who knew Xu Ran’s identity, and he remembered the promise he had made. As long as Xu Ran asked, he would be his greatest supporter in the Sect.

The attitude of the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall surprised many of the Elders present—not because he supported Li Daoyi, but because of his promise to provide full support with supplies.

Everyone knew how stingy the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall usually was. Even during the war against the Evil Race, when people applied for supplies, he wouldn’t deliberately hold things up, but he still insisted on a proper review. He would never relax his scrutiny just because of a war, at most simplifying the procedure.

For such a person to voluntarily make this offer was genuinely shocking.

Chief Li’s origins were well-documented, and there had never been any rumors about him being the illegitimate son of the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall.

’If that’s the case, could it be because of that Hidden Mountain Elder from earlier?’

Many people had just seen the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall winking at Xu Ran.

Then, just as everyone was wondering, Qing Xuan True Monarch glanced at Xu Ran, then also stood up to voice his support.

’This is the first time this student of mine has spoken at a meeting. As his teacher, I have to show him my support.’

After Qing Xuan True Monarch came Supreme Elder Zi Yun. His thoughts were much the same. As one of the few who knew the truth about the Dust-Sealed Stones, and seeing how the Hidden Mountain Elder had made such a monumental contribution to both the Sect and the entire world, he was overcome with emotion.

’Having the Hidden Mountain Elder is the Sect’s greatest fortune. Never mind just supporting Li Daoyi’s campaign against the Illusion Spirit Sect; even if he wanted the stars and the moon, I would do everything in my power to try and get them for him.’

After Supreme Elder Zi Yun, Zhang Zhentian, Shen Wuchen, and Chen Chang’an also stood up without a word to voice their support.

Next, a True Monarch from the Flying Immortal Stream, who had been staring at Xu Ran for a long time, suddenly showed a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He immediately jumped down from his seat.

He truly jumped right down, then stood behind Xu Ran, his face flushed red as he shouted, "I support the Hidden Mountain Elder’s decision."

He specified the Hidden Mountain Elder, not Li Daoyi.

His behavior only deepened the confusion of everyone present. His gaze fell upon the other Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Flying Immortal Stream, who were staring at him, perplexed. They seemed to communicate amongst themselves in secret.

Then, the other Nascent Soul True Monarchs present also stood up and declared, "We support the Hidden Mountain Elder’s decision."

Several of the Sect’s Flying Immortal Stream Nascent Soul True Monarchs had fallen in the past, but even so, not including Shen Wuchen, there were still eight remaining.

Eight Nascent Soul True Monarchs standing together, even if they were from the Flying Immortal Stream, projected an intimidating aura. And that was to say nothing of the six other Nascent Soul True Monarchs beside them—the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall, Supreme Elder Zi Yun, and their group.

How many Nascent Soul experts did the Sect even have? The crucial point was that the first thing the Master of the Internal Affairs Hall, Supreme Elder Zi Yun, Qing Xuan True Monarch, and Zhang Zhentian had said was, "Since the Hidden Mountain Elder has said so."

Everyone could tell that they had stood up largely because of this Hidden Mountain Elder.

Many of the Elders who had been filled with curiosity about Xu Ran immediately suppressed their thoughts, not daring to ponder the matter any further.

’There’s someone this influential in the Sect, and we don’t even know who he is. That means his identity is something we aren’t meant to know. It’s best not to think about it.’

Nevertheless, they firmly committed Xu Ran’s face to memory, along with his Daoist title: Hidden Mountain.

*

*

*

The operation against the Illusion Spirit Sect was carried out with extreme speed.

Li Daoyi wanted to create a deterrent, to make an example of them. Therefore, the Illusion Spirit Sect had to be wiped out cleanly and decisively to intimidate any other would-be troublemakers.

The day after the public announcement was made, the Profound Pure Sect dispatched a force led by twelve Nascent Soul True Monarchs, along with hundreds of Core Formation and Golden Core Stage experts.

Even if most of the Core Formation cultivators were from the Flying Immortal Stream, such a massive force was still terrifying.

The Illusion Spirit Sect was a nascent power propped up by the Evil Race and lacked a deep foundation.

The cultivators from the Profound Pure Sect formed an Array, and it wasn’t long before they tore a breach in the Illusion Spirit Sect’s Sect Protection Array.

Zhang Zhentian and Deceitful Blade Chen Chang’an attacked together, flanked by Shen Wuchen. The Illusion Spirit Sect’s only three remaining Nascent Soul cultivators were slain before they could mount a lengthy defense.

This was a war of annihilation, and they showed no mercy. After slaying the Illusion Spirit Sect’s Nascent Soul cultivators, they began to cleanse the battlefield.

In just one day, the battle was essentially over.

Only some of the Illusion Spirit Sect’s upper echelons had betrayed the Human Race, but once the Profound Pure Sect made its move, the entire sect was annihilated—ordinary disciples included.

By tacit agreement, neither Li Daoyi nor Chu Lingxiao mentioned the deaths of the ordinary disciples.

Chu Lingxiao had known this would be the outcome the moment he spoke. He understood Li Daoyi; once he decided to act, he would never leave any lingering threats for his Sect.

Even if the Profound Pure Sect hadn’t been the one to act, reporting it to the Upper Sect would have yielded the same result. No one would have investigated disciple by disciple to see who was uninvolved. Once the majority of a power’s leadership betrayed the Human Race, the entire power was destined to vanish with them.

After the Profound Pure Sect annihilated the Illusion Spirit Sect with crushing force, it served as a powerful deterrent to the other sects in and around Changqing County.

Some sects trembled in fear, and there were faint signs of them banding together for protection. Even powers in the counties surrounding Changqing turned a wary eye toward the Profound Pure Sect, worried it might attack at the slightest provocation.

Normally, this situation would have been very disadvantageous for the Profound Pure Sect. However, since everyone was currently preoccupied with collecting and fighting over the Dust-Sealed Stones, and would soon have to enter their slumber, the impact was not as significant.

After dealing with the Illusion Spirit Sect, Li Daoyi sought out Xu Ran. "Thank you for your support, Martial Uncle," he said with utmost sincerity.

If it hadn’t been for Xu Ran, explaining the situation himself would have been quite troublesome.

After he finished, he raised his head slightly, his gaze drifting toward the horizon as he spoke.

"This time, I have damaged the Sect’s interests. As penance, I have decided that I will only begin to seal myself in a thousand years, when the world has fully entered the age of Dao Concealment."

In truth, by annihilating the Illusion Spirit Sect, the Profound Pure Sect had gained an entire sect’s worth of Dust-Sealed Stones. The harvest was immense.

But to Li Daoyi, his promise to help Chu Lingxiao conceal the Illusion Spirit Sect’s betrayal of the Human Race had been his own decision.

Regardless of what the Sect had gained in the process, his own decision had still harmed its interests.

He didn’t care how others saw it; in his own mind, he was in the wrong and therefore had to pay the price.

"In the millennium leading up to the Dao Concealment, the Cultivation Realm will certainly be in turmoil. As the Chief Disciple, I must guard the Sect well during those thousand years."