Chapter 96. Victory and Defeat
Yue Lin startled, abruptly standing up and stammering, “Im-impertinent!”
A small commotion rippled through the crowd.
It was impossible for Tianxing Sect members to have no objections to Zhao Wuji’s monopoly on power.
However, his powerful father made him untouchable.
With such a father, no matter what, Zhao Wuji couldn’t be unseated.
In this situation, offending the Sect Leader would be career suicide.
Yun Jin seemed too impulsive.
Wait…
Celestial Sword Peak had already thoroughly offended the Sect Leader.
They had no future prospects anyway.
In the current situation, Celestial Sword Peak had nothing left to lose, while the Sect Leader still had everything to protect.
Those with nothing to lose don’t fear those with everything to lose. Yun Jin had become completely reckless.
On the high platform, Fang Mingyue glanced at Lin Ya.
He sat calmly, showing no surprise, as if he knew what his little disciple planned to do.
Fang Mingyue couldn’t help but transmit, “Lin Ya, have you gone mad?”
Though they had no public relationship, she had secretly aided Celestial Sword Peak several times.
Lin Ya calmly asked in return, “Don’t you think Tianxing Sect needs to change?”
In three months, he would lose his position as Peak Master.
If he could protect his disciples and let them do what they wanted during these three months, he would have fulfilled some purpose.
Change was needed, but…
Fang Mingyue’s lips trembled, but she ultimately said nothing.
Zhao Wuji’s cultivation wasn’t particularly high, and his interpersonal skills were even worse.
Yet no matter how many foolish things he did, why could no one shake his position?
Fang Mingyue sighed.
The Four Great Holy Lands!
They were the sacred lands in all cultivators’ hearts, and four sharp swords hanging over their heads!
Beneath the holy lands, all were insects. This wasn’t said lightly.
As long as that father remained, what could be done to Zhao Wuji, even for the gravest crimes?
If resistance was effective, they wouldn’t have remained silent all these years.
Yun Jin, a mere disciple, was too naive to think she could shake Zhao Wuji’s position.
Though she knew it was impossible, Fang Mingyue felt an inexplicable glimmer of hope.
This Yun Jin was a peculiar disciple.
She had only been in the sect for a short time, yet had already created many miracles.
If… she could truly stir up waves in this stagnant Tianxing Sect, then…
Could they add fuel to the fire?
There were many who wanted to rebel against Zhao Wuji.
What was lacking was someone to ignite the first flame.
Would Yun Jin be that person?
In the great hall, Yun Jin stared directly at Yue Lin, speaking slowly, “Sect rules clearly state that each peak’s spirit fields are to be cultivated by themselves, with the benefits belonging to each peak. Yet the Sect Leader monopolizes plant cultivators, using this small tactic to concentrate most of the spirit plant profits in his own hands. Is this truly right? Are you all really willing to accept this?”
Zhao Wuji sneered, unmoved.
Arguing with a junior would be beneath him. Naturally, others would speak for him.
Sure enough, Huo Lie couldn’t stay silent. He said sternly, “Yun Jin, without the Sect Leader’s help, other peaks’ spirit fields couldn’t be cultivated at all. How is it wrong for the Sect Leader to take more profits? Isn’t this only natural?”
Yun Jin smiled, “First monopolize all disciples with plant cultivation talent, then have these disciples help everyone cultivate spirit fields? You call this help?”
Before Huo Lie could speak, Yun Jin continued, “Peak Master Huo, I know you have a close relationship with the Sect Leader, but I want to ask you something. Are you willingly close to him, or out of necessity? After all, as an alchemist, you rely heavily on spirit plants. If you could cultivate and harvest spirit plants independently, Peak Master Huo, why would you need to humble yourself each time to beg for spirit plants?”
Huo Lie’s expression changed slightly.
Yun Jin’s words hit the mark.
He was a fifth-grade alchemist, true, and a Peak Master, true.
These titles would be impressive outside.
But he was far too old.
At nearly a thousand years old, he had barely reached this level.
Even with his high realm, the holy lands wouldn’t give him a second glance.
In top-tier or super sects, he couldn’t be a Peak Master, at most an elder.
Huo Lie’s future seemed to have reached its limit, but he still had ambitions.
He wanted to attempt becoming a sixth-grade alchemist.
That required much practice, better pill formulas, and many, many spirit plants.
And all of this, only Zhao Wuji could provide.
Rather than an active choice, he had no choice but to rely on Zhao Wuji.
“You… you…” Huo Lie wanted to refute but couldn’t find the words.
Zhao Wuji’s gaze turned cold.
“Yun Jin!” Long Yi, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, immediately scolded, “Is this how Celestial Sword Peak teaches you to speculate about your elders?”
Unable to win with reason, he could only invoke seniority.
Zhao Wuji finally spoke calmly, “Long Yi, no need to argue with juniors. Yun Jin, let this master tell you, these plant cultivators aren’t deliberately monopolized. The fifth-grade plant cultivator Ma Hongyu is under this master’s tutelage. Other disciples wishing to become plant cultivators naturally sought his teachings and joined this master’s faction. This wasn’t this master’s deliberate doing, but a natural result.”
Yun Jin smiled, “Is that so?”
Zhao Wuji nodded calmly, “It is. Ma Hongyu isn’t just a fifth-grade plant cultivator himself, he’s also very skilled at teaching disciples. His disciples all become accomplished. Thus, those with plant cultivation talent should naturally be taught by him personally to not waste their talent.”
“If we forcibly distributed disciples with plant cultivation talent to other peaks, wouldn’t that hinder their talent? For the sect as a whole, having a group of specialized disciples responsible for cultivation is the best outcome. And if they receive some compensation for their hard work, what’s wrong with that?”
Zhao Wuji spoke calmly, seeming completely unworried.
Yun Jin narrowed her eyes, suddenly staring directly at Zhao Wuji. She pointed at Ye Danxia, “Ye Danxia, the charge of plotting against a fellow disciple is established. According to sect rules, this is a capital offense!”
Ye Danxia paled, trembling involuntarily.
“But, I can offer her a way out,” Yun Jin said.
Zhao Wuji frowned, thinking Yun Jin would try to contract Ye Danxia like before.
He was about to refuse when Yun Jin calmly said, “Tianxing Sect’s plant cultivation legacy is entirely in the Sect Leader’s faction. I exchanged for some manuals from Elder Ming and have practiced on my own. Isn’t it said that Senior Uncle Ma is excellent at teaching disciples, so disciples with plant cultivation talent naturally join the Sect Leader’s faction?”
“Senior Uncle Ma’s most outstanding disciple is a Senior Brother Ye at late Golden Core stage, correct? In ten days, I, self-taught, am willing to compete in plant cultivation techniques against this Senior Brother Ye taught by a famous master!”
“If I win! Spirit field profits will return to each peak. Plant cultivation disciples will still help, but can only take a set compensation! Until each peak has their own plant cultivators!”
“If I lose!” Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, “I’ll spare Ye Danxia’s dog life!”
If Yun Jin wins!
Celestial Sword Peak gains little benefit, yet she fights for the interests of other peaks!
If Yun Jin loses!
The condition is sparing Ye Danxia!
Are these two conditions on the same scale?
Can Ye Danxia’s life compare to such enormous benefits?
Everyone turned to look at Zhao Wuji.