Sect Master’s Immortal Journey

Chapter 581: Conflict escalation

Currently, Taiyi Sect appears to be flourishing, with an air of growth and prosperity. However, in reality, it faces an extremely perilous situation, where even the slightest disturbance could lead to its downfall.

Flying Swan Sect, this unreliable ally, is too weak to ensure its own survival. Whether Jin LiDaoist Master can achieve Primordial Spirit is also an unknown variable.

Every potential help is like a lifesaving straw, and Taiyi Sect must firmly grasp them.

Great Wind City has only sided with Taiyi Sect secretly due to their mutual interests. Facing the Primordial Spirit True Monarch, Great Wind City may not be able to make any significant contributions.

However, Great Wind City is the only external aid that Taiyi Sect can find, and Meng Zhang certainly wouldn't easily let this opportunity slip away.

Furthermore, although the term "interest-based relationship" might not sound pleasant, it is a highly reliable form of association, far more dependable than friendship, benevolence, or morality.

Every time Meng Zhang visits Great Wind City, he actively pays visits to important figures of the Gu Yue Family. During the conversations, he subtly or directly tries to instigate discord among the Fire Cloud Sect members.

Gu Yue Family, as the second family in Great Wind City and one of its two controllers, shares both glory and loss with the city. If Great Wind City's interests are damaged, it naturally means Gu Yue Family's interests are harmed as well.

However, the Gu Yue Family is known for its subtle actions and may not easily react strongly to this situation. On the other hand, the Lu Family has openly expressed dissatisfaction with both Fire Cloud Sect and Taiyi Sect on several occasions.

Gu Yue Huaidie and Meng Zhang share a longstanding friendship, and she knows him well. When talking to her, Meng Zhang doesn't play any tricks and straightforwardly tells her that Taiyi Sect and Fire Cloud Sect are becoming increasingly incompatible.

As the strategist of Gu Yue Family, Gu Yue Huaidie is well-informed about the situation in the Endless Sea of Sand. Emotionally, she leans towards Meng Zhang, and from an interest perspective, she is willing to support Taiyi Sect.

However, the internal situation of the Jiuqu League is complicated, and the surrounding situation of Great Wind City is not stable. It is not a time for Gu Yue Family to act recklessly.

Gu Yue Huaidie doesn't hide Gu Yue Family's stance and openly tells Meng Zhang that they won't directly intervene in the conflicts in the Endless Sea of Sand for now. This is a sentiment Meng Zhang has heard from other Gu Yue Family cultivators before. He is not discouraged, knowing that regardless of the outcome, he must do what he has to do.

He believes that conflicts of interest are the most challenging to reconcile. There will come a time when Great Wind City can no longer endure, and at that moment, without his persuasion, the city will naturally align with Taiyi Sect.

After visiting Gu Yue Huaidie, Meng Zhang inspects Taiyi Sect's commercial situation in Great Wind City.

In Great Wind City, Meng Zhang doesn't need to hide his identity and can now show himself openly.

Apart from organizing numerous merchant caravans to travel to Great Wind City, Taiyi Sect has also established a trading guild and acquired shops to engage in various businesses within the city.

The headquarters of Taiyi Sect's trading guild in Great Wind City is a tall building named Hengyuan Building, personally named by Meng Zhang. In the past, Taiyi Sect struggled to establish its own commercial organization in the small markets of the Endless Sea of Sand and had its first Hengyuan Building. Now, as Taiyi Sect continues to grow and expand, there are many Hengyuan Buildings scattered throughout various markets. And now, they even have one in Great Wind City.

Currently, Taiyi Sect's strength ranks among the top in the Gold Core sects. Coupled with their vast territory in the Demon Wind Gobi and abundant cultivation resources, as well as the strong management abilities of their disciples, their business naturally expands, bringing a significant profit to the sect.

If Taiyi Sect cannot establish itself in the Demon Wind Gobi, the trading business in Great Wind City will be a fallback option.

After a careful inspection and receiving reports from the resident stewards, Meng Zhang feels that there are no major issues and begins his journey back.

Taiyi Sect has already moved its main gate to Hundred Grass Slope.

The Grand Lion Ridge retains its original spirit field and medicinal garden since Jin Qiao'er is currently cultivating there. Taiyi Sect has not stationed any other Gold Core cultivators there during her stay.

While passing through the Grand Lion Ridge, Meng Zhang visits Jin Qiao'er.

Jin Qiao'er's successful Core Formation this time was a great help to Taiyi Sect.

Regardless of whether Taiyi Sect's assistance was due to Jin LiDaoist Master's face, Jin Qiao'er acknowledged the favor and warmly received Meng Zhang's visit.

Although Meng Zhang is the local lord here, Jin Qiao'er is only temporarily staying here.

The main purpose of Meng Zhang's visit to Jin Qiao'er this time is to have a thorough exchange with her.

Since forming her core, Jin Qiao'er has been busy consolidating her cultivation base and practicing various Divine Abilities that only Gold Core cultivators can master. With the guidance of Jin LiDaoist Master, she lacks nothing in her primary cultivation and Divine Abilities, and her skills are excellent.

However, practicing alone cannot compare to exchanging and learning from fellow cultivators.

Before forming her core, Jin LiDaoist Master imparted all her knowledge and even left behind many jade slips for Jin Qiao'er to study. However, under the guidance of Meng Zhang, a mid-Gold Core expert, Jin Qiao'er still benefits greatly.

During their exchange, Meng Zhang not only discussed profound Dao principles with Jin Qiao'er but also helped her improve her combat experience.

Meng Zhang stayed in the Grand Lion Ridge for over two months. During the exchange with Jin Qiao'er, he also gained some valuable insights.

Jin Qiao'er's inheritance is extremely profound, and with Jin LiDaoist Master's guidance, she has mastered many advanced techniques. Many times, she surprised Meng Zhang with her knowledge and skill.

After the exchange, before leaving, Meng Zhang casually asked Jin Qiao'er if she knew anything about Jin LiDaoist Master's current situation or if there was any way to contact her.

Jin Qiao'er sincerely told Meng Zhang that ever since Jin LiDaoist Master entered the small world of Purple Gold Sect, she lost all contact with her and has no idea about her current situation.

Seeing Jin Qiao'er's sincerity, Meng Zhang sighed in his heart and then bid farewell.

Time passed quickly, and now it has been over thirty years since Jin LiDaoist Master entered that small world to seclude herself. However, there has been no word from her, and nobody knows if she succeeded or failed.

With Jin LiDaoist Master not appearing around the Endless Sea of Sand for such a long time, some people have started to suspect her. However, if the situation involving True Monarch Tian Zhu becomes questionable, that would be a real disaster.

After returning to Hundred Grass Slope, apart from cultivating diligently and striving to improve his combat strength, Meng Zhang has no better option at hand.

Another ten years have passed, and Meng Zhang's Cultivation Base has become even more profound. Even after reaching the mid-Gold Core stage, his cultivation speed has not slowed down.

Taiyi Sect's current financial resources and connections have grown to the point where they can purchase some Third Rank items from the Jiuqu League. These include Third Rank magic tools, Third Rank spiritual items, and Third Rank elixirs, among others.

As the Sect Master of Taiyi Sect, Meng Zhang naturally receives offerings from the sect. Disciples spare no effort to collect items he might need. From time to time, Meng Zhang can take Third Rank elixirs or refine Third Rank spiritual items.

Although the supply of cultivation resources is far from sufficient, it is already invaluable for Meng Zhang. During Taiyi Sect's rise, he often faced shortages of cultivation resources.

Taiyi Sect has reached a point where it can now support high-level cultivators within the sect instead of relying on them for subsidies.

Meng Zhang hasn't audited Taiyi Sect's treasury in a long time, so he's not entirely sure about their current assets.

As his Cultivation Base grows, Meng Zhang devotes more time to cultivation. Most of the sect's affairs have been delegated to the disciples, particularly to his top disciple, Niu Dawei, who perfectly fulfills the role of acting Sect Master and handles most of the daily matters.

Meng Zhang only gets involved in significant matters concerning the sect's future and destiny, and he speaks up during crucial moments.

At less than 200 years old, Meng Zhang reached the mid-Gold Core stage, one step away from advancing to the late Gold Core stage. At this point, he encountered a bottleneck, and his Cultivation Base temporarily stalled.

Although his Cultivation Base had stalled, his cultivation couldn't stop. He had too many spells and Divine Abilities that he needed to learn and practice. The more spells he mastered, the more methods he had to deal with enemies, thus enhancing his combat strength.

Facing formidable external enemies, Meng Zhang needed to possess formidable combat capabilities. In recent years, other members of Taiyi Sect have also made progress.

Yang Xueyi had almost completely integrated the rune weapon inherited from a senior of the Purple Gold Sect's Gold Core stage, and she now wielded many advanced talisman techniques.

After becoming a Gold Core Daoist Master, Wen Qiansun finally found the most suitable path for himself. He incorporated his excellent formation techniques into his cultivation, mastering various ways to enhance combat power through formations.

Two elders of the sect, the former Beast Controlling Hall Master, Hu Jing, and the current War Hall Master, Zheng Chao, both completed their Foundation Building stage cultivation and entered the process of breaking through to the Gold Core stage.

Taiyi Sect now has a considerable number of Gold Core cultivators. According to Meng Zhang's plan, the sect's elders should all be Gold Core cultivators in the future. Foundation Building cultivators, except for a few special cases, are unlikely to become elders.

Of course, the previous Foundation Building elders will retain their positions, and they are still considered elders of the sect.

Over time, those Foundation Building elders who are unable to advance to the Gold Core stage will eventually be phased out.

True Monarch Mountain Peak and True Monarch Profound Wind, who fled from the Endless Sea of Sand, have started to doubt True Monarch Tian Zhu's situation.

Although Primordial Spirit True Monarchs have long lifespans and can disappear for decades or even hundreds of years, it's unusual for True Monarch Tian Zhu not to react at all after being betrayed by True Monarch Mountain Peak and calculated by True Monarch Profound Wind.

True Monarch Tian Zhu has never been known for his magnanimity but rather for being vengeful and vicious.

True Monarch Mountain Peak and True Monarch Profound Wind communicated several times and felt that True Monarch Tian Zhu might not be in good condition.

However, they dare not personally investigate the situation in the Deadly Sea of Sand. They fear that this could be a trap set by True Monarch Tian Zhu, leading them straight into danger.

They are hiding within the territory of the Jiuqu League. As long as True Monarch Tian Zhu hasn't advanced to the Return to Emptiness stage, he wouldn't dare to risk a war with the entire Jiuqu League and provoke them.

To ascertain True Monarch Tian Zhu's condition, they once again ordered their Gold Core Daoist Masters to use various means to probe and determine his true status.

More and more Gold Core Daoist Masters infiltrated the Deadly Sea of Sand to investigate the battlefield where True Monarch Tian Zhu and the Fifth Rank Earth Spirit fought.

Jin LiDaoist Master, who is in seclusion in the small world of Purple Gold Sect, has not emerged to stop them.

However, the residual Grand Dao power in the center of the battlefield has not dissipated. Even Gold Core Daoist Masters could be severely injured if touched by that power.

These Gold Core Daoist Masters circled around the periphery but dared not approach the core area of the battlefield recklessly.

They are not fools; they are cunning old foxes who know not to risk their lives, even if they are loyal to the two Primordial Spirit True Monarchs.

In some cases, when some Gold Core Daoist Masters act recklessly, trying to take advantage of the situation and provoke the other side, their opponents' Gold Core Daoist Masters respond promptly.

Fortunately, both sides' Gold Core Daoist Masters restrained themselves, stopping at a superficial level without escalating the conflict into a full-scale war.

Meng Zhang ordered Taiyi Sect to firmly retaliate against the enemy's provocations and never retreat during conflicts. At this moment, Taiyi Sect must appear strong and not reveal any signs of weakness.

Without Jin LiDaoist Master and Fei ShiDaoist Master, Taiyi Sect is still at a disadvantage in terms of Gold Core combat strength, even with the addition of Jin Qiao'er and Deep Earth Spirit General.

Thankfully, Fire Cloud Sect and Yellow Lotus Sect East River Branch still have their reservations and are not eager to initiate a full-scale war.

Although the conflicts continue to escalate, with more forces involved, they still exercise restraint and haven't launched an all-out attack. The battles are still limited to localized areas.

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