Chapter 596: The Sect’s Insuppressible Internal Power Struggle
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Fei Xuan’s gaze landed on w.a.n.g Teng. He knew better than anyone else that w.a.n.g Teng and An Tuning were b.u.t.ting heads. The time when those alchemists had gone to and come back from the Tranquil Eclipse Mountain was too much of a coincidence. They had returned just as An Tuning had left. Was he being treated like a fool?
Despite knowing that w.a.n.g Teng was setting up a trap, he still had to use this opportunity to punish An Tuning. He would certainly not investigate the truth of the matter simply because of this.
The sect’s problem was definitely not caused by the dispute between An Tuning and w.a.n.g Teng. It involved some of the Primordial Chaos Elders as well. The sect might just sink into a deep abyss if he did not handle this matter well.
Now that An Tuning had returned, despite knowing that An Tuning was lying when she said that she had searched high and low for alchemists, he would reuse the strategy he had used previously. He would not investigate to see if An Tuning was telling the truth, yet he would stand by her side.
Fei Xuan did not need to investigate to know that the outer sect disciple An Tuning had found had simply served as a stopgap to tell Fei Xuan that she had partic.i.p.ated in the Dao World’s Elixir River Compet.i.tion. This was all unimportant to Fei Xuan, for the most important thing was that the result of the compet.i.tion had not disappointed him.
Upon seeing that the Sect Master was looking at him, w.a.n.g Teng had no choice but to stand up and say, “I discovered that Xun Shang had seized Di Jiu’s cave abode only after Valley Master An said this. I will definitely investigate this matter immediately. If this is true, then Xun Shang’s punishment was well-deserved.”
Fei Xuan nodded his head. “Peak Master w.a.n.g is right. Valley Master An has contributed greatly to the sect this time. Let that disciple report to the core disciple’s hall. It will indeed be a waste of talent if such a disciple remains an outer sect disciple.”
His tone was even and calm, although he was silently fuming. He was the Sect Master of a sect, yet he was gradually unable to control the sect.
w.a.n.g Teng was telling blatant lies, as he still could not execute any kind of punishment. Of all the Elders seated there, three of them were on the same side as w.a.n.g Teng. The att.i.tude of the remaining Eldest Elder was unclear.
Second Elder Qi Yu, who was sitting aside, hastily stepped forward to rebut. “Sect Master, Di Jiu indeed contributed greatly to the sect. However, the core disciples of the sect are considered the sect’s future. We should not allow an outer sect disciple with an unclear background to become a core disciple. I suggest that we make our decision only after that outer sect disciple comes back.”
“Bullsh*t!” yelled An Tuning. “Di Jiu contributed so much to the sect, yet you are saying that reconsideration is required. Isn’t this utter bullsh*t?”
“How dare you!” bellowed Qi Yu before lifting his hand and slapping An Tuning.
Qi Yu was a Primordial Chaos expert, while An Tuning was only a late-stage Primordial Dao cultivator. She was completely defenseless against this slap, which sent her flying and caused her to spit out blood.
Pa! Fei Xuan slammed his palm on the table before him, making the teacups on the table shatter. He suddenly stood up, pointing at Second Elder Qi Yu with a red face as he bellowed, “Qi Yu! Are you trying to revolt? I am the Sect Master of this sect. As an Elder, you actually dared to injure the Valley Master of the First Evolution Dao Sect?”
A powerful killing aura spread out. The entire hall was now in the range of Fei Xuan’s domain.
Although Fei Xuan was enraged, he was well-aware that some conflicts could no longer be kept hidden. He had originally intended to talk with the Eldest Elder before visiting Ancestral Master Yan Yun once more when this was over. He would explain in great detail the state the sect was in and plead Ancestral Master Yan Yun to stand by his side. Now, it seemed that he would have to push his plans forward.
Even the Eldest Elder, whose eyes had been closed in mediation, opened his eyes suddenly and reprimanded him with a frown. “Elder Qi, this is the first time ever since the founding of the First Evolution Dao Sect that someone has used force in the conference hall. Not bad… You are the first person to do so.”
An Tuning was stupefied as well, for she had never imagined that Qi Yu would be so daring as to attack her, a Valley Master, in the conference hall.
“I’m sorry, Sect Master and Eldest Elder. I was indeed too impulsive just now. What Valley Master An said was simply so unpleasant to the ears that I momentarily could not control my temper.” Qi Yu apologized with cupped fists, his anger seemingly long gone.
He acted as though he had really injured An Tuning impulsively because of the rage he had felt.
Everyone knew the truth, however. Qi Yu was an early-stage Primordial Chaos cultivator. It was definitely an unbelievable lie to say that he had attacked her only because he could not control his temper. If that was true, then Qi Yu couldn’t possibly have cultivated to the Primordial Chaos Realm.
Fei Xuan’s expression was very ugly, but he seemed to be holding himself in check. While looking at the Eldest Elder beside him, he said, “Elder Zhong, Elder Qi used force in the sect’s conference hall. This is no small matter. Help me take him to the sect’s water prison and lock him up for one year. Elder Qi, do you have anything to say to that?”
The Hall Masters and Peak Masters present in the hall all sighed when they heard this punishment. At the end of the day, Sect Master Fei Xuan dared not truly punish Second Elder Qi Yu. Instead, he was choosing to lock him away in the water prison for a year. This was a superficial punishment.
To a Primordial Chaos cultivator, being locked in the sect’s water prison was akin to closing their eyes for a second.
Qi Yu stepped forward without hesitation and a.s.sented, “I momentarily failed to keep my temper in check. I accept the punishment you doled out.”
Only Eldest Elder Zhong Zhong subconsciously shuddered upon hearing the Sect Master’s words. Lifting his head, he looked at the man before hurriedly standing up and bowing before him. He then replied, “Yes, sir. Elder Qi, please follow me.”
He had always thought that Fei Xuan did not possess the capabilities to remain the Sect Master of the First Evolution Dao Sect. Today, after hearing what Fei Xuan had said, he had changed his mind slightly.
The cultivators of the entire sect, including the Second Elder, thought that the water prison punishment was considered the lightest punishment possible. This was because every single disciple who had entered the sect’s water prison had improved their cultivation by the time they’d left the water prison, regardless of how many years they had been locked up. Evidently, the water prison was not truly used to imprison people. It should instead be treated as a place where one could enter seclusion and cultivate.
However, only three people in the entire First Evolution Dao Sect knew that the scariest place in the sect was the water prison. Regardless of whether Qi Yu was at the early-stage or late-stage Primordial Chaos Realm, he would never return after entering the water prison.
The water prison was a place used to kill Primordial Chaos cultivators. This was a fact only the Sect Master, the Eldest Elder, and Yan Yun knew. Qi Yu might be the Second Elder, but he was not privy to this cla.s.sified information.
Zhong Zhongling knew very well why Qi Yu would attack: to test Fei Xuan’s limits. If Fei Xuan did not retaliate, then the side Qi Yu was on would gradually control, or even wipe out, the various Hall Masters and Peak Masters of the sect.
The reason Zhong Zhongling had never cared about the matters of the sect was because he would only become cannon fodder if the Sect Master was uncharismatic and he, as the Eldest Elder, stepped forward instead.
Now that the Sect Master intended to kill Qi Yu, Zhong Zhongling did not mind lending a hand. The First Evolution Dao Sect was declining because of the internal power struggle, and also due to its uncharismatic Sect Master.
“Let’s go, Elder Qi,” repeated Zhong Zhongling as he walked out of the conference hall hunch-backed. Silently, he sneered. Qi Yu had indeed tested the Sect Master’s limits, but the price for that was far too great.
Fei Xuan let out a breath of relief when he saw Zhong Zhongling lead Qi Yu out. His greatest worry was that Zhong Zhongling would refuse to listen to him or perhaps expose his motives. So long as Zhong Zhongling was still standing on the sect’s side, he would be confident enough to bring the sect back to its former glory. He originally had not wanted to take such a risk. However, Qi Yu had opened Pandora’s box, forcing him to take action.
An Tuning was deeply disappointed. She had contributed greatly to the sect and been severely injured by the Second Elder in the end. Nevertheless, the Sect Master had only punished Qi Yu with isolation for a year, which was a superficial punishment.
She stood up. Without bothering to even wipe off the bloodstains on her mouth, she cupped her fists and announced, “Sect Master, I’m severely injured so I wish to return to the Spring Evolution Valley to recuperate.”
Fei Xuan knew that he could not say anything to An Tuning at the moment, or his efforts would unravel. He could only nod his head in agreement. “Go back and recuperate. Don’t take this to heart. The Second Elder lost his head for a moment.”
“Yes,” a.s.sented An Tuning before she turned and left. She was completely disappointed in the First Evolution Dao Sect.