Inside the Azure Immortal Sect.
Unlike its usual tranquility, the sect was bustling today. From outer sect disciples to inner sect elites, everyone had gathered, excitement filling the air.
On the training grounds and before the Main Hall, disciples stood in small groups, animatedly discussing the same matter.
“Have you heard? Our Ancestor is already a powerhouse at the 6th stage of the Divine Transformation Realm!”
“That’s not all! At the Soul-Breaking Mountain Range, that arrogant old demon from the Blood Demon Sect was killed by our Ancestor with a single finger—his Primordial Spirit didn’t even escape!”
“Dominating! This is the bearing our Azure Immortal Sect’s Ancestor should have! We share in his glory!”
“Hahaha, from now on, in Lizhou’s righteous path, aside from the Heavenly Sword Sect, our Azure Immortal Sect will stand supreme!”
Amid this lively atmosphere, a discordant voice suddenly rang out, “Hmph, the Ancestor may be impressive, but what does that have to do with us disciples?”
A young inner sect disciple, dressed in fine robes and carrying a hint of arrogance, curled his lips in disdain.
“Think about it. How precious is the inheritance of the Nine-Life Cat Demon Emperor? Yet with a casual stroke, the Ancestor only took twenty percent for our Azure Immortal Sect and even gave away ten percent to those unaffiliated cultivators! What is that supposed to mean? Favoring outsiders?”
The moment these words fell, the surrounding chatter abruptly quieted.
Several disciples exchanged glances, their excitement cooling.
They had been too caught up in the celebration to think carefully about the distribution.
Now that it was brought up, doubt crept into their hearts.
Indeed… ten percent did seem a bit little.
Seeing their reaction, the disciple grew more emboldened, his voice rising, “We cultivate tirelessly for what? Isn’t it so the sect grows stronger and we gain more resources? But the Ancestor pushes such massive benefits outward without even considering our situation!”
“Show you consideration? What are you supposed to be?”
A cold voice sounded from behind the crowd, laced with undisguised mockery.
“Junior Brother Liu, you’re taking yourself far too seriously. Since when did the Ancestor’s decisions require your approval?”
The crowd turned to look. A tall, composed young man was walking forward step by step.
His gaze was sharp like lightning. Wherever it passed, disciples lowered their heads and greeted respectfully, “Greetings, Senior Brother Chen!”
Junior Brother Liu’s face flushed red and pale in turns. He forced himself to argue, “Senior Brother Chen, I… I’m only speaking objectively, feeling it’s unfair for the sect and our fellow disciples!”
“Unfair?”
Chen Ke let out a cold laugh and stopped before the crowd.
“The one truly short-sighted, who can only see petty gains before his eyes, is you.”
He paused, then continued in a steady, forceful tone, “You only see that we took less benefit, but you fail to see what we gained. Do you know how the unaffiliated cultivators across Lizhou now view our Ancestor? How they see our Azure Immortal Sect?”
The crowd fell silent, confused.
Chen Ke continued, “They will say that Ancestor Lu of the Azure Immortal Sect carries the world in his heart and possesses great virtue. They will say that our sect acts with fairness and righteousness. That ten percent buys us the praise and goodwill of hundreds of thousands of unaffiliated cultivators across Lizhou. Can you not calculate something so simple?”
“Goodwill… can goodwill be eaten? Can it be spent like spirit stones?” Junior Brother Liu muttered unwillingly.
“It can.”
Chen Ke’s reply was decisive.
“In seven days, when the inheritance opens, we will all enter it. No one knows what lies within. If danger arises, if conflicts over fortuitous opportunities occur, how will those unaffiliated cultivators treat us? Will they draw their blades against us, or remember the Ancestor’s grace and lend aid—or even yield?”
“That is the tangible benefit brought by winning people’s hearts.”
“The Ancestor is using a portion of short-term gains we cannot fully utilize to pave a safe path for all disciples entering the inheritance. More importantly, he is securing a century of reputation and destiny luck for our Azure Immortal Sect. Such foresight—is it something a fool like you, staring only at scraps in your bowl, could ever understand?”
Chen Ke’s words struck like a great bell, each sentence echoing deeply in everyone’s heart.
The confusion in the disciples’ eyes vanished, replaced by clarity and realization.
“So that’s how it is! Senior Brother Chen is right!”
“We were too foolish—we nearly misunderstood the Ancestor’s intentions!”
“Exactly! What is ten percent? If it can exchange for such goodwill, this deal is beyond worth it!”
“The Ancestor truly is the Ancestor—his vision is far beyond ours! Junior Brother Liu, hurry and apologize to Senior Brother Chen—and to all of us! You almost misled everyone!”
In an instant, the crowd turned against Liu, voices filled with reproach. The source of this chapter is g.com.
His face burned red with shame. He bowed deeply to Chen Ke, “Senior Brother is right. I… was wrong.”
Chen Ke no longer looked at him. Instead, he swept his gaze across the crowd and said in a deep voice, “The Ancestor has paved the road for us, but the path must still be walked by ourselves. Stop idling here. Seven days will pass in the blink of an eye. Go back and prepare properly. Do not tarnish the name of our Azure Immortal Sect, and do not waste the Ancestor’s painstaking efforts.”
“Yes! We will follow Senior Brother’s guidance!”
…
Inside the Main Hall.
Su Qingyan, dressed in a simple elegant gown, walked lightly into the hall. A faint trace of sandalwood fragrance lingered in the air.
At a glance, she saw Lu Qingxuan seated above.
However, unlike his usual state—either resting with eyes closed or reading ancient scrolls—his posture today was somewhat unusual.
In his arms, he was holding a snow-white kitten.
The kitten was no larger than a palm, its fur like the finest silk, flawless without a single blemish. Its eyes were a pure, deep blue, like two crystal-clear gems. It lay lazily curled in Lu Qingxuan’s arms, occasionally twitching its ears, appearing both spirited and obedient.
A hint of surprise flashed through Su Qingyan’s heart.
Her master had cultivated in seclusion for years—when had he ever kept such a pet?
Suppressing her curiosity, she stepped forward and bowed, “Sect Master, the inheritance slots have all been properly distributed. The disciples are now full of fighting spirit and deeply grateful for your efforts.”
“Mm.”
Lu Qingxuan responded faintly, his long fingers gently stroking the kitten’s soft fur.
The kitten seemed to enjoy it, letting out a soft purring sound, its tail tip curling contentedly.
The scene carried an indescribable sense of harmony and ease. Even Su Qingyan unconsciously softened her tone, a faint smile appearing on her lips, “Sect Master, is this your new spirit beast? It is… rather unique and adorable.”
As a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, she instinctively released a thread of divine sense, intending to probe the little creature’s talent and bloodline—what kind of being could earn the Ancestor’s favor?
Yet the moment her divine sense touched the kitten’s body, it felt as if it had struck refined steel!
“Golden Core Realm?!”
A kitten no larger than a palm… at the Golden Core Realm?
How could this be!