Many people did not expect Sage Cihang and Sage Donghua to take such a firm stance. They did not even wait for Qi Xuansu to finish reading his report before directly voicing their opinions, clearly opposing it.

Moreover, the two were clearly coordinating. Sage Cihang spoke sharply and forcefully, while Donghua took a broader, more strategic perspective, emphasizing they were not seeking glory and were able to face mistakes. It was obviously meant to silence certain voices.

This was precisely where Sage Qingwei found himself at a disadvantage. If Li Changge had been in Qi Xuansu’s position, the contents of the report would have remained confidential. Even if Sage Donghua and Sage Cihang could guess the Taiping Sect’s intentions, they would not know the details. But Qi Xuansu held that position, and since the draft passed through his hands, and he had already met both of them, the details had long been leaked.

Sage Qingwei knew this would happen, but he could not prevent it. Qi Xuansu was personally involved, so who else but him could report it? Replacing him would only invite criticism and give Sage Donghua and Sage Cihang even more ammunition.

After all, Qi Xuansu was the Chief Deputy of Beichen Hall, which meant he was at the threshold of becoming an Omniscient Sage. He could not simply be silenced. The fact that Sage Qingwei had managed to pressure him into revising the draft at all was already no small feat.

Sage Qingwei had anticipated this scenario and responded calmly. “I don’t agree with the term that Sage Cihang used. We weren’t denouncing them. We wanted to solve problems, and to do that, we had to first identify and clarify the problems. That way, we can prevent trouble before it arises. To heal, one must first locate the root of the disease.”

Sage Cihang had to respond. “It is indeed good to treat issues before they arise, but we must beware of treating what is not a disease and calling it merit. We should not avoid confronting problems, but we must also understand that it is natural for people to fall ill. Yet we cannot stop living because of illness. Every gain brings a loss. Benefits and drawbacks always coexist. That is why we speak of weighing pros and cons. We must evaluate the Western Daoist Order dialectically.”

Both sides understood the true situation, yet neither exposed the underlying motives, keeping the debate confined to whether it was about praising achievements or criticizing faults.

But everyone present was seasoned. They all understood perfectly well what was really at stake.

As Qi Xuansu had said, this was merely a test. The resolution from this meeting would not lead to immediate action. It would only determine the Daoist Order’s stance. Whether the Western Daoist Order would be mostly praised or criticized would shape the direction of future policy.

If successful, it would naturally lead to further steps of advancement.

Sage Cihang had also pointed out that the Taiping Sect was trying to compress a century-long process into just over a decade. Even so, that was still a long process, not something decided in months, days, or a single meeting.

Sage Donghua and Sage Cihang’s stance was clear. They would not allow the Taiping Sect to do so.

Qi Xuansu felt somewhat awkward. As the two Sages clashed verbally, he stood there holding his report draft, unsure whether to move forward or retreat.

The report was not yet finished, so he could not simply return to the observer’s seat. Yet it was equally clear that this was not his place to speak. Though he was familiar with both Sages, this was no ordinary setting. He lacked the standing to interrupt them.

Still, Qi Xuansu could see the situation clearly. It had become a clash between two camps. Sage Donghua represented the opposing side. But after speaking, he fell silent. Meanwhile, the Imperial Preceptor did not speak at all. It was as if two generals stood behind the lines, each sending forth a champion to duel—Sage Cihang and Sage Qingwei. Of course, Sage Donghua was not equal to the Imperial Preceptor, so his speech merely set the tone.

On the surface, Qi Xuansu belonged to Sage Qingwei’s camp. But in reality, no one truly believed he was Sage Qingwei’s man. After all, both his future mother-in-law and future master stood on the opposite side. The upcoming apprenticeship ceremony required invitations, so the news could not be hidden.

At this moment, Great Sage Jiang suddenly spoke. “You two, pause for a moment.”

In ranking, Great Sage Jiang was supposedly behind the three Daoist Heirs. But this was due to an unwritten rule that senior elders would not compete for the position of Grand Master. Even so, Great Sage Jiang’s seniority and experience carried immense weight. To put it bluntly, he had been attending council meetings long before Pei Xuanzhi, Li Wugou, and Su Yuanyi even entered the Golden Tower Council. His peers back then were today’s Deputy Grand Masters.

Hearing this, both Sage Cihang and Sage Qingwei fell silent.

Great Sage Jiang spoke slowly. “Neither of you has been to the Southern Continent. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Rather than listening to you two debate about it, we should hear from the person directly involved. Little Qi—”

Qi Xuansu responded, “Yes, Great Sage.”

Great Sage Jiang continued, “I was supposed to meet Daoist Tantai and Daoist Gong in the Southern Continent this time, but due to circumstances, you went in my place. Now, tell us your observations and impressions. But don’t read from your script. I’ve heard enough empty official rhetoric over the years, and I’m tired of it. Speak your own thoughts. The only requirement I have is for you to be truthful.” 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The old man then looked toward the Imperial Preceptor. “Brother Li, what do you think?”

The Imperial Preceptor certainly did not agree, but he could not refuse outright. As Sage Donghua had said, one must be open to differing opinions. As a Deputy Grand Master, the Imperial Preceptor had to maintain magnanimity and composure. It would be beneath his status to nitpick wording. Thus, he could only nod.

However, others could object on behalf of the Imperial Preceptor. At this time, Tang Fengxian spoke up. “Old Jiang, that’s not right. A report should follow proper form. How can he just speak his own thoughts? We have rules for a reason!”

Everyone had their role. This Great Sage was known for his fiery temper, always playing the role of a blunt, outspoken brute. Phrases like “What the hell is the Lingnan Mansion doing?” or “Exterminate them all!” would sound harsh and accusatory coming from others, but everyone was accustomed to hearing such things from him. Thus, his opposition at this moment was perfectly timed.

But every tough opponent had his match. One would send a scholar to deal with a rough brute. Shi Hesheng was this scholar. He had never gotten along with Tang Fengxian and immediately countered. “Great Sage Tang, letting people speak their mind won’t do any harm. It’s preventing them from speaking that causes trouble. The Holy Xuan advocated free speech and laying out everything clearly and thoroughly, not hiding things away. He said it right in the great hall next door.”

Tang Fengxian was momentarily speechless. Once the Holy Xuan’s name was invoked, it became difficult to argue.

Great Sage Jiang seized the moment and gestured to Qi Xuansu. “Alright, go ahead.”

Qi Xuansu glanced once more at the report in his hand, set it aside, and looked up at the assembly. “As Sage Donghua and Great Sage Jiang mentioned, it is difficult for me to read this draft word for word. So instead, I will speak about what I saw, heard, and felt during my journey to the Southern Continent.

“I must emphasize that the Western Daoist Order indeed has many shortcomings. However, its overall direction is clear—to pursue further development by gaining independence and autonomy. The unavoidable issue it now faces is not a deviation in direction but how to achieve that developmental goal.

“The Southern Continent is rich in mines and raw materials, yet lacks the capacity to turn them into finished products. For a backward, semi-feudal, semi-slave state like the Tawantin Empire to move toward civilization, foundational conditions are required. The Western Daoist Order may have overextended itself, but its intention is to build that foundation. Only by laying a solid base can one raise great structures.

“This recent war in the Southern Continent also demonstrated one thing—the Western Daoist Order and the Tawantin Court are capable of defending their hard-won achievements. In the beginning, the Holy Court held the myth of being invincible. In large-scale battles, they would sweep through the land and even proclaimed openly that they did not consider victory or defeat, only the cost of war. At that time, the Tawantin forces could only rely on guerrilla resistance.

“But now, under the leadership of the Western Daoist Order, both sides can engage in massive, open-field battles involving hundreds of thousands, trading blows on equal footing. Of course, many problems remain, but we must also recognize the tremendous progress achieved, from guerrilla ambushes to large-scale conventional warfare. The effort and sacrifice behind this transformation are impressive. This process itself is a representation of what development truly means.

“I have interacted with many Daoists from the Western Daoist Order, even fought alongside them. I think that there is no difference between us, as we are all descendants of the Primordial Daoist Ancestor. We share the same roots and depend on each other for continuity. We each guide our own nations along different courses, yet our ultimate goals are the same. Just as all rivers flow to the sea, we're all heading to the same destination, just using different paths.”