Chapter 112: Chapter 111: The Grand Curtain of the Reclamation War

"If Junior Martial Uncle Bai trusts me, I am willing to go to the Outer Sect and be your vanguard."

Su Lie lowered his head. Deep down, he was ambitious and unwilling to remain a mere servant disciple.

"Very good. Then tell me, which hall do you plan to join where you could be of most help to me?"

Bai Zichen didn’t mind this ambition.

The Cultivation Realm was different from the mortal world. A mid-stage Qi Refining Steward and a Foundation Establishment Elder were worlds apart. Any sensible, intelligent person wouldn’t dare harbor any improper thoughts.

"I choose the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall..."

Su Lie expressed his thoughts in the calmest tone he could manage. He knew this moment was the second great turning point in his life, the first being when he had stepped onto the Immortal Path.

"The work in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall may seem arduous, and being caught between the Five Halls means they get pushed around, but its jurisdiction actually affects everyone in the Sect."

"There, I can interact with a large number of rank-and-file disciples and gather useful intelligence from them."

"Junior Martial Uncle has just reached Foundation Establishment, so you’ll undoubtedly need a great deal of resources. I will do everything in my power to provide you with the resources you need for your cultivation."

"You may go. I understand."

Bai Zichen waved Su Lie away. He would treat him as a spare piece on the board; it would be for the best if he proved useful.

In the days that followed, besides his normal cultivation of the Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture, Bai Zichen also learned the Soaring Dragon Thought Method.

This art of manipulating Divine Sense was all about translating will into action.

When his Divine Sense was channeled for defense, it could transform into two serene divine dragons to guard his Sea of Consciousness.

When used for offense, it would become two vicious divine dragons that would pounce upon and attack the opponent’s Sea of Consciousness.

After mastering the basics, improving the Soaring Dragon Secret Technique was simply a matter of slow, patient practice.

After just a month of practice, the so-called divine dragons Bai Zichen could manifest looked more like loaches.

’Whether for defense or offense, it’s at least twice as efficient as the simple, crude way I used my Divine Sense before.’

Compared to the Divine Casting Technique, the Soaring Dragon Thought Method was much easier to practice.

No matter how much one practiced, it was still just a technique for applying Divine Sense.

It only increased the efficiency of one’s Divine Sense usage as proficiency grew.

However, the upper limit of one’s Divine Sense wouldn’t increase in the slightest from practicing the Soaring Dragon Thought Method.

After finishing his daily cultivation, Bai Zichen checked the time, then mounted his Colorful Cloud Robe and flew toward the Ancestor Hall.

Three days prior, a message had come through his Elder Token, summoning him to a council of elders in the Ancestor Hall today.

All Elders currently in the Sect were required to attend, barring special circumstances.

Since reaching Foundation Establishment, Bai Zichen had yet to attend a council of elders, so he couldn’t help but feel curious.

He presented his token before the Ancestor Hall and walked inside under the admiring gazes of several Qi Refining Disciples.

"Is that Junior Martial Uncle Bai?"

"It must be. An Elder so young and unfamiliar..."

One female disciple with a dreamy look in her eyes watched his back until a blush crept up her cheeks.

"Junior Martial Uncle Bai is only a few years older than I am, and he doesn’t have a Dao Companion yet... I wonder what his standards for one are?"

Another Qi Refining disciple rolled their eyes and went back to greeting the other arriving Elders.

Among all the Elders in the Ancestor Hall, Bai Zichen was the most junior, so he had to take the initiative to salute each one he met.

He would stop to exchange a few pleasantries with those he knew better.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Bai."

A tall woman with plain features came up to him and took the initiative to salute.

Bai Zichen was slightly taken aback but returned the gesture with a small bow.

"Junior Brother Bai, you probably don’t know Junior Sister Lan yet. Let me introduce you. This is Lan Hong, a True Disciple from twenty years ago. Three months after your successful Foundation Establishment, she also managed to break through."

Gu Xisheng, who was standing behind them, stepped forward to make the introduction.

"Just last month, we held the investiture ceremony for Junior Sister Lan, officially making her the thirty-ninth Elder of the Sect."

’So she’s the Elder who reached Foundation Establishment after I did.’

Bai Zichen had a sudden realization. She had become a True Disciple twenty years ago; judging by her age, this was likely her second attempt at Foundation Establishment.

"Unfortunately, the other two long-term Stewards both failed to break through..."

As the Elder in charge of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, all Sect matters, large and small, passed through Gu Xisheng’s hands.

When it came to being well-informed, he was second to none.

After chatting with Gu Xisheng and Lan Hong for a bit, Bai Zichen learned that of the eight people who had received Foundation Establishment Pills, all but Su Li and Tan Qin had already ended their seclusion.

Of those six, only Bai Zichen and Lan Hong had successfully reached Foundation Establishment.

A one-in-three success rate, even with the help of Foundation Establishment Pills, was admittedly quite low.

"Senior Brother Gu, I actually have something I need to discuss with you..."

Bai Zichen thought of Su Lie’s placement and realized this was the perfect opportunity to consult Gu Xisheng.

"My escort, Su Lie, has served me diligently for many years and recently expressed a desire to contribute more to the Sect."

"I asked what he wanted, and he said he’d like to take on some duties in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you with this, Senior Brother Gu."

"I have no doubt about the ability of someone who’s served by your side, Junior Brother Bai. Have him report directly to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall tomorrow. I’ll have someone arrange everything."

Gu Xisheng said with a beaming smile.

Such things were standard practice among the Elders, nothing to be surprised about.

Some time ago, Lan Hong had arranged for her own handmaiden to become a Steward in the Spirit Plant Hall.

This handmaiden was, in fact, one of Lan Hong’s younger relatives from the mortal world.

With the aptitude of a Discarded Spiritual Root, she normally wouldn’t even have been qualified to join the Qingfeng Sect.

"In that case, I thank you in advance, Senior Brother Gu."

Bai Zichen watched the steady stream of arriving Elders and saw that nearly thirty were already present.

"Do either of you know what today’s council meeting is about? The notice insisted that everyone must attend, barring special circumstances. Is something big happening?"

"The Ancestors have already decided. They’re issuing the Pioneer Decree... and launching a Pioneer War!"

Gu Xisheng and Lan Hong exchanged a look, their voices holding a complex mixture of excitement and trepidation.

’A Pioneer War... So soon.’

The first time he had heard of the Pioneer War, Bai Zichen had just been a promising youth from the Ink Bamboo Bai Family.

Now, he had become a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder—part of the backbone of that same Pioneer War.

For the crime of colluding with the Ghost Spirit Sect, some members of the Fire Phoenix Mo Family had been executed, while others were sentenced to hard labor, drastically reducing the Clan’s size.

But the tension throughout the Black Mountain Spiritual Vein had not eased at all.

For nearly a decade, the five newly relocated Cultivation Families—over a thousand cultivators in total—had been crowded onto a single Tier Two Spirit Vein.

Resources were scarce, space was cramped, and conflicts were rife.

The sheer density of cultivators was so great that it even thinned the Spiritual Qi needed for daily cultivation, hindering the progress of the clans’ younger generations.

If not for Ancestor Yang’s promise that the Qingfeng Sect would launch a Pioneer War within a decade to claim new Spirit Veins for the Human Race to inhabit...

...the tensions among these five Cultivation Families would have already boiled over into bloodshed.

Furthermore, the growing population of Loose Cultivators and the increasing number of Tribulation Cultivators made the Pioneer War an urgent necessity.

For the Qingfeng Sect, the Pioneer War was also a massive opportunity.

Under the noble banner of carving out new Spirit Land for the Human Race, and with the promise of a few Tier Two Spirit Veins as incentive, they could attract countless cultivators to brave the dangers and shed their blood.

Upon success, the Sect would reap vast resources.

Most importantly, the Sect could gain a new Tier Three Spirit Vein.

In every Pioneer War, some cultivators would rise to prominence, but their success was built upon the corpses of a hundred times their number. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

There were even instances of Sect Elders perishing in these wars.

"Brother Elders, the two Ancestors have passed down their decree. We are to launch the Pioneer War as soon as possible."

Wei Dao lightly struck the Jade Plate at his side, and the crisp sound silenced the clamor in the hall.

"We must decide on a target and devise a plan as quickly as possible. The two Ancestors will personally deal with any Tier Three Demon Kings."

Behind Wei Dao, a massive map slowly unrolled, clearly marking the entire topography of the Black Mountain Range.

"Cyan Bull Valley, Feiyue Lake... our targets have always been these two. Please, speak freely, my brothers. Today, we will decide on the final target for our pioneering campaign."

On the map, these two locations lit up with a dazzling Spirit Light.

The routes from the Qingfeng Sect, along with the Demon Beast groups, valuable Spirit Veins, and resource points along the way, all shimmered with slightly dimmer Spirit Lights of various colors.

’So it really is these two locations. The Clan Leader’s speculation back then was correct... In truth, the Sect doesn’t have many options.’

Bai Zichen’s gaze grew heavy as he noted the dense clusters of dimmer lights.

In more distant areas, wherever a Tier Three Demon King had been sighted, a faint red light pulsed, indicating potential risk.

It was clear how seriously the Qingfeng Sect took the Pioneer War and how meticulous its preparations had been.

"Feiyue Lake is a Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Vein. With its network of waterways, we could develop over a hundred acres of Tier Three Spirit Fields in the surrounding area..."

Liang Yu was the first to speak, his voice strong and vigorous, radiating a convincing power.

"If we take Feiyue Lake, its abundant resources will allow the Sect to nurture several hundred more disciples within a single sixty-year cycle."

"Once we set up a Grand Array, it will greatly enhance the Sect’s control over the depths of the Black Mountains. It could even become a Tier Three Top-Grade spiritual land, enough to support a Core Formation Ancestor!"

"Therefore, my stance is clear... Feiyue Lake, and only Feiyue Lake!"

"Junior Brother Liang’s words are not without reason, but we have too little information about the Flood Dragon at the bottom of Feiyue Lake and its true capabilities..."

Tan Changkong spoke extremely slowly, his voice soft and gentle—a stark contrast to Liang Yu.

"If the Flood Dragon’s strength far exceeds our estimates and the Sect suffers excessive losses, it simply won’t be worth it."

"Cyan Bull Valley is the safer option. We have records of fighting that Tier Three One-Horned Kui Ox Demon King before. Even if the unexpected happens, we can handle it."

"It takes at least a century of recovery to launch another Pioneer War! Are we really going to waste this opportunity on a place like Cyan Bull Valley?"

Liang Yu didn’t back down in the slightest, despite Tan Changkong’s age and seniority.

"The resources in Black Mountain County are scarce. If we want to grow, our only choice is to expand into the depths of the Black Mountains... Brothers, think of the dozens of types of Tier Two Spirit Grass already discovered at Feiyue Lake! How many Spirit Pills could be refined from them? And with a hundred acres of Tier Three Spirit Fields, how much Spirit Rice could we harvest each year?"

"Cyan Bull Valley is also in the depths of the Black Mountains. Does taking a Tier Three Low-Grade Spirit Vein not count as expansion?"

"Besides the Tier Two Sulfur Smoke Crystals that herd of stupid oxen likes to eat, the valley is a wasteland! What use would it be to us?!"

Elder after Elder stood up to voice their opinions.

Bai Zichen could see it clearly now—there were two distinct factions.

The Law Enforcement Hall faction all supported pioneering Feiyue Lake, while the Elders of the Alchemy Hall and Talisman Hall were unanimously in favor of Cyan Bull Valley.

The remaining Elders mostly remained on the sidelines, rarely speaking up.