Chapter 0: The Origin of the Conflict
After several more bouts, the first round of the chief disciple selection concluded.
However, this selection for chief disciple naturally tested more than just combat power; it also included trials that would test a disciple’s character and will. But Qin Gou guaranteed that he would perform his duties diligently, fairly and justly, living up to Xia Luyin’s trust, and select the most outstanding chief disciple for the Sword Questioning Sect.
Indeed, it was the little gambler. Who else in the Sword Questioning Sect could be more brilliant than her?
After a deacon disciple whispered some words, Qin Gou returned to the Sword Guarding Pavilion to greet an unexpected guest.
“Fellow Daoist Xia!”
An old man in a gray, long-sleeved gown cupped his fists in a salute with a broad smile.
Qin Gou returned the salute meticulously and said with a faint smile, “Fellow Daoist Yang, have you been well?”
Before meeting the old man in gray, Qin Gou had already inquired and learned that this person’s name was Yang Mu, an old friend of Xia Luyin, and that he hailed from… the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery.
“I am well, thank you for your concern,” Yang Mu replied with a polite smile.
After a brief exchange, Qin Gou stated directly, “Fellow Daoist Yang is extremely busy. This visit must be more than just to witness the selection of our Sword Questioning Sect’s chief disciple, right?”
“You old fellow, your temper is still so direct,” Yang Mu chuckled and nodded. “Indeed, this old man wishes primarily to discuss with Fellow Daoist Xia the alliance between our two sects to jointly resist the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace!”
“Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace… Hmph,” Qin Gou remarked noncommittally, his smile making him even more inscrutable to Yang Mu.
“Fellow Daoist Xia must have also heard about the recent calamity. That Mystic Maiden Palace Lord, Ye Qishuang, is truly ruthless and cruel. After using some unknown method to murder our Dharma Aspect True Person, Yuan Jun, she arrogantly delivered his severed head to our Linjiang Immortal Nunnery herself, to flaunt her power. In all my years, I have never seen such an arrogant individual,” Yang Mu said, anger surging, his face flushed with indignation.
“Then, Fellow Daoist Yang, can you reveal why the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery and the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace have fallen into such a fierce conflict recently? To the extent that it has even involved the life and death of a Dharma Aspect True Person,” Qin Gou asked, his expression shifting unpredictably.
Upon hearing this, Yang Mu hesitated for a moment, then said with a frown, “The cause was an unclaimed treasure, discovered almost simultaneously by disciples from our Linjiang Immortal Nunnery and a branch of the Mystic Maiden Palace. However, our sect did not bully the weak or the innocent, or directly claim the treasure for ourselves. Instead, we discussed it with those Mystic Maiden Palace disciples. Our sect was willing to pay a certain price to decide the ownership of this treasure and to keep them quiet. After all, that treasure appeared in Das Prefecture, not Chu Zhou, where the Mystic Maiden Palace is located! Our sect had already shown utmost benevolence. We never expected those Mystic Maiden Palace disciples to placate us while secretly intending to report this matter to the Mystic Maiden Palace Lord! They wanted to blow a minor issue out of proportion!”
“So, the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery silenced them forever? Under such thunderous methods, Ye Qishuang probably still doesn’t know the cause of this conflict, does she?” Qin Gou said in a deep voice.
Yang Mu nodded slightly. “Those with different paths cannot plan together. The ways of thinking of heretics and heretical paths are simply incomprehensible.”
“Alas, the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery ultimately underestimated Ye Qishuang. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have come looking for me,” Qin Gou said with a cold laugh, his hands behind his back.
“Indeed. That demoness, known as ‘Ancestor Ye,’ seems even more brutal than the rumors suggest. Our sect’s Yuan Jun was by no means an ordinary Dharma Aspect realm cultivator, yet the look of his unclosed eyes still makes me tremble. Of course, while Ancestor Ye is strong, Fellow Daoist Xia’s Myriad Derivations Sword Dao is also unparalleled. Even if you cannot defeat that demon on the spot, you can at least fight her to a standstill,” Yang Mu said with lingering fear.
“This Seat is willing to join forces with the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery,” Qin Gou said directly. “The Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace is unforgivable, and eliminating evil to uphold righteousness is the fundamental duty of our Sword Questioning Sect.”
“Is that true?” A flicker of ecstasy flashed in Yang Mu’s eyes.
Qin Gou smiled playfully. “However, this Seat wishes to know what the unclaimed treasure you mentioned, Fellow Daoist Yang, actually is?”
“This…”
Yang Mu pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, “This old man can tell you the truth, Fellow Daoist Xia. But before that, you must guarantee that after this matter is concluded, the treasure will belong to our Linjiang Immortal Nunnery. Of course, our sect will not let Fellow Daoist Xia act in vain.”
“No problem,” Qin Gou readily agreed. He immediately spent 1000 merit points to obtain a ‘Heaven Stealing and Sun Replacing’ talisman. After crushing it, he issued a false spirit oath: “I, Xia Luyin, will by no means covet the precious treasure of a fellow sect!”
As the power of the Heavenly Dao swept over, Yang Mu was greatly impressed. “Fellow Daoist Xia is truly upright and noble!”
Qin Gou smiled warmly, his demeanor as gentle as a spring breeze in March.
“If that is the case, then I shall hide nothing further. The so-called precious treasure is a Huaxuan Fruit Tree. Consuming its fruits can solidify and enhance a cultivator’s potential without any drawbacks! It is no secret that our sect leader has congenital deficiencies. The Huaxuan Fruit Tree’s importance to our sect can be seen clearly.”
“Originally, the best plan was to directly transplant the Huaxuan Fruit Tree to the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery. However, the tree is about to mature, and transplanting it now would inevitably damage the precious Huaxuan Fruits. Furthermore, our sect’s enmity with the Mystic Maiden Palace has already been established, and we fear unforeseen incidents during the harvesting and transplanting process. Therefore, we require Fellow Daoist Xia’s helping hand.”
“I see. I will personally be present at the site then and will not fail your sect’s expectations,” Qin Gou nodded and smiled thoughtfully. Such a precious treasure as the Huaxuan Fruit Tree must be well cared for; it must not be wasted.
Hearing this, Yang Mu was immensely satisfied and said joyfully, “On behalf of the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery, I thank Fellow Daoist Xia for your righteousness!”
“It’s just a small favor,” Qin Gou waved his hand dismissively. “Besides, Fellow Daoist Yang probably doesn’t know that this seat has interacted with that Mystic Maiden Palace Lord, Ye Qishuang, before. This seat even knows some secrets that ordinary people do not. I will tell you now, which might lead to an unexpected victory.”
“Oh? Please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist Xia,” Yang Mu asked in surprise.
“Fellow Daoist Yang, do you know who Ye Qishuang hates the most in her life?” Qin Gou asked seriously. “It is none other than the Master of Arc-Moon Mountain, Qin Gou himself!”
Yang Mu burst into laughter. “How is that possible? If I recall correctly, the Master of Arc-Moon Mountain is the Mystic Maiden Palace Lord’s superior, someone to whom she owes immense debt.”
“Then, Fellow Daoist Yang, have you ever seen a disciple who hasn’t seen her master for hundreds of years? When Ye Qishuang established her own sect and founded the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, did she invite the Master of Arc-Moon Mountain to personally impart guidance?” Qin Gou said with his arms crossed, speaking with conviction. “If you don’t believe me, Fellow Daoist Yang, the next time you see Ye Qishuang, you can loudly tell her that the Linjiang Immortal Nunnery is willing to join forces with her to hunt down the Master of Arc-Moon Mountain and tear Qin Gou’s body into pieces and scatter his ashes! Ye Qishuang will surely be shaken upon hearing this!”
“Is that true?” Yang Mu’s face showed a hint of suspicion.
“Whether it is true or false, Fellow Daoist can try and find out.”
Yang Mu was skeptical, but he still took this matter to heart.
