Chapter Thirty-Five: Stormy Weather

  Two hundred years ago, the second-ranked Qingping Sect of the Zixiao Temple had a talented and gifted leader who was not willing to let the leader of the Zi Yang Sect take over. After proposing a martial arts competition that did not work out, he suggested letting his disciples choose their own leader. Many people from other sects, including some seniors, believed that the Qingping Sect's leader was indeed the best candidate. However, the Zi Yang Sect thought that since they had lost many talented individuals in the great evil war a hundred years ago, it should still follow the old rules and let the Zi Yang Sect's leader take over.

  If everyone was a cultivator of Qingxiu, they would not have fought for the position of leader. However, there were fewer cultivators in Zixiao Temple, and under the circumstances where the seniors' mediation had no effect, both sides finally clashed due to a small matter, leading to a major internal conflict within the sect. The Qingping Sect was at its peak, suppressing the Ziyang Sect with all its might. The leader of the Ziyang Sect immediately contacted the leaders of the other eight sects and promised that they could take back their disciples on one condition: they had to acknowledge the leader of the Ziyang Sect as the leader of the alliance. The eight leaders agreed, but only partially submitted, meaning they would help in times of need but not obey orders. This was modeled after the political system of Zhongzhou, giving the eight leaders autonomous rights like feudal lords.

  Although Qingping Sect was under the leadership of its sect master and had many skilled fighters, it was no match for the combined forces of the nine sects. The elder of the sect scolded the sect master of Ziyang Sect for his absurd promise to listen to reason, while trying to stop the internal strife with all his might. However, things had already gotten out of control, and in the end, the nine sects suffered heavy losses, while Qingping Sect lost seven or eight out of ten people, and its sect master was also killed in battle. The remaining disciples escaped to Beizhou and eventually established the Qingping Gate there.

  Afterwards, under the request of the worshippers, the nine sect masters made an oath to no longer fight among themselves. Although their strength was damaged due to internal strife, the Purple Bamboo Pavilion had a profound accumulation of spiritual energy from the Spiritual Mountain and Spiritual Water. With new people replacing old ones, two hundred years later, the Purple Bamboo Pavilion regained its reputation as the number one orthodox sect.

  Zi Yun True Person thought it was Qing Ping Sect coming to stir up trouble, otherwise they wouldn't have forced Zhang Tongyuan to issue a stern edict. Just as he was about to order the Purple Sun Sect to be on guard, Yun Qing Shan, the sect leader of the Righteous Path, stepped forward: "Zi Yun True Person, this painting seems to be that of an inferior disciple."

  "Huh?" Ziyun True Person was taken aback, and took out a second portrait: "San San True Person, do you recognize him?" Before becoming the sect leader, Zhengyi ranked third among his peers. After his master's death, he practiced under the protection of Guardian Elder with Yunqing Gate's gatekeeper, still ranking third. The gatekeeper jokingly called him San San, and everyone followed suit. When he became the sect leader, he was known as San San True Person. San San was also very easy-going, whatever you called him, he'd respond to it. Zhang Lao called him Old Three, and he'd answer; Lin Fan called him Sect Leader, and he'd also respond.

  Thirty-Three True Person glanced at Purple Cloud True Person, who was in his early forties but looked like he was only twenty. He had a handsome appearance and profound cultivation. Unfortunately... Thirty-Three True Person didn't know what to say. This guy was named Xi Men Shuai, the sole disciple of the former Demon Lord of the Demonic Sect. How could you not know about this as the sect leader? Although Xi Men Shuai wasn't well-known, he still had that identity. Thirty-Three knew that Purple Cloud True Person had a high innate talent, deep cultivation, and was diligent in his practice. Moreover, with his handsome appearance, he had gained the favor of the former Sect Master. Later, he had dual-cultivated with the daughter of the former Sect Master, who was also the previous sect leader's daughter, and under the strong support of the sect leader, eventually became the Sect Master of Purple Yang Sect.

  Although they are cultivators, they all have private hearts. Fortunately, the Zixiao Temple has the first library: the Cangshu Temple. The leaders of each sect teach for their own sect's strength, and if not, it will be passed down like this. The Zixiao Temple cannot bear the name of the first major sect.

  The Yunqing Gate's leader is elected through a nomination process, where each sect selects its top three disciples and then the Hidden Immortal Sect evaluates them to determine several candidates. They are then assigned tasks such as visiting the Demon Sect or mediating conflicts between certain sects. Finally, the leader is determined. This type of leader may not have the highest cultivation level, but they have rich experience and understanding of human relationships, worldly affairs, and the Twelve Continents' Cultivation Sects.

  San San looked at Xi Men's portrait for a while, shook his head: "Don't know."

  On the other side, the leader of the Lei Mountain Sect in the Southern Continent glanced at San San and then came to his senses. Seeing that Zi Yun was looking at him, he also shook his head: "I don't know." In his heart, he thought that the Qing Ping Gate of the Northern Continent had become the strongest sect with its strong ambition, while this Purple Bamboo Temple seemed to be all bark and no bite. If San San were really a disciple of Zi Yun, then the best course of action for Zi Yun would be to send someone to invite him over, giving the Cloud Clear Sect a lot of face, and then explain the situation clearly, making a fair judgment while taking care of the Cloud Clear Sect's feelings. But as soon as he heard Zi Yun speak, the leader of the Lei Mountain Sect let out a soft sigh.

  "San San Zhen Ren, I don't know how my disciple Zhang Tongyuan offended your disciple?" asked Purple Cloud Zhen Ren.

  You're the master, considering your status as a sect leader, saying this is barely acceptable. But you're the head of the family, and speaking like this makes you seem petty. The worst part is that without even asking or investigating, you've pushed all the blame onto someone else's disciple.

  The true man smiled and said: "It must be my inferior disciple, I'll go find him now."

  Several masters standing nearby heard this and each had their own thoughts, but none of them said anything.

  San San Zhen Ren didn't know what method was used, but it only took more than two hours to capture Lin Fan and bring him to the Zi Xiao Temple. At the same time, Zhang Tong Yuan also returned to the Zi Xiao Temple, and the banquet was nearing its end.

  Zhang Tongyuan furrowed his brow, feeling that this was not right. He had not asked the sect leader or his fellow disciples for help, but only let the Ziyang Sect's disciples gang up on Lin Fan and Ximen Shuai. Using a senior to suppress others made Zhang Tongyuan feel like he had lost too thoroughly. Sect Leader, you should be a good host, why get involved in the affairs of second-generation disciples?

  The master said in a low voice to Zhang Tongyuan: "I will make decisions for you."

  Zhang Tongyuan was filled with regret and bowed his head, saying: "Master, it's all my fault. I saw that the other person was a fellow practitioner, and for a moment, I couldn't resist..."

  "Shut up." Ziyun True Person walked down and greeted him: "San San True Person, it's really... never mind, just a misunderstanding, don't make things difficult for your disciple."

  San San Zhen Ren said: "Don't you thank Purple Cloud Zhen Ren for sparing your punishment?"

  "Thank you, Master Ziyun. I was rude, please forgive me, Master Ziyun." Lin Fan replied.

  The Purple Cloud True Person was still gloating in his heart, thinking that he had turned the tables on himself and made the other person wrong. Taking advantage of the Purple Cloud True Person's momentary distraction, Lin Fan sneakily raised his little pinky finger and gave a slight flick towards Zhang Tongyuan, who was standing by the throne. Zhang Tongyuan felt his face heat up and turned his head to the side, pretending not to have seen it.

  The banquet ended, and everyone bid farewell. San San Zhenren and Lin Fanfeng flew out of the Purple Cloud Mountain and landed in front of a land temple. Ximen Shuai was sitting quietly outside the temple, and when he saw San San Zhenren, he adjusted his clothes and politely said, "Junior has seen San San Zhenren."

  "Ximen Shuai, why are you being so polite to me?"

  Ximen said: "Before his death, our master met San San Zhen Ren and told me that the future leader of Yun Qing Mountain will be San San Zhen Ren."

  "You guessed wrong, haha." Sanzhen True Person said: "It's better to offend a gentleman than to offend a petty person. This Purple Cloud True Person is quite protective of his own and lacks the demeanor of a sect leader. You should not linger in the Purple Xiao Temple for too long, leave quickly."