Chapter 276: What Now?

Yan Buji walks to the doorway, bows and says, "Senior Brother Hu, why did you come in person?"

"Good news, Junior Brother Huang, it's been decided inside the sect; next month we'll go to the Qian Dao Imperial Capital Offering Hall for duties," Hu Bing says with a smile.

"Oh? Then on my side....."

"You should first go with me to meet the Elders inside the sect."

"Yes."

Yan Buji smiles and follows Hu Bing into the main hall of the sect.

He feels many powerful auras around, especially those seated who are as deep as the abyss, making him even more reverent.

"Disciple Hall Steward Hu Bing, bringing Disciple Huang Hao of the Accumulation Device Peak, comes to pay respects to the Sect Master and the Elders."

"Disciple Huang Hao, has seen the Sect Master and the Elders," Yan Buji bows respectfully, extending his hands.

"Hmm."

"You're not young any more, aren't you over a hundred?"

"Reporting to the Elders, I am eighty‑one this year," Yan Buji replies.

The Elders nod.

The Sect Master of Qingshan Sect, seated above, nods and says, "Eighty‑one, eight layers of Qi refinement, barely acceptable. How do the Elders view this?"

"Since you won the Grand Competition, your combat strength is not lacking. Yet the upcoming trip to the Offering Hall in Qian Dao Imperial Capital is also to give Xuan Qiandao face, so we must not fall short in other aspects," one Elder says.

"Qian Dao Imperial Capital is guarded by the Forbidden Heaven Array, so there shouldn't be any trouble. It's just a matter of handling the usual offering relations properly."

"But he is a lone cultivator by background, not raised from childhood by Qingshan Sect."

"Since when does Qingshan Sect also cling to that theory? Does a good origin matter more than ability?"

"That said...."

Some Elders seemed to voice opposition to his going to the Offering Hall in Qian Dao Imperial Capital, indicating his arrival was not entirely assured.

The Sect Master of Qingshan Sect listened for a while, waved his hand, and the surrounding Elders fell silent.

"Let me ask you, Huang Hao, if you go to the Offering Hall, how would you respond if someone deliberately targets Qingshan Sect?"

"Tell Senior Brother, and I suggest reporting to Xuan Qiandao: if any offering disregards the safety of Qian Dao Imperial Capital and seeks to disrupt the Offering Hall's unity, should a traitor exploit it, the capital would fall into chaos," Yan Buji says directly.

Hu Bing raises an eyebrow, "You… actually know how to handle things."

The Sect Master of Qingshan Sect chuckles, "Then if the other side picks a fight with you, and then runs to Xuan Qiandao to lodge a complaint first, what would you do?"

"Find a deserted spot and eliminate him," Yan Buji says calmly.

Hu Bing's eyes widen.

"Don't go spilling everything out!"

"If Xuan Qiandao questions, wouldn't that put Qingshan Sect between fire and water?"

Yan Buji smiles faintly, "Just leave some rogue cultivation methods."

"Hmph! Isn't that disregarding the rules? Can a fool like Xuan Qiandao let you deceive him so?"

Seeing that Elder pose the question, Yan Buji looks over and says, "If Xuan Qiandao truly cares about the capital's safety, he wouldn't step away; since he has left, it shows they have matters they must attend to. In that case, as long as things stay stable, everything is negotiable."

"Then on what basis do you think Qingshan Sect would hold a grudge against a Qi‑refining disciple for the sake of other major sects?"

"I am unworthy, yet I understand the sect values reputation. If someone deliberately picks a fight, they first spread rumors of harboring rogue cultivators, and only after being discovered are they killed; handled well, no one will say anything."

"Heretical path! Sect Master, I think this disciple's motives are crooked, better not send him to Qian Dao Imperial Capital, lest he brings trouble to the sect!"

Yan Buji furrows his brow, saying little more.

"All this is just hypothetical, isn't it?"

"Yan Buji does not abide by the principle of not striking back when bullied; if he truly didn't strike back, it would be because he couldn't."

"Now, backed by Qingshan Sect, elevating the matter to a dispute between two sects is the best route for him."

"That depends on whether the Sect Master cares about the disciples' face or is ambitiously fearless of being resented by other sects."

"But from Yan Buji's observation, the whole wind of Qingshan Sect is to chase fame and profit; such a sect cannot avoid being resented by others."

"If they truly fear resentment, why make such a big fuss?"

"In the end, can Qingshan Sect be a good place?"

"Isn't it just a force that expands arrogantly under the guise of the mysterious sect?"

The Sect Master smiles, "Extraordinary measures for extraordinary matters are understandable, but as long as no lives are lost, it's fine."

"Yes, Sect Master."

"Very well, you may go down; after a month, set out for Qian Dao Imperial Capital."

"Yes, disciple takes leave!"

Hu Bing hurriedly pulls Yan Buji out of the main hall, sighs in relief, and looks at Yan Buji: "Junior Brother Huang, why do you speak like that? Aren't you afraid the Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall will bear a grudge against you?"

"A grudge? That's unlikely. I did think it over seriously; if anyone truly causes trouble for Qingshan Sect, would Senior Brother just stand by?"

Hu Bing smiles, "That's why I brought you over. Some things are better left unspoken; putting them on the table never looks good."

Yan Buji bows, "Yes, Senior Brother's insight, I was too impulsive."

"Not entirely impulsive; I think the Sect Master actually likes your style of handling matters," Hu Bing hints.

Yan Buji smiles faintly, "The Sect Master's great strategy, Junior Brother merely voiced his inner thoughts."

Hu Bing seemed to realize he had deliberately made that impulsive move.

"Indeed a clever person, hard to deal with."

"Let's go, first discuss the Offering Hall matters."

"Yes."

The two arrive at a courtyard and find Pang De already waiting for a long time.

"Senior Brother Pang," they say in unison.

"Two junior brothers, what did the sect master say?"

"Hu Bing smiled: 'Although some elders are still reluctant, the sect master's meaning is still unopposed.'"

"Pang De nodded: 'The Offering Hall has many connections behind the scenes; Junior Brother Huang just joined Qing Shan Sect not long ago, so he might not be clear on that—let's explain together, have a seat.'"

"Yes."

"The three sat down, and Pang De continued: 'The Offering Hall of Qian Dao Huang Du, while nominally responsible for defending and monitoring the situation within the Qian Dao Huang dynasty, actually also has to handle secular affairs.'"

"Yan Buji recalled that in the Kun Dao realm, there were rumors in the martial world about encountering immortals; now, upon reflection, it might be some struggling cultivators who fled to the secular world to throw their weight around."

"So, there are still quite a few wandering cultivators in the Qian Dao realm?" Yan Buji wondered.

"Indeed, just within Qian Dao Huang Du alone there should be over ten thousand wandering cultivators. Some rely on the court for survival, some are immigrant cultivators who settled down, and some are cultivated by ordinary clans themselves. Although they don't amount to much on the surface, having entered the path of cultivation, even a slight display of their techniques is more than ordinary people can withstand." Pang De said.

"So the Offering Hall also has to manage these wandering cultivators?"

"At least the wandering cultivators within the capital must be managed—whoever causes trouble gets caught." Hu Bing laughed.

"Yan Buji's eyes lit up: 'I get it now!'"