The Grand Hall of the Guiyuan Sect was so quiet it stole one's breath. Every elder present, including the leaders and protectors of the younger generation, remained silent.
It was truly difficult to choose.
Preventing Teng Qingshan from establishing his own sect was tantamount to forcing him to leave. If they allowed him to found a new sect, it would mean handing over half of the Guiyuan Sect’s current great bounty to him. Even more terrifying was the prospect that, in the future, the Guiyuan Sect might well be swallowed by the sect Teng Qingshan created. No one doubted the inevitable prosperity of the lineage Teng Qingshan would foster.
“Sect Master.” A raspy voice broke the silence.
Everyone in the hall turned to look. The speaker was none other than ‘Ji Hong,’ the former top commander of the Black Armored Army.
“We haven't heard what Teng Qingshan himself proposed?” Ji Hong asked.
Zhuge Yuanhong replied, “Qingshan proposed that the sect he found would stand parallel to our Guiyuan Sect. If there are concerns about mutual annexation… we should follow the example of the Heavenly God Palace! The Heavenly God Palace has many subsidiary branches such as the ‘Snow Lotus Sect,’ ‘Myriad Beast Valley,’ ‘Sword Sect,’ and ‘Heavenly God Mountain.’ In the future, the sect he creates and our Guiyuan Sect will be one entity with two branches, equal in status, whole and interconnected like branches sharing the same vital energy.”
“One entity, two branches?” Some of the elders present breathed a sigh of relief.
If this principle was established from the start, they wouldn't have to worry about annexation.
After all, within the Heavenly God Palace, why would the Snow Lotus Sect attempt to swallow Heavenly God Mountain?
“Sect Master, this ‘one entity, two branches’ sounds pleasant, but doesn't that still make our Guiyuan Sect a subsidiary branch under Teng Qingshan’s control? If the sect he creates stands parallel to our Guiyuan Sect, what will the overarching sect be called? It certainly won't be called Guiyuan Sect, right?” sneered the elder surnamed Wang. “Isn’t what Teng Qingshan suggests essentially turning our Guiyuan Sect into just one of his subordinate branches?”
“Exactly, this is unacceptable,” several elders immediately chimed in agreement.
“Esteemed sirs.”
Ji Hong frowned. “Although this structure means our Guiyuan Sect becomes one of his branches, everyone, don't forget… our Guiyuan Sect was originally just a minor sect controlling the territory of Jiangning Commandery. If we follow Teng Qingshan's proposal—when the sect grows powerful in the future—it will be entirely normal for our branch of the Guiyuan Sect to govern an entire prefecture. Though we are under his banner, it is still far better than our current standing.”
Indeed, consider the great plains region’s ‘Heavenly God Mountain.’ Although it is a branch of the Heavenly God Palace, in terms of status, Heavenly God Mountain is naturally far superior to the Guiyuan Sect that once only occupied Jiangning Commandery.
“Hmph!”
Elder Ni, the Law Enforcement Elder, rolled his eyes and sneered coldly, “I would rather be the Guiyuan Sect of Jiangning than the Guiyuan Sect under Teng Qingshan’s control! Why must our Guiyuan Sect seek shelter under another person!”
“Right. No matter how weak our Guiyuan Sect is, it is the Guiyuan Sect established by our successive ancestors. No outsider has the right to dictate terms to us. Becoming a subsidiary branch under Teng Qingshan means that even if we become powerful, we are still under someone else and take orders from another,” several elders voiced their support.
“Everyone, are we suggesting we must completely break ties with Teng Qingshan?”
Others countered this sentiment based on the current circumstances.
…
This meeting of the Guiyuan Sect elders devolved into fierce debates and even mutual curses among the members. Some elders invoked the names of various past ancestors to rebuke their opponents. In short, the entire assembly raged until deep into the night, finally pausing only when a very elderly elder collapsed from agitation during an impassioned argument. * At the foot of the Great Yan Mountain, within the Teng Family Manor.
Just the morning after the Guiyuan Sect Hall meeting concluded its discussions, Teng Qingshan received a letter. It was from his cousin, ‘Teng Qinghu,’ who was stationed in Jiangning, meticulously detailing everything that had transpired in the hall the previous night for Teng Qingshan’s review.
Hoo~~ Hoo~~
The morning air was quite cool. Teng Qingshan sat perched on a thick tree branch, holding several sheets of paper—the very letter sent by Teng Qinghu.
“How could this be?” Teng Qingshan frowned as he read the contents.
“They disagree even with the proposition of equality between the two?” Only upon reading this letter did Teng Qingshan truly grasp the profound significance the sect held for those elders. Although Teng Qingshan knew the sect’s importance, he had only joined the Guiyuan Sect for a short time and lacked that deep, ingrained feeling.
Therefore, he had genuinely expected his idea of mutual parity to be accepted.
“‘Preferring to be the Guiyuan Sect of Jiangning rather than the Guiyuan Sect under my control governing Yangzhou,’” Teng Qingshan read this line from the letter, his brow knitting even deeper.
“Qingshan.”
Suddenly, an aged voice sounded.
Teng Qingshan turned his head and saw a silver-haired elder, broad in the back and walking with a powerful stride, approaching with a smile.
“Maternal Grandfather.” Teng Qingshan leaped down from the branch.
“What are you doing, looking so troubled?” Teng Yunlong laughed heartily. “Now that Qinghu Island has been pacified, Qingshan, you should be joyful.” Teng Yunlong surveyed the surroundings, his smile growing wider. “Look around, the young men of our Teng Clan are diligently practicing their fists, the men are forging weapons, hunting in the mountains—this life we lead is wonderful. It is the best life the Guiyuan Sect has enjoyed in many years.”
Teng Qingshan couldn't help but be influenced by his grandfather’s mood.
Contentment brings happiness.
For Teng Yunlong, who had served as clan leader for decades, achieving this state for the Teng Clan was more than enough satisfaction.
“I should be happy. But right now, I don’t know what to do.” Teng Qingshan shook his head.
Teng Yunlong looked at Teng Qingshan, then smiled. “Qingshan, if you don’t mind, tell your old grandfather. Though I may not have great skills, I have endured countless hardships and troubles in my life. Perhaps I can offer some pointers to you, the remarkable Void Realm expert.”
“What Void Realm,” Teng Qingshan couldn't help but smile, handing over the letter. “This is from Qinghu. Read it and you’ll understand.”
Teng Yunlong took the letter. As he read, his expression turned solemn. After a moment, he finished.
“Qingshan,” Teng Yunlong looked up at him. “You wish to establish your own sect?”
“Yes.” Teng Qingshan nodded, then gave a wry smile. “But there are some difficulties now.”
“Indeed, the matter is quite simple,” Teng Yunlong said calmly, smiling. “The Guiyuan Sect has become powerful precisely because of your existence, Qingshan, now ranking as the premier sect in Yangzhou. It is easier to transition from frugality to luxury than from luxury to frugality. Having tasted power, they are unwilling to let the Guiyuan Sect become weak!”
“What the Guiyuan Sect desires most is for you, Teng Qingshan, to dedicate yourself solely to their service. That way, everyone is satisfied.”
Teng Qingshan nodded in agreement with this assessment.
“And what about you, Qingshan?”
Teng Yunlong smiled. “I know that like almost every ambitious person under heaven, you wish to establish your own school, to be like Emperor Yu or the Qinling Heavenly Emperor, creating a sect that belongs truly to you. After all, serving another sect, no matter how powerful you become, that sect will never be the one you pioneered. Part of your goal is to pass down your lineage of Internal Martial Arts, but more importantly, you want your Teng Qingshan Sect to endure eternally. Is that right?”
Teng Qingshan jolted.
Yes…
Though he had never voiced it, Teng Qingshan admitted it. His grandfather’s insight was exceptionally sharp; he had seen through it immediately. A martial artist pursuing the ultimate path desires to reach the pinnacle of martial arts, and simultaneously harbors the ambition to establish his own sect. He yearns for his sect to last forever. This is ambition, the ambition ingrained in a man's bones.
“Maternal Grandfather, what should I do now?” Teng Qingshan inquired.
Teng Yunlong smiled. “Qingshan, you are a young man, a martial artist chasing the absolute limit! This is why you possess dreams. It would be strange if you lacked this kind of ambition. However… your grandfather views things differently than you young people. Life presents various choices, which are essentially about what you are willing to relinquish versus what you hope to gain!”
“Nothing gained without something lost!”
“If you insist on establishing a great sect outside the Guiyuan Sect—yes, perhaps in the future, you, Teng Qingshan, might reach the heights of Emperor Yu or the Qinling Heavenly Emperor. History books will elevate you to a godlike status, and no one will speak ill of you. But there is one thing—your master, ‘Zhuge Yuanhong,’ and the many disciples of the Guiyuan Sect will undoubtedly feel pain in their hearts. By doing this, you achieve personal glory, but you also cause them disappointment…”
“But, Qingshan, if you are willing to renounce the desire for fame and fortune, and instead submit willingly to the Guiyuan Sect, you can establish a separate branch within the Guiyuan Sect dedicated solely to passing down your lineage of Internal Martial Arts. In the future… the Guiyuan Sect’s reputation will soar, and you, Teng Qingshan, will be recorded as the restorer of the Guiyuan Sect, as well as the founding ancestor of the Internal Martial Arts lineage. The only regret would be… you wouldn't be the sect’s original founding patriarch.”
Teng Yunlong looked at Teng Qingshan, smiling. “Relinquishing and Gaining—you must choose for yourself.”
“Is it sacrificing the title of founding patriarch to preserve the bond with your master and the others?”
“Or is it sacrificing the bond with the Guiyuan Sect to gain the title of your own founding patriarch?”
Teng Yunlong smiled slightly. “You must choose all this yourself. It is just like when I, in order to ensure the survival of the Teng Family Manor, could only watch as the women of the village were abducted by bandits and dared not speak. Sacrificing relatives for the sake of the clan! What you discard and what you acquire—that is for Qingshan to choose.”
With that, Teng Yunlong smiled and departed.
“Relinquish…”
“Gain…”
Teng Qingshan’s mind had been a chaotic mess, but after his grandfather’s clear analysis and guidance, everything became distinct. How to choose… rested entirely on Teng Qingshan’s own will. * In the Jiangning Commandery, within the Guiyuan Sect Master’s study.
Though it was afternoon, the study’s doors and windows were tightly shut.
A fragrance permeated the room as Zhuge Yuanhong sat cross-legged. The assembly in the hall the previous night had given him a severe headache.
“Sigh…” Zhuge Yuanhong sighed deeply.
How could Zhuge Yuanhong not understand Teng Qingshan’s intentions? But he truly couldn't voice his opposition. Looking across the Nine Provinces, who wouldn't desire endless renown?
To found one’s own sect!
To propagate one’s own cultivation lineage! To be hailed by billions of disciples across ages as the Founding Patriarch!
This was likely the dream of countless youths across the Nine Provinces.
He could not forcefully ask Teng Qingshan to sacrifice these things for the sake of his Guiyuan Sect, after all, Teng Qingshan had achieved his current status entirely through his own struggle.
“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!” Knocking sounds suddenly broke the silence, striking Zhuge Yuanhong’s heart like hammer blows.
“Master, it’s me.” A familiar voice rang out.
“Qingshan?”
Zhuge Yuanhong immediately stood up. “Qingshan? Come in quickly!”