Xi Yuanlong was quite pleased, believing he had discovered the perfect method for restoring his sect to prominence.

Ye Wen, however, frowned in thought. On the whole, this matter offered no disadvantage to the Shu Mountain Sect. As for why Qiu Yuanlong wasn't worried about Shu Mountain replacing Emei, it boiled down to a simple issue.

The Shu Mountain Sect possessed virtually no foundation in Shu territory. Given their centuries-long reputation for secluded cultivation, even if the sect once held significant prestige there, those centuries had long since caused it to vanish like smoke. Furthermore, based on what they knew, the Shu Mountain Sect had never enjoyed immense authority before; most people assumed they were a sect dedicated to hermitic, quiet training.

Although this conjecture struck many as decidedly odd—after all, martial cultivators generally delighted in showing off and competing fiercely—the Shu Mountain Sect, being martial cultivators, displayed none of this expected spirit, choosing instead to live in isolation.

It was only later, upon learning that the Shu Mountain Sect inherited the orthodox lineage of Quanzhen, that they found the situation less strange. Martial cultivation was merely a method of training, and the body was still governed by the mind. If the philosophical tenets of Quanzhen suppressed the desire to compete, dedicating oneself to secluded practice wasn't unusual.

Simply put, compared to the foundationless Shu Mountain Sect, the Qingcheng Sect had long been an established major power. If the Emei Sect were to collapse, the established Qingcheng Sect would find it easier to seize control of the Shu territory than Shu Mountain would.

This control essentially involved planting Qingcheng Sect's industries within a certain radius and placing the younger generation under their surveillance to prevent any outstanding talents from slipping through the cracks.

The current situation was that Emei's industries were spread everywhere, and any new promising talent discovered was immediately snatched up by Emei. For the most part, the Qingcheng Sect could only fume in silence, forced to pick through the scraps.

And Ye Wen’s Shu Mountain Sect? They had nothing. "Qiu Yuanlong was not yet aware of the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School.

Even if they started arranging things immediately, it would take at least three to five years to form any substantial scale. That much time would be more than enough for the Qingcheng Sect to reconfigure its own industries and even absorb some of Emei’s assets.

Therefore, the Qingcheng Sect was very willing to cooperate with the Shu Mountain Sect, unafraid that Shu Mountain could swallow Emei’s power entirely in the short term and become the new Emei, continuing to suppress Qingcheng. More importantly, the currently revealed strength of the Shu Mountain Sect was insufficient to consume Emei entirely.

As far as everyone knew, the masters of the Shu Mountain Sect were just Ye Wen and his wife, with a rumored third woman who no one had ever seen. But even counting them all, what did it matter? Ye Wen only had two foreign disciples by his side; if he wanted to do anything, he would have to act personally. The strength of the Shu Mountain Sect… even if they had hidden reserves, they likely weren't substantial.

Thinking it over and over, no matter how he analyzed it, the Shu Mountain Sect posed no threat to the Qingcheng Sect. This realization led Qiu Yuanlong to seek out Ye Wen, hoping to form an alliance.

“Scattered means weakness, united means strength! Although the Emei Sect seems like a castle in the air with an unstable foundation, it is not something either of our two sects can confront alone!” Qiu Yuanlong, completely abandoning his usual arrogant demeanor, spoke to Ye Wen with solemnity about the stakes: “Since this is the case, why don't our two sects join forces? Only then can we guarantee the utter destruction of the Emei Sect!”

Ye Wen suddenly let out a cold laugh: “If I’m not mistaken, the Patriarch’s intention is for your sect to handle the Emei disciples, while I deal with Daoist Tianxing and Chan Master Dihong?” Qiu Yuanlong roared with laughter: “How dare I trouble Sect Leader Ye with such exhaustion? I cannot guarantee victory over Daoist Tianxing, but I stand a decent chance against Chan Master Dihong.” If Sect Leader Ye agrees, I, Qiu, am willing to find an opportunity to eliminate Chan Master Dihong!” Ye Wen remained silent in contemplation. It seemed Qiu Yuanlong was indeed sincere about this alliance. To speak so boldly about neutralizing one of Emei’s remaining two masters was a guarantee few would dare make.

Initially, Ye Wen had worried that cooperating with Qiu Yuanlong might tarnish the reputation of the Shu Mountain Sect. After all, since the Qingcheng Sect had allowed their own disciples to feign betrayal and operate as demonic cultivators to ensure their sect’s continuation, there was no guarantee these scoundrels wouldn't turn around and smear Ye Wen once they were done using him.

“What’s there to fear? The Shu Mountain Sect today is not what it was back then!”

When he was short of troops and manpower, he naturally had many reservations! If it were just him alone, it might be manageable, but he had a family to care for. How could a grown man bear to let his beloved woman wander in hardship with him? But now? Even if various sects in the cultivation world were displeased with the Shu Mountain Sect, they likely wouldn't dare act rashly, as they still needed something from him!

That Penglai Immortal Realm had now become his greatest talisman and a fallback route! However, calculating this way, the Shu Mountain Sect seemed to be infringing upon the interests of the Kunlun Sect; he wondered what response Kunlun would have.

He was thinking too far ahead, completely forgetting that Qiu Yuanlong was still waiting for his answer. Seeing his prolonged silence, Ancestor Bixue assumed Ye Wen didn't trust him, as his reputation had indeed become quite foul over the centuries!

“If Sect Leader Ye distrusts me, you are welcome to discuss the details further with my junior brother in a few days!”

This single sentence jolted Ye Wen awake: “Your junior brother is?”

Qiu Yuanlong chuckled: “The current Qingcheng Sect Leader, Yu Shuang, is my junior brother!” Only then did Ye Wen realize that Qiu Yuanlong held considerable status within the Qingcheng Sect—even the Sect Leader was his junior brother! However, this also revealed the great resolve the former leaders of the Qingcheng Sect had made; they even planned the succession of the Sect Leader position to ensure Qiu Yuanlong, this trump card, was properly preserved.

“So that’s how it is!”

Knowing this, Ye Wen finally made his decision.

“Since the Emei Sect insists on making trouble for me, if I don’t respond, people will think the Shu Mountain Sect is easily bullied. They struck the first blow, and I, Ye Wen, dare to deliver the finishing one!”

With a firm plan in place, the rest became easier. However, he couldn't afford to appear too close to Qiu Yuanlong. Ye Wen agreed to discuss matters thoroughly with Yu Shuang but firmly refused to negotiate with Qiu Yuanlong.

This shifted the nature of the situation. Qiu Yuanlong changed from a negotiating representative to a mere messenger. Even if the Qingcheng Sect tried to smear him later, it wouldn't be so easy, as Ye Wen’s discussion with Yu Shuang was a verifiable fact. Should the topic of Ancestor Bixue arise, it would appear to be a secret connection between the Qingcheng Sect and a sect traitor, not Ye Wen consorting with demonic evil cultivators to harm the righteous path.

This seemed like a mere technicality of words, but the prestigious orthodox sects placed great stock in such distinctions, forcing Ye Wen to be cautious. Thus, as soon as he reached an agreement with Qiu Yuanlong, Ye Wen waved his hand and dismissed him immediately: “Now that matters are settled, I bid you farewell!”

He truly had little more to say to Qiu Yuanlong, given their existing animosities. The fact that Ye Wen hadn't attacked him outright was already a gesture of respect to the Qingcheng Sect. Understanding this, Qiu Yuanlong didn’t object; he merely chuckled and vanished into the darkness, hastening back to Qingcheng to relay the news to his junior brother.

However, just before disappearing completely, he used a secret technique to whisper something. Ye Wen, already far away, abruptly halted his flight, his expression shifting for a moment before he resumed his sword light toward the Shu territory.

“Hermit Beihe is dead?”

Ye Wen was truly taken aback that Qiu Yuanlong had left him with such news at the end. Although Qiu Yuanlong hadn't elaborated, the implication of that single sentence demanded Ye Wen’s attention.

With Hermit Beihe dead, how would the Kunlun Sect respond? Who was the murderer? Was it foreign powers, fellow cultivators, or perhaps some demonic entity roused by the matter of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons?

There were too many possibilities, and Ye Wen couldn't sort out the threads immediately. By the time he returned to the school, Guan Luyan, who had arrived earlier, was swamped handling the cooperation with the relevant government departments, constantly busy and feeling dizzy.

“Sect Leader, you’ve returned!”

Since Guan Luyan had joined the Shu Mountain Sect, even though he hadn't formally taken a master, he followed protocol and addressed Ye Wen as Sect Leader. This was only in private; in front of others, he usually addressed Ye Wen as Principal.

“How is the school’s situation?”

Since Ye Wen led a group into seclusion in the Penglai Immortal Realm, the school had maintained normal operational momentum, though the student numbers had dropped as the fame Ye Wen had engineered earlier had been largely depleted.

Fortunately, the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School had recently established cooperation with the higher-ups. With assistance from the relevant departments, the school’s reputation was beginning to recover. After all, if the authorities wanted to cooperate with Ye Wen, they had to offer some conveniences.

The school trained elite combat strength for them while also recruiting talent from society, developing them into outstanding martial artists who would mostly be absorbed by the relevant departments later on. Thus, they were eager for the school to have more students.

Even the military had sent people to study at the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School, though their identities were kept secret, enrolling them as ordinary students.

According to Guan Luyan, the military seemed intent on building something akin to a military base near the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School—partly to shield it from mundane affairs and partly to have personnel close at hand for training.

“That’s good! Just let them handle the details!”

Now, as Ye Wen’s cultivation steadily advanced and the Shu Mountain Sect reached the turning point for fully entering the cultivation world, his interest in such matters had greatly waned. He had even set aside the Liverpool Club in Europe, leaving a manager he dispatched to oversee its operations permanently.

Guan Luyan then reported on the student situation, finally asking: “According to the Sect Leader’s requirement, starting next semester, we must officially integrate the Seven-Colored Dou Qi as a course subject. Will this attract attention from ordinary people?”

Ye Wen waved his hand: “Let them think what they want. The surfacing of the Seven-Colored Dou Qi is an inevitable trend. Even if we don’t announce it now, it will eventually be discovered once these students graduate and go out into the world!”

“We must let everyone know that our world possesses this kind of power, and this power is taught by the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School. Naturally, it will also make those foreign elements hiding in the shadows nervous!”

The emergence of these special powers would inevitably cause a period of upheaval. First, to soothe the panic of their own populace, nations would have to reveal their own hidden cards. This would expose all the forces lurking beneath the surface, making them much easier to deal with.

The root cause for Ye Wen acting this way was simple: a grudge!

“It wasn’t just the righteous path that set me up back then; I haven’t forgotten those foreign devils either!”

He couldn't just hold grudges against his own countrymen, could he? Showing off strength to his own people held no merit in his eyes. Since he intended to take revenge, none of those outside parties would escape!

“One by one, they can all wait!”

As for what kind of earth-shattering changes his actions would bring to the world, he couldn't be bothered. Even the Huafu bloodline, which had initially served as his justification, had been given the most appropriate arrangements, allowing them the capacity for self-reliance. Did he need to stand guard over them forever?

People couldn't always rely on others; at critical moments, they needed to rely on themselves. Moreover, Ye Wen believed that flowers raised in a greenhouse would eventually wither; only those who had endured blizzards could continue to bloom steadfastly.

“If a great war breaks out, it can serve as a test!”

However, Ye Wen thought this possibility unlikely, allowing him the freedom to stir things up boldly. If a great war did occur, he could directly settle scores with those responsible, and the students he trained would serve as the vanguard.

Time passed day by day. The students of the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School traversed the campus wearing uniforms reportedly chosen by the Principal himself.

Occasionally, the masters of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy sent by the higher-ups would find a quiet spot to drink tea or play chess when they had no classes. The sight of a group of white-haired elders playing chess and sipping tea lent an ethereal elegance to the campus.

Ye Wen remained seated in his high, imposing Principal’s office, gazing through the floor-to-ceiling window at the scene on campus.

“It seems I no longer need to worry about student affairs! I only need to check in occasionally to see if any are exceptionally outstanding.”

Another month passed. Everything was now running smoothly. Although the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School remained a private school in appearance, various miscellaneous forces had already intertwined within it.

After a month of busyness, Guan Luyan gradually delegated his responsibilities. The two who took over were Zhao Qing, who had returned, and Zhang Feng.

From now on, these two would serve as the school’s Principal and Vice Principal, respectively. One would manage students recruited through official channels, and the other would oversee the “colleagues” sent for instruction.

The choice of Zhao Qing, besides him being Guan Luyan’s disciple, was due to his disposition—a disciple who disliked contention. Such a personality wasn’t of great use to the rapidly developing Shu Mountain Sect, occupying a position of strength without utilizing it. Thus, Ye Wen assigned him to this role, allowing him to contribute in his own way.

As for Guan Luyan, Guan Shuying, Guan Jie, and the others, they would accompany Ye Wen to the Cultivator Assembly along with Tommy, Chris, Claire, Zheng Ying, Zhang Ling, and the rest.

This was the final roster Ye Wen had decided upon. The remaining ordinary students would either return to teach at the school, receiving high salaries and enjoying various state benefits, or they would join first-tier departments to work. Many who enjoyed adventure chose the latter, though five or six remained at the school, ensuring the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School retained the foundation for teaching the Seven-Colored Dou Qi.

After Zhang Feng took the post of Vice Principal at the school, he also kept Li Yan behind. Ostensibly, Li Yan was the Deputy Director of Academic Affairs, but his true role was as the instructor for the special trainees.

Zhou Lei, Zhao Lin, and Wang Bing would accompany Ye Wen to the Cultivator Assembly to broaden their horizons and familiarize themselves with these formidable beings. After all, the department they currently belonged to often dealt with such special individuals, and they might need to seek favors from them at any time.

After such a busy month, while the Shu Mountain Martial Arts and Literary School appeared unchanged outwardly, its internal structure had undergone a complete transformation. Ye Wen had shed almost all responsibilities and was preparing to depart with his group.

“Do we still have to fly?”

Zhou Lei grimaced. Her previous experience flying was far from pleasant, and she truly did not wish to repeat it.

“This time it’s close, just to Mount Emei; it shouldn't be so painful!” Zhao Lin remarked, then suddenly pointed at the sky: “It’s Senior Xu!”

“Where?” Zhou Lei’s eyes instantly lit up, and she followed Zhao Lin’s gaze to a strikingly conspicuous red light in the sky. She naturally recognized this red gleam; she had seen it countless times in the Penglai Immortal Realm—it was the sword light from Xu Xian flying on his sword.

As soon as the red light appeared, Zhou Lei’s eyes sparkled: “Ah! I get to see my Xu Xian again! I hope he’s the one who flies me this time!”

“…”

Wang Bing covered her face with a look of resigned helplessness, as if saying, Here we go again. Even Zhao Lin took a deliberate step away, adopting an air of I don’t know her.

But Zhou Lei remained oblivious, clasping her hands over her heart and continuing to gaze at the approaching red light with sparkling eyes: “His jet-black, smooth long hair, beautiful features, warm smile, outstanding talent… what a perfect man! Why would he fall for that old woman who pretends to be young?”

The person in her fantasy suddenly seemed to enter a state of rage, especially when she thought of that woman named Huang Rongrong, who looked fourteen or fifteen but was actually ancient. The thought that the perfect man of her dreams was claimed by such a woman filled her with immense grievance.

Wang Bing interjected from the side: “Perhaps… because Senior Huang doesn’t make Senior Xu wear women’s clothing…”

Zhou Lei stiffened momentarily, then turned around: “That was just a joke!”

Wang Bing remained noncommittal, but Zhou Lei suddenly looked up, lost in memory: “But my Xu Xian looked so beautiful in women’s clothing too—regal, graceful, and movingly lovely! Simply a goddess!” Then, when Huang Rongrong suddenly appeared in her mental image, Zhou Lei wore a look of disgust: “But with that woman around, it becomes absolutely dreadful!”

Ye Wen, who had been standing not far away, scratched his cheek: “Why does this feel like seeing Huang Rongrong back then?” He couldn't help but smile, recalling how his Junior Brother Xu had been tricked by this girl into wearing a formal evening gown as if it were ordinary clothing, high heels and all, while walking around.

“Master Brother… Xu Xian landed before Ye Wen with a dark expression: “I could hear your laughter from the heavens!”