Chapter 442

Chapter 442: Zhou Chang Le’s Persistence

Master Ziyang’s words were laden with profound meaning.

In Master Ziyang’s eyes, although Zhou Luo had great fortune and had achieved his current realm with a Ninth Grade, his wives, concubines, and children were each more talented than the last, all possessing identities beyond the reach of ordinary people in their lifetime.

But all these were things he obtained by relying on others.

His realm, alchemy skill, and all kinds of trump cards on him were undoubtedly bestowed by that Immortal; not to mention which aspect of his so-called background and identity wasn’t gained by depending on his wives, concubines, and children?

In the world of cultivation, such a person might be envied by ordinary people, but for beings like them, he was utterly looked down upon.

If oneself was not strong enough and relied solely on external aids, one would always be despised.

This was also why Master Ziyang had never met Zhou Luo even once over several decades.

Because he disdained meeting such a cultivator who had reached this state entirely by luck.

At this moment, his words were telling Zhou Chang Le.

He wanted to achieve an extraordinary realm in the future; it would depend on the Qinyuan Sect, not on his father who had been incredibly lucky.

Zhou Chang Le bowed his body, not speaking.

But in his heart, he did not agree with his master’s words at all.

Only those who had personally encountered his father would know what an amazing figure his father was.

No matter how many immortal fortunes his father obtained, in Zhou Chang Le’s eyes, those were deserved.

He had lived for several decades and had never seen anyone as steady in action and flawless in execution as his father.

These years, he had constantly been drawing closer to his father, but every time he saw his father, he deeply felt a sense of disparity.

For instance, in this plan, before writing that letter, he had nearly arranged everything.

When he felt fully prepared and confidently returned to his family to report to his father.

The plan his father laid out in the study deeply shocked him.

He had not expected at all that his own plan had so many flaws, and that he had still overlooked good improvements.

After so many years had passed, his father still stood before him like a massive mountain, making him only able to look up.

So internally, he completely disagreed with his master’s words, but at this moment, he sincerely said, "Understood, master."

"Hmm." Master Ziyang paused thoughtfully, then added, "How have you considered the earlier matter?"

Previously, he had privately spoken with Zhou Chang Le once.

The general meaning was that the Heavenly Alliance had now caught the eye of the higher-ups; everyone felt there should not exist a disciple force with such massive influence, as it would cause sect turmoil.

So all had unanimously decided to weaken the Heavenly Alliance’s influence.

As for how to weaken it, naturally, opinions varied.

Some said to outright ban it, others proposed limiting entry quotas, and some suggested dividing inner strength through certain events…

Concerning this, the sect higher-ups held multiple discussions, but ultimately, there was no outcome.

Because the Heavenly Alliance was, after all, a disciple alliance, and it had not done anything wrong; instead, with its help, many sect tasks were swiftly completed, disciples attained unprecedented unity, and their sense of belonging to the sect greatly increased.

That is to say, the Heavenly Alliance brought all positive effects.

If the sect openly suppressed such a disciple organization at that time, it would inevitably chill the disciples’ hearts.

The greater the sect like the Qinyuan Sect was, the more it valued the thoughts of its subordinates.

Because they clearly knew that to maintain their rule, they had to make those below sufficiently obedient.

Unless absolutely necessary, they absolutely could not resort to forceful means.

Even the leaders who were well-versed in ruling tactics could not agree on it and delayed it until this great war.

According to Master Ziyang’s words, the leaders definitely would not permit the Heavenly Alliance to continue developing.

In this situation, he gave a balanced suggestion.

That was to have some direct disciples become the leaders of the Heavenly Alliance.

Direct disciples were the core factions’ bloodlines and the most trustworthy disciples.

By letting them join the Heavenly Alliance as leaders, it could influence the alliance, thus putting it under the sect leaders’ control without worry of it separating from the sect.

Once this proposal was made, it immediately earned the support of several leaders.

However, the sect leader stated that it still depended on whether the person involved was willing.

So Master Ziyang informed that party and had them consider it carefully.

Zhou Chang Le naturally did not want that.

If that occurred, the Heavenly Alliance would become merely a name without substance; for a while, he had no good solution and could only make various excuses to avoid it.

Now that the other party asked again, they naturally required him to provide a clear answer.

"Master, you should know that the original purpose of establishing the Heavenly Alliance was to help those ordinary disciples; if the sect’s direct disciples also joined it, what would everyone think of the Heavenly Alliance?"

At such a moment, Zhou Chang Le could not yield; he spoke sincerely.

Because he understood that once he gave in, he would likely be sidelined by those direct disciples; then the Heavenly Alliance would turn into a tool for them to exploit the ordinary disciples.

Facing his rejection, Master Ziyang showed not a trace of dissatisfaction.

He greatly cherished this disciple of his, which was why he had secretly backed him in founding the Heavenly Alliance and steadily growing it over the years.

"Do you know that if you stubbornly persist, it will only ruin the Heavenly Alliance?" Master Ziyang said slowly.

Fundamentally, he was still looking out for his disciple.

In his view, having other factions’ direct disciples become the Heavenly Alliance’s leaders might split the power, but the entire group could be preserved; later, as long as handled properly, it might not face constraints.

But if it forcibly resisted the sect’s decision, the Heavenly Alliance would eventually struggle under the leaders’ attacks and fully dissolve.

This was essentially offering Zhou Chang Le a viable way out.

"Master, even if the Heavenly Alliance ceases to exist, its spirit will endure," Zhou Chang Le rarely raised his head, staring intently at Master Ziyang on the jade platform.

He and Master Ziyang had an inherent difference in perception.

The latter felt that the Heavenly Alliance was the sect’s; however it changed, the established fact could not be altered.

Since it was the sect’s, what difference did it make who became the high-level figures?

As long as it did not harm his faction’s power or the sect’s rule, that should be fine.

Yet Zhou Chang Le disagreed; rather than viewing the Heavenly Alliance as a tool like the other side, he regarded it as a belief, a belief that enabled all ordinary disciples to have ascending opportunities.

In the sect, due to the direct disciples’ presence, the path to advancement was entirely controlled by a few hands; unless one’s talent was astonishingly exceptional, one would be confined to the Outer Sect for life with no hope of promotion.

For instance, why was Wang Tian, a mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivator killed earlier by Zhou Changqing, still only an Outer Sect disciple until now?

Ultimately, wasn’t it because his talent and background and identity were inadequate, leaving him stuck in the Outer Sect as sect cannon fodder?

Zhou Chang Le did not desire that; though these people might lack talent, must they stay at the bottom forever?

Therefore, he established the Heavenly Alliance, hoping those disciples could climb upward on their own efforts without external disruptions.