Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Falling Apart

Zhongzhou, home to the Spiritual Moon Sect.

The Spiritual Moon Sect is also a big sect in Central Province, but its strength is not as strong as the Shenmu Sect. Besides the divine tree, the Shenmu Sect also has two Tao Achieving Ancestors and around seven or eight Void Achieving cultivators, while the Spiritual Moon Sect only has one Tao Achieving Realm cultivator, making their overall strength weaker than the Shenmu Sect.

Moreover, the Spiritual Moon Sect is mainly composed of women. Initially, it was a sect exclusively for female cultivators. However, female cultivators generally have less willpower and fighting spirit compared to males (with a few exceptions). So, after the Spiritual Moon Sect grew and expanded, they actively started accepting male cultivators into their sect.

Even now, about sixty to seventy percent of the cultivators in the Spiritual Moon Sect are women. This results in the sect having slightly lower combat power compared to others at the same level.

Of course, having more female disciples is not without its advantages. One advantage is having more relatives. With the tradition of intermarriages, over the years, disciples from the Spiritual Moon Sect have married into almost all major sects in Central Province, making the Spiritual Moon Sect a rather unique existence.

"Friend Huang, please don’t worry. The Spiritual Moon Sect will definitely offer you an explanation for this matter."

A Void Achieving cultivator from the Spiritual Moon Sect came forward to pacify the anger of the Void Achieving cultivator from the Shenmu Sect. The Tao Achieving cultivators from each sect rarely handle such matters. Most of the sect’s affairs are managed by the Void Achieving and Soul Changing cultivators. At this moment, the intervention of a Void Achieving cultivator clearly showed the anger of the Shenmu Sect.

"You have said this dozens of times already. I don’t want empty promises. I need an accurate response."

"Friend Huang, the Spiritual Moon Sect is also a victim in this. We have also been deceived by Xiao Lingyue."

"That may be your concern, but all I know is that the entire Central Province is laughing at us. I need the Shenmu Sect to take responsibility."

Taoist Friend Huang said coldly, the probability of the chief Nascent Soul of the Shenmu Sect entering the Soul Changing Period is very high. Throughout history, there have been very few failures, which means Duanmu Ling will definitely become a high-ranking member of the sect in the future.

Now that the high-ranking members of the sect have been humiliated like this, the entire Shenmu Sect feels ashamed. If there is no explanation, how will the sect face its disciples? If Duanmu Ling’s path is ruined because of this, it will not only damage the reputation of Shenmu Sect but also lose a skilled practitioner in Soul Changing. He can’t help but feel angry.

"Taoist Friend Huang, I guarantee you that within three months, we will definitely find Xiao Lingyue and bring them to the Shenmu Sect, what do you think?"

"It doesn’t matter. I have received orders from the sect. The alliance between Shenmu Sect and Spiritual Moon Sect is hereby terminated. Today, I will take back the dowry given by Shenmu Sect. Spiritual Moon Sect, please prepare."

"What? Taoist Friend Huang, it shouldn’t be like this."

"Taoist Friend Huang, our two sects have been friends for a long time, why is it like this?"

"Taoist Friend Huang, think carefully, don’t ruin the friendship between our sects over such a small matter."

Upon hearing the words of the Shenmu Sect, the Spiritual Moon Sect became worried. They all tried to advise each other. The dowry given by the Shenmu Sect was substantial. The outside world only knows about the Five Layered Divine Fruit given to the divine tree, but they know that there is much more than that.

The most crucial issue is that they have already spent most of the dowry money and cannot repay it. For example, the Five Layered Divine Fruit was given to Xiao Lingyue, but Xiao Lingyue ran away. Now Spiritual Moon Sect has to make up for it. How can they afford it, even if they offer treasures of the same level, they wouldn’t be willing to let go.

"Mr. Huang was told to do this. He’s giving you three months to return the resources to Shenmu Sect. If you do, Shenmu Sect will pretend nothing happened and there will be a small loss. But if you don’t, Shenmu Sect will personally come and take it."

Taoist Friend Huang didn’t care about being polite anymore. He had been here for several days, but Spiritual Moon Sect didn’t give a direct answer. They had exhausted his patience.

This marriage alliance was originally a little disadvantageous for Shenmu Sect, but Duanmu Ling liked that Xiao Lingyue, so Shenmu Sect was willing to form the alliance. But now, by playing with Shenmu Sect like this, Shenmu Sect couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

"Mr. Huang…"

"Let’s go."

Taoist Friend Huang and his group didn’t say anything else. They got up and left. Duanmu Ling and the others followed closely, disregarding the persuasion of Spiritual Moon Sect and others, and insisted on leaving.

"Master, is there really no way to salvage this situation?"

On the way, Duanmu Ling said cautiously.

"Do you think it’s not embarrassing enough? Spiritual Moon Sect is playing with Shenmu Sect like this. Do you want our sect to keep embarrassing itself because of you?"

"Master, Xiao Lingyue is not that kind of person. There may be a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding, Duanmu Ling, have you gone crazy? Did the sect raise you to embarrass yourself? Is it just about a woman? Are there no women in Shenmu Sect anymore?"

"Master, disciple didn’t mean it like that…"

"Shut up! Because of you, the sect has suffered heavy losses. Not only did you not think about recovering the losses for the sect, but you also want to speak up for the Spiritual Moon Sect. Let me tell you, if this matter falls apart, our sect will be at the forefront of attacking the Spiritual Moon Sect. No one can escape."

"Yes, Master."

Duanmu Ling fell silent, feeling a sense of sorrow in his heart. At first, he didn’t like Xiao Lingyue. It was an arranged marriage by the sect. But after getting to know Xiao Lingyue, he discovered that she was different from other female cultivators and slowly started to like her.

He had thought that their marriage would be a beautiful story. He would have a virtuous wife. But now, it had turned into a joke. Duanmu Ling had become a laughingstock, and Shenmu Sect never once asked for his opinion.

······

Shenmu Sect and Spiritual Moon Sect’s negotiations collapsed. Although it wasn’t publicly announced, the news had already spread throughout Shenmu City. Shenmu Sect had started mobilizing for war. Disciples from Shenmu Sect were seen in Shenmu City, increasing their procurement of resources for battle. The sect’s subordinates had received orders to recall disciples from various places, preparing to be deployed.

And at Spiritual Moon Sect, the reaction was even more strange. Faced with the disturbance from Shenmu Sect, Spiritual Moon Sect should have taken steps to resolve this matter, and at the very least, they should have intensified their preparations for war. However, the situation at Spiritual Moon Sect has become chaotic.

"It’s here, it’s here! The reason behind the internal turmoil at Spiritual Moon Sect is now known."

"Tell me quickly, tell me quickly."

"Hey, I ran all the way here, I’m thirsty."

"Come on, waiter, bring a pot of good tea."

"I’m also a bit hungry."

"Delicious dishes."

"And also…"

"Beat him to death!"

"Don’t hit, don’t hit, I’ll talk."

"Stop talking nonsense, speak quickly."

"The reason behind the internal conflict of the Spiritual Moon Sect has been figured out. Shenmu Sect offered a generous gift to marry Xiao Lingyue. Besides the Five Layered Divine Fruit from the divine tree, there were also many other things. These things have already been divided among them, it’s easy to swallow but hard to digest.

But the main focus is still on the Five Layered Divine Fruit. It is a precious treasure that can break through Soul Changing. The divine fruit was given to Xiao Lingyue and taken away by Xiao Lingyue. So the Spiritual Moon Sect wanted to use their Moonlight Divine Herb as a replacement and give it to Shenmu Sect. But there was disagreement within the Spiritual Moon Sect, some people disagreed and wanted to find Xiao Lingyue or use other female disciples as a substitute. The Spiritual Moon Sect couldn’t reach a consensus and ended up fighting among themselves first."

"Wow, is the Spiritual Moon Sect really that weak?"

"A group of women really can’t get anything done."

"When women are in charge, everything collapses, ancient people were right about that."

After hearing the insider information, the group of people started discussing excitedly. They said all sorts of things, but what they were most happy about was that the two sides were about to fight. They had been looking forward to this war for months, waiting to make a fortune from it.

Lin Jiang was also among this group of people because their identities were the same. They were owners of small businesses in Shenmu City. These cunning merchants were itching for this clash between the two sects.

"Oh my goodness, all I wanted was to do some honest business. Why did I end up with this tricky opportunity? Do I have to change my name to Lin Tricky?"

Lin Jiang sighed in his heart. Being tricky is not a legitimate business, after all.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Jiang was immersed in a passionate discussion. In summary, there were two words used, "so delicious."

After another half month, Shenmu Sect saw no response from Spiritual Moon Sect and officially ordered the assembly of troops. Many allied forces and cultivators from different places rushed to the gate of Shenmu Sect. The personnel of Shenmu Sect also began openly purchasing war materials. The call of war sounded, and the merchants’ revelry began as well.