Volume 4 Chapter 23

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Volume 4 Chapter 23: Struggle for Power

A single word was spoken, and everyone in the room was shocked.

The elder of the "Hua" generation, the newly appointed elders of the "Qing" and "Yu" generations, and even the ordinary disciples of Jiuhua Mountain were all stunned upon hearing Zhang Hualing’s words.

The Deacon Elder? The one in Jiuhua Mountain just below the status of the sect leader, Supreme Protector, and Guardian Elder? The Deacon Elder who manages all affairs and assists the sect leader?

Although they had anticipated that Zhang Hualing would have special plans for Xu Qingfan, no one expected Zhang Hualing to appoint him to such an important position.

The elders of the same "Qing" generation as Xu Qingfan were either surprised or happy, and their looks at Xu Qingfan were mixed with astonishment and envy.

For a moment, all eyes in "Linghua Hall" were focused on Xu Qingfan.

Seeing everyone’s expressions, Xu Qingfan realized that Zhang Hualing had not informed anyone about his appointment as Deacon Elder.

With the decision made, Xu Qingfan did not refuse. He bowed deeply to Zhang Hualing and respectfully said, "Thank you, Sect Master. I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to serving Jiuhua in the future, and I will not disappoint the sect leader and the elders’ expectations of me."

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s acceptance, some elders’ faces changed, and they were about to stand up and object.

It wasn’t that the elders had any opinion of Xu Qingfan, but appointing a Deacon Elder was nevertheless a significant matter. Especially given the tradition that the Deacon Elder of Jiuhua Mountain may become the next sect leader, many elders felt that if Xu Qingfan had to be appointed as Deacon Elder, it would be fine, but they should observe him for a while before making a decision. After all, it concerns the future of Jiuhua, and cannot be taken lightly.

Just as some elders were about to oppose, they were stopped by other elders who were more thoughtful, either by whispering to them or giving meaningful glances toward the top of Jiuhua Mountain.

These elders, who were initially eager to oppose, calmed down after receiving hints from others.

Xu Qingfan has been living at the top of Jiuhua Mountain for over twenty years, residing with "that person." During these years, "that person" personally mentored Xu Qingfan. Could it be that Xu Qingfan becoming the new Deacon Elder was a decision made by "that person" along with Zhang Hualing?

As a legendary figure who has protected Jiuhua Mountain for thousands of years and the only Mahayana cultivator of Jiuhua Mountain now, surely he has his reasons for making such a decision, right?

It must be said that Li Xuhan, as the previous sect leader of Jiuhua Mountain, had much higher prestige and trust from everyone than Zhang Hualing. Especially after the calamity over twenty years ago, this prestige and trust reached new heights.

Initially, a few elders close to Xu Qingfan, like Jin Qinghan and Lv Qingshang, felt slightly disappointed but mostly happy upon hearing Xu Qingfan would become the new Deacon Elder of Jiuhua Mountain. When they saw several elders standing up to oppose, they felt tense and prepared to stand up in support as well. However, they were surprised to discover that those elders merely stood up slightly and then sat back down without any opposition, seemingly accepting Zhang Hualing’s decision. Not only were Jin Qinghan and the others astonished, but even Xu Qingfan did not expect things to go so smoothly.

"Since when have I gained such good rapport and image in the elders’ hearts? Such a significant matter, and yet no one objects?" Xu Qingfan thought, bewildered.

Only Zhang Hualing was not surprised by the situation. After announcing Xu Qingfan’s appointment, he remained silent for a while and then said, "Since no one opposes, this matter is settled."

Zhang Hualing said to Xu Qingfan, "Deacon Xu, please take your seat."

As he spoke, Zhang Hualing pointed to the seat beside him. This seat was very close to the sect leader’s seat and was positioned directly opposite the Supreme Protector, standing higher than the seats of the other elders.

Accustomed to Zhang Hualing addressing him by name, Xu Qingfan was momentarily caught off guard when Zhang Hualing respectfully called him "Deacon Xu," realizing after a moment that he was being addressed.

Though his heart was stirred, Xu Qingfan maintained a calm exterior, appearing very composed. After bowing respectfully to Zhang Hualing, he walked toward his seat with a mix of nervousness and excitement, and then slowly sat down with an air of dignity, earning nods of approval from some elders.

After Xu Qingfan was seated, Zhang Hualing addressed him and the newly appointed elders, "You are no longer ordinary disciples. You will now participate in the major decisions of Jiuhua Mountain. I hope you uphold the right mindset and always remember your recent oaths."

Once Xu Qingfan, Jin Qinghan, and the others acknowledged this, Zhang Hualing spoke to all the elders, "Jiuhua has been closed to the outside world for over twenty-one years. Our first plan has been completed since the closure — many disciples have achieved significant growth and become new elders. However, due to opening the ‘Jiuji Cave’ twice, our millennium reserves are depleted. Beyond maintaining the ‘Nine Pole Array’s’ operation, our resources are scarce. Let’s discuss how Jiuhua should proceed in the coming time."

As Zhang Hualing’s words concluded, the elders began discussing and offering their opinions. Xu Qingfan, now part of Jiuhua Mountain’s leadership, also participated in his first elders’ meeting.

Although Xu Qingfan had become the fourth most influential person at Jiuhua Mountain in some respects, he remained humble. While the elders shared their opinions, Xu Qingfan quietly listened, learning from their experience, without voicing his own views.

From the moment Xu Qingfan became Jiuhua’s Deacon Elder, he held the highest position among the newly appointed elders of the "Qing" and "Yu" generations. Events such as the Huandao Island incident and Zhang Xusheng’s attack over twenty years ago greatly elevated Xu Qingfan’s reputation among the younger disciples. Additionally, Xu Qingfan achieved the Condensed Core Stage without going through the "Jiuji Cave" and was the first among the younger generation to create his own mystical skill. Therefore, whether he wanted it or not, he became the undeniable leader of Jiuhua’s new generation of elders and the "Qing" and "Yu" disciples. The new elders naturally looked up to Xu Qingfan. After noticing his silence, even though they each had their own thoughts, they too remained quiet, just like Xu Qingfan. As a result, the discussions ended up taking place mainly among the older generation of elders.

Ultimately, the result of Zhang Hualing and the elders’ discussion came down to a few points.

First, in the coming days, they should try to use the spirit stone elixirs sparingly and extend the time of seclusion, in order to miss the most terrifying initial phase of the impending calamity as much as possible.

Second, the belongings and savings of the Jiuhua elders who died during the calamity or after passing their knowledge to new elders should be put into Jiuhua Mountain’s treasury to ease the shortage of resources. These elders received a lot of resources from Jiuhua Mountain each year and often traveled to gather more, so their private collections are likely substantial.

Third, in the days ahead, disciples of Jiuhua Mountain, at any stage, should prioritize cultivation to strengthen Jiuhua’s power. The unused elixirs and artifacts of the elders can be given to the most promising disciples to enhance Jiuhua Mountain’s strength as much as possible.

Fourth, Jiuhua Mountain has now gained eighteen new elders. Although they have their own abodes, these do not match their new status. Therefore, after reclaiming the abodes of the deceased elders, they should be quickly allocated to the new elders.

…

More than a dozen such points will guide Jiuhua Mountain’s direction for the coming decades. During this time, senior elders naturally raised opinions to benefit themselves, but Zhang Hualing, not being senile, refuted them one by one.

Throughout this process, whether Xu Qingfan or the new elders who followed him remained silent. Even if some points did not benefit them, seeing Xu Qingfan’s continued silence and considering the ample gains from just becoming elders, they refrained from dissent.

After all the discussions concluded, Zhang Hualing noticed a thoughtful look on Xu Qingfan’s face and asked, "Deacon Xu, you’ve been silent, but your expression keeps changing. Do you have any thoughts?"

At this moment, Xu Qingfan recalled the tragic events he and his senior, Yue Qingru, faced after their master Lu Huayan’s death, along with the promise he made to Niu Hualian to take care of his apprentice. Now, listening to the elders planning how to take the inheritance of those who had passed, he felt a bit saddened and unsettled. However, he knew that, given Jiuhua’s current situation, Zhang Hualing and the others’ opinions might indeed be the best for Jiuhua Mountain’s future.

Hearing Zhang Hualing’s question, Xu Qingfan hesitated slightly before speaking, "I do have some ideas. Although implementing them might go against Jiuhua’s traditions, they could greatly benefit us. I’m just not sure if I should mention them."

Zhang Hualing initially asked casually but was surprised that Xu Qingfan truly had ideas. Especially upon hearing that his plans went against tradition but could greatly benefit Jiuhua, he became serious and said, "Do speak freely."

Xu Qingfan nodded and slowly said, "My thoughts are that those deceased elders contributed greatly to Jiuhua. While seizing their estate is most beneficial and necessary, we must not neglect their disciples."

Gongsun Huasa frowned and said, "We are aware of that and certainly won’t abandon them. We plan to arrange for those disciples to join other masters and continue their practice. I’m sure the elders will treat them as true disciples."

Xu Qingfan smiled and replied, "I have no doubt of that. However, from what I know, most of those disciples are unwilling to switch masters and prefer independent cultivation. But the path of cultivation can’t be pursued without a good mentor, so their progress will likely slow. Among them are many with remarkable talent, and leaving them like this could waste that talent and disadvantage Jiuhua’s recovery of strength."

An elder with graying hair remarked, "We know this too, but if they don’t want to switch masters, there’s nothing we can do. We can’t force them."

Xu Qingfan shook his head and said, "There is a way."

Gongsun Huasa asked, "What way?"

Xu Qingfan said in a deep voice, "In our Jiuhua sect, and indeed the entire cultivation world, teachings are passed down from teacher to student. This certainly helps foster bonds within sects and cultivates elite disciples, making it the most suitable form of inheritance in our cultivation world. However, it doesn’t suit our current situation at Jiuhua. Right now, we have about one thousand five hundred disciples, and with the elders lost to the cycle of reincarnation and the recent catastrophe, there are nearly nine hundred disciples without a teacher. This not only negatively impacts their future but also our Jiuhua sect’s future."

After a pause, Xu Qingfan continued, "Many of you have traveled the mortal world and noticed how ordinary people teach literature? From what I know, they use academies. The location and teaching content remain the same, but the students can move to higher-level academies as their knowledge increases. I believe Jiuhua Mountain can adopt this method, establishing ‘Heaven,’ ‘Earth,’ and ‘Human’ academies to include these nine hundred disciples without a teacher for learning. Each elder would regularly visit the three academies to teach the ways of cultivation and solve the disciples’ doubts. The ‘Human’ academy would only accept Qi Refining Stage disciples, the ‘Di’ academy would take Inedia Stage disciples, while the ‘Tian’ academy would be for Lingji Stage disciples. As their skills advance, they would gradually move from ‘Human’ to ‘Heaven,’ possibly becoming Condensed Core Stage disciples. In doing so, we honor our departed elders, make good use of the disciples’ talents, and significantly aid in restoring our Jiuhua’s strength. What do the esteemed elders think?"

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, the elders of Jiuhua were visibly impressed, recognizing the method’s significant benefits. However, they hesitated, as the master-disciple tradition had persisted for thousands of years, forming a mental habit among people. Thus, although they appreciated Xu Qingfan’s method, they remained uncertain.

Yet, a white-haired elder suddenly spoke, "Deacon Xu, while this method is indeed advantageous for the disciples and Jiuhua Mountain, I disagree. For this way would blur the lines between teacher and student. Traditionally, a master accepts multiple disciples, not the other way around. Such teaching would result in unclear relationships and division, disrupting the lineage, which is not appropriate."

Xu Qingfan responded, "You mentioned, elder, that the master-disciple tradition is ancient, but it’s not immutable. Furthermore, Jiuhua’s priority now is to restore strength to face future calamities. Unclear relations are better than our sect’s ruin. Moreover, the three academies are a temporary necessity. Once these disciples without a master are well-trained, the academies will disband, causing minimal impact. As for the internal lineages of our Jiuhua sect, they remain intact. Those disciples entering the academies need only treat the elders teaching them half as masters. This way, there won’t be any issues with unclear relationships. What do you all think?"

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan, the elders fell silent again. Gongsun Huasa suddenly asked, "Then who should we send to teach and resolve issues in these academies? The elders often enter seclusion without fixed times."

By saying this, Gongsun Huasa implicitly agreed with Xu Qingfan’s suggestion.

Xu Qingfan smiled slightly and said, "We can categorize the elders teaching at the academies into two types: voluntary and obligatory. The ‘Hua’ generation elders often enter long secluded meditation without fixed times and can volunteer to teach. Whenever they have time between seclusion periods, they can visit the academies to teach. As for the ‘Qing’ and ‘Yu’ generation elders, including myself, we can provide obligatory teaching since our cultivation is currently shallower, and no single seclusion lasts more than a year or two, giving us ample time to teach."

To Xu Qingfan’s surprise, the ‘Qing’ and ‘Yu’ generation newly appointed elders nodded in agreement after his proposal, contrasting with his initial worry that they would complain about it hindering their cultivation.

As Liu Huaxiang mentioned earlier, being in a different position can change one’s perspective.

These newly appointed elders have successfully formed their Core Formation, thanks to the help of ‘Jiuji Cave,’ a hundred years ahead of time. For them now, though cultivation is important, increasing their influence and power in Jiuhua Mountain is equally crucial. Despite having great prestige among the younger disciples, the disciples still side with their own masters. Compared to the older elders, they lack not only in power but also in influence and prestige on Jiuhua Mountain.

Therefore, when meetings are held again to decide Jiuhua’s strategy, although they are elders, they might still find it hard to speak. The greatest benefits will likely still be taken by the older elders. Like this time, when discussing the allocation of resources, these new elders are no match for the older generation. If things continue this way, these new elders may become mere puppets in the council.

However, Xu Qingfan’s suggestion means giving over half of Jiuhua Mountain’s disciples into their hands. Although it will waste some cultivation time, the influence gained over Jiuhua’s lineage and the prestige among the younger disciples, along with the support of over nine hundred Jiuhua disciples, makes the loss insignificant. With this influence and prestige, it will be easier for them to compete for Jiuhua Mountain’s limited resources and rare artifacts in the future.

Yet, which of the older elders isn’t wise and experienced? While the young elders nodded, the older ones had already weighed the pros and cons, casting different looks toward Xu Qingfan.

Who would have thought Xu Qingfan, who seemed calm, could be so strategic? With a simple suggestion, he intended to gain the support of half of Jiuhua’s disciples. After all, once the three academies are established, the one who benefits most will still be Xu Qingfan, as the leader of the young elders.

Although Xu Qingfan said they could also teach at the academies, it’s still voluntary compared to the young elders who specialize in teaching there. Besides, the older elders are approaching the end of their lifespan and need to focus their efforts on enhancing their power. They hardly have time to compete with the young elders for influence over most of Jiuhua’s disciples.

When Xu Qingfan saw the knowing glances from the young elders and the wary looks from the older ones, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Poor Xu Qingfan, with his heart set on public welfare, only to be misunderstood by everyone, feeling helpless.

In this way, the elders quickly split into two factions, fiercely debating the suggestion Xu Qingfan proposed.

One faction agreed with Xu Qingfan’s viewpoint, comprising all the young elders of Jiuhua and nearly half of the older generation. These elders either saw personal benefits or benefits for Jiuhua, so they firmly supported Xu Qingfan’s opinion.

The opposing faction was led by Gongsun Huasa, the Supreme Protector, since Xu Qingfan’s opinion greatly affected them. These individuals either held significant prestige on Jiuhua Mountain or had many disciples and greatly benefited from the status quo. Xu Qingfan’s suggestion threatened their advantages.

Especially Gongsun Huasa, as Jiuhua’s Supreme Protector, he was responsible for the training and discipline of Jiuhua’s disciples. Establishing three academies would weaken his power by more than half, hence his strong opposition.

Likewise, if Xu Qingfan’s opinion were adopted, Xu Qingfan would become not only a steward guardian of Jiuhua but also almost half a Supreme Protector, second only to Zhang Hualing.

From the start and throughout the debate, Xu Qingfan never expected that his unintended proposal could trigger such a significant power shift on Jiuhua Mountain. He was seen as someone with ulterior motives. His feelings shifted from initial confusion and panic to detached observance, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

With a hint of irony in his heart, he thought, "Martial Uncle Liu was right; no matter how someone behaves normally, the desire for power and gain never ceases. Even cultivators supposedly devoted to the path aren’t immune to worldly concerns. Wherever there are people, there are interests, and wherever there are interests, there are disputes. Even if you don’t wish to compete, others will force you to. These elders, though loyal to Jiuhua Mountain, as proven during previous disasters, are blinded by personal interests now. It’s pitiful and lamentable."

To be honest, Xu Qingfan always believed that Jiuhua Mountain’s elder council was a pure organization, with everyone working wholeheartedly to preserve Jiuhua Mountain. So, when he proposed the establishment of the three academies, he had no intentions of seizing power or building a reputation for himself, aiming solely for Jiuhua’s welfare. He didn’t expect things to unfold this way, feeling more disappointment than fear of chaos.

After a long silence, Zhang Hualing finally spoke up, "Everyone, please calm down."

After the elders quieted down, Zhang Hualing said, "I have carefully considered Deacon Xu’s proposal and believe it is most suitable for our current situation at Jiuhua. I observed that most elders agree with this view, so let’s proceed with it."

Hearing Zhang Hualing’s words, the elders, led by Gongsun Huasa, exchanged helpless glances, realizing that the decision was irrevocable. After all, Zhang Hualing’s statement was true; the proposal greatly benefits Jiuhua Mountain, and most elders do agree. Many of the senior elders are still dedicated to Jiuhua’s well-being.

Just as Gongsun Huasa was about to gain control of the three departments, Zhang Hualing added, "Since this matter was proposed by Deacon Xu, he must have the clearest understanding of the setup. Let Deacon Xu take charge of this task."

Zhang Hualing’s actions were partly to support Xu Qingfan. He had previously faced opposition before taking over as sect leader, which led to Zhou Huahai’s upheaval, so he wished to prevent such situations. He wanted to build Xu Qingfan’s influence and prestige before he became sect leader. It was also a move to curb Gongsun Huasa’s power, as the incident with Zhou Huahai showed him that the Supreme Protector had too much influence, and Gongsun Huasa’s behavior had disappointed him.

Xu Qingfan wasn’t keen to accept this task, preferring to focus on his cultivation rather than gaining more power. However, he understood he was in a situation where there was no turning back, as Liu Huaxiang had explained the relationship between the majority and the minority. Now, he could only follow this path.

Ignoring Gongsun Huasa’s now cold gaze, Xu Qingfan stood up and bowed to Zhang Hualing in acceptance.

Though he gained tremendous power, he offended Gongsun Huasa, with whom he once had a good relationship. Was this ultimately a blessing or a curse? Xu Qingfan no longer had the time to ponder this.

Once everything was arranged, Zhang Hualing nodded in satisfaction and said, "Elders with the ‘Hua’ title may now retire. The newly promoted elders, follow me to the Secret Warehouse to choose some high-level magical tools you find suitable, along with your offerings for this cycle."