Volume 5 Chapter 78
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Volume 5 Chapter 78: Master
Xu Qingfan and Zhang Hualing have discussed many times what attitude Jiuhua should take when joining the Righteous Alliance after its emergence. They even had some arguments about it.
In Xu Qingfan’s view, in chaotic times, keeping a low profile is always the best choice. Only by being low-key can one play the greatest role at critical moments and reduce the opponent’s attention on oneself, thus preserving one’s strength as much as possible.
But Zhang Hualing’s viewpoint is completely opposite to Xu Qingfan’s. Zhang Hualing believes that if Jiuhua appears in the world, it must do so with a moderately high profile. As long as this prominence does not overshadow the entire Righteous Alliance, everything will be fine.
Zhang Hualing’s reason is that being humble is not always suitable. Jiuhua, as one of the six Holy Lands, must be noticed by everyone, even if it tries to keep a low profile. If it hides its status as a Holy Land, some may see it as weak and easy to bully. The righteous path may try to take advantage, and the dark forces may attack, making it even more dangerous.
However, if it shows a proper level of confidence, those who have hostility towards you without strength will stay away, and those with strength will think twice before acting against you. This is much safer than being low-key and avoids many unnecessary troubles.
The most important thing is the degree of showing confidence. You should be confident but not so much that even your allies will fear you, while your opponents consider you the biggest threat.
Thus, the best choice is to display impressive but not excessive strength, while also revealing amazing potential. Only with strength will others not easily push you down, and by showing amazing potential, others will respect your opinions.
In the end, Xu Qingfan was convinced by Zhang Hualing and had to admit that sometimes experience is very important. Although Zhang Hualing is not Liu Huaxiang, his insight and experience cannot be compared to Xu Qingfan’s current level.
Because of this, Xu Qingfan seized the opportunity to show Jiuhua’s strength to the major sects by responding to Fan Xiaoyao’s provocation.
Indeed, when the gathered crowd learned that Jiuhua had more than twenty Core Formation disciples over the years, they underestimated Jiuhua’s potential. Their expressions showed surprise, and their looks at Xu Qingfan contained less disdain and more caution.
"Jiuhua has achieved such results in less than seventy years, making me consider sealing the mountain for a few years as well," Qinglingzi quickly hid his astonishment and said with a smile.
Xu Qingfan replied with a smile, "We younger generations have the guidance of our elders and the support built over a thousand years. Moreover, our sect’s cultivation methods are incredibly profound. After sealing the mountain for these years, we have focused entirely on training. If we cannot achieve anything with all this, it would truly be a shame to our ancestors."
As Xu Qingfan spoke, he seemingly glanced at Fan Xiaoyao without intention. Laughter erupted from the crowd. Clearly, Xu Qingfan’s words were aimed at the "Xingyin Sect," and were a response to Fan Xiaoyao’s earlier mockery.
It was well-known that Fan Xiaoyao’s generation of disciples was not impressive. Although Fan Xiaoyao felt angry at Xu Qingfan’s sarcasm, he had no reply. His face turned red, and his expression became increasingly unpredictable.
Seeing that Fan Xiaoyao was a bit embarrassed, Qinglingzi did not want to let the conflict between the two sects deepen, as it was not good for the future actions of the Righteous Alliance. So, he changed the subject and said, "After talking for so long, I have kept Xu Xian here at the mountain gate. It is rude of me as the host. Let us go meet the elders; they must have been waiting for a while."
As he spoke, he gestured and flew deeper into "Ronghua Mountain" with Xu Qingfan.
On the way, the sect leaders learned that Ting’er and the other two behind them were Xu Qingfan’s disciples. They couldn’t help but think more highly of Xu Qingfan and the Jiuhua Mountain.
When they were close to "Qingxu Hall" at the top of "Ronghua Mountain," Qinglingzi seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "By the way, Xu Xian, since you represent ‘Jiuhua Mountain’ visiting our Righteous Alliance, does your sect leader know?"
Xu Qingfan smiled and replied, "As a Deacon Elder of our sect, I was given full decision-making power by the Sect Master when I went down the mountain. So, upon hearing about the establishment of the Righteous Alliance, I came to check things out. If the time comes, I also have the right to represent Jiuhua in joining the Righteous Alliance, and the sect leader and elders will not object."
The Deacon Elder of Jiuhua is the third highest position in Jiuhua and is the next sect leader. With such a title, he certainly has the authority to make decisions for Jiuhua.
However, none of the sect leaders next to him were surprised to learn that Xu Qingfan was the Deacon Elder of Jiuhua and the next sect leader. Given Xu Qingfan’s current cultivation level and the abilities he had just shown, even if he joined their sect, he would be among the top candidates for sect leader.
As they spoke, the group of Sect Masters had already arrived in front of the "Qingxu Hall," while the guardian disciples who had been with the sect leaders stopped in front of the hall, clearly indicating that this grand hall was not a place they could enter.
At Xu Qingfan’s gesture, Ting’er and the others also stopped in their tracks, just like the guardian disciples.
"The seniors are inside; let’s enter. The matter of Jiuhua joining the Righteous Alliance can be approved by us old fellows. Besides, there’s really nothing to debate; it is only natural for Jiuhua, as one of the six Holy Lands in the cultivation world, to join the Righteous Alliance. However, out of respect for all the seniors, we still need to report to them."
Hearing Qinglingzi’s words, Xu Qingfan slowly nodded, but he felt a bit nervous. The immense pressure he felt when meeting Immortal Zizhen years ago was still vivid in his memory. He was soon to meet over ten masters, among whom were legendary figures; he wondered what it would be like to see them all gathered. What kind of demeanor would these masters have?
With this kind of anticipation in his heart, it would be a lie to say that Xu Qingfan wasn’t nervous. After all, the Mahayana Stage was merely a distant dream and legend for most cultivators in the world. For a Real Golden Core Stage cultivator like Xu Qingfan, meeting a Mahayana Stage master felt like a mere mortal meeting a powerful cultivator.
After nodding to Ting’er and the others to assure them, Xu Qingfan followed Qinglingzi and the others into the grand hall.
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Inside the empty grand hall, fourteen individuals of all ages and genders, some sitting and some standing, clustered in groups whispering to each other, or sitting alone deep in thought, or playing chess and enjoying tea together, were scattered around, as if it were a gathering of remarkable people.
These fourteen people were the greatest support of the Righteous Alliance, the Mahayana Stage masters in the righteous path of the cultivation world. However, if Xu Qingfan hadn’t known their identities, he would have thought they were just a group of exceptionally graceful and charming ordinary people.
Or perhaps because they were all masters, these people had kept their presence in check. Even though Xu Qingfan had significantly improved his skills, he still could not sense any Spiritual Qi fluctuations from these fourteen individuals. There was no pressure from their presence at all.
However, even so, when Xu Qingfan entered the main hall, he suddenly felt that these fourteen people were incredibly powerful, while he felt very small. In his heart, he felt a deep sense of respect for them.
Xu Qingfan understood that these masters had transformed their mere presence into a pressure of the soul. That was a higher level of existence.
Among these fourteen people, three were seated at the front of the hall, including Immortal Zizhen from Qingxu Gate. They were discussing something, showing their distinguished status. The other eleven masters looked at these three with eyes full of respect.
Xu Qingfan knew that although the Mahayana Stage seemed distant and unattainable, there were variations within it. There were great differences between the Nascent Soul Stage, Astral Projection Stage, and Soul Splitting Stage.
The three masters sitting at the front were clearly skilled within the Mahayana Stage. At least Xu Qingfan knew that Immortal Zizhen had reached the realm of "Three Declines of Heaven." To reach this level meant one was powerful enough to be intentionally excluded and suppressed by the Heavenly Way, which implied he was at least in the early stage of spirit separation. The other two sitting with Immortal Zizhen were likely close in abilities as well.
When Xu Qingfan entered the hall with Qinglingzi and the others, all the masters turned their attention to him. Their gazes settled on Xu Qingfan, Little Black on his shoulder, and the two figures behind him, as they clearly could see through Little Black’s powerful death energy and the hidden figures, Xu Ying and Xu Zhiyuan, behind Xu Qingfan.
After assessing Xu Qingfan’s strength, the masters looked at him with appreciation instead of the shock seen in the eyes of the sect leaders before. These masters had lived for over a thousand years; Immortal Zizhen had even survived the last calamity with his master, Qingxu. They had seen all kinds of talents, and while they appreciated Xu Qingfan’s achievements, they were not surprised.
"Younger one, Xu Qingfan, greets the masters."
After Qinglingzi and the others bowed, Xu Qingfan also bowed respectfully and said while bending his body.
