Chapter 322

Chapter 322: Sect Leader’s Wife

Using the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror three years early to examine the fortunes of each faction was truly a welcomed event for the elders from various factions.

Which faction was on the verge of withering? Many smiled knowingly together, as this was not hard to figure out. The Mirror Lake faction surely ranked at the top. If it weren’t for possessing so many assets and a rich inventory, the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror would have already removed Li Maocai’s name during his retreat.

However, that wealth came from the past. Ever since Li Maocai took in a particularly troublesome disciple, just look at what he has done? His actions are uncountable, outrageous, wasteful, and excessively extravagant!

Just how outrageous? The miscellaneous disciples summoned to clean the Water Moon Palace came back with reports that countless spiritual fields had turned into wastelands, left untended, and overgrown with weeds. That managing lady said the little Li demon thought hiring help was too costly—how ridiculous!

In what way is it excessively extravagant? He spent copious sect points in the scripture hall—not to study, which would have been acceptable, and no one could have found fault there—but instead, he read Buddhist scriptures, demon lore, and collected talisman methods.

Also, regarding wasteful spending, he finally did something somewhat useful by lending out assets to gain points, trying to leverage those sect points to lend to disciples. But this outrageous fellow seems clueless about money; he went after low-grade Mixed-colored Miao Jade—purifying that mixed jade would probably exceed the profit.

It goes without saying about the extreme extravagance, as he traded for all sorts of things, even buying ancient Wutu soil by the pound. Initially, he bought thirty pounds, but after who knows what thoughts crossed his mind, he bought a lot more. Can that even be eaten?

In summary, if they called such a disciple their own, they would have choked him long ago—just looking at him was distressing. The blame must lie with Li Maocai for being muddled, for losing his mind in his cultivation and casually taking in any little Li demon as his personal disciple!

Taking on a personal disciple is no child’s play. Which faction does not rigorously vet their personal disciples with multiple checks, to the extent of unearthing the disciple’s ancestral graves for scrutiny?

Additionally, they say this kid has a mixed constitution, his aptitude is poor, and he wastefully uses potential on body refinement—what a clueless person! He will surely regret it later. Of course, whether there will even be a later is uncertain; once he loses the status of being the heir of the Mirror Lake faction, Wen Shaolun will be the first to not let him off the hook.

As ten days swiftly passed, a ritual altar appeared at Cheng Tian Peak, where the examination of each faction’s fortunes would take place today, simultaneously revealing the regulations of each faction to the disciples.

At dawn, many figures gathered at Bo Wang Peak near Cheng Tian Peak. As the sun rose, the disciples either climbed in groups of three to five or individually, wielding swords to ascend De Wang Peak and Yang Wang Peak.

Bo Wang, De Wang, and Yang Wang Peaks clustered around Cheng Tian Peak, allowing the cultivators to clearly see the scene at the ritual altar.

Invoking the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror to assess the fortunes of each faction was a grand event held every ten years in the Haotu Sect, and to unexpectedly hold it three years early raised many curious inquiries among the disciples.

Various rumors circulated; some said the sect had indeed become unstable recently. There were leaks that many true disciples had mysteriously left before the new disciples arrived, and only thirty percent of the true disciples returned after that. The elders were particularly tight-lipped about it. Others mentioned there were powerful figures eyeing the Water Moon Mirror Sky, hinting this was a grand orchestration by the upper management to seize assets.

With all sorts of opinions and mixed truths, words like Water Moon Mirror, Mirror Lake faction, and inner sect first seat were frequently thrown around.

As the sun rose high in the sky, the sound of a bell echoed through the vast mountains with a resounding "dong". Countless spiritual birds flew in from the sky, swirling around Cheng Tian Peak in a magnificent display of auspicious light.

“By the decree of heaven, the sect order states that each faction bears responsibility for its rise and fall; the energies of heaven and earth are the foundation. The Jin Tian transmission sequence extends outside Haotu. Let us all gather together to witness the essence of truth and illusion.”

“Now, let the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror be unveiled! All faction disciples and elders, ascend the altar. No noise, no private conflicts! The Haotu Sect holds the law above all!”

Li Hui sat on the back of a golden eagle. Perhaps Elder Xu Mao feared Li Hui would back out at the last moment; last night, he specifically ordered the spirit bird garden to send three golden eagles to Mirror Lake—even their speed was comparable to Huang Tongliang’s black eagle.

“Hmph, easier said than done; ‘join in the majesty’? Whose majesty? To put it bluntly, it’s just a grand feast of division, treating my Mirror Lake faction like fish on a chopping board, thinking they could feast on us after some suppressions.”

Not long after, Li Hui landed on the ritual altar.

Though it was called a ritual altar, it resembled a banquet scene—nine golden chairs were arranged at the front. In the center was the sect leader’s seat, with the first seat for the Mirror Lake faction on the right and the first seat of the Alchemy faction on the left.

The arrangement of the seats revealed the hierarchy; the nine factions of the Haotu Sect were the most esteemed, while other elders had to sit in a gathering area. If elders from the Mirror Lake faction arrived, they would sit on the right side of the sect leader.

In ancient times, the right was considered honorable, subtly implying a sense of suppression, showing that as long as the Mirror Lake faction remained, even the sect leader could not do as he pleased.

Li Hui stood properly behind his master’s seat; he couldn’t just casually sit down. He was curious about the appearance of the sect leader, but the faces on the platform looked unfamiliar until a young man shot a sharp gaze at him.

“Oh! Is this Wen Shaolun? He truly looks similar to Wen Shaobao, with deep eye sockets and a bit of an eagle hook nose. Your brother was killed by Ghost Fox Sect; there is a beginning to every grudge and a master to every debt. No matter how big your eyes are, you can’t glare me to death.” Li Hui, utterly bored, brushed off his clothing. Personal disciples’ outfits were already exquisite, having been tailored by a skilled tailor, showing off meticulous craftsmanship—it looked pretty nice!

“You are Li Yingjun from Mirror Lake? Gold and jade on the surface, rotten cotton inside!” The piercing voice did not come from Wen Shaobao; two figures appeared behind the sect leader’s seat. The young man on the left, around eighteen or nineteen, wore a mocking expression and his eyes held endless disdain.

Among the two figures, the girl standing beside the young man appeared quite gentle, turning her head slightly to smile, but Li Hui sensed the warmth of that smile was underlined with distance and coldness.

With a “whoosh”, the sect leader’s seat radiated brilliantly. A graceful and noble woman descended from above, appearing to be in her thirties.

Her actual age was certainly not just in her thirties. Li Hui felt his silver snake bracelet tremble slightly, indicating that this woman held many treasures.

A poem reads:

"In Luo Pu, snow is suspected to return;

In Wu Mountain, clouds look like dawn.

Behold the city, now revealed;

The breathtaking beauty was once only heard of.

Charming eyes meet shy smiles;

Red lips bloom with laughter.

The wind sweeps over the vine,

The sun shines on the pomegranate skirts.

There are always wild spirits about,

Carrying burdens for their lords."

Beautiful, extremely beautiful!

With a face like a flower, skin like snow, and a smile that could topple cities…

“The sect leader’s wife has personally arrived. Congratulations!” The elders all quickly stood up to bow in greeting.

Li Hui felt this was quite lacking in substance; he didn’t understand what was so congratulatory! Watching the hundred old men glow with vitality, was the sect leader’s wife their mother? Or perhaps their lover? Was it necessary to be so excited over just meeting her?

“Ha ha ha! We joyfully welcome the sect leader’s wife! It has already been many years since we last had the honor to hear your teachings; the sect leader is truly fortunate to have married such a lady, a blessing through three lifetimes.”

“In the eyes of all elders, it is an honor to greet you.” The father always laughs heartily whenever mentioning you, saying the practitioners of Haotu Sect possess a unique spirit.”

Li Hui scanned the room and thought, “What’s going on here? It seems that this sect leader’s wife holds considerable power within the sect; regardless of whether or not it comes from her parents, her aura is definitely extraordinary!”