Chapter 439

Chapter 439: Pressure Over the Sect

The Haotu Sect was in chaos, with elders uniting to eradicate the ghostly creatures. Something felt decidedly off; how had the dignified upper sect become a hiding place for filth? When had so many ghost cultivators infiltrated? The sect leader’s wife could not evade blame and, gritting her teeth, signed an IOU.

The IOU fell into Li Hui’s hands; others felt nothing, but he was profoundly aware of the thunderous explosion above his head, feeling the pressure on the main pulse’s energy.

“Within five days, restore the Mirror Lake. I’ve heard there was once a Water Moon Mirror Sky, with spirit veins, spiritual fields, and a spirit herb garden at the bottom of the lake. Everything must return to its original state; if I am not satisfied with this, I will dig deeper into the details and see just who these ghostly beings are connected to,” Li Hui coldly observed the sect leader’s wife and the two elders continuously retreating, then turned and left.

“That’s absurd!” Kong Yuhui flew into a rage, clenching her fists and wanting to issue commands. But after contemplating, she found no way forward. Unless the Haotu Sect stood against the Jin Tian Sect and completely tore their relationship apart, the Mirror Lake faction indeed held such a supervisory function. Even the sect leader would be powerless under these circumstances. After enjoying two carefree years, how had a Chen Tiange suddenly emerged? She could not argue and felt the pressure surging from the main peak.

“Calm down, Madam. The young man simply lacks discretion; such radical actions may even be a good thing,” Xu Mao advised from the side. “Let him have his way for now; we can slowly infiltrate and place our own people. In less than six months, it will surely fall under our control.”

“This kid is so arrogant, demanding we restore the Mirror Lake when the entire sect is struggling to maintain itself. Where will we find the funds for that?” Kong Yuhui felt a weight on her chest. To support her son and daughter’s rise in the Jin Tian Sect, she had emptied the Haotu Sect’s treasury. While it appeared flourishing on the surface, the foundation had already rotted, riddled with holes.

Tian Maosheng suddenly spoke up, “Madam, there’s no need to worry. I’ve recently taken in a pair of dazzling female disciples. I’m willing to part with them as concubines for this young man, and I’ll also clarify that there are plenty of places to live within the sect. Why must he be so fixated on the Mirror Lake? It has long been abandoned, and reconfiguring it will cost too much. I suspect he is merely trying to exploit us; it’s not a big deal.”

“Oh? Elder Tian has a point.” Kong Yuhui suppressed her anger, her eyes flashing coldly as she became lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Li Hui had returned to the Mirror Lake and took a walk around, only to find it in complete ruin.

The water was no longer calm; driven by the gentle breeze, it stirred slightly, algae had overgrown, and fish jumped out of the water, looking quite plump.

Jieyin and Guang Jin had visited three months ago and reported that the lake’s bottom had been thoroughly destroyed and held no value. However, this place was incredibly significant for Li Hui, as he intended to restore it to its former glory and pass it on.

“Where to next?” Guang Jin asked.

“The Haotu Sect is rotten!” Li Hui looked up at the sky and sighed, “The Fortune Ascending Talisman has sensed it; half of the elders among the hundred lineages are only enriching themselves. This is what happens when the upper beam is not straight. Sect leader’s wife Kong Yuhui takes the lead in reaping benefits; no matter how solid the foundation, it cannot withstand such manipulation.”

“Huh? Then why are we still here? Let the master smack this old woman down, and then we’ll quickly return to the Great Summer.”

Li Hui sneered, “Hehe, calculating the time, it’s just right to utilize the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror now. They’ve used it on the Mirror Lake faction three years ahead of schedule; the main gate doesn’t have such a rule. Zhang Daoheng has emerged with calamity power to wash away the past; I bet no one remembers that I once represented the Mirror Lake faction on Cheng Tian Peak to assess their fortune. Now that the correct deadline is approaching, I’ll see just how much the Haotu Sect’s hundred lineages have left.”

“Hahaha, yes, it’s time to settle the accounts.” Guang Jin laughed heartily…

Tian Maosheng sent a pair of beautiful female disciples to the Mirror Lake, hoping to use their beauty to charm the arrogant youth. However, they returned with alarming news that caused him to run barefoot to the main peak without even putting on his shoes.

In less than a stick of incense, the whole sect was in uproar.

“What? They want to use the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror? No, absolutely not!”

“Damn it, is the main gate trying to push us to our deaths?”

“This is unacceptable! Even if it’s time to use the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror, we must find various excuses to delay; we absolutely cannot use it at this moment.”

A simple piece of news stirred a storm within the sect.

It was too sudden, too terrifying, too shocking. To use the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror at this time — would they risk losing their qualification? It was not impossible to think about it, remembering what they had done after Li Maocai’s death; they had not considered it much before, but now it felt increasingly excessive.

Many elders rushed to the main peak, demanding the sect leader’s wife take charge. However, even she was starting to feel heart-stopping fear, fearing losing their lineage.

Li Hui, who came from the Haotu Sect, knew where the Sect’s lifeblood lay.

In the past, the elders of all the peaks used this means to plot against the Mirror Lake faction, timing their actions just right for the Jin Tian Treasure Mirror. Now that three years had passed, it was perfectly timed for him to propose such a demand, leaving no one able to speak against it, exerting tremendous pressure without a sound.

Some elders received no concrete answers from the sect leader’s wife and, unable to adjust the time, could only helplessly instruct their disciples, “Quick, return everything that was taken, and give back any benefits you received. Even if the dark moon presents itself, we must cover our tracks. The main gate is already aware that Li Maocai died and dispatched a Chen Tiange. Even the person behind sect leader’s wife is not afraid, showing no respect at all. Remember, we must maintain our current positions.”

Those who took little could return it, while those who took much beat their chests in despair: “Bastards, this is tough! It hurts so bad! The shortfall is enormous, and so many properties have been turned into family names, selling off about half of everything to get funds to buy positions, titles, and houses for descendants in the Great Summer. How can I recover from this?”

In just one night, news spread like wildfire that eight elders and over fifty disciples had fled.

Earlier that morning, Li Hui issued a decree, stating that any escape would be counted against the main pulse. He directly questioned whether the Haotu Sect had rotted down to the bone. Just yesterday, the sect leader’s wife had just signed an IOU; was today to be met with double penalties? How could the management of the sect be so degraded?

This was not just questioning; it was a reprimand!

As the saying goes, a straight body fears not a crooked shadow, but the sect leader’s wife found her body crooked. The moment the decree arrived, it made her feel utterly flustered, far from her usual calmness. She hurriedly summoned a jade tablet and entered the seclusion cave to seek the sect leader husband’s guidance.

Half an hour later, the sect leader’s wife emerged from the cave, pale-faced. No matter how much she pleaded, her husband seemed like a wooden sculpture, showing no reaction, appearing to be lost in thought. Yet, she knew him well enough to understand; her job was to clean up the mess.

“Unfeeling and ungrateful! You pushed me out to deal with the Mirror Lake faction, testing the Jin Tian Sect. Now that retribution has come, you want to abandon me?”

Kong Yuhui desired to flee, but considering the situation she had built in Dalong, she felt reluctant. She had dreamed of being the sole power since childhood; having just gained prominence for two years, did she intend to give it up so easily?

Xu Mao had been waiting in the great hall. Upon seeing the sect leader’s wife return, he quickly stepped forward and transmitted a message.

“Oh? He really left the sect?” Kong Yuhui was extremely surprised. This disciple from the Jin Tian Sect, named Li Yingjun, had managed to take control of the situation upon his arrival at the Haotu Sect. Why had he suddenly relaxed when he could have moved further?