Chapter 93: The Conference
Seeing Jiang Ce’s confident expression, everyone’s faces changed, even Lou Leshan couldn’t help but retreat two steps in fright, Xuan Qing was so angry his face turned green, and he angrily rebuked:
“I’m saying you’re crazy—not that the plan won’t work, I’m saying you’re full and bored enough to mess with the Daoist Sect?!”
Jiang Ce frowned and thought for a moment: “No, I also messed with the Buddhist Sect.”
“That’s even worse! Aren’t you from the Buddhist Sect?!”
“Nonsense, former Buddhist Sect, I’ve already returned to secular life.” Jiang Ce was quite proud, feeling like he was upholding justice against his own kin, embodying noble character.
“Then forget about you, what about me and Ku Zhen?!”
Hearing this, Jiang Ce suspiciously sized up Xuan Qing: “Aren’t you Gatekeepers? Could it be… the two of you want to serve two masters?”
Xuan Qing really wanted to curse, but he truly didn’t know how to curse, after racking his brains, he only squeezed out: “Wretch!”
Jiang Ce opened his mouth, seemingly stunned, then looked at Liang Zhi Che: “What does that mean?”
Liang Zhi Che, caught in the middle, was quite embarrassed and could only quietly explain: “It’s just a term of contempt, similar to bastard.”
However, the word bastard clearly had no effect on Jiang Ce; instead, he doubtfully asked: “I don’t think it’s that serious, right? It’s just simply stirring up some small conflicts, not that bad, is it?”
“Not that bad?” Xuan Qing took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, using the only patience he had in his life, and explained: “This is internal strife! Internal strife weakening the Righteous Sects’ power!”
Jiang Ce skewed his mouth: “What does it have to do with the Gatekeepers?”
Xuan Qing wanted to strike, but was firmly held back by Qin Shen Bo and Lu Yun; after a struggle, he finally restrained himself and continued to scold: “Superficial! If Cao Gong wanted to act, would it be your turn to play these tricks?
Why hasn’t he acted? Isn’t it because he’s afraid internal strife would give the Gluttonous Ghost an opportunity?
Now is precisely the time when the Gluttonous Ghost is secretly growing stronger; their cultivation has no threshold, they only need ghosts and monsters as a trigger, their power will only grow greater and greater—this is the moment for internal strife, it’s like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, a suicidal strategy!”
Jiang Ce’s expression turned solemn, and he slowly nodded: “I thought too simply.”
Seeing Jiang Ce repent, Xuan Qing was just about to properly educate him further when he heard Jiang Ce say again: “Then set it as a Buddhist Sect apostate who joined the Gluttonous Ghost and fell into the demonic path, no more chain schemes.”
“Is this about the setting?! You’re dead set on messing with the Celestial Master’s Mansion, aren’t you?!”
Xuan Qing flew into a rage, laughing in anger: “Fine, then as you say, you take down the Celestial Master’s Mansion, and then? You’re here to seek the Five Thunder Pill; after doing this, do you think the Old Celestial Master will give you the Five Thunder Pill?”
“Turn the Celestial Master’s Mansion upside down, there must be some…” Jiang Ce hesitated a bit.
“What if we can’t find it?”
“Then…” Jiang Ce probed: “Use Zhang Ze Zhi as a hostage to force him to refine it for me?”
“Be a person!” Xuan Qing clenched his fists, sneering: “What kind of person is the Old Celestial Master? Do you think you can threaten him?”
“No… no no no!” Jiang Ce suddenly clutched his head, full of pain, then suddenly looked up: “It should be like this: Ku Zhen takes down the Celestial Master’s Mansion, we find an opportunity to counter-kill him, drive him away, and save the Celestial Master’s Mansion—then we’d be heroes, so naturally your problem wouldn’t exist.”
“I can’t take it anymore!” Xuan Qing roared: “Qin Shen Bo, Lou Leshan, hold him down—today I must beat him soundly!”
After a bout of cordial and friendly soul communication, Jiang Ce finally gave up the idea of attacking the Celestial Master’s Mansion.
He trembled as he held the watermelon, grimacing as he gnawed on it, and mumbled unclearly: “Then what to do? Without the initiative, I always feel so uneasy.”
Xuan Qing irritably replied: “Just behave honestly, do what you’re supposed to do; you’ve already addressed Zhang Ze Zhi as uncle and nephew, which means he acknowledges you. I know his temperament—same as the Old Celestial Master, he acts as he thinks, no two-faced behavior.
Plus with Wei Lao’s relationship, at worst you won’t displease the Old Celestial Master; even if he’s unwilling, he’ll probably still give you the Five Thunder Pill. Stop thinking of these crooked paths—no Buddhist Cultivator demeanor at all, what a disgrace?”
“Former, former Buddhist Cultivator.” Jiang Ce stubbornly emphasized.
Quietly gnawing on the melon, Jiang Ce ignored the others’ gazes of admiration, awe, or astonishment, and silently started calculating.
It seems trying to slack off and not take turns lobbying, opting for something simple and crude, really won’t work.
Of course, he wouldn’t be so foolish as to really think that way; after all, nominally this envoy group is led by him, every action represents the Gatekeepers—if things don’t leak, it’s fine, but once exposed, the Gatekeepers will become the target of all, and he definitely won’t fare well.
He just wanted to probe Xuan Qing’s thoughts, to see if this net-fishing tactic was feasible.
Though that’s what he says, if Xuan Qing hadn’t opposed, he might have really done it; if questioned later, he could shift the blame to Xuan Qing and Ku Zhen, saying they not only didn’t stop it but actively participated and enjoyed it.
Anyway, the Gatekeepers are huge, with so many Return to Origin Limitless that ordinary sects don’t even have, Unity of Heaven and Man? Just advanced temporary workers.
He might receive some punishment, but he definitely won’t die, and by then Cao Zheng will be unable to back down; to stabilize, he’ll surely take over the remnants of the Buddhist Sect and Daoist Sect—at that point, everyone shares the blame, no one is more guilty than another.
And before returning, he’d have grabbed all the benefits he could; the Gatekeepers’ attitude wouldn’t matter anymore, as by then he’d probably have already taken off.
Once he cultivates to Heaven-Reaching Dharma Master, with this body of unorthodox and strange merits, he can’t be ignored; then pledge loyalty, atone with merit, and his status would be washed clean.
Even if the Gatekeepers still don’t accept him, just lay low a bit longer, lay low to Half-Immortal, start anew, make an Open-door Person, and it’d still be full of promise.
Anyway, no way to lose.
But this beautiful prospect has been shattered by Xuan Qing’s righteous iron fist; talking about it now is useless—besides waiting for the Old Celestial Master to return, there seems to be no good way.
“Sigh…” Jiang Ce couldn’t help but sigh sadly.
The die-hard fanboy Liang Zhi Che stuck by unwaveringly, continuing to aid the tyrant: “What is Big Brother sighing about?”
“I’m sighing that the world, because of today, will lose one True God…”
“Mm, good, wipe your mouth, watermelon juice is dripping.”
In the next few days, Jiang Ce obediently recuperated, didn’t go anywhere, and aside from Zhang Ze Zhi, didn’t see any other powerful Daoist Priests from the Celestial Master’s Mansion.
Seeing Zhang Ze Zhi, completely unaware he’d escaped disaster, warmly inquiring after Jiang Ce, everyone felt awkward; Xuan Qing especially didn’t want to look.
Fortunately, Xuan Qing hadn’t really struck, Jiang Ce only had superficial wounds, and after two days he was lively again.
Finally, this day, Jiang Ce heard that the Old Celestial Master had returned.
The family has had relatives visiting noisily these past few days, so I can only write after 11 PM; during the day it’s all playtime, with only energy for two updates. Wait a few days until after the New Year, and I’ll burn with fervor, coding to death in front of the computer every day!
