Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds-Chapter 518 - 268. Kill the evil at its root and retire from the world of jianghu_2

Power? What is it? Illusory. The root of everything still lies in the two words "cultivation." He wasn't like Xu Xing, a discarded disciple of the Higher Teachings, unable to obtain Nascent Soul Realm resources and thus forced to fight and pillage for them... The Immortal Body was his greatest guarantee! Since ancient times, ninety percent of the prominent figures in the Cultivation World have fallen on their path; only ten percent laugh last. Among the cultivators who practice within Sects, apart from those lacking strong backing, a full seventy percent live securely, survive, and reach the end. This is also why Aristocratic Families can surpass commoners.

A moment later, Ruan Baimei regained his composure, stroking the Five-Color Jade Bi in his arms as he coldly observed everything around him. Those who have lost everything see most clearly. A century later, perhaps ninety percent of the cultivators present would still be alive. A thousand years later, at most, only fifty percent would remain. Five thousand years. By then, perhaps only he and Xu Xing would still be among the living. Mockery is fleeting. Time erases all.

「Nanhua Sect, Welcome Hall.」

After Ruan Baimei declared his retirement, the cultivators from the various sects present reacted differently: some sneered, some lamented, and some were lost in deep thought.

"Young Sect Leader Ruan, your scheme is quite profound. For this loss of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, to blame only you is far too lenient!" a young cultivator from the Butian Sect stepped forward, sneering coldly as he spoke.

As his words fell, the cultivators from the various sects present suddenly understood. Ruan Baimei's retirement might just be a strategy by the Flying Feather Immortal Palace: sacrificing a chariot to save the king. Once Ruan Baimei is no longer the Junior Sect Leader, wouldn't the "misdeeds" he previously committed be written off?

This young man isn't bad. Xu Xing, upon hearing this, was momentarily surprised. He glanced at the young cultivator's appearance, nodded, and committed him to memory. The Flying Feather Immortal Palace's defeat was already sealed; Ruan Baimei alone couldn't reverse the situation, even with this move of retiring... Ultimately, what the Butian Sect and the Flying Feather Immortal Palace were vying for was the Nanhua Sect's allegiance... However, this young cultivator's questioning at this moment perfectly suited his intentions, saving him the trouble of devising another scheme to deliver a final blow.

"This Daoist friend makes a good point," someone else spoke from the top of the hall steps. This time it wasn't Ruan Baimei, but the hitherto silent female cultivator from the Nanhua Sect, Zuoqiu Ying. "To blame only one person is not enough to atone for the Flying Feather Immortal Palace's transgressions today..."

This beautiful female cultivator, a faint smile on her face, curtsied to the assembled cultivators from the various sects and said, "Although I am lowly, serving as a bargaining chip for the marriage alliance between the two Higher Teachings, a match cannot be lightly promised, nor lightly discarded... Young Sect Leader Ruan allowed the auspicious hour to pass, then openly declared his withdrawal, unwilling to sign the Marriage Contract. This not only demeans me but also demeans our Nanhua Sect..."

If Ruan Baimei hadn't renounced the Marriage Contract just now, even if she inwardly believed him inferior to Xu Xing, she wouldn't have refused him as her husband. This wasn't a matter of blindly following whomever she married. Rather, she knew clearly that Ruan Baimei was also a dragon among men, a peerless talent. Yes, Ruan Baimei was not as good as Xu Xing. But how many Xu Xings were there under the sky? However, Ruan Baimei absolutely should not have, at this moment, unilaterally abandoned the Marriage Contract. Without this Marriage Contract, how was she to conduct herself?

"To demean our Nanhua Sect, Young Sect Leader Ruan, you... possess such audacity?" Zuoqiu Ying's eyes turned cold. She drew a seven-foot-long sword from her sleeve, and with a slash, severed the red silk ribbon held at either end by the two parties. "The alliance between our two Sects is hereby broken!" she declared coldly.

Ordinarily, given her status, she wouldn't dare to make such a decision concerning the alliance between two Sects. But times had changed. It was now the Flying Feather Immortal Palace that needed the Nanhua Sect, not the other way around.

The people's hearts align with this! The general trend dictates it! She was confident that even if she were severely punished for saying this, her own path of cultivation would not be destroyed.

The Nanhua Sect... has taken a side? Seeing Zuoqiu Ying's words and actions, the cultivators from the various sects instantly had an answer in their hearts, pondering secretly. Although Zuoqiu Ying had claimed to be of low status, they weren't blind. They knew that a female cultivator who could be betrothed to Ruan Baimei was by no means ordinary. Zuoqiu Ying, her surname was Zuoqiu! And among the Nanhua Sect's Nascent Soul Saint Monarchs, one bore the surname Zuoqiu.

"Excellent!"

"Excellent!"

Buxu Zi, Cui Tong, and others performed a respectful bow, their faces beaming with smiles as they looked towards the Sect Masters of the various sects beside them. The Sect Masters returned the gesture, also praising the development as excellent.

"Today's matter concludes here. Young Sect Leader Ruan, and you few Dao Lords, please return to the side hall to rest for now. This... Marriage Contract is hereby voided."

Having watched the drama unfold to this point, Ding Jifeng could no longer remain hidden. With a flash, he appeared at the front of the hall, scanned the important figures within the Welcome Hall, and then spoke. Before Zuoqiu Ying had spoken, he had already made his choice: to help the Butian Sect and sever diplomatic ties with the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. However, although he would make such a choice, the actual implementation would never have been as "violent" as this; it would have been a gradual, subtle change, like a gentle rain nourishing things silently. Zuoqiu Ying's words had forced him to declare his stance.

"Fellow Daoists..." Ding Jifeng narrowed his eyes at the Hai Family Daoist and the others, who were still reluctant to leave. "Please don't make things difficult for me." With a flick of his wide sleeve, he unleashed the divine power of Catching Stars and Retrieving the Moon, seizing the few individuals from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace and suspending them in mid-air.

"We are willing to return to the hall, willing!" The Hai Family Daoist and the others tried to rally their magic power to break free, but Ding Jifeng's divine power proved unexpectedly troublesome. Unable to escape easily in a short time, they had no choice but to concede. If this were truly a battle outside the Sect, the Hai Family Daoist and the others reckoned they wouldn't necessarily fear Ding Jifeng. It was just that, being within the Nanhua Sect's territory at this time, they couldn't afford to offend them too deeply.

"Dear Daoist friends, today's Marriage Contract is cancelled... However, the banquet prepared in the other hall is still ready. Please, honor us with your presence..." Once the people from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace had departed, Ding Jifeng put on a smile, cupped his hands towards the cultivators at the scene, and spoke.

After he finished speaking, Nanhua Sect disciples, having received their orders, immediately led the cultivators from the various sects away from the Welcome Hall towards Shangyang Palace, where the banquet was prepared.

"Master Xu, Sect Master Cui, please stay. And Nephew Ying, the three of you, accompany me to see the Ancestor..." Ding Jifeng said, stroking his beard.

"I?" Cui Tong, ever the old fox, didn't try to flee when Ding Jifeng asked him to stay. He obediently halted but tried his best to shirk responsibility with his words. "Today, I am merely a disciple of the Butian Sect, not participating in your esteemed Sect's affairs in my capacity as the Heavenly Saint Sect Leader."

Zuoqiu Ying's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly shook her head. "The Ancestor? Sect Master Uncle? Me too? Perhaps I should go back and... change my clothes. This wedding attire, I truly dislike it..."

Ding Jifeng remained silent, merely giving Zuoqiu Ying a cold glance. That one look terrified her into silence, not daring to utter another word.

"Master Xu, please." Towards Xu Xing, however, Ding Jifeng adopted an entirely different, quite enthusiastic demeanor.

Shaoqing, the group rode on clouds towards the Nanhua Sect's sacred Grotto-Heaven.

"Master Xu, your schemes are truly impressive; I, Ding, also greatly admire them. If Master Xu is willing to abandon the Butian Sect and join my Nanhua Sect..." Ding Jifeng, sharing a cloud with Xu Xing, made no secret of his admiration and desire to recruit him. "The position of Sect Leader can be yours after I step down. Furthermore, you will have full access to the Sect's resources."

Xu Xing's arrangements today were brilliant. But, everyone knew that Xu Xing's Butian Sect was an empty shell. To establish a Power like one of the Ten Great Higher Teachings, opportunity, strength, and time were all indispensable. And a Pride of Heaven like Xu Xing was precisely what lacked time; this was also why Ding Jifeng dared to propose recruiting him.

"Thank you for your generous offer, Sect Master Ding." Xu Xing shook his head, declining. "However, I have always been accustomed to freedom and am indebted to my Master and Sect Master Ren. As for my Sect... I could never betray it..."

He had expended so much effort, "borrowing momentum," to barely establish this Butian Sect. The Butian Sect's growth was imminent. How could he abandon it for some minor benefit? Joining the Nanhua Sect seemed like an effortless way to obtain resources, but... if it were truly so, he might as well have directly joined the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, controlled by the Aristocratic Family line, from the very beginning.

"Since that is the case, our Nanhua Sect will not insist. The Butian Sect is also on the Righteous Path. Our Two Factions, watching over and assisting each other, as close as family, would also be a fine tale on the Righteous Path..." Ding Jifeng smiled.

Pausing for a moment, he glanced at Zuoqiu Ying behind them. "I wonder, what does Master Xu think of Nephew Ying?"

"Zuoqiu Ying?" Xu Xing raised an eyebrow. For Ding Jifeng to mention Zuoqiu Ying at this moment was definitely not idle chatter; he must have an ulterior motive.

"Niece Ying's Marriage Contract was ruined today because of Master Xu. This point... Master Xu cannot deny, can he...?" Ding Jifeng's tone turned somewhat colder.