Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds-Chapter 656 - 334、We pay our respects to the Sect Leader, may the Sect Leader enjoy eternal blessings, and live as long as the heavens_2.
I wonder if this time, Zuoqiu Ying will wisely choose to return the power of the Butian Sect to me...
With a flick of his sleeve robe, Xu Xing instantly left the market and hurried towards the Butian Sect's encampment.
The transfer of power is far from as simple as imagined.
He wouldn't allow a "Taishang Huang" to remain over his head after he returned to the Butian Sect.
...
...
「Half a day later.」
North Wilderness, Butian Sect's base.
Xu Xing stopped his escaping light, looking down at this sect which was beginning to take shape. Then, with a shake of his sleeve robe, he sent a talismanic message into the base.
Now, he was a Nascent Soul Saint Monarch. No matter which sect he was in, he would be a respected guest, let alone in the sect he himself had founded.
To take over the power of the Butian Sect, all he needed to do was walk in openly and honorably; there was no need to resort to any sinister means, especially against his own wife.
Allowing Zhongtai Dao Monarch to go ahead of him was merely to have Zhongtai Dao Monarch proceed to the Butian Sect and announce his return.
As for the internal conflicts between the two factions within the Butian Sect, that was all part of an overt plan.
Moreover, this was unavoidable.
After the Chi Yuan Dao School split into two branches, the cultivators from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace's master and disciple lineage who joined the Butian Sect would inevitably vie for power.
These were all predictable developments.
And he had merely allowed this conflict to erupt before his return to the Butian Sect.
As soon as Xu Xing sent the talismanic message, less than a quarter of an hour later, numerous escaping lights rose from within the Butian Sect. Hundreds of Dao Pill and Nascent Soul cultivators emerged, standing before the mountain gate and bowing to Xu Xing in unison.
"We pay homage to the Sect Leader! May the Sect Leader enjoy eternal fortune and a lifespan equal to the heavens..."
The Butian Sect cultivators declared in unison.
Although nominally, the Butian Sect was established under the banner of the orthodox lineage of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace.
In reality, however, the Butian Sect was a sect Xu Xing had created by forcibly merging various small and medium-sized factions.
As the founding Sect Leader, Xu Xing's personal prestige far exceeded that of the Sect Masters of most ordinary sects.
Xu Xing scanned the high-ranking members of the Butian Sect standing before him, quickly assessing the situation. He smiled faintly and said, "I thank you all, fellow Daoists, for your devotion. Please rise quickly; there's no need for such formality."
"Thank you, Sect Leader."
The Butian Sect cultivators rose, parting to form a wide path leading to the sect's great hall.
Seeing Xu Xing remain motionless, Zuoqiu Ying, who stood at the forefront, immediately stepped forward, curtsied, and prompted, "Husband, please enter the hall. I have already prepared the welcome banquet for you."
"Where is Fellow Daoist Zhongtai?"
"I sent him to the Butian Sect to notify all fellow Daoists. Why is Fellow Daoist Zhongtai not here to welcome me today?"
"Or could it be that Fellow Daoist Zhongtai had other important matters and missed the appointed time?"
Xu Xing ignored Zuoqiu Ying, his cold gaze sweeping over the high-ranking members at the front. His voice turned several degrees colder as he questioned them.
As his words fell, the high-ranking members of the Butian Sect instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Many cultivators glanced furtively at Zuoqiu Ying before quickly lowering their heads.
The scene was self-explanatory. Xu Xing immediately turned his gaze to Zuoqiu Ying.
"Zhongtai Dao Monarch..." Zuoqiu Ying started, then explained in a somewhat flustered manner, "I arranged for Zhongtai Dao Monarch to be stationed at Qingli Ridge."
"The Demon Lair at Qingli Ridge has attracted many Demon repairs. Without a Nascent Soul Grand Practitioner to maintain order, incidents could easily occur."
"Besides, Zhongtai Dao Monarch was once an enemy of yours, Husband. Now that he has taken refuge in our sect... although there is an order from the Sect Leader as proof, I still dared not trust him recklessly..."
After saying this, Zuoqiu Ying regained her composure.
Xu Xing nodded upon hearing her explanation. "Your handling was appropriate," he said, not continuing to rebuke Zuoqiu Ying but rather following her line of reasoning. "If I hadn't come to the sect in person, Zhongtai Dao Monarch's words would indeed be suspect. However, now that I, the Sect Leader, am present within the sect, this arrangement is indeed somewhat inappropriate."
Zuoqiu Ying, in her capacity as the Sect Leader's Wife, had taken control of the Butian Sect's power, in a way safeguarding his foundation for him.
Perhaps Zuoqiu Ying had her own selfish motives...
But whether from the perspective of their personal relationship or official matters, reprimanding Zuoqiu Ying was not a wise choice.
After all... Zuoqiu Ying was acting under his authority.
To rebuke Zuoqiu Ying would be to damage the power and prestige associated with the title of Butian Sect Leader.
"Inappropriate?"
Hearing these words, Zuoqiu Ying's expression changed slightly.
However, as she lowered her Qiufu at this moment, no one saw the subtle change in her expression.
Understanding the implied meaning, Buxu Zi immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "The Sect Leader is wise. I shall send a talismanic message at once, instructing Zhongtai Dao Monarch to return to the Butian Sect and present himself to the Sect Leader."
During the two hundred-odd years Xu Xing had been absent from the Butian Sect, he, Buxu Zi, had been considered part of Zuoqiu Ying's faction, supporting the Sect Leader's Wife, Zuoqiu Ying, in managing sect affairs.
However, now that Xu Xing had returned, he no longer had any reason to support Zuoqiu Ying.
Ultimately, Zuoqiu Ying's ability to control the Butian Sect stemmed primarily from Xu Xing's lingering authority, not her own administrative skills.
Without the status of the Sect Leader's Wife, it would be unthinkable for Zuoqiu Ying, a mere Dao Pill cultivator, to command Nascent Soul Daoist Lords.
Moreover, news of Xu Xing's breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage had also reached their ears via Zhongtai Dao Monarch.
Even her most staunchly loyal supporters would inevitably defect.
This applied even more so to those who had always been part of Xu Xing's faction.
Xu Xing nodded slightly. "Good."
The remaining sect members, seeing this, also immediately declared their stance. "We shall respectfully obey the Sect Leader's decree!"
Xu Xing glanced at the still-bowed Zuoqiu Ying and said, "We can proceed into the hall now."
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he summoned auspicious clouds beneath his feet, traversed the wide path, and settled onto the main seat in the Butian Sect's great hall.
「A quarter of an hour later.」
The high-ranking members of the Butian Sect took their seats one by one. The welcome banquet commenced, with Immortal Maidens and Yellow Turban Warriors serving various spiritual delicacies and fine wines.
After everyone was seated, Buxu Zi produced a stack of scrolls. Bowing respectfully to Xu Xing, he used his magic power to deliver them to the table cases before Xu Xing. "Sect Leader, these are the records of sect affairs from the past two hundred-odd years. Please review them..."
Xu Xing chuckled and sent the scrolls back into Buxu Zi's hands. "Today is a welcome banquet, Fellow Daoist Buxu. There's no need to trouble me with these matters now."
This action elicited varied reactions from the assembled cultivators: some looked pleased, others frowned, while a few sighed in relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
"It seems I was being presumptuous," Buxu Zi said with a self-deprecating laugh, retracting the scrolls and penalizing himself with three cups of wine.
A short while later, the hall was filled with the sounds of clinking cups and lively chatter as the banquet continued in a joyous atmosphere.
...
...
「Two days later.」
The welcome banquet was over.
Xu Xing and Zuoqiu Ying retired to the inner palace to rest.
Upon entering the inner palace, Zuoqiu Ying hesitated for a moment before her eyes welled with tears. She bowed deeply to Xu Xing, apologizing, "Husband, it was my fault... I... I acted presumptuously and took control of affairs without informing you..."
She was no fool. To have distinguished herself and seized power within the Butian Sect proved her astuteness.
She understood that today's events were Xu Xing's way of asserting his authority, a clear warning to her.
However, Xu Xing had also shown consideration for her reputation by not embarrassing her publicly.
Xu Xing helped Zuoqiu Ying up, embracing her and leading her to the bed in the inner palace. "I was the one who failed to honor our agreement to marry you from the Nanhua Sect. You took charge and protected our foundation in my absence. For that, I should be grateful."
The fact that Zuoqiu Ying held power was not contradictory to her being his wife.
In the Cultivation World, when a female cultivator married a male cultivator and became his spouse, it didn't mean she became entirely subservient.
Of course, this was also why Xu Xing placed greater value on confidantes like Wu Miao and Dai Ji, who were willing to face life and death with him.
His marriage to Zuoqiu Ying, and his bestowing upon her the title of Madam, was merely a political alliance between the Butian Sect and the Nanhua Sect.
Lying in Xu Xing's arms, Zuoqiu Ying's body tensed for a few moments. "It's just a pity..." she said shyly. "We became husband and wife so hastily, without even a wedding ceremony."
She didn't harbor any aversion towards Xu Xing; it was just that they hadn't spent much time together, so their emotional bond wasn't particularly deep.
Xu Xing shook his head with a smile. "I've already seen you in a wedding gown once. Another time isn't necessary."
Over two hundred years ago, Zuoqiu Ying had indeed worn a wedding gown once—for her intended marriage to Ruan Baimei. However, that wedding was called off due to his intervention.
Zuoqiu Ying stroked Xu Xing's chest, lifted her Qiufu, and looked into his eyes, seeming to await his answer. "I've heard that some male cultivators have a penchant for... taking the wives or daughters of their enemies."
"You and Ruan Baimei are mortal enemies. Did you arrange to marry me from the Nanhua Sect for that reason?"
