Supreme Master: Cultivation Starts After Recruiting SSS-Grade Talent-Chapter 42 - Mystic Frost Sect

Just then, Lan Yue spoke. "Master, I suggest we proceed with caution. If the people we encounter are virtuous, we should spare them.

But if they are wicked, then we eliminate them without hesitation. To strike at the Mystic Frost Sect all at once, without discerning the nature of their people, could lead to indiscriminate bloodshed.

And since this matter concerns Junior Sister Yinyin and Junior Sister Mo Wushuang’s personal vendetta, it may be best for them to handle it themselves. It will aid in tempering their hearts and strengthening their resolve."

Xie Ren, who had been thoughtfully silent as he considered Lan Yue’s words, gave a subtle nod of approval. The wisdom in Lan Yue’s suggestion struck home.

As their master, Xie Ren knew his role wasn’t to be an enforcer, but rather a guide. He was here to teach, not to overshadow their growth with his own power.

"Yue," Xie Ren said, his voice steady, "since you already have a plan in mind, I will leave this mission in your hands. Lead the team against the Mystic Frost Sect."

Lan Yue nodded respectfully, her expression calm, as if the responsibility did not weigh heavily on her.

However, Xie Ren’s next words made her pause for a moment.

"But," he continued, "I must correct your understanding. In this vast world under heaven, there exists no absolute good or evil, only differing hearts and divergent paths. What one sect hails as righteous, another may brand as heresy. It is not our place to force a single truth upon all living beings."

The words hung in the air. Chen Yinyin, who stood beside Lan Yue, did not flinch at Xie Ren’s statement.

She had learned from him over time to embrace the complexity of the world’s morality. What was clear to her was that sometimes, decisions had to be made swiftly, and personal emotions had to be set aside. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

But for Mo Wushuang, the words struck deeply. A storm of thoughts churned in her heart. Was she truly on the righteous path in her past life? She had always believed that her choices, her stance, and her actions were aligned with what was right. The judgments of "righteous" and "demonic" had always seemed clear-cut to her. But Xie Ren’s words planted a seed of doubt.

What if... she thought, there was no inherent righteousness? What if it was all just a matter of perspective?

The revelation shook her. The notions of good and evil that had once seemed so firm and unwavering now felt fragile, like a delicate illusion.

Who was truly right, and who was wrong? Who could define such a thing in a world where power, perspective, and circumstance shaped everything?

Mo Wushuang’s expression grew thoughtful, but she said nothing. Her heart was heavy with this new understanding.

For the first time in a long while, she questioned herself, not just the path she had walked, but the very foundations upon which she had built her beliefs.

Xie Ren’s voice broke the silence.

"Well, then," he said, his gaze sweeping over his disciples, "We depart today."

...

-Mystic Frost Sect-

The elder council of the Mystic Frost Sect gathered in their grand chamber for a meeting.

The room was adorned with carvings of ancient beasts and symbols of their sect’s legacy. The silence was tense, the kind that only arises when matters of great importance are being discussed.

Suddenly, the door flew open with a bang, the interruption cutting through the otherwise peaceful tension in the room. The five elders all turned sharply, their faces tightening in displeasure.

Yet, upon seeing the identity of the intruder, their frowns eased. It was the elder in charge of the Soul Tablet Hall, a position of great responsibility within the sect.

Still, the hurried pace and flustered appearance of the elder raised an immediate concern.

"Elder Xuan, what is the meaning of this?" Elder Cheng, the eldest among them, spoke with a calm, commanding tone. "We are in the middle of an important discussion."

The elder in question, panting lightly, quickly cupped his fist in a formal salute before speaking. "Elder Yong’s life tablet... it has shattered."

The room fell silent for a heartbeat, the air thickening with shock.

"What?!" The elders’ voices echoed in unison, the shock evident in their faces.

Elder Shan, a Nascent Soul expert and one of their core figures, should not have met such an untimely death. Although not the strongest fighter, his cultivation level was still formidable. His sudden passing did not make sense.

"What about his Nascent Soul?" Elder Li, an elder with a furrowed brow, asked urgently. "Did it return to the sect’s soul repository?"

"No," Elder Xuan replied, his voice heavy. "It’s likely... it was killed. Along with his body."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room. The other elders exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.

"Who... who would dare strike down one of our core elders and leave his Nascent Soul to rot?" An elder seethed, his voice filled with anger.

The audacity of such an act was beyond comprehension. Not only had Elder Yong been killed, but his soul was obliterated, leaving no trace behind.

"Wasn’t Elder Yong sent to retrieve the Treasure Sword from that remote place?" An Elder spoke, his hand resting against his temple. "How could this have happened?"

"I believe it was the young man, Wei Wu, who had come seeking our help," Elder Xuan said, trying to recollect the details. "He claimed that he could not enter a certain formation in a distant sect. He requested assistance."

Elder Cheng’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Wei Wu’s name.

"What is this sect called?" he asked, "Is it a top-tier sect that we’ve missed?"

"It was... the Taishan Sect, I believe," Elder Xuan answered hesitantly.

"Taishan?" The elders exchanged confused looks. "Never heard of them."

Their disdain for the unknown sect was palpable. In their eyes, the name Taishan Sect carried no weight, no power, a minor entity that had never been considered a threat to the Mystic Frost Sect.

"What should we do?" Another Elder asked, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Should we inform the Sect Master?"

"No," Elder Cheng cut in quickly, "The Sect Master has just broken through to Spirit Transformation. He must not be disturbed at this moment. Let him stabilize his cultivation. We have more pressing matters to attend to."

The other elders nodded in agreement. Elder Cheng, ever the pragmatist, was quick to turn their focus back on more immediate concerns.

"For now, let this matter rest. Let those insignificant ones live for a few more days. Once the dust settles with our grand unification plans, we will pay them a visit," Elder Cheng added with a wicked smile.

The conversation shifted back to the Mystic Frost Sect’s grand ambitions.

"With the Sect Master’s recent breakthrough," An Elder continued, his voice filled with certainty, "there is no one left in this region who can challenge us."

Another Elder, however, did not share his colleague’s absolute confidence.

"But," he cautioned, "we still cannot act directly against the Red Lotus Sect. After all, their Sect Master’s daughter was accepted as a disciple by the Azure Cloud Sect."

At this, several of the elders exchanged uneasy glances. The Azure Cloud Sect was a tier above Mystic Frost, its power, its numbers, its influence. A challenge against the Azure Cloud Sect was a dangerous proposition.

Elder Cheng leaned back, unperturbed.

"That is old news," he said with a small, knowing smile. "I received word from a secret messenger that the girl has returned to the Red Lotus Sect... and she is crippled."

A stunned silence filled the room.

"What?" The elders all spoke at once, disbelief etched across their faces.

"Yes. She has been expelled." Elder Cheng confirmed, his voice unwavering. "The Red Lotus Sect no longer has their backing."

A wicked smile spread across the faces of the elders. This revelation shifted the entire balance of power in the region. With the Azure Cloud Sect’s support withdrawn, the path to dominance was now clear.

"There’s nothing to stop us now," Elder Cheng said with a dark chuckle.