Top-tier Unruly Master-Chapter 1699 - 1736: Decision
Long Ren struggled in his heart but eventually agreed to the other’s request. Long Ren knew how significant a Spirit Vein could be to the Thirty-Six Caves, but he really had no more options. He had been waiting for nearly ten years for the Liuli Grass, and every time he saw Shan Shan in that Ice Coffin, his heart was in agony...
Now that a disciple finally obtained this Liuli Grass, Long Ren knew this might be his only chance, and possibly the last chance for Shan Shan. He absolutely couldn’t bear to see Shan Shan lying cold in that Ice Coffin, unable to awaken; this was not a sight he wished to see.
Therefore, after some hesitation, Long Ren still agreed to Leng Jian’s request, though his impression of this disciple deteriorated even more. Despite the fact that the other survived the Xuantian Secret Realm and acquired many opportunities, he knew perhaps the other’s future development would be great, even beyond his expectations.
After all, any disciple who could return from the Xuantian Secret Realm would have astounding future prospects. Long Ren realized the other’s future status in the Thirty-Six Caves might not be low, but a disciple like that, threatening him at such a time, showed how bold the other was.
It could also be said the person’s ambition was immense, and Long Ren felt uneasy entrusting such an ambitious disciple with important tasks in the Thirty-Six Caves. But at this moment, he couldn’t afford to care about that. The most important thing right now was obtaining the other’s Liuli Grass; the intentions of the other would be dealt with later.
Leng Jian was immediately filled with joy upon hearing Long Ren’s words, like bright sunlight piercing through thick clouds on a dark and gloomy day, making the whole sky suddenly bright. Leng Jian suppressed his inner joy and looked towards his master, Tian Zhen, who was similarly overjoyed. Initially, he held only a sliver of hope regarding the Spirit Vein matter, but was astonished it had truly worked out; who wouldn’t be excited?
Yet Tian Zhen knew if he appeared too smug at this moment, he would surely invite envy. The master and disciple seemed like they had acquired a massive treasure, but dared not boast about it, only stealing cautious glances of joy, worried about the treasure slipping away or Lake Master Long Ren reneging his decision.
"Lake Master, you mustn’t agree to them! The Southern Ridge Spirit Vein is crucial to the Thirty-Six Caves, gifting it to another Sect will greatly impact the future of other Sects in the Thirty-Six Caves! It would be unfavorable for the future development of the Thirty-Six Caves... Lake Master, please ponder carefully..."
At this moment, the Great Elder, upon hearing Long Ren’s decision, couldn’t help but advise him earnestly. The Great Elder understood Long Ren’s urgency to save his beloved, but felt such a decision was a bit hasty. After all, it was an entire Spirit Vein!
Even across the entire Donglai Continent, Spirit Veins were scarce; they were extremely vital to the Thirty-Six Caves. Though the Great Elder wasn’t the Lake Master, he was intimately familiar with the affairs of the Thirty-Six Caves, no less than Long Ren, and fully recognized what significant impact a Spirit Vein had on the Thirty-Six Caves...
Therefore, the Great Elder couldn’t help but try to dissuade Long Ren. Though he understood the urgency in Long Ren’s heart to save his beloved, it seemed the price was too high for this opportunity, albeit a rare chance to save her, perhaps even the only one!
Long Ren understood completely what the Great Elder meant—the magnitude of influence his decision would have on the Thirty-Six Caves. But what other choices did he have? Suddenly, Long Ren felt a wave of fatigue sweep over him, causing him to stagger back a few steps, and he collapsed weakly into a chair, unsure what to say...
"Lake Master, I fully understand your feelings, but isn’t our approach a bit too rash? The Qinghe Sect dared to propose such an unreasonable demand; we could directly remove Tian Zhen from his Sect Master position, and as for Leng Jian, we could use forceful measures!"
At this moment, the Great Elder walked towards Long Ren’s side and whispered to him.
Though the Great Elder spoke in a hushed tone, Tian Zhen, at Spirit Severing Late Stage, easily overheard. Tian Zhen’s heart tightened upon catching the Great Elder’s words to Long Ren; he grasped the meaning immediately.
If he truly lost his Sect Master status at Qinghe Sect, all his efforts would be in vain; the Sect he painstakingly built would be utterly finished, rendering his current endeavors meaningless. Suddenly, Tian Zhen’s heart hung in suspense, filled with worry.
Tian Zhen’s brief concern swiftly morphed into a resolve for mutual destruction; he understood if Lake Master truly removed him from his Sect Master position, he would no longer need to remain in the Thirty-Six Caves. Additionally, Qinghe Sect was built single-handedly by him, and though his Sect was under Thirty-Six Caves’ jurisdiction, he held significant status and influence; he could take a large portion of disciples and establish a new Sect.
However, Tian Zhen knew he wouldn’t resort to this unless absolutely necessary, as it not only meant the end of Qinghe Sect but also, even if he could establish a new Sect, its power wouldn’t match the current Qinghe Sect.
Moreover, crucially, establishing a new Sect would mean forsaking the benefits and backing of the Thirty-Six Caves, and Tian Zhen was acutely aware of the ongoing sect dynamics across Donglai Continent; survival itself posed substantial challenges.
Tian Zhen recognized the risks facing his Sect would be overwhelming, some beyond his capability to handle. Even if the Thirty-Six Caves assailed his new Sect, it would be beyond his power to defend.
And though the Thirty-Six Caves might show lenience, he still worried about other sects targeting his Sect, especially with the Wild Wolf Gang being so rampant, his newly-founded Sect would certainly suffer various encroachments.
Without the Thirty-Six Caves as his backing, confronting the formidable Wild Wolf Gang would prove impossible.
Hence, Tian Zhen’s heart couldn’t help but stay anxious, but seeing Long Ren wave his hand dismissively at the Great Elder, indicating disapproval of the suggestion, offered Tian Zhen some reassurance.
At this moment, Long Ren understood the Great Elder’s perspective but realized he absolutely couldn’t do as advised. After all, the matter of the Liuli Grass was a personal one. Resorting to coercive measures would only lead to undesirable consequences, like the opposing Sect taking their disciples and leaving the Thirty-Six Caves, representing a major loss which wouldn’t be an outcome Long Ren wished for.
At this moment, Long Ren was also in a bad mood and said to the Great Elder:
"If that’s the case, the loss to our Thirty-Six Caves will be even greater. I can’t do that, and even if I give a Spirit Vein to the other party now, this Spirit Vein still remains in the hands of our Thirty-Six Caves people. It’s not a big loss for us, and I consider it giving the Qinghe Sect an opportunity. If they truly can develop, it won’t be a bad thing for us."
The Great Elder, hearing Long Ren’s words, said with a troubled expression:
"But Sect Master, if you do this, it may be like raising a tiger to trouble you in the future..."
"Stop talking, I know."
Long Ren interrupted the other’s words directly, speaking with a somewhat powerless tone.
He understood the Great Elder’s meaning, and he was very aware of it himself. The Great Elder’s words were something that Long Ren would consider carefully, and Long Ren also had a slight agreement with the Great Elder’s words. However, he really had no other way at the moment; Shan Shan couldn’t wait any longer. Now was the only opportunity for Shan Shan...
Tian Zhen and Leng Jian, master and disciple, seeing this scene between Long Ren and the Great Elder, finally felt a sense of relief; they knew they were getting closer to their goal...
But at this moment, other sect leaders who saw this scene between Lake Master Long Ren and the Great Elder inevitably felt a bit worried in their hearts. They knew they couldn’t interfere with the Lake Master’s decision. Facing the Lake Master’s decision, these sect leaders understood they could only comply and definitely couldn’t speak as frankly as the Great Elder had.
However, they could express some of their own opinions, and inevitably some sect leaders bowed towards Long Ren and said:
"Lake Master, be cautious. If any sect obtains a resource like a Spirit Vein, their potential for development is limitless. Although we believe Sect Master Tian has no ulterior motives, would doing so be somewhat unfair to our Sect?"
"Yes, Lake Master, you mustn’t make this decision..."
"We all understand the Lake Master’s eagerness to save someone, but isn’t the price a bit too high? There should be other ways..."
"..."
For a moment, quite a few sect leaders or elders from the Thirty-Six Caves couldn’t help but speak to Long Ren, clearly showing their disagreement with the Lake Master’s decision. However, they had no means to directly make the Lake Master change his mind; they knew all they could do was to persuade.
At this moment, many sect leaders or elders couldn’t help but say to Sect Master Tian Zhen:
"Sect Master Tian, we know you’re doing this for your sect, but can’t you also be considerate of the Lake Master’s situation? You must understand that the Lake Master has already sacrificed so much for his girlfriend, which has always been a major issue for our Thirty-Six Caves. Can’t you willingly give the Fluent Grass to the Lake Master?"
"Yes, Sect Master Tian, your actions now have already completely harmed the interests of the other sects within our Thirty-Six Caves. Aren’t you afraid that if something happens to your sect in the future, the rest of us won’t care?"
"Sect Master Tian, take a step back for the sake of a wider horizon..."
...
Leng Jian, hearing everyone’s words, felt a bit uneasy in his heart for a moment. Although he was merely a disciple, he could see the significant hostility those sect leaders had towards his sect. His heart couldn’t help but worry, but he didn’t know what to do temporarily, and Leng Jian knew this was not something for him to speak about.
Leng Jian couldn’t help but look towards his master Tian Zhen. Upon hearing the words from these sect leaders, Tian Zhen’s attitude also harbored some hesitation. However, his resolve quickly turned rigid; he knew those sect leaders made sense, and indeed, his actions were somewhat unjust.
But this was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for his sect.
