Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 660: Cultivation for immortality is hopeless, let’s cultivate virtue instead_1
"Wait, how did I become the Sect Leader?" Elder Jia You of the Yanhua Sect, an expression of sheer disbelief on his face, grabbed Sect Leader Deng Chong.
Just now, Deng Chong, the Sect Leader of Yanhua Sect, had announced his resignation and departure from the sect, passing his position to Elder Jia You. This decision was made during a private meeting, so for now, only Jia You knew of it.
"Well, you've been the Elder for so many years and have accomplished so much. I think you're the most suitable person for this position," Deng Chong claimed, pulling back his sleeve and offering a casual excuse.
"I understand why you would give me the position, but why are you leaving Yanhua Sect?" Jia You wasn't a fool. There had to be something going on for Deng Chong to casually hand over such a significant sect.
Therefore, he suspected that the sect was facing a massive crisis, and Deng Chong was planning to run away. The Great Elder, Xia Houqing, was the first to realize something was wrong, so he fled immediately. Deng Chong, who went after Xia Houqing, must have learned about it from him and then decided to shift the blame onto me!
"Well, it's a personal choice. I think Yanhua Sect can't provide me the future I want, so I plan to find a better way to rise." Deng Chong's eyes flickered. Indeed, his plan to defect to the neighboring Virtue Sect was something he found difficult to voice.
This nearly made Jia You choke. Deng Chong is blaming the Yanhua Sect for not providing him a future? He's the Sect Leader, the one with the highest position in the entire sect! The Supreme Elder is in death seclusion, and he's your master! Where else could you possibly find a better future? Go to the Qingtian Sword Sect? If you could actually join them, I wouldn't have much to say. But at your age, and wanting to apprentice yourself despite already having skills, they'd never accept you. At most, you could be a Guest Elder and provide Tributes. But being Sect Leader of Yanhua Sect is far better in terms of resources and Cultivation Techniques than being a mere Guest Elder at Qingtian Sword Sect!
"Tell me the truth, what are you up to? Is there a significant crisis in the sect?" Jia You asked upfront. If Deng Chong still refused to answer, he would consider asking the Supreme Elder who was in death seclusion.
"Well… this might be hard for you to believe, but I plan to join the neighboring Virtue Sect as a disciple, and I've already secured a position." Faced with this, Deng Chong had no choice but to confess.
He, the Great Elder, and Elder Jia You were, in fact, martial brothers, all disciples of the same master—the Supreme Elder.
Their bond was quite strong. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to manage Yanhua Sect effectively. It was because of their internal harmony that the sect could maintain its stability.
The three of them were among the few Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators in the Yanhua Sect. Below their level, the cultivation and strength of members in each subsequent rank were progressively declining.
"What?"
"You've lost your mind." Jia You looked incredulous. He then reacted quickly, "Don't tell me Xia Houqing has already become a disciple of the Virtue Sect?"
Otherwise, why would Xia Houqing suddenly leave the sect?
"Yes, he beat me to it," Deng Chong nodded, not hiding anything.
"Why? Give me a reason," Jia You asked after regaining his composure.
As an adult and a high-ranking member of the sect, he wouldn't make a scene. He had grabbed Deng Chong earlier because Deng Chong had done something utterly unreasonable.
Deng Chong recalled the scene from that morning: Xia Houqing, with only Qi Cultivation Stage strength, had used the Qi Refining Mini Technique: Flame Technique and nearly killed him. That was when he knew traditional cultivation had no future; Merit Cultivation was the true path.
As for Xia Houqing faking it? Even if he had merely been pretending to be at the Qi Cultivation Stage, and was actually at the Pinnacle of the Divinity Transformation Stage using Divine Skills, he still shouldn't have been able to push me to such an extent. He and I are evenly matched in strength, and we learned the same Cultivation Techniques and Spells. In truth, if the three of us martial brothers were to actually fight, it would only result in all of us suffering heavy losses. Yet, if I hadn't possessed so many Magical Artifacts and protective Spells, Xia Houqing might have incinerated me completely!
"Have you ever been attacked with the Burning Flame Technique by someone at the Qi Cultivation Stage?" Deng Chong asked, his expression mournful.
"No, who would bother to use such a minor Spell for a duel? It's only useful to fool Mortals. Besides, it's used by those at the Qi Cultivation Stage; how powerful could it be?" Jia You was slightly puzzled, wondering what Deng Chong was implying. Was it some kind of code?
"This morning, Xia Houqing attacked me with the Burning Flame Technique. If I hadn't been fully prepared, I might not have made it back alive," Deng Chong said, his expression growing even more mournful.
"What? What on earth are you talking about?" Jia You's mind couldn't quite process it. What Deng Chong said was simply too outrageous, making it difficult to comprehend immediately.
"Exactly what I said. Xia Houqing, at the Qi Cultivation Stage, using the Qi Refining Mini Technique: Flame Technique, nearly killed me," Deng Chong repeated.
"Wasn't he at the Divinity Transformation Stage? How did he regress to the Qi Cultivation Stage? He dispersed his own cultivation!!!" Jia You seized on the key point, his face darkening and his voice rising.
We three martial brothers endured so much, risked our lives countless times, progressing from the Qi Cultivation Stage to the Divinity Transformation Stage! We schemed and fought for every scrap of resource! And now he just throws it all away? This is utter madness!
"Yes, he has indeed started over. And I plan to do the same."
"Listen to my advice: traditional cultivation has no future," Deng Chong sighed.
Indeed, his Dao Heart was somewhat shattered. He had been thoroughly beaten by his martial brother—someone previously his equal—who was now merely at the Qi Cultivation Stage. How could I possibly accept this?
"What exactly is going on at the Virtue Sect that made both of you abandon the traditional path so heretically?" Jia You quickly understood Deng Chong's words, but he asked with a hint of excitement.
They are my two senior martial brothers, after all. Although we've had disagreements over Yanhua Sect's affairs, thanks to the teachings of the Righteous Sect, we've always been close.
"Well, I can tell you a bit about it." Deng Chong then repeated to Jia You everything Xia Houqing had told him earlier.
"Merit Cultivation..." Jia You's expression turned ugly. In my eyes, this is absolutely not the Righteous Path! Yet, Xia Houqing has clearly benefited from that so-called 'Complete Evil to Complete Good Skill' and has indeed accumulated merit. This proves the path is viable. More importantly, the Sect Leader of the Virtue Sect is suspected to be a Tribulation Crossing great cultivator who dispersed his own cultivation to start anew on the path of Merit Cultivation. Back then, Xia Houqing was defeated by him in a single exchange, even though that person was only at the Qi Refining First Layer at the time! Even if he isn't a Tribulation Crossing great cultivator, he must be at least a Cultivating Void Stage Cultivator. Why would such an expert deceive them for no reason?
"Wait a moment. I will go and ask Master to come out," Jia You said, lowering his gaze. He was definitely against this. How could they so casually discard the Divinity Transformation Stage cultivation they had achieved through immense hardship?
Xia Houqing has already gone astray. I can't let Deng Chong follow him down that path! The best solution is to ask our master. Perhaps only he can stop Deng Chong.
Deng Chong's face paled. I did all this to make it a fait accompli before Master comes out of seclusion! If he's alerted now, everything will be ruined! And if we really offend the Virtue Sect, what if their Sect Leader, after returning from his Tribulation, decides to take action against the Yanhua Sect?
"No! Master is in death seclusion! He cannot be disturbed unless the Sect faces imminent destruction! Otherwise, if we cause Master to lose that faint strand of karmic opportunity, even if we died ten thousand times, it wouldn't be enough to atone for it!" Deng Chong rebuked without hesitation.
This made Jia You hesitate. It was true that the Sect was not currently facing destruction; there were no external enemies, and he had just taken over as Sect Leader.
Losing two Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators would impact the Yanhua Sect, but the effect wouldn't be catastrophic. As long as their Cultivating Void Stage Supreme Elder—their master—remained alive, the Yanhua Sect's standing would not fall.
The status of their Yanhua Sect was not determined by these three Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators, but by their Cultivating Void Stage master, the Supreme Elder.
Ten thousand Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators combined cannot withstand a single, ordinary Spell from a Cultivating Void Stage expert.
The hierarchy established by strength on the Immortal Path was extremely rigid.
"You're as quick-witted as ever. Although you've convinced me... but..." Jia You trailed off, ultimately heeding Deng Chong's words and not daring to disturb the Supreme Elder.
"No 'buts.' My mind is made up. Do you realize that obstructing someone's Dao path is like killing their parents?" Deng Chong interrupted Jia You. No one could sway his decision on this matter.
He had been stuck at the Divinity Transformation Stage for many years. Barring any unforeseen opportunities, he would likely remain at this stage for the rest of his life, unable to break through to the Cultivating Void Stage. However, the Merit Cultivation Method from the Virtue Sect offered him a new chance. It wasn't just an opportunity for him to break through to the Cultivating Void Stage; it was a chance for Tribulation Ascension.
As long as he accumulated enough merit, he could ignore all bottlenecks, Heart Devils, and other such factors, elevating his cultivation without limit.
