Chapter 126, Conservative Measures and Fire Everywhere

Translator: Raznick

 

When dealing with matters involving the fate of every cultivator within the clan, decisions must be made jointly by the Clan Leader and the elders and approved by the Grand Elder.

 

This was the Zhou Clan’s rule, and it was also the rule of many sects and clans.

 

The existence of this rule helped avoid situations where a single person’s consideration was insufficient, leading to significant losses for the entire clan or sect.

 

If decisions made after everyone’s discussion still caused significant losses to the clan and sect, the responsibility would not fall on one person but would be shared by everyone.

 

This prevented situations where a faulty decision led to major losses for the clan or sect, forcing the Clan Leader and sect master to step down.

 

Therefore, whether it was previously deciding who to send to Cloud Province to fulfill the conscription or now discussing how to respond to the Dragonized Sect’s infiltrators in Mist Province, Zhou Daoyi and Zhou Chun, as Clan Leader and acting Clan Leader, immediately convened the clan elders for a meeting.

 

The Zhou Clan elders furrowed their brows and displayed thoughtful expressions.

 

The matter concerned the future safety and well-being of the entire clan, so caution was a must.

 

After considerable contemplation, Zhou Jiahe was the first to speak, saying, “I believe that the impact of this matter on our clan should not be as great as that of other clans.

 

“Currently, the businesses outside our clan estate are only two: one is that Scarlet Glow Iron mine, and the other is the shops within Red Cliff Market.

 

“The shops are few to mention; we can first transport several months’ worth of supplies over there to observe changes in the subsequent situation.

 

“As for the Scarlet Glow Iron mine, after many years of mining, there shouldn’t be much profit left. If it is attacked, abandoning it is no big deal.

 

“So, as long as we guard our estate, prevent the Dragonized Sect’s experts from infiltrating and wreaking havoc, and also try to control the number of clan members going out, things shouldn’t go wrong.”

 

The Zhou Clan’s elders, though they typically didn’t much participate in clan affairs management, generally had a grasp of the clan’s overall situation and could readily come to the Central Palace to review documents and learn about the clan’s state.

 

This allowed them to supervise the Clan Leader and conveniently offer suggestions during discussions.

 

Therefore, when Zhou Jiahe expressed his opinion, the other two elders nodded slightly in agreement.

 

However, when Zhou Chun heard Zhou Jiahe’s words, he frowned and said, “Fifth Elder’s words are sound, but our Zhou Clan has few external assets, yet we are heavily reliant on them.

 

“Whether it’s the materials for refining pills or the special ingredients that demon beasts consume, as well as finished pills and talismans, all must be purchased from the outside.

 

“If those people from the Dragonized Sect were to truly target this aspect, the clan’s losses would still be considerable.”

 

A major power would not allow itself to have weaknesses in certain aspects and would strive for self-sufficiency.

 

However, that was a concern for powers with a long legacy and extensive territories.

 

A cultivating clan like the Zhou Clan, especially one that had only been established in this area for a few decades, could not possibly achieve self-sufficiency.

 

Some raw materials were impossible to produce domestically.

 

The Zhou Clan’s current use of the merits system was precisely because the clan’s majority income was spent on purchasing resources.

 

Furthermore, these resources came from various sources, half from market purchases and half from other cultivating clans and rogue cultivators.

 

Some resources were delivered to their door, while others required sending people to collect.

 

That was also a major reason why one couldn’t just shut their doors.

 

“You have a point, Zhengchun, but the clan’s reserves should be enough to last for a few months, right? I think in those few months, the situation in Mist Province should become clearer, and the fighting in Cloud Province should also see some changes.

 

“In any case, we won’t dispatch anyone, but we won’t refuse others coming to deliver goods. This approach is difficult to criticize.”

 

The one who spoke was Second Elder Zhou Chongshan.

 

He had previously served as Clan Leader a few times, and his understanding of the clan’s situation was clearer than the other two new elders present.

 

Moreover, he could be considered the conservative faction of the Zhou Clan, and he would be more conservative in certain decisions.

 

But as the Zhou Clan’s only clan member with the Chong generation name, his words still carried considerable influence; even Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi would fully consider his status and face.

 

Therefore, at this moment, Fourth Elder Zhou Jiarui turned his gaze towards Zhou Chun and said, “Zhengchun, do you have any better suggestions? If not, I also think that Second Elder and Fifth Elder’s suggestions are not bad, and we can request a decision from the Grand Elder.”

 

Zhou Chun did have some ideas.

 

But now that he saw that the opinions of the several elders had almost reached a consensus, he didn’t mention them.

 

An acting Clan Leader was merely temporary and hadn’t been formalized.

 

As long as he hadn’t been formally appointed, there was a possibility of losing the opportunity due to a major mistake.

 

Therefore, although Zhou Chun thought the suggestions of the several elders were somewhat conservative, for his own benefit, he decided to play it safe and say nothing more.

 

In this regard, he was somewhat selfish, unable to put the public good first.

 

But how many people in this world were truly selfless?

 

People who put the public good first were admirable, but that was it.

 

As a cultivator, pursuing immortality was the first and most important thing in life.

 

Therefore, when it came to matters that benefit this great undertaking, one should first consider private interests before public ones; private gains must outweigh public interests.

 

Therefore, Zhou Chun was selfish and straightforward, without any sense of guilt, and directly said, “I have no objections; please, Second Elder, go and meet Grand Elder and explain the matter.”

 

“Good, I will go see Grand Elder.”

 

Zhou Chongshan immediately went to the cave on the top of Pagoda Peak to visit Grand Elder Zhou Mingde.

 

In fact, the matter of visiting Grand Elder Zhou Mingde should have been handled by the acting Clan Leader, Zhou Chun.

 

But for some unknown reason, despite Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi frequently saying that Grand Elder Zhou Mingde praised him and admired him,

 

Zhou Chun had never had the opportunity to meet that Grand Elder Zhou Mingde alone.

 

Even as he became the acting Clan Leader, this task of reporting to Grand Elder Zhou Mingde was handed over to Second Elder Zhou Chongshan.

 

Regarding this point, Zhou Chun had some considerations.

 

But Grand Elder Zhou Mingde was the stabilizing force of the Zhou Clan; no matter what thoughts he had, he dared not show them.

 

He could only comfort himself that his cultivation was not yet sufficient to engage in direct confrontation with a cultivator in the Violet Palace Stage.

 

Zhou Chongshan did not make Zhou Chun and them wait long; about an hour after he left, he brought back Grand Elder Zhou Mingde’s decision.

 

“Grand Elder has agreed with our suggestions and allows us to execute this plan; he will also be ready to intervene at any time!”

 

Zhou Chun immediately said, “Then it’s decided. I will arrange for people to notify all cooperative forces and complete the contracts as quickly as possible.”

 

Thus, after the elder dispersed, he issued multiple commands, and some clan members carrying letters left Nine Peaks and went to various forces cooperating with the Zhou Clan to convey information.

 

Clans such as Red Herb Valley’s Wang Clan, Green Cloud Mountains’ Mu Clan, Gold Maple Peak’s Sun Clan, andBamboo Grove’s He Clan maintained exceptionally deep collaborations. He further revealed a willingness to temporarily abandon the Scarlet Glow Iron Mine if attacked by the Dragonized Sect.

 

Regardless, he had already done what he could, and the thoughts and actions of other clans were of no consequence to him.

 

In the time that followed, the entire Mist Province’s major cultivating clans experienced a sense of paranoia, given the Dragonized Sect’s covert infiltration of Mist Province.

 

Clans adopting a conservative strategy like the Zhou Clan were numerous.

 

Especially those clans with deep ties to the Green Lotus Monastery; several of them directly sealed their gates.

 

This demonstrated that the Dragonized Sect’s eradication of clans connected to the Green Lotus Monastery in Cloud Province had a substantial deterrent effect.

 

The Green Lotus Monastery’s ruling foundation was indeed shaken.

 

Simultaneously, a reinforcement of Green Lotus Monastery personnel from Lotus Province, rushing urgently to Mist Province, quickly established a presence within Red Cliff Market.

 

Zhou Chun was pleased to learn that Liu Shiyun’s master, Ming Xia, was among the reinforcements.

 

Since establishing a connection with Ming Xia through Dragonized Sect personnel records years ago, the Zhou Clan had consistently provided offerings to this Green Lotus Monastery Violet Palace cultivator.

 

The Zhou Clan’s Jade Spirit Bee-produced spiritual honey, for example, was largely presented as gifts to the Green Lotus Monastery, and a growth meal was specially designed for his spirit beast, with personnel arranged to deliver corresponding supplies every few months.

 

Although Ming Xia had not promised anything to the Zhou Clan in return for these gifts, she would certainly have to reciprocate later.

 

Otherwise, it would not only anger the Zhou Clan but also damage her reputation among other factions, essentially cutting off her source of wealth.

 

Therefore, now that Ming Xia had arrived in Mist Province, she undoubtedly represented a significant asset for the Zhou Clan.

 

He could now completely set aside the estate’s concerns.

 

The arrival of Ming Xia’s disciples indicated that Green Lotus Monastery still valued this rare stronghold in Mist Province, which reassured the previously anxious cultivating clans and gave them a sense of security.

 

The clans closer to Red Cliff Market resumed their normal activities.

 

But the danger had already quietly approached!

 

Within a gathering place for rogue cultivators in Mist Province, a stern middle-aged man in a black robe was listening to reports from his subordinates.

 

The black robe he wore was embroidered with Flood Dragon patterns in golden thread, a mark of the Dragonized Sect’s Guardian battle robes, revealing him to be a Black Dragon Guardian of the Dragonized Sect.

 

“Guardian, we have fully collected and investigated intelligence on the various cultivating clans in Mist Province. As you requested, we have listed several clans that are most suitable as targets. Please review them.”

 

A Black Dragon Envoy, also clad in black robes with Flood Dragon patterns embroidered in silver thread, knelt and respectfully presented a small booklet to the middle-aged man.

 

The middle-aged man took the booklet, flipped through a few pages, and his gaze lingered on one.

 

Then he said lightly, “Let’s go with this Mu Clan, whose estate happens to be near the lake!”

 

“Yes, I’m going to arrange it now.”

 

The Black Dragon Envoy kneeling on the ground straightened his expression, performed another bow, and then retreated to make preparations.

 

Two days later, the scenic banks of Green Cloud Lake suddenly had dozens of disciples of the Dragonized Sect, with a Black Dragon Guardian at the Violet Palace Stage leading the way!

 

The Mu Clan cultivators were terrified, their spirits faltering as they desperately struck the alarm bells.

 

The bells rang out in succession, echoing eighty-one times within half a quarter of an hour!

 

This was the greatest warning, signifying that the clan has encountered an annihilation crisis. Even cultivators in seclusion had to be roused and emerge to confront the enemy.

 

At the same time, a brilliant mystical art firework exploded directly above the Green Cloud Mountains, transforming into a gigantic crimson lotus flower.

 

This gigantic firework explosion, and the crimson lotus flower suspended high in the sky at a height of several thousand feet, were seen and heard by everyone within a radius of sixty miles around the Green Cloud Mountains.

 

“Father, it’s appeared! The blood lotus you said appeared in the sky!”

 

In a mountain village thirty miles southwest of the Green Cloud Mountains, a teenager dressed in rough clothing suddenly ran into the room, his face filled with shock, speaking loudly to his paralyzed and bedridden old father about the strange phenomenon in the sky.

 

“What did you say? Quick, help me up!”

 

The old man on the bed was startled, then his face suddenly changed, and he struggled to lift the quilt, letting the teenager carry him out.

 

When he was carried out the door and saw the gigantic blood lotus in the distant sky, tears welled up in the old man’s eyes.

 

“Why are you crying, Father?”

 

The teenager felt a coolness at his neck and asked, somewhat perplexed.

 

“Because Father’s home is gone! Our home is gone!”

 

The old man cried bitterly and forcefully grasped the teenager’s shirt collar, saying loudly, “Quick, bring out the jar from inside my bedside table!”

 

“Ow, Father, don’t pull! I know, I’ll do it right away.”

 

The teenager let out a cry of pain and quickly released the old man, turning to bring out a black porcelain jar wrapped in quilts and placing it in front of the old man.

 

“Go get a torch.”

 

The old man looked at the porcelain jar before him and spoke his request once more.

 

Then, while the young man went to fetch the fire, he carefully opened the waterproof cloth covering the jar and glanced at the contents within.

 

He saw that inside the jar was a dark brown, granular substance, filling nearly half the jar.

 

At this moment, the young man walked over carrying a torch and called out, “Father, the torch you requested is here.”

 

The old man reached out and took the torch from the young man’s hand, rarely revealing a smile as he looked at his face, which was strikingly similar to his own youthful appearance, and said, “Son, do you remember the Mu Clan estate that your father took you to three years ago?”

 

“Of course, I remember. Why do you suddenly bring up this matter, Father?”

 

The young man nodded, looking at the old man with a puzzled expression.

 

Hearing this, the old man’s voice immediately grew solemn. “Then you go to the Mu Clan estate now and tell the master there that your father’s mission is complete, and you will remain there after that.”

 

He then waved his hand and said, “Don’t ask any questions; you only need to do as I say, and someone will eventually tell you everything!”

 

“Then what about you, Father?”

 

The young man seemed to realize something and looked at the old man with concern.

 

The old man suddenly smiled at him and said, “Your father should have gone to join your mother a long time ago, but the clan has given me a task that prevents me from ending my own life!

 

“Now that your father’s mission is complete, I can finally go and join your mother with peace of mind!”

 

Having said this, he extended the torch in his hand into the porcelain jar in front of him.

 

Immediately, a pungent odor wafted from the porcelain jar, followed by a thick plume of black smoke that rose from the jar, quickly forming a column of smoke that reached a height of a thousand meters.

 

As the plume of smoke rose, people dozens of miles away and those who shared the same mission as the old man quickly ignited the beacons.

 

These beacons spread in all directions, and in less than an hour, even the area near the Nine Peaks, hundreds of miles away, saw the same beacons.

 

At the same time, the news of the Mu Clan in the Green Cloud Mountains facing a clan annihilation crisis spread rapidly to the ears of various Clan Leader of clans that were friendly with them, thanks to these beacons.

 

Even the Green Lotus Monastery cultivators in Red Cliff Market received the news quickly.

 

“It’s the Mu Clan, the first to be targeted!”

 

On Pagoda Peak, Zhou Chun flew into the air, looking at the plume of smoke rising dozens of miles away, his expression complex.