In the northern edge of the Middle-Earth Continent, there lies an endless expanse of yellow sand and desert. This place is called the Northern Great Desert by the people of Middle-Earth, also known as the Endless Sea of Sand. Despite its desolation and remoteness, it is ho to nurous cultivation forces.
Among them, the Taiyi Sect is a rather insignificant one. Just two days ago, ng Zhang beca the new Sect Master of Taiyi Sect. Currently, ng Zhang sat cross-legged on a cushion like a wooden statue, unmoving. His facial expressions kept changing, reflecting the myriad thoughts running through his mind.
As the new Sect Master of Taiyi Sect, ng Zhang had been sitting quietly in the sect's main hall for half a day, ignoring all the affairs of the sect. After all, Taiyi Sect was just a small sect with a tiny territory and only a handful of disciples. There were not many urgent matters to deal with.
In his heart, he recalled the appearance and teachings of his late ntor and foster father, Daoist Profound Spirit, the previous Sect Master. When he transmigrated to this world, he was just a baby, and in the blink of an eye, sixteen years had passed. Under the nurturing and careful guidance of Daoist Profound Spirit, ng Zhang not only integrated fully into this world known as the Grand Dust World, almost forgetting about life on Earth, but also beca a Refining Qi cultivator at the fourth stage.
During Daoist Profound Spirit's lifeti, he had told ng Zhang more than once that Taiyi Sect, as a small sect, could not accommodate a genius like him. With his top-grade spiritual roots, even the major sects with Gold Core Daoist Masters would compete for him. If he joined any of them, he would undoubtedly receive treatnt far superior to that of an Inner-Sect Disciple.
These major sects would offer him advanced cultivation techniques and abundant resources for practice. With his talent and efforts, ng Zhang might have already reached the completion stage of the Refining Qi period. However, due to his sentintal attachnt to Taiyi Sect and his wish to revitalize it, ng Zhang remained there, unable to spread his wings and temporarily lying low like a hidden eagle.
Suddenly, a harsh argunt could be heard from outside the main hall, getting closer and closer. ng Zhang's serene expression turned into a displeased one as his thoughts were interrupted.
The heavy doors of the main hall were forcefully pushed open, and two figures walked in without hesitation. The leader was a burly man in his thirties, with a square face, thick beard, and a rough deanor. Following behind him was an old man with a goatee, whose face bore a sinister look. His two small, cunning eyes revealed a complexity of thoughts.
Although ng Zhang had instructed the disciples not to disturb him while he paid respects to the deceased Sect Master, these two annoying individuals clearly ignored his words and barged in.
Suppressing his displeasure due to their identities, ng Zhang greeted them politely yet distantly, "Zhen Ling (True Spirit) Senior Brother, Fang ng Senior Brother, what brings you here in such haste?"
Seeing ng Zhang sitting motionless on the cushion, exuding the aura of a Sect Master, Fang ng, the burly man and Daoist Profound Spirit's eldest disciple, wore an unhappy expression and said bluntly, "ng Zhang, although our Taiyi Sect has fallen, we are still a reputable orthodox sect, respecting seniority and distinctions of rank. As your senior brother and a disciple of the master, it's inappropriate for you, his junior disciple, to inherit the position of Taiyi Sect Master. It's hard for others to accept. For your own good and the future of Taiyi Sect, I suggest you step down as Sect Master."
Facing this open confrontation, anger surged within ng Zhang. However, considering Fang ng's rough nature, he chose not to engage in an argunt.
A little over a month ago, ng Zhang's ntor and the forr Taiyi Sect Master, Daoist Profound Spirit, was summoned by Twin Success Valley to join the crusade against a group of marauding sand monsters. Two days ago, a ssenger from Twin Success Valley arrived at Taiyi Sect with the news of Daoist Profound Spirit's death.
In accordance with Daoist Profound Spirit's will, witnessed by the Twin Success Valley's ssenger, ng Zhang, as the last disciple of Daoist Profound Spirit, inherited the position of Taiyi Sect Master. While the ssenger was present, no one in the sect opposed ng Zhang becoming the Sect Master, nor did anyone dare to cause trouble. However, once the ssenger left, different voices erged within the sect.
Fang ng, as Daoist Profound Spirit's first disciple, had always seen himself as the legitimate heir of Daoist Profound Spirit. In his view, after Daoist Profound Spirit's death, he should rightfully beco the Taiyi Sect Master. He couldn't understand how this junior disciple, who usually remained inconspicuous, had sohow managed to confuse their master and take over the position of Sect Master.
"Biting Dog Does Not Bark," Fang ng cursed inwardly. Seeing ng Zhang's unyielding expression, he felt that his demands were being disregarded and grew angry.
"ng Zhang, what kind of virtue and ability do you have to steal the position of Taiyi Sect Master? Master must have been confused in his final monts to hand over the position to you."
"You won't be able to hold on to the position of Taiyi Sect Master. Junior Brother, hand over the position, and when I beco the Sect Master, I won't treat you badly," Fang ng said, softening his tone slightly.
"What a brainless fool, he doesn't even know when he's being used as a tool," ng Zhang cursed in his heart. However, he couldn't be bothered to argue with Fang ng and simply responded coldly, "Senior Brother, the position of Taiyi Sect Master that I inherited has the witness of the Twin Success Valley ssenger. If you have ulterior motives and want to vie for the position, are you defying Twin Success Valley or opposing them?"
Twin Success Valley was the ruler of the surrounding region, with nurous cultivators and several Foundation Building stage practitioners under its command. Taiyi Sect, with only about ten disciples and lacking even a Refining Qi stage cultivator, was nothing more than an ant in the face of Twin Success Valley.
Even if Fang ng had ten tis more courage, he wouldn't dare to oppose Twin Success Valley. Of course, although Fang ng had a bad temper, he wasn't foolish. He knew that ng Zhang was using Twin Success Valley to suppress him.
Twin Success Valley had brought back Daoist Profound Spirit's will and promised to honor it, which was already an act of benevolence. As for the future of Taiyi Sect, Twin Success Valley probably wouldn't bother much. After all, small vassal sects like Taiyi Sect were nurous within Twin Success Valley's territory, and Twin Success Valley didn't have the energy to oversee them all. As long as Taiyi Sect does not rebel and ensures the annual tributes are paid in full, Twin Success Valley is unlikely to interfere in the internal affairs of Taiyi Sect. However, Twin Success Valley's reputation is formidable, which makes Fang ng sowhat cautious. Besides, Fang ng still possesses so conscience and is not willing to engage in infighting with his fellow sect mbers.
Seeing ng Zhang's firm determination and unwillingness to compromise, it beca evident that he had made up his mind to beco the Taiyi Sect's Sect Master. Fang ng decided not to entangle himself further and reached a similar decision.
"Junior Brother, with your abilities, it's unlikely that Taiyi Sect would have any future under your leadership. I won't vie for the position of Sect Master with you to avoid being accused of bullying a junior disciple like you," Fang ng said.
"From now on, I, Fang ng, withdraw from Taiyi Sect and will have nothing to do with it anymore. Junior Brother, take care of yourself in the future," he added before leaving.
Although Fang ng's words sounded righteous, in reality, he didn't have the confidence to defeat ng Zhang. Despite having practiced for more years, Fang ng was only at the fourth stage of the Refining Qi cultivation base, whereas ng Zhang, who was just sixteen, had reached the sa stage. Moreover, ng Zhang cultivated the more profound "Lesser Yang Qi Art" in Taiyi Sect, which had more combat power than Fang ng's "Yellow Sand Technique."
Fang ng didn't have the certainty to defeat ng Zhang, and being the senior brother, he couldn't suppress ng Zhang either. Being hot-headed and unwilling to be under soone else, Fang ng chose to leave Taiyi Sect.
ng Zhang didn't want to argue with soone like Fang ng, and he didn't bother to stop him either. It was better for everyone to part on good terms rather than harm each other within the sa sect.
After Fang ng left the hall, ng Zhang turned his attention to Daoist True Spirit. Compared to the straightforward and impulsive Fang ng, Daoist True Spirit, the old fox, was the real trouble.
Before his ntor Daoist Profound Spirit passed away, Daoist True Spirit had been a restless figure, often creating trouble and engaging in covert conflicts within Taiyi Sect to vie for power and resources. Although Daoist True Spirit was only at the fifth stage of the Refining Qi cultivation base, his strength was far inferior to Daoist Profound Spirit at the sixth stage. However, with his cunning sches and underhanded thods, Daoist True Spirit had indeed caused a lot of trouble for Daoist Profound Spirit.
During Daoist Profound Spirit's lifeti, Daoist True Spirit had so restraint and didn't go too far. But now, with Daoist Profound Spirit gone, Daoist True Spirit imdiately erged and started stirring up trouble.
Although ng Zhang usually kept quiet and didn't interact much with others in the sect, he was not a fool; he observed everything silently. He could see through Daoist True Spirit's machinations and understood that Fang ng's aggressive behavior today must have been instigated by Daoist True Spirit.
Since ng Zhang had already seen through Daoist True Spirit's true nature, he didn't want to engage in any pretense with him and directly asked, "Master Uncle, what brings you here?"
Seeing Fang ng angrily leaving Taiyi Sect, Daoist True Spirit felt secretly delighted. However, on the surface, he put on a sorrowful expression.
"Why has it co to this? Why has it co to this? We are all fellow sect mbers. There shouldn't be any insurmountable issues between us," he sighed for a long ti before saying to ng Zhang, "ng Zhang, although Fang ng acted impulsively today, it is true that Taiyi Sect has not treated you well."
To protect ng Zhang, Daoist Profound Spirit had not revealed to the others that ng Zhang had top-grade spiritual roots. The others in the sect only knew that ng Zhang had excellent spiritual roots, likely middle-grade.
In reality, even middle-grade spiritual roots were considered very good in the area around Twin Success Valley. In Taiyi Sect, the disciples' spiritual roots were generally nothing special, and among the bottom-grade spiritual roots, they were considered diocre.
"ng Zhang, with your spiritual root talent, you indeed deserve a better future. Senior An, who passed by Taiyi Sect last year, was very impressed with you."
Daoist True Spirit referred to the famous An Family's Patriarch, An Lei. Last year, when An Lei passed by Taiyi Sect, he unintentionally discovered ng Zhang's talents. Although he hadn't recognized ng Zhang's top-grade spiritual roots, ng Zhang's displayed potential had already won An Lei's affection.
An Lei imdiately declared in front of everyone at Taiyi Sect that he wanted to bring ng Zhang back to An Family and make him his personal disciple. He even offered to betroth his beloved daughter to ng Zhang, making him a core disciple of An Family.
ng Zhang's encounter was a cause of envy for many in Taiyi Sect. It was an extraordinary opportunity to gain both personal and material benefits.
It's important to note that An Family, in the east, had several Foundation Building stage cultivators and was a large cultivation family of the sa level as Twin Success Valley.
For a small sect like Taiyi Sect to send an outstanding disciple to a powerful force like An Family was a very common practice in the entire Cultivation World.
However, to everyone's surprise, ng Zhang voluntarily gave up this heaven-sent opportunity and declined An Lei's invitation, insisting on staying in Taiyi Sect.
Fortunately, An Lei was magnanimous and didn't get angry at ng Zhang's refusal. Instead, he left behind a ssage that if ng Zhang ever changed his mind, An Family would welco him anyti.
After An Lei left, many in Taiyi Sect mocked ng Zhang for being a fool to let go of such a great opportunity. Nevertheless, ng Zhang's loyalty to the sect and his affection for Daoist Profound Spirit were observed by a mysterious presence.
"ng Zhang, you gave up many opportunities for the sake of your relationship with Senior Xuan Ling. Now that Senior Xuan Ling is gone, Taiyi Sect should no longer hold you back. With your talent and potential, you deserve a better future."
"With your potential, you would have soared to the sky in a better environnt. It was Taiyi Sect that held you back," Daoist True Spirit said, pretending to be entirely concerned about ng Zhang.
ng Zhang inwardly sneered at Daoist True Spirit's sweet talk. He saw through Daoist True Spirit's sches and simply stated his determination.
"Since my master entrusted with the position of Taiyi Sect Master, I will be responsible for Taiyi Sect. Unless I die, I will never give up the position of Taiyi Sect Master."
After speaking, ng Zhang fell silent and no longer paid attention to whatever Daoist True Spirit said. Despite Daoist True Spirit's attempts to persuade him, ng Zhang remained unmoved.
Seeing that ng Zhang wasn't moved by his words, Daoist True Spirit reluctantly left, but not before he secretly plotted his own plans for Taiyi Sect.
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