Free Web NovelChapter 390: Chapter 390: Striving Upstream, the Saintess Lineage
"The Sect will first arrange for a group to go to the Merak Sacred Land. The rest will remain in the Cyan Yuan Sect for now."
"Those who are chosen to go first will be notified individually later."
"Those who aren’t selected don’t need to worry. There will be more chances to go in the future. Everyone will have an opportunity."
Gu An looked at the Cyan Yuan Sect Disciples, hope shining in each of their eyes, and spoke slowly.
His words carried a reassuring tone.
It was impossible to take all the disciples to the Merak Sacred Land this time. Besides, the Cyan Yuan Sect needed to maintain its presence in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty and its position as the dominant power in Qing State. These were all prerequisites.
The Merak Sacred Land needed a force to preside over the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, not an empty shell.
"Hall Master, does that mean Official Disciples who have comprehended Power can’t go?"
Someone voiced this question, which was what many Official Disciples were most eager to ask.
If only some were going to the Merak Sacred Land, it meant that most would have to stay in the Cyan Yuan Sect.
It was easy to guess the selection method. It would surely be based on Martial Arts Cultivation.
Elite Disciples and Direct Disciples would be the ones given priority.
"There’s no such requirement. Everyone has a chance to go."
"Any disciple who wants to enter the Merak Sacred Land, as long as you work hard and the conditions are right, will be able to go."
Gu An shook his head and said with a smile.
"This time, only a portion of our people will be going to the Merak Sacred Land. In the future, the Cyan Yuan Sect can continue sending disciples to cultivate in the Merak Sacred Land and become its disciples."
"As long as you show enough Talent, you will have a chance!"
Gu An continued to explain.
"The Sect Leader will take a group this time, but most people will remain in the Cyan Yuan Sect. Many Hall Masters and Elders will also stay behind, just like you."
Gu An provided another piece of information, a reassuring one at that.
"Hall Master, will you be going to the Merak Sacred Land?"
A disciple asked directly.
They were naturally curious about Gu An’s situation.
"I will not be going to the Merak Sacred Land for the time being. I will remain in the Cyan Yuan Sect."
Gu An said, looking at the disciples.
His words sent a signal to the many Cyan Yuan Sect disciples, and many felt relieved.
With Gu An staying in the Cyan Yuan Sect, there wouldn’t be any major changes in the Medicine Hall. In the future, they could still get into the Merak Sacred Land through him.
These disciples knew that someone like Gu An was certain to join the Merak Sacred Land eventually. Those who didn’t get to join this time could join with him later, which represented a bright future.
Furthermore, some disciples genuinely liked the environment at the Cyan Yuan Sect. Their desire to join the Holy Land for cultivation was merely an instinct to strive for better things. After thinking it over, they became much more clear-headed.
"This time, the Merak Sacred Land..."
Gu An continued to explain some of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s arrangements and share some information from the previous negotiations, giving the disciples a general idea of the situation.
He didn’t go into specifics, however.
After outlining the general situation, he concluded the Medicine Hall assembly.
Yang Chan listened. It was mostly about arrangements. For the most part, not much was changing, and the duties of those going to the Merak Sacred Land would be taken over by others.
He noticed that as Gu An spoke, he glanced at the eleven Intermediate Pharmacists. It was obvious that a few of them would be leaving.
As for the specifics, he would have to wait for Gu An’s confirmation.
Before the crowd dispersed, Gu An asked Yang Chan, the other ten Intermediate Pharmacists, and the five Direct Disciples to stay behind. He had something to say to them.
Yang Chan wasn’t surprised by this.
’If anyone from the Cyan Yuan Sect is going to the Merak Sacred Land, we would be the first to be considered. Whether it’s potential or ability, we are the most outstanding people in the Medicine Hall, so naturally we’re at the top of the list.’
Gu An led them into a room.
"I asked you all to stay behind. You should have already guessed my purpose."
"There is a limited number of spots for those going to the Merak Sacred Land this time."
"Among you, the Medicine Hall has three spots for Direct Disciples and four for Intermediate Pharmacists. These individuals will follow the Sect Leader and join the Merak Sacred Land. This arrangement has been made so as not to affect the operations of the Cyan Yuan Sect."
"As I said just now, this is the first group being sent to the Merak Sacred Land."
"The Cyan Yuan Sect is our root. We cannot abandon it. We must ensure stability here, while also being able to send disciples of outstanding Talent to the Merak Sacred Land."
"If any of you are left behind, don’t worry. You will be given priority in the next group. The Sect will not cut off your path forward."
As Gu An spoke, he scanned the group, observing the changes in their expressions.
These people were the pillars of the Medicine Hall, its most important members.
"Hall Master, how long until the ’next time’ you mentioned?"
Lei Jingshan asked. He had previously gone down the mountain with Yang Chan and the others to Taiyu City to resolve the matter with the Three Major Sects, though Yang Chan was still just a Pharmacist’s Assistant back then.
His Alchemy Ability was average and he was no longer young. He likely asked this because he felt his chances of being selected were slim.
"It’s not certain. It could be as soon as a year, or it could take two to three years. It all depends on how well the Sect Leader and the others establish themselves in the Merak Sacred Land."
"The situation in the Merak Sacred Land is rather complicated. There is a great deal of conflict, especially over positions like Saint Son, Saintess, and Peak Master."
"When the Sect Leader joins the Merak Sacred Land, he can become the Peak Master of a peak. However, he will still face many trials and will need to expend great effort to secure his hard-won position."
"When you join the Merak Sacred Land, your first priority will be to help the Sect solidify its position. Only then can we continuously send more Cyan Yuan Sect Disciples as reinforcements."
When speaking to Yang Chan and the others, Gu An was much more direct about the reality of the situation. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Joining the Merak Sacred Land wasn’t a guarantee of a carefree life. On the contrary, it meant facing all sorts of trials and even potential danger. Gu An didn’t elaborate much on this point, but no one here was a delicate flower; they naturally understood the hidden risks.
Lots of conflict and instability were just synonyms for danger.
"I have already drafted a list for the spots, but ultimately, I will respect everyone’s choice. Even if you are not chosen, the Sect will provide some compensation, and you will be prioritized for the next opportunity."
"If you feel it’s too dangerous and don’t wish to join the Merak Sacred Land, that’s fine too. We will arrange for someone else to go."
"No one is being forced. We will not compel those selected to go against their will."
Gu An continued, making his stance clear.
Forcing people to stay or go were both poor options, especially for those who would be following Sect Leader Liu Xuan to the Merak Sacred Land. If their opinions were inconsistent or even contrary, they wouldn’t be of much help. Therefore, personal choice was paramount.
Nothing was more important than their own initiative. Gu An’s eyes had been observing everyone’s reactions the entire time.
He hadn’t announced the final choices because there was still a possibility of change.
"Hall Master, can’t you tell us who has been given a spot now?"
One of the Direct Disciples asked with a frown, clearly disliking the suspense.
"There’s no rush to announce it."
"No need to be anxious. I will speak with each of you, and then I will tell you the final arrangement."
"The Merak Sacred Land is no safe haven. Even within a Sect, there are dangers."
"Since I’m making the arrangements, I must be responsible for you. I don’t want you to run into trouble right after joining the Merak Sacred Land. That wouldn’t be good for you, and it would be a great loss for the Sect!"
Gu An’s tone was extremely solemn and serious, conveying to everyone that this decision was not made lightly, but was the result of careful deliberation.
"The Merak Saintess has competitors within the Merak Sacred Land. After we join, we will basically be considered part of the Merak Saintess’s lineage."
"While we will receive the Merak Saintess’s protection, we will also have to face being targeted by her competitors. This kind of conflict is far more severe than anything within the Cyan Yuan Sect."
"You all should know something about the struggle for the Sect Leader’s position within the Cyan Yuan Sect. In the Merak Sacred Land, it’s more than ten times worse. Plus, the Sacred Land is full of masters. After you join, your status and position will likely drop significantly. You will experience a huge disparity in status."
"These are all things you will have to face."
"Those Inner Master experts who came to the Cyan Yuan Sect before are considered elites in the Merak Sacred Land, and there are quite a few masters at that level."
"Therefore, with your current cultivation, you should understand what your status will be in the Merak Sacred Land."
Gu An paused. Not everyone could ignore such a drop in status, especially those who were once considered chosen sons of heaven and held high positions within the Sect.
Once they realize their status in the Merak Sacred Land might be similar to that of an Official Disciple, or only slightly better, they could very well become dispirited. These were all possibilities Gu An had to consider.
"This is true even for Pharmacists in the Merak Sacred Land. The Holy Land has Top Level Pharmacists, and even King-level Pharmacists above them. So, an Intermediate Pharmacist’s status in the Merak Sacred Land isn’t very high, and you may even face many restrictions."
Gu An’s gaze shifted back to Yang Chan and the other Intermediate Pharmacists.
In the Cyan Yuan Sect, these Pharmacists enjoyed extremely high status, second only to Elder Hua. They had priority in choosing all sorts of Spirit Medicines. But in the Merak Sacred Land, they would no longer enjoy such privileges.
You could say that there are many Intermediate Pharmacists in the Merak Sacred Land. If they joined, they would just be one among many, unable to make any waves at all.
They might even be suppressed by factions opposed to the Merak Saintess, simply because they joined as part of the Cyan Yuan Sect lineage. The Merak Saintess had informed them of all this.
The Merak Saintess had told them the general situation in the Merak Sacred Land to ensure they were prepared.
Since the Cyan Yuan Sect was being brought back to the Merak Sacred Land by the Merak Saintess, they would naturally be seen as part of her faction. This was what the Merak Saintess had told them, and it was also a warning.
The people she brought with her naturally had to stand on her side for her to offer them her aid. The Cyan Yuan Sect had no other choice in this matter.
