Free Web NovelChapter 224: Seeking Peace
Under Chi Songzi’s harsh reprimand, the chiefs of the Divine Wind Institute, Divine Wood Institute, and Divine Mountain Institute finally quieted down. No matter how confident they were, they clearly understood the disadvantage they would face against three elite battle institutes backed by Dharma Form Realm combat power, and possibly even two Sky Patrol Warships.
Under such circumstances, the three battle institutes had no choice but to start withdrawing. But the Nine Cauldrons Sect had no intention of letting them leave so easily. The Azure Edge Institute and the Divine Might Institute pursued them relentlessly, harrying and entangling them, drastically slowing their retreat. If things continued that way, the three battle institutes would never manage to return to Great Sun Sword Sect territory before Yaoguang’s Sea Guardian Institute caught up.
"The Nine Cauldrons Sect has gone too far! We have already decided to retreat. What more do they want?! Do they intend to wipe out all three of our battle institutes here?!" Chi Songzi roared in anger.
He immediately waved his hand. "Mobilize the Cloudmist warship. Assemble my Red Pine Battle Institute and follow me. I will personally reinforce the Divine Wind, Divine Wood, and Divine Mountain Institutes!"[1]
Suddenly, over on Long Zechuan’s side, an assistant hurried in. He brought news that a large number of life flames in the Eternal Lamp Hall had been extinguished. Long Zechuan had been mentally prepared for this outcome, but when it truly arrived, he still felt a sharp pang of grief.
"The Vajra is finished," he said.
As for why the Eternal Lamp Hall’s report had only just come, the perception method of life flames relied on the Void Psychic World. For Dharma Form Realm power, interfering with it was far too easy.
If the enemy could destroy the Vajra, then even sending the second-generation Cloudmist Sky Patrol Warship as reinforcement would likely change nothing. Of course, the Great Sun Sword Sect could continue mobilizing more forces from the sect to support the East Sea. But doing so would mean starting a full-scale war with the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Given the current situation, regardless of whether they could ultimately win, even if victory were within reach, they knew that Li Hanqiu would certainly disregard all rules and take action.
Perhaps the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s Golden Core cultivator might fall after destroying the Great Sun Sword Sect; if one Great Sun Sword Sect could be exchanged for the Golden Core cultivator who repeatedly broke rules, the Infinite Star Palace, the Immortal Alliance, and many other forces would celebrate. But the Great Sun Sword Sect would not accept that fate.
Old bastard! Long Zechuan cursed inwardly.
Golden Core... Golden core! He repeated the words in his mind.
At last, he issued a firm order to Chi Songzi. "Have the Divine Mountain Institute cover the rear, since they specialize in defense. The Divine Wood Institute and Divine Wind Institute are to withdraw at full speed!"
"Sect Master?!" Chi Songzi froze, unwillingness flashing in his eyes.
Letting the Divine Mountain Institute cover the rear was no different from abandoning them entirely.
"Sect Master, if we do this, the Nine Cauldrons Sect will undoubtedly press their advantage. Our interests across the entire East Sea may—"
"The Nine Cauldrons Sect now possesses Dharma Form Realm combat strength. If we engage them directly, we will be at a severe disadvantage unless we first secure closer cooperation with the Infinite Star Palace and obtain their Dharma Form cultivator's support! But their Dharma Form is currently focused on the Black Feather Sect. We can only wait until they withdraw their focus before contending further with the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Until then..." Long Zechuan paused before saying quietly, "The East Sea can be set aside for now."
"Are we really abandoning the East Sea?" Chi Songzi’s eyes widened.
"That is final." With that, Long Zechuan ended the communication. He then turned to his assistant. "Connect me to Li Qingshan, sect master of the Nine Cauldrons Sect."
"Yes," the assistant replied.
Moments later, the assistant said, "The office of the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s sect master stated that your communication will be accepted in one hour."
"One hour..." Long Zechuan calculated briefly.
Soon, he realized the implication. The Divine Mountain Institute could no longer be saved.
***
While that happened, Yaoguang was leading the Sea Guardian Institute out of the Nine Heavens Domain and rushing toward the East Sea battlefield. By the time he arrived, however, the fighting was already nearing its conclusion.
The Divine Mountain Institute, left to cover the rear, had suffered devastating casualties under the assault of the Azure Edge and Divine Might Institutes. And once the Sea Guardian Institute arrived, it took only a few minutes for the Divine Mountain Institute’s sword cultivators to be completely annihilated.
Yaoguang received a message from Li Qingshan through the Void Psychic World. "This battle ends here. If we continue, the war won't stop until one side is completely destroyed. With the Great Sun Sword Sect’s current strength, even if we ultimately win, we would likely lose the capacity to withstand the upcoming era."
After hearing this, Yaoguang ordered the Sea Guardian Institute to halt.
The Great Sun Sword Sect had originally possessed six Sky Patrol Warships, eight elite battle institutes, thirteen main battle institutes, and dozens of standard garrison battle institutes. After this series of clashes, they had lost two warships and two elite battle institutes, but their remaining strength was still formidable. After all, the Nine Cauldrons Sect currently possessed only two Sky Patrol Warships.
As for elite battle institutes, the Nine Cauldrons Sect originally had four: the Sword-Wielding Institute, the Nine Dragons Institute, the Divine Might Institute, and the Azure Edge Institute. Now they could also count the Zhanlu Institute, the Chunjun Institute, and the Sea Guardian Institute.
In that regard, the Nine Cauldrons Sect held an advantage. But overall, the two sides remained evenly matched. On paper, the Great Sun Sword Sect even held a slight advantage. If not for the presence of Yaoguang, a Dharma Form cultivator, even achieving a costly victory would have been nearly impossible.
"Pursuit can slow down for now, but the East Sea belongs to us. That must be reclaimed," Yaoguang said.
"Of course. The sect master of the Great Sun Sword Sect tried to contact me recently. He likely wanted to preserve the Divine Mountain Institute by bargaining with the East Sea’s interests. But the current situation is no longer about whether they are willing to yield the East Sea. It is about whether they can hold it! Unless they withdraw all the forces confronting the Thousand-Beast Sect in the Sea of Storms and commit to a desperate struggle with us in the East Sea, then even if they refuse to hand over the islands, we will seize them one by one. And when that time comes, they cannot blame us for being merciless," Li Qingshan said.
Yaoguang nodded. "The Great Yue Dynasty, the Star Sea Sect, and the Ancient Immortal Sect are in the same position."
As he spoke, he seemed to sense something. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Soon enough, these sects will send envoys to visit the Nine Cauldrons Sect and negotiate the return of the East Sea."
Li Qingshan knew Yaoguang must have learned this in advance through his monitoring of the Void Psychic World. With a smile, he said, "This is all your achievement. Without you, who knows how long it would have taken us to recover the East Sea? Without you, in thirty or forty years, once the Great Cangwu World is unified and the Cangwu Alliance Council is reorganized, we might not even have been able to hold our current seat."
"It isn't just me. This is the result of everyone’s effort," Yaoguang replied.
The Cangwu Alliance Council had been formed long ago in response to the invasion of the Lunar Fiend Empire. The Ten Great Immortal Sects each held director seats. Agreements such as the Cangwu Alliance Diplomatic Relations Convention and the Great Cangwu World Joint Regulations had been signed at that time by the Ten Great Immortal Sects and numerous large and mid-sized sects.
The Nine Cauldrons Sect still held a director seat within the Cangwu Alliance Council, though they rarely spoke. Without strength, speaking up would only invite ridicule. It was better to maintain a minimal presence.
But once the agreed-upon thirty or forty years passed, the Cangwu Alliance Council would inevitably be restructured. At that time, each faction’s weight and voice would depend entirely on strength.
Moreover, unlike before, the reorganized Cangwu Alliance Council would elect a president, ending the era of governance by vote among the ten directors. When that day came, those without sufficient influence would only be waiting to be swallowed by the faction that held the presidency.
"For now, let Hall Master Lou, Chief Shen, and the Zhanlu and Chunjun Institutes, along with the two Sky Patrol Warships, oversee the smooth transfer of the East Sea. We have no interest in inheriting a scorched wasteland. Those forces must behave themselves during their withdrawal," Li Qingshan said.
Yaoguang nodded, then seemed to recall something. "By the way, should we disguise the Spring Rain? Otherwise, we are effectively telling the world that we stole a Sky Patrol Warship that belonged to the Great Sun Sword Sect. It might provoke them unnecessarily."
"That is precisely the effect we want." Li Qingshan smiled. "Capturing a Sky Patrol Warship is far harder than sinking one. The fact that we captured the Vajra alone proves our strength."
He paused before adding, "Still, provoking the Great Sun Sword Sect too severely must be considered. Let us change the Spring Rain's hull number and its name as well. We will call it... the Setting Sun."
Yaoguang laughed. "Hahaha! That way, everyone can preserve their dignity."
Li Qingshan nodded slightly.
"I will head back now. There is still a lot to study regarding the Vajra," Yaoguang said. "Does the sect want this warship?"
"We want it, of course we do. But..." Li Qingshan gave a bitter smile. "We simply do not know how to pay for it." freewebnσvel.cѳm
They were poor. The Nine Cauldrons Sect truly had little of value left to offer. A third-generation Sky Patrol Warship was worth a tremendous sum. Although Yaoguang had obtained only by using manpower costs, with no actual material expenses, selling it too cheaply would not earn him much merchant experience.
"Offer what you can," Yaoguang said. "Recently, my cultivation focus has shifted toward qi refinement. For body refinement, I have the Stellar Soul. For psyche refinement, I have the Primordial Unity Bell. But for qi refinement? I have nothing."
Li Qingshan seemed to recall something. "Give me some time. There may be something. I cannot say whether it meets your needs."
Yaoguang was surprised. The Nine Cauldrons Sect truly was the successor of the Artifact Sect. Its foundations were deep.
"Then I will wait at Sky Patrol Research Institute No. 3."
"You are heading back already? We should hold another grand award ceremony..."
"With you appearing as sect master, it carries far more weight than if I attend."
"Very well. Leave the rest to us." Li Qingshan did not insist.
As for authority, if Yaoguang wanted it, they would never withhold it. If he did not, they would never force it upon him. A genius like him would one day stand at the pinnacle of the world. There was no need for them to interfere.
1. Fun fact: the "Chi Song" in Chi Songzi means red pine. ☜
