Chapter Thirty-Two: Strategies for Response

Mo Zhanpeng gazed at Qi Fei, whose face remained calm and indifferent, and a surge of anger welled up within him. They had not spent much time together, yet this disciple had already caused numerous troubles. Now, a crowd of outer-sect disciples knelt outside the room, begging for medicine, and he had no idea how to resolve this situation.

Mo Zhanpeng shouted angrily, “Qi Fei, you are far too reckless! You must know that when Elder Sun and I left Qingyang Peak, we brought very few medicinal pills with us. Now you take it upon yourself to ask me to distribute the sect’s pills to the outer-sect disciples. Do you realize the gravity of such an action?”

Qi Fei nodded and replied, “Of course, Master, I understand your concerns. You wish to use those pills to help our own disciples improve their cultivation and lay the foundation for the sect’s future revival.”

Elder Sun, standing to the side, shook his head with a wry smile. “Since you know Elder Mo’s intentions, why did you act on your own and bring all these outer-sect disciples here to beg for medicine?”

Qi Fei let out a long sigh before continuing, “Master and Elder Sun are preoccupied with sect affairs and may not have noticed the hidden dangers here. I dare to ask, when Master and Elder Sun left Qingyang Peak and chose the outer-sect compound as your foothold, what was your reasoning?”

Before Mo Zhanpeng could answer, Qi Fei pressed on, “Xuanzhen Temple claims to be a righteous sect, so they would not openly annex Danxia Sect. On my way here, I overheard outer-sect disciples discussing that in a month’s time, on Qingyang Peak, Xuanzhen Temple will support Elder Yang Zheng of Danxia Sect as the new Sect Leader.”

Mo Zhanpeng frowned. “Yang Zheng is merely a puppet propped up by Xuanzhen Temple. What does this have to do with you asking me to give the sect’s pills to outer-sect disciples?”

Qi Fei spoke loudly, “Let me ask again, Master. When you and Elder Sun led our disciples away from Qingyang Peak and took over the outer-sect compound, if Xuanzhen Temple now opens up Qingyang Peak and recruits outer-sect disciples, this compound would have long since been emptied. Elder Huo serves under Marquis Weiwu and can use his influence to protect the outer-sect compound, but only by leveraging the fact that Xuanzhen Temple, having seized the thousand-acre medicinal garden on Qingyang Peak, should not completely wipe out the outer-sect disciples. Now that you and Elder Sun have taken over the compound with your disciples, Xuanzhen Temple will surely not tolerate a future threat. By hastily supporting Yang Zheng as sect leader, they are sowing division among the outer-sect members. Once Yang Zheng assumes leadership, and the outer-sect disciples disperse to follow him, the rest of us will be deemed rebels defying the sect leader’s orders. Even if Marquis Weiwu himself came to Cangyun Mountain, he would be hard-pressed to intervene in the sect’s internal matters.”

Mo Zhanpeng and Elder Sun exchanged glances, Qi Fei’s words sending a chill down their spines. If Yang Zheng truly became sect leader, and all the outer-sect disciples pledged loyalty to Qingyang Peak, Xuanzhen Temple would have every justification to act. Mo and his disciples would indeed become traitors in the eyes of their enemies.

Mo Zhanpeng collected himself and sighed, “Even if I wished to distribute the pills to the outer-sect disciples waiting outside, there are several hundred of them—how could we possibly divide them fairly?”

Qi Fei pondered for a moment before replying, “It would be best if you and Elder Sun, over the next few days, could help those outer-sect disciples with the most potential to cultivate true martial energy or mystical power. Let the others see hope. Only by first stabilizing their morale can we avoid chaos.”

Mo Zhanpeng and Elder Sun exchanged another look, then asked, “Qi Fei, since you see these hidden dangers so clearly, you must have a keen mind. What strategy do you propose to counter Xuanzhen Temple’s attempt to install Yang Zheng as sect leader?”

Qi Fei shook his head with a pained smile. “I only feel compassion for the suffering of the outer-sect disciples and do not wish to see them deceived and exploited by Xuanzhen Temple. That is why I pleaded for you to give them the sect’s pills. All I know is that only by uniting the outer-sect disciples and giving them hope can we stand against Xuanzhen Temple and Qingyang Peak. As for the fate of the entire sect, that is not for me to decide.”

Elder Sun shook his head. “No matter. Your master and I have pondered this situation long and hard but found no solution. If you have any ideas, do share them with us.”

Unable to refuse, Qi Fei agreed.

He took on a thoughtful expression, and after a while, sighed, “In my view, the only way to counter Xuanzhen Temple’s scheme is to enlist the help of the Seven Absolutes Sect and Elder Huo.”

“The Seven Absolutes Sect? Huo Zhongmou?” Mo Zhanpeng’s expression changed, clearly perplexed. “The Seven Absolutes Sect is as ambitious as wolves, no different from Xuanzhen Temple. How could we trust them? Besides, our Danxia Sect is all but destroyed. Huo Zhongmou, though once an elder, is of dubious character. He only set aside old grudges to oppose Xuanzhen Temple after Guo Huai’s ill-gotten wealth was seized and offered up. How could we expect him to help us now?”

Qi Fei did not agree with his master’s assessment and continued, “Do not be anxious, Master. Precisely because the Seven Absolutes Sect also covets Danxia Sect’s foundation, and because Xuanzhen Temple has blamed Guo Huai’s death on them, these two sects are now mortal enemies. Huo Zhongmou is greedy for wealth, but he has won the favor of Marquis Weiwu. To thwart Xuanzhen Temple’s plot, we must have Huo Zhongmou take the lead.”

“How so?” Mo Zhanpeng pressed.

Qi Fei explained, “With the sect leader missing, Xuanzhen Temple seeks to enthrone Yang Zheng. The Seven Absolutes Sect will not stand by and let Danxia fall into their hands. Why not encourage Elder Huo to ally with the Seven Absolutes Sect and contest the succession? With the support of Marquis Weiwu and the Seven Absolutes Sect, Huo Zhongmou—being the sect’s foremost expert and an elder—could rival Yang Zheng for leadership.”

Mo Zhanpeng and Elder Sun looked enlightened, but soon Mo Zhanpeng’s face darkened with worry. “But this plan is dangerously risky—it’s like asking a tiger for its skin. If we succeed, how would we deal with the Seven Absolutes Sect afterward? And Huo Zhongmou’s selfishness might make him as bad a leader for the sect as Yang Zheng.”

Qi Fei interrupted, “Master, do not forget—however flawed Huo Zhongmou may be, he has never betrayed the sect. Compared to Yang Zheng, who willingly serves as Xuanzhen Temple’s puppet, the choice is clear. As for the Seven Absolutes Sect, we can address that problem once the crisis passes.”

Mo Zhanpeng and Elder Sun pondered for a moment, then sighed, “So be it. For now, we must join forces with the Seven Absolutes Sect and help Huo Zhongmou vie for the sect leader’s seat if we wish to preserve our legacy.”

After concluding their discussion, Elder Sun could not help but ask Qi Fei about his progress in cultivating the Daoist arts. “Qi Fei, as you practice the ‘Transformation Sutra,’ have you encountered any difficulties?”

Qi Fei’s face lit up with joy. “Elder Sun, I spent a day cultivating in the bamboo grove and can already guide the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the Tianchong and Chengling points. In just a few days, I believe I will form a true mystical spirit.”

Elder Sun was deeply astonished. “You had already awakened your martial soul, so according to the ‘Transformation Sutra,’ the spiritual energy drawn into your body should be transformed by your martial energy. Yet in just one day, you can guide the energy into both Tianchong and Chengling points? How is that possible?”

Naturally, Qi Fei had no intention of revealing his possession of the ‘Lingxi Art,’ so he feigned confusion. “At first, Elder, when I practiced the ‘Transformation Sutra,’ the energy I drew in would indeed be converted by my martial soul. But as I meditated in the bamboo grove, I gradually entered a state of deep concentration. When I awoke, I found that the space between the Tianchong and Chengling points was filled with spiritual energy.”

“While the martial arts’ state of true concentration is extraordinary, it could not alone have such miraculous effects. When you practiced the ‘Transformation Sutra,’ did your martial soul’s energy show any unusual signs?”

Mo Zhanpeng, aware that Qi Fei’s sudden progress must be due to some fortuitous encounter, quickly interrupted before Qi Fei could answer, to prevent further complications. “Elder Sun, let us discuss Qi Fei’s Daoist cultivation another time. Our priority now is to go out and properly settle the outer-sect disciples waiting outside.”

He shot Qi Fei a meaningful glance. “Qi Fei, go to the back courtyard and visit your fellow disciples.”

Qi Fei understood and did not dare linger. He bowed and quickly took his leave, heading toward the back courtyard.

(The third update for today is complete. I will continue to work hard.)