Chapter 151: Belief and Doubt
Chapter 151: Belief and Doubt
“Elder Fang’s skills are truly remarkable…”
After the sermon ended, the disciples dispersed, but the real impact was just beginning. Young Sect Master Xu and two Elders had already gathered in the main hall. Looking at the profound scripture inside the ancient box, they sighed, “And his temper is truly something too!”
“It was worth it…” Young Sect Master Xu stared at the principles laid out in the scripture for a long time before murmuring quietly, “Even making him the sect leader would be worth it…”
“Who could have imagined, who could have imagined…” Elder Cold Stone could barely contain his excitement. His eyes were wide as he gaped at the precious scripture. “Second Young Master Fang mentioned this before, and I didn’t believe it. Even though the Fang family’s talents are high and their skills great, who truly possesses the ability to extract things from a madman… ah, Elder Shenshan’s mind? If it were so easy, we would have obtained it long ago. And yet… yet Second Young Master Fang, clearly only just established his Foundation, actually managed to do it… He actually managed to obtain this Treasure Body Method…”
“Hold on, come to think of it… we forgot to ask him something key…” Elder Green Pine suddenly thought of a question and voiced his confusion, “Exactly how did Second Young Master Fang get the Treasure Body Scripture out of him?”
Young Sect Master Xu and Elder Cold Stone were both stunned by this question.
Ever since seeing the Treasure Body Method, they had been marveling at Second Young Master Fang’s prowess, but hadn’t thought to ask about the specific method.
“If he had wanted to tell us, he would have done so by now!”
Breaking the silence, Young Sect Master Xu shook his head. “Second Young Master Fang’s cultivation isn’t high; he certainly couldn’t have overpowered Elder Shenshan. But his status is extraordinary. He likely possesses some rare treasure beyond anything we could imagine…”
Elder Green Pine gave a slight nod, sighing in awe, “He is, after all, the younger brother of Immortal Master Fang Chi!”
Elder Cold Stone suddenly remarked, “The Sect Master is right. No matter what, we must not ask him about it directly…”
Young Sect Master Xu and Elder Green Pine both turned their gaze towards him.
“Think about it! How incredibly precious must a treasure be that can extract knowledge from the mind of a Great Qi Refiner in the Nascent Soul Realm?”
Elder Cold Stone’s expression turned grave. “What if he demands we pay for it?”
Young Sect Master Xu and Elder Green Pine stiffened visibly at this, then nodded deeply in agreement.
“It’s just… the regulation Elder Fang proposed though, it seems somewhat…”
Elder Green Pine shook his head gently, letting out a soft sigh.
This Second Young Master Fang, arriving from Willow Lake merely half a month ago, had suddenly performed this monumental service for the Shoushan Sect, one that could decide its entire future. Yet, after achieving this, he didn’t ask for money, didn’t seek rewards, didn’t exploit the situation to expand his influence or secure his position within the sect. The only thing he requested was this one regulation, which left them all rather perplexed.
Because by doing this, Second Young Master Fang really seemed to be making a loss…
Firstly, in the short term, he likely wouldn’t be able to impart the Treasure Body Method’s principles to many Shoushan Sect disciples. Secondly, he would earn the resentment of quite a few disciples. Given Young Master Fang’s family background, he should know very well how to win people’s hearts. So why go completely against the established way?
Puzzled, Young Sect Master Xu had been carefully studying the scroll of the Divine Nether Body Tempering Art. His gaze lingered particularly long on one specific technique within it. Finally, he quietly set the scroll down and looked calmly at the two Elders. “Back when I sold 30% of the Shoushan Sect’s spiritual veins, I mentioned I had received 300 Dragon Stones and one sentence. Do you remember what that sentence was?”
Both Elders were briefly stunned, then turned to look at him: “Kill you?”
“…”
Young Sect Master Xu looked slightly embarrassed. “That… was to mislead others. He didn’t actually say that…”
He gave a soft sigh before continuing, “What he actually said to me was: A sect like Shoushan Sect shouldn’t fall into decline!”
Hearing this, the two Elders paused, their expressions turning serious.
“It was for that one sentence that I decided to sell him the three-tenths stake!”
Young Sect Master Xu sighed softly, rising slowly to his feet. “The decline of Shoushan Sect had already seemed inevitable. The three of us… powerless to reverse the tide. Countless people in this world have speculated about our sect’s fate, wondering when the Divine Kings would revoke our founding Divine Talisman, perhaps even grant it to someone else. Countless others have offered me advice to reverse our decline. But back then, in Willow Lake, when Second Young Master Fang sought me out and stated those words… he was the first person who told me, with utter sincerity, that Shoushan Sect shouldn’t decline!”
“The world thinks my father and all those elders were fools, that they recklessly challenged the Demon Lord, resulting in our downfall, leaving our sect in such desperate straits. That it requires our generation to sacrifice our lives, pouring all our effort into keeping the sect alive, or seeking its revival…”
“But only Second Young Master Fang believes that it is because of the courage and integrity of our father’s generation that Shoushan Sect especially shouldn’t decline!”
“There is a fundamental difference in perspective!”
As he spoke, his gaze shifted towards a nearby document. On it was written the regulation laid down by Fang Cun. Though it was Fang Cun who had retrieved the Treasure Body Scripture’s Method, and though Fang Cun had announced his conditions in front of all the disciples, who had already accepted them, ultimately, Young Sect Master Xu was the sect leader. Only once he signed and stamped this document would the regulation become official.
“I chose to trust him once and sold him three-tenths of our spiritual veins.”
Young Sect Master Xu smiled faintly. “Why not trust him again… Trust he can truly restore our Shoushan Sect to its former glory?”
As he finished speaking, his Magical Power flowed onto the document, condensing into a misty, spiritual imprint.
The two Elders exchanged a look, contemplation showing in their eyes. Elder Green Pine suddenly spoke, “After Immortal Master Fang Chi’s passing, the world assumed the Fang family of Willow Lake would inevitably decline, that they would eventually be crushed by some great wave. Countless people placed their bets early, choosing to stand against the Fang family… like the Nine Immortals Sect, or that Fan person in the County Mansion…”
“Indeed, it might seem as if the Fang family would not prosper. After all, there was only one Immortal Master Fang Chi…”
Elder Cold Stone chuckled, patting his chest, his gold and silver adornments jingling softly. “But the stakes with the best odds are only for those already doing well. Wretches like us, on the brink of ruin? We shouldn’t hesitate – any wager is better than none at all…”
Elder Green Pine nodded solemnly, looking directly at Young Sect Master Xu. “Do you know why so many Elders left the sect, yet only we two remained?”
Young Sect Master Xu gave a slight start: “Wasn’t it because neither of you actually had another sect to go to?”
Elder Cold Stone and Elder Green Pine both flushed slightly, then declared with resolute dignity: “Of course not! Primarily, it’s because we believe in Shoushan Sect!”
“Indeed! Even without the Treasure Body Method, we believed in the sect! How much more so now?”
“…”
“…”
“I have examined this scroll of the Divine Nether Treasure Body,” Yu Qingli spoke up. His gaze had been vacant for a moment, but he discreetly put the two sets of cultivation techniques away in perfect order. He seemed to have pondered deeply before turning solemnly to Fang Cun, who was reclining in an armchair, rubbing his temples, while the Little Fox gently massaged his shoulders. “The techniques within are not overly difficult to comprehend. I will strive to elevate my Five Qi Treasure Body Refining to the Divine Nether Treasure Body level and dedicate myself wholeheartedly to studying the Divine Nether Scriptures as well. With the Dragon Stones Young Master has bestowed, the progress shouldn’t be too slow…”
“However…”
“Right now on Jade Mirror Peak, after obtaining the complete Divine Nether Treasure Body cultivation method and the Divine Nether Scriptures…”
Yu Qingli’s expression remained impassive, but he added, “Young Master Fang, are you certain… that no one will consider other possibilities?” He paused briefly, then clarified, “After all, a fourth-tier Treasure Body cultivation method is far too precious…”
Fang Cun, reclining in his armchair, rubbed his temples. The little fox behind him continued kneading his shoulders.
The mental exertion from deriving the Divine Nether Treasure Body cultivation method over this period had been immense. He had expended significant mental effort, and the Little Fox, continuously recording and collating, was also thoroughly fatigued. So Fang Cun having her massage his shoulders was truly for her own good as well—to keep her a bit active.
Hearing Yu Qingli’s question, Fang Cun smiled and looked at him. “What makes you say that?”
“I harbor a certain… intuitive suspicion…”
Yu Qingli pondered momentarily, appearing somewhat hesitant, yet he answered frankly, “I have no concrete proof. But I cannot fully shake the feeling. And if I harbor such doubts, it’s plausible others might as well. Such matters… they warrant proactive caution…”
Fang Cun chuckled, looking at Yu Qingli’s face, which inherently suggested someone capable of betrayal. The fact that Yu Qingli voiced this suspicion meant his trust wasn’t misplaced.
“Actually, being cautious or not… matters little.”
Continuing to gently massage his temples, Fang Cun replied slowly, “In my view, certain things needn’t require people’s absolute belief. Because even if you speak the truth, skepticism will inevitably arise. It suffices if they are willing to believe, and if they cannot pinpoint any solid contradictory detail. As for Young Sect Master Xu and those two Elders…” He shifted slightly, prompting the Little Fox, “…gently… The two Elders? Well, they probably will believe it. After all, they frankly seem… less than astute. As for that Young Sect Master Xu…” A knowing smile touched Fang Cun’s lips, “If my assumption holds, by this time, he likely has already grasped something substantial…”
Yu Qingli’s expression sharpened: “Then how do we handle the potential fallout?”
“Easy now!” Fang Cun waved a hand hastily. “Whenever you frown like that, I feel like you’re contemplating silencing someone…”
“…”
Yu Qingli: “The thought… did cross my mind.”
Fang Cun explained with a light laugh, “That’s precisely what I wanted him to grasp. Only once he understands will he be forced to confront just how deep—or empty—the Fang family’s actual reserves are. It compels him to make a psychological choice… to gamble… whether to stake everything on us.”
Yu Qingli pressed, “Young Master is so certain he will choose ‘us’?”
“When I bought into his sect back in the day, I told him one sentence. Can you guess what it was?”
“Young Master, seeing as there are no outsiders present… perhaps you could skip the suspense…”
“Haha, apologies. A lingering habit…” Fang Cun chuckled before continuing, “Actually, I gave him a few sentences back then. I’m not certain which one ultimately swayed him.” He held up one finger: “The first was: A sect like Shoushan Sect shouldn’t just fade away. If you give me a chance… I’ll give this sect a chance.”
Yu Qingli murmured, “Inviting. And the second sentence?”
Fang Cun’s tone turned flat and detached: “If you refuse… then I’ll just kill you…”