Chapter 158: Three Hundred Thousand Merits
Chapter 158: Three Hundred Thousand Merits
“So indeed!”
Hearing this, the hearts of all the surrounding Sect Leaders skipped a beat.
Actually, even before coming to this gathering, the Sect Leaders had already had a premonition. After all, the recent commotion caused by Shoushan Sect was too big to ignore. The Shoushan Sect making a fuss didn’t concern others directly. But if Shoushan Sect declared its rise and started thinking about sharing the Dragon Stones allotted every three years, then it became a matter directly concerning the Five Great Sects. The amount of Dragon Stones is fixed. If one more sect shares, the others get less. Before, when Shoushan Sect was quiet and stayed out of everything, it was fine. But those Dragon Stones now…
“Hmph, Shoushan Sect disciples have been quite active lately, not just eager to earn Merit, it’s practically snatching it. Recently, I heard Shoushan Sect disciples even went to Bamboo County hunting demons, and even had arguments with disciples of my sect…”
On the left, an elderly man with a somewhat gloomy expression spoke, clearly displeased.
Fang Cun glanced at him and recognized him as the Sect Master of Duskblade Sect, Tan Xuancheng.
Their Duskblade Sect ranked fifth among the Six Great Sects of Qingjiang, only slightly stronger than Shoushan Sect. And if Shoushan Sect truly rose up, Duskblade Sect would be the first threatened. So now, seizing this opportunity, he immediately showed his disapproval.
Upon hearing this, Young Sect Master Xu felt displeased and softly refuted: “Senior Tan, that… that matter cannot be said that way. Actually… actually Bamboo County was originally under the protection of our Shoushan Sect. Your Duskblade Sect… might have reached its hand a bit too far previously…”
“Hah!”
The Duskblade Sect Master sneered coldly: “In the past, your Shoushan Sect abandoned the people to their fate. Should my Duskblade Sect then have just stood by and done nothing?”
Young Sect Master Xu ducked his head and didn’t speak further.
Fang Cun also just watched and made no move to intervene.
This sort of dispute was inherently unresolvable, and besides, Second Young Master Fang didn’t lightly engage in quarrels.
“Hah, why argue over such matters?”
Old Scholar Fan chuckled, raising a hand in a placating gesture. “In the past, Shoushan Sect had its justifiable reasons for providing less care to the surrounding villages and towns. Duskblade Sect stepping up out of duty was indeed commendable. And now, Shoushan Sect starting to shoulder its responsibility is also a good thing. As for Merit… ha, in our times, the world is in turmoil, the Heavenly Way is not flourishing; demons, devils, and monsters emerge in endless waves. If one truly wishes to earn Merits, are they afraid there will be nothing to do?”
Hearing this, the hearts of the surrounding Sect Leaders all tightened slightly.
What the Old Scholar said was true. The demonic evils of this world truly appeared wave after wave. Never mind those mountain spirits haunting the wilds, eyeing human paths… even within the cities, among the streets and alleys, sinister ghosts and monsters often bred. They couldn’t be wiped out completely. After exterminating one batch, another would emerge within days. For those wishing to earn Merit, there were indeed plenty of opportunities.
Of course, while his words held truth, only someone as iron-willed as this Old Scholar Fan, who dared to scold the imperial officials for lacking integrity even in front of the Turtle God King, would dare to openly speak phrases like “the world is in turmoil, the Heavenly Way is not flourishing.”
Even Fang Cun could only nod gently then, feeling what he said was very reasonable.
“Hmm, Old Scholar’s words are always to the point and highly reasonable…”
At this moment, the Sect Master of Jiuxian Sect, Yan Yunzi, nodded lightly. “However, hunting demons is one thing, Dragon Stones another. I do understand Sect Master Tan’s concern. Our Qingjiang Prefecture’s Five Great Sects… ah, the Six Great Sects, every three years tally their Merits, receive Dragon Stones, and nurture their Spiritual Veins. It’s become a custom. The current three-year period is nearing its end, and all sects have earned considerable Merit…”
He paused slightly, then continued with a light smile: “Wouldn’t it seem unfair to the other sects if Shoushan Sect was suddenly added at this time? Therefore, we think… perhaps Shoushan Sect should wait until the next cycle…”
Hearing this, all the sects nodded internally, deeply agreeing.
The allocation of the Dragon Stones had long been settled. Adding an extra person now, what were the others to do? Moreover, if Shoushan Sect was truly included, you couldn’t just give them one or two stones; they would have to receive a share. Yet, looking at the current Shoushan Sect – too few capable disciples, pitifully little Merit – even if given a meager half-percent share, the other Five Great Sects would feel unjustly slighted…
It’s akin to us tending a crop, slaving all season; when harvest comes, you wander in pulling a few weeds and declare you also contributed labor, demanding a tenth of the yield… How could the Five Great Sects feel comfortable with that?
“That makes sense…”
“Indeed, it’s not that we oppose Shoushan Sect sharing the Dragon Stones, but within these three years, Shoushan Sect has truly earned too little Merit…”
“If they started from the next three-year cycle, I’d have no objection at all…”
” ”
” ”
While the other Sect Leaders were nodding, Young Sect Master Xu was also nodding along.
Fang Cun shot him a surprised look: “They are planning to kick you out, and you’re nodding?”
Young Sect Master Xu smiled, utterly unambitious: “I never intended to claim a share of their Dragon Stones this time anyway…”
Fang Cun: Speechless
Why does this vaguely resemble an experience from his previous life, attending a meeting with an incompetent manager against a client?
Alright then!
Fang Cun leaned back against his chair armrest and leisurely folded his arms.
Since the Sect Master wasn’t fighting for it, he certainly wouldn’t either. He’d see who could be more laid-back…
…
“Hmph, I knew bringing this up would stir a lot of arguments…”
Seeing the responses of the Sect Leaders, Old Scholar Fan waited a moment, then snorted coldly. The Sect Leaders immediately fell silent.
The Old Scholar looked displeased and said coldly: “However, all of you rest assured. In twelve years serving in this post, when have you ever seen me act unjustly or unfairly? This time I summoned you all here is to discuss with you. I am well aware that although Shoushan Sect has shown improvement, the Merit they have earned still pales in comparison to yours. Therefore, I have long thought to set a threshold for them!”
His aged gaze swept over the assembled faces. “Let it be thus: set a threshold of three hundred thousand Merits for Shoushan Sect. If, before the end of this three-year cycle, Shoushan Sect can earn three hundred thousand Merits, then during this Dragon Stone allocation, they shall be granted a half-percent share. If they fail to reach three hundred thousand, then they shall wait until the following three-year cycle to be considered. How is that?”
“Three hundred thousand?”
For a moment, all the cultivators present were slightly stunned, exchanging confused and questioning glances.
For an individual disciple, three hundred thousand Merits was an astronomical figure. But for an entire sect, three hundred thousand was not an excessively large number. Take Jiuxian Sect, for example; its Merits earned within this three-year cycle had long surpassed a million, even approaching two million. Even Duskblade Sect, with the least Merit currently, already had over five hundred thousand Merits recorded, far exceeding the three hundred thousand quota.
But for the current Shoushan Sect, three hundred thousand was nevertheless a daunting amount.
Especially since less than a few months remained before the three-year cycle’s end. To accumulate three hundred thousand in that timeframe…
“About this…”
While the Sect Leaders considered whether to agree, or secretly calculated if Shoushan Sect even had a remote chance at achieving that figure, Young Sect Master Xu panicked. He hurriedly spoke to Old Scholar Fan: “Esteemed Old Scholar, I am truly grateful you wish to give Shoushan Sect this opportunity. However… now that our sect’s Treasure Body Method has only just been recovered, our disciples require training in cultivation, their strength is still weak. Especially given the urgency of time, attempting to earn three hundred thousand Merits would likely be… too strenuous. It is better to wait for the future instead…”
‘This Sect Master certainly knows his limitations and avoids overreaching…’
Fang Cun noted mentally, giving a slight nod inwardly.
As for him, he didn’t much care either. Currently, when Shoushan Sect disciples earned Merit, he received a share. But Merit earned under direct orders from the County Mansion? Fang Cun harbored doubts whether such Merit would be allocated to him.
Furthermore, offering only a half-percent share of the Dragon Stones in exchange for three hundred thousand Merits? Hah!
“The Young Sect Master Xu is young, but quite the prudent character!”
Old Scholar Fan, however, chuckled softly upon hearing the objection. “But rest easy. Having you amass three hundred thousand Merits isn’t undue hardship devised by me. There is an opportunity laid before you,” he said, shifting his gaze to the other Sect Leaders. “Giving Shoushan Sect this chance serves your interests as well, by sharing your burdens.”
The Sect Leaders were bewildered, but then turned respectfully to Old Scholar Fan: “We beseech the Esteemed Old Scholar to enlighten us!”
Old Scholar Fan sighed softly. “You all know that Qingjiang Prefecture is already the most peaceful and orderly within Yuan Nation, yet a number of demons and monstrous evils remain, a thorn in my side. Now is the time to settle these matters!”
“First,” he stated gravely, “is that fiendish Ghost Official haunting our Qingjiang Prefecture for so many years!”
“Ghost Official?”
Hearing this title, the faces of the leaders drained of color; the atmosphere in the hall became oppressive.
Old Scholar Fan’s expression darkened further. “That villain appeared within our Great Qingjiang City, slaughtering entire clans, destroying lineages, setting up his own twisted court, sentencing lives, forging Ghost Seals! Truly the prefecture’s greatest evil! Yet since I issued the arrest warrant commanding you to capture him years ago, you have achieved nothing but failure! Worse, you’ve lost personnel under his hands, allowing his wicked reputation to grow ever more fearsome, a name to silence children’s cries!”
His rage swelled. He banged the table, smashing the porcelain cup upon it to pieces. “I’ve poured my heart out for the people, desperate to eradicate this scourge, practically begging upon my knees for you to exert more effort! And yet, all this time passed, where is the Ghost Official’s head?!”
Seeing the old scholar’s fury, every leader present wore an expression of embarrassment but uttered not a word.
Old Scholar Fan glowered, his sharp gaze sweeping over each Sect Leader, then he continued coldly: “These are words I have spoken countless times. I will say them once more now! Whether that Ghost Official truly hails from the Underworld as legend claims, or if it’s someone masquerading to undermine our Merits, whoever captures him and places his head upon my table — I shall personally guarantee that person receives a reward of Three Hundred Thousand Merits!”
“Three hundred thousand Merits?”
A collective gasp escaped the leaders. It seemed they harbored many doubts, yet ultimately, none voiced a word.
Old Scholar Fan’s fury gradually subsided. He gestured for the old attendant to clear the shattered porcelain. He snorted coldly, then continued: “Besides that Ghost Official, there is now a great demon lurking in the vicinity of Xiaotaichuan and Crow Mountain. It appears to be a Demon Hound that fled here from Wuhe County. This demon is exceedingly savage! It not only plunders the people as bloody fodder but also rallies other demons to seize mountains and ridges, bringing calamity to the land! Such a fiend — why have you not slain it yet? Are you intending to enshrine it as an idol instead?”
“Demon Hound?”
“A demon this brazen?”
“How recklessly suicidal!”
Hearing this description, the leaders immediately bristled with indignation, shouting in unison: “It must be slain!”