Chapter 257: They Played the Villian and Spoke First

Gradually, more and more Qi Refiners gathered around the little tower.

Many, originally sent by their masters or elders to investigate, found themselves captivated by Second Young Master Fang’s words once they arrived. They couldn’t tear themselves away, listening with growing fascination. Others, having dispatched their own disciples to scout, grew impatient and changed their appearance to ascend the tower. Upon listening, they too became entranced.

Some had arrived scornful, but upon close listening, surprisingly found his words held reason.

Second Young Master Fang was only in the Condensed Radiance Realm. He was lecturing not through amplified Cultivation Power, but simply within this small tower. Naturally, his voice couldn’t reach every corner of Great Qingjiang City, yet strangely, the entire city seemed to have quieted at that moment.

It felt as if the only sound in the whole city was Second Young Master Fang’s lecture.

……

“Everything is transient, only the Heart is true, only the Will exists!”

“Therefore, beyond reading scriptures, receiving transmissions, breathing exercises, and consuming pills, there is another act pivotal to cultivation: Deeds! Born under Heaven and Earth, we all harbor immense spirit within our chests. Yet, tumbling into the world of red dust, stained by the Three Poisons and Seven Afflictions, this erodes our will. Our Heart decays, and cultivation dwindles. The principles of the sages are not complex. We grasp countless truths, so why does progress seem impossible?”

“No other reason! It’s merely knowing without depth, understanding superficially! The root lies solely in two words: Knowing and Doing! Understand the Heart, perceive the direction of the Will. Know the principle and act upon it. Only then can the Heart of the Way find ease!”

“When the Heart of the Way is at ease, one may perceive Heaven and Earth’s true meaning, grasp the Essence of one’s origin, and thus achieve progression in cultivation!”

Inside the tower, Second Young Master Fang had reached the end. He smiled at the audience, who had filled the tower unnoticed. “So-called cultivation isn’t that complex. Everyone possesses Innate Qi. Everyone can cultivate. Natural talent isn’t fixed. If one treads the true path of the Heart, breaking through the hindering dust of the world, the refined will becomes like a spirit, and cultivation proceeds with unstoppable force…”

“This is the truth of the Heart Sutra I grasped. Nurture the spirit, and why worry about cultivation obstacles?”

Some listeners became immensely excited.

Suddenly, a timid voice stammered, “Then… then even we can cultivate?”

Everyone instinctively turned. The speaker turned out to be a boy carrying a large teapot, refilling cups – a mere servant boy from the tower. Hearing Second Young Master Fang’s lecture, he had listened intently, his face showing confusion and bewilderment.

Feeling everyone’s eyes, he became terrified, knees buckling as if about to kneel.

“Of course you can!”

Second Young Master Fang smiled at him. “There is divinity in every human Heart. It depends on how you draw it forth…”

“I…”

The servant boy never imagined Second Young Master Fang would answer him, let alone affirm his question.

He froze, dumbfounded on the spot.

“Second Young Master Fang’s teachings on the Three Poisons and Seven Afflictions are deeply admired by Lu Xiao. Yet… I have some confusion,”

At that moment, someone else spoke softly. The crowd turned, startled.

Standing there was Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao. No one knew when he had arrived or how much he had heard.

He bowed slightly. “Second Young Master Fang, what you expounded relates to breaking mental obstacles and achieving clarity and directness of Heart and Will. Having studied ancient texts, I recall examples of ancient cultivators retreating to wilderness to avoid worldly distractions. This somewhat echoes your teaching. However, while the ancients could hide, we are all immersed in this red dust. Mundane affairs are endless…”

“If we are immortals within the red dust, how can we possibly attain a Heart of the Way at ease?”

Second Young Master Fang looked at him and smiled. “Retreating to mountains and forests, avoiding worldly matters, only cultivates a tranquil Heart. It benefits neither Heaven and Earth nor the common people, yielding little great Merit. Conversely, by rolling in the red dust, witnessing human nature, challenging mighty trends, using the Three Poisons to temper our Hearts and transforming the Seven Afflictions into Will, we can see obstacles and break them, thereby forging an unwavering Heart of the Way. Young Lu Xiao…”

He sighed softly, looking intently at Lu Xiao. “Only in the churning red dust can one forge a truly benevolent Heart.”

“A benevolent Heart forged in the boiling red dust?”

Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao pondered deeply before murmuring, “Given the present situation, what have you forged, Second Young Master Fang?”

“Or,”

He looked up. “How do you forge it?”

Second Young Master Fang met Lu Xiao’s eyes. Their gazes locked in silent confrontation.

After a long while, Second Young Master Fang suddenly laughed. “Let me forge it for you to see!”

……

Meanwhile, Old Master Fan’s group, arriving at Great Qingjiang City only half a day after Fang Cun, had already met the Qi Refiners of the Seven Clans. Mere glances exchanged conveyed their mutual concerns, their expressions stern.

Old Master Fan held a scroll.

It was the result Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao had compiled after scouring the Ghost Official dossiers within Lingwu Sect.

The Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners brought information on Dragon Stones and the latest rumors.

Old Master Fan threw the scroll towards the Seven Clans representatives. His expression icy, he said coldly, “Who could have imagined the Ghost Official truly arose from Shoushan Sect? That small, broken-down sect! Only considering the contributions their ancestors made to Qingjiang did I preserve their foundation talisman. Yet, how could this wretched crows’ nest hide such ambition? Did they truly believe my preference for life meant I forgot how to kill?”

“Those wild dogs ambushed our Seven Clans’ members…”

The Qi Refiners of the Seven Clans also radiated ferocity. “Old Master Fan, how should this be handled?”

Old Master Fan narrowed his eyes, looking towards the distant Xi Yun Tower. “I had barely arrived when I heard the Fang family’s second son was lecturing? Hmph! His elder brother, Fang Chi, though arrogant, disrespectful of elders, and ungrateful, at least understood basic shades of good and evil. But this Fang whelp colludes with the Ghost Official… utterly lacking any sense of propriety or limits…”

“Very well. We’ll see his sincerity…” He glanced at the Seven Clans. “Should he fail to deliver the Dragon Stones…”

Exchanging looks among themselves, a white-haired elder from the Seven Clans stepped forward. “It should suffice for us, regardless.”

“However,” he continued, “since Shoushan Sect dares commit such audacious deeds, please champion us, Old Master Fan! Whether the Ghost Official is surnamed Xu, hiding in the Rear Mountain feigning madness, or some residual threat secretly nurtured by the sect… their connection to the Ghost Official is undeniable! Such a sect, teeming with filth and harboring ill intentions… must it truly be preserved?”

“That Second Young Master Fang bought thirty percent of Shoushan Sect’s Spiritual Veins for three hundred Dragon Stones. Our Seven Clans…”

Old Master Fan listened for a long time, then merely smiled faintly.

……

“Old Master Fan and Divine Eye Young Master have arrived. Seems the Ghost Official matter has a verdict…”

Elsewhere, the Sect Leaders of Yun Huan Sect, Leshui Sect, Lingwu Sect, and the somewhat awkward-feeling Duskblade Sect, had also arrived together. They sighed: “Before the Immortal Palace unified the nine realms, our Daoist traditions held authority. But with the Immortal Palace came the Divine Palace above, the County Mansion in the middle, and the Academy below. Their rise weakens us, while clan powers deepen. Our sects seem mere tools now…”

The Sect Leader of Leshui Sect sighed. “I harbored some hope we might challenge them… but now…”

The Sect Leader of Duskblade Sect looked around cautiously and whispered, “The Seven Clans have progressively infiltrated all six sects…”

They exchanged glances, their expressions heavy.

Just then, an enraged bellow shattered the air.

“I curse your ancestors!”

……

The roar came from the west, incredibly loud, amplified by Cultivation Power, instantly heard everywhere.

Startled by the swearing, countless heads snapped towards the sound. Over Great Qingjiang City’s western sky, a group of Qi Refiners soared on clouds. On them stood two dignified old men radiating righteousness: one gaunt, the other stout. Between them stood a pale-faced young nobleman in a rumpled gown.

“Woe! Is Heaven so unjust?”

The gaunt Elder was Shoushan Sect’s Elder Green Pine, his face etched with grief and fury. “You! Centuries-old clans! Honoring Imperial mandate from above, yet living off commoner tribute below! Yet you pervert truth and falsehood, sow chaos into creation! Do you not fear Heavenly Retribution?”

His despairing cry instantly drew countless shocked, questioning looks.

“And damn this injustice!”

Beside him, Elder Cold Stone also roared. “You decrepit fossils of the Seven Clans! You’ve feasted on privileges! Claiming Immortal Palace’s authority! Feeding off the offerings of common folk! Yet how dare you commit such vile deeds? Colluding with Demons? Openly killing witnesses? Scumbags! Fear you no retribution?”

“What?!”

The sudden appearance and furious accusations of Shoushan Sect’s two Elders threw Great Qingjiang City into chaos.

None expected this audacity.

Whether from the Six Sects, the Seven Clans, or the rogue Qi Refiners, everyone was stunned.

“How utterly brazen…”

Only after a full beat of shock did Old Master Fan and the others react.

Having just secured evidence proving the Ghost Official’s undeniable link to Shoushan Sect, they were contemplating how to respond and what limits to set. They never anticipated Shoushan Sect would show up first…

And not just show up – publicly hurl vicious accusations? They played the villain and spoke first?

At this critical juncture, Old Master Fan felt towering rage. He strode forward, roaring: “YOU! SILENCE!”

……

His furious command instantly silenced the whole city.

No one dared make a sound when Old Master Fan spoke.

In all Qingjiang, none dared disrespect Old Master Fan.

Even the schemers within the Divine Palace maintained a veneer of absolute reverence towards him.

Yet, before Old Master Fan could advance further and denounce Shoushan Sect’s two elders as raving fools, the gaunt Elder Green Pine suddenly turned his furious, grief-stricken gaze upon him. His voice trembled with sorrow: “Old Master Fan! Hold your tongue! You, the people’s clear Heaven! Living benevolent one! Yet you see profit and forget righteousness! Your Conscience lost! How can your Heart be at ease?!”

Elder Cold Stone jumped, pointing a finger, his shout piercing: “You! Are utterly shameless!”