Purgatory Sect.
One of the Ten Great Demon Sects, it dominates Red State and holds the power of life and death over thirty million citizens of Red State.
In Red State's nineteen cities, thirteen are completely occupied by the Purgatory Demon Sect, and the appointments of city lords and county masters are held by Sect Elders and Protectors of the sect.
Although the six border cities and surrounding forces were constantly clashing, they were essentially under the control of the Purgatory Sect as well.
At this time, in a luxurious, beautifully carved palace in Chishan City, the capital, a young man dressed in fine clothes and with a fair complexion who looked like a princely heir of a royal palace was speaking to an old man about something.
Lin Xiao.
Vice Sect Master of the Purgatory Sect.
"Elder Gu Jinlai indeed qualifies to exchange for a Nourishing God Pill. Clear rewards and punishments are the founding principles of our Purgatory Sect, Sect Master Lin need not say more," he said.
At this moment, the speaker was Elder Situ Yi, who was in charge of the Punishment Hall.
"Master Situ has misunderstood, as the Vice Sect Master, how could I not understand this principle? I am even more committed to upholding the sect's system than you are," Lin Xiao replied with a slight smile.
"Then I will have the Nourishing God Pill sent over."
"I certainly won't stop you, Master," Lin Xiao said. "However, the Monitoring Hall is still verifying the authenticity of the merits established by Gu Jinlai. To avoid Master Situ being deceived by others, it might be better to wait for the Monitoring Hall to clear things up before dispensing the pill."
"The authenticity of merits? Many have witnessed Elder Gu killing the two Hugging Pill Elders of Yellow Sky Sect; what more is there to verify?" Situ Yi said, looking surprised.
"It's true he killed two Hugging Pill Elders of Yellow Sky Sect, but he did not expand our territory or protect the sect from enemies; it was a personal vendetta," Lin Xiao explained. "His disciple Xie Xiaowan betrayed our sect and joined the Yellow Sky Sect. Later, she invited Yellow Sky Dao Elders to kill him, and he killed the two in self-defense. The nature of the incident is different, and whether it constitutes a merit is debatable."
Situ Yi fell silent.
He knew Lin Xiao was suppressing Gu Jinlai.
But...
Although the Vice Sect Master assisted the Sect Master in handling trivial matters of the sect, he also held significant power, a weight not matched by ordinary elders.
Furthermore, the main responsibility lay with the Monitoring Hall, so he nodded, withdrew the Nourishing God Pill, and said, "Well then, let's wait for the Monitoring Hall to verify the facts before awarding it."
...
Gu Jinlai restored his True Qi and tended to his injuries.
The next day, two people hurriedly arrived at the courtyard where he lived.
One, around thirty years old with a stubble beard and a weary face, appeared to have traveled from afar.
The other, young and handsome with a fair complexion, had quite the appearance of a boy-band member.
"Master."
"We are late, causing you to suffer," the two said.
Gu Jinlai looked at them.
Su Nanxing, Gu Xiangyang.
His other two disciples.
Su Nanxing had been adopted by him from a young age and was a cultivation fanatic; he cared for nothing but cultivating and following his orders, an utterly taciturn man. At thirty-nine, he had reached the pinnacle of the Hugging Pill.
Gu Xiangyang, who showed his talent for cultivation from a young age, was ten years younger than Su Nanxing, yet he had also progressed from Qi Refining to Gang.
The two could be considered his right-hand man and left arm.
"Patriarch, should I fetch more people from our clan? There's strength in numbers! You instructed the family to practice the Heavenly Star Mysterious Fire Array daily. Led by the Family Head, six Gang Condensation, me, and twenty Qi Refining Realm family members, if big brother and Patriarch join the array, even those at the Refining God level can be trapped and killed," Gu Xiangyang said fiercely. "Additionally, our family's Chang Feng Army is well-trained, comprising three hundred elites and eighty fierce warriors, led by forty captains. Equipped and ready, they can easily siege and kill two or three Hugging Pill; we all come out together and overthrow Zhengyi Dao, letting their blood flow like a river."
Gu Jinlai felt comforted by Gu Xiangyang's words.
But he knew it was unrealistic.
"Overthrowing Zhengyi Dao would mean the Gu family's decades of accumulation would be wiped out in an instant, and many of our family members would likely die or be wounded. Lin Xiao would love for us to do just that," Gu Jinlai squinted his eyes.
"But if we do nothing, others might think our Gu family, think you, Patriarch, are easy to bully..."
"No matter, once my Nourishing God Pill arrives and I have recovered my Refining God Cultivation, we'll properly wrangle with them," Gu Jinlai said.
Gu Xiangyang's eyes lit up upon hearing that the Patriarch's cultivation could be restored.
"Your coming to Changjun City this time was indeed an unauthorized absence; lest others seize this to exploit, you should return quickly," Gu Jinlai squinted his eyes. "Su Nanxing will stay; you will step down from your position for now and follow me for the next period. I have tasks for you."
"Whatever Master says, I will do," Gu Xiangyang replied.
Su Nanxing spoke in a grave tone.
Gu Jinlai then turned to Gu Xiangyang, "Have the Family Head discreetly inquire about some upright individuals in Xuanjing City, record them, and once this matter here is resolved, I will make a trip there."
"Yes."
"Su Nanxing, your task is the same, find out about the good folks in Changjun City, proceed discreetly, and do not draw attention."
"Yes."
"Go."
Gu Jinlai waved his hand.
...
In the following time, Gu Jinlai focused on healing his injuries while rigorously training his movement techniques, hoping to reach the entry-level of cultivation, all the while waiting for the Sect to send the Nourishing God Pill.
However, he did not receive the Nourishing God Pill, but instead, Fang Cai and Hong Shan, two Hugging Pill Elders, arrived.
Accompanying them were about a dozen silhouettes.
Among those dozen people, the most conspicuous was an old man.
The old man had the appearance of a timeless sage with a child-like face and the demeanor of an immortal.
Gu Jinlai immediately guessed his identity.
Breaking Sky Sword Zhou Yunyi.
He, like him, was an elder of Refining God for the Purgatory Sect.
However, in comparison to him, Zhou Yunyi had lived until the age of one hundred and twenty-six.
Being older meant more experience, and it also meant that his vitality and strength were declining; it was time for him to consider his future.
"Elder Gu, the Sect has ordered a change, the situation in Changjun City has shifted, and I will take over from now on."
Zhou Yunyi said expressionlessly.
Seeing this elder of Refining God, Gu Jinlai had already guessed something, but he did not expect him to be so direct.
"The situation has changed? What incident occurred in Changjun City that I am not aware of?"
"Heh, there's no need for me to clarify, right? The outside rumors of Elder Gu deviating during cultivation were staged with Zhengyi Dao, but aren't we privy to the truth? With insufficient strength, Elder Gu, can you still hold the situation in Changjun City?"
"It's just an injury, a temporary setback."
"Injured?"
Zhou Yunyi handed over an appointment document: "The order from the Elder Hall, reassigning Elder Gu to oversee Huayin County to recover. Since you are injured, you can recuperate well, and there's no need for you to worry about the affairs of Changjun City."
Huayin County.
A county with a population of less than one hundred thousand.
In Changjun City, no matter the thoughts of his subordinates, he still had three Hugging Pill practitioners, over twenty in the Qi Refining and Gang Condensation stages, and hundreds of Outer Disciples.
Moreover, with the crowded populace of Changjun City, Lin Xiao's methods to deal with him were limited under the watchful eyes of many.
But if he were to go to Huayin County...
"Elder Zhou, are you siding with Sect Master Lin?"
Gu Jinlai narrowed his eyes.
"Sect Master Lin is Sect Master Lin, and I am myself," Zhou Yunyi said. Gu Jinlai looked at the dozen or so people behind Zhou Yunyi.
Disciples, juniors...
They had their sights set on the territory of Changjun City.
So, they struck a deal with Lin Xiao?
"Elder Zhou, this approach seems like kicking someone when they're down."
"Having received the order, please Elder Gu, start your journey soon."
Zhou Yunyi did not reply but spoke formally with the order.
"You and I are both elders. Are you really going to this extent to make me go to Huayin County?"
"Elder? A Black-clothed Elder like me cannot aspire to your level as a Golden Robed Elder."
Zhou Yunyi looked at him, "Sect Master Lin has acknowledged Elder Gu's years of hard work and has pleaded with the Elder Hall to promote Elder Gu to Golden Robed Elder. Once the Elder Hall reviews Elder Gu's achievements and condition, you can rise rapidly. From Black, to Gold, to Red, and even become an Elder in the Elder Council."
He paused in his speech, "But of course, don't fail the review, just becoming a protector would suffice."
Having said that, he suddenly swept his sleeve, "Elder Gu, it's getting late, please pack your belongings."
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(To the first Alliance Hierarch of this book, a longtime friend, thank you for your sustained support.)