Chapter 329: Then the Immortal Business Can Be Achieved, and Nine Nether Can Prosper

"The foundation of the Heavenly Court Sect is truly awe-inspiring!" Having confirmed that the other party was indeed the ancient Heavenly Court Sect, Shi Huagu cast aside his probing demeanor, preparing to discuss the finer details of their cooperation.

He was certain that with the aid of the Heavenly Court Sect, the Nine Serenities Sect would ascend to unprecedented heights of power.

"I must confess, though I speak of these matters in such vivid detail, it is only because my master recounted them to me. When these events unfolded, I had not yet drawn my first breath."

Though Lu Yang spoke with feigned humility, the unyielding gleam of confidence upon his visage remained utterly irrepressible.

Li Haoran and Qin Yanyan maintained a frigid indifference, uttering not a single word, resembling two ruthless, cold-blooded assassins.

Though the father and daughter possessed a fair share of acting talent and had practiced relentlessly before their departure, they felt that under such circumstances, the wisest recourse was to remain silent and play the part of aloof experts.

The Fifth Elder mused that Lu Yang truly deserved his title as the top disciple of their generation; when the nine disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect were of Lu Yang's age, none could have spun such a flawless, ironclad web of fabrication.

Doubts lingered within Meng Jingzhou's mind; his knowledge of ancient legends was sparse, leaving him uncertain of the veracity of Lu Yang's words, yet he harbored a persistent intuition that while Lu Yang spoke the truth, it was not the absolute truth.

Huo Huashen felt as though he were completely illiterate, utterly oblivious to the contents of the conversation between Lu Yang and Zhou Shan, but it mattered little; he had come merely to provide an intimidating presence, and needed no understanding of the matter so long as he maintained his facade of a cold, powerful master.

"Though Fellow Daoist Lu has consistently addressed me as the Hierarch, I actually hold the position of Vice Hierarch within the Nine Serenities Sect. For this journey, I am vested with the full authority of our Hierarch to decisively conclude all matters regarding our cooperation with your noble sect."

"Before my departure, the Hierarch entrusted me with two questions to present to your esteemed sect."

"I shall holding nothing back in my reply," Lu Yang answered.

Emulating the grave cadence of his Hierarch, Shi Huagu spoke, "The Realm of Nine Serenities has been obscured by dust, and the righteous path blindly disregards the truth, refusing to acknowledge its existence. We sought only to prove its reality by sending the slain to its depths, yet those hypocrites branded us as a demonic cult. It is utterly detestable!"

"In the ancient era, the Nine Serenities shared equal renown with the Heavenly Court, basking in matchless glory. To see it insulted and decayed to such a wretched state today fills one's heart with profound grief."

"The foundation of our present Nine Serenities Sect is a mere shadow of its ancient predecessor. To revive its grandeur seems an insurmountable task, and with the annihilation of the Immortal Sect, the four great demonic sects have dwindled to three, rendering our plight even more precarious."

"Yet despite this, we believe the Nine Serenities exist, and that reincarnation is real. Our sect desires to reclaim that ancient majesty and manifest the Nine Serenities before the world once more as it was of old. I wonder if your noble sect possesses a remedy for this?"

Lu Yang fell into silent contemplation for a brief moment before speaking, "The Central Continent is a prize over which all must contend. Today, it is occupied by the Great Xia Dynasty, its rule tightly enforced by the Five Great Immortal Sects. The members of my Heavenly Court Sect have not fully awakened; of the Nine Great Protectors, only five have stirred. Even if you and I were to strike together, we would likely succumb to the combined might of the Five Great Immortal Sects and the Great Xia Dynasty."

"Thus, an outright assault is absolutely out of the question."

"I wonder if Vice Hierarch Shi has ever studied the rise of the Great Xia Dynasty? Upon my awakening, desiring to comprehend the events of these past three hundred thousand years, I dedicated myself to the study of history."

"During the twilight of the Great Yu Dynasty, chaos engulfed the realm and heroes rose in tandem, with countless warlords seizing entire prefectures and counties. The ancestors of the Xia Emperor and the Meng clan were by no means prominent back then. How, then, did they overcome the strong from a position of weakness, emerging from the fray to become the sole duelists for the imperial throne?"

"It was precisely because they commanded the absolute advantages of both the 'opportune time' and the 'harmony of the people'."

"What is the opportune time? When the Great Yu Dynasty lost its grip on governance and chaos sparked endless conflict, that was the opportune time!"

"And what is the harmony of the people? Individual might coupled with the devotion of the populace, that is the harmony of the people!"

"Contrast that with the present: the Great Xia Dynasty is in its absolute prime, more potent than ever before, showing not a single trace of exhaustion."

"Furthermore, the Great Xia governs with wisdom, retaining the hearts of the people, with the lapdogs of the Five Great Immortal Sects patrolling the realm on their behalf. I even suspect that immortals watch over the Great Xia!"

"Possessing neither the opportune time nor the harmony of the people, exposing ourselves rashly would be the worst possible choice."

Shi Huagu spoke with bitter indignation, "Must my Nine Serenities Sect truly never see the light of day?"

Lu Yang replied at a measured, unhurried pace, "Not necessarily. It is an immutable law of history that prosperity must eventually decline. Though the Great Xia Dynasty appears as radiant as the midday sun, its position is actually as precarious as a stack of eggs."

"A grand era is fast approaching, and new immortals will be born from its crucible. The Demon Realm and the Eastern Sea glare like tigers at the Great Xia, while the sleeping powerhouses of the Great Qian and Great Yu eras are gradually awakening. The opportunity for immortality is nigh, and the chaotic twilight of the Great Yu may well repeat itself."

"When that day comes, the Great Xia Dynasty's advantage of the opportune time will vanish into thin air!"

"Therefore, before the great chaos descends, we must maintain a low profile and refrain from blindly proclaiming the Nine Serenities. To do otherwise will only court needless disaster; the Immortal Sect stands as a grim testament to this!"

"As for the harmony of the people, given the strength of the Nine Serenities Sect, I believe that even with your hidden trump cards, it would be difficult to claim an advantage in the struggle of this grand era."

"The powerful cultivators within your sect are far too few. Your current strategy must be to cultivate in deep seclusion, increasing the number of your Integration Stage and even Tribulation Transgression Stage experts!"

"During this period, the Nine Serenities Sect should forge external alliances with the Demon Realm and the Eastern Sea, while internally aligning with the Heartless Sect and the Radiant Sun Sect."

"When the grand conflict arrives, our two sects shall strike in unison. Thus shall the immortal enterprise be achieved, and the Nine Serenities shall flourish once more."

Shi Huagu's spirit soared as he listened to Lu Yang's discourse, visualizing a future of boundless brilliance.

They had been far too impatient before, rushing to construct Fengdu and desperate to prove the existence of the Nine Serenities; hearing Lu Yang's words now, he realized their past endeavors had been an egregious blunder!

Present forbearance was for the sake of future growth. How laughable that I, having lived for so long, failed to grasp such simple wisdom?

This was the disparity in vision; the Heavenly Court Sect had ruled the ancients, possessing an exhaustive knowledge of past and present, planning without a single omission. Their adversaries were the four ancient immortals like Ying Tian who had endured through endless epochs, whereas his Nine Serenities Sect was simply not on the same level of existence.

In his excitement, Shi Huagu did not forget the final mandate entrusted to him by his leader: "The Hierarch has one more question he wishes to pose to your noble sect."

"Pray speak," Lu Yang replied.

"The Hierarch inquires if your noble sect has any counsel regarding the economic development of the Nine Serenities Sect?"

Shi Huagu did not comprehend why his leader would ask this; he believed the sect's finances were thriving. When Hierarch Qin held sway, they could not even distribute stipends on time, yet under the new Hierarch, salaries were paid punctually and funds were even allocated for the construction of Fengdu.

A knowing smile curled the corner of Lu Yang's lips. "It appears your sect's Hierarch is a man of remarkable vision."

"How so?"

"Just moments ago, I mentioned that the most crucial task for your sect is to cultivate in deep seclusion. And what does secluded cultivation require? It requires a vast mountain of spirit stones!"

"Therefore, before embarking on cultivation, you must amass wealth!"

A sudden realization dawned upon Shi Huagu, followed by a twinge of shame; he had not expected this outsider to understand his own Hierarch better than he did.

"Then how are we to earn these spirit stones?"

Lu Yang extended a forefinger, pointing toward the ceiling, and smiled. "How does Vice Hierarch Shi find the business of this barbecue establishment?"

Shi Huagu recalled the long queue stretching outside the door. "Naturally, it is exceptionally prosperous."

"What if I were to tell you that such barbecue establishments could be opened throughout every corner of the Great Xia Dynasty?"

"What?!"