Chapter 1314: Star Heavenly Dao Sect Splits

These were time-consuming and arduous tasks of immense scale.

Among these, Chen Mobai had considered the matter of the Five Elements Chamber of Commerce for a long time. Among all the holy lands in the Tianhe Realm, the Five Elements Sect's resources were at the bottom. Their current advantages lay in his artifact refining and Qing Nü's alchemy. By using the high quality of their magical artifacts and elixirs as a selling point, they aimed to open up commercial routes for the Five Elements Sect.

However, establishing branch offices in unfamiliar territories was extremely difficult. Even when Qing Nü opened the Danxia Pavilion in Nanzhou, it faced overt and covert suppression from local holy lands. Without a Transcendent God stage cultivator to oversee, they would likely be driven back if they went. Therefore, for these tasks, Chen Mobai set a minimum contribution reward of one million, with a maximum of ten million for excellent performance. Of course, the criteria for evaluating performance were solely in Chen Mobai's hands.

Besides these tasks to expand markets beyond Dongzhou, there were naturally also tasks within Dongzhou. For example, sand control, which no high-level cultivators were previously willing to undertake. After more than two hundred years of governance by the Five Elements Sect, the Boundless Sand Sea had been transformed into another vast forest as large as the Eastern Barren Plateau. However, these areas had weak spiritual energy, and local cultivators could only sustain their practice by relying on the Sky Veil Earth Network Array for spiritual energy transport. Consequently, high-level cultivators of the Five Elements Sect had always dreaded this task. Generally, only those who made mistakes were assigned to sand control.

The reason for persisting with this matter, besides Zhuo Ming's original grand vow, was also due to the Five Elements Sect's lack of sufficient living space for its disciples and commoners. Zhuo Ming had improved many grain seeds, leading to a population explosion among the commoners under the Five Elements Sect and a rise in housing prices. The sand sea region, unlike the desolate cities, had no demonic beasts. Once transformed, it could accommodate a large number of people. This was also the policy direction of the Five Elements Sect in recent years. However, without the participation of high-level cultivators, progress had always been less than ideal.

This time, Chen Mobai directly circled an area on the map of the Boundless Sand Sea. As long as a prefecture's worth of land was reforested and the original sand sea transformed into a habitable area for mortals, it would count as a Tier 4 mission, also worth one million contribution points. Upon seeing this task, the Water Virtue Mountain Lord immediately took on three prefectures without a word. He cultivated water-attribute techniques, and with a little additional study of tree-planting and reforestation knowledge, one person could be equivalent to a thousand Five Elements Sect disciples. In addition, there were tasks such as developing the Profound Sea and Desolate Sea, cultivating unique high-level spirit plants, and so on.

After Chen Mobai intervened, the previously empty screen of Tier 4 missions in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was suddenly filled, overwhelming the Nascent Soul cultivators present, who didn't know which task to choose.

"Why are there so many people in Beiyuan City?" Chen Mobai, who had finished dealing with the aftermath of the Longevity Grand Dao Pill's release, stood in his courtyard atop Beizhou Mountain. Looking at the throng of people below, with tents even set up outside the Immortal City, he asked his disciple beside him with some confusion.

"Master, in half a month, it will be our Five Elements Sect's examination for recruiting a new batch of guest elders. These cultivators have traveled from across the seven domains of Dongzhou, all hoping to join our sect," Jiang Zongheng replied.

"Were there so many people before? And I even see a few Nascent Soul cultivators," Chen Mobai asked, pointing to several cultivators outside the Immortal City, who were seated in mid-air on auspicious cloud artifacts sold by the Five Elements Sect.

"This is the first time our sect has had Nascent Soul cultivators sign up. They are all here for the Longevity Grand Dao Pill. After all, guest elders are also considered members of the Five Elements Sect and can exchange for items from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion." Jiang Zongheng took out a jade slip and began to explain the origins of this year's batch of Nascent Soul cultivators who had come for the examination. "The Nascent Soul cultivators outside the Immortal City are all rogue cultivators. Inside the Immortal City, there are also six sect masters, all of whom own residences and are members of the Dongzhou Immortal Alliance. However, in the face of the Transcendent God Elixir, they have all set aside their dignity, expressing willingness to withdraw from their own sects and serve the Five Elements Sect."

"Master, among those who registered this time is Revered Xinghuo from the Star Heavens Dao Sect," Jiang Zongheng finished reading the jade slip and finally mentioned an unexpected name.

"Xinghuo? Wasn't he the previous Dao Child of the Star Heavens Dao Sect? They'd let him go?" Chen Mobai's face also showed surprise upon hearing this. The prerequisite for joining the Five Elements Sect was to have no other factional entanglements, meaning one had to withdraw from their original sect. Xinghuo, as a genius who emerged during the Star Heavens Dao Sect's peak and was compared to the Dao Children of the holy lands, was theoretically supposed to be their next Sect Master.

"The Star Heavens Dao Sect recently experienced internal strife and has now split into three factions. One faction decided to go overseas to seek refuge with the Star God Palace, another remained in Dongyue, and a third faction, led by Revered Xinghuo and Revered Xingchen, came to Beiyuan City," Jiang Zongheng then relayed another piece of news, which was a major event for Dongzhou but not particularly significant for a Transcendent God.

"Hmph, what a pity," Chen Mobai sighed upon hearing the news. When he first arrived in the Eastern Barren, the Star Heavens Dao Sect was a dominant behemoth in its region, particularly for the Divine Wood Sect. After Chen Mobai unified the Eastern Barren, the only territory not under his direct control was the Star Heavens Dao Sect's ten thousand acres of Dragon-Coiling Spirit Rice. Even the Four Great Holy Lands had to treat the Star Heavens Dao Sect with respect for the sake of the Three Lights Divine Water. During the Big Dipper Assembly, ten thousand sects paid homage, and its grand aura was evident, making it the undisputed foremost sect below the Holy Lands. Yet now, less than a century after Xingji's failed attempt at Transcendent God and subsequent demise, the Star Heavens Dao Sect had already fallen apart.

"Was there any interference from other forces in this matter?" Chen Mobai asked. Back when the Five Elements Sect's Primordial Ancestor passed away, it was due to the interference of Ancestor Jinfeng and Ancestor Baiwu from the Eastern Yi region that the sect split into pieces. The current situation of the Star Heavens Dao Sect was very similar to that of the Five Elements Sect back then.

Jiang Zongheng coughed. "Well, outside, people are speculating that our Five Elements Sect covertly instigated the internal strife in the Star Heavens Dao Sect to seize the Dongyue region."

"Nonsense! Our Five Elements Sect never resorts to such underhanded schemes. Even if we wanted the Dongyue region, we would certainly send troops openly and honorably!" Chen Mobai was furious that something they hadn't done was being maliciously attributed to them out of thin air. But soon, he noticed Jiang Zongheng's somewhat awkward expression, frowned, and asked sternly, "It couldn't really have been our Five Elements Sect, could it?"

"Master, absolutely not. However, before the Star Heavens Dao Sect's internal strife, Revered Xinghuo did ask the Sect Master if, should he one day leave his sect, he could bring his disciples to our sect to make a living." Jiang Zongheng immediately explained the hidden circumstances. E Yun had already guessed at that time that the Star Heavens Dao Sect would follow in the footsteps of the Radiant Heaven and Frozen Heaven Holy Lands, and had given an ambiguous reply. But Xinghuo might have taken it seriously, thinking that being a guest elder in the Five Elements Sect was better than staying in the current Star Heavens Dao Sect. After returning, he no longer painstakingly tried to reconcile the dissenting policies of the various Martial Uncles within the sect, directly igniting the conflict. Subsequently, Xinghuo and Xingchen, along with a group of disciples, came to Beiyuan City. After hearing the news about the Longevity Grand Dao Pill's release, Xinghuo immediately handed all his disciples over to Xingchen and dedicated himself entirely to preparing for the examination, intending to join the Five Elements Sect.

"If Xinghuo is admitted, won't our Five Elements Sect be definitively blamed for splitting the Star Heavens Dao Sect?" Chen Mobai thought of this after listening. He was a person of such noble reputation and would not allow himself to be stained by such a blemish.

"Your disciple understands," Jiang Zongheng nodded, preparing to discuss with E Yun how to set questions to eliminate Xinghuo after he left.

"Hmm, however, the Dongyue region is surrounded by desolate cities and is a crucial strategic point for the Seven Domains of the Eastern Land. Now that the Star Heavens Dao Sect has split, there aren't enough people to guard it. This matter still needs to be handled properly." But Chen Mobai then said this, leaving Jiang Zongheng completely bewildered, unsure of what to do.

"If the Five Elements Sect sends troops to guard Dongyue, wouldn't that give others even more reason to criticize us, and we'd be jumping out to take the blame?"

"Here's what you do: go find Xinghuo privately and tell him these words. If he's insightful, he'll know what to do himself." Chen Mobai spoke with feigned profoundness. Some matters, as a venerable sage, he found it difficult to state directly. Moreover, if he issued a clear instruction, it would create another direct line of command, so it was best to let those below him figure it out themselves.

Jiang Zongheng pondered for a moment, vaguely guessing Chen Mobai's meaning, and nodded with a pleased expression. "Yes, Master."

Afterward, Jiang Zongheng first sought out E Yun and told him about the matter. The two intelligent individuals quickly grasped Chen Mobai's intentions after a brief analysis. "The Ancestor still wants the Dongyue territory, but he doesn't want to tarnish his reputation by actively sending troops to occupy it. So, he wants Xinghuo to do it."

"Xinghuo was the previous Dao Child of the Star Heavens Dao Sect, so he can legitimately return and claim a territory in Dongyue. However, this would definitely lead to conflict with the remaining Star Heavens Dao Sect. But if we support him, he might be able to set things right, not just establish a foothold, but even re-annex the Star Heavens Dao Sect. And if, after occupying Dongyue, he voluntarily leads his sect to pledge allegiance to our Five Elements Sect, Ancestor Chen's reputation will not be affected at all; in fact, it will only rise. Let Xinghuo say that he admires Ancestor Chen's venerable name, and for that reason, his entire sect submits, believing that under the Ancestor's rule, Dongyue can usher in an era of immortal prosperity." As expected of a Sect Master taught by Chen Mobai, E Yun precisely analyzed the latter's thoughts in just a few words.

"Would Xinghuo be willing?" Jiang Zongheng felt somewhat puzzled after hearing this. If it were him, and he could occupy all of Dongyue, he would definitely aim to restore the Star Heavens Dao Sect's former glory, become a revitalizing master, and establish himself as an ancestor, rather than coming to the Five Elements Sect to be like a subordinate.

"The Star Heavens Dao Sect cannot offer him the hope of Transcendent God, but our Five Elements Sect can!" E Yun said with a proud expression. "Why have so many Nascent Soul cultivators come for this ordinary guest elder examination of the Five Elements Sect? Isn't it all because of the Longevity Grand Dao Pill! This is even with the news that the Five Elements Sect can exchange for Transcendent God Elixirs being deliberately suppressed; otherwise, even more Nascent Soul cultivators would have come. What if Xinghuo were to sit in Xingji's former position? The Star Heavens Dao Sect no longer has the leverage to negotiate with the holy lands. He certainly can't rely on the Star God Palace in Beizhou to provide Transcendent God resources."

"But if our sect provides support, wouldn't outsiders think that our sect split the Star Heavens Dao Sect?" Jiang Zongheng raised another point: Chen Mobai did not want his reputation to be harmed, and as his disciples, they also had to consider this.

"Overtly, we definitely won't side with Xinghuo. In fact, from the perspective of a major sect, we'll even call for the reconciliation of the split factions of the Star Heavens Dao Sect. But for private entities trading with Xinghuo and providing resources, we can't control that." After conversing with E Yun, Jiang Zongheng's face was filled with admiration. Although he had previously established a prosperous dynasty in the mortal realm, as a cultivator, he had largely relied on brute force. When it came to situations requiring subtle maneuvering, controlling the overall situation, and considering all aspects, he truly couldn't compare to someone like E Yun, a sect leader who had grown up amidst the chaos of the Eastern Barren.

"Thank you for your guidance, Sect Master. I'll go arrange this immediately." Jiang Zongheng cultivated the Celestial Emperor Record and had inherited Chen Mobai's Crown of Heaven and Earth and All Living Beings. Such matters of expanding territory were precisely the best opportunities for him to advance his cultivation.

"Junior Brother, remember, we must not give Xinghuo's side any pretexts. Don't speak too plainly." E Yun gave one final reminder, to prevent Jiang Zongheng from leaving any handles for Xinghuo's side in his eagerness to get things done.

Jiang Zongheng nodded solemnly.

Three months later, the results of the Five Elements Sect's guest elder examination were announced, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others. Xinghuo, who had been brimming with confidence, looked incredulous upon seeing that he had failed.

That night, Xinghuo pulled Xingchen along, and the two Nascent Soul cultivators drowned their sorrows in drink at the Sky Feast Restaurant. Unexpectedly, Jiang Zongheng, the disciple of the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Barren, was in the next room. Hearing that they were there, he specifically came over to offer a toast. After a period of conversation, he finally left them with a remark: "Fellow Daoist, coming to our Five Elements Sect might be underutilizing your talents. Moreover, our sect doesn't lack Nascent Soul artifact refiners like you. If you were to take on a different identity, you might, like your esteemed sect's Venerable Xingji, have a chance at reaching the Transcendent God stage in the future."