Chapter 964: Chapter 345: Inside the Sect
The Myriad Images Sect, amidst the elimination of the strong and weak, can still maintain vitality, avoiding fighting to the death and mutual slaughter.
For example, someone like Wen Ruanyu, even as a Golden Core True Transmission, is not among the eight main peaks, holding a long-term task from the Foreign Affairs Hall and stationed in White Paper Immortal City year-round.
Meng Yaoyin is also among this group. If not, her Cave Mansion wouldn’t be on the small peak opposite Ning Zhuo.
However, Yang Sanyan is not, as he is one of the main peaks’ members. After all, with excellent innate talent, he was noticed and selected during the Qi Refinement Realm.
The Intelligence Jade Slip also mentioned that the weakest among the eight major peaks is Flowing Cloud Peak. It doesn’t have a Peak Master yet, and the forces occupying the main peak are not significantly large, mainly due to a wide network. To become a Peak Master, there’s an assessment. Passing the assessment allows one to take on the role of Peak Master.
Upon seeing this, Ning Zhuo couldn’t help but wonder: “If Flowing Cloud Peak is the weakest among the eight main peaks, then what is the comparative strength of the other seven?”
This point was not mentioned in the Intelligence Jade Slip.
Ning Zhuo couldn’t help but think: “Will the intelligence jade slip worth two levels higher explain it?”
“Most likely not.” He continued to ponder, answering himself rhetorically.
Ning Zhuo is not an ordinary genius; in his over ten years of enduring, he mostly contemplated on the City Lord’s Mansion.
To deal with future formidable enemies, he often practiced thinking from a different perspective, assuming himself as the City Lord’s Mansion, then analyzing and deducing every action and policy of the City Lord’s Mansion.
The person who knows you best is often your enemy!
Having lived this way for long, Ning Zhuo naturally developed the vision and perspective of a ruler.
If he were the Myriad Images Sect, he would never rank the eight major peaks’ strengths and weaknesses on the intelligence jade slip. That would create unnecessary trouble and internal strife.
“But relative strengths and weaknesses certainly exist.”
“Although the intelligence didn’t state it explicitly, I can deduce and easily obtain it.”
Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sense lingered on a piece of information in the intelligence.
It concerned the important office members of the Sixteen Halls.
The Hall Master of the Foreign Affairs Hall, Xiang Ji, is personnel from the Heavy Array Peak. Chen Xuan from the Internal Affairs Hall is also from Heavy Array Peak.
Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly: “Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, both controlled by Heavy Array Peak, falling within the Sect Leader’s faction, which shows Dong Chen’s control over the Myriad Images Sect is quite high.”
The Household Affairs Hall’s Hall Master Zhao Qian is from Myriad Beast Peak. This hall is primarily responsible for gathering cultivation resources, foundational yet crucial, but it’s a tedious job.
Wang Yan, the Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall, is from Danxia Peak.
The Array Hall and Talisman Making Hall are respectively controlled by Heavy Array Peak and Danxia Peak.
“Among the top three of cultivation’s four arts, they’re all within Heavy Array Peak and Danxia Peak, indicating that the two strongest forces in the Myriad Images Sect should be these two.”
Ning Zhuo looked further and found that Myriad Beast Peak controls the Beast Taming Hall, which aligns professionally.
“Huh? Where’s Purple Thunder Peak?” Ning Zhuo was slightly surprised, making an unexpected discovery.
The important halls within the Sixteen Halls are almost all controlled by Heavy Array Peak, Danxia Peak, and Myriad Beast Peak. The old four peaks, including Purple Thunder Peak, only hold real power in the Medical Skill Hall.
This discovery is significant, immediately drawing Ning Zhuo’s attention!
By logic, the old four peaks were former strong forces within the sect; otherwise, they would have occupied a main peak for years, resisting the impacts from newcomers.
“The new four peaks represent the new elites, while the old four peaks are the veteran forces of Myriad Images Sect. Logically, Purple Thunder Peak shouldn’t just have such little power.”
“It might be that Purple Thunder Peak has some foundation supporting them. Or possibly…”
“Purple Thunder Peak has declined, nearing the critical moment of being driven out of the main peak.”
If it’s the latter possibility, then the problem is considerable.
Ning Zhuo’s thoughts in his Divine Sea raced: “This reflects a changeover between old and new, which will be a massive trend in the sect moving forward!”
“Can I find an opportunity to reap some benefits from this?”
The external environment of Myriad Images Sect is extremely stable; it is the largest super sect in Flying Cloud Country, leaving the second far behind. Across the country, no sect can be its rival.
Once such significant internal upheaval happens within Myriad Images Sect, countless opportunities will inevitably arise.
Ning Zhuo fought his way up from the bottom; he knows the preciousness of such opportunities all too well.
“Perhaps I can seize the chance to elevate my life to a higher level.”
Just as he was contemplating this, a voice from the door interrupted him: “Young Master, the Spirit Food is ready.”
“Good, I’ll be right there,” Ning Zhuo responded.
Holding the jade slip, he was about to tuck it into his Storage Waist Belt when he suddenly thought: “The Intelligence Jade Slip clearly states that Flowing Cloud Peak is the weakest of the eight main peaks. This obviously guides others; if one wants to impact the main peaks, Flowing Cloud Peak will certainly be the first choice. Then, what about Purple Thunder Peak?”
“Could it be that the jade slip was made with some influence from Purple Thunder Peak?”
Four people gathered around the stone table and began eating.
Sun Lingtong, weary and dusty, had been probing the Array and digging tunnels, but only before reaching the mountain’s interior.
Qing Chi was absent-minded, occasionally looking at Ning Zhuo.
The Spirit Chef also looked at Ning Zhuo: “Young Master, does the meal suit your taste?”
His attitude was vastly different from in the Yang Enhancement Institute, decided by Ning Zhuo’s life-saving grace to him.
Ning Zhuo took a bite and immediately praised, then questioned, puzzled: “Spirit Chef, you make ordinary Spirit Food taste delicious. Why create Dark Cuisine?”
The Spirit Chef shook his head: “Dark Cuisine is my pursuit. But following you, I must tailor it to your taste.”
Ning Zhuo said seriously: “Whether it tastes good is really not important. Spirit Chef, you might as well give your all in making Dark Cuisine, which could help me progress faster. Of course, it should not enhance the soul. Instead, support physical cultivation more.”
The Spirit Chef chuckled ruefully: “Young Master Ning, you may not be aware. There are two inconveniences here.”
“First, my Dark Cuisine focuses on ghost attributes, with the best dishes enhancing the soul foundation. In terms of physical cultivation, it’s rather average.”
“Second, Gan Douding, the Hall Master of the Spirit Chef Hall in Myriad Images Sect, is a fervent supporter of the Light Cuisine Faction, advocating for color, aroma, and taste combined, emphasizing the delightful experience of cultivators during meals. She loathes the Dark Cuisine Faction the most.”
“If she finds me making Dark Cuisine within Myriad Images Sect… being expelled from Myriad Images Sect wouldn’t matter much to me. It’s the fear of causing you great trouble.”
Ning Zhuo immediately thought of the Intelligence Jade Slip, which indeed described Gan Douding’s identity and faction.
“I see.” Ning Zhuo nodded, “We’ve just arrived in a treasured place, let’s be prudent and avoid unnecessary enemies.”
While speaking, a cold voice suddenly sounded from the Cave Mansion entrance: “People from Stone Spring Cave Mansion, come out!”
Ning Zhuo and the others exchanged surprised glances.
Ning Zhuo did not move but took out the Token, channeling mana to create an illusion in mid-air.
The illusion revealed three cultivators, led by one at Foundation Establishment Realm, his peak aura fully visible, while the other two attendants were at Qi Refinement.
Ning Zhuo’s voice echoed outside the cave: “Who are you, and what are your intentions?”
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator laughed heartily: “Listen up, this mountain has been chosen by our master. He likes tranquility, all idle people here will be evicted.”
“Before you arrived, we already persuaded over ten newcomers to leave.”
“Ignorance is no crime. Leave now and I’ll give you some Spirit Stone as compensation. If you don’t leave, though our master, a respectable Golden Core Cultivator, wouldn’t bully the weak, we have twelve Foundation Establishment attendants. You can expect to meet us at the Martial Arts Hall!”
Ning Zhuo remained silent.
Qing Chi gritted his teeth, showing dissatisfaction.
The Spirit Chef worriedly looked at Ning Zhuo: “Young Master…”
Sun Lingtong chuckled, bright-eyed, watching Ning Zhuo intently.
Ning Zhuo paused before speaking again: “If you want to give me Spirit Stone, how much do you offer?”
The newcomer sneered: “Ten Mid Grade Spirit Stones for you! Go to the Internal Affairs Hall and get your rent refunded. There’s still time.”
Ning Zhuo laughed loudly: “Thank you very much!”
He agreed immediately.