"Then what are the practitioners of our time called?"
True Lord Tianya slowly replied:
“Integrate what you know into what you do, and stop drifting with the mirror and drifting with the crowd.
Rather, we should establish the root of faith in our hearts, use this faith to witness this life, and use this life to witness this faith.
This is self-cultivation, mind-cultivation, and character-cultivation, which are collectively called practice.”
Zhang Ke murmured to himself: "This is how practitioners come to be!"
True Lord Tianya smiled and said:
“What does the name of your way, ‘self-denial’, mean?
Self-denial and return to propriety will bring justice to the world!
People must have a self-interest before they can restrain themselves, and only by restraining themselves can they succeed.
Restraint and restraint are a requirement for oneself. Only by being able to restrain yourself can you achieve success!"
Zhang Ke's heart moved, and he felt that there was something in Tianya Zhenjun's words.
Moreover, as a Taoist disciple, but I practice myself from a Confucian point of view, I always feel that something is wrong.
True Lord Tianya saw his thoughts and enlightened:
“We need to take a long-term view and not be narrowly limited to sectarian disputes.
Different paths lead to the same destination, which is the embodiment of "Tao". Don't let the door-to-door view block your mind.
If the founder Danxiazi had been stubborn about the sect, he would not have invited talented people to visit him, and the sect would not be what it is today."
Zhang Kedun felt that his mind was broadened and he bowed down to thank his ancestor for his guidance.
After pondering for a moment, he said:
"Yesterday I heard Master say that forty years ago, the Eastern Region Sect had a meeting to make decisions..."
Zhang Ke reported his conjectures to everyone one by one, hoping that the sect would take them seriously.
Tianya Zhenjun waited for Zhang Ke to finish speaking and couldn't help stroking his beard and laughing heartily.
"Hahaha--!"
He was really happy that Zhang Ke could speak so frankly, and it was obvious that he had completely integrated into the sect.
He opened his mouth and said with a smile:
"Aren't you going to establish a branch? If so, I'm afraid the plan will be cancelled?"
Zhang Ke said resolutely:
"The disciples who want to establish a branch are not doing it for their own benefit, they just hope to strengthen the sect.
But if the sect is in trouble, how can we survive alone!"
True Lord Tianya glanced at the other people, and the four of them looked at each other and smiled.
True Lord Lieyan said:
"The meaning behind your words is what Ming Xiao also said."
True Lord Xinghe smiled gently:
“Don’t look down on other people in the world.
It was Zhenjun Xuan Ming, the leader of the fourth-grade sect "Hehuan Sect", who initially proposed expanding the number of sects admitted to the first rank.
Since three thousand years, Zhenjun Xuanmin has made great efforts to integrate the sect.
It took hundreds of years to transform a sect that was despised by everyone into a sect recognized by the spiritual world.
Although she is a woman, her ambition is far greater than that of a man."
Zhenjun Jiuren interjected:
"For three thousand years, the Hehuan Sect has compiled a large number of cultivation resources through the method of dual cultivation.
And with the help of its own advantages, it has established good relationships with most of the sects in the Eastern Region."
Zhang Ke said "Oh" and looked at Zhenjun Jiuren with an incomprehensible expression.
Zhenjun Jiuren blushed and felt as if he had missed something.
True Lord Xinghe said:
"The proposal made by Zhenjun Xuanmin forty years ago was actually just a test.
Her original intention was to push the 'Hehuan Sect' into the rank of high-ranking sects.
It's just that maybe she didn't expect that thousands of years of accumulated relationships would have no effect at the critical moment.
This resolution was resisted by almost all sects.
Because of this, her ambition was clearly seen."
How can those who have vested interests give up their own interests? They will naturally protect them instinctively and reject all interference.
Everyone can see this clearly.
Zhang Ke noticed another meaning in it.
"When the nine-grade sect system was first established, there were nine high-grade sects, thirty-six middle-grade sects, and one hundred and eight low-grade sects. This was a fixed number.
The 'Hehuan Cult' covets the position of the top sect, but does not want to offend too much, so it proposed this resolution.
If the overall size of the sect increases, the number of high-grade sects may also increase.
Is this what she meant?"
Lord Lieyan smiled and nodded, agreeing with him.
"Based on this, the Hehuan Sect has probably reached the minimum requirements of three Dao Lords and thirty True Lords of a high-grade sect, or even more."
Zhang Ke fell into deep thought. He had some issues with Shenxiu Zhenren, a true disciple of the Hehuan Cult.
To this day, I still hold the IOU for one million gold talismans in my hand.
Will this cause the sect to attract powerful enemies?
But on second thought, he rejected this idea. How could a mere real person affect the sect's decision-making?
Seeing Zhang Ke meditating, Tianya Zhenjun waited for a moment and said:
"Based on the crisis caused by the possible return of immortal cultivators, the Azure Realm has been recuperating for thousands of years.
And because it did not continue to destroy the spiritual power of heaven and earth, the overall strength of the spiritual world has improved extremely significantly.
Taking our sect as an example, we now have ten true kings, more than two hundred true kings, and no less than three thousand innate disciples.
As for other sects in the cultivation world, their strength is also growing rapidly.
In the same way, there are advantages and disadvantages.
The more cultivators there are, the higher the demand for resources.
But now all the sects are trapped in one place, unable to grow and develop.
The Hehuan Sect wants to muddy the waters in the world of spiritual practice, which is actually in the interests of most sects.
However, the timing of her statement was wrong. At that time, the 'Taode Sect' was the first to object, and other sects had no choice but to second the proposal.
If this suggestion were made at this moment, it might be passed."
Then, he looked at Zhang Ke and said:
"Your idea of establishing a branch is an excellent suggestion. Mingxiao has sent people to the surrounding sea areas to find suitable footholds.
Once the location is determined, we can integrate the sect’s strength and set off at any time.”
Zhang Ke hesitated for a moment and asked:
"Then what if there are really changes after the sect's promotion this time, wouldn't spreading the strength weaken yourself?"
True Lord Tianya sighed:
"There is nothing we can do about this. If we don't establish a branch, the sect will be in trouble.
Two thousand years later, I'm afraid there won't be much development.
If there is any disharmony at that time, the sect will be overthrown in a matter of seconds.
It is a good idea to establish branches. If there is an opportunity, we should branch out into more branches.
In this way, when disaster strikes, there may still be some fire left to carry on.
As for possible turmoil, you don’t need to worry too much about it.
Even if there is a slight trouble, the remaining manpower of the sect is enough to deal with it.
I have discussed with Xinghe and others that if you establish a branch, Jiu Ren will go with you, and other true kings cannot leave lightly.
Master Jindan promises you one hundred, the Xiantian disciples promise you five hundred, and if there are any outer disciples who are willing to follow, they will all be given to you.
In addition, the sect will use 30% of all resources to develop branches.
See what other demands are put forward together."
Zhang Ke frowned a little and asked:
"I wonder if the master can be allowed to..."
True Lord Xinghe directly interrupted Zhang Ke’s words and interjected:
"This time I go out to establish a branch, everything is your priority. If Yue Gui goes there, it will weaken your prestige.
Others such as Feilei, Chongxiao and others have been promoted for a short period of time and need to stabilize, so they cannot go with you for the time being.
Of course, if you encounter difficulties, the sect will do its best to help."
True Lord Xinghe also has good intentions, and it is only appropriate for him to say this.
This trip to establish a branch was of great significance. They were not worried about Zhang Ke's ability.
But if True Monarch Yuegui goes with him, if something happens to the two of them and they have disagreements.
I'm afraid it will be difficult for Zhang Ke to stick to his own opinion. As time goes by, there may be a rift between master and disciple.
Zhang Ke also understood the good intentions of True Lord Xinghe, and after thinking about it, he agreed.
But he also made a request.
"If someone from the sect is promoted to the rank of Yuan Shen during this year, he must join the branch to take charge."
True Lord Tianya readily agreed, he did not think that anyone within the sect would be able to break through to Yuanshen in the near future.
"Yes! Yes! However, Ming Xiao is not included in it."
Zhang Ke's heart moved, it seemed that the Patriarch was ready to hand over the 'Zhi Lan Xing' to the Master.
Suddenly, he remembered something again and asked hurriedly:
"Ancestor! What are the rules for sect promotion?"
True Lord Tianya replied:
"You don't need to ask me to tell you this.
The original method of overcoming challenges from below has been cancelled. This is also to preserve the vitality of the spiritual world from internal consumption.
The rule that was rewritten forty years ago was 'annexation'."
Zhang Ke felt a chill in his heart. From this word, he could hear a bloody storm.
"The specific rule is to select some secret realms, realms or stars.
Drag it from its original position to this realm, integrate it with yourself, and then add to the heritage of your realm."
"Ss—!"
Zhang Ke was frightened. Since he wanted to integrate with the blue world, the target he chose must be suitable for human survival.
Not to mention how difficult it is to pull this star through the void.
How can the indigenous people living in other stars or realms be willing to merge?
If there are other realms now, the blue realm will be merged into it.
Then all the creatures in the blue world will probably launch a desperate counterattack.
Only when all the opponents are eliminated can the traction be completed, and this process is bound to be bloody.
One can imagine how difficult it is. Perhaps this is the explanation for the word ‘annexation’.
Zhang Ke calmed down and said:
"How is this possible? With our own strength, we don't have the strength to 'annex' other realms."
He has always been very disgusted with this kind of aggressive behavior, and he never thought that one day he would join it.
True Lord Tianya sighed:
"There's nothing we can do about it. The Blue World is so big, and the number of practitioners is basically saturated.
If we don't expand our territory, how can we cope with future crises with our current strength?
Besides, you don't have to be too surprised.
Don't think about big realms, this is the task of a high-level sect.
If you want to advance to a middle-level sect, according to the rules for this promotion, including my own sect, you need to dispatch five true kings, one hundred true men, and eight hundred innates.
And our target is at most a micro-realm or a larger secret realm."
This is already nearly half of the sect's strength. If anything goes wrong, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Zhang Ke was silent.
True Lord Tianya saw the resistance in his heart and asked solemnly:
"Good luck! If you are standing on the cliff right now, there is a rope tied to two people in front of you.
The rope cannot support the weight of two people and will break immediately.
You need to shorten one person's rope to save the other person.
Now you get to choose!
To save your relatives?
Or another stranger?"
Zhang Ke opened his eyes with white shadows and looked down at his hands.
After a long time, he smiled bitterly and said:
"This is not a multiple-choice question!"
He murmured to himself: "One must have a self-interest before he can control himself. Only by being able to control himself can he achieve success."
Then, Zhang Ke took a deep breath and said:
"Don't worry, Patriarch, for the sake of your loved ones, you can kill both gods and demons, let alone others!"