The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings - Chapter 565
Chapter 565: Chapter 513: Don’t Dare to Ask!
There was no denying that the alliance with Pei Xuanjing had allowed Baiyun Temple to rapidly elevate itself over these decades, with powerful experts continually emerging and their strength increasing by a manifold. Although this was the mutual agreement during the formation of the alliance, when they really received such benefits, Daoist Xuanming knew that they owed significant gratitude to Pei Xuanjing.
But now, Pei Xuanjing was too powerful, so powerful that it suffocates people. His current fame is spread among countless martial artists, who regard him as a saint.
One could say, while they view Taoism as an alliance, from the perspective of outsiders and some regular disciples, Taoism is a whole entity, and the leader of this entity, the supreme ruler, is the undeniable Pei Xuanjing.
This made Daoist Xuanming and those elders behind him somewhat panicked, as they could still hold firm now, stabilizing the hearts of the sect’s disciples.
But if this situation continues, just over a few decades more, a new generation of juniors who hold Pei Xuanjing in high esteem will rise, and the entire Taoist School will inevitably have to submit to Pei Xuanjing. If Pei Xuanjing is willing, he could even reorganize the Taoist School, making it obedient to one person, similar to the Demonic Cult.
This was something Daoist Xuanming and many other experts could not bear. The Baiyun Temple has a heritage of thousands of years, and it is also a renowned Great Taoist School. They might temporarily let go of the leadership of Taoist School, but they are unwilling to let Baiyun Temple become someone else’s subordinate, and might even vanish completely.
Would Pei Xuanjing really decide to unify the Taoist School?
In Daoist Xuanming’s view, there was a high possibility.
After the rise of the Shenxiao Sect, ever since that Feather Guest from Jinmen developed the Shenxiao Sect to its peak, he not only led the Taoist School with the Shenxiao Sect but also wanted to suppress the Buddhism School and Demonic Way. This was no secret to anyone.
The current reputation and strength of Pei Xuanjing surpass that of the Feather Guest from Jinmen by countless times. At this stage, he merely needs to nod and he could do it, so why wouldn’t he?
The corners of Daoist Xuanming’s mouth revealed a hint of bitterness as he lamented, “Among the major sects in the Taoist School now, I am neither as treacherous as the old Celestial Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain, nor as strategic as the Taoist Brother Qingxu from Zhenwu Sect, nor as decisive as the Chunyang Sect’s Taoist Friends, nor as clearly planned as your Feather Guest. So, I have to take a risk to ask, so as not to let the heritage of Baiyun Temple be destroyed in my hands.”
Daoist Xuanming’s own aptitude and comprehension were among the top in this world, and being able to manage Baiyun Temple for several decades also proved his extraordinary means. However, sometimes strength and weakness are comparative. Among the circles Daoist Xuanming mingled in, even if he was pretty good himself, he was still at the bottom.
The old Celestial Master was the oldest among them. When he was involved in the world, these people were not born yet. The old Celestial Master had been managing Dragon Tiger Mountain for nearly two hundred years and his deep calculations were unquestionable.
Moreover, the old Celestial Master had recently suppressed the strong practitioners who returned from Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Sky Wasteland and thus obtained the Zhengyi Seal. He also received the inheritance of his ancestors. With the support of Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Sky Wasteland, as long as the powerful ancestor Celestial Master in the Nine Realms of Spirit realm exists, Dragon Tiger Mountain is not at all worried about the possibility of being assimilated.
As for Taoist Qingxu from Zhenwu Sect, he was another leader of Taoist School who rose up after the old Celestial Master’s disappearance. Before the rise of Pei Xuanjing, Zhenwu Sect ruled over the Taoist School, and its orders were followed by all sects, with almost no one daring to violate them.
These years, even though Taoist Qingxu has stayed very low-profile due to the rise of Pei Xuanjing, but no one dares to underestimate him. Moreover, the fact that he sends his junior to the Taoist Academy to help Pei Xuanjing shows that he is very supportive of Pei Xuanjing and does not seem to worry about Pei Xuanjing’s intent of unifying the Taoist School.
Although Daoist Xuanming did not know whether Taoist Qingxu was indifferent to these or had other supports, he knew clearly that he could not equate himself with the latter’s calmness and composure.
The case with the Chunyang Sect was even simpler. It should be more appropriately called the Chunyang Sword Sect. There weren’t many disciples under Chunyang Sect, and apart from cultivation, they only practice a single divine sword.
Such cultivators and martial artists only focus on the sword and Taoism in their hearts. They won’t be disturbed by too many external things. When they joined the Taoist Alliance initially, it was merely for the sake of following the trend, and they did not participate much in the affairs of the Taoist School.
Therefore, the Chunyang Sect was least worried about the things influenced by Pei Xuanjing.
As for Bai Xiaosheng’s faction, putting aside the fact that although they joined the Taoist Alliance, they were not considered Taoists. Even if Pei Xuanjing was to unify Taoist School, he would absolutely not be foolish to include his subordinate people.
Even if such a situation exists, I believe that Bai Xiaosheng had enough tricks or abilities to stop and avoid it.
As for the many forces that joined later, there’s no need to overthink it, they were merely dependent on the powerful forces of Taoist School. If Pei Xuanjing really wanted to unify the Taoist School, for them, after careful consideration, this might not be a bad thing.
In other words, among the various forces of the Taoist Alliance, it is Baiyun Taoism that is most affected and most worried.
“So, you want me to inquire on your behalf of brother Pei’s true thoughts to see what he is really thinking?” Bai Xiaosheng looked at him, finally understanding the real reason for his visit.
“Exactly,” Daoist Xuanming straightforwardly said.
This was his real purpose for coming here today.
Bai Xiaosheng did not respond but instead asked, “Why don’t you ask directly? From what I see, if you ask, Pei Xuanjing will definitely not hide anything.”
From his understanding of Pei Xuanjing, he was not a person who liked or even deems worthy of playing tricks. If Daoist Xuanming approached him with his question, Pei Xuanjing would surely give him an answer.
Daoist Xuanming was silent for a long time before he solemnly said, “To tell you the truth, I do not dare to ask directly because I am afraid.”
Although he was well acquainted with Pei Xuanjing, as Pei Xuanjing’s strength steadily increased, gradually very few people could confidently treat Pei Xuanjing equally.
Strength grants authority and strength is the foundation of confidence. A strong person can lower their ego, but the weak cannot take it for granted.
When your own strength cannot keep up with the other party, and you are far surpassed by them, even if you know Pei Xuanjing does not have a high ego, Daoist Xuanming also knew his position, and he would not truly believe that he could have an equal conversation with him now.
Especially now, what he wanted to ask was perhaps trivial to Pei Xuanjing, but it was nonetheless very important to him and the entire Baiyun Temple.
