212: Chapter 212 Fools, a bunch of idiots!

Especially the Zhenpin Pavilion under the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce; the Zhenpin Pavilion holds supreme grade pills in its hands.

How did the Zhenpin Pavilion operate in Qinghe Prefecture back then? They publicly took sides and used Medicinal Pills as weapons, forcefully cutting off the Blazing Fire Sect's supply line and helping the Four Sect Alliance achieve victory in one battle.

If the Zhenpin Pavilion brought those same tactics to Canglan Prefecture...

Meng Li did not dare to think any further.

Tianyang Sect, Discussion Hall.

Qin She arrived at the Forbidden Ground in the back mountain in the middle of the night.

The three Golden Core Ancestors each occupied an independent Immortal Cave, distributed across the three Spiritual Vein nodes in the back mountain.

When they fled in panic from Qinghe Prefecture years ago, these three Old Ancestors took nearly eighty percent of the Blazing Fire Sect's core resources. It was precisely by relying on these resources and their own strength that the Tianyang Sect was able to rank among the six major powers of Canglan Prefecture within three years.

Among the three, the one with the highest cultivation was Ancestor Lieyang, at the Golden Core Middle Stage. Back in Qinghe Prefecture, he was the stabilizing force of the Blazing Fire Sect, but he generally did not concern himself with worldly affairs, and it was mostly Old Ancestor Chiyan who made appearances.

The other two were Old Ancestor Chiyan and Old Ancestor Xuanhuo, both at the Golden Core Early Stage.

Qin She stood outside Ancestor Lieyang's Immortal Cave for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before the cave door opened from the inside.

"Enter."

Ancestor Lieyang's voice carried no emotion.

Qin She lowered his head and entered, finding that the other two Old Ancestors were already there.

The three sat in different directions, with an untouched cup of clear tea placed on the stone table in front of each.

Ancestor Lieyang opened his eyes and glanced at him, and the other two also cast their gazes over.

"Coming here late at night, is there some important matter?" Ancestor Lieyang asked.

Qin She knelt down.

"This Disciple has failed in his duties and has come specifically to seek punishment from the three Old Ancestors."

The three Old Ancestors looked at each other, waiting for Qin She to continue.

Qin She recounted the entire sequence of events, starting from encountering the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's caravan in Tongbao City, to his order for Meng Li to intercept and kill them, and finally to how seven people died in a ten-against-five fight.

After he finished speaking, the Immortal Cave remained silent for a long time.

"What you mean is," Ancestor Lieyang spoke again, his tone unreadable, "because of a grudge from several years ago, you took it upon yourself to mobilize eight Foundation Establishment Elders from Songyang Peak to cross the border and hunt down a merchant caravan?"

Cold sweat broke out on Qin She's forehead.

"This Disciple acted on impulse..."

Ancestor Lieyang did not get angry; he just looked at Qin She for a while and then sighed.

"Qin She, the Sect has only been established in Canglan Prefecture for a few years; our Foundation is not yet stable, and everything is waiting to be rebuilt. At this critical juncture, because of a single merchant caravan and your momentary hatred, you have lost seven Foundation Establishment Elders for nothing."

"I am not distressed over the death of a few Elders; the path of cultivation is built upon treading over bones, but that is not where the problem lies."

Ancestor Lieyang looked at Qin She, speaking very slowly.

"You are the Sect Master. We three old fellows trust you, and the Elders and Disciples trust you as well, which is why we handed the management of the entire Sect over to you.

But as the Sect Master, you must distinguish between what is important and what is urgent.

It was just a traveling merchant caravan. Even if it was an enemy's business, how much could killing them or not really affect the overall situation?

On the contrary, your hasty move to send people across the border to hunt them down not only lost us men but also gave away a portion of the Tianyang Sect's Foundations.

If the other Sects in Canglan Prefecture were to find out, do you know how much trouble it would cause?

Impatience in small matters spoils great plans. I taught you this saying back then; have you forgotten?"

Qin She opened his mouth, but could say nothing.

"Have you clearly identified the background of that merchant caravan? Five Foundation Establishment Cultivators were able to withstand an ambush by ten people and even killed seven in return. Have you thought about what this implies?"

Qin She's head buzzed.

He had investigated, and the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was merely a trading firm. Even if they had a large number of first-rank supreme grade pills, their Guard strength should only be so strong.

But the facts were right in front of him: five against ten, and the other side won.

"It means the Medicinal Pills and equipment in their hands far exceed the norm." Old Ancestor Xuanhuo, who had been silent, finally spoke. "The kind of Medicinal Pill you mentioned just now—it can raise a Foundation Establishment Cultivator's cultivation by a minor stage upon consumption, without any signs of losing control or going berserk?"

"Yes."

Old Ancestor Xuanhuo continued, "To be able to directly interfere with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator's Realm barrier and do so without side effects is a Domain that only second-rank pills can reach.

And it's not just an ordinary second-rank pill. Medium Grade or Low Grade second-rank pills cannot achieve this effect; the medicinal power would not be pure enough, and forcing the effect would only lead to damaged Meridians and rampaging spiritual power. To achieve a steady increase of a minor stage without harming the Foundation, there is only one possibility.

Second-rank supreme grade."

When Old Ancestor Xuanhuo said this, his expression became somewhat solemn.

Everyone present knew exactly what second-rank supreme grade pills meant.

To a Golden Core Sect, this was absolutely a life-and-death Sharp Weapon that no one could ignore.

In the entire Tianlan Province, aside from a few Golden Core Elders in the Danding Sect and those Nascent Soul Ancestors, no one else had been heard of who could reliably refine second-rank supreme grade pills.

The supreme grade first-rank pills that Zhenpin Pavilion sold in Qinghe Prefecture back then were already shocking enough. Now, they could even provide second-rank supreme grade ones as consumables for merchant caravan Guards. Just what level of Alchemist is standing behind them?

"The Zhenpin Pavilion previously sold supreme grade first-rank pills in Qinghe Prefecture, and we all assumed they had a powerful Second-Rank Alchemist behind them." Ancestor Lieyang's voice deepened. "But second-rank supreme grade... that can only be refined by at least a Third-Rank Alchemy Great Master. Even in the Danding Sect, such a person would be at the level of a Pill Hall Manager. Would such a person act as a backer for a merchant association?"

Cold sweat was already pouring down Qin She's forehead.

"Things have come to this; we will discuss holding you accountable for your mistake later." Ancestor Lieyang's speaking speed was not fast, but every word was methodical. "Right now, two things are most urgent."

"First, the people from the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce escaped alive. News will eventually reach Qinghe Prefecture. Did the Elders you sent out announce the name of the Blazing Fire Sect at that time?"

Qin She recalled the original words in Meng Li's message and nodded. "They did."

To the side, Old Ancestor Chiyan directly cursed out loud, "Fools, a bunch of fools!"

"Second," Ancestor Lieyang raised his hand to stop Old Ancestor Chiyan's angry cursing and continued, "if the Zhenpin Pavilion targets Canglan Prefecture because of this, the consequences are not hard to deduce.

Back when we were still the Blazing Fire Sect, they only had supreme grade first-rank pills and already squeezed us until we couldn't breathe. But now, even second-rank supreme grade ones can be mass-produced.

Once such things flow into Canglan Prefecture, even if they only use first-rank supreme grade pills, within three years, the five local major Sects will become their honored guests. At that time, who will stand with us?"

These few words made Qin She's Face turn pale.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought of these things, but in the moment he was blinded by hatred, he had thrown all reason behind him.

After all, this was an irreconcilable feud; as the Sect Master, how could he not seek revenge?

"Old Ancestor, this Disciple knows his mistake." Qin She knelt down. "Please give your instructions, Old Ancestor."

Ancestor Lieyang looked at him for a while and said, "Stand up. Kneeling won't solve the problem."

Qin She stood up and respectfully waited for the Old Ancestor to continue.

"How has our relationship with the other five Sects of Canglan Prefecture been lately?"

"It has always been quite poor." Qin She chose his words carefully. "Although our Tianyang Sect's spiritual fields and mineral veins were surveyed and opened by ourselves, they are, after all, within the territory of Canglan Prefecture.

Before we arrived, these resources would have eventually been carved up by the five Sects. Now that we've occupied them, it's impossible for them not to have thoughts about it.

In these three years, we've maintained Face on the surface, with everyone minding their own business, but secretly, no one treats us as one of their own.

To put it bluntly, in the eyes of the five Sects, the Tianyang Sect is an outsider. If it weren't for the presence of you three Old Ancestors making them hesitate to act rashly, our Tianyang Sect could never have occupied a place here."