Chapter 1198: Chapter 51: The Strongest Taoist Sect in the World
Xie Qingyun was summoning Lin Yao within the Qingyun Palace, making the final preparations for the Sword Sect’s westward expedition, while on the other, exceedingly distant end of the Eastern Domain, another story was unfolding.
Bell Mountain Spirit Vein.
The main peaks of Candle Dragon Hall were bustling day in and day out, extremely lively.
Lately, the war flames between the Human Race and the Demon Race have been raging, bringing a tense atmosphere to this sect and making it even more bustling than usual, with cultivators coming and going and resources being frequently mobilized.
The more bustling the main peaks, the quieter the mountain behind where Wang Daode the Patriarch resided.
If it weren’t for the fact that the patriarch had taken on a disciple in recent years, reluctantly adding a bit of popularity to the back mountain, it would truly be an icy solitude.
However, this desolate scene mattered little to Wang Daode.
He had always been considered an "eccentric" by the public, disliking noise, seemingly only having eyes for those few orange trees.
Wang Daode stood silently in front of the orange trees, gazing intently at the small trees he had tended for many years, lost in thought.
"Master." A gentle voice rang out behind him.
The old man nodded and sighed, "I heard from your Ancestor Zhao that the Central Spirit Domain is gone?"
"Yes, the Taoist Sect Rinsing Spirit in the Central Spirit Domain was actually a Demon Race sect, and all the senior cultivators were demonic cultivators of the Demon Race.
Under their internal and external collusion, the Dragon City Pass, the indomitable stronghold for millennia, fell overnight." The voice belonged to Mo Yan, Wang Daode’s only disciple, dressed in black.
He reported the situation with utmost respect and gravity.
"I also heard that besides the Sword Sect rushing to aid the Central Spirit Domain, the other Taoist Sects are preparing to temporarily abandon it?" Wang Daode’s eyelids twitched relentlessly, and his heart trembled slightly.
Mo Yan bowed his head slightly, "That is their decision."
"Cutting losses in time."
Wang Daode inexplicably laughed, his laughter carrying an unclear meaning.
"Do you know which of the Seven Great Taoist Sects is the strongest?" he suddenly asked.
Mo Yan was taken aback, not understanding why his master suddenly asked this, carefully thinking and cautiously answered, "Is it the Great Pure Palace?"
The lineage of Dharma Cultivation has always been the most influential in the Cultivation World.
So logically, the Great Pure Palace, being a Taoist Sect of Dharma Cultivation, should be the strongest, right?
The old man shook his head, asking in return, "Do you know how many people the Sword Sect has in total?"
"More than three thousand." Mo Yan quickly answered.
The Sword Sect has always been the most unique sect in the entire Cultivation Realm.
"And do you know which sect in the Human Realm is the one you mustn’t provoke?"
"The Sword Sect." Mo Yan replied without hesitation.
"Why?"
"The Sword Cultivators establish their sect through killing, hence every disciple of the Sword Sect is vengeful and aggressive, the most ’unreasonable’, with a sect style that is simple yet brave and fierce," Mo Yan said.
"In other words, the most willing to go all out." Wang Daode summarized in one sentence.
Mo Yan nodded slightly, feeling that the words "willing to go all out" were utterly apt for describing the Sword Sect.
Even without mentioning those at the level of a Taoist Sect, even top-level sects, when facing various disputes, begin to "hesitate," calculating all kinds of losses and benefits, acting rationally.
But not the Sword Sect.
At any time, the Sword Sect acts on impulse.
The most famous example occurred during the Chang’an Years.
At that time, the Human Race had just concluded the first war between the Taoist and Demon, and was in a burgeoning stage, the Sword Sect was likewise severely weakened, recuperating and gathering strength.
Just at that time, in the western pasture of the Eastern Domain, there was a Barbarian Wilderness Tribe that had grown exceedingly strong, a Ninth Realm Wizard even emerged from their tribe, which at the time, could be considered a significant force in the Human Realm.
This Ninth Realm Wizard, to practice a magic artifact, ordered his tribesmen to massacre the surrounding tribes, inadvertently slaughtering a small cultivating family under the Sword Sect’s command.
The Sword Sect sent an envoy at the time to question the Barbarian Wilderness Tribe, demanding they hand over the culprit and offer a formal apology.
However, the Barbarian Wilderness Tribe had always been reckless, and considering that the act of slaughtering the tribe was at the Ninth Realm Wizard’s own command, how could he hand over his men just like that, what would the tribe think of him?
You do something for him and not only get no reward, but have to pay your life for it?
Wasn’t his authority among the tribe about to vanish completely?
Moreover, at that time, the Sword Sect was in unprecedented weakness, how could they possibly make a big move for a minor subordinate?
He could instead use the deed of opposing the Sword Sect to greatly increase his fame.
Based on these considerations, that Ninth Realm Wizard made a decision that he regretted for the rest of his life.
He drove away the Sword Sect envoy and sent back a message, "A scholar may die, but never can be humiliated."
Thus, the Sword Sect fulfilled his wish.
The entire Sword Sect mobilized, deploying more than half their strength, and launched a far-reaching expedition into the Wilderness.
This Barbarian tribe was terrified upon hearing the news, and greatly frightened, the Ninth Realm Wizard hurriedly sought peace.
But it was too late.
Once the arrow is released, it cannot be retrieved, once the sword is unsheathed, it must draw blood.
For half a month, the Sword Sect cultivators fought battle after battle, slashing from the edge straight to the center, finally reaching the Ninth Realm Wizard, giving him a response.
"If you want dignity, exchange it with your life."
Then, that Ninth Realm Wizard was beheaded underneath the Three-foot Sword.
The Barbarian tribe that once flourished due to mistakenly wiping out a small cultivating family under the Sword Sect’s command, ultimately fell to ruin.
Of course, behind such a glorious outcome was the great cost paid by the Sword Sect.
To undertake a far-reaching expedition in the sect’s most weakened state further depleted the Sword Sect’s power, leaving them in turmoil for a thousand years thereafter, nearly causing them to fall from their position among the Taoist Sects.