Chapter 786: Chapter 785 The Purpose of the Taoist Sect
Regarding the punishment of Zhuge Cang and Wang Changchun, the majority of those present believed they should be executed on the spot to prevent future trouble.
However, Huang Chengcheng and Helian Zhan insisted on letting them redeem their crimes through meritorious deeds. The powerhouses of Qingtian Sect and Poison Sect also supported this, and in the end, Wang Chunyang spoke up too, thus the matter was settled.
Zhao Wannian ordered people to take Zhuge Cang and Wang Changchun to the Qingtian Sect dungeon for custody, and then led everyone to the spacious and magnificent hall.
After the powerhouses of Qingtian Sect, Poison Sect, Langya Wang Family, Ji Family, and the Zhang Family sat down, the strong ones from the second-tier aristocratic families or sects that were allied with these families also found their seats and sat down.
Then, Huang Chengcheng took Yang Fei and Xu Jian to sit together.
As for Wang Lei and Helian Zhan, one returned to the ranks of the Langya Wang Family, and the other stood beside Helian Zhan and Ouyang He.
Wang Lei, who had been cast aside by the Wang Family ten years ago, would definitely not stand with the Wang Family under normal circumstances.
But on an occasion like today, with all the major forces of the Hidden Sect in attendance, if Wang Lei stood with Yang Fei and the others, it would be too much of a slap in the face for the Langya Wang Family. Moreover, Wang Chunyang had previously sent a message to Wang Lei, asking him to stand behind him. Considering the favor of having been helped by his Uncle Six last time, he had no choice but to return to the Wang Family ranks.
"The detailed report of casualties of this battle has just been submitted. As the host, let me inform all of you," Zhao Wannian said after clearing his throat.
He began, "In this battle, three Divine Travel experts from Duanmu Family, Duanmu Wuwang and Duanmu Wuwo, have perished, while Duanmu Wugou has been seriously injured and fled, his whereabouts unknown.
Zhuge Qian and Zhuge Wei of the Zhuge family have died in battle, and Zhuge Cang was severely injured and captured.
Manor owner Wang Changchun of Giant Sword Manor was seriously injured and captured. Cai Wenhua and Zhuo Hongfei’s whereabouts are unknown.
In addition, Situ Mao, the Great Elder of the Situ family, Duan Houdao, the head of the Duan Family, and Huang Tingsong from the Huang Family, who were on good terms with the Zhuge and Duanmu families, were killed.
Aside from them, there were twenty-three peak Late-stage Innate Realm elite warriors killed, over forty severely injured, all captured, and thirty-seven who surrendered and chose to submit."
Zhao Wannian finished this section in one breath, providing a brief report on the sacrifices and losses of the enemy forces.
Then he showed a sorrowful expression and said, "Due to undercover agents from the Ji Family and the Zhang Family being placed among the enemy, they caught the enemy off guard at the critical moment, so our side did not suffer many casualties. Nevertheless, we still lost seven peak Innate Realm warriors in battle, with fourteen severely wounded and even more suffering minor injuries. Detailed statistics for these have not been collated."
After speaking, Zhao Wannian said, "Ladies and gentlemen, although we have lost soldiers and generals in this battle, it has united the remaining forces and harmonized our opinions. This is exceptionally good news for the legacy of the Hidden Sect World and the Divine Continent."
"That’s right. Although this internal strife led to the loss of troops, it utterly thwarted those with wild ambitions and united everyone in the Hidden Sect. The merits of this battle outweigh the losses!" Wang Chunyang’s side, Wang Chunfeng, the current head of the Langya Wang Family, loudly stated.
Ji Bangying, Sect Master Zhang, and others nodded in agreement.
The Yanhuang Nation has always advocated for a just cause in warfare; even in the face of troop losses in this grand battle of the Hidden Sect, the defeated goes without saying, but as the victorious side, we must also secure a good reputation and stand for righteousness.
After discussion among the crowd, this battle was dubbed a cleansing of the nefarious elements within the Hidden Sect, restoring a righteous atmosphere to the world.
With this tone set, Helian Zhan picked up a cup of tea and respectfully approached Huang Chengcheng, saying, "Brother Huang, back when I was stumbling upon a bottleneck in my cultivation, I was fortunate to receive your secret guidance. Helian Zhan’s achievements today owe much to you, Brother Huang. Now, in the presence of all the heroes here, please accept my bow."
After speaking, Helian Zhan made an attempt to bow down, but Huang Chengcheng quickly stood up, supported him, and shook his head with a smile, "In my Taoist tradition, taking on a disciple is all about predestined affinity. Since you are a disciple of Qingtian Sect, it’s impossible for the Taoist tradition to take you in as a disciple; I can’t accept being called your elder brother. As for the guidance, it was presumptuous of me. I only hope the fellow Taoists of Qingtian Sect won’t take offense."
Zhao Wannian, Qin Sizhong, and Gong Haichao each had a different expression, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the fact that Helian Zhan had become so formidable after being guided by Huang Chengcheng.
Doesn’t this imply that the Qingtian Sect’s cultivation technique is inadequate?
Although tracing back in history, the founders of Qingtian Sect indeed benefited from the Taoist cultivation techniques, but among the current Eight Great Forces, which family’s ultimate techniques do not originate from the Taoist or Mysterious Sect? Yet now, everyone has established their own schools, and to admit in front of the whole world that Qingtian Sect’s cultivation techniques are inferior to the Taoist Mysterious Sect’s would be too much of a loss of face, right?
Seeing Zhao Wannian and others remain silent and non-committal, the atmosphere on the scene became a bit awkward.
Sect Master Zhang was about to say something when Wang Chunyang also stood up, carrying a cup of tea to Huang Chengcheng’s side, offering the tea and saying, "Mr. Huang, I thank you for your guidance in the past. Without your advice, Wang Chunyang would not have reached where he is today. Please, have some tea!"
Wang Chunfeng of the Langya Wang Family as well as Wang Chunhai twitched their eyelids, feeling everyone’s gaze sweeping over them. The two lowered their gaze, their expressions unchanged, as if they hadn’t seen this scene.
My family’s brother received guidance from a powerful Taoist practitioner and afterwards abandoned the saber to cultivate the sword, eventually becoming a great sword cultivator. Although this seems to suggest that my Wang Family’s Thunderclap Saber Technique is inferior to the Taoist sword techniques, my Wang Family, having received such a favor, is grateful and seeks to reciprocate the kindness. That is the mark of true heroes and chivalrous people.
Therefore, today, seeing Taoist Inheritor Huang Chengcheng here, we of the Langya Wang Family will no longer regard him as an enemy.
As for what you all think, that’s up to you.
With Wang Chunyang’s interjection, Huang Chengcheng laughed heartily and drank the tea offered by both men, then spoke loudly, "I know there are still many among us who feel awkward when the subject of the Taoist sect is brought up, holding on to past grievances. You may worry that if the Taoist sect is re-established, it might seek retribution for its annihilation in the past. That’s only human, and I completely understand."
With that, Huang Chengcheng paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and continued, "Today, here in the presence of all the heroes from around the world, I, Huang Chengcheng, as the thirty-fourth generation representative Sect Leader of the Taoist sect, assure you that the Taoist sect seeks only to research the Immortality Technique, to remember the mission of the Hidden Sect, to protect the Yanhuang Clan of the Divine Continent.
If the Taoist sect is rebuilt in the future, from myself onwards, Taoist Disciples will uphold righteousness, fighting to protect the Yanhuang Clan of the Divine Continent, to seek the way for understanding the secrets of immortality. As for the past destruction of the Taoist sect, it will let bygones be bygones, and all Taoist Disciples are forbidden to mention it again!"
This proclamation eased the minds of many who had been harboring wariness and discomfort about the Taoist sect deep in their hearts, making them feel much more reassured.
The Taoist sect places great importance on oaths, and with Huang Chengcheng making this vow as the Sect Leader, it was quite persuasive.
Yang Fei felt somewhat bewildered inside.
All along, he had been somewhat wary of Huang Chengcheng, finding his master too mysterious and giving him an impression of not being wholly trustworthy.
He felt that the master had done so much, surely scheming in the Hidden Sect World for a long time, all for the purpose of re-establishing the Taoist sect and then avenging the past.
In Yang Fei’s eyes, nothing was more important than revenge.
But now, the master had made a vow that the Taoist sect would not bring up the past annihilation again, and this left Yang Fei somewhat dumbfounded.
His gaze fell on his mentor’s face, seeing the sincerity there, he suddenly felt ashamed of many of his previous thoughts and suspicions.
He was moved by his mentor’s broad-mindedness and felt ashamed of himself for only fixating on revenge.
Compared with his master, his own vision and magnanimity were indeed too small.
As a Taoist Disciple, perhaps rebuilding the Taoist sect was his mentor’s lifelong endeavor.
And now, whether it’s the Hidden Sect or the entire world’s state of affairs, with everything in turmoil, being able to peacefully rebuild the Taoist sect is already the greatest contribution to the Taoist cause.
As long as one can unite the forces of the Hidden Sect to collectively resist foreign threats, strengthen the Divine Continent, and uphold the mission of the Taoist sect, then the past destruction will not matter if the Taoist sect can regain past glory.
At this moment, Yang Fei began to understand why his master wanted to restore the Taoist sect and also realized the true significance of its existence.
In times of chaos, to support and protect the Yanhuang heritage; in times of peace, pursue the path to immortality and cultivation.