I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 331 - 191: The Majority of Ways Cultivators Die_2

Chapter 331: Chapter 191: The Majority of Ways Cultivators Die_2

"Furthermore," another Supreme Elder said, "who knows what the situation is in the higher realm? It’s possible that all the ancestors have died. The abrupt cessation of ascensions could indicate that there might be a problem in the higher realm."

"I’m actually considering that possibility..." Gu Shanhai couldn’t help recalling the main quest he had almost forgotten.

Generally speaking, his main quest always led to massive changes in the world, so the cessation of ascension was likely due to some form of violent turmoil.

"It’s better not to establish contact. The few benefits are outweighed by the potential problems." After some deliberation, Gu Shanhai decided against it.

In fact, Gu Shanhai was also pondering whether to push for the modernization of the Chengyun Sect.

The Chengyun Sect might just seem like a sect, but in reality, it was akin to a vast nation, with a large population under its command. However, these people were not officially recognized; only disciples who were accepted into the sect, similar to a management level, were formally acknowledged.

The premise was to find ways to improve productivity, advance industry, agriculture, and so on, and undertake large-scale artificial cultivation, transforming the entire structure of the sect. With that, without exaggeration, it would take just fifty years for the Chengyun Sect to dominate over the Juxia Sect and the Feather Transformation Sect.

However, this transformation could easily cause unrest and the breakdown of social order.

So, the matter had to be put on hold for a while.

What Gu Shanhai valued most was the atmosphere and ethos of the Chengyun Sect. Although modernization would bring him more benefits, any resulting changes in ethos could lead to increased intrigue and power struggles, which would cost him long-term interests.

"It’s possible to modernize, but not fully. Only certain aspects can be reformed," Gu Shanhai thought simply. The idea was to promote the strengths of apprentice and master relationships and unity while using this as a foundation for transforming the entire sect.

Given the choice between an elder who placed reason above kinship and one who favored kinship over reason, Gu Shanhai preferred the latter. He didn’t want to one day be put to death in the name of justice for carrying out certain experiments. The former would reluctantly kill you while the latter would not only cover for you but would even manage the aftermath. Clearly, the latter seemed better in any regard.

Gu Shanhai’s concerns were never about the greater good or the moral high ground, but rather his own well-being and that of his close ones.

If developing the Chengyun Sect improved his future, he would pursue it, regardless of any collateral damage to the world or other forces.

"I should discuss this with the Sect Leader. It wouldn’t be good to intervene rashly."

At the very least, he had to wait until he had completed his current work.

And even then, he would only propose a general framework and the necessary technology; he wouldn’t take charge of the matter himself, as he didn’t have the luxury of time.

After perfecting the methods of calamity avoidance and disaster evasion, he still had other projects and tasks to attend to.

"By the way, speaking of that Uncle-Master Yan Du, who knows how many generations before me, how is he doing now? I recall that he went to monitor that problematic young man. Has there been any news?" Gu Shanhai suddenly remembered an unfortunate soul.

"He’s alive, but the specifics are unclear," another Supreme Elder said.

Each disciple within the Chengyun Sect had a mark left on them, which was used to monitor their life and death. Of course, its functions didn’t end there; it also could transmit the images they saw before dying, pinpoint the location of their death, and leave traces on their killer, among other things.

However, details beyond that were unclear, and so they didn’t know where exactly this disciple was or what he was doing. Such functions were mostly triggered by death, and generally, they wouldn’t interfere too much while a disciple was alive, as each disciple had to lead an independent life. Not all disciples were as special as Gu Shanhai.

Thus, it was a balance of protecting the disciples while giving them their private space.

Gu Shanhai cast a divination and found the signs to be somewhat strange.

"I have a bad feeling about this..."

Because he hadn’t used any life-extending resources, even though Gu Shanhai’s Prophetic Divination technique incorporated elements from the Xuanji Realm’s methods, it didn’t yield much.

"Could something have happened?" another Supreme Elder also inquired.

"It’s not unlikely. Let me try again." Gu Shanhai decided to use his life resources and discovered that the person in question was untraceable.

"The person is dead!" Gu Shanhai announced immediately.

"How could that be?! Yan Du was at the Cave Soul Stage, a mere Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, how could he possibly kill him?" one of the Supreme Elders said with incredulity in his voice.

"Not only that, but he also managed to deceive the sect’s Life Reflection Mirror, whoever acted is no ordinary person," Gu Shanhai said with a solemn expression.

Killing a cultivator at the Cave Soul Stage wasn’t anything significant, but to also deceive the Life Reflection Mirror, a treasure of the sect, indicated that the perpetrator was at least at the Peeping Dao Stage.

Gu Shanhai didn’t need to remind them of this; the other high-ranking members understood what it implied.

The matter was quickly reported to the Sect Leader, and then, a Supreme Elder at the Peeping Dao Stage silently left Chengyun Sect, preparing to investigate the cause of Yan Du’s death.

If it weren’t for Gu Shanhai bringing up the issue, people of Chengyun Sect might not have taken it too seriously. It was quite normal for a Cave Soul Stage cultivator to be out of contact for several decades, and since the Life Reflection Mirror’s branding still showed he was alive, no one would associate it with his death.

Of course, this was also because it was Gu Shanhai who raised the concern; had it been someone else, a Supreme Elder at the Peeping Dao Stage wouldn’t have personally taken action.

This was the difference in status and identity.

"The body has been found; the person is dead, even his soul has been shattered," the outcome was found in less than half an hour.

"Did you try to trace him using any prophetic divination spells or divine skills?" Gu Shanhai inquired.

In this world, the prophetic divination spells and divine skills had limited efficacy. After all, cultivators were at odds with the heavens and earth, not getting ripped off was already fortunate enough, let alone expecting substantial results.

"Untraceable, all traces have been completely wiped clean, but it can be confirmed that it should have something to do with that privileged young man," another Supreme Elder replied.

"My advice is to be cautious. Even a Peeping Dao Stage Elder can’t find him, which suggests he possesses means not inferior to the Peeping Dao Stage. It would be best to observe primarily and avoid interference," Gu Shanhai was certain that this fellow was definitely a protagonist set up by the world to clear cultivators.

To overpower and kill across such different levels, there was a ninety percent chance that individual was equipped with a system.

Moreover, it might be the kind of system where you sign in and instantly achieve extreme power, like starting with a strike of 999; otherwise, if Qi Refinement could kill Cave Soul, Gu Shanhai couldn’t do it without using his past life’s power from the World Tree.

"I’ve already relayed it for you; is this person really that extraordinary?" another Supreme Elder asked curiously.

"Extremely extraordinary, I suspect he might be the Child of Destiny!" Gu Shanhai didn’t mind revealing these details.

What followed was a silence that lasted several seconds until someone finally spoke up, "Isn’t the Child of Destiny supposed to be you?"

"???" Gu Shanhai was puzzled; how had it turned out to be him?

"Stop joking. I got to where I am through my own efforts, but he might not have," Gu Shanhai retorted, hinting that if he were the protagonist or Child of Destiny, he wouldn’t have made it into Chengyun Sect.

After all, protagonists are supposed to face challenges, and in general, they are not part of major sects but rather mingle in smaller ones.

"Are you sure? No matter how you look at it, you seem more like a favored child of the heavens," someone else remarked.

"I can’t kill from the Qi Refinement Realm to Cave Soul Stage and deceive the Life Reflection Mirror," Gu Shanhai spread his hands indicating he didn’t have such capabilities.

"Wait, are you saying that the one who acted was that privileged young man?"

"Who else could it be? Which Peeping Dao Stage would casually kill a younger cultivator at the Cave Soul Stage? He might be in the Qi Refinement Realm, but he must have something extraordinary at his disposal."

"It seems you know quite a bit about him, Shanhai."

"Just a little, a little."

In this back and forth, Gu Shanhai revealed quite a bit but those protecting him didn’t mind. Everyone had their own secrets, and they weren’t going to dig into the secrets and fortuitous encounters of juniors or peers unnecessarily. If someone found something great, it was due to their ability.

Those who shamelessly sought to grasp everything often died from a combined assault, because of their greed; not many had a good end.