Recruit black physique to start practice in wasteland

Chapter 2448 Eat inside and outside
Upon hearing the Great Protector's words, Baiqiao's first reaction was not anger, but helplessness.

He sighed, glanced at Qingkong, then at Jin Ge, "You two... never mind, it's no wonder."

These two... plus Venerable Minning, are all peripheral figures in the sect, at least not core members.

The Grand Protector's fate was entirely his own doing. He was originally a core figure in the sect, but in order to avoid a life of leisure, he chose the path of a protector because of his strong combat power.

Baiqiao Zhenzun shook his head helplessly and spoke seriously, "I've already said I want to restore order, don't you know who I'm going to restore?"

Upon hearing this, the other four True Venerables all looked at Protector Lingyun—you should know this.

"How would I know about these things?" Qingkong Zhenzun rolled his eyes upon hearing this. "Anyway, I'm not the target of any rectification."

You almost did! Baiqiao glared at him resentfully: With your self-willed behavior, it's a good thing you don't form cliques!
But this matter really needs to be explained clearly: "Elder Youjian is getting old, and I originally hoped that he would focus on breaking through the barrier so that the sect could have another Great Lord."

Well... that's a bit against my conscience. Reaching 5,300 years old to attempt the Nascent Soul stage is just a desperate attempt.

But they've already gone into seclusion, and now they're still causing trouble. Baiqiao is really quite helpless.

The key point is that Youjian was relatively active in the past and coordinated and helped many people and things.

It goes without saying how much influence such a True Venerable would have within the sect, given how long he has lived.

Qu Jianlei understood what was going on and couldn't help but speak up, "You don't need to tell us about your sect's internal affairs."

"Senior Baiqiao, you can handle this yourself. Why trap us here... Who's the one who's losing face?"

It's best to mind your own sect's own business. Don't you find it shameful to let your own affairs spill out and annoy people outside the sect?

There's a saying in the cultivation world: "Don't wash your dirty linen in public." This saying is prevalent in families, but it also applies to sects.

Qu Jianlei stated that he did not want to hear those sect secrets, further proving that he had no intention of interfering.

“You make it sound so easy,” Baiqiao glanced at him. “How many people are in your team? Have you ever managed a large team before?”

This is not meant to be disrespectful. The cultivation world mainly focuses on combat power, and it's hard to imagine how a society like ordinary people could organize such a strict management system.

Qu Jianlei had no interest in arguing with him, and simply replied calmly, "But surely we don't need to use outsiders as bait?"

This is just another old case, but Baiqiao's skin is thick enough, "Then I also stopped Qingningwei Hongyeling..."

"Let me put it this way, if you leave now, you'll be helping Youjian, understand?"

It must be admitted that, as expected of the person in charge of the sect's affairs, he doesn't talk about his own needs, but instead pokes at other people's vulnerabilities.

Unfortunately, his words didn't work very well; neither Qu Jianlei nor Han Li were easily influenced.

The two exchanged a glance, and Han Li said decisively, "It doesn't matter, we're not the only ones who are suffering... we're not in the sect."

Whether I feel good or not is my business, but I know you feel even worse.

Jin Ge and Qing Kong remained silent. They didn't have deep feelings for Ling Yun, but being in the sect... they couldn't openly show their interest in watching the show.

Baiqiao set his sights on the last remaining centrists, "Fellow Daoist, if you wish to search for another world, have you planned how long it will take?"

He couldn't easily divine the purpose of Qing Ning's trip, but he could easily guess that it was related to her Daoist partner.

"This... thirty to fifty years, I suppose," Qing Ning Zhen Zun thought to himself.

He himself had wandered from the outside world, and he understood all too well the difficulty of finding another world in the void.

However, this time, it is said that there are clues with characteristics of another world, and there are also three True Venerables who are good at divination: Han Li, Qing Tian, ​​and Xiao Qu.

Therefore, the estimate of 30 to 50 years is not blindly optimistic, and may even leave some room for adjustment.

Baiqiao didn't refute the other party, but nodded and continued to ask, "After discovering the other world, how long did you explore it?"

"How can you be sure that the first, or even the second or third, otherworld you find will be suitable for a cultivation partner?"

"Tsk," Qing Ning Zhenzun clicked his tongue helplessly, "Can't you say something nice?"

"Honest advice is hard to hear," Baiqiao replied seriously, "but Qu Zhenzun and the others' other world has quite a bit of potential!"

"Damn it..." Qing Ning Zhen Zun muttered helplessly, "Bai Qiao, how come I never noticed before that you were so cunning?"

Everyone knows that his Daoist partner can't wait much longer.

The alternate worlds that Qu Zhenzun and others explored are definitely one of the options in the Green Lime Project.

However, if cultivators from the Houde Realm launch a large-scale exploration, Qing'er's seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul stage might pose some potential risks.

If we can find a more suitable alternate world, why not?
This is something everyone could guess; no one mentioned it, but if searching for other worlds isn't effective, that's where they'll naturally choose.

But now that the other party has made it so clear, that's a different story.

“Sigh,” Baiqiao shook his head helplessly, “I can’t openly oppose him, that would be betraying the sect’s interests. Great Protector, this is difficult for me!”

"Damn it, I hate this kind of nonsense the most!" Qingkong couldn't help but swear.

But what could he do but criticize? Baiqiao had already made his point to this extent; it was no longer appropriate for him to try and slip away.

Ultimately, he was a core member of the sect, but after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, he chose the path of a protector.

Considering that he has severed all ties with his descendants, he must be indifferent to trivial matters, so this choice is not surprising.

However, on the other hand, could Ling Yun, a true and upright True Venerable, sit idly by and watch the sect be hampered and inflicted upon each other, or even... infighting?
He sighed and looked helplessly at Qu Jianlei and Han Li, "Fellow Daoists, this... I'm really sorry."

The two nodded in agreement, saying that everyone has moments when they are not in control of their own destiny.

But this meant that only the two of them were suitable to go out—the Great Protector stayed behind, so Jin Ge naturally couldn't leave either.

However, both of them were quite arrogant at heart, and they became even more resentful that the other side had used this method to split up the team.

So what if we're missing three companions? At worst, the two of us will go. It all depends on whether Qingning wants to stay at Houde!

But if that were to happen, Houde's exploration of another world... would likely face many setbacks.

However, Baiqiao had also fully considered this possibility, and he could not tolerate Lingyun being in such a dilemma.

Not only are there external enemies, but there is also a great risk of internal division—even the most optimistic estimate is that it will take a long time to resolve.

So he offered another suggestion: "If the two of you are willing to cooperate, Lingyun is willing to make the greatest concession on the share."

Alright! The two exchanged glances and both saw the compromise in each other's eyes.

It's not that I don't want to stand up for myself, but I can't resist the fact that the other party is offering just too much.

Han Li pondered for a moment before speaking, "Should the True Venerable's gains also be subject to inventory?"

This was an issue that had been unresolved before, with Lingyun Sect insisting that the True Venerable's gains would not be subject to oversight.

This is not only for the True Venerables within the sect, but also for those True Venerables outside the sect, who should receive the respect they deserve.

There might be some loopholes here, such as the Nascent Soul obtaining extremely precious treasures and handing them over to the True Venerable to take out of the other world.

This portion of the management fees is unlikely to be recovered.

Of course, the True Venerable also has his bottom line, and similar situations are not common—there are really not many treasures worth the True Venerable's help to conceal.

The various treasures and opportunities that the True Venerables themselves have gained certainly do not require them to pay management fees; this is the treatment they deserve.

With rights come obligations. When a True Venerable encounters a cultivator facing disaster, he has an obligation to help, regardless of whether he knows the cultivator or not.

Ordinary battles with other races can be ignored, treated as trials, but when faced with annihilation, one must intervene.

The corresponding judgment depends on the specific circumstances, but the corresponding causal obligation objectively exists.

Han Li's side insists that: it is certain that the management fee of the True Venerable will be waived, but we must know what the True Venerable will gain!
Lingyun Sect believes this claim is a bit excessive. Who doesn't have secrets? Especially the privacy of a True Venerable, which should be respected.

Han Li and the other four were well aware that their insistence would easily provoke dissatisfaction from the other True Venerables.

But for them, this is essentially a bargaining tactic.

If Lingyun, as the organizing platform, wants to maintain a respectable image and secure relevant rights for other True Venerables, it must make concessions in other areas.

Moreover, Ling Yun was well aware that Han Li and the other four were not deliberately being unreasonable when they made this request; they also had their own interests to consider.

Once you know what the True Venerable has gained, you'll have access to information about all sorts of rare treasures, even without charging management fees.

This information alone is almost priceless. If anyone has a related need, they can try every means to persuade the other party to make a deal.

Han Li is bringing this up again to see how much Ling Yun is willing to compromise!
“Tsk,” Baiqiao said, a headache coming on. “This matter needs further discussion. Lingyun is not against it in principle.”

Although it's only "in principle," it's already the biggest concession yet.

Ling Yun can help suppress the True Venerables within the sect, but persuading those outside the sect will depend on your abilities.

Of course, if Han Li and his group of five cannot suppress the True Venerables outside, the True Venerables within the sect will also benefit.

Therefore, the possibility of collusion between the True Venerables inside and outside the sect is extremely high.

Even so, Baiqiao's willingness to make this verbal promise truly shows his sincerity.

Upon hearing this, True Venerable Qingkong couldn't help but be taken aback, "You really are... planning to betray the sect's interests!"

"Do you think I wanted to?" Baiqiao couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. "If you guys hadn't wanted to run away, would I have gone to all this trouble?"

As the head of Lingyun, he felt extremely bitter. "Sometimes, I really envy you."

Qu Jianlei felt he needed to ask, "The seniors offered these conditions not just to prevent us from leaving, right?"

"Hmm..." Baiqiao pondered for a moment before speaking, "It's already a bit presumptuous of us to insist that you stay here for the time being."

After finishing his pleasantries, he stated his demands, "However, regarding the Fang family, Qu Zhenzun also has his own requests, right?"